Jin realized something was wrong when nobody tried to steal his banana.
The gym was unusually quiet that morning. Not empty quiet—more like the tense silence people used when someone important was sleeping nearby. Bags were being hit softer. Footsteps were careful. Even the broken fan—now safely on the floor—wasn't being kicked out of habit.
Jin sat on the bench, peeling his banana slowly.
No one said anything.
He took a bite.
Still nothing.
"…Is something on my face?" Jin asked.
Shimada Haru jumped like he'd been shot. "NO!"
Mori Kensuke turned away too quickly. "Why would there be."
Sato Ryo glanced at the scale, then at Jin, then away again. "How's your weight?"
"Fine," Jin replied. "Why?"
"Just asking," Sato said. "Casually."
That was a lie.
Sparring was worse.
Jin stepped into the ring with Mori, gloves up, relaxed.
"Go," Kagawa said.
Mori threw a jab.
It stopped halfway.
"…You can hit me," Jin said.
Mori scowled. "I know that."
"Then do it."
Mori threw another punch—light. Too light.
Jin took it on the guard and sighed. "That won't help either of us."
From the corner, Shimada shouted, "DON'T GET HURT!"
"I'm supposed to get hurt," Jin replied calmly.
"That doesn't sound right!"
Kagawa slammed his cane against the floor. "If you're afraid to spar, get out of the ring."
Mori clenched his teeth and finally threw a proper combination. Jin slipped, countered lightly, rhythm settling back in.
There it was.
The gym exhaled.
"…Okay," Shimada whispered. "He's still human."
The Kamogawa Gym arrived like they always did—loud, late, and completely unconcerned with the mood.
"I heard someone's debuting!" Aoki shouted.
"Why does everyone know," Jin asked quietly.
"Because it's funny," Takamura said, grinning. "You look like you're about to apologize to your opponent."
"I might," Jin replied.
"That's disgusting."
During break, Ippo sat beside Jin, both of them drinking water.
"When I debuted," Ippo said softly, "I kept worrying about everything."
Jin nodded. "I'm trying not to."
Ippo smiled. "I just focused on hearing the bell. Once it rang, my body moved on its own."
Jin considered that. "The bell."
"It's very loud," Ippo added helpfully.
"…Thank you."
Takamura leaned in. "I give you thirty seconds."
"Minutes?" Jin asked.
"No."
The weight cut officially began that afternoon.
Jin skipped snacks.
This caused panic.
"You didn't eat!" Shimada accused.
"I ate lunch."
"You didn't eat again."
Mari Iimura watched from the side, arms crossed. "How bad is it?"
"I'm fine," Jin said.
She narrowed her eyes. "You said that yesterday too."
"That was also true."
She sighed. "You're becoming annoying."
"Noted."
They walked home together later, the streetlights flickering on.
"You're quieter," Mari said.
"I'm thinking."
"Dangerous."
He smiled faintly. "A little nervous."
She nodded. "Good."
They stopped at a crosswalk. Neither rushed.
"For five minutes," Mari said, "no boxing talk."
"Agreed."
They made it three.
That night, Jin returned to the gym alone.
The lights were off except for one. The ring sat empty, ropes still, canvas clean. He stepped inside and shadowboxed lightly—just footwork, just movement.
No punches.
He stopped and listened.
In the quiet, he imagined it.
The bell.
Not loud.
Just clear.
Jin exhaled, shoulders relaxing.
Tomorrow would be loud again.
People would worry again.
Someone would probably steal his banana.
But for now, it was calm.
And that was enough.
END OF CHAPTER
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