The next day at Kamogawa Gym, I felt a new energy in the air. The soreness from the sparring session lingered, but it was nothing compared to the excitement bubbling inside me. Ippo and I had taken our first steps into the world of boxing, and now it was time to build on that foundation.
I was wrapping my hands when a booming voice echoed across the gym.
"Oi, old man! What kind of scrubs did you drag in this time?"
I turned toward the voice and froze. Standing in the doorway was a towering figure with broad shoulders, a cocky grin, and a mop of unruly black hair. Takamura Mamoru.
Even if I hadn't known this was the world of Hajime no Ippo, I would've recognized his presence immediately. There was something larger-than-life about him, a raw charisma that commanded attention.
Kamogawa barely glanced at him. "Shut up, Takamura. These two might have more heart than you did when you started."
Takamura laughed, the sound loud and full of confidence. "More heart than me? That's cute. Let me see what these 'future champions' are made of."
Before I could react, he strolled over to where Ippo and I were standing. He looked us up and down, his grin widening.
"You're the new guys, huh?" he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "You don't look like much. What's your name, glasses?"
I blinked. "Uh, Takashi Kurogane."
"And you?" he said, turning to Ippo.
"M-Makunouchi Ippo," Ippo stammered, his nervousness written all over his face.
Takamura threw his arm around Ippo's shoulder, leaning in close. "Makunouchi, huh? You look like a total pushover. Tell me, can you even throw a punch without crying?"
Ippo's face turned bright red. "I-I can!"
Takamura's laughter filled the gym. "Relax, kid. I'm just messing with you. Sort of."
Then he turned to me, his expression suddenly serious. "And you, Takashi. You've got decent form, but you're too stiff. Loosen up, or you'll gas out in the first round."
I blinked in surprise. Despite his teasing, Takamura's observation was spot-on. "Y-Yeah, I'll work on that."
Takamura smirked. "Good answer. I like you two. Don't disappoint me, alright?"
With that, he sauntered off to the ring, where he began shadowboxing with a speed and power that left me and Ippo speechless.
"Wow," Ippo murmured. "He's incredible."
I nodded. "Yeah. That's Takamura for you."
---
The rest of the training session was brutal but productive. Kamogawa had us alternating between the heavy bag, shadowboxing, and footwork drills, each exercise pushing our bodies to their limits.
"You two are doing better," Kamogawa said as we collapsed onto a bench at the end of the day. "But don't get cocky. This is just the beginning."
"Yes, sir," we said in unison, too exhausted to say anything more.
---
Over the next few weeks, Takamura became a regular presence during our training sessions. His larger-than-life personality brought a mix of humor and intensity to the gym, keeping us on our toes.
"Hey, Takashi!" he called one day as I was practicing my jabs. "Why are you punching like you're swatting flies? Put some weight into it!"
I scowled but adjusted my stance, my punches becoming more forceful. Takamura's critiques were harsh, but they were effective.
Meanwhile, Ippo's progress was astounding. His punches grew sharper, his footwork more precise. Even Takamura seemed impressed.
"Makunouchi, you're not as useless as I thought," he said one day, patting Ippo on the back so hard he nearly fell over. "Keep this up, and you might actually become a boxer."
Ippo beamed at the praise, his confidence slowly beginning to grow.
---
One afternoon, as Ippo and I were cooling down, the gym door opened, and a slender figure walked in. He had sharp eyes, neatly combed hair, and an air of quiet confidence.
Kamogawa's eyes lit up. "Ah, Miyata! You're here."
I froze. Miyata Ichirou. The counterpunching genius.
Miyata glanced around the gym, his gaze settling on Ippo and me. He nodded politely but said nothing, heading straight for the ring.
"Who's that?" Ippo whispered.
I smiled. "That's Miyata. He's incredible. You'll see soon enough."
As we watched Miyata spar, it became clear that he was on a completely different level. His movements were smooth and calculated, his counters precise and devastating.
Ippo stared in awe, his fists clenching at his sides. "He's amazing…"
"Yeah," I said. "But that just means we've got a lot of work to do."