Chapter 51: Fire Ignited at the Press Conference

The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft glow through the windows of the Makunouchi household. Alex sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the faintly glowing interface of his system.

Template Progress: 42%

Alex's eyes lit up as he saw the number. "Sparring with Takamura pushed it up by four percent," he thought to himself, a determined expression forming. "Even with him holding back, the improvement is real."

The number hovered on the screen, a constant reminder of his progress. Alex leaned back, a small grin playing at the corners of his mouth. "Four percent from a few sessions. If I keep this pace, I'll be ready for anything. But I need to see just how much more I can grow after this fight."

Alex adjusted the blue bow tie he'd just fastened over his light gray vest, which matched his crisp blue suit jacket and neatly tailored pants. His black dress shoes glimmered as the morning light hit them.

"Sharp," Alex murmured, giving himself one last look in the mirror before heading downstairs.

Ippo was already waiting, dressed more modestly in a simple black suit with a white shirt, looking both nervous and excited. Takamura, of course, wore his usual cocky grin as he strode out of his room in a sleek, dark suit, his presence commanding attention even in the small household.

"You're both looking too pretty," Takamura teased, adjusting his tie with exaggerated nonchalance. "Try not to outshine the champ."

Alex smirked. "I'm not here to win a fashion contest. I'll save my winning for the ring."

The press conference was held in a grand venue, the atmosphere buzzing with anticipation. The stage was set with two long tables. On the right sat Alex, Ippo, and Takamura, representing the Kamogawa Gym. Opposite them were their respective opponents: Riku Tanaka, Hayami Ryuuichi, and Yoshiaki Yajima, the reigning middleweight champion.

As the fighters settled into their seats, flashes from cameras illuminated the room. The tension was palpable, with reporters scrambling for questions and the fighters exuding their unique energies.

Alex glanced at Riku, who was seated just a few feet away. His opponent had a stoic expression, but Alex caught the subtle clenching of his jaw—a sign that Riku was as invested in this fight as he was.

Ippo shifted nervously in his seat but straightened his posture when he caught Takamura's amused glance.

"You're fine, Ippo," Alex whispered, leaning slightly toward him. "Just focus."

"I know," Ippo whispered back, though his hands betrayed his nerves as they fidgeted slightly.

The event coordinator stepped forward, his voice echoing through the microphone.

"Welcome, everyone, to the official press conference for the upcoming fights. We are honored to present an incredible lineup of talent for this card."The room was packed with reporters, photographers, and fans, the air buzzing with anticipation as the press conference for the upcoming fights began.

The stage was divided into two sides: on the right sat Alex, Ippo, and Takamura, each exuding their unique aura of confidence. On the left, Yoshiaki Yajima, Riku Tanaka, and Hayami Ryuuji sat with poised expressions, their teams backing them up.

Mari Īmura, a seasoned reporter, took the microphone to kick things off. Her gaze fell on Riku Tanaka. "Riku, two months ago, Alex made some very bold remarks about your fight. Have you heard them? And how do you respond?"

Riku smirked, leaning closer to his mic. "I heard every word he said. Acting all tough, running his mouth. But when we crossed paths earlier today, it was a different story."

The crowd murmured, intrigued. Mari pressed further. "Different story? Could you elaborate?"

Riku nodded, his grin widening earlier today—Alex had just arrived at the venue, and we bumped into each other near the restrooms. My team and I saw him, and I told him straight: 'You've got a big mouth.' My teammates even stepped in to let him know we weren't playing around. And what did Alex do? He just talked some trash and walked off when security showed up."

A brief laugh rippled through the audience, but the tension was palpable.

Minoru Fujii seized the moment, shifting the focus. "Alex, is there any truth to what Riku just said?"

Alex stood from his seat with deliberate intensity, picking up his mic as his gaze locked onto Riku. He pointed a finger directly at him, his voice slicing through the room.

"You should've killed me when you had the chance," Alex growled, his tone low and menacing. He took a step forward, his energy magnetic and dangerous. "Because now I'm back—and I'm going to kill you and your whole fcking team. You and those btch boys backing you up. Dead men. All of you."

The crowd erupted, a mix of shocked gasps and deafening cheers. The tension hit a boiling point as Alex, with a sudden motion, grabbed the water bottle from his table and hurled it toward Riku. It was plastic, but the gesture was loaded with raw fury.

Riku leaped from his seat, his team holding him back as security swarmed the stage. Alex was being restrained by the guards, still yelling into the chaos. "I'll bury you in that ring tomorrow night! You hear me? DEAD!"

The broadcast cameras captured every second of the chaos, sending it live to television screens across the country.

Anchors scrambled to keep up as the unexpected drama unfolded.

The press conference was officially shut down, and the organizers swiftly moved to the weigh-ins to avoid further escalation. As Alex was escorted backstage, his face was a mixture of adrenaline-fueled anger and an undeniable grin.

Tomorrow night's fight wasn't just a match anymore—it was war. The weigh-ins were held in a grand venue, buzzing with energy as fans and media packed the hall. The fighters for the upcoming event lined up on stage, ready to make their official weights and face their opponents. The announcer took the mic, his voice booming over the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the official weigh-ins for tomorrow night's highly anticipated card!"

The crowd cheered as the announcer called the first name.

"From the featherweight division, Makunouchi Ippo!"

Ippo stepped forward, his expression calm but focused. He climbed onto the scale as the official recorded his weight.

"Makunouchi Ippo weighs in at 125 pounds!"

The audience applauded, and Ippo stepped off the scale with a humble nod.

"And his opponent, Ryūichi Hayami, 'The Shotgun!'"

Kobashi approached the scale, his gaze steady. The announcer confirmed his weight.

"Ryūichi Hayami weighs in at 125 pounds!"

The two fighters moved to the center for their face-off. Respect shone between them as they shook hands before squaring off. It was a quiet but intense moment, the crowd

appreciating the sportsmanship.

Next up, the energy in the room shifted as the announcer called out, "Now, in the lightweight division, Alex Makunouchi!"

Alex strolled up to the scale, his confidence palpable. He removed his suit jacket and stepped onto the scale. The official announced his weight.

"Alex Makunouchi weighs in at 134 pounds!"

Cheers erupted from the crowd as Alex stepped off.

"And his opponent, Riku Tanaka!"

Riku walked to the scale, his face unreadable but determined. The announcer declared his weight.

"Riku Tanaka weighs in at 134 pounds!"

As Riku stepped off the scale, the atmosphere grew electric. The announcer's voice grew sharper.

"Now for the face-off!"

Security immediately positioned themselves between Alex and Riku, maintaining a deliberate gap to prevent contact. The crowd leaned forward, captivated, as the fighters locked eyes.

Riku leaned slightly forward, his voice cutting through the tension. "What's up now? Where's all that energy you had before?"

Behind him, his team nodded smugly, adding to the taunt.

Alex's expression didn't waver. His voice was steady but venomous. "Shut your fcking mouth. You'll do nothing." He pointed toward Riku's team, his glare sharp as a blade. "And none of you will do nothing either. Get the fck out of here."

The crowd roared at Alex's audacious comeback. Security tightened their hold as Riku lunged slightly forward, his fists clenched, while Alex didn't budge.

The tension boiled over, and the guards quickly separated them, dragging Alex and Riku back to their respective corners.

Cameras flashed incessantly, reporters scrambling to capture the chaos.

The announcer's voice barely managed to cut through the noise. "Ladies and gentlemen, what a heated moment between Alex Makunouchi and Riku Tanaka! This fight is going to be fireworks!"

Finally, the middleweight fighters took the stage.

"In the middleweight division, Takamura Mamoru!"

Takamura confidently stepped onto the scale.

"Takamura Mamoru weighs in at 159 pounds!"

"And the reigning JBC Middleweight Champion, Yoshiaki Yajima!"

Yajima approached the scale with a serious demeanor.

"Yoshiaki Yajima weighs in at 159 pounds!"

The two fighters faced off, their eyes locked in mutual respect but fierce competition. The crowd cheered as the intensity between them promised a thrilling battle.

The weigh-ins concluded, but the energy in the room lingered, charged with anticipation. The chaos of Alex and Riku's face-off became the talk of the event, setting the stage for an unforgettable night.

Note:

What really happened earlier that day"Alex had just arrived at the venue with his team. As he made his way toward the restrooms, he crossed paths with Riku and his crew. Riku, eager to provoke him, stepped forward and sneered.

"Where's all that talk now, Alex?" Riku challenged.

Alex didn't flinch. He stood tall, his gaze steady and unbothered by Riku's words.

His teammates immediately stepped forward, trying to surround Alex and intimidate him. But Alex didn't move an inch. He remained calm and unfazed.

Before things could escalate any further, security arrived, noticing the tension. The guards quickly intervened and separated the two groups. Alex calmly walked off toward the other restroom, still unshaken.

To be continued…