01x06 - The Distance Between Me and Glory

[bunniefuu]

He Frogs him good!

This was how he knocked him down the first time!

One!

I knocked down
the champ again!

Two!

I must be pretty
damn good.

Three!

I don't have Takamura-san’s wild spirit or Ippo’s explosiveness.

I thought I was the baddest fighter in my
neighborhood, but I was just a frog in the well.

Four!

But now that I've been around boxing specialists, this frog has learned how to survive.

My “new secret weapon” are those six years worth of survival tactics!

We can’t fly like birds.

But we struggle and never give up.

We keep leaping toward the sun,
even if we fail repeatedly!

Look.

It’s well within reach!

The belt's right in front of you!

Six!

Seven!

Eight!

Whoa! The champion gets up at the eight count!

Can you fight?

He nods at the referee’s inquiry, and the fight continues!

The belt was so close...

yet so far!

He can do it!

The belt is his once he knocks him down again.

Why do you look so grim, Senpai?

Shouldn’t you be pleased?

The fact that he still got up was huge.

You worry too much!

Aoki-san will...

What? He’s out of steam?

A title match is twice as intense as any normal match.

It makes a guy lose his stamina at an unbelievable rate.

And there’s the bell!

That’s the end of the sixth round!

The challenger looks up to the heavens wondering how he didn’t win.

There are only four rounds left! What ups and downs await us?

Imae’s certainly the worst off, but Aoki has never fought on this stage before.

If this match comes down to who can stick it out the longest...

A battle of wills, huh?

Aoki-san.

I'm glad you survived that. Now sit down.

He’s good.

He’s definitely the best challenger I’ve ever faced.

He’s a self-made man just like me...
but he's also not like me.

But in what way?

Imae... Imae! Do you hear me?

This fight is now a test of endurance!

Think back to your grueling training!

Remember what you’re fighting for and fight for it!

What I'm fighting for?

You kicked her to the curb?
Your goddess of victory?

I'll show you how powerful a guy can be when she's looking over him.

I see now.

That’s a huge difference!

Aoki! The belt is all but yours!

I know it’s tough to win the title!

But you need to be strong, get over it, and...

I didn’t need to tell him all that.

Round seven!

Yeah!

He got his energy back!

He has his game face on!

Once I become the champion, treat me like a boss.

Fine.

I’ll do whatever you want.

Snatch that belt! Go get him, Aoki!

You can do it, Aoki-san!

Don’t think of the consequences! Get in there!

You’re almost there!

Masaru!

The challenger is on the hunt for the title!

What is he fighting for?

I can feel it directly through his gloves.

Those fists received strength and encouragement from someone.

Those fists are fighting for
someone watching over them.

So what have I been fighting for?

To become the champion?

No.

That’s not it!

Don’t make fun of Sachiko!

Kacchan...

I remember.

Sorry, Sachiko.

If only I were stronger...

Sachiko...

What do you think? Looking good?

Don’t overdo it for my sake.

Sachiko, it was for your sake!

Dammit!

Dammit! Dammit!

Why don’t we get away for a while?

Get away? Not a chance!

I’ll practice more than anyone!

You're bothering me!

I need to concentrate for my match!

Quit hanging around me!

Don’t ever come to see me!

The champion clinches yet again in this round!

Trade punches like a man!

That's cheating!

And you call yourself a champion?

Sachiko...

I started boxing for your sake, yet...

I tossed you aside.

I willfully divorced myself from you.

A body blow! The champion pitches forward!

I’m following him...

and I can’t stop it!

You can’t fight it.

A man’s instinct is not immune against this move!

So here, take a good look at what’s over there...

Your hell!

Th-There it is!

His Look-Away!

Imae will eat this Frog Punch unguarded.

He won!

Impossible!

Imae-san is not looking away!

He didn’t take the bait? But why?

S... Sachiko!

Why is Sachiko here?

What is she praying for?

Kacchan!

Is she... actually...

praying for me?

She's always so humble.

She would always worry about me,

support me,

and watch over me.

She’s my...

goddess!

You dumbass!

He’s still going for the Frog Punch!

The belt’s mine now! Take this!

Why? Why isn’t he looking away?

I’ll never avert my eyes again!

Not after seeing what's dear to me!

God, please connect!

The Frog Punch completely misses its mark!

He leaps with all his might, but it doesn’t connect!

He just flies through the air!

All that power gave him too much motion! Crap!

A right!

He shoots down the Frog right in midair!

He makes a nosedive for the mat!

Masaru!

as*h*le!

I ain’t going down!

The belt’s all but mine! I ain’t giving up!

Amazing. Is this the strength you get from being watched over?

He punches from an awkward position!

I once cowered in the face of this intensity.

But now I realize a simple fact.

Something he showed me.

A man can keep going if
someone watches over him.

I thought I couldn’t reach the top without sacrificing something.

But he rose up while retaining everything.

He's not a boxer as far as I'm concerned.

I’m not going to lose to him!

I was jealous of him!

He taught me, the hard way,

that a man is strong if he has someone to lean on!

I have no choice but to respect him!

I’m not giving up until the very last second!

I’ll be the champ!

I will conquer this formidable man and
reunite with Sachiko with renewed pride!

Those were too light!

Those two are completely and utterly exhausted!

If you can’t deliver a finishing blow, hit him till he falls!

Mind over matter!

Keep hitting him and let your spirit do all the work!

We’re now seeing a tremendous slugfest in the middle of the ring!

Nope, more of a slapfest!

The weak sounds of the gloves tapping fill the arena!

The hits keep coming, never stopping for a second, yet...

neither fighter gives up!

Neither stands down as they keep punching!

They fell over, but it’s not a down!

They slipped and fell while grappling each other!

The mat is covered with their sweat!

Both faces are so swollen you
can barely recognize them!

Both boxers are literally going in slow motion!

It’s like both those guys are slogging through mud!

Yeah, a real slogfest.

Screw this.

We know how this is gonna end.

If it comes to a decision, they both lose.

He’s so hot.

He’s “hot”?

Do you know what “hot” even looks like?

No, he’s hot.

He may not fight like you or Ippo-kun.

But he gives it his all just like the both of you!

I don’t care who wins or loses,
he’s the hottest man around!

Less than 20 seconds left in the last round!

This match has been a give-and-take of knockdowns, but will it come to a decision?

The curtains are about to close on these ten long rounds!

Oh! A downward right!

The challenger’s falling! We've been waiting for this development!

Crap! I can’t keep myself up!

I’m going down!

Masaru... Masaru!

Huh?

His jaw's wide open!

Right there! If I can put my fists up there...

Right in front of me!

Put your fists up! Snatch that belt!

You legs better do as I say!

Brace yourselves! Move!

Remember our six years together!

Remember how we ran every g*dd*mn day!

Six years!

Every day...

Every day!

He’s still up!

He braces himself just shy of the mat!

And now he’s about to...

He’s Frogging him? In that condition?

Can he do it?

You can do it! Come on!

You didn’t box six years for nothing!

You can do it, Masaru. You can do it!

I’ve always believed

that I’ll reach the sun if I just keep leaping!

You see that? It’s right in front of you!

If you reach out with your hands, you’ll grab the belt!

Go for it, Aoki!

Almost there!

He connects!

It’s a clean hit on the champion’s chin!

But...

that was only a small hop!

It was only a Half Frog!

He had nothing.

That would have been a perfect
punch if he wasn’t so spent!

But it still left a mark!

Both fighters fall, one on top of the other!

They’re out of strength!

They’ve exhausted every last drop!

The bell signals the end of the match!

This fierce struggle will come down to a decision!

You did great in this slogfest!

You’re both champs!

You did great, Imae.

You kicked butt, Aoki!

That was a great fight.

You think so?

What’s wrong? You ain’t gonna clap?

It’s not over.

Masaru’s fight is not over until we hear the decision.

I’m pooped.

Kimura-san?

What do you guys think, objectively?

You mean the decision?

I think they’re really close on points.

I want Aoki-san to win! I want him to be the champion!

Hmph, "Aoki" and "champion" don't go together.

Aoki has a one-point lead in my book.

Please agree with me, you judges!

Let Aoki win!

They've finished their scoring.

The decisions will now be read!

Judge Uchida!

95 to 94!

Imae!

Yes!

Is he blind?!

Aoki won by a hair!

Judge Morita!

95 to 94!

Aoki!

Masaru!

All right!

Holy cow! It’s a split decision!

But it’s only by a narrow margin.

To which player will the last judge give his decision?

Will it be Imae? Or Aoki?

Which one will get the belt?

And it’s...

Referee Shimakawa!

94 to...

How much? How many points?

Tell us already!

M-My stomach hurts.

Please make my Masaru the champion!

I have no regrets. We slugged it out till the end.

The results don’t matter.

Did I make it?

Have I reached the belt?

94 to...

94!

Draw!

I repeat, according to the three-judge decision,

the Japanese lightweight title match has ended in a draw!

Holy buckets, it’s a tie!

The champion defends his belt with a tie!

It won’t go to the challenger!

However, this match has kept us on the edges of our seats till the bitter end!

There are no losers in this brave struggle!

Let’s go, Aoki.

So I didn’t make it,

huh?

Just like I predicted, they both lost!

P-Please say they both won.

There ain’t no winners in a slogfest!

Even if it was a slogfest, I'm still moved!

To think this drawn out slogfest would end in a draw!

Good one!

Quit screwing around and go cheer him up!

A-Aoki...

Look...

Now look...

You...

I fought thinking this was my last chance.

You didn’t lose!

It was really close!

“Really close” ain’t making it any better.

I didn’t get the belt. That’s all there is to it.

I think I’m...

Don’t say another word, Aoki!

Hey, what happened to your cheek?

Shaddap!

Your woman did this to me!

It’s all thanks to your screwy slogfest!

We don’t know which one of you
sonuvabitching losers even won!

You ruined everything!

You disgust me!

Way to pour salt on a wound!

This wasn’t the time or the place!

Don’t cry, Aoki!

Sachiko.

I... finally realized,

you were always there looking after me.

I was only able to keep going because of you.

Forgive me, Sachiko!

Okay.

Aoki-san!

Now I get it.

So you got back your goddess of victory?

It all makes sense now.

Thank you very much!

Don’t thank me, fer chrissakes!

Hell, why didn't you beat me to a bloody pulp?

It woulda went down better.

You did great, Masaru.

Tomiko!

Don’t worry. I’ll make you feel all better.

Are we clear, Takamura-san?

You’d better apologize!

I get it!

If Aoki-san says he’ll retire,
it’s all your fault, Takamura-san!

You don’t have to remind me!

Dammit, why should I apologize to him?

Just do it!

I mean it, you were really hot!

I was?

You almost made me swoon, Masaru!

Wow, now I know I’ll become the champion next time!

Of course you will!

Ow-ow-ow-ow!

He sounds happy enough. This can wait.

It doesn’t look like he’ll retire.

I agree.

Yeah, this can wait.

Anyway, good job tonight, Aoki-san.