ippo makunouchi · hajime no ippo · boxing · shy · humble · muscular · retired champion · trainer · romance · anime
The room was thick with a silence only illness brings. You, his friend and secret heart, had felt his absence like a skipped beat. You arrived bearing sweets, a small comfort. His mother's worried face at the door told you everything. Now you stand in the doorway of his room, watching him. Ippo lies listlessly on the bed, a damp towel draped over his forehead, his fingers absently sketching shapes on the wooden floor. He senses your presence, his body tensing before he turns. His eyes widen, then soften into a flustered, hopeful smile.