01x06 - A Figure to Chase After

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I've been fighting to get it all for awhile

Running towards my dream at mach 50

Whirling winds tear through the sky

and I promise to become better than I was yesterday

The blue sky got twisted up with dark clouds

The wind that I waited for pressed onto my shoulder

and in my hand I grasped onto

The flash from a thunderbolt out of the blue

When I stopped running after so long

and opened these fists that have been thrown so often

Inside of them were traces

of the first step I'd taken to make it here

Tomorrow will take care of itself

Tears will come as the winds continue until morning

And to us as we grew it was like

A thunderbolt out of the blue

To wrap things up, we'll hear a
word from both competitors.

First, the challenger, Date Eiji.

Above all else, I would like to give Ricardo my thanks.

After all, he brought the belt all
the way from Mexico just for me.

And now the champion, Ricardo Martinez.



expect too much from him.

Now, if both fighters could shake hands.

S-Shake hands?

Round 6: A Figure to Chase After

Excuse me...

Hey...

That was the tense scene at the press conference, where
the sparks were already flying between the fighters.

The world title match, now three days away,

will surely be an even more fearsome confrontation.

I'll can't believe how hard it was to
breathe while watching that conference.

If I had been there in person, I
would have had a heart attack.

Hello, Makunouchi residence.

T's me!

Takamura-san?

You're coming with me for
roadwork tomorrow morning.

It's gonna be early, so don't be late!

He never invites me to go running with him.

Why did we go to a park that's so far away?

We could just run along the
riverbank like we always do.

Shut up already!

Should be any minute now.

Any minute now?

Date-san!

What's with you guys?

Kind of out of the way just for roadwork.

This is the old man's course.

Long time no see.

We're tagging along.

Whatever you say.

I-l watched the press conference!

It was so nerve-wracking!

You still know how to put on a show, you old dog.

Hey, I was pretty nervous too.

Well, I guess it really took a bit of
acting to keep things under control.

He gave you your only black mark!

I bet you wanted to slug him right there!

Date-san would never do that!

He's not like you, Takamura-san.

Actually, I really was about to slug him one.

I was making a fist before I realized it!

Seriously?

Well, there's a lot to it.

But...

what I said back there was the truth.

I feel very grateful to Ricardo
from the bottom of my heart.

It was really cool!

Thanking him for bringing the belt
isn't something most people would do.

That's not it.

What I'm really grateful for...

It's been seven years.

Seven years...

that's how long it's been since
Date-san first fought the champion.

Yes,

seven years...

For seven years

he's reigned atop the world's summit.

He's stronger than he was back
then, and he's still my goal.

When I retired, when I made my comeback,

and even the fact that I'm boxing at all right now...

All of it is because of him.

All of it?

Yeah.

If I didn't have a goal like Ricardo Martinez,



I'm glad he remained the champion these seven years.

From the bottom of my heart..

I think I'm starting to understand why Date-san

is so fixated on the WBA belt and Ricardo Martinez.

B-By the way, what do you think your chances are?

Wouldn't fight him if I didn't think I could take him.

He came right out and said it!

That's great!

Unfortunately, I don't really
have a plan for beating him.

Nothing?

Lefts, rights, hooks, uppercuts, defense, instincts...

They've all been refined to exceptionally
high levels, and he's incredibly well-rounded.

T-Then how are you going to-

Dumbass!

When you get to the top of the world,

you can't rely on brainy crap
like a battle plan for victory!

Ricardo is really strong!

So if you wanna beat him, you just gotta be stronger!

That's a simple way of looking at it, but it suits you.

What's that supposed to mean?

It means you've got the right idea...

The years have made him into
areal monster of a champion.

But I'm not the same as I used to be either.

I hope you're looking forward to seeing who gets
the belt strapped on him once the match is over.

Date-san...

Date-san must have been watching the champion,
and chasing him from behind like this the entire time.

Like a light shining through a seven-year haze...

He never lost sight of it, followed
it, and now he's finally caught up.

He's amazing.

Date-san is really incredible.

I'm..

I'm going to follow Date-san's figure too!

And

one day...

Date-san!

Please win!

Please, please become the world champion!

Don't scream outta the blue like that!

Ow!
Don't scream outta the blue like that!

Ow!
You stupid, idiotic moron!

You stupid, idiotic moron!

Ow!
You stupid, idiotic moron!

You stupid, idiotic moron!

Don't turn the lights on.

I'm fine like this.

Tomorrow's the day.

When the match is over, bring Yuji into the ring.

I bet he'll be really happy.

Getting held up by his world champion dad
in front of tens of thousands of people.

This is something you've wanted
more than anything else.

All we can really do is watch over you.

But let me ask you for one thing...

Please come back safely.

That's the same thing you said to me seven years ago.

You told me

that it was like I never really came back from Mexico.

It was in Mexico that Ricardo Martinez

destroyed my confidence and my dignity.

When I came home, I found out you'd
collapsed, and our child had miscarried.

He's like a devil that took everything away from me.

But on the other hand, when I was just a shell of myself,

he's the god who helped me find the
soul I needed to start boxing again.

I'm going to fight a man who's
both a god and a devil to me.

Fear, expectation, hope, and anxiety
are all swelling up inside me.

I guess I'm just making you more nervous.

But...

it's weird.

It hasn't been like this since I got my scar...

Ever since then, it's always throbbed
like hell before every match,

but now, the scar on my nose doesn't ache at all.

It's the best proof that I've finally made it.

Just a little further...

A little further and I'll have all of my life back.

And the final step...

is to beat Ricardo Martinez!

I will win!

So I can be who I really am!

This is one hell of a crowd.

This is the match between the historic world champion
and the leader of the Japanese boxing scene.

No boxing fan would pass this up!

Where'd Ippo go off to?

Maybe he got lost in the crowd.

That'd be just like him.

Seeing all these people and this poster makes it feel real.

Date-san's world title match is today!

Please win, Date-san!

I'm so tense, my heart is pounding!

Why are you getting tense?

Still, this is an incredible arena!

The seating capacity is 11,000.

That's about three times bigger than Korakuen Hall.

This is amazing.

Date-san is going to fight in a place like this.

Do you take off your shoes?

Yeah, these are called box seats.

You don't see laid-back seating like
this very often in the boxing world.

And now, before the main event begins,

please turn your attention to the monitors for
some highlights from both of our fighters' careers.

The WBA World Featherweight
Champion, Ricardo Martinez.

He became the champion at 21 and first crossed paths

with tonight's challenger in his second title defense.

It's Date!

He's so young, he didn't have a beard yet!

What was this match like?

Date-san's first title match...

The first match ended 1 minute and


Before the champion's overwhelming strength, the challenger's
dreams were shattered in the Mexican ring. What's with this?

Before the champion's overwhelming strength, the challenger's
dreams were shattered in the Mexican ring. It's so one-sided!

Before the champion's overwhelming strength, the challenger's dreams
were shattered in the Mexican ring. And the match is about to start too.

Before the champion's overwhelming strength, the challenger's dreams were
shattered in the Mexican ring. How the hell do you beat a guy like that?

He's a damn monster.

Instead of getting them warmed
up, it's silenced the whole crowd.

B-But I'm sure the crowd will get heated
up once Date-san's footage runs!

And now the challenger, Date Eiji.

And now the challenger, Date Eiji.
See?

After having retired from boxing...
See?

After having retired from boxing...

After having retired from boxing...
Date's punches are impressive too!

That match was hot!

Seeing this raises my expectations!

S-See...

everyone's better now.

It must be hard for you.

Well, Ricardo does have quite the record after
reigning at the top of the world for so long.

No matter how you look at it,
the old man's at a disadvantage.

B-But-

That's right!

The old man was knocked off of the world summit
once before, but made his way back up a second time.

The guy who stayed at the top against
the guy who climbed back up...

Let's see which one's stronger.

Hey... Ippo?

What's with him?

Is he going to the bathroom?

Date-san...

It's Makunouchi!

The Japanese Champ!

Are you hereto give Date your regards?

Yes.

Excuse me! Coming through!

This must be Date-san's...

G-Good afternoon!

Thanks for coming out, Makunouchi-san.

Today...

Today my papa is gonna become the world champion!

You're Yuji-kun, right?

Everything will be okay!

Your father's really strong!

I'm sure he's going to become the world champion!

Yes!

D-Date-san!

Today's match, um...

Makunouchi...

I'll be waiting for you

at the top of the world.

I will...

never forget this!

Never, no matter how far away he gets...

I'll chase him and chase him, then one day I'll...

So,

please win!

Please stay as my goal!

Date-san!

That took you a while.

You get something to eat?

So, how is the old man?

He's ready to go!

He looks like he's in good condition!



Alright!

Might as well cheer for him!

Oh, yeah! It's gonna get hot in here!

C'mon, Date-san!

Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for the wait.

Both competitors will now make their way to the ring!

From the blue corner, the first to
enter is the challenger, Date Eiji!

After seven long years, it's his second world title match!

Following a temporary retirement, he
made his way back up from the bottom!

He walks the path of glory once more!

And now, with the hearts of the nation behind him,

Japan's Date Eiji stands in the ring!

And now, in the red corner,

the WBA World Featherweight Champion!

Ricardo Martinez!

The myth in action!

The living legend!

Seven years and ten months since he took the throne!

It's his 17th title defense!

A name that will undoubtedly be passed down
through boxing history for generations!

The super champion from Mexico!

Ricardo Martinez makes his first
appearance in a Japanese ring!

It's getting tense!

I might not be as bad as Ippo,
but my heart's still throbbing!

I'll can't take it!

My heart's going to explode!

I wonder how Date-san feels standing in the ring right now!?

I can't believe how calm he looks.

I'm sure the memories of the last seven
years are swirling around in his brain,

Eiji...

You're one hell of a man.

I'm proud of you.

Seven years...

The wait felt both long and short,

but I made it.

All of my answers are herein this ring today.

I was able to make it this far believing in that.

All that's left is to go get them.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the wait is over.

We will now begin the WBA
World Featherweight Title Match.

In the red corner,

weighing 125.5 pounds,

from Mexico,

the WBA World Featherweight Champion...

Ricardo Martinez!

In the blue corner,

weighing 125.6 pounds,

from Nakadai Gym,

the 1st ranked WBA Featherweight...

Date

Eiji!

And now, both fighters head to their corners.

Will the champion's reign continue?

Or will the challenger write
himself into the pages of history?

The bell is about to ring!

I don't intend on giving you a game plan.

Just use your experience and
technique to beat the challenger.

Hopefully, this crowd will see the
brilliance of real boxing tonight.

For now, just watch how he starts out.

Don't rush in until you get a
grasp of his timing and rhythm.

I know,

but I've got to go greet him at least.

It's been seven years,



It's starting.

Now it's begun!

The WBA World Featherweight Title Match!

The two veterans touch gloves in
center ring and then get some space!

Who will have his name engraved in
history as the strongest featherweight?

They both wait to see how the other will start!

The challenger makes his move!

A left!

Another left!

It lands as the champion's hand was knocked aside!

The opening hit is a left from the challenger!

Some night

I can't remember why

We stayed up 'til 4 AM ['til 4 AM]

We talked about nothing
important and then made love

The person can't be close her eyes

The person can't be close your eyes

And now while she calls my name inside her dream

Kisses me so I'll fall asleep

Don't I wish that we could stay right there?

Yeah, yeah, yeah...

You shut the alarm to work to sleep that day

I'd do anything if I could make
this time rewind forever

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