Isekai in Hajime no Ippo with Gaolang’s Template

The next day, Alex and Ippo were out jogging to the gym. Alex was in high spirits, a grin on his face as he matched Ippo's pace. His good mood was infectious, though Ippo couldn't help but notice it was unusual.

As they passed by a bakery, Ippo stopped suddenly. Alex followed suit, slightly confused. Ippo was staring through the bakery window, a soft blush on his cheeks as he caught sight of a familiar figure inside. Alex smirked knowingly but said nothing.

After a moment, Ippo snapped out of it, and the two continued jogging toward the gym.

At the gym, Alex dived into his workout with vigor, hitting the pads with precision and power. His sharp movements and wide smile didn't go unnoticed.

"Hey," Aoki whispered to Kimura, nodding toward Alex. "Something's different about him today. He's... smiling. A lot."

Kimura squinted at Alex, crossing his arms. "You're right. It's weird. He's usually all serious and cocky. Now he's—"

"—creeping me out," Aoki finished, shuddering for dramatic effect.

Takamura walked over, catching the tail end of the conversation. "You mean arrogant and cocky," he said with a smirk. "That's just Alex being Alex."

The trio laughed until Takamura turned his attention to Ippo, who was quietly stretching in the corner. He nudged the younger boxer. "Hey, what's wrong with your cousin today? Why's he grinning like that?"

Ippo scratched his head, thinking for a moment. "Well... yesterday, he left the house dressed up. He even smelled like cologne. He came back really late—I think I was already asleep when he got home."

Aoki's eyes widened in mock shock. "He had a date!"

Kimura nodded sagely. "It's gotta be that."

Takamura grinned wickedly, slapping his hands together. "Oh-ho! Loverboy over here, huh?"

As Alex worked the pads with Coach Kamogawa, he heard Takamura's booming voice. "Hey, loverboy!"

Alex paused mid-combo, glancing over his shoulder. "Who?"

Kimura pointed at Alex. "You! We heard you left the house all dressed up and smelling good. Then you came back late. Spill it!"

Aoki draped an arm around Alex's shoulders, leaning in conspiratorially. "C'mon, don't be shy. We're all brothers here." He held up two fingers close together. "Just a little secret, huh?"

Takamura joined in, smirking. "Let me guess. You went home late because ahem, ahem... something happened?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Alex froze, processing their teasing, before his eyes darted to Ippo. "You traitor!"

The group burst into laughter, clutching their sides. Alex groaned, rolling his eyes as Aoki playfully prodded him.

"Who is she?!" Kimura pressed, grinning. "C'mon, man, you can tell us!"

"Yeah," Aoki chimed in, tightening his hold around Alex's neck. "What's her name? What's she like?"

Takamura leaned in dramatically. "And... did thathappen?"

Alex shoved them all away, shaking his head with a smirk. "You're all a bunch of weirdos! Get away from me!"

Their laughter filled the gym, echoing off the walls. Despite their relentless teasing, Alex couldn't hide the small smile that crept onto his face.

After a long day at the gym, Alex and Ippo returned home, still chuckling about the teasing they'd endured earlier. As they entered, Hiroko greeted them from the kitchen.

"Welcome back," she said warmly. Then, with a curious smile, she gestured to a package on the dining table. "Alex, there's something for you. A package arrived earlier."

Alex approached the table, eyeing the box. It bore the Sony logo and looked sleek, almost futuristic. "A Sony package?" he muttered, lifting it.

Ippo joined him, peering at the label. "What is it?"

Alex opened the package carefully, revealing a shiny black console inside. His eyes widened as he pulled it out. "It's a PlayStation!"

"A PlayStation 1?" Ippo gasped, practically bouncing on his feet.

Alex spotted a note tucked inside the box. He unfolded it, and the two cousins read it together:

"To Alex Makunouchi,

This is the newly developed PlayStation console. It's set to officially release in 1994, but as a special gesture, you're receiving it first. You are the very first person to own this revolutionary gaming system. Included is an early copy of a game called Tekken. Enjoy!"

Ippo's jaw dropped. "You're the first in the world to have this?!"

Alex grinned, holding up the game disc labeled Tekken. "Looks like it."

The two wasted no time. They pulled out the instruction manual and set about connecting the console to the large, slightly bulky flat-screen TV in the living room. After some trial and error, the screen finally flickered to life, displaying the PlayStation logo.

"It works!" Ippo exclaimed.

Alex handed him one of the two controllers, grinning mischievously. "Let's see what this 'Tekken' is all about."

Inserting the disc, they watched as the game's title screen appeared, accompanied by a dramatic theme. Both boys leaned forward, eyes wide with excitement.

Alex navigated the menus while Ippo eagerly selected his character. "I'll take this guy—Marshall Law," Ippo said, grinning at the Bruce Lee-inspired fighter.

Alex smirked and chose Kazuya Mishima, intrigued by the character's sharp suit and menacing expression.

The match began, the screen divided into two halves as their characters appeared in a vibrant arena. Ippo was immediately impressed by the smooth graphics and fluid animations.

"Wow, this looks amazing," he said, his fingers mashing buttons furiously.

Alex laughed. "You're just button-mashing!"

"And it's working!" Ippo said as Marshall Law landed a flurry of kicks on Kazuya.

"Not for long," Alex said, quickly adapting to the controls. He countered with a devastating uppercut, sending Ippo's character flying.

They both laughed as the match turned into a chaotic flurry of punches, kicks, and button presses. After a few close rounds, Alex emerged victorious.

"How'd you do that?" Ippo asked, staring at the screen in disbelief.

Alex smirked, setting the controller down. "Skill."

Ippo rolled his eyes, grabbing the controller again. "One more match! I'll beat you this time."

The room filled with laughter and playful banter as the two cousins immersed themselves in the game. Hiroko occasionally peeked in from the kitchen, smiling at the sight of them bonding.

As the night wore on, the excitement of being the first to experience the PlayStation made the moment unforgettable. It wasn't just about the game; it was about the joy of sharing something new together—a memory they'd cherish for years to come.

To be continued…