Isekai in Hajime no Ippo with Gaolang’s Template

The celebration after Takamura's victorious title defense was nothing short of wild. The team gathered at a local bar, the atmosphere electric with cheers and laughter. Takamura, Aoki, and Kimura were in full party mode,

dragging Alex along with them. Together, they danced in a chaotic circle, with Alex proving to be a natural at matching their energy. The crowd around them clapped and whistled, spurred on by the infectious energy of the group.

Meanwhile, Coach Kamogawa sat at a corner table, red-faced and swaying from the effects of one too many drinks. He slurred an old boxing tale to anyone who would listen, while Ippo, sitting beside him, looked comically out of place. Too shy to join the raucous celebration, Ippo sipped his juice quietly, his face flushed whenever a girl approached to chat.

The moment took a turn when Alex noticed a photographer snapping pictures of their antics from across the bar. Waving him over, Alex quickly turned the candid into an intentional memory. Grabbing the photographer and Ippo, Alex orchestrated a proper photo. "Get in here, Makunouchi-san!" he teased, pulling Ippo and Takamura together for the shot.

The three stood shoulder to shoulder—Takamura grinning like a maniac, Alex throwing up a peace sign, and Ippo looking sheepish but smiling nonetheless. "That's a memory," Alex said as the camera clicked, his voice warm and satisfied.

The Next DayThe next morning, Alex groaned, holding his head as he rolled out of bed. He rubbed his temples, regretting some of his wilder moves from the night before. Ippo, as usual, was already up and preparing for school. They walked together to class, both still basking in the glow of their respective victories.

At school, the principal summoned the Makunouchi cousins to his office. Sitting behind a massive desk, he folded his hands and looked at them seriously. "So, what are your plans for the future after graduation?"

Ippo was the first to respond. "I don't plan on going to college, sir," he said, his voice steady.

The principal nodded, turning his gaze to Alex. "And you?"

Alex gave a calm, confident reply. "Same here. Boxing is the path I've chosen, and I'm going all in."

The principal let out a small sigh but nodded. "Very well. You're both determined, and I can respect that. Just know that whatever happens, this school is proud of you."

As the Makunouchis exited the office, the principal leaned back in his chair and looked out the window. "Those two boys…" he murmured to himself. "They're destined for great things. Mark my words."After the meeting with the principal, Alex and Ippo returned to their classroom, where the hum of chatter instantly shifted to excitement. A crowd of classmates gathered around their desks, their voices overlapping.

"Hey, is it true?" one of the boys asked, leaning in toward Ippo.

Ippo blinked in confusion. "True? What's true?"

Before he could get an answer, another boy pulled out the morning newspaper and slapped it on the desk. The headline blared, "Boxing Champs Celebrate Victories in Style!" Below it was the now-famous photo of Alex, Ippo, and Takamura at the bar, grinning and celebrating.

Ippo's face turned crimson. "T-That's in the paper?"

But the boys weren't done. One of them pointed to another page, where a bold subheading read, "Estimated Earnings of Rising Stars." Beneath it were the figures:

Ippo Makunouchi: ¥10,000,000 (approx. $100,000)Takamura Mamoru: ¥30,000,000 (approx. $300,000)Alex Makunouchi: ¥50,000,000 (approx. $500,000)

The boys' jaws dropped. "No way! Is this real?" one exclaimed, shoving the paper toward Ippo.

Ippo, still red-faced, nodded sheepishly. "I-I guess so…"

The classroom erupted in shock and excitement. "Makunouchi, you're loaded!" one of the boys shouted. "Man, maybe I should start boxing too!"

"Yeah, who knew punching people could pay this much!" another chimed in, grinning.

Some of the girls in the class turned their attention to Alex, who was lounging casually at his desk. "Hey, Alex-kun," one of them said with a coy smile. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

Alex smirked, leaning back in his chair.

"Nope, no girlfriend. Why, you offering?" His playful tone sent a ripple of giggles through the group, though a few of the girls blushed and looked away.

Meanwhile, in the corner of the room, a group of boys who had once bullied Ippo huddled together, whispering and occasionally stealing glances at him. Finally, one of them worked up the courage to approach.

"Makunouchi," he said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "We... uh... we just wanted to say, you're awesome, man! We're, like, your biggest fans now!"

Ippo stared at him in shock, unsure of what to say. Before he could respond, the other former bullies chimed in, each trying to outdo the other with their newfound admiration.

"You're gonna be a champ, I just know it!"

"Dude, teach me how to box!"

"Makunouchi-san, you're amazing!"

Alex watched the scene unfold, unable to hold back a laugh. "Well, well, looks like you're a superstar now, Ippo," he teased, giving his cousin a light nudge.

Ippo scratched his head, still overwhelmed by the attention. "I-I guess…"

The rest of the day passed in a blur, the buzz of excitement following the Makunouchis wherever they went. For the first time, Ippo began to feel the weight of his growing fame—and the motivation to keep proving himself worthy of it.

To be continued…