Chapter 4: Rukio's Redemption
The sharp trill of Joji's alarm pierced the silence of his room at 5:15 AM. Today was Saturday, a day of rest for most, but for Joji, it was the day he was scheduled to spar with the strongest member of the gym, Rukio Akami. Feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves, Joji decided to get a head start on his day. He grabbed his phone and hesitated for a moment before finally mustering the courage to message Mina, inviting her for a jog. After sending the message, he waited a few minutes but received no reply. She was probably still asleep, he thought.
Unwilling to waste time, Joji laced up his shoes and set off alone. The cool morning air was crisp against his skin as he jogged through the quiet streets. As he approached Mina's house, Joji found himself slowing down. He stood outside her gate, debating whether or not he should ring the doorbell. Thoughts flooded his mind. What if it wasn't Mina who answered? What if it was her father? What if he was mistaken for her boyfriend? The thought of facing an angry, overprotective father was enough to send a chill down his spine. Shaking his head and cursing his own cowardice, Joji decided against it and continued jogging past her house.
After about fifteen minutes, he returned home to find Uncle Naru bustling around the kitchen. The smell of freshly cooked rice and grilled fish filled the house. Joji's stomach growled in response. Uncle Naru, already dressed for work, chuckled and waved him over.
"Eat up, Joji," Uncle Naru said. "Big day ahead, right?"
Joji nodded, thanking him before sitting down to eat. After breakfast, Joji retreated to his room, letting his meal settle. He booted up his gaming console and lost himself in a few rounds of his favorite fighting game. As the virtual battles raged on the screen, Joji tried to shake off the anxiety gnawing at his insides.
By the time late morning rolled around, Joji knew it was time to head to the gym. He packed his gear, grabbed a water bottle, and made his way there. The streets were livelier now, with vendors opening their stalls and neighbors greeting each other.
Upon arriving at the gym, Joji immediately started warming up. He stretched, shadowboxed, and hit the speed bag, trying to get his muscles loose and his mind focused. He could already see familiar faces trickling in. The gym grew busier as noon approached. The smell of sweat and leather filled the air, the sound of gloves hitting pads and the rhythmic thudding of jump ropes creating a familiar symphony.
At exactly 1 PM, Coach Haruto's voice boomed across the gym.
"Joji! Rukio! Get ready!"
Joji felt his heart quicken. He quickly put on his gloves and headgear, climbing into the ring alongside Rukio. Rukio, tall and imposing, offered Joji a casual nod. Despite his intimidating presence, Joji knew Rukio wasn't the type to take unnecessary advantage of less experienced fighters. Still, the respect Joji had for him didn't lessen the nerves he felt.
Before the bell could ring, Joji hesitated and turned toward Coach Haruto, his voice unsure.
"Coach, why... why am I the one sparring with Rukio? I've only been training here for less than two months."
Coach Haruto opened his mouth, but it was Rukio who spoke first, his tone calm but firm.
"I'll explain," Rukio said, adjusting his gloves. "I lost recently. Got outboxed by someone named Oharu Kiyama. Oharu's a boxer-puncher, same as you, Joji. Your style's similar enough for me to figure out what I did wrong."
Joji blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected that. His sparring style was still rough around the edges, but he had noticed in past matches that he blended aggression with counterattacks, staying balanced between offense and defense—a classic boxer-puncher.
Rukio continued, "I don't need to practice my strength or speed against you. What I need is to learn how to handle a boxer-puncher. I need to understand how you move, how you think. And trust me... you're the perfect person for that."
Coach Haruto gave a short nod, signaling the start of the spar. The bell rang.
For the first few rounds, Rukio barely attacked. He was studying Joji's movements carefully, observing his footwork, watching how he slipped punches, how he countered. Joji, unsure whether to go all out, decided to keep it controlled but honest. He jabbed, weaved, and countered, landing soft but clean shots on Rukio. It felt less like a fight and more like an intense chess match.
Despite the lightness of the spar, Joji's punches occasionally found their mark harder than intended. Once, a quick right cross snapped Rukio's head back slightly. Another time, a body shot made Rukio grunt audibly. Still, Rukio grinned through the hits, clearly more excited than pained.
For almost an hour, they danced around the ring. Rukio occasionally muttered to himself, thinking aloud, trying to piece together strategies.
"Alright," Rukio said finally, his voice cutting through the heavy air of the gym. He lowered his gloves and stepped back. "I got it."
Coach Haruto raised an eyebrow. Joji wiped sweat from his brow, breathing heavily. The rest of the gym had started gathering around the ring, sensing that something important was happening.
Rukio grinned, his teeth flashing.
"I know how to beat Oharu now," he said with certainty.
Joji and Coach Haruto both leaned in, curious.
"And...?" Coach prompted.
Rukio tapped his temple lightly with his glove, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Controlled aggression," Rukio explained, his voice steady but excited. "I'll act like I'm going for a very predictable, obvious attack—something Oharu would see coming. Make him think it's easy to counter me. But right before he does... I'll change my rhythm. Break the pattern. Hit him where he's opening up to punish me."
Joji blinked, trying to fully grasp it. Coach Haruto crossed his arms, nodding thoughtfully.
"So you're going to bait him," Coach said.
"Exactly," Rukio replied. "Make him think he's winning the exchange. Then punish his overconfidence."
Joji felt a chill of admiration. It was a clever plan — one that fit Rukio's wild, heavy-hitting style while adding a layer of intelligence that could catch someone like Oharu off guard.
The gym slowly returned to its usual rhythm, but Joji stayed sitting on the edge of the ring, the idea still swirling in his mind. Watching Rukio walk off, a bit more energized than when he came in, Joji realized something: Even the strongest needed to adapt, and even the inexperienced had something to offer.
As Joji packed up his gloves, he glanced at his phone. Still no reply from Mina. Maybe she was still asleep. Maybe today wasn't the day.
But Joji smiled anyway.
Today, he helped someone improve.
And maybe next time, it would be his turn
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[End of Chapter 4]