01x23 - Supporting Hand

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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

Whoa!

He throws both arms up!

Is he asking the crowd to watch him!?

It's a KO proclamation!

Round 23: Supporting Hands

He's going to end it in this round!

The belt's almost within reach!

T-Those really are some cheers.

He really knows how to get a crowd going!

My whole body's shaking.

I'm getting the shivers.

Trying to wrap it up?

You've built up a good rhythm, so it should be fine.

Go for it!

And now the challenger dashes forward!

He makes a direct dash towards the champion's belt!

I'm having trouble...

Yeah, I've never been in this much trouble.

But...

that's only in the ring!

And the champion sets out too!

Combo after combo!

A furious counterattack!

I've been in a lot worse trouble outside of it before!

In my hometown!

When someone points a g*n at you...

they always start smiling like they
know that it's all over and they've won.

But...

{survived!

Compared to that, fighting in a ring, protected by gloves...

This is enough to put me to sleep, Japan!

Don't back off, Takamura!

With your rhythm and the momentum
you have right now, you can do it!

Whoa!

The challenger fights back!

It's an attack that ends the champion's as*ault!

Not bad!

To still be able to fight back after
taking that many punches from me!

But...

It's over!

I'm gonna end it in this round!

In this round!

And he continues to pour it on!

He's gonna do it!

Yeah, at this rate...

H-He can do it!

He can win!

There's something strange about this.

Until the fourth round, their power seemed to be equal.

Like a pair of machines running off the same type of engine.

So why is he losing out now?

Wait a minute!

The champion tries to maneuver along the ropes!

But he's hunted down!

In this round!

I'm finishing it in this round!

An uppercut lands!

A follow up with a left!

It has to be this round!

Hawk!

Whoa, it's a body blow from the champion!

It's the first time he's used one in this fight!

But he doesn't back down!

He moves forward!

You're not going to be able to damage a
midsection built like Takamura's in one attack!

Takamura-san, you're gonna be the champion!

Finish him off!

The champion tightens his guard!

He's gone totally on the defensive!

But the challenger fires away in spite of it!

He lays into him!

It's an expl*sive offensive from the challenger!

Fall!

Fall, you son of a b*tch!

Fall! Fall!

Fall!

Stop!

The referee got between them!

He stopped them!

Is it over?

Whoa, and there's the bell!

It rang unheard through these deafening cheers!

It might not have ended in the KO that was declared,
but this round was clearly in the challenger's favor!

This just raises the expectations for the next round!

| see...

So, the bell rang?

I guess that's how its gonna be.

Oh, well...

He really let you have it.

I've never seen you get hit this much before.

I'll be honest, he's got good punches.

That challenger is strong.

Indeed he is.

| understand that very well.

Oh, yeah.

| understand it too.

That was close, but you did well!

You've got the lead going into the next round!

Keep up this pace!

Geezer...

Don't talk!

Just rest and build up your strength!

I'll wipe the sweat off your...

Taka... mura?

Well,

that's how it is.

What a foolish second.

It took him long enough to
realize the anomaly in his fighter.

The two of you are machines running off
the same engine, yet one was pulling ahead.

The reason why is simple!

Because one of them was blazing
ahead at full throttle the whole time.

What's wrong?

When I wipe away the sweat, no more comes out!

He's not sweating at all!

| figured I'd push it as far as | could at full strength.

Or so | thought.

But it looks like I've run out.

Bone dry...

During my weight management,

I realized that as a jr. middleweight,

I can only keep it up for five rounds.

Don't talk!

Yagi-chan, water!

Pour it all onto his head!

Got it!

When I landed that body blow, the
expression on his face twisted up.

That's when [ figured it out.

He's totally out of gas!

Seconds out!

I'll rip him to shreds!

Takamura...

When you run out of stamina, use your spirit!

That's what you're always saying, right?

Well...

I'll see what I can do.

And now the sixth round!

Is this where the title will change hands?

The massive audience is roaring in anticipation!

They want to see Japan's hawk
continue to soar after that fifth round!

They want to see his KO victory!

Whoa!

But the champion seems to silence the audience!

The momentum has clearly changed!

Now, the champion takes the pace!

And the challenger is pinned against the ropes!

He was a good fighter.

If I had been his trainer, he might
have become the world champion.

But now, he'll be destroyed by Hawk
and never get another chance...

because of his worthless second.

I'm sorry, Takamura!

This is my fault!

I don't wanna hear any excuses about your weight control!

You know damn well how a street fight works!

No matter what happens...

or how you do it,

if you're still standing at the very end...

you win!

H-He's down!

Unbelievable!

The challenger, who hoped to win
by KO, has now sunk into the mat!

You get it now, Japan!?

And now, the champion raises his hands!

He returns the sentiments that the challenger made earlier!

Whoa!

And now the challenger starts to rise!

He hasn't given up!

He's getting up!

But it's obvious how worn out he is!

His right eye is swollen and his face is stained with blood!

But his instincts as a boxer force him to deny the ten count!

Takamura-san...

It's the damn weight control.

If it wasn't for that...

This never would've happened if
Takamura-san was in real fighting shape!

Did he ever complain about that-Dani?

During his weight management, did that man ever
complain that his weight control was too tough-Danika?

I'm sure Takamura knew it all along-Dani.

That his body couldn't last much longer than five rounds.

That's why he raised his hands into the
air, to push himself and keep going!

He knew how much everyone was counting on him.

Even when his pride was wounded, he
silenced his emotions and didn't complain.

He resolved to use the time that he had to build a
body that could survive those five rounds-Dani.

As a boxer, could you...

No,

as a man, would you be able to do that-Danika!?

It brings tears to my eyes!

Seeing Takamura struggle so brilliantly
is enough to make me cry-Dani!

Takamura-san!

And the match resumes!

The champion slowly closes in.

So I got up, but what do I do now?

What can I do now?

After all this,

| bet everyone's still counting on me.

Damn.

It ain't easy being a superstar.

As long as I can move one finger...

I'll fight back!

With each step, the atmosphere becomes more intense!

This huge crowd has grown quiet!

The Ryogoku Kokugikan falls silent!

Looks like they've finally shut up.

Now, stay quiet and watch this, Japan!

It's show time!

What the hell is this!?

Way too slow!

His right eye is swollen,

50 he can't see those lefts coming at all.

This is bad.

If he keeps getting nailed like that,
the match is gonna get stopped!

Sadly, that might be for the best.

Jr. Middleweight punches are
more than enough to put an end...

to a man's life.

Miyata...

Come to think of it,

he's the one who's known Takamura the longest.

His knees buckle!

He can't withstand the champion's as*ault!

Will he fall??

No, he fights back!

But comes up empty!

Looks like Mamoru's having a hard time.

Suguru-niisan...

| hope he can at least lose with some dignity.

Otherwise that post I prepared for
him at the company will go to waste.

But Mamoru-niisan is still fighting out there.

Everyone in this arena can tell who's going to win.

If you're going to worry about
him, then worry about his health.

There's no telling who will win until it's over!

Mamoru-chan...

The champion's power is truly penetrating!

Even when blocked, it still does damage!

He's on fire.

There's no stopping him now.

Takamura is going to stay on the defensive...

until Hawk loses himself in ecstasy.

What the hell are you staring at, old man!?

That man's unconscious.

{eave it at that.

Stop it! He'll die!

He'll really die!

Don't stop me!

I don't give a sh*t what happens to him!

It's so hot.

Its...

it's so hot, it's like I'm on fire!

I need to keep beating him until it
goes away, or | need some women!

If you want me to stop, gimme your money,

so {can get me some women, old man!

Those weren't the eyes of a human being.

In all my years of boxing, I've never seen eyes as crazy as his.

It's hot!

So hot!

What would happen?

What in the world would happen
if I set this man loose in the ring?

I want to see it.

I want to see his future!

I'll take you there...

To a place where you can beat the living
daylights out of people all you like.

Where, even if there is an unfortunate
incident, it will be allowed to a certain extent.

Oh...

Is that what you're giving me!?

A license to k*ll!?

Follow me.

Indeed...

He thinks he's allowed to do as he pleases.

And unless he settles down, he'll keep
beating on his opponent until he's dead.

The second in the blue corner... Kamogawa, was it?

You may be worthless, but there's
at least one thing you can do.

Stop the match.

Throw in the towel!

The challenger is beat on like a punching bag!

Takamura...

That's it!

Throw the towel in!

Put an end to this!

Why won't you throw in the towel!?

Can't you even protect your boxer!?

How useless can one man be!?

Takamura!

Tome...

Being inside the ring feels great.

I'm never...

gonna lie about boxing.

You're normally so arrogant,

but you're valiant in the ring.

You never settle for less when you train
and you fight with determination!

{ love seeing you fight!

I want to see what you can do!

I can't bring myself to end it!

D-Damn, that hurt.

I can't take much more of this.

To think that there was someone
stronger than me in the world.

It's a surprise.

He's really tough.

I'll admit it.

You were really tough!

And you gave me areal good time!

I'm close to cl*max...

So you can leave now!

Go to hell!

Aright!

The challenger's sent flying!

It's... over.

What the?

Something's on my back.

He doesn't fall!

He braces himself against the ropes!

What the hell are you all doing!?

How can you be quiet at a time like this?

Some gym mates you are!

Miyata-kun!

Shut the hell up!

We're just waiting for his counterattack!

We don't think he's gonna lose at all!

Takamura-san!

What're you doing”?

Hand out a beat down like you normally do!

Yeah.

Stop trying to make us worry!

Go, dammit, go!

Takamura-san, fight!

We're boxers too.

We know how hard this is for you!

How painful!

But still, please don't lose!

Keep fighting!

You can't lose!

We started following you that day
because we saw how strong you were!

If it wasn't for Takamura-san, I don't know where I'd be.

Takamura-san is my...

Our...

...hero!

So please don't lose!

You can't lose!

We don't wanna see you lose!

Keep fighting!

Please win!

If you keep being stubborn, I'm not
gonna be your friend anymore!

Just go down already!

I know.

I get it now.

What's...

keeping me up.

The guys who have faith in me...

I have to stay strong for them!

I can't be allowed to lose!

Even if my heart stops,

my soul will keep fighting!

Even if my soul is gone...

I'll crawl out of my coffin,

and beat you!

A sudden one-two from the
challenger as he stands on the brink!

It's a direct hit!

Didn't it hurt him!?

Is there no strength in Takamura-san's punches anymore!?

It got him!

The champion's knees buckle!

He wasn't expecting him to fight back!

He took the full brunt of that!

This is garbage!

He should barely be standing!

How can he throw a living punch!?

Whoa, the champion tries to back away!

Go after him, Takamura!

Go get him!

He can't follow him!

The challenger is hurt as well!

And there's the bell!

The sixth round comes to a close!

Whoa, the challenger couldn't tell which corner to go to!

It's no surprise.

After taking so many punches from the champion...

and burning through all his stamina...

Takamura, over here!

Y-Yeah.

I'm sure his vision and consciousness are really messed up!

But even so...

Did you see him just now!?

He's torn up!

Yes.

He's half dead, dammit!

He's half dead!

And he keeps struggling!

And fighting!

I was feeling so good.

I was so close.

What a pain in the a*s.

He's a total pain in the a*s.

Hawk.

Who gives a damn about this match anymore.

I'm gonna end it.

I need a woman.

Then, I'll feel good again.

Miguel!

That license to k*ll that you gave me...

I'm gonna put it to use in the next round.

I'll k*ll him,

Good job standing up! Good job getting up!

Way to hang in there!

Being beaten up this badly...

and still, what an amazing man!

All I can do is watch!

It's infuriating how worthless I am.

I'm sorry!

I'm so sorry, Takamura!

I'll almost fell.

I..

I was hurt real bad.

Takamura...

If you hadn't been supporting me...

I couldn't have gotten up.

You've been holding me up all this time.

I get that now.

Seconds out!

Here we go.

Your mouthpiece.

Y'know...

I couldn't ask for a better second than you.

All right,

I'm heading out.

Takamura...

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