The sharp clang of the bell echoed through the gym, signaling the start of my second sparring session with Aoki. This time, there were no restrictions—body and headshots were both fair game. The air felt heavier than usual, filled with the buzz of anticipation from the crowd gathered around the ring.
Aoki grinned from across the ring, his gloves up and his body swaying slightly. "You ready for the real thing, rookie? No more training wheels."
I nodded, tightening my gloves. My body was sore from days of grueling training, but my mind was clear. "Let's go."
The moment the bell rang, Aoki moved in, his wild, unpredictable style forcing me onto the defensive. He threw a quick jab at my head, followed by a hook aimed at my ribs. I dodged the jab and blocked the hook, my guard absorbing most of the impact.
"Good start," Aoki said, his grin widening. "But let's see how long you can keep up."
He pressed forward with a flurry of punches, his gloves flying in unpredictable arcs. My body moved on instinct, ducking under a hook and stepping back from a straight punch aimed at my chin.
---
Opponent Analysis Activated: Adjusting Aggression Pattern.
---
Aoki's feints came fast and hard, his body twisting with each punch. I could feel my guard weakening as I struggled to keep up. Then, as he threw a jab, I saw the opening.
I stepped in, throwing a sharp straight to his face. My glove connected with his cheek, snapping his head back slightly.
"Not bad!" he shouted, backing away. "You've got some sting in that punch."
The crowd cheered, and I felt a surge of confidence. But Aoki wasn't done yet.
He feinted to the left, his body twisting, then came in with a right hook aimed squarely at my jaw. I tried to dodge, but he was faster. His glove slammed into the side of my face, and my vision blurred for a moment.
The force sent me stumbling back, my head ringing.
"Stay on your feet, Takashi!" Kamogawa shouted from the corner. "Keep your guard up!"
I shook off the dizziness and raised my gloves just in time to block another punch. My cheek throbbed, but I gritted my teeth and focused. Aoki wasn't holding back, and neither could I.
---
The rest of the round was a blur of punches, dodges, and counters. Aoki's attacks were relentless, but I managed to land a few clean shots of my own. By the time the bell rang, both of us were panting, our bodies drenched in sweat.
Aoki grinned as he leaned against the ropes. "Not bad, rookie. You've got a decent chin."
"Thanks," I said, wiping the sweat from my face.
---
The second round started with a bang. Aoki came at me with renewed energy, his punches faster and more precise. He threw a jab at my head, followed by a hook to my ribs. I blocked the jab but couldn't stop the hook. The impact drove the air from my lungs, and I stumbled back, gasping.
"Focus, Takashi!" Kamogawa barked. "Don't let him dictate the pace!"
I nodded, steadying myself. As Aoki moved in for another attack, I stepped forward, throwing a quick combination—a jab to his face followed by a hook to his side.
The jab connected, snapping his head back, but he blocked the hook with ease. He countered with an uppercut that grazed my chin, sending a jolt through my body.
"Close one," Aoki said, smirking. "You're not half-bad, but you've still got a long way to go."
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Opponent Weakness Updated: Overcommits on power punches, leaving openings for counters.
---
I focused on his movements, waiting for the next opening. As he threw another hook, I stepped in and delivered a sharp straight to his midsection. The impact made him grunt, and I followed up with a jab to his face.
The crowd erupted as my glove connected, and Aoki stumbled slightly before regaining his footing.
"You're full of surprises," he said, his grin never wavering. "But can you handle this?"
He feinted again, this time aiming a flurry of punches at my head. I dodged and blocked as best as I could, but one of his hooks slipped through my guard, slamming into my temple.
The force sent me reeling, my vision blurring for a moment. The crowd gasped, and I heard Kamogawa's voice cutting through the noise.
"Keep your head in the game, Takashi! Don't let him rattle you!"
I steadied myself, my gloves up, and watched as Aoki moved in for the kill. He threw another hook, but this time, I was ready.
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Skill Activated: Counter Lv. 1
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I ducked under the hook and delivered a counterpunch to his ribs, driving my glove into his side with as much force as I could muster. Aoki let out a grunt, stumbling back as the bell rang.
The gym erupted into cheers and applause, and I stumbled back to my corner, my chest heaving.
---
The third round began, and this time, I took the initiative. I stayed light on my feet, throwing quick jabs to keep Aoki at bay. He tried to close the distance, but I countered every time he overcommitted, landing clean shots to his midsection and face.
By the end of the round, both of us were exhausted, but I could tell I had the upper hand. As the final bell rang, Aoki grinned, his breathing ragged.
"You've got heart, rookie," he said, pulling off his gloves. "Keep this up, and you might actually give me a run for my money someday."
"Thanks," I said, smiling despite the pain.
Kamogawa stepped into the ring, his expression stern but approving. "Good work, both of you. Takashi, you're learning to think on your feet. But don't get cocky—you've still got a long way to go."
"Yes, sir," I said, bowing slightly.
---
As the crowd dispersed, I sat on the bench, nursing my bruises and reflecting on the match. My body ached, and my head still throbbed from Aoki's punches, but there was a sense of satisfaction that outweighed the pain.
I opened my status window, curious to see the results of the fight.
---
Status Window
Strength: E-
Agility: E → E+
Awareness: E → E+
Endurance: E- → E
Skills: Jab Lv. 3, Straight Lv. 2, Hook Lv. 2, Uppercut Lv. 1, Counter Lv. 1
---
The improvements were small but meaningful, each stat a testament to the progress I'd made.
"Not bad," I muttered, closing the window.
As I headed out of the gym, Ippo caught up with me, his face glowing with excitement.
"Takashi, that was incredible!" he said. "You were so fast, and your counters were amazing!"
"Thanks," I said, smiling. "But I've still got a lot to learn."
"So do I," Ippo said, his expression determined. "But watching you fight makes me want to work even harder."
I patted him on the shoulder. "We'll get there, Ippo. Together."
As we walked into the evening light, the gym fading behind us, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. The road ahead was long, but with each fight, I was growing stronger—and I wasn't doing it alone.