The fluorescent lights in the classroom buzzed faintly, a constant, irritating hum that only seemed to get louder the more I focused on it. My teacher's monotone voice droned on about formulas and equations I couldn't care less about. Around me, students whispered, passed notes, or outright ignored the lesson.
I sat hunched in the far corner of the room, pretending to take notes while drawing sketches of anime characters in the margins of my notebook. My name is Kenji Arata, your average high school otaku—an outcast.
Being a fan of anime and games wasn't the issue, though. The real problem was that I lacked confidence. I was the perfect target for bullies.
The daily harassment started months ago. At first, it was just teasing—comments about my glasses, my hobbies, or how I never spoke up in class. But it didn't take long before the teasing turned into something more physical.
I glanced at my arm, the faint bruise from yesterday still tender.
"You're weak, Kenji," they said, their laughter ringing in my ears.
They weren't wrong. I hated myself for it. I hated how I couldn't fight back, couldn't even muster the courage to stand up for myself. All I could do was escape into the worlds I loved—anime, manga, and video games. In those worlds, I could be someone else: a hero, a warrior, a champion.
But in reality, I was nothing.
The bell rang, jolting me out of my thoughts.
Class ended for the day, and I packed up my things quickly, hoping to avoid any trouble on the way out. As I walked down the school hallway, my stomach twisted with anxiety. I knew they were waiting for me. They always were.
And, sure enough, they were there. Three of them.
"Hey, Kenji! Heading home so soon?" one of them sneered, blocking my path.
I didn't respond. I kept my eyes on the ground and tried to move past them, but they shoved me back. My notebook fell to the floor, pages scattering everywhere.
"Oops," another one said mockingly. "Clumsy, aren't you?"
I bit my lip, holding back the tears.
"Why don't you say something, huh? Or are you just gonna cry like you always do?"
Something snapped inside me then. Maybe it was the months of humiliation, or maybe I was just tired of being their punching bag. My fists clenched, and I looked up.
"Leave me alone," I said, my voice trembling but firm.
For a moment, they seemed surprised. Then they laughed.
"You've got guts today, huh? Let's see how long that lasts."
The next few seconds were a blur of pain. A punch to the gut. A slap across the face. When it was over, I was on the ground, gasping for air.
"See you tomorrow, loser," they said, walking away.
I stayed there for a while, staring at the floor.
When I finally got up, it was already dark outside. I shuffled down the empty streets, feeling like a ghost. My thoughts were a chaotic mess of anger, shame, and self-pity.
"Why am I like this?" I muttered under my breath. "Why can't I be stronger?"
The sound of a truck's engine pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked up just in time to see the headlights blinding me.
Everything happened so fast. The screech of brakes. The impact. The pain.
And then, nothing.
---
When I opened my eyes, I wasn't on the street anymore. I was… somewhere else. An endless white void stretched out around me, empty and silent.
"What… is this?" I murmured.
A voice, calm and emotionless, echoed through the void.
"Kenji Arata. Your time in your world has ended."
I froze. "What? What do you mean?"
"You have died. However, you have been granted an opportunity—a second chance."
"A second chance?" My mind raced. "What kind of second chance?"
"You will be reincarnated into another world. You will have the opportunity to live a different life and change your destiny. Do you accept?"
The question hung in the air. A second chance… Could I really start over? Become someone else? Someone better?
"Yes," I said without hesitation.
"Very well. You will be sent to a world where strength, determination, and perseverance are everything. Use the tools provided to forge your path. Good luck."
Before I could ask what that meant, the void vanished, and everything went black.
---
I woke up to the sound of a bell ringing. My eyes fluttered open, and I found myself sitting at a desk in a classroom.
"Wait… What the hell?" I muttered, looking around. The room was filled with students, all wearing uniforms. I caught my reflection in the window and froze.
I wasn't… me. My face was different. My body felt stronger, more athletic. On the desk in front of me was a name tag that read "Takashi Kurogane."
"What's going on?"
Before I could process it, a blue screen appeared in front of me, floating in mid-air like a hologram.
---
[Boxing System Activated]
Welcome, Takashi Kurogane. You are now a part of the world of boxing. Train hard, complete missions, and climb the ranks to become a champion.
---
My jaw dropped.
"This… this is like a video game," I whispered.
Another window appeared, displaying my stats:
---
Status Window
Name: Takashi Kurogane
Age: 16
Height: 173 cm
Weight: 65 kg
Wingspan: 175 cm
Class: Out-Boxer
Rank: F
Division: Featherweight
Title: None
Fighting Style: None
Stats
Strength: F
Agility: F
Flexibility: F
Awareness: F
Potential: Undetermined
Endurance: F
---
I stared at the screen, my heart pounding. "What is this? Am I in… some kind of sports anime?"
Then it hit me. The name. The school. The faintly familiar faces around me.
"This is Hajime no Ippo," I realized, my excitement growing. "I've been reincarnated into the world of Hajime no Ippo!"
Before I could process the implications, another screen appeared:
---
Mission: First Steps
Goal: Perform 100 jabs within a day.
Reward: +1 Strength, +1 Agility, Unlock [Jab Lv. 1]
---
I grinned. "Alright. If this is my new life, I'm not going to waste it. No more running. No more hiding. It's time to fight."
As the school day ended, I spotted a familiar face—Makunouchi Ippo, shy and unassuming, walking down the hallway.
"This is it," I thought, determination surging through me. "If I'm going to make a difference in this world, I'll start with him. Together, we'll climb to the top."
And so, my journey began.