"You're getting really good, Kuwabara," his dad said one day after practice. "Keep this up, and soon no one your age will be able to beat you."
Kuwabara swelled with pride. "Really?"
His dad nodded. "Definitely."
Kuwabara ran inside and grabbed his shoes. "Come on, Dad, let's go!"
"Where are we going?" his dad asked.
"To Urameshi's house! I'm going to challenge him again!"
"Um, Kazuma," his dad started.
Kuwabara glared up at him. "You said I was good enough to beat anyone else my own age!"
"I said you'd be able to beat anyone your age soon," his dad said. "That's not the same thing."
"You think just because Urameshi's beaten me twenty six times that I'll lose again!" Kuwabara said, tears burning his eyes.
"No, no, that's not what I meant!" his dad said, frantically waving his hands.
"Do you believe in me or not?" Kuwabara demanded.
His dad sighed. "Okay. Let me get my shoes."
An hour later, after Kuwabara's twenty seventh loss, Kuwabara's dad patted him on the back. "I'm proud of you, you know."
"Why?" Kuwabara asked.
"Because you don't give up," his dad said. "And you won't let anyone else give up either."
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