01x17 - Wild Child

[bunniefuu]

I've been fighting to get it all for awhile

Running towards my dream at mach 50

Whirling winds tear through the sky

and I promise to become better than I was yesterday

The blue sky got twisted up with dark clouds

The wind that I waited for pressed onto my shoulder

and in my hand I grasped onto

The flash from a thunderbolt out of the blue

When I stopped running after so long

and opened these fists that have been thrown so often

Inside of them were traces

of the first step I'd taken to make it here

Tomorrow will take care of itself

Tears will come as the winds continue until morning

And to us as we grew it was like

A thunderbolt out of the blue

H-He says...

"By delicacies,

I meant Asian women!'

"I hear Japanese women are particularly tasty”

Come on, Takamura. Where's my handshake?

Let's shake hands!

Round 17: Wild Child

I've had enough of your crap!

For all of Japan's sake, I'm gonna k*ll you!

Takamura-san, calm down!

Not now!

That was close.

A violent confrontation before
the title match would be bad.

Please stop it, Takamura-san!

Remember your world title match! The title match!

Remember your world title match! The title match!
Die, as*h*le!

He stopped Takamura's bare knuckle punch!?

Takamura-san...

Let him go!

Let him...

Boy, don't sweat it.

We're shaking hands...

Just shaking hands!

Damn it.

A handshake with my knuckles?

With my... knuckles!

I take it back.

We still haven't seen it yet...

Takamura-san when he really snaps.

He's being...

really serious.

Come December...

At the Ryogoku Kokugikan...

The world title match!

expl*si*n in the Dressing Room!
A Taste of the World Title Match

expl*si*n in the Dressing Room! A
Taste of the World Title Match Whoa,

expl*si*n in the Dressing Room! A Taste of the World Title Match
they made a bigger deal out of the incident than the actual match!

They made a bigger deal out of the
incident than the actual match!

Well, juicy news like this doesn't happen every day!

But this is just the beginning.

Things are just gonna get busier as
Takamura-san's world title match gets closer.

A world title match...

| wonder how many boxers there are in the world?

The more I think about it,

the more impressive being at the top becomes.

The world is definitely vast...

I've never really seriously thought about it before.

The dream of becoming world champion...

I really hope he wins!

A new champion is crowned from the Kamogawa Gym!

This is totally awesome!

Hey.

You all seem excited.

Hell yeah we are!

The gym's gonna get its first world champion soon!

Japan was always too small for Takamura-san.

His potential as a boxer is ridiculously huge...

...and that makes the anticipation that much greater.

| agree.

Personally, I'd like to see him win and
make quick work of Bryan Hawk.

Especially after that disrespectful comment
about Japanese women being "delicacies.'

Damn straight.

I can't respect a world champion like that.

I'm sure he'll do it!

I mean, he won by a ring out!

I can't even imagine him losing!

Well,

I'd like to agree with you there too, but...

For now, take a look at these.

Hawk happens to have two ring out victories.

Takamura is definitely too talented
to stay at the national level.

But Hawk is a true rarity, even
among the talent at the world level.

What do you think, Ippo?

W-What do you mean?

You sparred with Ricardo Martinez, didn't you!?

You're the only one here who's
experienced the world level firsthand.

I don't know what to say.

Ricardo Martinez's boxing was intelligent and artistic.

But this...

this man...

It's like he's standing at the top...

of a different world!

Right.

He uses a fighting style that
defies scientific, modern boxing.

Animalistic instincts, an intuitive sense of defense,

and an aggressive lust for the limelight...
He completely obliterates his competition.

A style of boxing without form that's unlike
anything else and can only be described as "wild”

He can throw a KO punch
whenever he's shown an opening

and he never lets a chance slip by.

Any specialty punches or secret weapons?

Nothing in particular.

His lefts and rights are both outrageously strong.

You could almost say...

that Hawk himself is a secret weapon.

Damn, it's the same.

It's similar to a style of boxing we know all too well.

He's just like Takamura-san!

If Takamura-san is the wildest in Japan...

then Bryan Hawk is the...

is the...

wildest person in the world!

Man, they really are alike.

Their boxing styles,

that aggressive lust for the limelight...

If their roles were reversed,

Takamura-san would be in America talking
about how blonde women are delicacies.

I can see it now.

Kinda mortifying...

They're similiar,

but who do you think is stronger?

What are you worrying about?

You think Takamura-san might lose?

You know damn well that's impossible.

I know, but...

Takamura-san has his weight control to worry about.

That won't matter!

Well, I hope not!

But did you see Bryan Hawk!?

He's the real deal!

He's freakishly strong!

So you're siding with the enemy??

I just said that he won't lose!

Why do you keep saying that he'll win!?

That just shows how worried you are!

Please stop it, you two!

Let's have faith in Takamura-san!

We all started boxing because we met Takamura-san!

We all owe him a lot!

And we all want him to win!

So let's have faith...

that he'll become the world champion!

I'll make an exception...

I'm gonna go all out here.

Just don't blame me if you die.

That's true.

If we hadn't met him...

Yeah...

We would've never started boxing.

Winner,

Kimura!

I did it!

He gave us the chance to experience those
feelings of accomplishment and excitement.

I'd never say that he's a saint,

but I really do owe him one.

Try this.

If you can catch ten,

I'll teach you how to box.

Meeting Takamura-san...

Starting boxing...

They were the same thing.

Dammit, I want him to win!

I'd love to see that!

... believe in him!

I..

Really do!

I have faith that the person we look up
to will become the world champion!

Did you hear that?

I guess Ippo looks up to Takamura-san...

Don't say "we!

I don't wanna be grouped together with you!

Looking up to the Lord of the Perverts
like that is just asking for trouble.

Don't blame me if he gropes Kumi-chan's boobs.

Why can't they just be honest?

Huh...

What is it?

Get a move on!

H-Hey,

we all started boxing because we met Takamura-san.

But what about him?

| wonder why Takamura-san
started boxing in the first place.

I remember the coach saying something about how
he scouted him while he was brawling in the city.

But we don't really know why.

Actually, we don't really know a
lot about his personal life at all.

It's full of mysteries.

Okay!

Let's go straight to the source!

Takamura-san!

Good evening!

Takamura-san!

Good evening!

What's wrong?

Was he jerking off?

That's not it!

T-There was a lady!

Were they doing it!?

No!

Excuse me,

are you friends of Mamoru-chan?

I'll-Mamoru-chan!?

W-What's their relationship!?

I don't know!

What is it?

Did Mamoru-niisan come home yet?

N-Niisan?

Does that mean?

I'm his older sister, Kyouka.

I'm his younger brother, Wataru.

T-Takamura-san has siblings?

I've known him for five years, but I had no idea.

And his family runs Takamura Enterprises?

Isn't Takamura Enterprises a huge company
involved in hotel and resort development!?

We're usually forbidden from seeing Mamoru-niisan,

but we just had to wish him well
before his world title match!

If you're friends of Mamoru-chan...

do you also go to the Kamogawa Gym?

Yes!

I really appreciate it.

I know how he gets sometimes,
but please look out for him.

Oh, no!

He's the one who looks out for us!

Takamura-san is our gym's leader!

We all look up to him!

How wonderful!

They sure changed their tune.

They're always like this when
there's a pretty woman involved.

I-If you're from the Kamogawa Gym...

is one of you Aoki?

A-Aoki?

What about him?

Wataru-chan...

But Mamoru-niisan always said
that, under no circumstances...

Under no circumstances... what?

It's hard to say this, but...

Mamoru says that Aoki-kun is always playing with
himself and smells bad, so I should never go near him...

and he's a pervert.

There's no need to worry.

I'm Kimura.

I-I'm—

I-I'm Makunouchi.

Nice to meet you.

Makunouchi-san...

as in the Japanese Champion!?

That's incredible!

I can't believe this!

And you are?

Hurry up and introduce yourself already!

Goon!

Swiping his identity right out from
underneath him... that's Aoki for you.

What now, Ippo?

At this rate, I'm going to end up being Aoki,

I'll-My name is... Itagaki.

Lies give birth to more lies!

I heard that, aside from Aoki-kun,
you were all good guys!

I'm glad only the good ones showed up!

Right, Itagaki-san?

Right, because he stinks—

| actually don't think he's such a bad guy.

This has certainly become a complex character study.

But...

| wonder why Takamura-san never
mentioned his siblings before?

If had a beautiful older sister
and a cute younger brother,

I'd be bragging about it.

He doesn't consider himself to
be part of the Takamura estate.

He... doesn't?

No...

It's more like the family thinks that of him,

and he never felt comfortable with it.

Mamoru-niisan never felt like he had a place with us.

He didn't?

But...

He's the eldest son of a huge company!

I can't believe there's no place for him.

Mamoru is actually the middle son.

The oldest son's name is Suguru.

So your world title match has been finalized.

I guess I should congratulate you.

I'd almost forgotten the last time I heard
Dad say anything good about you.

He did mention that you can come back
home if you become the world champion.

After all the trouble you've caused him,

it's the least you could do to make up for it.

I never caused him any trouble...

and I don't intend on making up for anything.

My struggle isn't for someone else's sake.

You get a little famous for your fist
fighting crap and you call that a struggle?

Quit trying to sound like an adult.

Do you have any idea how much
embarrassment you've caused us?

Yeah...

For us...

your existence has been nothing but trouble.

Takamura-san's...

been living by himself since middle school?

I'm sure he was a real troublemaker!

Idiot!

Mamoru-niisan wasn't trying to cause trouble!

I mean, they call it violence,

but isn't it normal for young men to
get into fights every now and then?

Well, yeah... I used to raise hell too.

Makunouchi-san, you went
through a period like that too?

In his case,

I think it was because he was too strong.

Even the smallest incident would turn into a huge mess.

Yeah, the idea of that guy cutting loose with his fists...

It'd be like having a wild gorilla on the loose.

B-But to get kicked out of the family for that...

It probably would have been fine if it
were only fights with other delinquents...

The real problem was the incident at that rugby game.

Rugby game?

Wait, I remember!

Takamura Suguru is that Takamura Suguru??

The one who was the talk of the
sports world, the Prince of Rugby!?

Was he famous?

They said he was the best quarterback ever.

That's American football!

He was a stand off in rugby!

After graduating college, he retired to
take a management job at the company.

It was a real loss to Japan's sports world.

It was when Suguru-niisan was in high school.

His team lost in a big tournament.

Takamura Suguru's team lost!?

He was always more gifted of
an athlete than other people.

His teammates just couldn't keep up.

So he was on too high of a level, huh?

The same way Takamura-san
can't find any sparring partners.

So, what happened?

There were people in the crowd
jeering about the stand off.

And then, when Mamoru-niisan went over...

It was about twenty people.

Mamoru-niisan was kicked out
of the family because of that.

The constant assaults you kept getting mixed up in...

They've all been bad for our image.

If it wasn't for Dad's intervention,

you'd be locked up right now.

Be grateful.

I don't remember asking for help.

Since I got kicked out during middle school,

I've been on my own.

So I don't wanna hear about anyone else's complaints.

I don't like it.

He might've been overdoing it, but...

You can't just stay quiet when
your brother's being picked on.

| would've kicked their asses too.

Every last one of those hecklers!

Even though there were about twenty people!?

I may not look it, but I am the Japanese Champion!

You guys all understand!

My parents and Suguru-niisan
might reject Mamoru-niisan, but...

I look up to him!

He doesn't rely on other people and
lives freely using his own strength!

I think it'd be great to live like that.

Wataru-kun, you idolize Takamura-san too?

Come on, man. Don't make such a grim face.

Despite how it seems, I realize you've accomplished a lot.

I never thought you'd make anything of yourself...

but you've almost reached the top of the world.

You're the champion, Makunouchi-san,
so I'd like to ask you...

What's the best part about being a boxer?

The best part?

The feeling of excitement when you KO somebody?

Or maybe the feeling of accomplishment
when you realize that you've won?

Takamura-san told me this once...

After I won my debut match...

the applause came down like rain.

It was the greatest feeling.

It was the first time anyone had praised me for anything.

All that fighting that I had done up till then...

You could say it was like people
were finally acknowledging me.

I bet you two can understand that kind of feeling...

Right, Aoki-san?

Yeah,

I was a bit of a punk myself, so I totally get it.

Y-You're Aoki?

Dumbass!

Trying to pass the blame like
that! You're Aoki from now on!

You couldn't have expected to keep it up!

Wait, what's going on? Who's who!?

Give it up already.

Just admit that you're Aoki—

Idiot!

You as*h*le.

What the hell do you think you're doing??

It's Ippo's fault, dammit!

How can you say that after you stole my identity!?

Win that world title.

Bring back a prize like that,

and I'll put you in charge of a few businesses.

Bring it back?

I'll finally be able to tell people that I have
another little brother named Mamoru.

People will be so shocked to find out
that there are actually four of us.

You'll be satisfied once you become the world champion.

Then you can stop playing these
punching games and come back home.

Settle down already.

Come see me when you've got that belt.

I'll be waiting.

So that's how it's gonna be.

He'll never change.

Come home?

That isn't my home,

There's only one place where I belong.

Mamoru-chan's doing his best.

He's finally getting acknowledged in the one
place where he can truly express himself.

With great friends like this...

You've finally found it, haven't you?

The place where you belong...

Punching games, huh?

That ain't it, Suguru...

The ring is all I have.

It's the only place I can live.

Boxing is my natural habitat.

I'm fighting to protect my home!

Some night

I can't remember why

We stayed up 'til 4 AM ('til 4 AM)

We talked about nothing important and then made love

The birds wake up we close our eyes

The birds wake up we close our eyes

I love how she calls my name inside her dream

Kisses me still half asleep

Don't I wish that we could stay like this

At 8AM

I stop the alarm to watch her sleep and think

I'd do anything if I could make this time rewind forever

To 7:59