IPPO : The Ultimate Counter

[The Regional Gymnasium The day of the tournament]

The stands were filled with spectators, their shouts mixed with the drums of encouragement from the fans. A large banner, Regional Boxing Tournament - , hung above the center ring. The boxers of the different categories were lined up on the floor as the officials prepared to give the kickoff. A referee in a black suit stepped up to the microphone:

— "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the regional tournament! Today, we will start with the lightweight category. Prepare for epic fights and raw talent!"

As the boxers gathered and were a little nervous, Ryuu stood there without pressure with his eyes closed, as if everything that happened did not concern him. Which caught the attention of the others and murmurs in the crowd broke out.

Boxer 1: "Is that him, Ryuu? The prodigy from Kamogawa?"

Boxer 2: "Why is he acting like that? Does he think he's a star or something?"

Ryuu, still impassive, replied in a smug tone:

Ryuu: "No need to make a big deal out of it, guys. It's just a local tournament, after all."

An older opponent on his left frowned:

— "Tsss, you better not overestimate yourself, kid. Your arrogance will cost you dearly in the ring."

Ryuu replied without even turning his head:

Ryuu: "Oh? And you, you better not get too attached to this imaginary victory. I don't want to shatter too many dreams today."

The tension rose instantly. The officials called for calm before the ceremony degenerated.

----

A few minutes later, Ryuu's first fight had arrived.

Aoki: "Come on kid, finish it quickly!!"

Ippo: "You can do it Ryuu - san"

Takamura just smiled with a confident face. Ryuu raised his fist in response to their encouragement and advanced.

In the ring, Ryuu faced Yusuke Arata, for the first match of the lightweight category.

Kamogawa: "Don't be too confident and stay focused, Arata is not an easy boxer"

Ryuu: "don't worry old man... this tournament is a formality and the ring is my playground"

Kamogawa sighed.

----

The two boxers entered the ring, Arata looked at Ryuu firmly, Ryuu himself was smiling but his gaze had changed, far from the arrogance of earlier, it looked like a beast looking at its prey.

After the last checks, the gong rang. Without waiting Arata charged immediately. But Ryuu, with incredible footwork, dodged each blow with an almost insolent ease, an amused smile on his face.

Arata: "Don't move, you coward!"

Arata yelled as he threw a right hook. Ryuu pivoted, slipping out of range with surgical precision.

Ryuu: "Hmm, is that all? I'm starting to get bored, weren't you the one who wanted to show me what real boxing was? Yesterday you seemed more convincing."

Arata still kept his calm showing his experience, he calmed down and now advanced slowly evaluating the distance trying to find the right rhythm. Then launched a jab combination followed by a right hook that only grazed the air. He followed up with a left uppercut that Ryuu dodged with a slight movement of his head he charged with force and using his shoulders he trapped Ryuu in the ropes.

Arata: "Now I'm going to shut your big mouth"

Arata launched into a series of blows trying to take advantage of the situation, but Ryuu saw the blows coming and dodged them with crazy ease.

Spectator: "He reads all his movements... it's incredible"

Arata stopped his attack after another failure and stepped back to try to catch his breath, but it was at this moment that Ryuu advanced with perfect timing and in a fraction of a second found himself facing Arata, he feinted a left jab, Arata surprised shifted which gave an opening and Ryuu followed up with a precise lightning right right in the chin. Arata collapsed directly. He tried to get up but his legs no longer responded.

The referee began the count: [1,2,3... 10]

The fight was over in a single blow in the first round. The screams of the crowd could be heard. Ryuu turned to the spectators, raising his arms.

Ryuu: "Don't applaud me too loudly, I might blush."

Faced with such an attitude, Kamogawa's teeth clenched but he had to admit that he was surprised, this kid had made a magnificent fight.

As the referee raised his arm to declare victory, Ryuu threw a mocking look towards his next opponents, giving them a provocative wink.

----

The entire room was in turmoil after Ryuu's impressive victory, and reactions were flying from all sides. The young prodigy had literally ended the fight in a matter of minutes, making an impression as much with his confidence as with his talent. Ippo, sitting next to Miyata, was in shock. Eyes wide open, he muttered:

Ippo: "A... a single blow? It was so fast! And that way of moving... He dodged like it was a game!"

Miyata, arms crossed, watched Ryuu carefully, his neutral expression masking a slight irritation.

Miyata: "That's true, he's fast, and his counters are precise. But..."

Ippo: "But what?" Ippo asked.

Miyata: "He's taking too much risk. This isn't a boxing style, it's a constant gamble. Against someone truly experienced, that kind of arrogance might give him away."

Ippo nodded, but a certain admiration shone in his eyes.

In the corner of the ring, Kamogawa sat with his arms crossed, his piercing gaze fixed on Ryuu, who was greeting the crowd with his smirk. The coach seemed torn between admiration and frustration.

Kamogawa: "That kid... he's got talent, that's undeniable. But his attitude... He's like Takamura but worse."

Takamura, leaning against a wall, burst out laughing upon hearing this remark.

Takamura: "Hey, old man, you say that like it's a bad thing! I like that kid. He's got guts, and above all, he puts on a show! That's real boxing."

Kamogawa: "Takamura, stop talking nonsense. Boxing is serious business. It's not a circus!"

Kamogawa retorted with a growl. Takamura shrugged.

Takamura: "Yeah, yeah, but still admit it's funny. Look at him! He's already making all the other lightweights mad."

Kamogawa sighed deeply.

----

In the locker room, the murmurs of the other boxers in the category intensified. Several were glaring at Ryuu.

Boxer 1: "This guy thinks he's untouchable because he won in one punch?"

growled a muscular boxer with a dark look.

Boxer 2: "Tsss, he won't last long against someone serious." Another, younger one, seemed worried.

Boxer 3: "But did you see his movements? He dodged like it was easy. This guy is a monster."

The veteran of the category, an experienced boxer and tournament favorite, Kanae Baek crossed his arms as he stared at the broadcast screen where Ryuu appeared arrogantly greeting the audience.

Kanae: "He's talented, I'm not going to lie. But that kind of attitude never gets you far. We'll see if he's still smiling when he meets me."

----

Ryuu stepped out of the ring and a young female reporter called out to him for a quick interview.

Journalist: "Ryuu, it only took one punch to win this fight! How do you feel after such a victory?"

Ryuu, still smiling, replied Ryuu: "Honestly, it was... easy. I came here to challenge myself, but if everyone is at this level, I'm going to get bored. Come on, let the next guy give me a real fight, okay? Otherwise, I'll end up taking a nap."

The arena was on fire. All eyes were now on Ryuu, the prodigy of Kamogawa. But in the shadows, his opponents were already sharpening their strategies, ready to show him that boxing was not an easy game.