thebastion | Day 240 - [Boxing Intensifies]

Who: Ippo and you!
Open: Open
When: Day 240
Where: The Bastion - The New Kamogawa Boxing Gym!
What: [Muffled Boxing in the background]
Format: Will match
Warnings: None that I can think of

[It was finally done. Ippo couldn't help but let a small tear slide down his left cheek as he stared up at the spitting image of the Kamogawa Gym; for all the shards he'd spent, every last one had felt completely worth it. The feel of the wall as he placed his hand against it, the smell that washed over him as he opened that familiar door, the sound of his feet squeaking against the floor as he entered...it was all exactly the same as he remembered it and in that moment, he couldn't have felt any more at home. Sure he was still on a tentatively floating rock in the sky, and sure nothing was ever going to bring back his world or all his friends from the calamity, but this was definitely as close to all that as he could get, and in that he was content.

He smiled with a sense of nostalgia as he climbed up into the sparring ring with a pair of gloves and closed his eyes; if he focused hard enough, he could almost hear the sounds of the gym come to life. The laughter, often muffled by the sound of leather meeting leather and jumping ropes slapping the floor in synced rhythm; the sound of constant movement and the coach's barking orders that somehow cut through the din like a sharpened knife. As he slipped the gloves on and strapped them up with his teeth, one might notice the most peaceful expression crossing his face in the 5 months he'd been here.]

"I'm home...!"

[Welcome, one and all to the Kamogawa Boxing Gym version 2.0! Not that it's really any different than the 1.0, but that's neither here nor there. Where is here are a multitude of things you can work out with! Heavy bags, speed bags, double-end bags, clothing bags! More bags than you can shake a boxing glove at! We've got lifting weights and jumping ropes! Or jumping weights and lifting ropes if you're into that sort of thing, no judgements! There's even a regulation sized sparring ring for all your training and dispute settling needs, complete with gloves and headgear for those tough to settle arguments like putting the seat down! So, to everyone who has any desire to get stronger, or is even just curious about the new building that's suddenly popped up, feel free to come on by!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Ryu stepped back and watched Ippo work. It was really amazing how quickly he picked up on things. He wasn't really a master of any sort - he'd trained with some, but most of that was for working on his natural abilities, not changing them into a different sort of style. Defense, offense... but this was something new.]

Wow! If you were in my world I think you'd probably count as a Master.

[He stood in front of Ippo, putting his fists up.]

Give it a try on me! It works better when I can see just where I'm supposed to hit.

Oh I'm not even close...

[Yup, there's a big old blushing doofus scratching his head in the middle of the ring now. How do compliments? Good thing he was able to brush it off in favor of demonstration, that he could do.

He got back into the stance and followed those same movements, snap dashing out until he was a few feet in front of Ryu; from here would be the usual spot someone would try to block or counter, but when he snapped to the side and saw where he was in relation to Ryu, he could see that most attempts at that would either miss or get the guard worked around.

His fist came down with that same practiced force, stopping a hair's inch away from the side of Ryu's neck as that same shock of wind blew both their hair around a bit. If this punch connected perfectly, it would hit right at the spot where the neck connected to the shoulder...with Ryu's full strength, it would definitely be fatal. At best, it could probably break the collar bone.

Either way, it wasn't likely the person or thing would be getting back up again at least for a while.]

How was that? Think you're ready to give it a shot?

[Ryu watched carefully, studying each movement. To the side... then forward. It was simple, but not something he'd thought of before. He nodded, but... well. He wasn't quite sure about his ability to stop. He glanced around and spotted one of the punching bags. Ippo was a good teacher and he didn't want to hurt him.]

[He climbed out of the ring and over to the bag, eying it up to find the proper spots if it were a human. There. He started a few feet back, dashed to the side, and came down against the bag with full force.]

... Oops.

[He glanced down at the somewhat squashed and ripped bag.]

I can help set this back up. Sorry...

[Ippo eyed Ryu as he got out of the ring and went to the heavy bag. All things considered, it was probably a good idea...it sounded even better when he saw the heavy bag fly back and hit the wall with a loud bang.]

I...think that one's done for.

[He said, noting that the bag he'd annihilated had been the one he'd used his shards for beforehand...it had been even tougher than the Kamogawa's old ones...]

More importantly though, how did that strike feel? Did it come to you more naturally? Was it more comfortable at all?

I can help replace it. I've probably got enough shards. But it felt a lot more comfortable. A lot more like swinging a sword. You're really good at teaching, Ippo.

Don't worry, we have a few more in storage, these things getting busted is pretty normal for a boxing gym.

[Especially this one. With himself and Takamura, the coach had made sure there was a nice reserve on hand to replace the ones they broke.]

I'm only half as good as my coach was...if I'm even a little bit good, it's thanks to him.

He must have been an amazing person. I didn't get to know the Masters I trained with very well... we always had to keep moving.

He was.

[Coach Kamogawa had been one of his most staple cornerstones during his time in the ring. The man had never let him quit something he'd started and was always there to push him the extra mile he needed to get things done. Even now he could feel that encouraging sting the slap on his back had left...]

The best I can do now is honor the lessons he taught me and pass them on as best I can. Even if you couldn't stay with your masters...I'd say they were probably more than a little proud of you.

... I'd hope so. Some of them were really tough to get to agree to train us. But they were all good people. There were a lot of good people... there always are. More good people than bad people.

That's true!

[Ippo walked over and stared with Ryu, putting a friendly hand on his shoulder.]

No matter how bleak the world looks, there are always people out there to keep fighting for. Even if they're not here, they're always with us.

Yeah. And we keep finding more and more people. It's not the same as how many people were in our worlds... but it's hope. Hope to make a new world. A better world.

Together.

[He smiled and gave the shoulder a pat before he turned on his heel and began to walk away.]

For right now though? I'd like to work on making my stomach not growl, wanna come with?

Sure!

[He followed along after Ippo. Food was always a great idea. Maybe they could get some eggs.]

Day 240 - [Boxing Intensifies]

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