Chapter 128: Trauma

Inside Kamogawa Gym – 7:00 AMThe gym was already alive with activity early in the morning. Yagi stood near the entrance, scanning the room. To his left, Alex Makunouchi was in the middle of an intense core workout, with Coach Kamogawa holding his legs down to keep him from lifting them during his sit-ups. Further back, Takamura was sparring with Aoki, while Kimurawas focused on the speed bag, his rhythm sharp and steady.

Yagi adjusted the posters in his hand and spoke up, "Where's Ippo?"

At the sound of his voice, Alex paused mid-sit-up, glancing toward him. "Oh, you're here, Yagi-san." He sat up fully, wiping a bit of sweat from his forehead before casually adding, "Ippo's on a datewith Kumi."

The room suddenly went silent.

Takamura stopped moving. Aoki, mid-step, froze in place, while Kimura's fists hovered just before striking the speed bag.

Takamura turned his head slowly, his expression utterly baffled. "Am I hearing this right? Ippo? On a date?"

Aoki blinked. "Ippo has that kind of courage?"

Kimura shook his head in disbelief. "This is a miracle."

Alex smirked at their reactions. "I convinced him. I'm trying to change his wuss personality."

Yagi, deciding to move on, nodded. "Since Ippo isn't here, you can just tell him this good news yourself." He spread out the poster in his hands.

Alex's eyes narrowed as he read the bold letters. "Isn't that my fight? It's finalized already?"

Yagi nodded. "Yes, I'll read it out loud." He cleared his throat.

"Alex Makunouchi is set to defend his WBA, WBO, and WBC Lightweight Titles for the first time against former WBC and WBA Lightweight Champion of the World, Marcus Rosario.

The co-main event will feature Aoki Masaru defending his JBC Lightweight Title for the first time against the number one contender, Shinobu Iga.

The event will take place at the Tokyo Dome on February 17, 1993."

Aoki's jaw dropped. "Wait… I have a fight against Iga?!"

Kamogawa released Alex's legs, allowing him to lay back flat on the mat. Then he turned to Aoki. "Yes. And this will be the toughest fight of your career."

Aoki puffed out his chest, trying to play it cool. "Don't worry. I can handle this." He grinned proudly, though a bead of sweat ran down his temple.

Kimura, still processing the announcement, pointed at the second poster in Yagi's hand. "What about that one, Yagi-san?"

Takamura, sensing something important, took a step forward and stared at the poster.

Yagi caught his look and smirked. "This is the good news for the three of you. That's why I asked if Ippo was here."

With a dramatic motion, he spread the second poster and began to read:

"March 7, 1993 – Mamoru Takamura is set to defend his JBC Middleweight Title for the fourth time against the number two contender, Takaaki Osami Ito."

"The co-main event will feature Ippo Makunouchi's first JBC Featherweight Title defense against his former rival, the number one featherweight contender, Takeshi Sendo."

"The third major fight of the night will see JBC Jr. Lightweight Champion Tatsuya Kimura defend his title against the number five contender from the Philippines, Nefuma Ozca."

Kimura immediately stopped hitting the speed bag. His arms dropped to his sides. "Wait… so all of us have an upcoming fight?"

Kamogawa crossed his arms and nodded. "That's right. And to make sure you're all prepared, I've invited an old friend."

Just as he said that, the gym door creaked open, and an old, short man walked in, accompanied by a fluffy white dog.

Alex sat up fully and smirked. "Old man Nekota."

SMACK!

Kamogawa slapped Alex's knee, making him wince.

"Show some respect!" Kamogawa barked. "Call him by his name properly."

Alex rubbed his knee and quickly corrected himself. "My bad—Nekota-san. You're here."

Nekota, smiling as he petted his dog, stepped inside. "I'm here to help train the five of you-dani." His eyes wandered around the gym as he counted the fighters. Then he frowned. "Wait… why are there only four of you-dani?"

Alex grinned. "Ippo is on a date."

Nekota's eyes widened before his lips curled into a nostalgic smile. "Ah, youth! I miss my youth…" He let out a wistful sigh, then turned to Kamogawa. "You know, Gen-chan, back in the day, you used to get rejected a lot. You'd come crying, and we'd end up drinking all night-dani."

Kamogawa turned red and clenched his fists. "What the hell are you talking about?!"

BAM!

Kamogawa punched Nekota on the shoulder.

WHAM!

Nekota punched him back just as hard.

The two old men started exchanging blows, neither backing down.

Kimura and Aoki simultaneously placed their hands on their faces, shaking their heads in disbelief.

Takamura, on the other hand, laughed hysterically, clearly enjoying the scene. "This is great! Keep going, old men!"

Alex, watching Takamura's delighted expression, shook his head and muttered under his breath, "What a weirdo…"

San Juan, Puerto Rico (Marcus Rosario's POV)

I've been training harder than ever these past few days. Ever since I lost to Alex, I've never felt this kind of frustration in my life.

I was so complacent… so arrogant… I thought I could beat him easily.

Now, every night when I close my eyes, it torments me with the same question:

"What if I took that fight seriously?"

Would the outcome have changed?

I look down at my hands, clenching them into tight fists. The callouses on my knuckles remind me of the pain, the defeat, the humiliation.

But there is no 'what if' in this world.

I exhale sharply and throw a powerful straightinto the heavy bag, making it swing violently.

Just then, I hear footsteps approaching.

I turn around to see my coach walking toward me. His expression is firm, his eyes filled with purpose.

"Marcus, the fight is finalized. You versus Alex. The rematch will take place at the Tokyo Dome."

The moment those words leave his lips, a rush of adrenaline courses through my body.

It feels like music to my ears.

A slow, determined smirk spreads across my faceas I whisper to myself,

"Wait for me, Alex… I will have my revenge "

Osaka, Japan – Inside the Tokugawa Boxing Gym(Shinobu Iga's POV)

The gym is empty, except for the rhythmic sounds of my punches crashing into the heavy bag.

Bam… Bam… Bam…

I take a deep breath, staring at the bag swinging before me.

In my mind, I imagine it's Alex's flicker jab—that damn jab that felt like a whip, slicing through my guard, shattering my confidence.

But in reality, this is just a regular punching bag.

It doesn't move like Alex.

It doesn't punch back like Alex.

I grit my teeth and launch a right hook at the bag. It swings violently, the chains creaking under the impact. But the sound it makes…

I hate it.

I lift my hands and stare at my gloves.

It's been a year since my last fight. A whole year.

And that last fight? It was against Alex Makunouchi.

That was the peak of my career—when I was still the JBC Lightweight Champion. Back then, I looked at Alex and thought…

"He's just another title defense."

But now?

A year has passed, and in just that short amount of time, Alex has become the WBC, WBA, and WBO Lightweight Champion of the World.

And me?

I'm still here. Stuck in the past.

It's depressing.

Alex is now ranked as the #2 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, and I'm…

Nothing.

I sigh and rest my forehead against the bag, my body trembling.

I've been trying to move on, but no matter how much I try, he's everywhere. Every time I turn on the news, I see his face. Every time I read a boxing magazine, his name is printed in bold.

And now…

I have to see him again.

I clenched my jaw as I looked down.

My next fight has been announced.

I'll be facing Masaru Aoki—Alex's teammate and the current JBC Lightweight Champion.

And the worst part?

Alex is on the same card as me.

He's the main event, fighting Marcus Rosario in their highly anticipated rematch.

That's not what bothers me, though. I already know that Alex is in a league above me. I've accepted that.

What bothers me… is seeing him again.

I never wanted to.

I wish this was all a nightmare. I wish I could wake up and still be the JBC Champion.

I wish I could go back one year and change everything.

But I can't.

And that's what hurts the most.