01x18 - Extreme Weight Control

[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

Round 18: Extreme Weight Management

So this is the poster for the world title match?

I heard that ticket sales were doing well.

They finalized your opponent too, Ippo?

A Korean?

He just recently came to Japan, but was able to
take the fifth spot in the rankings immediately.

He seems pretty strong.

Don't drop the ball before
Takamura-san's match, all right?

Especially after what happened with Kimura and Itagaki.

Make sure you set the stage right!

I-I'll try my best!

'Sup!

Looks like the poster turned out well.

Takamura-san!

Every time I see it, the clearer it becomes...

The sight of me with the belt!

You can call it optimism or arrogance, but...

I'm really looking forward to seeing what he'll do!

We're counting on you to take the world title!

We'll cheer with everything we've got, okay?

But no matter what, try not to mess up your
weight management like you did last time.

Even Takamura-san would be in trouble if he
isn't in his best shape when he takes on Hawk!

Who the hell's gonna be in trouble!?

Although...

| truly was in really bad shape last time.

And it's true that my weight management is tough.

So, I came up...

with this!

If I take off a bit down there, it'll
probably take at least 10 kilos off.

I doubt it'd even take off a gram.

You didn't think this through...

Like hell I didn't!

Hey, your eyebrows...

They kinda look like Bryan Hawk's.

They do!

You look the part, so why don't you
play the role of Hawk for Takamura-san?

Well, as long as it'll help out... Just don't overdo it.

Yeah...

I think it might be necessary.

I-It's kind of...

uneven on each side.

Unbalanced...

A little more on the left...

N-Now there's too much on the right...

Like this?

They're even now, but...

How about it?

Do I look like him?

Y-You think we can put them back on?

Maro: Japanese word for a man with no eyebrows
He looks like a maro.

Maro: Japanese word for a man with no eyebrows
What's a maro?

We can still make this work...

A little more here...

And then...

So, do I look like him now?

I saw this coming, but he actually went through with it!

How is it, Ippo?

Scary!

| look so much like Hawk that it's scary!?

Let's spar right away then!

Just think of me as Hawk!

How the hell am I gonna do that!?

My eyebrows!?

What are you gonna do about this!?

Stop being so noisy!

What's all this fuss about, dammit!?

Coach, Takamura-san...

And who might you be?

W-What do you mean?

I've never seen you before.

C'mon, it's me!

Aoki!?

Where do you get off trying to scare me like that, Aoki!?

Don't start beating on me as soon as
you realize who I am, you senile geezer!

All of you, go do your roadwork!

This isn't the time to be amusing
yourselves with stupid little games!

I'm not amused!

They shaved off too much!

I can't go out in public!

How am I supposed to do my roadwork like this!?

Fine then...

How about this?

They're laughing at me!

Stop your bitching and get going!

Damn you! Damn you! Damn you! Damn you!

| said | was sorry already!

You should enjoy your manly eyebrows!

So you guys went to my house last night?

I heard about it from my sister...

That's right!

There was something we wanted to ask you!

What's that?

Um...

Why did you start boxing?

We got Kind of curious, because we all look up toy—

Ow! Ow! Ow!

You were saying something?

Oh no, no...

They're such liars!

I box for only one reason...

To prove I'm the strongest!

That's enough, isn't it?

It's kind of ordinary though.

Yeah.

I wanted something more dramatic...

Shut the hell up!

Small fries like you would never understand!

Here, wipe your damn sweat!

Okay...

W-What's this for?

Well, a world championship is too much
to even dream of for a small fry like you,

but we've worked hard and sweated together.

So I'll show you the dream.

I'll take that sweat with me to the top of the world.

Takamura-san!

Can I use the towel too?

Itagaki-kun!

You came back!

I was so worried!

I didn't know how to face you.

But with a big event like the world title match,

I thought it'd be a shame not to be by your side.

Don't worry about it.

You came back, and that's all that matters.

Kimura-san! Aoki-sa—

You're a real clown now, Aoki!

That surprised me!

What!?

It wasn't a permanent marker!?

Yeah, this is it.

This is where I'm comfortable.

In the ring and with these guys...

There's no place quite like it.

This is where I belong!

All right!

Now that everybody's here...

Follow me!

Right!

Stop trying to make me laugh!

Follow me, all of you!

I'll take you to the top of the world!

Yeah!

A-Are you okay?

Switch with me, Itagaki.

You won't help Ippo train like that.

Dammit...

Take a break.

I'll show you how it's done.

Use your footwork more!

You should be faster than Ippo.

No way!

The speed he closes in with is incredible!

He catches me before I even have
a chance to get out of the way...

See?

Not bad.

T-Thanks.

Ippo's match is in three weeks and he's in great shape!

Guess we don't have to worry
about his third title defense.

Yeah.

The real problem is...

Stop resting!

You're still a long way from your limit!

Sweat more!

Once you hit your stamina's limit, that's
when you really start to take the weight off!

D-Dammit!

Even during his weight control,

he's still impressive!

For now, at least.

The hard part is just starting.

Takamura-san's natural weight is close to 90 kilos.

90 kilos!?

That's in the heavyweight class!

He has to drop 20 kilos to reach
the jr. middleweight limit!?

He has to...

It's almost unheard of for Japanese people to be in the heavier
weight classes, and the competition there is really fierce.

He had to wait a really long time for this,

and now he needs to make sure he
can capitalize on this opportunity.

The ring Takamura-san fights in is much
harsher than any of us can imagine.

Soup and fruit...

Is this really all you want?

Yeah.

Sorry for troubling you.

Don't worry about it.

Just make sure you do your best, Mamoru-chan.

Could you drop the "chan" part?

Look at you, acting so grown up!

You haven't changed at all, Kyou-nee.

Speaking of which,

I saw Suguru-ani as well.

He hasn't changed at all, either.

He's still worried about you, in his own way.

What about Wataru?

Has he turned into a bookworm
from studying all the time?

He's really excited about cheering you on in the match!

He said he wants to see you wear the belt.

Does he now?

Let him know I'll send some tickets along.

Okay.

I'm going to head home.

Yeah,

I'm sure they're all probably complaining
about you coming over anyway.

No...

It's because it's a little too warm in here for me.

I got you this.

Dried shiitake, huh?

Chew it slowly and let it draw out your saliva.

It'll feel like you're eating something, and drawing
out the saliva will help with your weight control.

See you!

Later.

Guess [I've still got a ways to go.

We're into the hard part now.

Has my time fallen any?

Not yet.

I guess that will do for now.

Naturally...

I've got the guts and stamina to pull it off.

Because of how close together the matches are, the
weight management is harder than it's ever been.

But...

it's admirable that he hasn't complained at all.

Hey...

Did we get any intel on that b*stard?

Even this close to the match, all he
seems to do is work up a light sweat.

But—

I got it already.

He has his way, and I have mine, right?

I'll just stick to my usual methods.

After all, we don't want to leave
any loose ends or have any regrets.

That's not it.

It's not about regrets or stuff like that.

To me...

being inside the ring feels great.

I feel alive in there.

Or maybe you could say it's what makes me feel alive.

Yeah.

For me, boxing...

It makes me feel alive.

I'll never joke about something that's so important to me.

I never...

lie about boxing...

You...

What the hell, you damn geezer!?

Stop trying to sound so sensible, it's disturbing...

Do you remember the day we met?

Like I could forget!

Interrupting me just when it was getting good...

I saved your butt before the cops nabbed you!

I..

Believed at that time that you could make it this far.

I told myself, "This man can take the world title!"

I'm not gonna give you props for having good eyes.

Anybody would be able to tell that about me.

You just can't shut your trap, can you?

There's noway he could understand how I feel.

The swelling in my heart at having found a
perfect specimen that needed no refinement.

Someone who could take the world...

And that was confirmed after | watched his debut match.

That this man could take me to places I'd only dreamed of.

{treasure that.

What's wrong?

What is it?

I'm sorry!

A world title challenge...

It should've happened sooner for you!

At your natural weight class, in your best condition!

I didn't have the influence or money to make it happen!

It's all because of this old fool that...

I really—

Cut it out.

I don't want you bowing your head to me.

I don't want to admit it,

and I really don't want to do it, but...

I mean,

if you hadn't introduced me to boxing...

I would probably be...

Actually, it was my fate to become
the world champion either way, but...

What the hell are you trying to say?

I'm just saying...

that it's all right!

Jr. Middleweight?

Fine with me.

I'll take the title and work my
way up one class after the other.

I do that...

and it'll be a six weight class conquest!

Yeah...

Since having six belts is overkill,
I'll give the first one to you.

What!?

Christmas is coming up soon, right?

It's the perfect present.

I-I thought you said you wouldn't joke about boxing!

You don't want it?

You'll be the first one I give a world title belt to!

D-Don't make any boasts until after you've won the title.

Actually, I have a present for you.

Really?

That's pretty thoughtful.

Dried shiitake.

Use it to help with your weight control.

Real thoughtful...

Takamura-san!

We got an idea!

We wondered if there was anything we could do for you.

And since it's really the only thing we can do...

Dried shiitake!

A whole bunch!

Here you go!

0-Okay.

Man, what am I supposed to do with all this?

Dehydrate, dehydrate...

Do they want me to turn into a mummy?

What a bunch of dumb asses.

Geez...

Five kilos left.

Now it really starts,

It used to sound so impressive.

That sounds like it's not as sharp too.

Yeah...

He's at the peak of his exhaustion
from the weight control.

This is the real challenge.

His skin is so dried out that it feels like it might tear apart.

He's used up all the extra moisture in his body.

The rest comes down to chipping away at flesh and bone.

Before the world title match, he has to overcome
a challenge that will be nearly as harsh.

Dammit.

It's not going down.

After all that exercise, it's still not going down.

Dammit!

I've finally got a world title match!

I'm not gonna screw this up because
of botched weight management!

Takamura, slow down.

If you overdo it, it's going to end up even worse for you!

Quit bitching and keep holding those mitts!

Time's up!

Put your arms down!

Shut the hell up!

Four kilos to go.

Sorry, Kyou-nee...

I can't eat this either.

Maybe if I move my mouth a little,
I'll feel like I'm eating something.

There's not even any saliva left.

Takamura, give it a rest already!

Knowing when to stop is part of your training too!

Takamura!

Don't touch me!

Don't touch me right now...

I don't know what I'll do.

He's on pins and needles...

He's bound to overwork himself at this rate.

It's dangerous.

I'll try and calm him down with some small talk then.

Takamura-san!

I heard your older sister was a real beauty!

I think I know why an incredible boxer
like yourself doesn't have a girlfriend.

Listen carefully, okay?

Sh—

skom!

Siscom: "sister complex"
Siscom!

Siscom: "sister complex"
Get it?

Siscom: "sister complex"

I can't believe it!

He's going to die!

H-Huh?

Didn't he get it?

You should be glad you're not dead, dumb-a*s!

Normally, he would've slaughtered you instantly.

Something is different about his weight control this time.

I've never had to do weight management before.

What kind of effect does it have on your mind?

First, you get short tempered.

Because you're so hungry, you get really tense.

For the first week, you want to
eat so bad that you can't stand it!

You start thinking about ramen, steak, and curry rice.

Once you get past that, you stop
thinking about food entirely.

Next, you start craving fluids.

At first it's cola and juice, stuff with some flavor.

It just keeps swirling around in your head.

And in the end it's just water...

You can't stop thinking about water.

Around that time,

your nerve endings feel like they're totally
exposed because you've lost so much weight.

It feels like you've completely worn away.

Worn away...

I'm too distracted to sleep!

Water...

I wanna drink some water.

Water!

But we've never experienced the kind of insane weight
management that Takamura-san goes through.

When you take it to that extreme...

there's no telling what kind of
effect it will have on your mind.

Surpassing those limits, and letting yourself
get worn further and further down...

Takamura-san is going through
stuff we can't even imagine.

He should be arriving soon.

Yeah.

Here he comes!

It's the champion!

Bryan Hawk!

Get a comment from him!

Two kilos left...

Mr. Hawk!

How are you doing with the
world title match in just a week?

How'd your training go?

How are you feeling?

Why?

Why do I have to go through this?

Any sort of message you'd like to deliver?

Anything to say to the Japanese boxing fans?

I'm just here to enjoy the local delicacies.

That's all.

Why...?

It's you...

It's your fault!

-I k*ll you!

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 birds wake up we close our eyes

The birds wake up we close our eyes

I love how she calls my name inside her dream

Kisses me still half asleep

Don't I wish that we could stay like this

At 8AM

I stop the alarm to watch her sleep and think

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

To 7:59