Whiteboard:Sakamoto – Novice Amateur Debut – Today
The air inside the venue was thick with heat, noise, and the smell of sweat. A sea of folding chairs crowded the gymnasium floor. People packed the sidelines—some trainers shouting advice, others filming with their phones. But all that sound, all that chaos, it faded into white noise in Taiga's ears.
He stood in the locker room, wrapped hands resting on his thighs, eyes closed. His gloves were beside him, black with the yellow trim of Glory Gym. Genji adjusted his corner gear in the mirror, occasionally glancing at Taiga.
"You sleep well?" he asked.
Taiga opened his eyes. "Enough."
Kenzaki leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "You look calm."
"Doesn't mean I am," Taiga replied, voice steady. "But I'm ready."
A knock came at the door. A staff member popped in, clipboard in hand. "Sakamoto, you're up next."
Taiga stood. Genji began lacing his gloves. One tug. Tight. Another. Tighter.
"You remember the plan?" Genji asked.
Taiga nodded. "Stick and move. Watch for the strong hook. Keep him turning."
Kenzaki handed him a mouthguard. "He's gonna test you early. He wants to make you crack. Don't play his game. Play yours."
With the gloves tight, mouthguard secure, and robe over his shoulders, Taiga walked out of the locker room.
The announcer's voice echoed over a cheap mic. "Up next in the Novice Amateur Lightweight Division—making his official debut, fighting out of the red corner—Sakamoto Taiga, representing Glory Gym!"
Polite claps, murmurs. A few cheers from Glory Gym's side.
Taiga stepped into the light.
The ring looked smaller than he remembered. The lights above were blinding. The canvas underfoot felt both too soft and too real.
"So this is my stage, huh?"
Then came the blue corner.
"And his opponent—fighting out of the blue corner, with a record of 3 wins, 0 losses, representing Ginga Street Club—Kazuki Ren!"
Kazuki entered with swagger, bouncing on his heels, grinning like a devil. His crew cheered, loud and arrogant.
The two met in the center of the ring. The ref laid out the basics—clean fight, no elbows, break when told.
Kazuki leaned in. "Last chance to back out, rookie."
Taiga didn't answer. He just stared. Both fighter didn't do fist bump.
The ref stepped back. The bell rang.
Round 1.
Kazuki lunged first, testing Taiga with a quick jab feint into a right hook. Taiga slipped it—barely.
Kazuki laughed. "Quick feet. Let's see how long they last."
Taiga kept circling. Jab. Jab. Step back. He wasn't aiming to land yet—just setting the rhythm.
Kazuki came forward again, this time with a body feint into a looping left.
Pop! Taiga countered him with a clean jab right on the nose.
Kazuki staggered a step. Surprise in his eyes.
"Oh, you got teeth," he muttered, grin fading just a little.
From the corner, Genji's voice cut through: "Don't get baited, Taiga! Stay clean!"
Kazuki charged this time—fast. A flurry of wild hooks aimed at the body, the guard, the head. Taiga raised his arms, blocked what he could, but caught a glancing right to the temple.
Crack! He stumbled back, it hits the liver, vision shaking for a split second.
Kazuki smelled blood.
He rushed again—but this time, Taiga ducked under a wild overhand and buried a left into his ribs.
Thud! Kazuki winced, stepping back. His grin returned, but now there was venom in it.
"Street rat got fangs," he spat.
The bell rang. End of Round 1.
Back in the corner, Taiga dropped onto the stool, chest heaving.
Genji wiped his face with a cold towel. "You did well. Landed clean, stayed smart. But he hits harder than you thought, huh?"
"Yeah," Taiga said, catching his breath. "He's fast too."
"Then don't trade. You box. Understood?"
Taiga nodded.
Kenzaki added, "Keep hitting that liver. He doesn't like body shots."
Round 2.
Kazuki came out swinging.
He had abandoned the cocky swagger—now he was hunting. He cut the ring, forcing Taiga to the ropes.
He throws a vicious jabs at Taiga.
Taiga ducked, moved, pivoted, but caught a hard jab to the nose. Blood dripped instantly.
Kazuki mocked him, hands down. "What now, pretty boy? Wanna quit?"
Taiga answered with silence—and a clean jab-hook combo to the side of Kazuki's jaw.
The crowd reacted. Kazuki stumbled, dropping his body forward and clenching. He throws a few cheap punches to the ribs.
The crowd booed. Ref Separate them.
"Dirty Rat" Taiga's mocking him.
Then Taiga landed a body shot again. Harder this time.
Kazuki grunted. Slowed.
Genji's voice rang out: "He's breaking! Keep chopping!"
The momentum shifted. Taiga was pressing forward now, eyes locked. No fear. No retreat.
They traded. One. Two. Three shots each.
Then, Taiga stepped in—jab to the gut, slip right, and BAM—left hook to the jaw.
Kazuki staggered. His back hit the ropes.
Taiga moved in for the finish, but the bell rang.
End of Round 2.
The crowd roared now. No longer just spectators—they were fans. Yelling. Chanting. Phones out.
In the corner, Genji kept it short. "Last round. Don't let it go to the judges. You can finish him."
Kenzaki grinned. "He's open for that left. Set it up."
Final Round.
Kazuki looked angry. Wounded pride. Swollen ribs. Bloody lip. He barked at Taiga, "Come on! Let's end this!"
Taiga didn't speak.
He just advanced.
They met at center ring. Both swung.
Kazuki missed.
Taiga landed.
One. Two. Left hook. Body shot. Slip. Right cross.
Kazuki stumbled.
The crowd was on its feet.
Then—Taiga feinted left, Kazuki flinched, and the right came crashing down clean on his temple.
THWACK.
Kazuki dropped to one knee.
The ref stepped in, counting. "One! Two!"
Kazuki shook his head, spit out blood.
"Three! Four!"
He tried to stand—but his legs wobbled.
"Five! Six!"
The crowd yelled.
"Seven!"
Kazuki leaned on the ropes.
"Eight! Nine!"
"Ten! That's it!"
Winner by knockout—Sakamoto Taiga!
The crowd exploded. Cameras flashed. Genji and Kenzaki stormed the ring. Taiga raised his gloves—but didn't shout.
He just stared at the crowd. The lights. The noise.
Then, he raised his right hand up. Signing a victory.
The crowds cheered.
His chest heaved. His fists trembled.
But inside—was peace.
Not silence.
Not glory.
Just both.