Training officially began the next morning.
Unofficially, it began the moment Jin woke up and tried to get out of bed.
His body disagreed.
Not violently. Not dramatically. Just enough stiffness to make every movement feel like a negotiation. He sat on the edge of his bed for a long moment, staring at the floor, mentally ranking which parts of him hurt the most.
Legs.
Back.
Shoulders.
"…Acceptable," he muttered.
He stood up anyway.
The Kagawa Gym smelled the same as always—sweat, rubber, and something faintly metallic—but the atmosphere had shifted.
The whiteboard still read 6 WEEKS, now accompanied by a crude countdown someone had added beneath it.
Day 1
Jin stared at the number while tightening his shoes.
Day one always lied.
It pretended to be simple.
Coach Kagawa wasted no time.
"Roadwork first," he said. "Then conditioning. No sparring today."
Shimada looked personally offended. "NOT EVEN A LITTLE?"
"No."
Mori handed Jin a printed schedule. "This is the base. We'll adjust weekly."
Jin skimmed it.
Morning roadwork.
Midday gym.
Evening conditioning.
No wasted time. No flashy drills.
It was honest.
The run hurt more than yesterday.
Not sharply—just deep, lingering fatigue that clung to his muscles like wet sand. Jin focused on his breathing, his pace, the rhythm of his steps.
Ahead of him, Ippo ran too.
Perfect posture.
Consistent pace.
Terrifying stamina.
"You're running really smoothly," Ippo said, somehow not winded.
"Thanks," Jin replied, resisting the urge to ask how he was still talking.
They ran in silence for a while.
"I was nervous before my second fight," Ippo added. "More than my first."
Jin nodded. "Me too."
"But… it was also exciting," Ippo said, smiling. "Because I knew more."
Jin considered that.
Knowing more didn't always help.
But it did change how fear felt.
Back at the gym, conditioning awaited.
Mori oversaw everything with a stopwatch and a look that suggested mercy was optional.
Jump rope.
Core work.
Bag rounds.
Jin focused on efficiency. No wasted movement. No overextension. His punches landed solidly against the bag, thuds echoing through the gym.
Aoki watched from nearby.
"You're boring," he said.
"Good," Jin replied.
"That's worse."
By mid-afternoon, Jin's shirt was soaked through, arms heavy but responsive. Coach Kagawa finally allowed him a break.
"Shadowbox," Kagawa said. "Slow."
Jin stepped into the ring alone.
He moved deliberately, visualizing pressure instead of speed. Each step had purpose. Each punch returned to guard cleanly.
From outside the ropes, Mari watched quietly, notebook resting against her knee.
She didn't write.
She just observed.
The comedy returned during cooldown.
Aoki attempted Jin's conditioning circuit and collapsed halfway through.
"This is inhumane," he gasped.
Mori checked his watch. "You skipped half of it."
"I skipped the dying part."
Kimura patted Jin's shoulder. "Respect."
Shimada was already talking about fight posters.
Coach Kagawa shut that down with a look.
The days began to stack.
Day two.
Day three.
Roadwork extended.
Bag rounds increased.
Conditioning intensified.
Jin adapted.
Not dramatically.
Incrementally.
His body learned the rhythm again.
Midweek brought sparring back.
Light.
Controlled.
Ippo was his first partner.
They touched gloves, respectful as always.
"Ready?" Ippo asked.
"Yes."
The bell rang.
Ippo pressed forward with textbook fundamentals, punches tight and relentless. Jin circled, managing distance, testing angles.
No power.
Just reading.
Ippo was still terrifying.
After the round, Jin exhaled slowly.
"You're strong," Ippo said earnestly.
"So are you," Jin replied.
That didn't feel like a lie.
Mari caught Jin after training.
"You're changing," she said.
"How so?"
"Not technique," she replied. "Pace."
Jin thought about it.
"I don't feel rushed," he said.
Mari smiled. "That's noticeable."
They walked together in silence for a bit.
"You're not chasing anything," she added. "That's rare."
Jin shrugged. "I'm just moving forward."
By the end of the week, fatigue settled in like an old friend.
Jin stayed late again, alone in the gym, wrapping and unwrapping his hands slowly.
Six weeks.
The number loomed, but it no longer felt abstract.
It had weight now.
Shape.
Coach Kagawa stopped beside him.
"Your conditioning will carry you," the coach said. "Your composure too."
"And my weaknesses?" Jin asked.
Kagawa didn't answer immediately.
"We'll address them," he said finally. "In time."
Jin nodded.
That was enough.
He turned off the lights himself that night.
The gym fell quiet, shadows stretching across the ring.
Day one was over.
And for the first time, Jin felt certain of something simple and steady.
Preparation wasn't about proving anything.
It was about being ready to stand where the lights would be.
END OF CHAPTER
Author's Note:
Thank you for reading! 🙏
The training arc has officially begun. Expect a mix of progress, comedy, character moments, and rising pressure as the countdown continues. If you're enjoying the story, please comment, vote, and add it to your library — your support really helps!
See you in the next chapter 🥊