Isekai in Hajime no Ippo with Gaolang’s Template

Inside Kamogawa Gym, the dim glow of a television screen flickered in a small backroom, casting shadows across the walls. The sound of grainy video footage filled the air as Coach Kamogawa and Alex Makunouchi sat watching a tape of Sharmba Mitchell, Alex's next opponent.

Mitchell's movements were sharp yet fluid. He weaved in and out of range, his guard shifting between a Philly Shell and a more traditional stance. His punches were crisp, his counters dangerous.

Coach Kamogawa sat on a worn-out couch, arms crossed, studying the screen carefully.

"He has a weird style," the old coach muttered.

Alex, seated beside him with his hands on his knees, nodded in agreement. "Yeah… it's a hybrid."

Kamogawa stroked his chin. "Hybrid between the Philly Shell and a counterpuncher. A tricky combination."

They watched as Mitchell leaned back to dodge a punch, then snapped forward with a counter left hand, sending his opponent stumbling.

Kamogawa exhaled through his nose. "Now… I have a plan so you can beat him in stunning fashion."

Alex turned to him, intrigued. "What's the plan?"

Kamogawa leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"The plan is to blitz him before he can counter."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "You mean… go at him like Ippo?"

"Of course not!" Kamogawa snapped. "Use your Hitman's Style—but before he can react, you'll blitz him."

The coach extended his finger, pointing directly at Alex's forehead.

"You will pressure him relentlessly, never letting him settle into his rhythm. He's a counterpuncher—but what if he never gets a chance to counter?"

Alex absorbed the words, nodding slowly. "So even if I take a few hits, I have to push forward."

Kamogawa smirked. "That's right. You're going to eat some shots—but you'll still blitz him."

Alex crossed his arms. "Then I need to strengthen my neck and core to take those shots without flinching."

Kamogawa's grin widened. "Exactly. We're going to condition you to endure punishment—and still keep moving forward."

Alex stood up from the couch, cracking his neck. "Then let's start."

Kamogawa chuckled. "I like your enthusiasm."

Outside the backroom, the gym was alive with activity.

Ippo and Aoki were sparring in the ring, their gloves colliding with rapid intensity.

Kimura and Takamura were in the corner, hammering away at a massive sandbag, their muscles tense with exertion.

As Alex and Coach Kamogawa stepped out, Takamura noticed them first.

"Yo, Alex," he called out, resting his forearm against the sandbag. "Your watching season over?"

Alex nodded. "Yeah. Now it's time to train."

Kimura grinned. "The usual? A few rounds of sparring?"

Before Alex could answer, Kamogawa cut in.

"No." The old coach's voice was firm. "This is about endurance and resistance. We're focusing on technique first."

Kimura shut his mouth immediately, recognizing that Kamogawa was serious.

The coach walked over to a wooden corner stand, grabbing a long, thin bamboo stick.

"Take your shirt off," Kamogawa ordered.

Without hesitation, Alex lifted his shirt, revealing his toned, battle-hardened abs.

Kamogawa gripped the stick with both handsand, without warning, began rapidly tapping Alex's core with light but consistent strikes.

—Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!—

The strikes weren't meant to bruise, but they stimulated the muscles, forcing Alex to keep his core tensed for extended periods.

"You're going to endure this for five minutes, three times per session," Kamogawa stated.

Alex gritted his teeth as the rapid tapping continued. The constant impact burned his muscles, forcing him to maintain perfect posture

.

Five minutes passed.

Alex exhaled sharply, sweat rolling down his forehead. His abs were red, irritation creeping through his skin.

Kamogawa nodded approvingly. "Now… onto neck training."

Kamogawa walked over to the training equipment and grabbed a weighted harness, fastening it around Alex's forehead and neck.

"You're going to hang upside down from the pull-up bar," Kamogawa instructed.

Alex followed orders, gripping the bar with his legs, letting his upper body hang freely.

Kamogawa then attached a barbell plate to the harness, adding extra resistance to Alex's neck muscles.

"Start with neck crunches—three minutes, non-stop," Kamogawa commanded.

Alex tilted his head forward and back, straining his neck muscles against the weight.

—One minute… two minutes… three minutes…

The burn in his neck intensified, but he didn't stop.

Kamogawa wasn't done.

"Now, four-way training. Front, back, left, right."

Alex adjusted his positioning, training every angle of his neck to absorb punches without losing balance.

The pain was brutal. His body trembled with fatigue, his breath coming in sharp bursts.

But he kept going.

Even after the core and neck training, Kamogawa wasn't finished.

"Now for your final endurance test."

Alex, still exhausted, wiped sweat from his brow. "What is it?"

Kamogawa simply pointed toward the gym entrance.

"Running."

Alex felt his legs go numb at the thought.

Kamogawa smirked. "Not just any running. You're running until your body gives out."

And so, the real hell began.

Day after day, Alex ran.

Mornings, afternoons, nights—mile after mile, sprint after sprint.

His legs burned. His lungs screamed. His muscles begged for relief.

And yet, he kept pushing.

By the end of each session, his body would collapse from exhaustion.

On some days, Kamogawa had to carry him back to the gym in his car because Alex couldn't physically stand.

One Month Later…

November 11, 1991

The bustling sounds of Tokyo International Airport filled the air as Alex, Ippo, and the rest of the Kamogawa Gym team made their way toward their departure gate. Excitement and anticipation were evident on their faces—after all, this was a trip to the United States, Las Vegas, the city of lights, casinos, and world-class boxing.

As they waited in line, Alex and Ippo both had their phones to their ears, calling Aunt Hiroko to check on her.

"Are you sure you're comfortable, Mom?" Ippo asked, his voice filled with concern.

Hiroko chuckled softly on the other end. "Yes, yes, stop worrying. The house is wonderful. You boys really didn't have to do all this for me."

Alex, on another call, smiled. "Of course we did. You deserve it. And you won't get bored—your new garden house is already built, so you'll have plenty to do."

"That's true," Hiroko admitted warmly. "But make sure you boys take care of yourselves over there, alright?"

"Don't worry," Alex reassured her before ending the call.

Meanwhile, at the front of the line, Coach Kamogawa, Assistant Coach Yagi, and Coach Shinoda were busy presenting their tickets and passports at the check-in counter. Once everything was settled, they made their way toward their flight, boarding the business class section of the plane.

As soon as they stepped inside, Aoki's jaw dropped. "Whoa… this is grand!"

Kimura, already holding a glass of complimentary wine, smirked. "And the service is top-notch too," he said before taking a slow sip.

Ippo looked around in awe. "Yeah… and there are actual beds here too!" Each of them had their own reclining business-class bed, spacious and comfortable.

Alex, noticing their reactions, raised an eyebrow. "Is this your first time leaving Japan or what?"

Takamura immediately booed him. "Tch, show-off!" Then, turning to the others, he scoffed. "Don't mind this guy—he already went to Puerto Ricobefore this."

Kimura and Aoki groaned at the reminder.

"But the real deal," Takamura continued, his eyes gleaming, "is when we arrive in Vegas! I heard the casinos there are huge."

Aoki perked up. "Yeah! And I heard there's a beach too, filled with foreign women!" He smiled lewdly, rubbing his hands together.

Kimura smirked. "Man, I can't wait!"

Ippo, sitting beside them, just sighed and touched his head in embarrassment.

Takamura scoffed, pulling out his wallet and flashing a wad of cash. "Calm down, broke boys. The only one living it up in Vegas is me!"

The rest of the group collectively scoffed. "Tch, show-off!"

While they bickered, Coach Kamogawa and Coach Shinoda quietly sat near the front, engaged in an intense game of chess, while Assistant Coach Yagi reviewed their training and fight schedulefor Las Vegas.

—Seventeen Hours Later…

After a long but comfortable flight, the plane finally touched down at McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas.

As they stepped off the plane and walked through the airport, they were immediately greeted by the bright lights and slot machines scattered throughout the terminals. The atmosphere was completely different from Japan—louder, flashier, and full of energy.

A black luxury car was already waiting for them outside. After loading their luggage into the trunk, the group piled in, heading toward their accommodation.

Their destination? A Five-Star Hotel Penthouse Suite.

—

The moment they stepped into the hotel lobby, their eyes widened.

The floor was made of polished marble, reflecting the glow of a massive crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The hotel staff moved with professional precision, greeting guests with warm smiles, while the sound of distant chatter and soft music filled the air.

Kimura and Aoki stood frozen, their heads slowly turning as they took in the grandeur.

"Damn… this place is huge," Kimura muttered.

Aoki nodded. "I feel like a damn country bumpkinhere."

Takamura, ignoring them, helped carry some of the luggage, tossing it onto a golden luggage cart with ease.

Meanwhile, Alex and Ippo stood to the side, calling Hiroko again to make sure she was still doing well back home.

After confirming that she was fine, they hung up just as Coach Kamogawa gestured to them.

"Alright, boys—let's go."

They followed him toward a large elevator, its doors mirrored and spotless, giving a crystal-clear reflection of everyone inside.

Once inside, Takamura pressed the button for the 62nd floor.

The ride up was smooth and silent, the numbers above the door counting upward rapidly.

—Ding!—

The doors slid open, revealing a long hallwayleading to an enormous double-door suite.

Aoki, staring at the massive doors, reached out and touched the handle. "Whoa… this door is huge!"

Coach Kamogawa swiped the keycard, and the lock clicked.

—Click!—

As the doors swung open, they were greeted with a breathtaking sight.

Inside was a spacious penthouse suite, decked out with modern furniture and elegant decor. The room had multiple seating areas, a massive flat-screen TV, and a fully stocked kitchen.

Aoki and Takamura were already exploring, opening cabinets, running their hands across the furniture, and even testing out the couch.

Kimura, walking through one of the hallways, whistled. "This place is insane…"

In the kitchen, they gathered together, taking in the sheer size of the suite.

"What did you discover?" Kimura asked.

Aoki gestured with his hands, grinning ear to ear. "This penthouse is massive! It's got ten rooms, each with queen-sized beds, seven bathrooms—all with bathtubs—and three kitchens!"

Takamura smirked. "That's not even the best part."

He pointed toward the large glass windows on one side of the penthouse.

"Check this out."

The group moved toward the window, their eyes widening.

From here, they had a full view of the Las Vegas skyline—glittering lights stretching as far as the eye could see, the famous casinos lining the Strip like beacons of temptation.

Kimura turned to the other side of the suite and pointed. "And over here—a full beach view!"

The golden sand and crystal-clear waters of a private beach shimmered under the evening sun.

For a moment, they all stood there, simply admiring the view.

Laughter echoed in the background—Kimura, Aoki, and Takamura were already excitedly talking, pointing at things, and joking around.

Standing to the side, Ippo nudged Alex, nodding toward them. "Look at them," he said with a small smile. "They're acting like kids."

Alex, watching them with a calm expression, nodded. "Yeah…" he said softly. "Just let them be."

For a brief moment, he allowed himself to relax.