A Second Spar
Ippo followed Takamura back to the gym. As he ran after his senpai, thoughts kept on trying to form in his mind, but each one was more outlandish than the last. He was pretty sure he'd been out for a walk during the night, thinking about his first loss and what was to come in the future. The next moment the sun was up and Takamura was there congratulating him on his jab. It was just like the 2nd time he'd met the outspoken boxer, when he had managed to overcome the first hurdle Takamura had set for him. Now that Ippo thought about it, he was wearing different clothes. Were these the same ones he'd worn on the promised day? He couldn't remember.
Takamura was taking a rather sedate pace, but Ippo found himself struggling to keep up. Was he hallucinating? Did he really go back in time? Was his career real? Becoming a professional boxer and fighting for the championship felt like a dream. It was certainly a better life than he had ever expected. Could he had imagined all of that? It didn't seem possible, but surely that was more reasonable than him somehow traveling to the past. With a determination that could be called equal parts heroic and willfully ignorant, Ippo decided to put it out of his mind and concentrate on running. They would reach the gym soon.
The Kamogawa Gym where he'd spent so many hours...or would spend...or might spend. Ippo blushed furiously as Takamura showed him off to his old...or future...or possible gym-mates.
Takamura's grin grew larger. He'd found someone with tremendous potential and brought him back to the gym. Now he would prove that he was as amazing a coach as he was a boxer. He'd show that old octopus head that coaching wasn't so hard. He could also push off chores and errands on his new kohai.
"Takamura!"
The old man looked furious as he stormed up. The coach was going on about him bringing in a new boxer who wanted to go pro. As usual he was spouting some nonsense, and as usual Takamura didn't bother to pay attention. The old octopus had a point though, the kid didn't look like a contender in the slightest. Ippo didn't possess an ounce of fighting spirit.
"Just test him then!" Did he have to come up with all the ideas around here? If coach didn't like the look of the kid then he should just try him out. Didn't he have any confidence in his best fighter's talent scouting? Though looking at Ippo - it was hard to fault the old man for having his doubts.
"We'll have him spar."
Takamura was taken back by the coach's decision. Sparring from the start as a test? Well, it didn't matter. The kid would surprise him, of that he was certain. If nothing else Ippo's jab was close to professional level with only a week's worth of practice. As they made their way out of the locker room, the old man pointed to the ring in the corner where the only other boxer with any talent the gym had was working out.
"Let's see how he does against Miyata."
"Hmmmm... Suddenly this has become interesting." Takamura looked down at Ippo expecting him to be a nervous wreak, instead he found that his kohai was staring intently at the other boy.
"I get to spar against Miyata-kun?" There was an un-mistakable eagerness in Ippo's voice.
"Yeah... do you know him or something?"
"Miyata-kun is the greatest! His speed and skill are un-matched! He's an amazing out-boxer who always keeps his cool, and likes to finish fights using his awesome counter! He has 5 wins 1 lost and 1 draw."
*DOOOON!* Takamura punched the top of Ippo's head again.
"What are you talking about? 5 wins? He's not even a professional yet, though he's more talented than most of the trash that take up pro-boxing. The rest of that was very specific...are you a stalker of his or something? I thought you didn't know about boxing a week ago."
"U-Uhm...w-well you see...eh..since Miyata-kun is so close in age to me, I paid attention to him when I asked about the gym the last time I was here. A-After you ran o-out on me."
*sweatdrop*
"Just get in the ring stalker-kun. Try not to get a nosebleed or something."
Ippo's face was bright red as he entered the ring. Facing off against Miyata, he made a very polite and deep bow and introduced himself. After he straightened up, Ippo's expression quickly changed to a look of determination that Takamura hadn't seen before.
"Is this the same kid that was getting beaten up a week ago? It's like he's a different person." The professional boxer mumbled to himself as the fight began.
Miyata looked at the newcomer they wanted him to spar with. The kid definitely looked like he was in good shape, but the way he held himself was more reminiscent of a scared little forest animal than someone who was about to get into a fight. He was busy bowing repeatedly to Takamura after the larger man had punched the top of his head. If they wanted him to show the new blood the ropes; what it was like to box for a few rounds...he'd oblige them. It was close to the end of his morning workout and he could probably handle a few rounds before cooling down.
As Makunouchi stepped into the ring his face and demeanor changed drastically. A look of determination took the place of the timid expression he was wearing before. Miyata had seen people switch like that before, but it was always from flight to fight before. Ippo's expression wasn't one of blood-lust or killing intent, but it was very un-nerving.
*GON* The bell rung.
Ippo dashed in and hit him with a short body blow, or rather it looked like he tried to do something like that. He was holding himself nicely, and had a very low and compact stance, but his moves were slow and rough. Miyata easily moved out of the way of his punches and returned several jabs to Makunouchi's head. Again and again Ippo charged at the more experienced boxer, but never came close to hitting. Miyata started to use his right hand when after a near minute of taking (and blocking) his lefts hadn't managed to slow the surprisingly well-built newcomer down. The bell rang to signify the end of the first round as Miyata was circling and jabbing once again. In Miyata's corner, his father was waiting for him with a stool and some water.
"That kid is made of something else."
"His defense is pretty good. His punches are slow, but he's only trying for small quick blows. I can't get in many jabs before he gets his gloves back up."
"It's the peek-a-boo style. He doesn't have any experience, that's plain to see, but he must have watched a lot of videos. Probably copying Tyson or something. He does have a good sense though. Trying to dash in and deliver small body blows is a good strategy against a boxer like you."
"There's no way to counter those hits either. He's too short. Trying to do a body blow on him while he's hunched over like that isn't going to work."
"Quite impressive for having never sparred before."
"I agree."
In the other corner Takamura was gesturing and talking. Makunouchi was nodding with that same look of determination that he had before.
"Takamura is giving him some pointers. This next round will probably be quite different."
*nod*
The bell rung and the two boxers met in the center of the ring again. Instead of trying to dash in, Ippo was slowing sliding towards Miyata. When in got in range, he let loose with a series of jabs. Unlike his body blows these were quick, sharp, and polished. Almost the technique of a pro. Even with the flurry of lefts that Ippo was throwing, it was simple for Miyata to block and dodge them. When inexperienced people boxed, they wound up wearing themselves out on their own. A jab that missed cost a lot of stamina since you had to stop and pull back your arm in addition to throwing the punch in the first place. Soon Ippo would reach his limit and then Miyata could capitalize on his opponent's condition. The punches never stopped. Several times it felt like Ippo was about to run out of stamina, but always another flurry of jabs followed. Then the second round bell rung, and Miyata returned to his corner.
"That kid has a lot of stamina."
"Considering that Takamura brought him in he's probably a delinquent. Must be used to brawling, just not boxing."
"If that's the case his stamina won't last. Punk fights are over quick. In any case, keep your distance."
"Don't worry, my arms sting just from blocking his jabs. I'm going to avoid him until he makes a mistake and throws a big punch I can counter."
Makunochi came out of his corner and approached Miyata with the same sliding movement he used in the previous round. Once again he got to within punching distance. This time when he began to jab, Miyata dodged to the left and began to circle the newcomer. The out-boxer continued his clockwise circle, making it harder for Ippo to hit him with his left jab. All the while Miyata jabbed at Makunochi's head at irregular intervals. Slowly and surely Ippo kept on advancing towards the quicker fighter, but Miyata always remained out of range of him. The bell rung and the 3rd round was over.
"His punches may be amateurish, but his ring sense is pretty good."
"I'd have expected him to try rushing forward like he did in the first round, or to try throwing a right."
"Takamura is looking awfully pleased with himself over there."
"Just do the same thing as last round."
*nod*
The 4th and final round was a near mirror of the 3rd. Miyata circled Ippo - who wasn't quick enough to catch him, but who didn't lose his cool or allow Miyata's jabs to slip past his block. In the end Miyata won the spar 3 rounds to 1. Ippo looked strangely...ecstatic about the outcome. Miyata went out back to run water over his arms.
"Ichirou! This is where you went." Miyata's father emerged from the gym. "That was a pretty good spar, it looked like he was applying quite a bit of pressure on you. UH?!"
His son's arms were covered with bruises. His forearms were already swelling. Miyata looked up from the faucet that he was using to run water over the damaged areas.
"He was using 12 ounce gloves, but I still wound up like this. I think boxing has become much more interesting now father."
