After the heated argument between Hayuki and Coach Steve, the two part ways — Coach Steve walking off to who knows where, while Hayuki remains in the snow-covered park, alone at night…
Hayuki: "Haaah… haaah… haaah… damn freezing cold…"
Hayuki: "Damn it… damn piece of shit…"
Hayuki (thinking): "Damn Steve… I worked harder than ever, made so many sacrifices for him, fought with everything I had to win — I won match after match like a true champion — and now I'm the loser? What a joke… he was lucky I was the only one to join his crappy gym. And now it's my fault that I lost? What a piece of shit…"
Hayuki thinks for a minute about the match, Antonio's words, and especially Coach Steve's words.
Hayuki (thinking): "Damn… then why… why do I feel like such a nobody…"
Hayuki: "Why, why, why, why… WHY?!"
Hayuki: "WHY IS EVERYTHING FALLING APART?!"
Hayuki: "WHY IS EVERYTHING GOING WRONG?!"
In anger, Hayuki punches a metal playground ride, hurting his hand.
Hayuki: "First Antonio… now this…"
Hayuki: "What did I do to deserve all this…"
Hayuki (thinking): "I should've been a national champion… I should've been dominating the scene as a victorious fighter."
Hayuki: "Then why… why has everything fallen apart…"
Hayuki (thinking): "I thought facing Antonio would be my springboard toward a greater career… I was so sure I could win and take that title…"
Hayuki: "I just don't understand… why… why did Coach Steve decide to abandon me… why did he leave me too…"
Hayuki: "Why does everything I do always end in disaster…"
Hayuki remembers a moment with Coach Steve — a seemingly normal moment that now returns as a vivid memory.
FLASHBACK
Coach Steve and Hayuki are training together at the gym.
Coach Steve: "Nice work, Hayuki! Keep hitting like that, good job."
Hayuki: "Thanks a lot, Coach."
Coach Steve: "Harder, harder."
Hayuki lands a powerful punch on Coach Steve.
Coach Steve: "Ouch! That was a strong one."
Hayuki: "Sorry, but weren't you a world champion? A punch like that should be nothing for you."
Coach Steve: "Yeah… well… that's true, but you know why it hurt? Because you've been training hard and gotten stronger — so naturally it hurt more."
Hayuki: "Makes sense, I guess."
Coach Steve: "Hayuki… have you ever thought about what your dream is?"
Hayuki: "What do you mean?"
Coach Steve: "Your dream in life — like, I don't know, becoming a famous actor, becoming a billionaire, or maybe winning a world title — stuff like that."
Hayuki: "Honestly, I've never really thought about it. I don't think I have a real dream. I just want to live well, be okay with myself, and most of all… I want to prove that I'm the best. That's it."
Coach Steve: "The best in what field?"
Hayuki: "In everything. I want to prove my worth and show that even someone like me can have a future."
Coach Steve: "Interesting. Then tell me — what drives you to keep going and to want to be the best?"
Hayuki: "I want to be the best simply because I refuse to lose — ever — in anything. And I won't let anyone tell me otherwise. If I lost in anything, it'd be like losing in life — and unfortunately, it wouldn't be the first time… But still, I want to be a winner in life, the best at everything, and I want to give it my all for that. That's all there is to it."
Coach Steve: "Well, proving your worth to others is still a dream."
Coach Steve: "So if I can give you some advice — chase your dream with consistency and passion, because that's the only thing that matters."
Hayuki: "Now you're getting poetic? I didn't need you to tell me that to understand it. I want to prove to the world that I'm the best of all, and that's enough motivation for me to keep going."
Coach Steve: "I knew it… I've known since the first day I saw you… you have the potential to become the greatest champion ever."
Hayuki: "You think so? Then we'd better ramp up the training, don't you think?"
Coach Steve: "Hahahah, with pleasure."
END FLASHBACK
Hayuki (thinking): "That day… that day… I thought that thanks to you, I'd finally become the someone I wanted to be… Even if you were a bit strange and pretty damn annoying, you were the only one who truly supported me and believed in me — the only one who made me feel proud of myself, for once… Why did you have to ruin it all… Why did I have to ruin it all… damn it…"
Hayuki: "Why has my life always been such a mess… ever since I was born… damn… damn… damn…"
Kid: "Mom, look… that guy is talking to himself."
Mother: "Come on, leave him alone… let's go play somewhere else…"
Hayuki: "Ungrateful bastard… me, a nobody? Look who's talking."
Hayuki: "If it weren't for me, that asshole would already be six feet under."
Hayuki: "I'll do whatever I want… even if it kills me in the ring."
Hayuki: "It's all Antonio's fault… but the moment I face him again… I'll destroy him with my own hands…"
Hayuki: "He'll pay for this — he'll pay dearly."
Hayuki: "I don't need Steve to win that title. I was the one fighting every time. I was the one busting my ass in training. I was the one working hard every day — not him. I don't need his help at all… In fact, maybe if I had never met him, by now I'd already be world champion."
Hayuki: "DID YOU HEAR THAT, STEVE?! I DON'T NEED YOUR DAMN HELP, I NEVER DID! WITHOUT ME, YOU'RE NOTHING — GOT THAT? NOTHING!"
Boy: "What's that guy doing? Is he crazy? He's talking to himself."
Boy's friend: "I don't know, but let's get out of here."
Hayuki: "Hahaha… maybe I should just head home now… it's getting late… it might even start raining."
Suddenly, Hayuki gets a phone call.
Hayuki: "Great… just what I needed…"
Hayuki: "Hello…"
Furaya: "Hey there, Hayuki! How are you, all good?"
Hayuki: "All good, everything's fine…"
Furaya: "I heard you had an accident during a match and ended up in the hospital. How are you, little brother? You okay?"
Hayuki: "Yeah, yeah… I'm out now. Got discharged from the hospital a week ago."
Furaya: "Good, good — I'm really happy for you."
Furaya: "Anyway, I wanted to tell you that tonight, around one or two in the morning, I should be back in town."
Hayuki: "Great… good… good."
Furaya: "I might get in a bit late, but don't worry — I should be home by three, so you can tell me what happened."
Hayuki: "Yeah, sure… sure."
Furaya: "By the way, did they tell you when you'll be fully recovered?"
Hayuki (sad and angry): "I… I don't know…"
Furaya: "Don't worry, I'm sure everything will be fine. Just don't give up and get better soon, little brother."
Hayuki: "Of course…"
Furaya: "Alright, see you later, Hayuki. I've missed you a lot, you know…"
Hayuki: "Yeah… sure… later."
Hayuki stays silent for a whole minute, staring into the empty void.
Hayuki: "Screw you, Furaya… may you be damned..."