Isekai in Hajime no Ippo with Gaolang’s Template

A Quiet CelebrationThe soft hum of conversation filled the Makunouchi household as Ippo and Alex sat at the dining table, their plates piled high with a homemade feast courtesy of Ippo's mom.

The warm aroma of miso soup and freshly grilled fish wafted through the air. A modest cake with "Congratulations!" scrawled in icing sat in the center of the table, its candles flickering gently.

"To your first wins as pros!" Ippo's mom said, raising her glass of tea.

"Cheers!" Alex said with a grin, clinking his glass against Ippo's.

"Thanks, Mom," Ippo murmured shyly, scratching the back of his head.

Alex, leaning back in his chair, smirked. "Hey, Ippo. You're officially one 'P' lighter now, huh? Gonna stick with 'Ipo' for the rest of your career?"

"Don't remind me!" Ippo groaned, eliciting a hearty laugh from Alex and a chuckle from Ippo's mom.

As the night wore on, the laughter settled into a comfortable quiet. Ippo's mom stood to clear the dishes, but Alex hesitated before speaking.

"Mrs. Makunouchi," he began, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Do you... do you have any old photo albums? Like, from when I was a kid?"

Ippo's mom paused, her expression softening. "You mean before the accident?"

Alex nodded, his gaze dropping to the table.

"I kept one," she said after a moment. "I thought you might want it someday." She disappeared into a back room, returning with a worn leather album. "Here. It's all yours."

Alex took the album with a quiet "Thank you," then excused himself and retreated to his room.

A Journey Through MemoriesSitting cross-legged on his futon, Alex opened the photo album, the faint scent of old paper and ink hitting him. The first photo was of a small boy—himself—barely five years old, grinning brightly as he clutched a toy boat. His hair was slightly lighter than it was now, his face rounder, but the eyes were unmistakable.

The next photo showed a man holding him on his shoulders, both smiling under a cherry blossom tree. "Akimitsu Makunouchi," Alex muttered, reading the neat kanji written beneath. His father's broad shoulders and kind eyes were a stark contrast to the quiet pain Alex now associated with his memory.

Then there was his mother, Ana Florea. Her delicate features, framed by wavy auburn hair, were striking against the backdrop of a Japanese summer festival. Her light skin and sharp green eyes hinted at her Romanian-Irish heritage.

"Mom…" Alex whispered, his fingers brushing over the image. She was holding his hand in the photo, her smile radiant as they posed in front of a fireworks display.

As he flipped through the album, he realized something profound: his current physique and his fighting spirit weren't coincidences. In this second chance at life, he bore the name "Alex," the same as his past life. Even his lean, muscular build, reminiscent of Conor McGregor's, felt like fate handing him a role to play.

Closing the album, Alex leaned back against his pillow. "Guess there's no escaping who I'm meant to be," he murmured, a small, bittersweet smile playing on his lips.

Flashback: Birthday BondingA month earlier, Ippo and Alex had celebrated their birthdays together. Ippo's birthday, November 23rd, was just two days before Alex's on the 25th, so they decided to have a joint celebration.

The Kamogawa gym was decorated with balloons and streamers, a rare moment of levity in the usually stern space. Takamura had insisted on "coordinating" the

decorations, which resulted in a chaotic mix of colors and a poorly drawn banner reading: "Hapy Bithday, Ippo and Alix!"

"I can't believe you misspelled 'Happy,'" Kimura deadpanned, shaking his head.

"Shut up! It's abstract!" Takamura retorted, puffing out his chest.

The fighters gathered around a cake, with candles for both Ippo and Alex. After singing a hilariously off-key rendition of "Happy Birthday," Alex leaned over and whispered to Ippo.

"Hey, Ippo. Think we'll still be celebrating together in the big leagues someday?"

Ippo smiled shyly. "I hope so."

The Present: Back to the GymThe calendar now read December 23rd, and the Christmas spirit was in full swing. As Alex and Ippo walked into the gym, they were greeted by Takamura, Aoki, and Kimura lounging near the ring.

"Yo, champs!" Takamura called out, waving a magazine in the air. "Where you guys headed for Christmas and New Year's?"

Alex shrugged. "Haven't thought that far ahead. Maybe somewhere warm and tropical."

Ippo scratched his head. "Probably just staying home with Mom."

"Lame," Aoki teased. "You should at least hit up some holiday parties. I can introduce you to some ladies!"

"Like you have ladies," Kimura quipped, earning a glare from Aoki.

Before the banter could continue, Kamogawa entered the gym, a triumphant grin on his face. "Look what I got!"

He held up a magazine titled The Most Exciting Boxing Rookies, flipping it open to reveal a full-page spread of Alex mid-"Alex Walk," his confident smirk immortalized in print.

"Damn, Alex! You're already famous!" Takamura said, laughing. "They even captured your cocky strut!"

The next page showed Ippo, looking shy and slightly out of place, his hands raised in victory.

"Aww, look at Ippo! Like a kid who accidentally won a raffle," Aoki teased, earning a chuckle from the group.

"Better shy than shameless," Kimura added, jabbing his thumb toward Alex.

Alex smirked. "Hey, the walk's iconic. Don't be jealous because no one remembers your fights!"

The gym erupted in laughter, and even Kamogawa allowed himself a small chuckle before barking, "Enough joking around! Back to training!"

As the group broke into their routines, the magazine sat on the bench, a testament to the promising futures of Kamogawa's newest stars.

To Be Continued...