Isekai in Hajime no Ippo with Gaolang’s Template

The car pulled into the parking lot of a bustling grocery store. Morning shoppers were already out, and the air buzzed with the hum of carts and conversation. As Alex parked the SUV, Mari glanced out the window, noticing a few people doing double takes as they spotted the group.

When Alex stepped out of the car, heads turned. Some people whispered excitedly, pointing at him.

"That's Alex Makunouchi!" someone murmured.

Others recognized Ippo, and a few even nudged each other while stealing glances at Mari Īmura.

As the group walked toward the entrance, Alex, with his confident stride, led the way. Mari walked beside him, her notebook tucked under her arm, while Ippo and the cameraman followed a few steps behind.

Inside, the grocery store was brightly lit, the aisles filled with neatly stacked goods. Alex grabbed a cart and began moving through the store with ease, clearly familiar with the layout.

First stop: the meat section. Alex picked up packages of steak, chicken breast, and salmon, inspecting each before placing them carefully in the cart. Mari watched him, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

"You seem to know exactly what you need," Mari remarked.

Alex smiled, glancing at her. "I stick to a routine. Makes things easier and keeps me on track."

As they moved on to the grains aisle, Alex grabbed a large bag of rice and added it to the cart. Then, in the produce section, he selected apples, strawberries, blueberries, and oranges, taking his time to choose the freshest ones.

While Alex picked up a carton of eggs, Mari spoke again, her tone thoughtful. "Alex, at just 18 years old, you've achieved what most people only dream of—multiple cars, a big paycheck, and a career that's already making waves. Aside from your family, what's the key to your success?"

Alex paused, holding the carton of eggs in one hand as he looked at Mari. His expression turned serious. "You want the truth?"

Mari nodded, gesturing for the cameraman to focus on Alex.

"I mean, if you can see it here…" Alex tapped the side of his head, "…and you have the courage to speak it, then it will happen."

Mari's eyebrows raised slightly, intrigued. "What do you mean by that?"

Alex placed the eggs carefully in the cart before turning to face the camera directly. His gaze was intense, his voice steady and deliberate.

"I see this in my mind," Alex said, pointing to his temple, "and this is what I'll say to you, Mari, or to anyone watching this: Believe in yourself, even if everyone else calls you delusional."

He paused, letting his words hang in the air before delivering the next line with conviction. "It's only delusional… until it works."

The camera captured every nuance of his expression—the fire in his eyes, the faint smirk tugging at his lips.

Mari blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. "Wow," she finally said, her voice soft but full of admiration. "You have some mindset there, Alex."

Alex shrugged, the faint smirk turning into a genuine smile. "It's what keeps me going."

After finishing their shopping, the group made their way to the counter. The cashier, clearly recognizing Alex, stammered slightly as she rang up the items.

"That'll be… uh… everything," she said with a nervous smile.

Alex paid without hesitation, thanking the cashier politely before the group headed back to the SUV. They loaded the groceries into the trunk, Alex stacking everything neatly to make sure nothing was crushed.

Once the task was done, the group piled back into the car. Mari resumed her seat in the front, with Ippo and the cameraman in the back.

As Alex started the engine, Mari glanced at him, her notebook open on her lap. "Where to next?"

"The gym," Alex replied, his tone casual yet determined.

The SUV pulled out of the parking lot, merging onto the road. The camera focused briefly on Alex's profile as he drove, then panned to the quiet streets of Tokyo, now fully alive with activity.

The ride was silent for a moment, everyone reflecting on the words Alex had spoken earlier.

The camera lingered on Mari's thoughtful expression before cutting back to Alex, his focus unwavering as he steered the car toward their next destination.As Alex drove through the streets of Tokyo, the atmosphere in the car was calm but laced with anticipation. Mari, seated in the passenger seat, glanced over at him.

"Aren't we supposed to go back to your house first to drop off these groceries?" she asked, her voice curious but light.

Alex shook his head with a small grin. "Oh, don't worry about that. The gym has a refrigerator. I'll put everything there for now, and when Ippo and I head home later, we'll bring it back."

Mari nodded, jotting down something in her notebook. The car soon pulled into the familiar lot of the Kamogawa Boxing Gym.

Alex parked right in front of the entrance, the gym's sign gleaming faintly in the sunlight.

As the group got out of the car, Alex grabbed the bulk of the groceries, carrying them with practiced ease. Ippo followed, carrying some lighter items. The cameraman focused on the two boxers as they approached the gym doors.

Inside, the familiar faces of Takamura, Aoki, and Kimura were lounging around, mid-conversation. They perked up when they saw Alex enter.

"Alex! Oh, you're here," Takamura called out, leaning lazily against the ropes of the ring. "Where's Ippo?"

The three turned their heads as Ippo entered, carrying his share of the groceries.

"You went grocery shopping?" Takamura asked, raising an eyebrow. Then his eyes landed on the camera crew following them. He grinned, waving animatedly at the camera.

Alex set the groceries down on a bench. "Help me with these, will you?" he said.

Takamura, Aoki, and Kimura reluctantly got up to assist. As they began transferring the groceries to the gym's refrigerator, Takamura's curiosity got the better of him.

"Is this for your promotional fight?" he asked, pointing at Mari and the cameraman.

"Yeah," Alex replied. "They're filming my daily routine."

Mari stepped forward, greeting Takamura with a polite bow. "Takamura-san, it's a pleasure to meet you."

The cameraman panned over to Mari, who introduced him. "This is Japan's

middleweight champion, Takamura-san."

Takamura couldn't resist flexing his biceps for the camera, grinning smugly. Meanwhile, Aoki and Kimura muttered in the corner, clearly envious.

"Show-off," Kimura whispered, earning a snicker from Aoki.

With the groceries stored, Alex clapped his hands together. "Next on my routine is cardio. Usually, I go for a run, but today I'll start with skipping rope."

He moved to the center of the gym and began skipping rope with remarkable speed and precision. The camera captured his fluid movements, the rope a blur as it passed beneath his feet. After several minutes, Alex stopped, barely breaking a sweat.

"Time for some light sparring," Alex announced, setting the rope aside.

Mari raised her hand playfully. "Alex, I hope you'll go easy on me," she said with a teasing smile.

The gym grew quiet for a moment as everyone turned to Mari in surprise.

"You?" Takamura asked, laughing. "Sparring with Alex? This I've got to see."

Mari nodded, determined. "Why not? It'll be a good addition to the interview."

Alex hesitated but eventually agreed. "Alright, but just a light spar, okay?"

Mari grinned, donning headgear that looked comically oversized on her. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she glanced in the mirror.

"Now," she said to the camera, "we're going to spar with Alex Makunouchi, who's ranked number three in Japan's lightweight division."

The cameraman zoomed in on Alex, who was momentarily stunned. Mari, standing across from him in the ring, looked undeniably cute in her oversized headgear.

Takamura, leaning against the ropes, noticed Alex's hesitation and yelled, "Oi, Alex! What are you doing, frozen like that?!"

Alex snapped out of it, clearing his throat to hide his embarrassment. The bell rang, signaling the start of the round.

Mari raised her hands in a high guard and began closing the distance between them. As Alex assumed his Philly shell stance, his focus wavered. He couldn't help but notice the subtle bounce of Mari's chest with every step she took toward him.

What the hell is wrong with me? Alex thought, shaking his head to refocus.

"Are you not going to take your stance?" Mari asked, her tone tinged with amusement.

Alex cleared his throat, snapping out of it. "Yeah, yeah, I got it," he said, settling into his stance.

Even so, his focus faltered again. How am I supposed to hit her? he wondered. Hitting her face feels wrong. I'll just aim for the body.

He threw a light jab toward her torso, careful not to put too much force into it. The punch connected, grazing her chest. To Alex's horror—and everyone else's envy—it caused an unintentional bounce that left him completely dumbstruck.

A sharp nosebleed immediately streamed down Alex's face as his mind went blank.

Ippo turned beet red in the corner, too flustered to speak.

Kimura and Aoki were practically foaming at the mouth with envy.

"You lucky bastard!" Kimura hissed.

"I can't believe this!" Aoki added, clutching his head.

Takamura, however, was the loudest. "Alex, you perverted idiot! If the camera wasn't here, I'd knock you out myself!"

Meanwhile, Mari, blushing furiously, hugged her chest. "I got hit… in such a cute way," she muttered, half-dazed.

Mari's embarrassment quickly turned into determination. She charged at Alex with a series of wild haymakers. Alex dodged the first two punches, but the third grazed him as his focus wandered once more. Her chest jiggled with each movement, and Alex's attention betrayed him.

"Alex, stop being a punching bag!" Takamura yelled, slapping the ropes.

But it was too late—Mari had backed Alex into the ropes and was delivering playful but relentless punches as the gym erupted in chaos.

Eventually, the spar ended with Mari raising her fists triumphantly, grinning for the camera. Alex, still grinning sheepishly, called for a break.

To make amends, Alex treated Mari and the cameraman to lunch at a nearby restaurant.

While eating, he turned to Mari, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Ahem, my apologies. It seems we won't be able to finish the interview today. But if you're interested, my evening routine includes an ice bath."

Mari laughed, waving off his apology. "No problem, Alex. You've been a great sport."

After finishing their meal, Alex drove Mari and the cameraman back to the news studio.

As they stepped out, Mari waved goodbye. "Thanks for everything, Alex. Ippo."

Ippo waved back shyly. "Goodbye, Mari-san."

Alex smiled, watching her leave before driving off with Ippo, heading home to end a long, eventful day.

To be continued...