IPPO : The Ultimate Counter

[Kamogawa Gymnasium, late evening]

Ippo sat alone in the ring. He held a towel over his shoulders, looking thoughtful. Miyata's words echoed in his head:

"Takamura and Ryuu... they're monsters, they're in another dimension."

He clenched his fists, struggling with the doubt that was creeping up on him.

Ippo: (whispering) "Miyata-kun thinks I'm talented... but not like them. Am I really capable of going further? Could I face a monster like Ryuu?"

The silence was broken by the sound of Ryuu's footsteps, who entered the gymnasium. He was carrying a sports bag over his shoulder and noticed Ippo in the ring. After a pause, he approached.

Ryuu: (quiet) "Still brooding, Ippo ?"

Ippo: (surprised) "Ryuu-kun? What are you doing here at this hour ?"

Ryuu: (sits down on the edge of the ring) "I always train late. Monsters, as Miyata says, never sleep. HAHAHA!" (smiles slightly)

Ippo: (hesitant) "Ryuu-kun... Miyata talked about you. He said you were... like Takamura-san. And I... I'm starting to doubt myself. Can I really compete with boxers like you ?"

Ryuu was silent for a moment, staring into space. Then, he spoke in a deep voice, filled with suppressed emotion.

[ Ryuu Flashback ]

A young boy who was running barefoot in a dark alley, chased by men armed with sticks. He stumbled but immediately got up his face covered in wounds, sweat and tears.

Man's voice: "Catch that dirty kid! He doesn't deserve to live"

Ryuu hid behind a pile of cardboard his breath short. The sound of footsteps was moving away. He came out of his hiding place clutching a piece of stolen bread. His hands were shaking but he bit into it with determination.

Ryuu: "You know Ippo... in my world, surviving was not a choice, it was an obligation. The weak had no place. If you were weak you would die So I had to learn to fight not for glory, success or passion, but to exist."

quick scenes showed teenage Ryuu fighting in illegal street fights, each fight accompanied by sick applause and cruel stares. then one day an old man held out his hand to him

Old man: "you're special kid... not because you win, but because you refuse to lose. follow me and i'll show you a world you don't know . Let me show you what it means to be strong

"

Ryuu: "At first, I hated boxing. But one day, I understood. It wasn't just about physical strength. It was about survival, Boxing was a light in the darkness. If I wanted to escape this life, I had to become the strongest. Not just a genius. Not just talented. But a monster, because losing meant losing everything."

We saw Ryuu grow up, winning local tournaments, crushing his opponents with frightening ease. But behind each victory, there was a palpable loneliness.

[Back to present in Kamogawa Gym]

Ryuu: (staring at Ippo) "I didn't choose to be a monster, Ippo. I had to become one. Because in my world, strength is the only thing that matters. But you, you're different. Your strength, your tenacity comes from your heart, not your rage. Don't doubt yourself. You don't need to be like Takamura or me. You have your own path."

Ippo looked up, his doubts seeming to fade away little by little.

Ippo: (smiling slightly) "Thank you, Ryuu-kun."

Ryuu stood up and left, but as he walked he thought of a scene, a flashback showed an old man on his deathbed, holding his hand. Ryuu clenched his fists, his gaze hard and the flashback faded.

----

[Kamogawa Gymnasium, the next morning]

Takamura, Aoki, and Kimura were in the locker room, teasing Ippo about Miyata leaving.

Takamura: (mocking) "So, Ippo, are you going to cry? Your lover Miyata left you?"

Aoki: (laughing) "Maybe he finally realized he couldn't compete with you!"

Kimura: "Or maybe he's afraid of Ryuu. That guy is a machine!"

Ippo: (red with embarrassment) "Stop it! That's not it!"

Yagi entered the locker room, holding a sheet with the upcoming announcements.

Yagi: "Calm down! The next fights are set."

Everyone calmed down, and the attention was turned to Yagi.

Yagi: "Ippo, you'll be participating in the Eastern Conference Hopeful Tournament. This is your chance to prove that you're one of the best youngsters, there will be powerful opponents so you'll have to be ready."

Ippo: (determined) "Yes, I'll give it my all!"

Yagi: "Takamura, your national title defense is scheduled for 1 month. Get ready to crush your opponent as usual."

Takamura: (laughing) "Easy. I'll show him what a real monster can do."

Yagi: "And Ryuu, thanks to your victory in the regional tournament, you've landed a fight against the second-ranked national player. If you win, you'll be the challenger for the National title."

Ryuu: (smiling calmly) "Finally!. That's all I wanted."

Takamura stood up abruptly, looking cheerful.

Takamura: "Okay, larvae, if you want to be up to par, it's time for some special training! Let's go to the beach!"

Aoki: (exasperated) "That stupid idea again?"

Kimura: (grumbled) "Last time, I almost drowned!"

Takamura: (ignoring them) "Come on, pack your things. We're leaving tomorrow morning!"

Despite the protests, everyone started getting ready, a mixture of excitement and fear in the air.

[To be continued...]