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Senpai...
Uh...
It's just...
You're still recovering right?
I guess I couldn't ask you to...
Sparring?
If it's just a bit I should be fine.
Senpai...
Thank goodness.
This should be a good chance.
I can go all out
right?
Itagaki-kun...
Hey hey!
This is the Japanese Champion you're talking to!
That's not something a pre-debut rookie should be asking for!
Aoki-san!
It's fine.
Let's fight seriously!
Thank you.
All right
I'll be your second.
Thanks.
Ippo you had better not lose.
Okay.
All right start!
He's cautious...
and very fast.
I don't really feel any pressure.
But still he's the Japanese Champ.
Will my speed be effective on him?
Don't let him close in
keep him at a distance with combos!
He's even faster than he was when he sparred against me!
Hell he doesn't even need advice.
That stupid look on his face pisses me off.
Don't let him touch you!
Put your kouhai in his place!
I was going to get him when he drew his arm back
but his backstep is too fast!
Yes!
He can't keep up with my speed!
Stay sharp and fast!
And make sure you stay out of reach when you're drawing your fist back!
His left is sharp!
If I throw too wide a punch I bet I'd get nailed with a counter.
His boxing is elegant.
It's a lot like Miyata-kun's.
Below!?
The arm I blocked with is stinging!
If I had taken that I would've been finished!
Don't relax now!
The whole point of that was to get you to put your guard up!
Oh crap!
I stopped moving!
I can survive this!
I can see his punches...
I can dodge them!
Stop!
You're going the wrong way!
Why am I against the ropes?
Did he lure me here!?
What's up with this pressure!?
It's totally different from a minute ago!
Man
you really let him have it.
Oh no!
He was just so fast that I figured I had to get him before he got me.
All right how do you like that Takamura!?
I-Is that the attitude you should have as a second!?
Not yet...
The ten count...
isn't done yet.
Itagaki-kun...
If you won't...
then I will.
Huh?
Finally conscious?
Only going down four times in three rounds is pretty impressive.
F-Four times?
That's the Japanese Champ for you...
he's on a different level.
Where'd senpai go?
He went back to the beach.
Oh I see...
I wanted to thank him for the help.
You're a boxer-type right?
Imitating a fighter like Ippo won't...
I'm not trying to imitate him.
I'm trying to learn how to overcome him.
Overcome?
Who?
It's me-dani!
Oh it's Neko-chan.
What's in the bags?
Makunouchi and the others are going back tonight-dani
so I thought we could set off some fireworks tonight at the beach-daniyo.
Fireworks?
Sounds good doesn't it Takamura-san?
Does...
Does it have to be at night?
It'd be kind of hard to see otherwise-daniyo.
What's wrong?
It comes out...
on the beach.
A super-dangerous poltergeist!
It tries to drag people into the ocean!
I've got proof!
Look here!
You can see where it grabbed me!
F-Fits like a glove-dani!
I was barely able to make it out of there!
You guys don't know what that kind of terror is like!
So there's something he's actually afraid of?
It'll be fine-daniyo.
I'm sure they won't come out tonight-daniyo.
No!
I ain't going!
Takamura-san the sun's setting!
Let's go set off the fireworks!
Takamura-san!
Hang on a sec!
I've got a big one going!
Now that I think about it
I made it out of the sea in one piece.
I guess I don't have anything to fear from ghosts after all.
Yeah!
Phew...
Even for me this is one masterpiece of a ***.
There's a hair-like thing sticking out of my crap.
What is it?
What the hell is this thing!?
Did this come out of my body!?
How!?
Why!?
Is this part of the curse!?
Am I cursed!?
It's pretty.
Yes.
How is it?
Pretty relaxing right?
Right!
Thank you very much!
All right we're setting this one off-daniyo!
B-Be careful not to get burned!
I-I'll be careful.
I guess nothing happened between them after all.
Even though they spent the night together...
Hey!
You started already?
Let us join in!
You guys are late!
Where's Takamura-dani?
I guess he didn't want to come.
He said something about being cursed.
Oh he's not coming?
Well no reason we can't have a great time...
without him!
Yeah no sense in worrying about someone who decided not to come.
Let's get it started-daniyo!
Yeah!
There's something about the beach that makes me feel carefree.
Hell no!
It's because you-know-who isn't here.
No need to worry about any trouble this time.
Imagine if Takamura-san was here...
You got that right!
Aoki and Kimura...
they get the death sentence.
Ippo and Itagaki don't seem to miss me either...
they're accomplices.
Enjoy yourselves while you can.
I'll drop you from heaven straight to hell!
What?
They're duds!?
I'm really unlucky lately!
Takamura-san!
You came after all!
Crap he might've heard us.
Gotta smooth this over.
So you did want to join in-dani!
No need to be so awkward-dani!
D-Don't put it that way!
Bad idea!
See now he's sulking.
Do something Ippo!
B-But he's probably mad!
It's fine.
I'll just go back.
If I stick around it'll just be trouble right?
I bet I'm just a pain!
He did hear us.
Now what? If we don't deal with this now...
Please don't go back!
Come shoot the fireworks with us!
I'm leaving!
Please don't say that!
Itagaki-kun back me up!
If you're not here it won't feel right!
We'd be lonely without you Takamura-san!
Quit trying to butter me up!
You were all enjoying yourselves earlier!
You're right it was fun.
But something was missing...
Our feelings weren't united
because our leader wasn't here to guide us.
That's right!
We can't really start until our leader is here!
Boss!
Captain!
Trying to build me up after all this...
Dammit...
I guess you do need me after all!
Hang on a second!
Leave that for later!
There's an order to setting off fireworks.
Ippo get those ready!
Right!
Man you guys are so helpless!
And that's why you need me!
You need me!
Now he's ordering us around.
Just let him.
That was amazing Itagaki-kun.
You managed to cheer up Takamura-san.
Well I've always had a way with words.
With girls too?
Could you give me some pointers on how to talk to them?
Senpai you've already got a wonderful girlfriend!
You can't say that after what you two did last n—
You're too loud and we didn't do anything!
Hey!
We're setting off the big ones!
Okay!
They're going off without a hitch-dani.
It reminds me of you all-daniyo.
Fireworks in the night sky...
Boxers in the ring...
In the world of professional sports boxers have the shortest careers-dani.
They pour all their youth into it and bloom briefly but brilliantly.
The fact that it burns out so quickly is part of why it's so beautiful-daniyo.
Hopefully you all will burn brightly and brilliantly for as long as possible-dani.
Nekota-san...
Don't compare us to a bunch of cheap fireworks.
We're the stars that are above them!
And we're gonna keep shining!
I'm that big one!
I'll become the world champion so you can always look up at me!
Stars huh?
Pretty poetic there Leader.
Then we're those stars over there!
Right!
Our goal is the Japanese Title!
A goal huh?
Then my goal is...
to get a firm grip on the baton I received from Date-san.
And to one day fight Miyata-kun.
The spirit of the Kamogawa Crew is burning bright-dani!
That's the spirit everybody-daniyo!
All of you become brilliant shining stars-daniy-
Nekota-san!
Duck!
Kumi-san!
Everybody run away!
Why are we under attack!?
Look out Tomiko!
Masaru!
Aoki!
You did this didn't you Takamura-san!?
I don't know what you're talking about!
Geez it's so hot.
There's no way I can train when it's this hot.
The coach is still out of town and the guys from the training camp haven't come back either.
This is god's way of telling us to take a nap.
Ain't that right Ippo?
Did you say something Aoki-san?
Working hard as ever aren't you?
What are you lying around for Aoki!?
C-Coach!
We got a request for a spar with you.
Are you up for it?
A spar?
They asked us to help them out.
They should be here any time now.
It's fine with me
I'm warmed up already.
He's a rookie who hasn't debuted yet but he's got quite a reputation.
Right.
Sorry we're late.
Our friends from the Otowa Gym have arrived.
Thanks for helping us out today Kamogawa-san.
We appreciate it.
So he's my sparring partner.
He seems like he would be pretty strong.
Um... Hello...
I'm Imai Kyosuke!
Thank you very much for helping me out today!
I-Imai-kun is it?
It's nice to meet you.
This is spectacular!
I idolize you Makunouchi-san!
Being able to trade blows with my idol is an honor!
And more than anything I want to test my strength!
I intend to make the most of today and go all out!
Where did I hear that recently?
Listen you... quit grinning like a goofball.
He's a newbie and he wants to spar with the champion?
I can't think of it as anything other than underestimating you.
I said he was an up and comer.
Note: RSC = Referee Stopped Contest the amateur equivalent of a TKO.
He was the national inter-high champion two years in a row.
If he debuted as an 8-rounder he would still do well.
That's even better than Itagaki.
Be sure not to underestimate him.
Right!
Sorry for the wait.
We're ready to go.
Then let's get started.
From his build I'd say he's a fighter-type.
For now
I'll see what he can do.
He's fast!
What a quick step-in!
And his punches are heavy!
I'll go to the side.
He managed to catch me!
What're you doing Ippo!?
A fighter who chases you down if you try to get away...
I have to push him back with punches!
All right!
Nice body blow!
He's buckling over!
He fought back!?
He said that he looked up to him and it's true that they're very similar.
It's not mere imitation either.
He's making full use of that style!
He's strong.
That was...
If I hadn't been wearing headgear...
He's incredible...
I can't believe he hasn't even debuted yet!
Third round's over!
That's enough!
Thank you so much.
I learned a lot.
It was just sparring
but I actually tried to beat him.
I got drawn in by his intensity.
He's already got the attitude of a professional.
If he got some more experience and showed up as a challenger...
What's up!
We're all wrapped up!
We're back!
Huh you were sparring?
Yeah
and Ippo got his *** kicked by a rookie.
Senpai got his *** kicked?
That's impossible!
Kyosuke!
Manabu?
What? They know each other?
Seems that way.
You joined the Kamogawa Gym?
I see you're the same as you were in high school.
It's fine if you haven't made it past that.
I'm going after my goal as a pro
and I'll be taking the shortest route possible...
to Makunouchi-san's title.
You'll never make it that far.
You won't make it to senpai.
Because this time...
I'm going to stop you!
H-Hey Kyosuke!
T-Thanks for today!
Kyosuke!
Why couldn't I say anything back!?
Itagaki-kun...
I first fought against him at a national tournament.
The second I saw him I knew...
he had to be strong.
Well
he does seem more like a martial artist than an athlete.
You get scared?
No.
I was excited.
Because if I had won I'd be number one.
But...
When I woke up I was laid out on the ground.
It was a total loss.
During high school...
we fought three times and I was KO'd every time.
But this time...
Ippo.
What do you think?
What do you mean?
You sparred with both of them right?
Who do you think is stronger?
Um... Well...
I... Um... That's....
I know already.
I don't stand a chance against him right now.
That's why...
I chose the Kamogawa Gym because it has the reputation of being tough.
Well this worthless guy...
managed to keep winning and became champion against all odds!
Imai's gonna be a seed in the Rookie King Tournament next year right?
That'll be your chance for revenge!
Right!
I'll win the Rookie King Tournament!
I found it.
This is it.
The Rookie King Tournament... How nostalgic.
Itagaki-kun and Imai-kun...
If you just look at boxing fundamentals Itagaki-kun should have the advantage.
He's faster and has better instincts than Imai-kun
but he's still missing something...
It's happening!
It's finally happening!
Takamura-san's world title match!
Congratulations Takamura-san!
There you are.
I ran all the way here!
We thought it was delayed but Takamura-san has his title shot back!
After all this time...
Huh?
You don't seem very excited.
You don't think it's weird?
Well I was surprised it was so sudden...
It was sudden all right...
The gym just got a call from the champion's manager.
They said they could set up a title match in December.
December!?
Great!
So he might be the champion before the year is ov-
Before!?
B-But Takamura-san has a match in October!
He won't have any time to get ready!
They did it on purpose.
They made the offer knowing that...
he's gonna have two matches in two months and will have to stay a Jr. Middleweight the whole time.
They're taking how rough Takamura-san's weight management is into consideration...
Pretty sneaky of them.
Maybe we should pass this up and then wait until he's in his best condition.
Ippo...
I'm ready to go right now.
Takamura-san...
He knows what he's doing.
The WBC...
World Jr. Middleweight Champion...
Bryan Hawk.
Takamura-san...
Sunlight
I can't remember why
We stayed up 'til 4 AM ('til 4 AM)
We talked about nothing important and then made love
The birds wake up we close our eyes
The birds wake up we close our eyes
I love how she calls my name inside her dream
Kisses me still half asleep
Don't I wish that we could stay like this
At 8AM
I stop the alarm to watch her sleep and think
I'd do anything if I could make this time rewind forever
To 7:59