The next day at school, I made my way through the crowded hallways, my eyes fixed on Makunouchi Ippo. He was by his usual spot near the lockers, quietly gathering his things. If there was one thing I learned from being a loner, it was recognizing the same energy in others. Ippo was just like me—someone who tried to fade into the background, hoping the world wouldn't notice him.
But unlike me, I knew he had something incredible inside him. He just didn't know it yet.
"Hey, Ippo!" I called out, my voice louder than I intended. He flinched and turned to look at me, his expression full of confusion and hesitation.
"Oh… uh, Takashi, right?" he said, clutching his books close to his chest like a shield.
"Yeah. Got a minute?" I asked, stepping closer.
He blinked, unsure, but nodded.
I leaned against the lockers, trying to appear casual. "I've been thinking. You ever try boxing before?"
His brows furrowed in confusion. "Boxing? No, not really. Why would I?"
I shrugged, playing it cool. "I don't know. You look like the kind of guy who could be good at it. You're strong, right? You work on your mom's fishing boat and carry heavy stuff all the time. That's no joke."
His face turned a little pink. "I-I guess I do… but boxing? I don't think I'm cut out for that."
I crossed my arms, grinning. "You won't know unless you try. Tell you what—there's a gym near here, Kamogawa Gym. I'm planning to check it out after school. You should come with me. No pressure or anything, just see what it's like."
Ippo looked torn, his eyes darting between me and the floor. "I don't know… I'm pretty busy helping my mom after school."
"Come on," I urged. "It's just one visit. You might end up liking it. And who knows, maybe you'll surprise yourself."
He hesitated for a long moment before finally nodding. "Alright. I'll come."
"Great," I said, clapping him on the shoulder. "You won't regret it."
When the final bell rang, I met Ippo at the school gate, and together we walked to Kamogawa Gym.
The gym was a small, no-frills building tucked away on a side street. The moment we stepped inside, the smell of sweat and leather hit me like a punch. The air was filled with the sounds of fists pounding heavy bags, ropes skipping rhythmically, and trainers barking orders.
I could tell Ippo was nervous. His eyes darted around the room, taking in the intimidating scene of boxers in various states of training.
"Relax," I said, nudging him. "We're just here to look around."
Before we could go any further, an older man with a gruff demeanor approached us. His sharp eyes seemed to size us up in an instant, and I felt like he could see right through me. This had to be Kamogawa Genji, the legendary trainer.
"What do you two want?" he asked, his tone blunt but not unkind.
"We're here to learn boxing," I said, trying to sound confident.
Kamogawa raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking between me and Ippo. "You kids think boxing's some kind of game? This isn't an after-school club. It's hard work. Blood, sweat, and tears. You sure you're up for it?"
I met his gaze head-on. "We're serious."
Kamogawa studied us for a moment longer before nodding. "Alright. Let's see what you're made of. Follow me."
He led us to the center of the gym and handed us jump ropes. "Start with this. Ten minutes. Let's see if you've got the stamina to even warm up."
I grabbed the rope, glancing at Ippo, who looked completely out of his depth. "You got this," I whispered to him before starting.
The first few skips were awkward, the rope smacking against my ankles more than the ground. But I pushed through, finding a rhythm after a minute or two. Ippo struggled beside me, his movements clumsy but earnest.
After what felt like an eternity, Kamogawa called time. "Not bad for beginners," he said, though his tone suggested we had a long way to go.
He then pointed to the floor. "Fifty push-ups. Let's see how strong you are."
I dropped down and started immediately, my arms trembling after the first twenty. By the time I hit thirty, my muscles were screaming. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ippo struggling even more, his face red with exertion.
When we finally finished, we were both gasping for air. Kamogawa smirked. "You've got heart, I'll give you that. But heart alone won't make you boxers. Come back tomorrow if you're serious about training."
As we stumbled out of the gym, drenched in sweat, I turned to Ippo. "What'd you think?"
He wiped his face with his sleeve, his expression thoughtful. "It was… harder than I expected. But it was kind of fun, too."
I grinned. "See? I told you. We'll come back tomorrow and get even better."
Ippo nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. "Yeah. Okay."
That night, I lay on my bed, exhausted but exhilarated. The day's events replayed in my mind, and I couldn't help but feel like I'd taken my first real step toward something meaningful.
As I drifted off to sleep, the system's voice chimed in my head.
"New feature unlocked: Wheel of Fortune."
A golden wheel appeared in my mind's eye, its colorful segments spinning slowly.
"Spin the wheel to receive a random reward," the system said. "Rewards include stat boosts, skills, or equipment."
I focused on the wheel, my excitement building. "Alright, let's see what I get."
The wheel spun faster and faster before finally slowing to a stop.
"Congratulations. Reward: Skill Unlock – Straight Lv. 1."
A rush of energy coursed through me as the new skill integrated into my mind and body. I clenched my fists, imagining myself throwing a perfectly executed straight punch.
With two skills now in my arsenal and the gym waiting for us tomorrow, I felt more determined than ever.
This was my new life. No more running. No more hiding. It was time to fight.