01x22 - Flower of Hope

[bunniefuu]

Now there’s a sight fer the eyes.

He’s got himself two championship belts. Takamura’s done good fer himself.

Yeah, he did well.

So are yew finally gonna tell her?

Yew coming up to the cabin?

When I went after the Hawk fight, I vowed to tell her after I fulfilled the other half of my promise.

So I can’t go yet.

So yew say.

Yew haven’t changed, Gen-chan.

Excuse me!

Nekota-san, will this work?

Yeah, that’ll do.

Coach, isn’t that you and Nekota-san in that photo?

Yes.

Who’s that woman?

She’s beautiful.

That gal’s Yuki-san.

Yuki-san?

I promised her that one of my
protégés would conquer the world.

But she’s long dead.

She was the flower of our youth.

W-Why’d yew do that?

Don’t run your mouth!

Are you trying to embarrass me in front of my boxers?

Oh, beg yer pardon!

It had to be a closed fist?

Just an old habit of mine.

You’re messing with a former boxer, you know!

Yew threw the first punch!

Please stop, both of you!

They took out the current national champion!

Sorry ‘bout that.

I-It’s fine.

That was pathetic. We’re retraining!

You two were too strong.

But if you’re this strong now, you two must have been very powerful in your prime.

Back then, you’d have two or three fights in a day,

and the referee didn’t stop those fights till someone went down for the count.

You had to be a gutsy guy to box then!

Gen-chan here was a real bruiser.

He coulda been a world champion before Shirai Yoshio.

The world champion? Holy...

Then that means Nekota-san also...

He’s blowing it out of proportion.

Don’t believe everything you hear.

Our heyday done ended along with the w*r.

Boy were we short on luck.

No, I disagree.

I count myself lucky.

The times may have changed, but I’ve realized my dream.

Yew almost moved this old dog to tears.

You’ve done conquered the world.

I didn’t conquer anything.

Nope! That’s my take on it!

When I saw Takamura take on that American,

I couldn’t help envisioning that one fight yew had.

You took on an American, Coach?

You youngsters might think this tale is older than ancient history.

But when I close my eyes, it’s as clear as yesterday.

The shock from our fall and the destitution.

But we knew we had to rise above all that.

We had to focus on our revival and regain our strength.

That time was hot... and full of passions.

Give us some, Dankichi!

Yew ain’t eating that white rice alone!

Shove off! This was paid for with the blood from my last fight!

You want to eat? Earn it with your boxing gloves!

Oh, yeah.

You dragged out last week’s fight to a draw, so you both got nothing.

So next time get a KO.

It’s obvious that I won that fight!

Yew were ‘bout to collapse!

You were puking at the end of rounds!

Only ‘cause I had to see yer ba*ls hanging out!

Cut that out!

You fought an even fight.

Yeah, says the wimpy boxer!

That white rice made yew uppity!

This is one fight you don’t want!

You wanna settle this?!

Damn right I do!

Yer on!

You...

b*stard!

Assholes!

You think I can run right after eating?

This won’t decide anything!

And those guys...

they beat the living crap out of each other in the ring.

But looking at them now...

they look like... best friends.

I-I can’t run no more.

T-Then that means I won.

B-But I was out in front!

Y-You collapsed first though!

Screw this.

Let’s declare a truce.

I guess... I’ll take yew up on that.

Humans are pretty amazing.

Huh?

Two years ago, this place was leveled by bombs.

We thought nothing could be built from those ruins.

But little by little, we are reviving and rising from the ashes.

Even the people coming to watch our fights seem more chipper.

Maybe they’re comparing us to the people who fought real battles.

So we’re playing a big part in the revival?

I couldn’t be any happier knowing that.

Yeah.

We may be has-been boxers who are both pushing 30,

but knowing we’re giving these people courage makes yew wanna fight forever, don’t it?

Dankichi’s got another fight in two days.

Dunno who he’s fighting, though.

That guy’s got a glass jaw so I’m worried.

Did he knock him down already?!

Kamogawa! Dankichi’s in bad shape!

What?!

Not the other way around?!

Hey! Who the hell is he fighting?

Blond hair?

A GI?

Dankichi! Yew all right?

M-My chin...

Don’t worry, he’ll live!

We came to this ring for a friendly match.

We don’t want to injure you Japanese any further after that miserable w*r you fought.

He thinks we’re mud! That's how he really feels!

Cool it, Nekota!

If he thinks all of us will hang our heads in front of American GI's, he better think again!

Nekota!

He’s a big one.

Do it, Miguel.

Sir!

These are for women and children!

We bear gifts!

Clothes, chocolates, gum, and bread!

Women and children first! Come get it!

Don’t yew dare take them!

Don’t yew see them laughing?! Don’t yew?!

Nekota!

They just saw a fellow Japanese man pummeled, and yet...

If I’d met him in the b*ttlefield,
I woulda completely ventilated him!

Stand down. That’s our only option.

These are the times we’re living in.

Yeah, but... we’re reduced to taking things that have touched the ground.

A-Aren’t yew gonna pick that up?

Yew better do it before it’s gone.

It’s still valuable.

To pick one up would be to throw away...

my pride as a Japanese person.

Thank God Dankichi didn’t get hurt bad.

Yew mean thank God he went down with one punch.

You said it.

Guess it’s good that he can’t take a hit.

From what I could see, he went down when they swung at each other.

He used a counter!

“Counter”?

A punch that uses the opponent’s momentum against him.

It’s a high-level technique.

The guy back there was at least a lightweight.

Us bantamweights wouldn’t stand a chance.

Yew can pound any sized boxer with some elbow grease!

With that old Japanese spirit!

And we can rush Sherman tanks with bamboo lances!

That’s exactly what they told us during the w*r!

Listen.

Don’t start thinking about getting revenge.

American boxing is a decade ahead of Japanese boxing.

No, even a decade might be underestimating it.

They stick to their proper weight classes.

They also know how to maintain healthy bodies.

Their scientific advances easily eclipse whatever guts we have.

Yew damn America lover! That’s enough outta yew!

Cool it! You think I like any of this?!

Still,

their way of fighting is different from ours.

Yew think there are different ways of slugging it out?

Believe me, it’s way different.

It’s not our fighting.

It’s real boxing.

Real boxing?

If I’m going to become a better fighter, I must learn its ways.

It’s a big world out there!

Our country might have lost, but I’m still here!

I want to see how far this one fist will lead me!

I hope I’ll learn everything along the way!

Well I ain’t an America lover.

I’m fighting using our style.

Nekota!

Relax. I’ve settled down for now.

I even saw a ray of hope.

Hope?

My pride as a Japanese person.

Those were some fine words.

Never knew we had girls left who could come up with those lines.

You’re always a sucker for pretty lookers.

Ooh, I knew it! Yew think she’s cute too, huh?

Wonder if she came to see the fight.

Hope we get to meet again.

Save me!

What’s with yew?!

You were that-

Hand over that girl, jap.

I repeat, hand over that girl!

It’s the GI Dankichi fought!

So he’s the one chasing yew?!

Tell ‘em, Miguel.

Sir!

This is what Anderson is saying:

Things became boring after he stopped seeing action on the battlefront!

He’s trying to add some excitement to his life!

The man from this afternoon riled him up!

He wanted to snuff out his life, but you Japanese turned out to be too weak!

Yew b*stard...

In order to escape the crippling boredom of this country, you Japanese...

must provide...

...men to punch and women to sleep with.

Yew ain’t stopping me, Kamogawa!

Nekota!

Yer dead!

He started with two lefts.

That gave him time to gauge the distance, then came the k*ller right.

Nekota!

What the hell was that?

Kamogawa!

A right? Was that his right?!

Wait... was that a cross counter?

My name is Miguel Zail.

You can relax, you brave Japanese.

Sergeant Anderson is fully satisfied.

Y-Yer still here?

Damn you...

Please believe me. We Americans are not all like Anderson.

We truly seek to form cordial relations with you people.

He is just a dangerous exception.

And one more thing:

Do not think about getting payback.

Your brand of boxing is nothing like our boxing.

You have no chance of winning.

They’re not just a decade ahead.

They’re at least a century ahead of us.

Why’re yew acting so impressed?!

Yew should be crying bitter tears!

Yew should...

If I could do it...

I would go running after them... get my revenge...

No.

I’d get my payback in the ring like a real boxer would.

In... the ring?

But I know that’s not going to happen.

Once we lace up our gloves, we know who’s going to win.

Yew saying we should move on?

And forget this humiliation?

Crap, I totally forgot!

Yeah, where’d that woman go?!

Did they take her with them?

I’m...

I’m so sorry.

I was so scared stiff that I couldn’t get away.

So you’re all right.

Thank God.

I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!

You two got hurt because of me!

So, um...

You’re Kamogawa-san and Nekota-san, aren’t you?

Oh, you saw our fight?

So that means yew love boxing, um...

My name’s Yuki.

I love boxing, and you were both wonderful.

Oh, so it’s Yuki-san.

Yew got yerself a nice name!

S-So those GI's were chasing yew when yew were looking for a place to sleep?

Yew should come to my place.
It holds up pretty well in a storm.

Oh, I...

You’re gonna put her up there?

Your “home” is some corner under a bridge covered in a mat!

D-Don’t yew tell her!

Anyway, you’re not going to find any lodging at this hour.

I’ve got two rooms at my place.

You can borrow one.

B-But...

What’s his deal?

So...

Is it really okay if I stay at your place?

I don’t have anywhere else to go.

Is this your place?

I’m not using the other bus, so make yourself at home there.

Thank you very mu-

No, thank yew!

I’m gonna move in.

I’ll enjoy staying at yer digs!

Why the hell do I have to live with you ?!

Having a guy and gal spend the night together is too iffy, so I’m keeping watch!

I know for a fact that yer a hopeless sex deviant!

I’ll lay you flat!

My intentions are not what you think!

Welcome back!

You two wake up very early.

I get up to run every morning.

Well, it’s not something any woman can understand, so I won’t try to explain it.

My, how very discourteous of yew.

I must say, this is good. I’m glad I moved in.

I slept very well last night.

I didn’t feel alone for the first time in a long time.

I wasn’t able to tell last night because it was so dark,

but everything’s so pretty here.

I really love these flowers.

They grow tall while facing the sun, and their blossoms are large.

They really make you feel cheerful.

They make a good replacement for hedges-

Don’t spoil the mood!

I also love sunflowers!

You do?

That’s news to me!

It was a secret!

This is such a wonderful place.

W-Well, glad yew like it!

If yew want, yew can make this yer permanent home.

Go to hell!

Where do you even get off?!
You think this is your damn house?!

Do whatever the hell you want!

All right!

You can do it, you two!

Yeah!

Quit running in front!

I won!

Yes!

Don’t touch me.

It doesn’t feel right.

But he won...

Kamogawa’s turned boxing into some kind of religion.

I’ll have dinner ready for you guys!

I can hardly wait!

I can’t even concentrate on my boxing thanks to you guys barging in!

Yer just weak in spirit.

I, for one, am racking up more KO's.

You’re also taking more hits thanks to that gung-h* attitude of yours.

I was gonna dodge 'em all.

But for some reason, they were still able to land 'em.

You wanted to look good in front of her!

I didn’t want to say it,

but the only thing good about your boxing is what we would call your animal instincts.

You’re letting other people besides me beat you stupid!

Shut up.

Just listen!

It’s great that you want to look good for a woman...

I do!

Hey...

She’s bright, cheerful, and upright,

just like a sunflower.

Well, yeah.

Any guy would like her.

Including yew,

right?

I won’t lose.