01x12 - What It Means to Be a Pro

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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

Round 12: What it Means to be a Pro

The challenger doesn't hesitate!

He forces forward with left-right combinations!

The champion is on the defensive!

His punches are heavy!

I can't keep blocking them!

This...

When I get hit in the stomach...

a shock runs through my body.

That's what stopped my legs.

Another left to the body and the
challenger keeps pushing forward!

Left! Right!

They're hammered down on top of his guard!

Solar Plexus Blow.

That'll do the trick.

Solar Plexus?

A punch to the pit of the stomach.

You guys are so worried about Gero-michi playing dirty
that you've overlooked the punch he follows it up with.

Now that you mention it, he never threw
any punches there in the video that we saw.

So it's a secret weapon then?

It's not.

I think he's just pulling off
something he was advised to do.

To be able to do something like that on the
spot means his lower body is in great shape.

His lower body?

The two years we don't know about...

must have been spent running his a*s off.

Gero-michi...

It means that Gero-michi has
spent his time wisely as a boxer.

Aright!

A direct hit to the champion's head!

He's getting hit in the face now!

Is he having trouble?

What are you doing!?

You shouldn't have trouble putting away cannon fodder!

But, is he really cannon fodder?

I mean, he looks pretty strong!

He sure doesn't seem like an underdog.

His record is 8 wins in 8 matches!

He's got a good chance!

Come on, Hammer!

A chant of "Hammer" springs
forth with the challenger's as*ault!

Senpai can't fight back!

He's tightening his guard!

My punches must be affecting him!

Man, the other side's really getting heated up.

Hey...

Over there, by the door...

Isn't that Gero-michi's...

Yeah.

Naomichi...

The whole time...

I kept running.

Even though you weren't there anymore,

{ could still see you clearly in front of me!

I never lost sight of you!

I pushed myself as hard as I could,

I did everything that I possibly could!

How am I, senpai!?

Havel...

gotten any closer!?

You've gotten a lot stronger.

The person who looked up to me...

My first kouhai, Yamada-kun...

He's standing before me as areal pro, as a boxer,

right now!

But...

Senpai...

Yamada-kun...

You still..

Have a lot to learn.

Whoa, the champion has opened his guard!

Is he provoking the challenger to attack him!?

Senpai...

You're the one who is being cornered,

If you won't come, then I will.

What pressure.

Senpai was always so nice.

He's someone who always manages a comeback KO.

There's no telling what he might try if 1 face him down,

but I can't back down now!

This is my chance!

Have faith in those two years!

The challenger charges in!

Ippo-kun, put your guard up
and try to get out of the corner!

This is no time to take him lightly!

He's not!

Ippo's desperate too.

It might've looked like that attack to
the body was what kept him back,

but it was actually because he was intimidated.

To get the momentum going in his direction,
he has to fight back with spirit as well!

He's decided the best way to do that is a
straight-up slugfest with no tricks involved!

That's why he's risking it all to fight back!

If Ippo's being pushed to do all that...

...then Gero-michi has gotten that much stronger.

Everyone else I've fought has fallen after one of those!

How's that!?

I can't believe how strong that swing was!

It feels like the air pressure alone could knock me over!

But there's noway he isn't hurting!

This is my chance!

He still moves forward, even after seeing that uppercut!??

Is he nuts?

There's noway he's not scared,

I'm sure he's fighting against crippling fear right now.

But even so, he'll move forward!

That's how determined he is about this match!

Regardless of the result, once this
match is over, won't have any regrets.

I'll retire.

Your determination for the last
two years wasn't spent in vain!

If you put everything you've learned into this,
then beating Makunouchi is a possibility!

How about that!?

The champion fights back!

But the swing is wide and slices the air!

You can still fight back!?

How about now!?

Anyone else would have fallen by now.

How can he fight back!?

Isn't it working against him?

Aren't my punches affecting him!?

Nao, it's working!

Don't hesitate, keep fighting!

Be confident!

Put everything you've learned in the last two years into it!

Oh, man!

He's really nailing him!

Get it together, Makunouchi!

H-He's taking way too many punches!

He won't be able to-

He will!

The kid has survived stronger
punches and tougher trials than this!

You can do it!

You can take it!

Another hit to the solar plexus!

No, this is bad!

Go, Nao! Finish him!

He falls!

It's the champion's liver blow!

It's the champion's liver blow!
Get to a neutral corner!

After enduring an onslaught, he explodes.
Get to a neutral corner!

After enduring an onslaught, he explodes.

He changes the course of
the match with a single punch!

This is Makunouchi Ippo!

Yamada-kun...

There's still something you haven't learned.

It's a painful lesson,

but I was able to use it as a spring board.

I was able to win the belt because of it.

It's what Date-san taught me.

That's right.

You...

don't know what it's like to lose yet,

Body blows are supposed to take a while before
they have an effect, but the pain that he's in...

It's not just disrupted breathing...

His ribs are probably broken too!

Despite all the punches we landed, he
turned the tables on us with a single attack.

How can his punches be so unfair!?

That damn monster!

The pain is so much that,

instead of getting dizzy, it's making me think more clearly.

This is senpai's liver blow.

He really is amazing.

I'm really glad I made him my goal.

Every other boxer may look up to the world champion,

but I look up to him.

Makunouchi Ippo is my ultimate goal,

I'll stand.

As long as I'm conscious...

As long as I can move...

I'll fight!

FIVE

The way he's hurt... his ribs are definitely busted.

If don't stop the match, I'm sure you'll try to keep going.

The towel...

He's gonna get up!

You're kidding me! He shouldn't
be able to get up after that!

He's still getting up!?

Nao!?

You haven't told Makunouchi everything yet, have you?

He's getting up!

Amazing!

Nao...

Mom,

you don't need to worry anymore.

Ever since I started boxing...

you've been worried about me, right?

But it'll all be over soon.

You're going to quit boxing?

Even though you love it so much?

I have...

a match with senpai coming up.

After that, I'll retire.

Nao...

SIX

I started boxing because I idolize him.

He has always been my goal,

and now I've reached him.

SEVEN

SEVEN
I don't think I can win,

I don't think I can win,

but I won't leave with any regrets.

EIGHT
but I won't leave with any regrets.

EIGHT

To me, this is...

my world title match!

H-He's up!

Korakuen Hall is in shock!

Inspired by the challenger's spirit,
an outpouring of cheers erupts!

Come on, Nao!

You're awesome!

You can do it!

Nao...

You were always so proud.

Mom!

Today I learned how to do a one-two!

I can't really do it right yet.

But Makunouchi-senpai's is awesome!

His hands are so fast that you can't even see them!

After meeting Makunouchi-san

you became so cheerful that it was
like you became a different person.

1 did worry, but it made me happy.

You might be proud of
Makunouchi-san, but I'm proud of you!

I'm proud my son was able to fight
evenly with such an amazing boxer.

So please do your best until the very end, Nao!

Everyone's surprised that
Gero-michi got up except Ippo.

He looks like he expected it.

He's gonna calmly go in for the k*ll.

When I received the request for this
match, I wasn't sure what to do.

But this is a good chance for the kid to
overcome his handicap of being too naive,

so that he can aim for greater heights!

I'll watch in your place, old man.

Whether or not Ippo's got a good grasp on your baton.

We'll find out soon!

Box!

Whoa, the challenger makes the first move!

One-two!

He switches to the body with
his specialty, the liver blow!

But the champion calmly blocks!

Gero-michi...

The punch he learned from Ippo...

One-two!

It connects with his head!

But he doesn't fall, he hangs on!

A direct hit to the liver!

His body is buckling over!

Sen... pai...

He shows incredible grit and doesn't fall!

A second one!

What a ruthless combo!

Senpai...

An uppercut!

He's not allowed to fall!

Nao!

I've always looked up to you.

{idolize you.

Please don't lose.

Keep winning.

I'm proud to say...

that I...

fought against you.

Yamada-kun!

The referee steps in as he falls!

And the bell for the match's end has been rung!

Emerging victorious is the senpai, Makunouchi,
in this battle between former gym mates!

He succeeds in his second
defense of the Japanese title!

Nao? Nao, hang in there!

Are you okay?

Do you understand me?

Is the after taste from beating
down your kouhai not sitting well?

It's just...

I really felt Yamada-kun's punches.

Honestly,

he made me worry more than a few times.

Right now, I'm more relieved that I was
able to beat such a strong challenger.

Well, I suppose you've done your job as the champion.

And now an interview from the champion after having
successfully defended his title with an amazing KO!

How was it having to fight against a former gym mate?

Um...

Come on, Makunouchi!

When all is said and done, it was a second round KO.

Details aside, it's just another win for him.

Though Gero-michi did a great job too.

Yeah.

How did you find the challenger?

It looked like you had a little trouble with him.

Oh, it wasn't a little at all!

He really had me there!

| wouldn't want to fight him again.

Would that be because it was
hard fighting a former kouhai?

Um, not exactly.

Putting all that aside, it's because he was really strong.

Also because I was the same as him at one time.

| lost once and it was a painful time,

but it taught me a lot about boxing.

So I'm sure when he gets in the ring again...

he'll be...

a lot stronger than he was today.

You got hit way too much out there!

I could barely watch.

If you keep slugging it out like
that, you'll go nowhere fast!

I-I'm sorry.

Are you even listening to me!?

I-I'm sorry!

You can't go see Yamada.

B-But the match is over!

What would you say to him?

Console him with some sympathy?

Or maybe give a warm greeting?

Either way, as two people who
just fought, it'd only be irritating.

In this world the winner...

has nothing to say to the loser.

I'm going to take a shower.

You ready to head home?

Right.

Once you get home, take two or three days
to rest and then get a thorough checkup.

Right.

And...

Makunouchi...

Did you tell Makunouchi everything you wanted to?

l don't know.

In the heat of the moment, I
was so focused on punching...

But I managed to hit him.

And senpai fought back hard.

If ought with Makunouchi Ippo at full strength!

I'm satisfied!

When you say that with such
a satisfied look on your face...

Well, if you're happy with it, then it's fine.

I'll just explain to everyone...

that Hammer Nao

has retired.

Coach...

Let's go, Nao.

I have to...

I have to... apologize to my mother.

Nao?

I told her she wouldn't have
to worry about me anymore.

But I heard senpai's interview.

He said I could become much stronger.

He fought me himself.

My senpai said it himself.

That made me realize I could become even stronger.

And realizing that...

I think it'd be a waste.

I can't quit boxing.

Makunouchi...

Senpai...

Nao, it's fine now.

Go greet your senpai after all this time.

Senpai...

Senpai.

Senpai!

Senpai!

You did it! I was so impressed!

Itagaki-kun!

That right you finished him with was the best!

You had a hard time though.

Are you sure?

Yes.

We already talked a lot,

and I learned a lot from him.

Yes...

Hetaught me a lot in the ring.

And I'm going to keep chasing after him.

After senpai...

Thank you so much.

He really did get stronger.

That Solar Plexus Blow...

was an amazing punch,

Ouch...

It stings.

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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