"Cheers!"
Glasses clinked against each other as two men pushed them up high. The sound was bright and sharp, cutting through the cozy hum of the Makunouchi living room.
Takamura's big hand nearly swallowed his glass, while Ying's grip was steady and casual. Ippo held his own with wide eyes, still riding the high of his first win, his cheeks flushed from the praise the two men and his mother kept giving.
"To the shrimp's first KO!" Takamura bellowed, his voice booming. "May there be many more and may you not get your ass handed to you next time!"
Ippo laughed, sputtering a bit on his sip. "Takamura-san! Come on..."
Kyoko Makunouchi, Ippo's mother, chuckled from her spot at the low table, her own glass of tea raised in solidarity.
"Be nice, Mr. Takamura. My boy's a winner today, that's what counts."
The room was warm, the kotatsu heater buzzing softly under the table, warding off the evening chill seeping through the windows. The air smelled like home-cooked comfort with steaming fish stew, fresh rice, and the salty tang of pickled radish filling the air.
Kyoko had insisted on cooking when Ippo called to say he was bringing friends home, and she'd pulled out all the stops despite the short notice.
The small table was crammed with bowls, plates of karaage she'd fried up last minute, and even a few skewers from the corner shop to stretch it out.
Ying took a sip, his blindfold hiding any expression but his posture was relaxed.
"To Ippo's growth and to the first step of many victories."
"Cheers!"
They drank again, the clink echoing a second time.
Ippo set his glass filled with apple cider down, still grinning.
"I can't believe it. Miyata was so fast... I thought he'd dance around me the whole fight."
Takamura leaned back, propping his feet up dangerously close to the table edge.
"He was fast but you hit like a truck when you actually land it. That punch that hit him? Boom. Lights out. You got potential, if you just stops holding back like a wuss."
Kyoko tilted her head, stirring her tea.
"Holding back? Why would you do that, Ippo? Isn't the point to win?"
Ippo scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed.
"Well, Mom... I didn't want to hurt him too bad. He's my age, and... I don't know, it felt wrong at first."
Takamura snorted.
"That's your problem, shrimp. You think too much about the other guy. In the ring, it's you or him and mercy will only get you knocked out."
Ying nodded slightly.
"Takamura's right, in a way. From my perspective giving your all is what truly matters, your belief, your will, and your reason to fight is what give meaning to fighting at all. That's why I told Ippo to respect his opponent by fighting him properly. Miyata chose to fight, Ippo also chose to fight. Holding back only disrespects that choice."
Kyoko listened, her eyes soft but thoughtful.
"Sounds like you boys have a whole philosophy about it. I just worry about my son getting hurt."
She smiled gently.
"But seeing him happy like this tonight, smiling, proud, and surrounded by people who believe in him…"
She trailed off, her voice catching a little.
"I think I can be brave too. So pursue your life Ippo, mom will always be here."
Ippo's eyes softened.
"Mom…"
She waved him off, embarrassed.
"Don't get sappy on me now. Eat more karaage before Takamura-san finishes it all."
She pushed the plate toward him, and Ippo grabbed a piece, passing it around. Takamura snatched two, not bothering with manners.
"This is good stuff, Makunouchi-san. Better than the slop at my place."
Kyoko beamed.
"Thank you! It's an old family recipe. Ippo's dad used to love it after a long day on the boat."
Ippo's smile faltered for a second at the mention of his dad but he recovered quick.
"Mom's the best cook. She runs the fishing business too and keeps everything going."
Takamura raised an eyebrow, chewing thoughtfully.
"Fishing? Ah right, I forgot you're still hauling nets all day. Combine that with the training, no wonder you punch like a sledgehammer."
Ippo laughed. "Yeah, it's hard work but it's home."
Ying ate quietly but also chimed in.
"Strength comes from how you live your life and it forms the foundations that you have now."
Kyoko nodded, her eyes twinkling.
"See, Mr. Ying? That's why I like you. You get it. Not like this one over here, all bluster and bravado."
She teased Takamura gently, pointing her chopstick at him.
Takamura feigned offense, clutching his chest dramatically.
"Me? Bluster? I'm the future heavyweight champ of the world! Ippo, tell your mom I'm a legend."
Ippo chuckled.
"You are, Takamura-san but Mom's right, you're too loud."
The room filled with laughter again.
Kyoko shared a story about Ippo as a kid, falling into the water while trying to help on the boat and how he'd come up sputtering but determined to try again.
"He's always been like that. Never giving up, even when it's scary." She said fondly.
Takamura countered with an exaggerated tale of his own rookie days punching a heavy bag so hard it exploded though Ying muttered only to get beaten by an old man, making Kyoko gasp and Ippo double over laughing.
Ying mostly listened, adding some comments here and there.
"Takamura's stories get bigger every time. Next week, he'll say he punched the moon."
Takamura slammed the table lightly.
"Hey! That one was true!"
More laughs.
Ippo was quiet at first but he slowly opened up. He talked about the first time he punched the heavy bag at Heavenly Sunrise, how it flew off the chain and scared him half to death.
"I thought I'd broken it. But Ying just said good punch like it was nothing."
Ying shrugged.
"It was a good punch."
Kyoko smiled at Ying.
"Thank you, for teaching my son."
"He's the best and Takamura-san too, even if he calls me shrimp all the time." Ippo said earnestly.
Takamura ruffled Ippo's hair roughly. "That's 'cause you are one but you're my shrimp now. Don't embarrass me."
Kyoko joined in more as the evening went on, sharing bits about the fishing life, how tough it was running the business alone after her husband passed, but how Ippo's help kept her going.
"He's always been my little rock." She said, eyes misting a bit.
Ippo blushed.
"Mom..."
Takamura, surprisingly, softened for a moment.
"Sounds like you raised a good kid, Makunouchi-san. Not many can handle what he's diving into."
Kyoko nodded, her voice quiet.
"I know it's dangerous. But... he comes home smiling now. That's enough for me."
Ying raised his glass again.
"To the future of this happiness."
They clinked once more, the mood warm and easy.
Time slipped by. The beer and apple cider soon ran low, the stew pot emptied, and the conversation slowed to comfortable pauses.
Kyoko yawned first, covering her mouth.
"It's getting late. Ippo has school tomorrow, and I have an early morning on the boat."
Takamura stretched, standing up with a groan.
"Yeah, yeah. Time to bounce. Thanks for the food, Makunouchi-san. It hit the spot."
Kyoko bowed slightly.
"Anytime. You're welcome back, both of you."
Ippo stood too, walking them to the door.
"Thanks for coming. It... it means a lot."
Takamura slapped him on the back, hard enough to stagger him. "Don't get too soft, shrimp. I'll see you tomorrow, we're ramping up the training."
Ippo winced but grinned. "Yes!"
Takamura headed out, his motor revving loud in the quiet night.
Ying lingered a moment. "You did good today, Ippo. Remember that feeling and build on it."
Ippo nodded firmly.
"I will. Thanks, Ying."
Ying raised a hand in farewell and walked to his waiting black sedan. The driver opened the door silently.
He slid in, the car pulling away smoothly into the night.
The streets of Yokohama blurred past, neon lights reflecting off the water, distant ship horns echoing. Ying leaned back, blindfold still on, mind drifting through the day's events.
Silence filled the car.
Sleepiness then slowly creeps on him, attempting to swallow him into the darkness.
But then, his phone buzzed, waking him up.
He answered it.
"Nozomi."
Her voice came through, sharp and a bit breathless.
"It's happening."
Ying sat up slightly.
"The Crown?"
"Yeah. Some girl showed up out of nowhere then crashed right into the middle of a prelim fight, calling herself one of your sisters. The whole arena's thankfully not in chaos, thanks to Hina proposing a match to her."
A pause on her end.
"I'm fighting too. Some girl is targeting our Valkyria at the same time, She took a loss on purpose and make it so noticable. That's why I figured I'd get in on the action too, perfect time to get my rhythm with these new eye."
Ying's lips curved faintly.
"Good. Keep me updated."
"You coming?"
"Soon."
The call ended.
Ying pocketed the phone, staring out at the passing city.
The Crown of Eve. I already know who's one of the sisters arrived, she's just so predictable. Now, I didn't expect to see Nozomi in action so soon.
Things are accelerating and getting exciting again. I hope this doesn't get boring so soon. "Heh." A quiet chuckle sound out inside the car.
And soon the mansion loomed ahead showing it's grand, isolated, lights glowing in the distance.
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AN: Ngl, I don't know how to feel about this lol. I feel like it's hard to handle my MC lol, like I know what his character and everything is but, how to do it rightly is the thing, on one hand the switch between his dryness at the celebration can be seen and the weird end here that shows his true priorities.
I think it's good contrast if you know where I'm going with my MC, It's something that I keep projecting into whenever I try to write.
Also I'll probably be gone for a week or two. Prelims is starting and we have a lot of stuff needed doing. Projects and all that.
Word Count: 1,698