NOVEL WEB Chapter 1: "A New Beginning at Kamogawa Gym
Alex groaned as he woke up in a dimly lit room that smelled faintly of antiseptic and sweat. His head throbbed, and flashes of memories—both his own and... someone else's—flickered behind his eyelids. When he opened his eyes, he found himself lying on a small bed, surrounded by posters of boxers and shelves filled with boxing gloves and trophies. The room seemed familiar yet foreign, like a scene out of an anime he'd once binge-watched.
"Where... am I?" he muttered, sitting up and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. His hands, larger and more calloused than he remembered, rested on his knees. That's when a glowing panel materialized in front of him, startling him into silence.
System Initialization
Name: Alex
Gender: Male
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 52kg
Age: 16
Template: Gaolang Wongsawat
Unlock Percentage: 0%
Offense Style: Hitman Style (Not Unlocked)
Defense Style: Philly Shell (Not Unlocked)
The words floated before him in a translucent box, pulsating softly as if waiting for his acknowledgment. Alex blinked and reached out, his fingers passing through the projection like smoke.
"Is this... some kind of system?" he muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief. He pinched himself hard. Pain shot through his arm. This was no dream. His thoughts raced as the memories of his previous life returned: the dead-end job as a cashier, the unfulfilled dreams, and his love for boxing and anime, particularly Hajime no Ippo.
Then he remembered—the accident. He had been hit by a car.
"So, I died... and now I'm here?" he whispered. The system panel blinked, and new text appeared.
Welcome, Alex. You have been granted a second chance. Utilize the Gaolang Template to carve your path in this world. Unlock your potential and achieve greatness.
Note: "The Gift of the Universe" grants you access to unparalleled potential, but nothing is free. To unlock the full power of the Gaolang Template, you must train diligently. Hard work and experience will gradually increase your unlock percentage.
His heart raced as a surge of determination filled him. If this was real, he wasn't going to waste it. He'd spent too much of his first life dreaming and regretting. Now, he had the chance to live fully, and in a world where boxing was everything.
Alex quickly pieced together his situation. He was now Alex Makunouchi—his previous surname, Sanchez, replaced by his new life as Ippo's cousin. His parents had died in an accident, and Ippo's mother, Hiroko Makunouchi, had taken him in. He'd been helping around the house, much like Ippo, and his new body reflected years of physical labor—neither skinny nor fat, just the right build for a beginner boxer. But it wasn't until now, when his past-life memories unlocked, that he truly understood his situation.
The moment everything became clear was when Ippo came home one evening, his face battered but glowing with excitement. "I started boxing today," Ippo said, his voice brimming with newfound determination. "At Kamogawa Gym."
Hearing those words sent a jolt through Alex's mind. It was like a floodgate opened, and his fragmented memories of Hajime no Ippo rushed back. The gym, the coach, Ippo's journey—it all began to click.
The next day, Alex followed Ippo to the Kamogawa Boxing Gym. It was exactly as he remembered it: a modest, no-frills building that reeked of hard work and determination. Peeking through the window, he saw a group of young boxers hitting heavy bags and shadowboxing. A familiar voice barked instructions in the background.
"Keep your guard up! You call that a jab? Put your weight into it!"
Alex's lips curled into a confident smile. He wasn't the timid type; his new personality was infused with cool confidence, a charisma akin to Conor McGregor's. After all, this was his shot at greatness, and he wasn't about to shy away.
There he was: Genji Kamogawa, the legendary coach. Despite his gruff demeanor, Alex knew he had a heart of gold and a knack for turning underdogs into champions. Standing next to him was the assistant coach, Haruhiko Takamura, Takamura's older brother. Haruhiko had always been a steadying influence, keeping the gym's chaos in check.
Steeling himself, Alex walked inside.
The clang of a bell greeted him as he stepped through the door. Conversations paused, and all eyes turned to him. He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple.
"What do you want?" Kamogawa's gravelly voice cut through the silence. His sharp eyes scanned Alex, taking in his well-built frame and confident posture.
"I'm here to train," Alex said, bowing deeply. "My name is Alex Makunouchi, and I want to become the best boxer in the world."
Kamogawa raised an eyebrow but didn't object. "Hmph. Another dreamer. Alright, show me what you've got. Hit the heavy bag."
Alex nodded and stepped up to the bag. The room watched as he sized it up, trying to recall the basics. Drawing back his fist, he threw his first punch. It landed awkwardly, sending a dull ache up his arm.
"Ow! Damn it!" Alex hissed, shaking his hand. The gym erupted in laughter, with Takamura doubling over, tears in his eyes. Even Ippo chuckled softly. Trying to save face, Alex straightened up, feigning nonchalance. He dusted off his knuckles and smirked. "Just testing the bag's durability," he quipped, though his stinging hand betrayed his cool facade.
Kamogawa rubbed his temples. "Alright, rookie. First lesson—stance and form. If you punch like that again, you'll break your hand."
Alex's cheeks burned, but he nodded earnestly. For the next hour, Kamogawa drilled him on foot placement, hip rotation, and proper jabbing technique. Each correction felt like unlearning bad habits he didn't even know he had. But as he improved, he felt something click.