IPPO : The Ultimate Counter

After Ryuu's fight, Takamura had defended his title by defeating his opponent in the first round and had made an incredible announcement:

Takamura (smiling arrogantly): " Japan is becoming too small for me and the opponents are too weak, after my title defense in my next fight I will give up my belt and attack the world "

The crowd shouted in delirium and Kamogawa could not hide his excitement.

----

Before the rest of the competition for the featherweight category, 2 days of rest had been given to the players.

[Kamogawa Gymnasium]

In the evening, after an intense training, the gym was almost empty. The sound of the punching bags had died down, replaced by the sound of the panting breaths of Takamura, Miyata and Ryuu. All three were in the locker room, their bodies tired but their minds still alert. Takamura, as usual, had a confident smile despite the sweat that was beading on his face. He seemed satisfied with the work accomplished that evening. Miyata, on the other hand, was more pensive, his eyes fixed into space. Ryuu, on the other hand, seemed to be deep in thought, his gaze distant.

Miyata (broke the silence, looking at Ryuu): "Ryuu... I want another fight..."

Ryuu surprised slowly turned his head towards him, his intense gaze fixed on Miyata. Miyata continued, determined.

Miyata: "I want another sparring match, I want my revenge!. But this time I ask you to give it your all."

Takamura, still in the room, burst out laughing while shaking his head.

Takamura: "Hey, Miyata, you don't know what you're asking for. Ryuu, when he decides to give it his all, it's unlike anything you've seen so far even the old man hasn't seen it yet. Do you really want that ?"

Miyata stared at Takamura, the determination in his eyes not faltering.

Miyata: "Yes, I'm ready, I know thay he's strong but... I need to know where I stand against him and remove this frustration."

Losing to Ippo upon his arrival and now to Ryuu was too much for Miyata.

Miyata: "I'm sure I'll win this time."

Ryuu seemed to hesitate for a moment, then sighed.

Ryuu: "Okay... But I'm warning you, I won't hold back."

Miyata, satisfied with Ryuu's answer, came out of the locker room and positioned himself in the ring. The room suddenly seemed to become quieter, as if the air itself was holding its breath. Takamura watched the scene with an attentive gaze, although he seemed to be worried about the outcome of the fight.

He thought back to the sparring he had with Ryuu while everyone had gone back.

Takamura (thoughts): "You have a lot of talent Miyata, but Ryuu is different. What will you do when you realize the difference between you... faced with this wall what will you do?..."

Miyata concentrated to the extreme but noticed Ryuu's serious look, his arrogant and teasing attitude had disappeared giving way to a beast's look.

[The gong sounds]

And contrary to his habit Ryuu launched himself to the attack

Miyata: "he's coming... concentrate, find the right rhythm and counter"

But in an instant Ryuu was in front of him...

Miyata: "He's fast..."

Miyata surprised threw a quick combination but Ryuu like a mirage dodged. Miyata using his speed sent quick blows but Ryuu dodged everything as if Miyata's attacks were coming in slow motion. Following a shift to the side Miyata saw an opportunity and sent his famous lightning counter coming from a blind spot, but Ryu also dodged with a slight movement of the head

Miyata (thoughts): "Tchh... even that he dodges?"

Then Ryuu got back on guard but with a new posture, his arms relaxed and his legs slightly bent and suddenly he was in front of Miyata...

Takamura (Thoughts): "When he gives it his all he no longer has any real structure, it's just his fighting instincts that take the control "

Miyata was caught in a devastating combination that sent him to the ropes. Before he could even react, a perfectly executed uppercut made him stagger, followed by a series of blows to the liver and head with incredible brutality and power, then Miyata found himself on the ground, his gaze blurred, his mind totally lost.

The seconds seemed to last an eternity before he slowly regained consciousness. The pain in his head and body told him that he had just lived a moment he would never forget.

Miyata (delirious): "Wh... what happened...?"

Takamura, leaning against the corner of the ring, looked at him.

Takamura: "You got knocked out, kid."

Miyata tried to get up, but his head felt heavy.

Miyata: "Where is he...?"

Takamura shrugged, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

Takamura: "He's gone. It's been five minutes already."

Miyata, who felt like he had been hit by a train, stared at the ground with a look of sorrow. He felt a violent realization wash over him. He suddenly remembered Ryuu's gaze during the fight, that relentless beast-like gaze, that cold aura.

The chasm between him and Ryuu had just become more apparent than ever.

Miyata (thoughts): "It was... it was much bigger than I thought. I wasn't even close. That gaze... That power... It's far beyond anything I had imagined."

----

A few minutes later, in the break room, a broken Miyata stood up from his chair. He couldn't get the fight scene out of his head, Ryuu's gaze, his power. He knew now that he was far from being up to par. With a hard face, he turned to Takamura.

Miyata : "I can't stay here... I have to... I have to improve, and the only way for me to do that is to leave Kamogawa. I've been lulled into the illusion of my talent for too long... I have to change my environment to move forward."

Takamura stared at him, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. He knew what that meant.

Takamura: "So it's decided. Do you really want to leave?"

Miyata nodded firmly.

Miyata: "I'm going to join my father's gym. There, only he can prepare me to face Ryuu and improve me. If I want to stand a chance against him one day, I have no other choice."

----

The next morning, Team Kamogawa was gathered for a small meeting after training. Ippo and the others had heard about Miyata's decision, but no one really understood why he had made such a decision.

Ippo (lost): "But why Miyata-kun... why...we are like a family.... "

Takamura, in a calm tone, simply explained to them:

Takamura: "He has encountered an insurmountable wall. He can't continue to stay here if he really wants to close this gap."

Kamogawa, who had been listening in silence, frowned. He seemed to suspect something, but said nothing. He knew that the path Miyata had chosen would not be easy.

Kamogawa: "It's a choice he made... Let's hope he didn't underestimate the magnitude of what he has to accomplish."

----

Miyata, in the shadow of his choices, knew that he had just started a new journey. But one thing was certain: he was not going to give up. He had to become stronger, much stronger and one day he will take his revenge.