01x08 - Spirit for One Last Attack

[bunniefuu]

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

This is the challenger's chance!

Whoa, but it's a punch that
barely taps against the guard!

Does he not have the strength to fight back!?

No!

He was gauging the distance!

A twisting punch?

The corkscrew blow?

The champion's guarding his head!

His heart's wide open!

The perfect scenario...

Go!

Heartbreak Shot!

Round 8: Spirit for One Last Attack

An elbow block!

What was that!?

Date cried out all of a sudden!

Eiji!

It's the worst thing that could've happened!

I don't know if he saw it
coming or if it was reflexive, but...

he avoided the old man's biggest shot!

Not only that, but he just drilled his
hand into that hard and pointy elbow.

Without a doubt, the old man's fist is shattered.

Forget the Heartbreak Shot.

He won't even be able to throw regular punches now.

To think you had that kind of strength left.

But, it's a shame.

You showed your trump card, and it was still ineffective.

You've got nothing left.

The champion continues his surging rush!

Will he be able to finish it!?

Amazing...

Is it over?

Is there nothing left he can do?

To think that the wall around the world title was so high

that even Date-san... couldn't reach it.

My mouth is full of blood.

Did | break a tooth?

No...

my tongue isn't touching anything.

He broke my jaw!

He got my ribs too.

And to top it off...

the joints in my right hand are broken.

He's taken away everything that I needed to win,

No,

I might've never had a chance to begin with.

I guess I can't beat him after all,

No matter how many times I fight him.

I...

Stop!

{survived.

But...

why did I bother?

I don't have any weapons left to fight with.

-it's...

Eiji..

It's enough, isn't it?

There's no one who could have made it this far!

It's enough, right!?

Enough?

That's right.

I'm out of weapons.

I don't even know why I should bother standing up.

If I can't win... If I don't have any chance...

then I might as well..

Please wash this off.

R-Right.

Honey, just a little more!

There are only three rounds left!

We'll watch over you until the very end!

Until the end...

Pops...

C-Coach...

Keep quiet!

I guess it's not enough for you yet, Eiji.

Win...

What's that? I can't hear you.

Win...

I'll win.

Well, if you can still say something like
that, there's no reason to stop you.

Coach...

If he can still move even a finger, he'll keep at it.

We've been through a lot together.

Go get it done, Eiji.

Are they still going to fight?

From a second's perspective, I question whether
or not they should let him continue fighting.

There's no point in continuing.

Bill...

This is boxing.

There's no telling what could happen next.

As long as he stays standing,

there's always the possibility that a miracle could occur.

Seconds out!

My job is

to lower that possibility to zero.

Even if that means

Eiji Date becomes an "unfortunate accident!

Mama, how is Papa?

Is he okay?

Just watch until the end.

Okay.

I thought I was going to stop him.

I thought I wanted him to stop.

But...

when I saw his eyes, I couldn't bring myself to say the words.

if he had stopped there,

everything would have gone back to
the way things were seven years ago.

For him, this fight is how he can regain his sense of self.

All we can do is watch...

and wait.

So that he can really be himself when he comes back.

We're heading into the tenth round now!

Does the challenger have enough
strength left to turn this around?

Both fighters head out from their corners.

Date-san, show him your spirit!

Only three rounds left!

Only three rounds left!
Ippo, you say something too, damn it!

Ippo, you say something too, damn it!

That's right... That's all I can do.

Cheer him on!

Date-san!

You can still do it!

The champion is exhausted too!

That's right, Date!

We believe in you!

We came to see you become the champion!

A "Date" chant shakes the Kokugikan as
it comes down to these final moments!

The challenger answers the
cheers by taking the offensive!

Left! Another left!

Will the challenger be able to survive this round??

He's still got some speed left!

That's a good left!

His right's broken!

All he has is his left!

The champion's figured it out too.

He's not worried about a right at all.

I know your right fist is broken,

and just dodging your left is nothing.

I'll throw a counter against this left and that will be the end.

Aright!

What!?

H-He threw a right!

The champion's expression shows more shock than pain!

He's stopped moving!

The challenger moves forward!

It becomes an inspiration for earth-shaking cheers!

The challenger is on the offensive!

Your right fist is broken.

How can you still attack?

I've remembered...

why I'm still standing.

The reason I'm fighting!

Can we get a comment?

Any words on your plans for the future?

Does she not want an autograph?

Aiko just came along because we asked her to.

Her name is Aiko, huh?

What'd you think?

I was great in today's match, right!?

I-I don't really know.

It's so scary watching you box.

Listen up!

I've got big news! Don't be too shocked, okay?

The world title!

My world title match has finally been decided!

It's finally come!

Now I can finally show you...

that I'm the best in the world!

I promise, I'll show you!

This might not be a good time
to tell you about my news then.

Did you say something?

No.

Good luck, Eiji-san!

That's right.

I wanted to show Aiko...

how cool I am!

Looking good in front of my woman...

It might not be an impressive dream,

but to me, it's the most important thing!

That's

what makes me who I am!

He still won't go down?

I want to win!

I've got to look good for her!

There's noway I can back off looking this pathetic!

I can feel his bones are broken.

This is bad.

At this rate, Eiji Date really will
become an unfortunate accident.

Ricardo!

What are you hesitating for!?

He's still standing!

A left!

The champion is off balance!

He's twisting his right.

He's gonna use it!

The Heartbreak Shot!

You can break all the bones you want.

But in exchange,

I'll take your

life!

It made it through!

The Heartbreak Shot!

His trump card explodes!

Ricardo!

The champion's time...

...has stopped!

A full power left.

He'll get a free shot!

Get him, Eiji!

He can't dodge this left.

It'll land!

Date-san will win!

Aiko...

are you watching?

I'm back!

This is who I am.

Date Eiji!

W-Why?

Aiko...

are you watching?

I'm back!

This is who I am.

Date Eiji!

W-Why?

How sad, Eiji Date.

Your speed and timing were both perfect.

Had your power matched them...

I might have been frozen in time.

if your right fist hadn't been broken, you
might have been able to cut me down.

From now on, when I'm asked...

which boxer I respect the most,

I'll answer...

He lives on an island nation in the Pacific,

a samurai that I met in Japan.

The champion's right!

We'll never

meet in the ring again,

but I will never forget your name.

Please dodge it,

Date-san!

Damn... it...

Goodbye,

Eiji Date.

The match is over!

With this final down, the referee crosses his arms!

The championship does not change hands in
this WBA World Featherweight Title Match!

Round 10, 2 minutes and 14 seconds!

Japan's Date shatters against the legendary champion!

S-Stretcher! Get a stretcher!

Hey... Date's not moving...

Not good... The way he fell was bad.

Date!

The Mexican flag is raised a midst the silent arena!

D-Date-san...

The champion was indeed mighty!

But the man who faced the legendary
champion head on deserves our applause!

Thank you!

Thank you, Date Eiji!

You did great, Date!

You moved me, man!

"I've never faced a boxer so brave and spirited"

"Eiji Date was a magnificent challenger

That's just a bunch of polite lip service.

Did you see the champion's face after the match?

Not a scratch on him.

To think that Date-san would lose so shockingly...

Multiple broken ribs, his lower
jaw had numerous fractures,

and his right hand was broken clear through to the wrist.

It's impressive that he was still able to fight like that.

He was so close.

If only that last right had worked.

Give it up already.

What's done is done.

The old man did a great job.

He lived up to his role as the supreme challenger.

However, things still ended up like this.

I don't think the WBA Featherweight Belt is
going anywhere until Ricardo Martinez retires.

What do you think Date-san is going to do now?

He was hurt pretty bad and, even after
he's healed, if you consider his age...

Well, he'll probably reti-

Please.

Just...

don't say anything else.

Ippo...

Oh, you're all here.

Date's regained consciousness.

Thankfully, in spite of all that
happened, there's no brain damage.

They're going to keep an eye out for symptoms, but
it looks like there won't be anything life threatening.

Is that right?

After the way he fell, thank goodness.

That's a relief.

Can the old man talk?

Well, he seemed to be talking to his family,
so maybe if it's just for a short while...

Get going.

B-But...

I can't think of anything to say.



or what to ask him.

You should still go.

There's a meaning...

to you seeing him.

Come on,

I'll drive you there.

I'll go get changed.

I had already noticed it.

Since the match against Makunouchi-san,

the scar on your nose had stopped aching.

Yes...

You had already regained your identity.

I wasn't able to say it back then, but...

seeing you full of confidence again made me so happy!

So proud!

And now I can finally say it...

Welcome home...

Eiji-san.

Excuse me.

Um...

I heard Date-san had regained consciousness, so...

Honey,

Makunouchi-san is here.

Do you understand me?

Maku... nou...

D-Date-san!

I-It's fine, don't try to talk!

I'll leave right away!

Maku... nouchi...

My... hand...

Take... it...

W-What is it?

What should I do with your hand?

Do you want me to grab it?

But the fractures...

Baton...

pass.

It's... yours now.

Makunouchi-san,

he still needs his rest.

So for today...

Right.

Well, take care.

Mister!

You're the Japanese Champion, right?

You're the one who's going to
challenge that guy next, right!?

You'll get revenge for Papa, right!?

I'm sorry.

l can't do it.

Ricardo Martinez is too strong.

As | am now,



That guy's a weakling!

And a coward!

If I was bigger...

Yuji,

weren't you listening?

Makunouchi-san...

Makunouchi-san said...

that he can't as he is now.

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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