Martial Artist In Animeverse

It's been a week after Kenshin got his pro boxing license. Nothing major happened in this week, Takamura, Aoki, Kimura, and Ippo trained even harder, training to make up for their deficiencies. Everybody in the gym got the news of Ichiro's 1st professional victory. Takamura, Kimura, and Aoki didn't seem to react much as it's not such a big deal for them.

Kenshin was very happy about his friend doing good but didn't show much on his expressionless face. The one who got more serious about the training was Ippo. Ippo now trained even more diligently.

Coach Kamogawa and Yagi chan came up to Kenshin and his gang, then coach Kamogawa said, "Ippo and Kenshin, both of your debut match have been decided. They will be held on 3rd of the next month. Ippo your opponent is…..."

Everybody got tensed as who his opponent might be, is it Miyata or any famous boxer. Everyone was calm except Kenshin as he know what will happen.

Coach Kamogawa looked at every-bodies tensed face then said seriously, "your opponent is...….Oda Yuuske"

The gym descended into silence, everybody was thinking 'who is Oda Yuuske'. But they saw Coach Kamogawa's serious face, they thought he might not be any boxer or he might be a very wonderful boxer.

Takamura asked, "Old man, who is Oda Yuuske?". To which Coach Kamogawa just shook his head and said, "I don't know".

Everybody don't know how to react. Takamura raged, "Old man why are you being so dramatic when you don't know about him".

Yagi chan came over with a notebook and said to everyone, "Now now, don't fight. I have his profile with me. Oda Yuuske, 21 years old. He has 5 fights, out of which 3 wins and 2 losses. All his wins are by KO. He seems to have some good swings and bad swings. In another case just be careful of his right straights".

It was this time Kimura said, "He was of my weight class, he was a hard puncher but wasn't good enough, so he might have come back one class under".

"So, he is nothing much. His records are crap. It's an easy victory", said Aoki.

"Please don't say like that Aoki-san", said Ippo.

Coach Kamogawa looked at everybody and said, "Now quiet down. Kenshin, your opponent is Japan Super Heavyweight's number 5 ranked, Sakazuki Ichijou".

Everyone who heard was surprised as the fight with a ranked boxer from the get-go is really something. But then thought about this abnormal monster, they thought, 'They can never beat Kenshin'.

Yagi chan said, "Sakazuki Ichijou, 22 years old. He has total of 17 fights, out of which 13 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws. All his wins were KO. What to say, he is very strong so just be careful".

Takamura said, "Why do I feel, that I know the name Sakazuki somehow". Others also nodded.

Yagi chan said, "Yes, Sakazuki Ichijou's is also a boxer and he is Sakazuki Kuzan, a 24 years old boxer with a record of 18 wins from 20 fights and other 2 were draws. He is one of the strongest boxers of Japan and the one who has a chance to take on the world. The matches he had draw was against previous Japan Champ and the current japan Champ".

Kenshin just nodded and said calmly, "If I defeat his brother easily, then he might challenge me out of rage which saves me the trouble to wait. He can very well be my stepping stone to conquer the world".

Everybody who heard this was surprised by this young man's arrogance but they somehow believe him.

"Very well said brat, I have taught you everything I can and I believe you are ready to take on the world just keep training the basics. And kid (Ippo), come with me, we will train so that whoever maybe your opponent you can win".

This training went on and it was the day before of Kenshin's and Ippo's debut match. Kenshin's match was the main event and Ippo's match was like the starter before Kenshin's match. There was a lot of reporter at the event to witness Kenshin's match. They were thinking why would a ranked boxer accept a no name's challenge.

The truth is that just like Kenshin's asked, Yagi chan just issued a challenge over all the gyms saying that Kenshin will crush them and use them as stepping stone. Many people accepted the challenge and one of them was Sakazuki Ichijou was the only one ranked within the group of people who accepted the challenge. Other ranked people choose to wait and see what will happen then they will decide whether or not to challenge him.

It was the day to measure the weight of the players. Though it is not that necessary for super heavyweight category it was a custom that is followed. 1st Ippo and Yuuske for the weight measurement. They both cleared but there was some sense of hostility in the eyes of Yusuke when he saw Ippo.

It was few weeks ago, Kenshin and the group were eating at Aoki's family-run ramen shop, there they eat and discuss about their next match. Like in the anime Yuuske's girlfriend saw Kenshin's friend saying bad things about her boyfriend, she was angry but couldn't say anything as the acquisitions are not wrong. She then later broke up with Yuuske saying if he cannot change, then there is no future for them.

Kenshin knew this, but didn't say anything as it is good if Ippo's are stronger, they will help him(Ippo) in the future. It was now Kenshin's and Sakazuki Ichijou's turn for the weight measurement. Kenshin looks like a tall and thin person while Ichijou looked like a person with decent height and bulky body.

Ichijou went up to the weighing machine, his weight was 256 pounds. He looked at Kenshin's direction with a bit of hostility in his eyes. Kenshin completely ignored him and took off his clothes, everybody in the room was surprised. Coach Kamogawa and yagi chan has never seen Kenshin's body as Kenshin prefers to take bath at home and in the gym, they always wear clothes over their body.

Kenshin went up to the weighing machine and his weight was 215 pounds. Kenshin's body looked like very thin from over the clothes but when he revealed his clothes, everybody looked at his body, it was like a piece of art, there was no unnecessary fat, no extra muscles and every muscle in his body is compact like full of explosive power.

The next day it was the day of Kenshin's debut match. Kenshin's parents have also come here to watch their son fight. They were against the idea as boxing is very dangerous but they gave in to Kenshin's conviction and dedication. His parents were the only ones in front of whom Kenshin properly smiles, though maintaining his forever calm face. Kenshin tries to spend as much time as possible with his parents every day.

Kenshin was sitting alone in the waiting room and doing breathing techniques. Soon, a person came and said, "Mr. Kenshin the previous fight is over, now it's your turn. Please come out in 2 minutes".

Kenshin looked at him and nodded. After a minute later Coach Kamogawa and Yagi chan came with Ippo who was injured. Coach Kamogawa looked at Kenshin and said, "Brat the kid has set the stage with his victory, now it's your turn. Win it and go one step closer towards your goal".

The Korakuen Hall was packed with people, it was so full that a lot of the people don't have any seat and were standing on the side or back. Kenshin's parents were lucky enough to get seats. Looking at the crowd Kenshin's mother said silently said to Kenshin's father, "Darling, do you think Kenshin will be okay? I am getting nervous by looking at the number of people. They are saying some awesome boxer is fighting with Kenshin and his chances are low. Will, he be alright?".

"Don't worry my dear, Kenshin is really exceptional and he trained very hard and you know him, he probably will not become nervous at all. And have you ever seen our son doing anything that he was not confident enough, starting from all those running and learning martial arts, he has done everything in a planned manner", said Kenshin's Father. Hearing this Kenshin's mother became slightly relaxed but still worried about her son.

Soon, the host introduced, Sakazuki Ichijou to the stage who came in a very heroic manner. The crowd cheered loudly for him. Then the host introduced Kenshin, "From, the blue corner we have Hayate Kenshin weighing 215 pounds and is going to fight his first professional match".

The crowd saw, Kenshin calmly walking towards the stage without any expression. Kenshin quickly reached the stage where Ichijou was there ready to crush him. The referee gave the sign for the coaches to move out, then he signaled to start the match.

As soon as the match began, Ichijou pounded at Kenshin like a hungry tiger, throwing left jabs and right straights in successions but what was worth mentioning was that the ease with Kenshin was dodging them, he was dodging with the minimum possible movement.

The crowd was amazed by Ichijou's ferociousness and Kenshin's beautiful dodging. Ichijou was having a difficult time hitting Kenshin as he was dodging his punched just by twisting his body or just a little sidestepping. The more he try to finish the fight quickly, the more troublesome it gets.

After about full 1 minute of the constant barrage of throwing attacks, Ichijou's speed decreased a bit, Kenshin didn't let that moment go and dashed forward almost in that instant and send a powerful jab (a counter) to Ichijou's face. Ichijou who took the hit lost consciousness instantly.

The crowd went silent for a few seconds. In the time referee went up to check Ichijou and found that he was out unconscious, the referee signaled the end of the match and announced the victor of the match to be Hayate Kenshin.

The crowd was cheering like mad, From the start to the end, it was only barely a minute before the match ended. But at that moment the show or the performance that Kenshin has shown stunned the crowd. From his beautiful dodging to the perfect counter, Kenshin has shown a good match.

Kenshin who heard the cheering smiled a bit as he was genuinely happy and raised his hand for his victory. Kenshin was very handsome and with the smile, all the ladies in the crowd went lovestruck.

Kenshin's mother and father were very happy with their son's success. They were proud of their son who trained diligently without a day slacking since the very childhood where normal kids were supposed to enjoy. They were happy that their son's all the effort paid off and they went home.