Takara Fansubs Translation: Shippothekit
Takara Fansubs Encoding: Bader
Look up at the stars
An infinite number of scattered lights
Floating above the ring
Today rainbow-coloured sweat will fly
It's not bright tonight! My life
At this moment is only small
Like a lit firework
Our red faces flare up
I don't understand tonight! Now I'm
Suited for this lonely smell
Hit the waves and break them
Things like kindness have no meaning
Well done, Yabuki!
In 2 minutes 16 seconds he's made
an incredible come-back with a K.O.!
- I'm going back. - Yoko...
Tonoya, hold on!
Hold on, Tonoya!
Episode 3: Messenger from Hell... Joe Yabuki
It was a brilliant come-back.
Rikiishi, who had devoted his whole life to boxing,
must have been pleased today.
If Yabuki had felt too guilty about the death of Rikiishi,
he could never have made his come-back in the ring.
Had that been the case, Rikiishi himself
would've been the one feeling the most grief.
What a great night.
Don't you think so, Yoko?
Yoko... There's only you now.
You have to overcome the pain from his death.
You really believe that Yabuki has overcome his pain?
Yes.
I think so, Yoko.
Grandfather, I have a favour to ask you.
Give me the boxing club.
Make me the head of the Shiraki boxing club.
Yoko, don't you understand?
What Rikiishi, Yabuki and you created,
that time of triumph and joy, is over.
Yabuki has finally overcome his pain alone.
Forget everything and create your own path. You are the Shiraki's daughter.
You have other means to be happy.
Please, Grandfather.
Yoko!
I beg you, make me the president of the club.
It's Yabuki's second match.
The first ended in a spectacular K.O..
We'll know from the second match
whether or not he's found his place in the ring.
Great job, Joe!
Well done!
Well done, Yabuki! Your hits are still as strong as ever.
It's another victory K.O. for the first round!
Remember that Apple Kato is the amateur bantamweight champion.
He was able to win with a K.O. easily.
You could say that Yabuki has found his vigour.
Look at the smile on Tange's face, his coach.
Look! There's Nishi the Mammoth.
Hey!
Hey, calm down!
"There's been a series of victories for the come-back of Joe the Brawler."
"The Messenger from Hell, Joe Yabuki."
"They say that for a boxer, a blow to the face"
"is like a window to Heaven,"
"but a blow to the stomach opens the gates to Hell."
"Since his great return, Yabuki has won"
"all his matches with blows to the stomach, resulting in K.O.s "
"He deals great punches,"
"similar to the ones that killed Rikiishi,"
"that are always aimed at the stomach. This new strategy"
"will make his future opponents tremble."
"Blows to the stomach..."
He did hit me in the stomach while we were sparring.
I see. He's already prepared a new strategy.
It's incredible, isn't it, Gramps?
What?
The perfection of his strategy...
When we were sparring, he never punched me in the face.
"Never punched you in the face?"
What is it, Gramps?
It's nothing.
Gramps, maybe... Maybe Joe...
Maybe Joe can't punch in the face anymore?
That's enough, Nishi!
The fatal blow that Rikiishi received was on the temple, so...
I told you to shut up! Don't you understand, Nishi?
Listen, Nishi, it's just a coincidence.
Stop making up crazy ideas and shut up!
Alright.
He's hitting the body and the head, Gramps.
Of course he is! Go, Joe! Go!
Stop! In the ropes.
6... 7... 8...
Look who it is...
Mr. Otaka, president of the Asia club.
A magnificent come-back!
No one can measure up to Yabuki.
Thanks. That's very nice of you.
If he continues on like this, he'll soon have a national title.
It's too soon.
His popularity is phenomenal.
There hasn't been a Japanese boxing star for a long time.
You're too kind.
Keep boxing with that enthusiasm.
Thanks a lot.
It's true. You deserve to be ranked.
Another victory and you'll be 7th or 8th.
I have something to give to Mr. Tange.
Gramps, you have a visitor.
Miss Shiraki!
It's been a long time! We're very grateful to you.
Me too.
Matsuki, give it to him.
Here, Mr. Tange.
- What is it? Mr. Danpei Tange
A letter from the new president of the Shiraki boxing club.
"The new president?"
Yes. Miss has taken the position of president.
We're greeting all the boxing clubs
and members of the federation.
A woman as the head of a boxing club?
I'll train power boxers. I swear it.
Nishi... Where'd Gramps go?
To the boxing federation, there's a meeting.
Nishi, do you know anything about my next match?
I have trouble training without knowing about my next fight.
That's the very topic of the meeting.
Boxing Federation of Japan
I asked Mr. Tange to come a little later,
because there's something I want to address before he arrives.
Let's begin. We know why this meeting's been called.
I'll remind you all anyways: How to get rid of Joe Yabuki.
That's our problem.
He retired Wolf Kanagushi,
our best hope, smashed his chin to pieces.
He brought about the death of Rikiishi, a future world champion.
Since the return of Yabuki,
two boxers are still hospitalized.
Two others have lost confidence.
In short, if he continues like this,
he's going to crush every boxer we train.
Luckily, Yabuki hasn't been ranked yet.
Once he's entered into the ranks, it'll be too late.
So, if we want to stop him, it's now or never.
But how?
I have an idea.
He will fall against the lead boxers.
Good idea.
"The veterans against The Messenger from Hell."
The public will love it.
Yabuki will be crushed before the public, legally.
I'm in!
We'll start with a boxer from Mr. Kunitomo's club.
One of my boxers?
You!
May I remind you, I run the Shiraki club.
You should have invited me to this meeting.
But if I had known it was going to be so sinister, I would've declined.
I'll take my leave.
Who is that ingrate?
Be kind to her.
She's the only daughter of the Shiraki family.
If we respect her, it'll be very beneficial.
Ah... Mr. Tange! We've been waiting for you for an hour.
What? But I'm on time...
Since you were late, we've made the decision without you.
What decision?
The choosing of Yabuki's next opponent.
You'll be pleased. It's an ace.
He comes from the Kunitomo club, the national bantamweight champion:
Tiger Ozaki!
- Kinoko! - Yes?
Take my spot.
Yes, of course!
What's going on? There aren't any more balls!
The machine is empty.
- Can we have what you won? - Share it between you guys.
Really? You're so generous!
See ya tomorrow!
Hey! I sent Nishi to you. Why didn't you come home?
- Hup! - Listen, Joe...
Nishi told me the gist of it.
A fight against Tiger Ozaki... That's great!
It's a conspiracy, Joe. You can see it right away.
It's normal in the middle of boxing:
verse a beginner with a high level boxer.
It's a technique to crush him before he becomes too strong.
We won't let them trap me.
What?
Do I have the face of a loser, or what?
I'm going to win. I'm sure of it.
Remember your opponent is a national bantamweight champion.
I'm gonna be frank... You're not even ranked!
You're nothing but an amateur!
Would you be happy if I'm an amateur all my life, Gramps?
It seems they're willing
to give me the championship belt, if I win.
Once, you told me
that you dreamt of having a champion from the Bridge of Tears.
The bets are open. Put 'em on me.
Joe...
Alright, Nishi! That made me turn my head!
Moron! Who told you to rest? The gong didn't ring!
Okay. Get ready, Nishi!
Shiraki Estate
What's wrong, Nishi?
It's alright. I'm fine...
Nishi, are you hurt?
Take off your gloves and show me.
I remember.
Nishi the Mammoth hurt his right wrist in a match.
Well, this is rather unusual. Yabuki doing the cooking?
I don't really have a choice. Nishi's hurt his wrist.
He's at the hospital with Gramps.
No! Not like that, you'll lose all the rice!
Let me do it.
But I...
Don't worry. It's why I came.
You're a great help.
I'm gonna go run a bit, if you don't mind.
Sure, go ahead. Um, Yabuki...
Could we go somewhere after your match?
Great idea. I'll win the fight and we'll go celebrate that!
Promise?
What brings you to the slums?
Nothing special.
I was passing by and I saw you running, that's all.
See ya!
It's in one week...
Yes, but he's not a challenging opponent.
Be careful.
You think it's a conspiracy like Gramps?
I'm more grateful to them for something else.
It opens the way to the title of champion.
"The title of champion?"
You want to have the title of champion?
I think you're just saying that to motivate yourself.
Why are you criticizing me? I don't need motivation.
You've changed, Yabuki...
To box against Rikiishi, you didn't need
a motive or an objective.
Without a word, you'd step into the ring.
Find me a new Toru Rikiishi to motivate me.
Watch out on your way home. There are a lot of thugs around here.
Joe, I'm sorry.
Your match is coming up and I can't spar with you.
Don't worry about it. It's not a big deal.
Evening.
Why it's Mr. Kimura, president of the Daito club...
I heard that Yabuki's sparring partner
has wounded his wrist.
A reporter told me the whole story.
Yabuki,
there's many bantamweight boxers that train in my gym.
They're ready to be your sparring partners.
So, what do you say about training with us?
That's great.
Wait, Mr. Kimura!
I refuse. My boxers only train here.
We have our own way of doing things.
I understand...
Gramps, I'm gonna go.
Wait, Joe!
Think for a minute.
He's one of the people who want to crush you.
If you go there, there's no telling what they might do.
Gramps...
You think I'm the type of guy to let myself get beat up?
We'll leave the house to you, Nishi.
Alright.
Daito Boxing Club
Come in.
Yabuki, the locker room is over there...
It's alright. There aren't any women here.
Don't waste time. Let's start right away!
Wait, Joe! Put on a helmet at least.
Let's see if they can even lay a hand on me.
What?
- Take, you start. - Okay.
Hey! Take! You alright?
You see that, Gramps? I don't need a helmet.
Yasuda, don't hesitate! Go for it!
Hard to spar if you fall like flies.
Bastard, you're finished!
You must be a lightweight, eh?
That's the minimum to take my punches.
Joe, that's enough!
You come here to spar, not to fight!
Who's next? I haven't even broken a sweat.
Whose turn?
Go on.
Give him a warm welcome!
Kurashima, leave him in the dust with your super footwork.
Hup!
Joe!
What the hell are you doing?
What's the matter with you? Have you gone mad?
I saw them when we arrived.
But I've had enough.
What?
Take a look at the balcony.
They even have a video-camera, the bastards!
What?
Tiger Ozaki!
So, what should we do, Gramps?
Sad memories are hidden by your shoulders
You are walking alone in life
Now sweet comfort
Shouldn't hurt your back
Bitter tears overflow
Just pretend you don't notice
Bitter tears overflow
Just pretend you don't notice