Isekai in Hajime no Ippo with Gaolang’s Template

The next morning, the air was crisp as Ippo pushed himself harder than ever. The image of Miyata's defeat against Mashiba played on repeat in his mind, fueling his determination.

Coach Kamogawa followed closely behind in his shiny new Toyota SUV, barking orders through the open window. "Faster, Ippo! If you can't outrun this car, you'll never make it in the ring!"

Sweat poured down Ippo's face as his legs pumped furiously, his breath ragged but steady. Behind him, Alex jogged at a measured pace, not quite as intense but still committed to his training.

After the sprints, the two returned to the gym, where Ippo began an extreme core workout. Hanging upside down from the pull-up bar, he clamped a barbell in his teeth, crunching upward with every ounce of strength he had. Alex looked up, shaking his head in disbelief. "Ippo, you're gonna break your jaw like that!"

Ippo grunted a reply between reps, too focused to care.

Later, the two cousins decided to stop by the local bakery for a quick snack. The comforting aroma of fresh bread greeted them as they stepped inside. Ippo's heart gave a slight jolt when he spotted the girl behind the counter, her usual cheerful demeanor dimmed by a subtle sadness.

Alex noticed his cousin's hesitation and smirked. "Go on, Romeo," he teased, stepping back toward the door to give Ippo some space.

As Ippo approached the counter, his nerves tangled his words. "Um... uh, hi," he began awkwardly. The girl looked up, offering a polite but distant smile.

"You... were at the hall before, right?" Ippo asked, his cheeks reddening. "To cheer for Miyata-kun?"

The girl tilted her head slightly, puzzled by the question.

"I... I went to cheer for him too," Ippo continued, fumbling with his words. "But I was shocked. B-but he didn't lose because of skill! He should've won if his opponent didn't... cheat."

The word hung in the air like a slap.

"Stop," the girl interrupted, her voice trembling.

Ippo froze.

Her expression darkened, and her hands clenched at her sides. "My brother," she said quietly.

Ippo's eyes widened in realization, but the girl continued, her tone tinged with sadness and frustration. "How could someone who doesn't know him say such things? Why does everyone make a villain out of my brother?"

Her words pierced through Ippo like a jab to the gut. He stood there, speechless, as she turned away, clearly upset.

Ippo left the bakery in a daze, clutching a bag of bread as Alex waited outside.

"What's with you?" Alex asked, noticing Ippo's pale face.

Ippo sighed deeply, recounting the interaction with the girl. "She's Mashiba's sister, Alex. I... I accidentally insulted Mashiba in front of her."

Alex raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching as if suppressing laughter. "Wait, what? Seriously?"

"I didn't know!" Ippo exclaimed, mortified.

Alex chuckled, clapping Ippo on the back. "Relax. Let's head back to the gym before you self-destruct."

At the gym, Ippo tried to shake off the embarrassment, but Alex couldn't resist sharing the story with Aoki, Kimura, and Takamura.

"You won't believe this," Alex began, grinning mischievously.

By the time he finished, the trio burst out laughing.

"Grief protagonist!" Aoki declared, pointing at Ippo dramatically.

Kimura slapped his knee, tears forming in his eyes. "Man, only you, Ippo, only you."

Takamura leaned in, grinning wickedly. "So, Mashiba has a sister, huh? And you managed to tick her off? Nice going, lover boy."

"Cut it out!" Ippo protested, his face red with humiliation.

Before Takamura could add another jab, the gym door swung open, and Minoru Fujii walked in.

Takamura turned to him with a sly smile. "Hey, Fujii-san! Did you know Mashiba has a sister? Our boy Ippo here sure does!"

"Stop it, Takamura-san!" Ippo pleaded, burying his face in his hands.

Fujii ignored the commotion, his expression serious. "Makunouchi-kun, I wanted to talk to you."

The room fell quiet.

Fujii's eyes met Ippo's, and his voice softened. "About Mashiba... and his sister. Knowing more about them might help you understand the man behind the gloves—and his determination in the ring."

Ippo hesitated, then slowly nodded, curiosity and unease swirling in his chest.

As the laughter from Takamura's teasing died down, Minoru Fujii took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. The atmosphere shifted as he spoke, his tone grave.

"Three years ago," Fujii began, "Mashiba's life changed forever. His parents were in an accident... they didn't survive."

The room went quiet, the weight of the revelation settling over everyone.

"Ryou Mashiba was just 17 at the time, and his sister, Kumi, was only 13. Without their parents, the two were left to fend for themselves. Mashiba took on whatever jobs he could to keep them afloat, all while starting his boxing career. They depended entirely on each other."

Ippo looked down, the image of Kumi's sad face at the bakery flashing in his mind.

"I see," Aoki said after a moment, his voice unusually serious. "For Mashiba to have such a reason… that explains a lot."

Kimura nodded thoughtfully. "I was wondering why he wanted to win so badly. There aren't many people these days who bet their entire lives on boxing."

Alex crossed his arms, leaning against the gym wall. "If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying."

Everyone turned to him with puzzled expressions.

"Don't look at me like that," Alex said, shrugging. "If I were in Mashiba's place, I don't think I'd do any better. Hell, I'd probably do worse."

Ippo frowned, clenching his fists. "But I still can't forgive him. Boxing isn't a sport that lets everything go. What he did… I'll never forgive him for that."

Alex glanced at his cousin, then sighed softly, his expression thoughtful. If I were in Mashiba's situation, Alex mused silently, I'd probably do even worse. I'd make everyone hate me to the point they'd buy tickets just to watch me get knocked out. It's not about honor when it's about survival.

Later that afternoon, Coach Kamogawa gathered the team in the gym's viewing room to analyze Mashiba's fights. A small television played footage of his matches, the flicker jab snapping out in quick succession on the screen.

"Watch closely," Kamogawa said, his tone firm. "I've found a weakness in the hitman style."

Alex raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair. "Weakness, huh?"

The coach caught Alex's look and frowned. "Don't give me that judgmental face, Alex," he said sternly, pointing at him.

Alex smirked but said nothing as Kamogawa continued.

"The hitman style's left guard is lowered to enable a faster jab. That's the core of its offensive strategy. But it leaves an opening. The left side becomes vulnerable, and the right side is the key to exploiting that weakness."

Aoki leaned forward, squinting at the screen. "So, what you're saying is, we just need to get close and attack from the right?"

Kamogawa nodded. "Exactly. Mashiba's primary weapons are his flicker jab, right straight, and long right hook. His style is built for keeping opponents at a distance. Close the gap, and his hitman stance loses its advantage."

Alex's eyes narrowed as he watched the screen, his mind processing the analysis.

Aoki turned to Kamogawa with a sly grin. "How about Alex, Coach? He uses the hitman style too. Can you tell me his weakness?"

Kamogawa sighed, waving a hand dismissively. "Give it up, Aoki. Alex's hitman style is different. His flicker jab is so fast, it's almost impossible to exploit any weakness. Even if you catch him off guard, like Iga did, his reflexes are insane. In a split second, he'll find a way to minimize the damage."

Alex smirked, leaning forward in his chair. "You'll be hitting the canvas if you face me."

The room burst into laughter.

"Man," Aoki groaned, throwing his head back dramatically. "Why are we even in the same weight class? It's not fair!"

Kimura chuckled, slapping Aoki on the back. "Just be glad we're not the ones fighting him."

To be continued…

Note: I've been busy lately so i will update 1 chapter a Day