Monday came with rain.
It drummed against the shutters of Kagawa Gym, turning the already dim interior into something quieter, heavier. The smell of wet concrete mixed with sweat as Jin finished taping his hands, rolling his shoulders to loosen the stiffness that never fully left anymore.
"Line up," Kagawa Genji said.
That alone was unusual.
Shimada Haru stopped mid-jump rope. Mori Kensuke glanced up from the bag. Sato Ryo straightened, already suspicious. Even Fujii leaned out from the office, arms crossed.
Jin joined the line without comment.
Kagawa walked in front of them slowly, hands behind his back.
"Today," the coach said, "we decide whether Akiyama stays."
No one reacted immediately.
Then—
"EH?"
Shimada's voice cracked. "What do you mean decide?"
Mori scowled. "He's already here."
Sato scratched his cheek. "Isn't that already decided?"
Kagawa stopped in front of Jin.
"He hasn't earned it," the coach said flatly. "Not yet."
Jin met his gaze. "Understood."
Mari Iimura stood near the door, notebook closed, rain clinging to her coat. She hadn't expected this either.
Kagawa pointed to the ring. "Three rounds. No headgear."
Shimada's eyes widened. "Coach—"
"Quiet."
Kagawa turned his head. "Mori. You're in."
Mori's lips curled into a grin that was half excitement, half irritation. "Finally."
Jin bowed to him. "Thank you."
Mori snorted. "You won't be thanking me after."
The bell rang.
Mori came forward immediately, fists tight, shoulders hunched. He threw a hard jab followed by a wide hook, the sound of leather cracking sharp in the small gym.
Jin slipped back, feet sliding just enough. The hook grazed air.
"Tch," Mori clicked his tongue and pressed harder.
Jin didn't counter. Not yet.
To the others watching, it looked like avoidance. Retreat. Running.
Kagawa's eyes narrowed.
Mori landed a body shot in the corner—solid, heavy. Jin's breath hitched for half a second before he stepped out, pivoting just beyond Mori's reach.
"Stop moving!" Mori snapped.
Jin exhaled slowly. "I will."
The first round ended with Mori breathing hard and Jin nursing his ribs.
Between rounds, no one spoke.
Kagawa didn't give advice.
The second bell rang.
This time, Jin changed the rhythm.
He jabbed—light, sharp, snapping Mori's head just enough to be noticed. When Mori swung back, Jin stepped off-line and tapped him again.
Not hard.
Precise.
"Annoying," Mori growled, throwing a combination that Jin threaded through like water slipping past stones.
From the corner, Shimada whispered, "He's… controlling him."
Sato nodded. "Barely. But yes."
Mori finally landed a clean right that snapped Jin's head to the side. A murmur rippled through the gym.
Jin steadied himself, blinked once, and smiled faintly.
"Good," he said. "That one was honest."
Mori stared at him like he'd just been insulted.
The round ended.
By the third, sweat dripped from both of them.
Mori was slower now, frustration creeping into his punches. Jin's legs burned, but his steps stayed measured, economical. He wasn't dominating.
He was surviving on purpose.
With thirty seconds left, Jin slipped a wild hook and finally countered properly—straight down the center, clean and undeniable.
Mori stumbled back a step.
The bell rang.
Silence followed.
Mori pulled off his gloves, breathing hard. "Damn it."
Jin bowed deeply. "Thank you for the rounds."
Mori stared at him, then clicked his tongue again. "…You're a pain."
"I've been told."
Kagawa stepped into the ring.
He looked at Jin's posture. His breathing. His eyes.
"You took unnecessary shots," the coach said.
"Yes, sir."
"You ran too much."
"Yes, sir."
"You don't fight like someone desperate to win."
Jin waited.
Kagawa turned away. "Fujii. Write his name properly."
Fujii blinked. "Eh?"
"Permanent," Kagawa added.
Shimada whooped. "YES!"
Sato smiled quietly.
Mori shook his head. "Great. He's never leaving."
Jin bowed so deeply his forehead nearly touched the canvas. "Thank you, sir."
"Don't thank me," Kagawa said. "You'll regret staying."
"I hope so."
Later, as the rain eased, Jin sat on the gym steps again, towel around his neck.
Mari joined him, holding out a bottle of sports drink.
"You passed," she said.
"Barely."
"That's usually how it starts."
She hesitated. "You didn't look happy in there."
"I wasn't," Jin admitted. "But I was honest."
She nodded. "That matters."
Inside, Fujii tacked a new card onto the board.
Akiyama Jin — Junior Lightweight
Jin watched it through the open door, something warm settling quietly in his chest.
Mari followed his gaze. "How does it feel?"
Jin thought about the mop. The pads. The pain. The routine.
"Like work," he said.
She smiled. "Good."
The gym lights flickered as someone forgot to turn them off properly.
Jin stood. "See you tomorrow."
Mari closed her notebook—not writing this down yet.
"Tomorrow," she agreed.
Behind them, Kagawa's voice echoed through the gym.
"Don't be late."
Jin smiled to himself.
He wouldn't be.
END OF CHAPTER
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