Chapter 49: The Sparring Session

It was an ordinary day at the Kamogawa gym, or so Alex thought. He was midway through his training routine when Coach Kamogawa called him over with a commanding tone.

"Alex," the coach began, his hands behind his back, "it's time you sparred with Takamura."

Alex froze for a moment, his mind racing.

Spar with Takamura? The Takamura Mamoru, the undefeated middleweight powerhouse? It was an opportunity he'd both dreamed of and dreaded.

A grin spread across his face, excitement bubbling within him. For the ten months he'd been at the gym, sparring with Takamura had always been out of the question. Alex had known the disparity in their skill and weight classes was too vast. Even now, he understood that the spar would likely end in him getting schooled. But the chance to share the ring with someone of Takamura's caliber was an experience he couldn't pass up.

"Coach, you serious?" Alex asked, his voice tinged with disbelief but laced with eagerness.

Coach Kamogawa nodded. "Dead serious. Takamura, you're to mimic Riku Tanaka's style. Keep Alex at a distance and don't overwhelm him with your natural style. This isn't about winning; it's about preparing Alex for his next fight."

Takamura, lounging near the corner, stood up with a sly grin. "Alright, but don't cry if I make him rethink this whole boxing thing," he said, cracking his knuckles for dramatic effect.

Alex laughed, tightening the laces on his gloves. "We'll see about that. Just don't cry if I surprise you."

With that, the two fighters climbed into the ring. The atmosphere in the gym shifted as everyone turned their attention to the sparring session. This wasn't just any match—it was a test, a challenge, and for Alex, a step closer to proving himself.

The bell rang, and the spar began.Alex took the center of the ring, slipping effortlessly into his hitman style. His left hand hung low, a constant threat, while his right guarded his chin. His movements were measured, his feet gliding over the canvas with a rhythm that came naturally now.

The first jab came quickly, snapping toward Takamura's guard. Takamura countered with his own, his long reach keeping Alex at bay. Their gloves met repeatedly in a flurry of sharp, quick exchanges.

Alex adjusted, finding a pattern in Takamura's rhythm. He feinted with his lead hand, prompting a reaction, then launched a real jab that snuck through the gap. The glove smacked against Takamura's forehead, drawing a satisfied nod from the veteran.

Takamura returned fire, his jab striking Alex's guard with the force of a hammer. Alex felt the impact in his arms and shoulders, but he gritted his teeth, determined to hold his ground.

Feeling confident, Alex advanced, launching a series of calculated attacks. He jabbed high, forcing Takamura to raise his guard, then shifted his weight to jab at the body. Takamura blocked the first but misjudged the second, allowing Alex to land a clean shot to his ribs.

Encouraged, Alex stepped in with a hook aimed at Takamura's head. Takamura reacted instantly, leaning his body back with uncanny speed to avoid the strike.

Alex didn't stop. Shifting his weight to his back foot, he unleashed a lead uppercut, aiming for Takamura's chin. Takamura crossed his arms in front of his face, catching the punch on his forearms with precision.

Both fighters reset, taking a step back.

Alex grinned through his mouthguard, sweat already trickling down his temples. "You're not pulling punches, are you?"

Takamura smirked, a gleam of amusement in his eyes. "Kid, if I wasn't pulling punches, you'd already be on the floor."

Despite the weight difference, Alex was having the time of his life. The challenge pushed him to his limits, forcing him to think and react faster than ever before.

Takamura, on the other hand, was impressed. He wasn't using his full power, but Alex's sharpness and adaptability were clear. This wasn't the same rookie who had joined the gym ten months ago.

The two continued trading jabs, Takamura using his reach to keep Alex guessing while Alex tested angles and timing to close the distance. The sound of gloves smacking against each other echoed through the gym, drawing the attention of everyone around.

Alex ducked under a jab, stepping in close and landing a body shot. Takamura chuckled, pushing Alex back with a light shove.

"Not bad, Alex. Not bad at all."

The bell rang, signaling the end of the spar. Both fighters stepped back, breathing heavily. Alex pulled off his headgear, his hair damp with sweat, and offered Takamura a fist bump.

"Thanks for the lesson," Alex said, a genuine smile on his face.

"Lesson's not over," Takamura replied with a wink. "Keep that energy. You'll need it when you fight Tanaka."

Alex nodded, his confidence bolstered by the experience. If he could hold his own against Takamura, even for a short while, he was ready for whatever came next.The ring was alive with energy as Alex and Takamura finished their sparring session. Alex stepped back, breathing heavily, sweat dripping from his brow, but his eyes gleamed with

exhilaration. Takamura, on the other hand, barely broke a sweat, casually removing his gloves as if he'd just completed a light warm-up.

"You've got potential, kid," Takamura said with a grin. "But you've got a long way to go before you can hang with the big boys."

Alex chuckled, still catching his breath. "That...wasn't as bad as I expected," he said, wiping his face with a towel.

As Alex sat down in the corner to cool off, his system panel suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Template: Gaolang Wongsawat

Progress: 38%

Alex's eyes widened at the sight. It went up...by 8%? he thought, his mind racing.

He leaned back, processing the implications. Takamura had been holding back significantly, yet the sparring session alone had boosted his progress by such a huge margin. The possibilities began swirling in Alex's mind.

"What if I spar with him again?" he muttered to himself. "If I do it in a month, that gives me enough time to recover and prepare for my fight with Tanaka—assuming his team accepts the negotiation. Two months and two weeks until the fight… I'll have time to balance both."

He grinned, the thought of pushing his limits igniting a fire within him. "Once a day… just once a day sparring with Takamura. It won't interfere with his fight prep, and it could push my template even further."

As his grin grew wider, Alex became lost in his thoughts, imagining the gains he could achieve.

From the other side of the gym, Aoki squinted at him, elbowing Kimura. "Oi, look at Alex. He's sitting there grinning like a lunatic. You think Takamura broke him?"

Kimura rubbed his chin, nodding sagely. "Yeah, definitely. Dude's gone full-on crazy."

Takamura leaned against the ropes, overhearing them. With a devilish grin, he chimed in. "Don't worry, boys. Happens to everyone who gets a taste of my greatness. Poor kid's just starstruck."

Ippo, standing nearby, waved his hands in defense. "No way! Alex is fine! He's just… really motivated!"

Alex finally snapped out of his thoughts, noticing the group staring at him. "What are you all looking at?"

Aoki smirked, crossing his arms. "Just making sure you didn't lose your marbles. That sparring session looked like it rewired your brain."

Alex laughed, shaking his head. "Don't worry. I'm just getting started."

As he walked off, still grinning to himself, Aoki whispered to Kimura, "He's totally nuts now."

Kimura nodded solemnly. "Yeah. Takamura broke him."

To be continued…