01x09 - Qualifying for Succession

[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

Maku... nouchi...

My... hand...

Baton...

pass.

It's... yours now.



So the old man said something like that.

Yes.

Date-san's really going to retire.

Now we have no one to lead
the world of Japanese Boxing.

Well, we've got somebody.

The guy who had the baton officially passed on to him.

I'll-Me?

T-There's no way I could do that.

You got that right.

You're not dignified enough.

I wouldn't want you to lead.

Then don't say anything in the first place.

You should just focus on your own business for now.

You've got your second title defense coming up, right?

Uh...

what was his name again?

It's "Hammer Nao!"

The guy who got ranked 7th in the
featherweights practically overnight?

Never heard of him.


but I'll still do my best!

I'll just take each title defense one step at a time.

That's all there is for me to do right now!

Round 9: Qualifying For Succession

Whew, he's really going at it today!

He's really into it.

Take a break!

You're relying too much on power!

You've got to choose your shots more carefully!

Right!

Well, it's good that you're putting some spirit into it.

R-Right...

I guess it's because I saw Date-san trying so hard.

He showed incredible fighting spirit.

It's a shame that he's retiring.

Those of you who succeed him have a lot to live up to.

If you want to follow Date, then you need to
focus on not botching these title defenses.

Don't underestimate Hammer Nao.

I understand!

There's nothing scarier than not
knowing about your opponent.

What?

I thought so.

I was wondering who was making those sweet sounds.

I should have known it was Makunouchi-senpai.

Hey, hey! How long are you gonna stand there?
Close the door already!

If you're here to check the place out, then go take a seat.

Check it out, huh?

Well, I planned to join, but...

Um...

Who're you guys?

You mean to tell me that you're joining this
gym and you don't know who we are!?

You're starting to get on my nerves.

Really?

What are they doing?
We just met and I already don't like you!

Looks like they're arguing about something.
We just met and I already don't like you!

We just met and I already don't like you!

Now, now... don't get so upset...

Now, now... don't get so upset...
W-Why you...

Ah, there you are!

Yagi-san!

Yagi-san, you know this guy?

Allow me to introduce you!

This is last year's inter-high national runner-up.

He's the rookie our gym has high
hopes for, Itagaki Manabu-kun!

Nice to meet you.

Huh?

They don't look happy to see me, do they?

One of the boxing amateur elites, huh?

So you scouted this guy, Yagi-san?

Well, actually he had already entered college
and joined the boxing club there, but...

...something about hitting people
through their headgear didn't suit me.

He contacted me when I started
thinking about becoming a pro.

Besides, this gym has a boxer that I idolize,

so I thought I'd come see what I could learn!

Idolize?

Boxer?

You're accepted!

It's Takamura!

That's right!

It is I, your idol, Takamura Mamoru!

Watch me closely every day and learn how it's done.

Actually, Takamura-kun, that's not it.

Itagaki-kun is a featherweight, so he looks up to...

What!?

He looks up to Ippo!?

I'll-Me?

What about his boneheaded
boxing is appealing to you!?

If I was a featherweight, I'd look up to Sendo...

or maybe Saeki, he was an amateur boxer as well.

Sanada's good too!

You guys do realize that...

all those guys have lost to Ippo, right?

And so...

I'll be counting on your help,

Makunouchi-senpai!



the pleasure's all mine.

Well, in that case...

How about our traditional
roadwork welcoming for newbies?

Roadwork?

It's the fastest way to show him
how tough being a pro is, isn't it?

Oh, yeah.

S-Senpai,

you're going too fast!

Do you always run at this pace!?

S-Sorry!

Should I slow down?

He's giving up, just like we figured.

This is what being a pro is like, he'll
be puking from the pain in no time.

Dumbasses!

You're the ones about to puke!

They're way ahead of you!

Inter-high national runner-up
ain't a name that's just for show.

It means he's got his basic conditioning down.

You think he's any good?

Based on his background, he'd probably hold
his own pretty well if he went pro right now.

But you know... Hearing you
guys talking about puking...

It's kind of a nostalgic thought, isn't it?

Oh, yeah!

There was another guy who used
to cling to Ippo like that too.

Senpai!



It's been about two years since
then, you think he's still boxing?

Maybe we beat him up too badly at the send off party?

You were the only one who went overboard!

There's something about Ippo's boxing
that seems to attract people to him.

He's going to draw in more and
more young guys like Itagaki.

Before you know it, he might
actually be able to fill in for Date-san.

Yeah!

I doubt that.

We're back!

You're here.

Kid, follow me.

We've got a video of Hammer Nao.

We've got a video?

Let's watch it!

Although I thought you would have found out by now...

"Hammer Nao!'

He's from the Hachinohe Boxing Club.



He specializes in body hooks.

That was bad enough to make him keel over.

It looks pretty heavy.

It should be, considering that he
debuted as a junior welterweight.

A junior welterweight!?

That's four weight classes up!

He fought two fights there,

went down to lightweight for three matches,

and then had three matches as a junior lightweight.

It seems he dropped down to featherweight
because he wanted a match against Ippo-kun.

With me?

Have you figured it out yet, Kid?

He may have shaved his head and eyebrows...

His face may be a bit swollen now...

And he might have lost so much weight that you can
see his ribs and he barely resembles his former self...

but he's someone you know very well.

He was formerly a member of this gym.

No way.

His real name is...

Yamada Naomichi.

That's Gero-michi!?

No way in hell!

That can't be Gero-michi!

I mean, he's so scary looking!

If I saw him in the street, I'd get out of the way!

B-But still, if you look closely...

His nose...

and his mouth...

He's got Yamada-kun's features!

True.

He did carry a lot of water weight.

I guess after going through all that
weight loss, that's what he looks like.

No way!

There's no way human beings can transform like this!

I don't buy it!

Shut it!

Whether you believe it or not,

that is the one and only Yamada Naomichi.

It really is him.

It doesn't even feel nostalgic.

He's like a totally different guy.

It really is him.

It doesn't even feel nostalgic.

He's like a totally different guy.

Uh, excuse me, but...

what's a "Gero-michi?"

That's right, Itagaki-kun wouldn't know.

A full explanation would take a while, but...

When we first met him, he puked.

When he left, he puked.

Naomichi led a life covered in puke.

Note: "gero" means "puke!
Hence the name "Gero-michi!

Note: "gero" means "puke'
That sure is a gross nickname.

Who gave it to him?

Who can say?

He was Gero-michi long before we met him.

It remains a wonder who said it first.

ft was you.

Well, regardless of his nickname...

he gets hit too much.

If he takes that many hits from
Makunouchi-senpai, he won't just be KO'd,

he'll end up in the hospital.

Seems like an easy win.

I'll be borrowing the video.

To think that Gero-michi would...

After the way he used to cling to Ippo as his goal.

Maybe he thinks he caught up and
that's why he's challenging him?

So he's confident that he'll win?

That can't be it.

Ippo's grown in the last two years too.

I can't believe that he's made up for that difference.

Maybe not in terms of strength...

What do you mean?

Exactly what I said.

You guys were talking about whether Ippo
could follow in the old man's footsteps right?

Yeah...

Before Ippo can take the old man's place,
he has to correct something he's lacking in.

You could even call it a weakness.

Weakness!?

But Ippo has the power to end
things with a single punch...

and enough stamina to last into the later rounds.

It'd be hard to find someone at the
national level who could stand up to him.

He lacks stability.

He's never able to fully capitalize on
his strengths unless he's in trouble.

That mental naivety keeps him from
fighting ruthlessly from the start.

I guess he does let the other guy set
the pace and get away with a lot.

Yeah, for a boxer, he's too soft and emotional.

That might be part of why he's so unstable.

In this world, it's k*ll or be k*lled.

It shouldn't matter who your opponent is,
you have to beat them once you set foot in the ring.

Unless you can throw a punch in cold blood, you'll never
get the respect that it takes to be seen as the leader.

In this next match...

After succeeding in his first title defense,
how will the champion win this time?

How will he deal with this
fight that he will obviously win?

In many ways, this battle will answer a lot of things.

What's wrong, Aoki?

I just realized something terrible.

In Ippo's next title match,
I'm fighting in the match right before his.

S-So?

It means that...

It's not just for Ippo, I'm the
opening act for Gero-michi too!

O-Opening for two of your kouhai...

That's gotta be rough.

Yeah.

Don't rush it.

That left is bait.

Keep your guard up.

That's it! Bit by bit, down below...

Yeah, that's right!

Yes!

That shot to the body had a good angle!

He's gotten a lot tougher.

A flat-footed fighter like Yamada-kun
isn't good at chasing someone down.

That's why he lets people punch him, to
lure them in so he can hammer on them!

It's a strategy that takes a lot of courage.

Senpai...

I get picked on a lot.

How was it?

I tried my very best.

Yamada-kun...

The first kouhai I had at the gym.

He was clumsy and awkward, but tried so hard.

But his family had to move away because of work.

Yamada-kun!

You're going to keep boxing, right!?

Let's both do our best!

Right!

Thank you so much!

He's good at close range.

It suits how powerful he looks.

But...

He always ducks to the left when there's aright...

to aim for his specialty, a body blow.

So I'd aim for that.

A left to his open temple and,
while he's off balance, a double...

left... then what would I do with it?

Senpai!

Would I hit Yamada-kun?

He kept boxing...

and got stronger.

Yamada-kun!

Why did you challenge me?

You okay, Coach!?

Dang, you got a lot of power, Nao.

Looks like you're in good shape...


You're our first main eventer!

Good luck, Nao!

Right.

I'll be heading home.

The sign, huh?

Guess we ought a look into getting a new one.

I-If win the title,

I'll be sure to start bringing the money in.


title match thinking like that.

You've done really well in a small town gym like this
where we've had trouble finding you sparring partners.

I would have liked for you to go at an easier pace.

Build up your experience, carefully raise you up,

and then challenge for the title.

Coach...

Why's it gotta be Makunouchi Ippo!?

There was a fighter at this gym named Jason Ozumal!

He was talented, worked hard, and
I was sure he could take the title.

But Makunouchi overpowered him.

He's strong... too strong.

That fight ended 2 minutes and 54
seconds into the second round, right?

I know how strong Makunouchi
Ippo is better than anyone else.

Then why??

Why would you take him on
knowing how dangerous he is??

Have you ever thought about it like this...

that because I know him, I'm able to overcome him?

When you came to this gym, you said you were
boxing because you looked up to Makunouchi Ippo!

Even if you know how to,

are you really gonna be able to beat up the same
person you looked up to using those hands!?

I can.

I can and I will beat him down.

He's as impressive as ever!

Really?

Right here!

Hammer Nao leaves this spot
open when he finishes a punch!

Get it!

That's it!

There's no point in holding up
these mitts when you're so out of it!

Get your head back together by tomorrow!

Got it!?

He must've seen Gero-michi's face.

At this rate, he won't be able to punch ruthlessly.

But Gero-michi was pretty emotional too.

Imagine if he couldn't fight properly either.

It doesn't look that way.

Hey, Mari-san!

He really seemed to be in the swing of things.

You went all the way to Aomori?

Gero-michi is in Tokyo!?

Yamada-kun is in town!?

A training trip to the Nerima Boxing Club.

Man, that's so cold! He could
at least come by and say hello.

Why would he?

Right now, this is enemy territory for him.

Oh, that's got nothing to do with us.

The one picking on Gero-michi is this guy.

I don't like how they're making that sound.

Have a good night!

Ippo-kun!

I've been gathering information on Hammer Nao.

Would you like to hear it?

Yes, please.

Why are we sneaking around?

Well, he is the enemy, you know.

We're just coming to check out
how our old kouhai is doing.

Now, where is Gero-michi-kun?

Next! Get into the ring!

G-Gero-michi...

...just made someone puke!

In the end, he ended up knocking
down three guys in a row...

...and all three of them puked.

Anybody would puke after being
nailed with body blows like that.

He sure picked up a hell of a weapon.

I'm going to run for a bit.

Be careful.

Yo, long time no see, Gero-michi!

We saw you at work there, you've gotten a lot better!

Are you spying on me?

Come on, don't be like that.

We came to see you because we heard you were in town.

To see me?

I didn't ask you to.

I've got running to do, so...

H-Hey!

What?

Could you not glare at us with that face?

You've changed a lot and we're
having some trouble dealing with it.

We can't really cheer for you in this match,

but we still wanted to wish you good luck!

Aoki-san,

just make sure you don't cool off the
audience too much when you open for us.

What was that crap!?

Don't think you can get carried away
just because you're so ugly now, got it!?

I'd appreciate it if you stopped acting like my senpai.

I'm not a member of the Kamogawa Gym anymore.

Why, you little...

Aoki!

Look Gero-michi,

stop acting like an as*h*le.

I understand what you're going through
because I fought that monster, Mashiba.

I know you have to psyche
yourself up because you're scared.

From your point of view, Ippo's a real monster.

We get it.

When you're around us, you can just be honest.

So you were scared?

No wonder you lost.

What was that!?

Tell Makunouchi Ippo this...

I'm coming

for his belt.

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

'til 7:59