Love of Shooting Star is sending you
A flash of light, yeah!
With eternal dreams
Let's roll and go
Without thinking anything
I'm just living in the Now
What keeps me going is
A street song
I want to dive lost mind, I want to dive lost mind (I want to immerse myself in my dream till I can't think of anything else)
I want feeling, I want feeling, always (That's how I want to feel all the time)
I want to dive lost mind, I want to dive lost mind (I want to immerse myself in my dream till I can't think of anything else)
Why, why, why, why? I want to dive feeling over (I don't know why, but I want to keep feeling passionate)
Love of Shooting Star is sending you
A flash of light, yeah!
With eternal dreams
Let's roll and go
Round Three, 2 minutes 22 seconds, KO.
Winner, Mashiba.
That's the outcome of today's match.
It's hard to believe Miyata-kun lost. Boxing really is unpredictable.
Takamura-san. Did Mashiba do it on purpose?
Accidents like head butting or tripping over opponents' feet...
aren't uncommon during a match.
But in Mashiba's case, it was obviously intentional.
That cheating bastard!
We should be more worried about Ippo!
He lost Miyata, who was his only goal.
TOHO Boxing Gym
As I've told you many times already...
TOHO Boxing Gym Mashiba won't be in today. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.
He needs to recuperate from yesterday's match.
Then, can we ask you a question, Chief?
About the "accident" in the second round...
That's what you were after in the first place.
Yes, about that... How can I put it?
I feel bad for Miyata, but that sort of thing happens a lot in boxing.
- Oh, Mashiba-kun! - Hello, there.
Can we ask some questions?
Hey, what are you doing here? I told you to rest today, didn't I?!
Mashiba-kun, that sure was an amazing match yesterday. Any comments?
Would you like to say something regarding the final?
Uh, wait!
We've heard that Miyata-kun will be hospitalized for a while.
I'm sure that bothers you. I hope he has a speedy recovery.
Anyway, about the accident which was the catalyst for the reversal...
He really had you in a corner, didn't he?
Naturally, it was unintentional, right?
Unintentional? Get out of here.
Not one punch from that suck-up got to me.
Give that preppy Miyata a message from me.
Tell him he's lucky that a hospital stay is all he got.
What an idiot! He's confusing boxing with brawling.
So, he did it on purpose.
Man, he pisses me off.
Is he actually happy winning like that?
Looks like you still have a lot of damage.
Are you still here?
If you want to write that I did it on purpose, go ahead.
Tell the fans that I stepped on that wimp's foot...
to teach him how tough boxing really is.
You're the one who knows best how wimpy Miyata-kun really was.
Besides, I'm not interested in the accident.
It was a splendid match.
And you won.
However, there's one guy who isn't exactly at peace with that.
Makunouchi. He came all this way with Miyata as his goal.
He worked his butt off to reach the final.
And he saw yesterday's match.
I'm sure he'll give the final everything he's got.
What do you think are your odds of winning?
Mashiba-kun?
That was his goal? He makes me laugh.
Does he think he's in a ring with a buddy? Give me a break!
There's no way I'll be beaten by a loser like him. I will win!
I will be the winner.
KAMOGAWA Boxing Gym
Yo!
Hey, those are great sounds!
Hey, Ippo!
Hello!
What do you think?
Huh?
I think he's OK, probably.
Yo!
Hey!
So what do you think of Ippo? He seems to be in great condition.
That little...
Idiot!
I'm sorry!
You've been hitting the sandbag nonstop while I was out doing roadwork!
Stop it, you idiot!
I told you to stop!
You stupid fool.
Unbelievable. You were punching way too recklessly.
His bones seem to be all right.
But he won't even be able to punch a mitt for a while.
And we only have a month till the match.
I... I'm sorry.
It's not that I don't understand how you feel.
However, if you take emotional baggage into the ring...
like the desire to avenge Miyata, you'll only be killed by your intended victim.
However, it would be unreasonable to ask you to cool your head right away.
Still, you need to at least be calm down enough to analyze...
how you can defeat Mashiba and avenge Miyata.
Oh, yeah. Chief, let's show him that.
Huh? Oh, yeah. It should help you conquer Mashiba.
Conquer?
Just watch.
Match Two of the Eastern Japan Rookie Championship Tournament.
Same tournament, match three.
He uses flicker jabs to pin down the opponent within his reach...
then aims careful punches into the chin from the upper right.
This is Mashiba's KO pattern.
The "chopping right." You need to watch out for that.
The hitman style is practically tailored to Mashiba's needs.
However, that very hitman style is also his weak point.
Although it gives the user invincible power when used for offense...
it has an unexpected pitfall.
Here, for example.
Here...
Here, and even here.
Do you see it?
His left guard!
Yup, you got it.
Hitman style puts emphasis on the offensive, which inevitably leads...
to the lowering of the left guard to throw fast jabs.
Because of that, defense is sacrificed.
That is why not many boxers use this technique full of offensive power.
Mashiba's primary weapon is flicker jabs...
the right straight, and long hooks from either side.
It is safe to assume that all of his punches are long-range.
So, if I step in deep and attack him from the right...
You got it! Hitman style is vulnerable to attack from the right!
If that's the case, you need to aim at his chin.
His knees started to buckle after a single counterpunch from Miyata...
so he's gotta be plenty weak there.
Dive in, deliver a right straight, or even a hook, and BOOM!
This could work, Ippo!
I don't think it'll be that easy.
Come on, you can do it!
Your hard work will pay off. Have faith in yourself!
Well, yes. I do think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
However...
how do you plan to get that close to Mashiba?
P-Plan?
Why, he'll simply jump in. You know.
Ippo did a great job getting close to Hayami, you know!
OK, then why couldn't his other opponents get close to him?
Now that you mention it...
Ippo, stretch out your arm.
Huh? Like this?
Yeah. Now...
Oops! Sorry, I didn't mean to.
The hell you didn't! What's your point?!
Just hear me out. Mashiba has a reach of 187 cm, right?
That's about the same as mine. Which means...
His is bigger than yours by this much.
Approximately 20 cm. If you dive at him like usual...
your punches won't reach him.
And if you end up wasting time, mucking with his flicker jabs...
This can't be.
But I just discovered what to aim for.
It'd be impossible to master Miyata's technique in a month.
If only Ippo could spar with someone who knows how to do flicker jabs.
But there's no one at our gym who can.
Huh?
You need to do more than just imitate the guy.
I-I know that!
Who asked you to reach him?
Your quick step-in isn't bad...
but, like Kimura said, if you just dive in...
you might hit a breakthrough.
So you're telling him to go in head-on?
But the guy has sent several boxers to the hospital!
In the match, it will be crucial to secure a good distance.
It's obvious that Mashiba has the advantage in outside fighting...
while the kid has the inside.
It will be a battle of wills...
over who can get close and who can stay away.
Yes, sir.
It's all about force of will. The one who gets cold feet will lose.
That's what it will boil down to in the final.
If you can't chill out because of Miyata, fine.
Take all that anger out on Mashiba!
I will!
Infighting is all I've ever had.
In a sense, it may be just as well you hurt your fists.
You're going to need more dash and dart power than ever before!
Run and run and run some more!
Yes, sir! I'll go right now!
So, your countermeasure for flicker jabs is to play it by ear?
But if he can't do it, the kid will never even lay a finger on Mashiba.
His reach is 20 cm longer.
I need enough dart and dash power to instantaneously bridge the gap!
All right!
It's not like I didn't expect it...
but running every day sure makes my legs sore.
But I still need to do more running.
Maybe I'll get some buns on the way home.
I wonder what's wrong? She doesn't look happy.
Well, she did go to Miyata-kun's match.
Maybe it was a big shock for her.
Oh... Thank you. Let's see...
Excuse me, but...
Yes?
You were at Korakuen Hall the other day, weren't you?
You were rooting for Miyata-kun, right?
I... I was, too.
It was a real shock, wasn't it?
B-But in reality, he would have won...
if only his opponent hadn't cheated.
So I'm saying, it's not like his real ability is at fault...
so please cheer up!
Stop it, please!
Please stop badmouthing my brother.
You don't know him that well...
so how can you talk about him like that?
Why does everyone make him out to be the bad guy?
Gimme a break.
Every time you have a problem, you come to me.
So, what is it this time?
It must be really serious.
I'll hear you out without poking fun.
Um, don't tell anyone.
Of course I won't!
Just pour your heart out.
You'll feel better after you tell someone.
Takamura-san. A-Actually...
I saw Mashiba-san's little sister today.
His little sister?
And then, I accidentally badmouthed him to her face.
Thanks for your help!
Do you feel a little better now?
Yes. I'll start running hard again tomorrow!
Yeah, that's the spirit! Don't let stuff distract you.
Right!
Uh, please make sure not to tell anyone about this.
Right! Of course I won't!
One, two...
three, four...
five, six, seven, eight.
OK, time to do some running!
Still, that's surprising!
Yeah, Mashiba's little sister doesn't look a thing like him.
What a shocker. Are they really siblings?
But you gotta admit, Ippo has good taste.
J-Just a minute!
Oh, you're here?
Why do you know about that?!
Yamanaka Bakery
Those bags...
Yo!
Good afternoon!
Yamanaka Bakery
So, what do you think of her?
Well, she's way beyond cute, for one thing!
He kept it from us at Miyata's match.
You told them, didn't you?
I confided in you and you think it's funny! How could you?!
I don't think it's funny.
Aoki and Kimura are worried about you, too, you know!
Or are you suggesting...
that they're not part of the team?!
That's not the point.
Seriously speaking though, you're gonna have it rough.
You just got devastated by the thing with Miyata...
and now you've fallen for the little sister of his killer.
It's depressing. You're like the main character in a tragedy.
Y-Yes, it is a tragedy, isn't it?
Huh?
He thinks he's Romeo or something! Ippo's becoming a man!
He's totally in the mood!
I must have been out of my mind.
I consulted the most dangerous person in the world.
These people will turn any tragedy into a comedy.
Hi, there.
It sure is lively in here.
Hey, Fujii-chan! We've got a real scoop for you!
You see, Mashiba has a little sister...
and he's fallen for...
Give me a break!
Mashiba's little sister? Oh...
If you already know about her, that'll make this quicker.
Actually, I just met with the person who was his probation officer.
Probation officer?
Well, nobody's perfect, you know.
In particular, young people tend to lose control of their energy.
Oh.
Mashiba's abnormal level of obsession for victory aroused my curiosity.
Does it have anything to do with him stepping on Miyata's foot?
Yeah. Three years ago...
they lost their parents to a traffic accident.
A traffic accident?
They've been surviving on their own ever since.
On their own?
Oh, Ryo, you're home!
You must be hungry. I'll make something for you right now.
- No, thanks. - What?
You're about to go to your part-time job, right?
I'm going to the gym.
No way. If you're going to train, you definitely need to eat first.
I'll make spaghetti! It's full of carbs and easy to digest.
It turns into energy quick.
I appreciate it.
The boss congratulated you on making it to the final.
He says that if you become Rookie of the Year...
he'll throw you a party!
Ryo?
So what?
Oh, come on! Don't talk like that.
Your boss takes good care of you.
People never say what they mean.
We don't know what they're actually thinking.
We've been lied to so many times already.
Ryo...
No matter where I work, I'm always the first to be laid off.
The reason is simple. They get together and rehearse their stories.
"He misbehaves. He'll try something sooner or later."
Still, you can't speak badly of your boss.
He's never said anything like that, right?
They're understaffed right now.
They'd hire anything that moves. Otherwise, they'd never hire me.
Don't worry. Even if I do get laid off...
I have nothing to worry about.
I have boxing.
If I become Rookie of the Year, I'll be ranked 10th in Japan.
The Japanese Title will be within my grasp.
If I become World Champion, I'll make a fortune.
After that, people can take their opinions and shove them!
I can't wait.
You have nothing to worry about.
You don't have to worry about money, making ends meet, school...
You don't have anything to worry about.
I don't care about going to college or making ends meet.
I can't bear to see you suffer so much for me.
You work a day job, train...
and get even more hurt in the fights.
Ryo, someday... you'll wear out.
But the match is another matter.
I can't forget how Miyata-kun looked!
I absolutely can't lose this match!
Reflecting on Today
That's coming to an end
I try to search for what I can do
I might have thought too hard
If I can tell myself, "I'll be fine"
That would be the first step
A paper plane is flying away
Hopefully it will make it to Tomorrow
Forever, forever, forever, forever
I'll keep believing
That's why, forever, forever, forever, forever
It will keep flying
Hitman style. You put your weight on your back leg...
and sink your stomach in. It's an offensive style...
in which the left guard is lowered in order to make fast jabs.
But if I can step in deep enough...
his lowered left guard will become his weak spot...
and his chin will be wide open.
That's why I must dive in! I must reach his chin somehow...
with the power of my newly trained dart-and-dash!
The next round is "The Battle for Distance"