Chapter 1: Her First Step
On one foggy night outside a small fishing charter shop some fishermen were gearing up for some late night fishing. A woman in front of the shop was trying to lift a generator off the ground then out the back was a girl carrying two big boxes. The girl then looked down at the woman struggling with it.
"Don't worry Mom, I'll get it." Said the girl. The girl was wearing a white t-shirt and jean shorts. And she had long black hair which she kept in a long high ponytail.
"Thanks sweetie." Said her Mom.
Ippoko set the boxes on top of the generator then lifted onto her back like it was nothing. Ippoko caught up to the fishermen on the boat then set the boxes and the generator down, then she help them set off by pushing the boat.
"Bye! Have a nice trip!" She shouted. Ippoko then rubbed her face into her t-shirt from all of hard work and under her shirt you can almost a muscle on her stomach.
The next day Ippoko was in school and day have already ended. Ippoko was about to leave when she overheard some girls talking in the back.
"Hey, who else wants to come to the mall with me? I just saw the cutest pair shoes I just have to have!" Said one girl with glasses.
"I'll come!"
"You can count me in too!"
"Oh, I just remember an outfit I wanna to get there too."
"Hey, Ippoko, want to come with us?"
"Huh? Who, me?" Ippoko said surprised.
"Yeah, it's the new school year so it's only right."
"G-gee that's so nice of you, I would love to-" Then Ippoko remembered that she promised her Mom that she would help her with some reservations.
"What's the matter?" Said one girl with short brown hair.
"You see, my family runs a fishing charter business just me and my Mom and I promised her I would help her out tonight."
"Oh, that's too bad. Well, maybe next time!" Said the girl as she got up and left.
"What's up with her? Is she too stuck up to hang up with us?"
"Nah, I heard her family is so poor she can't even buy socks!"
As Ippoko walked home she couldn't stop thinking about her classmates talking and laughing behind her back. It was true that her family didn't have much money, she couldn't go shopping like any other teenage girl but she couldn't leave Mom all alone with the work. Her Mother needed her and she wasn't going to let her down. Ippoko was brought to reality when someone called out to her.
"Move it! You're in our way!" Said a mean and tough looking girl.
"Oh yes, I'm sorry!" Ippoko said moving out of the way so that a mean girl and her friends could go by. As they went by Ippoko they suddenly stoppped. "Hey, do you girls smell something bad?"
"Yeah, I do smell something bad." Said one of the girls, sniffing.
"It smells like garbage, but where is it coming from?" Said the other one.
"Huh? What smell?" Thought Ippoko.
"Oh, now I know where that smell is coming from... IT'S FROM YOU!" Said the first girl as she kicked Ippoko down the grassy hill. Ippoko has been bullied ever since she was a kid, lately a group of delinquent girls have been bullying her and stealing her money but at times like these they like to do it just for fun. Ippoko hated it but could she do, they were a bit bigger, it was three on one, and if she got into a fight she would be in serious trouble plus it would worry and scare her Mom. The girls then took Ippoko under the bridge so no prying eyes would see them so that they would teach her "a lesson".
"Oh wow, Hakunouchi ever heard of a shower?" Said the lead girl.
"Ha! Her family probably too poor to pay the water bill!"
"Yeah what is this anyway? Poop?"
"It's not poop... it's lugworms..." Said Ippoko quietly. She quickly remember she forgot to wash up before she left for school this morning.
"Huh?! You say something?!" The lead girl said pulling Ippoko hair.
"I-I said it's lugworms! I was helping out my Mom at work... " Ippoko answer. But then she was quickly slapped across the face and knocked tothe ground. The slap was so hard it made Ippoko yelled out from under the bridge, somebody was jogging near when they heard the yelled. "Mm? What was that?" Said the jogger, the jogger went down the hill near the bridge to see what was going on. The jogger then spots Ippoko being harass by the three girls.
"Man Hakunouchi, if you stink this bad, then your Mom probably smells a whole lot worse!" Said the main girl as other two laugh behind her. As Ippoko rub her face from slap she heard the insult at her Mother, she then looked up at the bullies giving them dagger eyes. Ippoko was used to insults and beatings but when they talked about her Mom that was going too far, for once she felt angry she couldn't remember the last time she got angry or if she ever got angry.
"Huh? Hey, what's with that look?"
Ippoko then realize she was giving the mean girls a nasty look. "O-oh, I'm..." She stutter.
"Well, looks like you need to learn your place!" Said main girl as she started kicking and punching Ippoko around, her face was covered with cuts, bruises and blood. Ippoko couldn't take much more as she was about to fall over someone caught her from behind.
"Well then, what do we have here?" Said a man when he caught Ippoko from behind. "You okay?"
"H-huh...?' Ippoko said weakly.
"Hey! Mind your own damn business old man!"
The man then sat Ippoko on the ground so she can rest then looked looked at three girls and started to walk to them. "Don't you ladies have something else better to do, like going shopping, talking about boys, braiding each other's hair, seeing who has the bigger breasts or whatever?" He said.
"Ew! What are you? Some kind of pervert?'
"You can say that, or maybe I just hate ugly bitches like you who like to pick on other girls who are cuter than you!"
"C-Cute...? Me...?" Ippoko thought.
"UGLY?! Who you calling ugly, old m-" Before the lead girl could finish the man move quickly past them without batting an eye.
The girls turn to see the man behind them he then stuck his hand holding out some buttons, the girls then felt an odd breeze on they bodies they looked down to see that their blouses were wide open. "Ahhhh!" They yelled out, the buttons in his hand were theirs!
"L-LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!" The mean girls ran off embarrass and scared. Ippoko couldn't believe eyes how did that guy that? This strange man was awesome.
"W-Wow, that was amazing Mr. T-thank you... Thank you so much... thank...you..." Ippoko said but she started to faint.
"Hey kid! Are you alright? Hey, say something! KID!"
"Now then, where did I put that hat?" Said a man with short black spikey hair. "Hey, honey! Have you seen my hat?"
"Ippoko has it, I think she playing outside." Said the man wife.
The man walk outside to see has daughter playing in a little cardboard boat.
"ALL HANDS ON DECK! WERE ABOUT HEAD INTO A STORM!" Yelled out the little Ippoko wearing her dad's fishing hat.
"But Captain, we'll never make it! We have to find a another way around!" Said the Ippoko giving her teddy bear a voice as one of crew members.
"We can't! We need to the get fish back to town or everyone will starve!"
"But Captain! What happens if we're attacked by a sea monster!" The Ippoko said giving her stuffed duck a scratchy voice.
"Nonsense! There's no such something as sea monsters!" The little girl laugh at the ideal.
"Oh, I wouldn't be to sure about that!" Said the man behind Ippoko, picking up her and starting to tickle her. "We sea monsters love eating little girls! Hahahaha!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha! Daddy, cut it out! That tickless!"
"Sorry, couldn't resist!" Said Ippoko's Father. He then put Ippoko down on ground then kneel down to her. "I think you have something of mine kiddo." He said pointed to her head.
"Oh, here you are Daddy!" Ippoko said handing over her Father's hat. "Are you going to work again?"
"Afraid so sweetheart, the fish aren't gonna catch themselves."
"Hey Daddy! Can I come with you?" Ask Ippoko.
"Huh? You want to come? What brought this on?" Her Father said.
"W-well... You're always away on your fishing trip and you're never home... So, maybe I can with you this! I already know how to hook a worm to a line, and I know not to get to close to the deck or I'll slip off. A-a-and-"
"Ippoko." Said her Dad as place his hands on her tiny shoulders and looked to his daughter straight in the eye. "Ippoko listen to me, the ocean is a dangerous place for a child like you. Maybe when you're older I can take you with me, okay?"
"But that not fault! You're never home, you're always way, a-a-and what if something happens to you a-a-a-and..." Ippoko started to tearing up. Her father then pull her in for hug.
"Oh Ippoko... I'm sorry." He said "It pains me too, to be away from you and your Mom and sometimes I wish I could take you with me but I know your Mom would probably have a heart attack if she found out. But you point is that somebody needs to stay here and look after her. Can you do that for me?"
"But... I'm so small. I not sure if I can-"
"So? Just be because you're small doesn't mean you can do big things!
"I can do big things?"
"Yup! No matter what Ippoko, never let people tell you what can or can't do. Okay?"
"O-okay daddy."
"Then it's a promise?" Her dad asked.
"Yeah, I promise!" Ippoko said hugging her dad back. "I love you Daddy!"
"I love you too, Princess."
"I promise daddy... I promise... I promise... I promi-" Suddenly a heavy sound awoke Ippoko from her dream. She looked around to see where she was... but she wasn't expecting this!
Everywhere Ippoko looked men were pounding on bags, lifting weights, and hitting each other! "What the...?" She said confusingly and little scared.
"Hey, Takamura! The kid's awake!" Called out a man who sew her wake up.
"Hey, you all right there kid?" Asked Takamura. Ippoko turn around to see a man walk up to her.
"Oh. I think so." She answer. "Where am I?"
"A boxing gym of course. Never seem one?"
"A boxing gym?" Ippoko said. She didn't even know her town had a boxing gym!
"Yeah, we got all kinds first-aid supplies right here." Said Takamura.
Ippoko then notice she had bandages on her face. "Oh, Thank you, thank you so much!" She said, first this man saved her then he patched her up. What a nice guy. "I really appreciate it! Really!"
"That's enough, you're all bandaged sup so run and awake now so just run on home." Takamura said like he was annoyed.
"Huh?" Ippoko said confused.
"I absolutely detest the bullies in this town who pay pick on weak, but what really bothers me is people like you who just let it happen and don't fight back." He said like he was disappointed in her.
Ippoko couldn't believe what she hearing as much as it hurt... It was true. People have been walking all over her and she didn't even do anything to stop them. She wanted to cry she did, but she put her head down started to get up and walk away.
"Sorry to have troubled you..." She apologized while wiping her tears away from her eyes. As she walked by Takamura he couldn't help but feel annoyed and guilty. Sure he hated weak people but what really grinded his gears was seeing girls cry!
"Wait a minute," Takamura said grabbing Ippoko by her collar, he then sat her down on a bench and took out a pen and paper. "If this whole thing is bringing you to tears, then I'll let you do something it'll cheer you right up." He said while drawing on the paper. Then stuck the paper on a punching bag. On the paper was the girl who picking on Ippoko earlier.
"Ta-da! Think of this is that cow and punch it to pieces!" He said pointing at the bag.
"Huh? But that doesn't loo-" Before Ippoko could finish her sentence Takamura gave her a chop on the head. Then put her in a headlock.
"So? I'm no not artist just shut up and do it so you can feel better!" He said looking pretty pissed.
"Yes sir!" She not wanting to get hit again. Ippoko walk up to the bag. "If you insist. Oh, let's see do I do something like this?" Ippoko gave a light punch to the bag. Okay, Takamura couldn't take anymore of this! He then gave Ippoko a kick to the butt. "OW!" She yelled out.
"When you're angry you punch full blast! FULL BLAST!" Takamura shouted while thrusting his arm back and forth.
"R-right!" She said.
Some boxers saw what was going on, they kinda felt sorry for the poor girl the way Takamura was treating her. "Hey Takamura, you think you can take it easy on the girl." said one of guy watching.
"Butt out! This has nothing to do with you." Said Takamura.
"Full blast, full blast." Ippoko murmur to herself. She then ball up her fist then hit the bag with a little force and she was actually able to move the bag.
"Whoa!" Said Takamura who was a little impress. "That's it, That's spirit! Now look over there." Takamura pointed at the bag. The paper was now crumpled up. "Now she really looks like she hurting now." Ippoko did have admit to herself it felt good to hit the bag.
"All right, try to step in hard now!"
"Step in you say?" Ippoko question.
"The moment you step in you lock it down with your hip like that." Takamura said patting his hip. "Also you want to twist your shoulder inward."
"Uh, right." She Said. Ippoko did exactly what Takamura say to do. "Step in, hip shoulder inward!" She copy the same motion Takamura did. "Okay, here we go!" Said winding up her arm as she walked up to the bag. She then took a fighting position to the bag and stared it down. And in an instant she took a hard step and took her hip and shoulder inward and hit the bag as hard as she can against the bag. When her fist hit the bag when back with force of her fist and the piece paper that was on the bag disintegrated.
Ippoko was in awe when the bag went flying back with her punch, not only her but Takamura and some of guys that were watching were shock as well! "Ohhh, it felt great! Did you see that?! Did you see what I did?! I did it just like you told me to!" Ippoko said feeling really proud of herself as she turn around to everyone expression. Something wet hit Takamura face before he rubbed it off to see what it was, it was blood. "I can't believe it! It was unbelievable, can you-" Before she could finish Takamura grad her arm, her was all tear up and bloody. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Come here!" He said dragging her to the back room.
"Whoa, did you see that? The skin came off her hand!" Said one of the guy.
"Like a hard puncher? That chick? No way." Said another one. The men looked at the bag that Ippoko punch. How could one tiny girl do THAT?
In the back Takamura was fixing up Ippoko hand. "Uh, I can do it myself..." She said blushing a little bit.
"Shut up!" He yelled out.
"S-sorry!" She apologize. "Wow, I never realized how solid a sandbag was."
After Takamura was done wrapping up her hand he inspected her body. He then grabbed her arm again and started squeezing it.
"What are you-" Ippoko said. But he didn't stop there, he grabbed the rest of her body! Her hips, her torso, her other arm, and strangely her boobs.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" She yelled out. "H-hey! What do you think you're doing?!" She said pushing him away while covering herself in case this perv had anymore funny ideas.
"Well what would ya know, you're a whole lot stronger then you look kid." He said. 'Plus, you have a nice rack to boot.' He thought grinning to himself. "So tell me, do you play any kind of sports?"
"Not really." She answer. "I'm way too busy at home to join any teams. You see my family rents out fishing boats so I have to get up early."
"Mm, well you do have a feel for punching anyway. Considering that why don't you give fighting a try so you can just flatten those harpies!" Said Takamura.
"Me?! No way! If I pick a fight with girls, I'll get in trouble!" Said Ippoko frantically.
"Oh come on, what's the harm in getting into a little catfight." He said swinging his fist in the air.
"Besides, with a monster punch like yours I doubt anyone would mess with you."
"You don't understand, I've never been in a fist fight. I'm that kind of person. I'm one that gets bullied like you saw today. That's just who I am..." Ippoko said while hanging her head.
"Well, if you don't do anything about it then everything just stays the same." Said Takamura.
"Huh?"
"Can you honestly be okay with that?"
"No... I'm not okay with that..." She said. He was right, bullies like those would never stop tormenting her and more are sure to come.
Takamura just stared at her, supposing he did feel a little sorry for her. He then looked up at the clock to see what time it was.
"Oh, it's time." He said getting up.
"Where are you going?" Ippoko asked.
"Going to work, got some running to do." Before he left he stared back at Ippoko, who was still hanging her head down. He knew he'd be kicking himself if he didn't do anything to cheer her up.
"Here." He said, placing two video tapes on the table.
"World Title K.O. Collection?" Ippoko said out loud.
"Watch them, it will make you feel a lot better. You can return them anytime." He said leaving out.
Later Ippoko returned home where her Mom was about to help some fishermen.
"I'm home! Sorry I'm late!" Ippoko said running up to her Mom.
"Oh, no problem." Said her Mom. "Ah, Ippoko what happened to you? Where did you get all those nasty injuries?" Her Mom said, concerned.
"Uh, well I..." Ippoko stutter.
"Oh honey, are you making any friends at school? Are you getting bullied?"
Ippoko always did her best to keep her Mom from worrying, but what she hated most was lying to her. "Don't worry about it Mom, I'll get to work right now!" As Ippoko got dressed for work, she back outside to the the fishermen with with their equipment. She went to grab all of their ice boxes in one go.
"Hey there little lady. I'll be careful if I were you, that's some heavy stuff right there." Said one of the fisherman. But she carried them easily.
"Wow, she pretty strong!" Said one of men.
"Now then gentlemen, if you could follow me please." She said casually.
Ippoko and her Mother were helping out the fisherman with their things on the boats and as they departed, Ippoko couldn't help but think about what her Mom said earlier.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. This is a time in your life where you should start making friends, but instead you're helping me. Look, don't worry about it. I can take care by myself."
"No Mom, I'm the one who should be sorry." Ippoko thought. The truth is she really did want to punch that girl in her face. Suddenly, Ippoko remembered the video tapes Mr. Takamura gave her. Ippoko hurried back home to watch them, she dashed for her room then took out the tapes from her bag and put them in the V.C.R.
Ippoko couldn't believe what she was seeing, everywhere she look men were hitting each other. Blood and sweat was flying in the air, getting into each other faces before a fight some were celebrating victory some were meeting fans of all different ages to do autographs. "So, this was the world of boxing." Thought Ippoko, in all her life she never would thought she would see something so intense and... Amazing!
"Ahhhh, I'm late! I'm late! I'm gonna be late!" Ippoko said. That morning Ippoko was late for school (Again). As she was running she spotted something in a convenience store window. It was a boxing magazine but next to it was a fashion magazine. She had seen girls at school talk about them before. She had always said when she had enough money she would buy it, but she really wanted the boxing magazine too. Ippoko went in her pocket to see how much she had. It wasn't much but she already decided what she wanted.
At school, the teacher was giving a lecture but as the other students were taking notes, Ippoko was looking at the new magazine she just bought. The world of boxing was so awesome to Ippoko, she wondered why didn't she take an interest in ine sooner. As she turned the next page she saw a familiar face. It was Mr. Takamura in a picture after winning a match. He looked pretty cocky in the picture. Ippoko couldn't help but laugh.
"Miss Makunouchi." Called out the teacher. When she didn't answer, the teacher yelled out. "MISS MAKUNOUCHI!"
"Ah! Y-yes?!" When she heard that time she got right up while still holding her the magazine in her hands. The students all laugh at her.
After class, Ippoko was deep into her magazine. Some boys in back were pretending to do some wrestling moves, but she didn't pay them any attention.
"Man, what's with boys and wrestling? Talk about lame." Said one of girls sitting behind Ippoko.
"Yeah I don't why guys are into that kind of stuff."
"Totally. Wrestling is so stupid. Oh, and don't get me started on boxing!"
"Yeah, so lame."
"Mm-hm."
"Hey! Don't insult boxing like that, okay?!" Ippoko shouted in her defense. "It's a great sport so don't talk about it if you don't know anything about it-" She stopped when the girls looked at her weird. "Uh... S-sorry just a slip of the tongue heh heh..." She quietly sat back down to look at her magazine again.
For the last couple of days Ippoko was deep into boxing, reading about it, watching it, she couldn't get a enough of it. And so Ippoko finally made a decision. She was going to become a boxer!
End of chapter 1
Next time: The Art of the Jab