𝐋𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 | Hajime no Ippo

one

CHAPTER ONE: MESSY INTRODUCTIONS

FEBRUARY, 1990

Anya leaned over and wiped the tables of her mother's cafe. She woke up bright and early so she could make it to the cafe to help open up. There was always a long list of things to do before she and her mother opened up for the day. She never minded helping her; it was the least she could do. Her father was out early to open up his gym, leaving them both to tend to the cafe. 

Anya could hear her mother talking about something on the phone, but where she was, it sounded like she was mumbling. Her mother put the phone back onto the receiver. "Anya! Would you come here for a second, please?" Her mother called out for her. Anya looked up from the table she was cleaning, put the rag down, and went over to her mother. "Yes, mom? If it's about the stock, everything's coming in tomorrow." 

"No, no." Her mother shook her head. "Thank you, but it's not that." She dug into the drawer and brought out a sheet of paper. "Your father needs you to send something to the Kamogawa Gym. Have you heard of that at all?" 

Anya nodded. "Kamogawa Gym? Yeah, I've heard of that. I've walked past it a couple of times, but I'm sure that it's a rival gym in his eyes. Did he tell you anything else?" 

"It's about some boxer. He wants them to fight someone from his gym." She scoffed. "You know I don't know about this stuff. You have to get to his gym today anyway, right? I'll take care of everything else for the shop, you just get going." 

Anya was taken aback. "Are you sure? Mom, I can--" Her mother shushed her, handing her the sheet of paper and the items she brought to the gym every day. "I'll be fine, Anya. I'm not getting any younger, but I can still work. Drop this off and get to your father's gym." She pats her shoulder. Anya nodded before turning away, wishing that her mother had a good day of work. 

The chill of the February breeze rippled through her hair as the sun shined down onto the city. It was a good day, and it made her look forward to doing road work when she could. Not too hot to sweat a river, and not too cold to freeze. She enjoyed this, but until the springtime came, there would always be another harsh day of winter weather. 

"Kamogawa Gym? Hm." She thought. She's heard of some boxers that are in that gym, one of them had their debut match recently; Makunouchi Ippo. She wasn't there to witness it, but with how the boxing magazine described it, it was a good match. It's a good feeling to win your debut match, and it's an even better feeling to get good press about it. Maybe she'd go and see the next match.

She eventually made it to the gym which wasn't too far away from her father's gym. She looked up at the sign before letting out a breath, adjusting her purple turtleneck, and straightening out her slacks. She opened the door and walked in, greeting the first person she saw. "Hello," She bowed slightly. "I'm looking for a Mister Kamogawa, is he here?" 

"Yeah, he's in the ring over there." The man pointed it out. Just as she looked over there, Mister Kamogawa stepped out of the ring. The man got his attention, and he walked over to them, wiping sweat off of his forehead. "Greetings, Mister Kamogawa." Anya bowed lower. "I was told to come here and give you this." She handed him the paper. "I'm guessing someone from my father's gym wants to challenge one of your boxers." 

He grunted, analyzing the sheet. "Matsui Gym...and you said this was your father?" He hasn't heard from him in years. He knew that his gym existed, but it was almost like he fell off the face of the earth after he retired from boxing.