Isekai in Hajime no Ippo with Gaolang’s Template

The soft glow of the early morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a golden hue over the luxurious hotel room. The sound of waves crashing in the distance blended harmoniously with the faint hum of the city waking up.

Alex stirred awake, his body still wrapped in the lingering warmth of the bed. As he sat up, he glanced at Mari, who was still sleeping peacefully beside him, her dark hair slightly messy from the night before. The sight made him smile. He carefully moved to get out of bed, but just as he did, Mari's delicate voice stopped him.

"Mm... Did I wake you?" he asked gently.

Mari, her eyes still half-lidded with sleep, reached out as if searching for something. "Yes... I felt my arms empty," she murmured, her face turning slightly red.

Alex chuckled softly before leaning down to press a tender kiss on her lips. Mari instinctively closed her eyes, leaning into the kiss. But as Alex pulled away, he suddenly realized something—his body had reacted naturally to their closeness. He tried to control himself, but Mari noticed.

Her eyes widened slightly as she saw the reaction, her cheeks burning a deep shade of red. She averted her gaze, gripping the sheets tightly. Alex could see her flustered expression, and a bold thought crossed his mind. Without overthinking it, he gently pushed Mari back onto the bed.

Mari's breath hitched, and she instinctively covered part of her face with her hands, her fingers trembling slightly. She knew what was about to happen. Alex could feel his heart pounding in his chest, but seeing Mari's reaction made him pause.

"You okay?" he whispered, wanting to make sure she was comfortable.

Mari took a deep breath before giving a small nod, her face completely flushed. She hesitantly reached out, helping Alex pull off his shirt.

The morning sun continued its ascent, and time seemed to slow as the two shared their first, intimate moment together.

An hour passed.

It was now 7 AM, and the room was filled with the soft sounds of Mari's heavy breathing. She lay sprawled on the bed, her skin glistening with sweat, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath.

Alex, lying beside her, wiped the sweat from his forehead, exhaling deeply. His heart was still racing, but he felt a strange sense of fulfillment. He turned his head to look at Mari, who was still flushed, her hair slightly messy from the activity. She covered her face with her hands, clearly embarrassed.

"...Are you okay?" Alex asked, his voice softer than usual.

Mari peeked through her fingers before nodding slowly. "Y-Yeah... It was my first time, so I was a little nervous… but, um… thank you for being gentle," she said shyly.

Alex felt his heart warm at her words. He smiled and leaned down, pressing a small kiss to her forehead. "Of course," he whispered.

A moment of peaceful silence passed between them before Alex suddenly sat up. "I'll cook us something. What do you feel like eating?"

Mari, still lying on the bed, covered herself with the sheets as she turned onto her side. "Mmm… anything is fine…" she mumbled, too exhausted to think about food.

Alex chuckled before standing up. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist before heading to the small kitchenette in their hotel suite. As he walked past the large mirror near the bathroom, he caught a glimpse of himself—his hair was messy, and he could see faint scratch marks on his back. Mari had really held onto him tightly.

He smirked at the thought before focusing on cooking.

After a few minutes, the aroma of warm ramen with eggs filled the air. He carefully plated the meal and carried it back to the bedroom, where Mari was still lying down, looking up at the ceiling with a dreamy expression.

"Breakfast is ready," Alex announced.

Mari sat up slowly, holding the bedsheet against her chest, her expression still a little flustered. As Alex handed her the bowl, she accepted it with a soft "thank you" before taking a bite.

Her eyes widened. "This is really good," she said between small bites.

Alex grinned as he sat beside her. "Glad you like it."

They ate together in comfortable silence, occasionally exchanging glances and small smiles.

Time passed, and it was now 11 AM.

After finishing their meal, the two had taken a shower together, sharing playful moments and teasing each other. Mari had initially been hesitant, but Alex reassured her, and soon, the awkwardness turned into laughter.

Now, as they stood in front of the closet, Alex stretched his arms. "Alright, let's go out. First stop, Capilla del Cristo," he said.

Mari, who was now dressed in a light summer dress, nodded enthusiastically. "And after that, let's take a photo at the La Rogativa statue," she added, her excitement evident.

Alex smiled at her energy. "Sounds like a plan."

Mari suddenly reached into her bag and pulled out a Polaroid camera. "I brought this to save our memories," she said, holding it up proudly.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "A Polaroid, huh? That's a great idea," he said with a grin. "Let's make the most of this trip."

The two dressed up and stepped out of the hotel, ready to explore San Juan together.

Dressed in casual attire, Alex and Mari stepped out of their luxurious hotel into the warm Puerto Rican air. The sun shone brightly, casting golden rays over the bustling streets of San Juan. The sound of lively chatter, occasional honking from passing cars, and the faint scent of fresh pastries from a nearby bakery filled the air.

After hailing a taxi, the couple settled into the backseat. The driver, a middle-aged man with sunglasses and a friendly demeanor, greeted them in Spanish, which Alex could only partially understand.

"¿A dónde van?" the driver asked.

Alex quickly responded in English, "Capilla del Cristo, please."

The driver nodded, and the car smoothly pulled away from the curb. As they drove through the vibrant streets, Mari glanced out the window, admiring the colonial-style architecture and colorful buildings. She leaned back and sighed happily.

"This place is beautiful," she said, smiling at Alex.

Alex nodded. "Yeah… It's got this old-world charm. Definitely different from Japan."

After about 15 minutes, the taxi came to a slow stop in front of their destination.

As Alex and Mari stepped out of the taxi, they were greeted by the sight of the Capilla del Cristo, a small yet historical chapel standing at the edge of a cliff. The warm ocean breeze carried the salty scent of the sea, adding to the mystical atmosphere of the place.

Mari's eyes sparkled with fascination as she admired the old stone structure. "Wow… This is really a historical chapel," she said in awe.

Alex crossed his arms, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, it looks incredible. The architecture alone tells a story."

The two slowly walked around, exploring the chapel's exterior before making their way inside. The atmosphere was serene, with the soft flickering of candles and a faint smell of incense filling the sacred space. Mari clasped her hands together, whispering a small prayer, while Alex took in the peaceful surroundings.

After spending some time inside, they stepped back out into the plaza area. Nearby, an elderly street vendor sat by a small wooden stall, displaying various handcrafted silver crosses and religious trinkets. The delicate craftsmanship of the crosses immediately caught Alex's attention.

"Let's check it out," Alex said, motioning toward the vendor.

Mari followed him, and the two stopped in front of the small display. Alex picked up a silver cross necklace, admiring its detailed design. He turned to the vendor and said in Japanese, "I'd like to buy two of these, please."

The elderly vendor, however, just stared at him, unable to understand.

Realizing the language barrier, Alex switched to English. "Two of these, please."

But the vendor shook his head. "Solo español," he responded, indicating that he only spoke Spanish.

Alex frowned slightly, realizing the situation. While he had been learning English, he hadn't yet studied Spanish. Mari, standing beside him, also seemed unsure of how to proceed.

Just as things seemed complicated, a young tourist, who had been nearby, stepped forward.

"Need some help?" the man asked in English with a friendly smile. "I can translate for you."

Alex turned to him with a grateful nod. "Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks, man."

The tourist quickly relayed Alex's request in fluent Spanish to the vendor, who nodded in understanding. Within moments, the vendor carefully wrapped the two silver cross necklacesand handed them over. Alex paid for the necklaces, then turned to the helpful tourist.

"Appreciate it. You really saved us there," Alex said.

The man chuckled. "No worries! It's always fun helping fellow travelers. Enjoy your time in Puerto Rico!"

Alex grinned and gave him a firm handshake before turning back to Mari. He carefully took one of the necklaces and held it out to her.

"Let's take these inside and have them blessed with holy water," he suggested.

Mari smiled warmly. "That sounds like a wonderful idea."

The couple returned to the chapel, where they found a small basin of holy water near the entrance. Alex dipped his fingers into the cool, sacred water and gently sprinkled it over both necklaces, whispering a quiet prayer.

Mari followed suit, touching the water to her cross before slipping the silver necklace around her neck. She then helped Alex put on his.

Once both necklaces were secured, Alex looked at Mari and smirked. "Now we match."

Mari giggled. "Yeah, now we have something special from this trip."

Before leaving, they decided to take a photo to commemorate the moment.

Mari eagerly pulled out her Polaroid camera, positioning it carefully in front of the chapel. She set the timer, then quickly ran to Alex's side.

As the camera clicked, Alex wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. The instant photo slowly developed, revealing a heartwarming image of the two standing in front of the Capilla del Cristo, their new silver crosses glinting in the sunlight.

Holding the photo in her hands, Mari smiled. "This is perfect."

Alex glanced at the picture and smirked. "One for the memories."

With that, the two left the chapel, hand in hand, ready to continue their adventure in San Juan.