Isekai in Hajime no Ippo with Gaolang’s Template

November 25th, 1991 – 5:00 PMThe sun was beginning to set, casting a warm golden hue over Narita International Airport. The moment the plane touched down, Alex let out a quiet sigh, leaning his head back against the seat.

"Finally home," he muttered, stretching his arms.

After passing through customs and baggage claim, the group stood together just outside the terminal. A crisp autumn breeze brushed against their faces as they prepared to part ways.

Coach Kamogawa, Coach Shinoda, and Assistant Coach Yagi hailed a taxi bound for Kamogawa Gym, while Aoki, Kimura, and Takamura each grabbed separate cabs heading home.

Alex and Ippo, on the other hand, shared a cab back to their house.

Inside the cab, the driver kept glancing at Alexthrough the rearview mirror, eyes filled with curiosity.

Meanwhile, Alex sat in the backseat, flipping through his bag.

Suddenly, his expression darkened.

"Damn it… I forgot to buy a souvenir," he muttered.

Ippo, sitting beside him, smirked. "Sucks to be you."

With a smug look, Ippo unzipped his bag, revealing an assortment of chocolates and flower seeds.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "You actually bought souvenirs?"

Ippo nodded. "Yeah, for my mom."

A brief silence passed before Alex leaned in with a sly grin.

"How about this—I buy half of it from you, and I'll pay double the price you originally bought them for."

Ippo touched his chin, pretending to think it over.

Then, he grinned. "Deal."

Alex reached out his hand, and Ippo shook it firmly, sealing the trade.

As the taxi pulled up to their house, the driver stepped out to help them unload their luggage.

Just as Alex was about to grab his suitcase, the driver suddenly spoke.

"Um… sir, you're Alex Makunouchi, right?"

Alex and Ippo turned to him in unison.

"Yeah, that's me," Alex replied.

The driver's face lit up with excitement. He quickly reached into his bag, pulling out a bulky camera.

"I knew it! I'm a huge fan! Would it be okay if we take a picture together?"

Alex smiled. "Of course."

He gestured for Ippo to take the camera. "Here, Ippo, take the picture for us."

Ippo, amused, took the camera as Alex posed with the driver.

Just before Ippo snapped the photo, Alex asked, "Do you have a son? Maybe I could sign something for him too."

The driver beamed. "Yeah! My son is 10 years old, and he loves boxing."

Without hesitation, the man rushed back to his taxi, digging through the backseat. Moments later, he returned, holding a small kids' shirt.

Alex took out a marker from his bag and signed the shirt with a small message:

"Keep chasing your dreams! – Alex Makunouchi"

The driver bowed deeply. "Thank you so much! He's going to love this!"

Alex chuckled. "No problem. Drive safe, yeah?"

With that, Alex and Ippo grabbed their luggage and made their way toward the house.

As they stepped inside, the house was completely dark.

Ippo paused, brows furrowing. "Are they not home?"

Alex had the same thought. Usually, Aunt Hiroko would be waiting in the kitchen, welcoming them back after a trip.

Just as he was about to call out, the lights suddenly flicked on.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!"

Standing in the middle of the living room was Mari, holding a strawberry cake with a lit candle in the shape of the number 19.

Beside her, Aunt Hiroko clapped her hands, smiling warmly.

"Happy birthday, you two!" she said cheerfully.

Alex and Ippo stood frozen in shock.

"Wow…" Alex murmured.

Ippo, just as stunned, blinked. "Wow…"

Mari giggled at their reactions. "Come on, make a wish! Both of you!"

Alex and Ippo looked at each other before closing their eyes.

A moment of silence passed as they made their wishes.

Then, in unison, they blew out the candle.

As soon as the flame vanished, Aunt Hiroko pulled Ippo into a tight hug, while Mari wrapped her arms around Alex.

Mari leaned close, her voice soft. "Welcome home, birthday boy."

Alex smirked and hugged her back. "Glad to be home."

The warm atmosphere filled the room as they all gathered around to celebrate Alex and Ippo's birthdays.

Laughter echoed through the house as they enjoyed good food, shared stories, and exchanged gifts.

For Alex, this moment—surrounded by family, love, and warmth—was priceless.

No amount of money could ever replace this.

Next Day

November 26th, 1991 – Early MorningThe morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a soft golden glow across Alex's bedroom.

Dressed in a sleek black suit, Alex stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his tie. He took a deep breath, running a hand through his neatly styled hair.

After fastening the last button of his suit jacket, he turned to glance at Mari, who was still sleeping peacefully in his bed.

Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, her delicate features relaxed.

Alex's eyes softened for a brief moment.

She looked so exhausted.

After all, last night had been filled with celebrations, laughter, and warmth. He knew she had put in a lot of effort to make his and Ippo's birthday special.

Not wanting to disturb her, Alex silently grabbed his keys from the drawer—the Porsche 1991 keys.

Then, with one last look at Mari, he quietly exited the room.

Alex walked down the stairs and into the garage, the sound of his leather shoes clicking against the pavement.

His jet-black Porsche 911 Turbo gleamed under the dim garage lights. He slid into the driver's seat, inserting the key and twisting it.

The engine roared to life, filling the garage with its deep, smooth hum.

After backing out of the driveway, Alex drove through the quiet streets of Tokyo, making his way toward his manager's house.

Fifteen minutes later, he pulled up outside a small apartment complex.

Yagi was already waiting by the curb.

Wearing his usual brown suit and glasses, the older man climbed into the passenger seat with a tired yawn.

"Early morning interviews... I'm getting too old for this," Yagi mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

Alex smirked. "You should've slept earlier."

Yagi waved a dismissive hand. "I had to finalize some sponsorship details. Speaking of which..."

He flipped open a small notebook and adjusted his glasses.

"Nike reached out again. They're asking if we should officially launch your custom boxing shoes now. You're at the peak of the media spotlight after your recent victory."

Alex thought for a moment.

His custom high-cut black boxing shoes, designed for both durability and aesthetics,were ready for mass production.

But was now the right time?

"Release it here in Japan first," Alex said, keeping his eyes on the road. "Once I accomplish something bigger—like climbing higher in the world lightweight rankings—then we'll launch it internationally."

Yagi nodded approvingly as he scribbled in his notebook.

"Smart move. That way, your name gains more credibility before a global release."

Then, flipping to another page, Yagi glanced at Alex with a more serious expression.

"Now, about your Japanese Lightweight Title… You're officially a world contender now. What's your plan for the belt?"

Alex exhaled through his nose, already knowing what he wanted to do.

"Vacate it."

Yagi raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"

Alex nodded. "Let Aoki challenge for it. Maybe he'll be the next Japanese Lightweight Champion."

For a moment, Yagi simply stared at Alex in surprise. Then, a small smile formed on his lips.

"That's actually a great idea. If you remained champion, Aoki wouldn't be able to challenge the belt. But now that you're vacating it, he'll have his chance."

Alex grinned. "Exactly. This way, I can focus on climbing the world rankings while Aoki gets his shot."

Yagi jotted down notes before closing his notebook with a satisfied nod.

"Alright. I'll take care of the paperwork to make it official."

Just then, Alex pulled into a parking lot in front of a towering skyscraper.

The large TV station logo was displayed on the building's entrance.

Alex shifted the car into park and cut the engine.

The moment they stepped inside, the security guards immediately recognized Alex.

One of them, a middle-aged man in a navy uniform, straightened up and greeted him.

"Welcome, Makunouchi-san. Please follow me."

Alex and Yagi were led toward the elevator, which took them up to the 20th floor.

As the doors slid open, they entered a large, professional studio.

Bright lights shone down from above, and multiple cameras were positioned strategically around the room.

A brown leather sofa sat in the center, facing a sleek black chair.

Standing nearby was a man in his forties—the host, Kenzo.

He wore a crisp gray suit, neatly combed black hair, and a confident smile.

As soon as he spotted Alex, he extended his hand.

"Alex Makunouchi! Welcome to my show. It's an honor to have you here."

Alex gripped Kenzo's hand firmly, shaking it.

"The honor is mine."

Yagi stepped aside, moving toward the cameras and production crew to let Alex take center stage.

Alex walked over to the brown leather sofa,adjusting his suit as he sat down.

Kenzo took his seat across from him, and the cameras zoomed in.

The bright studio lights beamed down as the cameras adjusted their focus on the two men sitting across from each other.

Seated comfortably in his brown leather chair,Kenzo turned toward the camera, his professional demeanor radiating confidence.

He smiled.

"We're live!" he announced, his voice smooth yet energetic. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the show! And today, we have a very special guest—"

Kenzo gestured toward Alex, who sat in his sharp black suit, his expression composed yet slightly amused.

"He's the rising star of boxing! The man who shook up the world rankings with his recent victory! He's none other than—Alex 'The Great' Makunouchi!"

The studio filled with a round of applause from the production crew, adding to the lively atmosphere.

Alex gave a small nod, a slight smirk appearing on his lips as he raised his hand in acknowledgment.

"Thank you," he said simply, then glanced at the camera. "And thank you to all my fans for the support. I appreciate every single one of you."

With a relaxed motion, he waved toward the camera, his usual confidence shining through.

Kenzo leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Now, before we get into your fight, let's talk about something else first. Your world contender debut was one of the most talked-about events in Japan—there was a lot of buzz surrounding it. Most people supported you, but as always, there were some mixed opinions."

Alex's expression remained calm as he tilted his head slightly.

"Honestly? I don't care what other people say. I never have, and I never will."

Kenzo raised his eyebrows, intrigued.

Alex leaned forward slightly, his voice carrying a sharp edge of certainty.

"Because no matter what you do in life—good or bad—there's always going to be somebody talking. Always. So why would I waste time worrying about it?"

Kenzo blinked before letting out a low whistle.

"That's deep."

Alex just shrugged, sitting back in his chair.

Kenzo adjusted his posture, seamlessly transitioning to the next topic.

"Let's talk about your victory. It wasn't just any fight—you were fighting in front of a hostile crowd. And before the fight, you gave quite the interview. I have to ask… what was going through your head?"

Alex smirked.

"What part?"

Kenzo chuckled. "All parts."

Alex ran a hand through his hair, scratching the back of his head. "Ask me anything."

Kenzo tapped his notes before grinning.

"Alright, let's start with the press conference. You confidently told the world that Mitchell was 'not on your level.' And then, during the fight, you proved it. Tell me, do you have future sight powers?"

He finished with a playful smirk.

Alex laughed, shaking his head.

"No, I wish I had!"

Kenzo chuckled, but Alex continued, his expression turning more amused.

"But let's be real. I told the world he wasn't on my level, and you saw for yourself—he wasn't on my level. You can call me 'Mystic Mak' because I predict these things."

Kenzo burst out laughing, shaking his head.

"Wow! You have so many nicknames now—first 'The Great,' then 'The Silencer,' and now 'Mystic Mak!'"

The host leaned forward slightly, clearly entertained. "Mystic Mak—'Mak' as in Makunouchi?"

Alex grinned. "That's right."

Kenzo tapped his fingers against the chair's armrest, his expression turning more thoughtful.

"May I ask you a personal question?"

Alex gave a small nod. "Go ahead."

Kenzo hesitated for just a second before speaking.

"You don't seem to have many friends outside of the gym. Aside from your girlfriend, we rarely see you with people who aren't in the boxing world. Is that a choice? Do you not like making outside friends?"

Alex took a deep breath, considering his words carefully.

"It's not that I don't like people," he started, his hands gesturing slightly as he spoke. "It's just that... to get to the pinnacle, you have to be a certain way. You need to keep your circle small."

Kenzo listened intently as Alex continued.

"I only need my team, my family, and my focus. That's it."

His tone was firm.

"I don't need friends who aren't involved in this game. If they're not on the same path, then what's the point? It just doesn't make sense."

Kenzo nodded in understanding.

"I get it. You're fully dedicated to your boxing career."

Alex nodded. "Exactly."

Kenzo leaned back in his chair, shifting the subject.

"Let's talk about your post-fight interview."

Alex smirked slightly, already expecting this.

Kenzo grinned. "After you delivered that daring speech, the crowd threw things at you. Can you describe how that felt?"

Alex exhaled, his expression unreadable for a moment.

"Honestly? It was one of a kind."

He chuckled, shaking his head slightly.

"Part of me enjoyed it because of the thrill—the energy of it all. The other part of me was just… nonchalant about it."

Kenzo laughed. "That's definitely a unique perspective!"

Then, he glanced at his vintage watch, noting the time.

In the background, the director signaled that they were nearing the end of the segment.

Kenzo straightened in his chair.

"Well, it seems like we're out of time."

He stood up, extending his hand toward Alex.

"Thank you for taking the time to come on my show. It was a pleasure having you."

Alex stood up as well, shaking Kenzo's hand firmly.

"No worries. Thanks for having me."

Kenzo turned back to the camera, his trademark smile returning.

"There you have it, ladies and gentlemen—Alex 'The Great' Makunouchi!"

As the cameras zoomed out, the screen faded to black, marking the end of the segment.