#megalobox in the ask box??? lets go

[yourfavaschips]

Gearless Joe from Megalobox? 🫶

Gearless Joe from Megalobox would be Ruffles Molten Hot Wings Potato Chips!

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In your megalo boxing thoughts how would joe have stood out if gear was involved? Also how would they have shown boxing takes actually skill and work outside of using aids that do the power work for you without the use of gear? What would yuri have fought for in the end or let go of without gear? Just wanna know ur thoughts.

hi anon, i spent a little too much time thinking out a response to this, so im sorry if it is not what you wanted. feel free to ask more questions or dm me if you want to continue talking about anime, im usually always up for discussing things! 

id like to preface this with the disclaimer that this is all my opinion and i am in no way a professional or expert, i just watch a lot of anime and have too many opinions.

you bring up basically the primary use of gear in the show, it functions as a plot device to show the difference between joe and the other boxes. within the show, joe stands out because he does not use it. i believe that if the creators wanted to, there are other ways that joe could have stood out (playing up the fact he’s new, or using a flashy name like junk dog). it is because gear exists in the show’s universe and is such a big part of the context, it is hard to think of an alternative but i am sure the story would have worked with something different if the creators wanted it to. 

there are also other ways to show a difference in power and skill besides having obvious visual characteristics such as gear. think of other sports anime that are more realistic (more haikyuu than kuroko no basket,) they are able to show a difference in skill, ability, and power level without physical-augmentation style obvious visual aids. even other boxing manga/anime are able to show how strong characters are without adding extra physical features. additionally, the gear itself was a way to show that joe was an underdog and not on the same level as the professionals he was challenging. the same story line could exist with the same basic premise of an outsider challenging the system with or without gear, the writers would just have to use a different method of explaining joe is seemingly at a disadvantage, most likely inner commentary or other characters commentary on how strong opponents were versus how joe counters their strengths with his own talent and the amount of hard work he put in. 

lastly, i think that if the show did not have gear at all, the same story could have been told with slight alterations. underneath the gear thing, yuri was never fighting for himself, he was fighting for the corporation and as yukiko shirato’s contender. from the beginning joe recognized yuri’s power and threat level and wanted to fight him quite simply for the sake of fighting. i think joe introduced yuri to the idea of fighting for himself, purely for the sake of proving his own ability with no outside help/support. the final fight in a megalobox with not hear would show yuri as having a change of mind (wanting to fight joe as himself and not as a representative of another person) rather than a change in physical appearance (removal of the gear). 

the story itself can be broken down into the main character challenging a system as an underdog, with the goal of fighting the current top dog, and his progress and journey to get there. that story does not require gear and because of the lack of development or explanation or even emphasized importance of gear in the show, i believe the concept of gear was underdeveloped and not really needed to tell the story. 

once again this is all just my opinion and in no way shape or form is necessarily correct. 

[italicwatches]

Megalobox - Episode 12

Right now, we need to put the polls out of our mind. And we do that with our fists. It’s Megalobox, episode 12! Here we GO!

-Yukiko’s signing a big deal for the company…At least, if Yuri actually wins his big match. After the signing, she and Yuri are celebrating…But of course, there’s big questions looming. If this is going to work. If the potential of Gear to do so much more than just boxing will be realized. They could change the world, Yuri!

-Yuri’s going to have his Gear removed.

-Pardon?

-He wants…needs, to fight Joe on an equal battle. Man to man. Just muscles and will. It’s the only way.

-Opening!

-Yukiko’s boggled. Integrated Gear is a one-way deal. Having it removed is absurdly dangerous, the sort of thing you’re only supposed to do in a medical emergency. But Yuri’s resolute.

-She’ll, she’ll have the finals canceled! She won’t allow you to risk it—

-NO. He won’t allow you to disrespect the ring like that. Not after a man put his life on the line to get there with nothing but his wits. …He’s not coming back to this office.

-What happened to their dream, Yuri…?

-It’s your dream, now.

-The doors shut, on Yukiko’s impotent rage…And then it’s a hard cut to Joe’s rather more potent rage, as he tries to burn off his frustration and tension and everything else on the bags. What happened to Nanbu. His chance to finally fight Yuri right. The stakes of this big final match. What it could mean for him if he wins…And what it will mean for everyone else if he fails. It’s…All of it’s a lot.

-But he’s not going at it alone, either. Because he’s joined by Aragaki and the caretaker. Nanbu called them to help him train. Aragaki’s going to help him spar against someone who can keep up better than a bag.

-So it’s into the ring. Both men wish they could’ve gotten to finish their fight legit, one way or the other…And so they’re both at it, practicing and working, as Nanbu and the caretaker talk. To think of how far they’ve all come…How different things were not that long ago…And how hard they’ve all fought, how much they’ve all lost, to get here.

-Miles away, Mikio’s at his swank-ass cabin…When Yuri shows up. It’s a place Mikio’s been working on, his home away from home…Or maybe just home, now. A place where he can be alone. No Shirato company, no legacy, no worry. No Shirato Mikio, just plain old Mikio.

-But of course, he’s still Mikio. And he’s set up a little lab in the cabin’s basement. A lab…And a medical facility. He can disconnect the integrated Gear. Doing this is dangerous, of course, risky…But Yuri’s not hesitating. They’ve all put everything on the line for this final match. You with developing Ace. Joe with going in Gearless. And now…Him. It’s time to pay his due.

-That night, Yukiko’s lost in thought out on the roads…As she remembers Joe, Junk Dog, challenging Yuri so long ago. It flashes in her mind, in her eyes, as for a moment she swears she can change it, can call out to Yuri, can keep him from being swept up by this dog and led astray…

-Then it’s over. And her cell’s ringing with a number that has no caller ID, an ancient-ass landline.

-A call that takes her to the cabin, to see Yuri out cold and Gearless. Mikio’s surgery was a flawless success, but Yukiko can only see the way he’s throwing away the future over some ridiculous pride. She’s going to cancel the finals. She will not have the final match, the proving grounds of Megalo Box, the place where Gear is pushed to its limits, fought by two men going Gearless.

-Mikio just reminds her how much pain Yuri’s gonna be in when he wakes up. How much he’s gone through. Are you going to deny him now, of all times…?

-Megalobox, Round 12. Leap Over the Edge of DEATH

-Back in Yukiko’s office, she’s looking up all the real info on the men she’s dealing with. The ID, stolen from Sachio when it slipped free, is counterfeit. The name Joe, an alias. The only thing they can say for sure is he’s an illegal citizen, with no right in their ring.

-But…He’s got it where it counts. He did all this to fight honestly. And for the first time in far too long…Yukiko doesn’t know what to do. All she can ask is to keep all of this under wraps, from everyone, until she makes the call.

-Back under the bridge. Joe’s working his ass off with Aragaki, while Nanbu flashes back, remembering where he found the kid…

-In the pits. Below the pits. Junk Dog…No, he didn’t even have that name, yet. He was less than a dog, less than the races and so far below underground Megalo Box. He was a bare knuckled brawler, getting into scraps for pocket money with just some hand wraps. Nanbu found this nameless scrapper, and pulled him out of those depths…

-Back in the Now, Nanbu calls out to Joe. You’re not stepping through with your punches! How the hell can you…

-He can hear it. Your impacts have about as much force as a cow fart. Now get your weight even again, and lock in those punches!

-Eventually, it’s late as hell, everyone’s done. Joe’s looking over Sachio’s recording of his practices, the kids are scraping together a big ol’ pot of stew, and Aragaki just…Watches. Sees the team, the family, that has forged themselves here. …They might just be able to do it. Joe might be able to beat Yuri.

-Speaking of Yuri, he’s…

-Uh…

-How do I put this gently…

-In screaming agony locked in a sealed room so he doesn’t kill anyone or himself in a pain induced rage.

-Listen that was about as gentle as it gets. It’s not just his body that’s screaming at him, it’s his mind. The integrated Gear works based on hooking directly into the nervous system, into introducing new data into the backstage of the mind. Yuri’s head is screaming at him that he’s missing limbs, that he’s missing his body.

-Eventually he’s just lost in his own skull, in a fugue state as he feels his body burst into flame, into molten rock as he burns up from the inside and turns to ash…!

-And when Yukiko gets there…He’s been in that state for five, days. Can’t they do anything?! Can’t YOU do anything?!

-Mikio could absolutely do something. He’s got the injector right here, full of the same little cocktail he used when overdoing it in Ace. All he’s got to do is pop it into Yuri’s neck, and ping, guy’s settled. But Yuri said no. Refused it outright. Said he didn’t deserve to fight Joe if he couldn’t get through the pain the old fashioned away.

-So here they are. You want to try? See if you can convince him to take the dose? Key to the door’s right there.

-She gets in there, and finds him half conscious…She cradles Yuri in her arms, and begs him to let her take him out of there. To get it all reattached, and keep chasing the future. To stand together again.

-He manages to stir, and he’s got enough of his wits to recognize her and his situation…To tell her about the long ago, before she knew him. When he was first getting into boxing. His first trainer said, if he ever met the kind of fighter that he wanted, truly, to fight and to try and beat, to push himself to face, that it would be blessing. One to cherish, and one to never let go…

-Yukiko. You gave him a reason to live. But this…This is his reason to fight. You can’t take that away…Not now…Please.

-Eventually, morning comes. Yukiko stirs on the shitty couch in this cabin, and there’s no more screaming. Yuri’s mind has finally rebooted. And he’s moving like his old self…The self she saw in that gym so long ago, the man whose body glistened with the sweat of hard work and made him look like some muscle-bishonen…

-Her grandfather was still the president, and introduced his granddaughter to his prize fighter. He saw them both as the future of the company’s designs, even then…

-In the Now, after watching for a time, Yukiko takes her leave…Maybe things will change. But for right now…She has no place here. Her company is seeking the future of Gear, and a man with none on his back is no part of it. …Treat him well, brother. He deserves it.

-Down by the bridge, Joe’s taking a nice long swim in the river. Shouldn’t you be training? Nah, not this close. Against a man like Yuri, he’ll get his most benefit just by clearing his head and cooling his nerves. Now come on, Sachio, get your ass in the water and enjoy yourself!

-But that’s when they both spot Yukiko…She’s come to return Joe’s fraudulent ID. And? And…That’s all. If anyone’s earned the right to keep this, it’s you. You sure about this, when he’s punching your fancy champion’s teeth in?

-He’s not her champion anymore. Yuri had the Gear removed.

-HE WHAT

-He wanted a real fight. An even match. He’s just another bare-knuckled boxer, now. Just so you know what you’re in for.

-And then she’s gone, leaving Joe to realize…That changes thing. Now he’s got a true fire burning in him, as he shadow boxes late into the night, against the song the people will sing of their final bout…Whatever’s coming? Whoever will walk out of that ring?

-They’re, gonna, make, history. The world of boxing will never be the same after this. And every last soul watching the lead with baited breath, knows it.

-Credits.

OH SHIT MY DUDES

[siphen0]

***Spoiler Review***

What’s up everyone! Welcome to Beyond The Panel. Coming at you today with talk about Megalobox! After watching Kemono Michi, I began to feel more confident in taking a chance on anime series which were centered around sports. Initially, Megalobox was one that was recommended to me. I wasn’t able to take that recommendation before, because I couldn’t help seeing this as something that was going to be generic. It seemed like any other story where the main character was just that skilled, yet needed to rely on some gimmick to stand out. Fortunately for me, this was not the case when it came to Megalobox. This was a series with passion for the sport, and went above and beyond to make you care about this character who is trying to prove himself in the ring.

Megalobox takes place in a futuristic setting where licensed citizens live in a wealthy city while, on the outskirts of this city, there is a slum town where unlicensed citizens live in Japan. Megalo Boxing is that popular sport in this world. While similar to boxing, the key difference is that the boxers fight while wearing a metal frame which makes their attacks much more lethal. This was where I felt that they were going down a generic route. I assumed that just because Junk Dog/Joe was deciding to fighting without gear, that they were going to center everything around that gimmick. Though that was only the stepping stone to something bigger unfolding. This story asked the question; “What would you do to feel alive?”. For Joe, that quickly changed from fighting without gear to get his name out there, to fighting without gear because that rush can’t be beat. To know what it is like to understand your limitations as a human. To know those limitations, and then surpass them. That was the driving force for Megalobox, and Joe’s journey to Megalonia, because there was not a single fight where you were not at the edge of your seat wondering when that one punch he takes is it for the guy.

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It took getting that one taste for Joe, and then everything after that was fighting for another go at a challenge he could get from no one else. This also had the added appeal of defying everything you expect from someone like Joe. He comes from nothing, he’s a nobody. Though this guy is supposed to fight from the very bottom to the top? Now if this was it for him as a person, you probably wouldn’t have been as immersed in the story as you could have been. Where they did right by Joe was at the same time emphasizing how dreams are everything. Even having those around you believe you can make it is everything. Joe is anyone who knows what makes their time on this Earth worthwhile, and soaks in that experience.

For characters like Sachio and Nanbu, I admired what they both represented in Joe’s corner. As supporting cast and in Joe’s orbit, they lived in the same world he did. Nanbu captured the essence of that guy who is willing to sell his soul just to see the next day. His evolution in particular was endearing because it’s no simple task fighting your nature. He’s the one pushing Joe to pretty much settle for the scraps, and this was an extension of himself being too comfortable with doing just that to get by. His growth was in realizing that he didn’t have sink down that hole. Neither did he have to drag everyone else with him. Sachio did not disappoint either as someone who was aware of the life he was denied, because of those who have it all. He’s a kid who also was forced to grow up faster than he should have had to also. There are some out there who I’m sure can relate to that. Maybe not for the same reasons, but just for facing challenges where you could not just be a kid carefree.

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What you have to give credit to the writer for is the fact that there is no true villain of this story. You would love to jump into a story like this and expect some antagonist who is larger than life and feeling himself. This could have easily been Yuri as the champion. He could have been that guy who believed he was on top of the world, unstoppable, or even arrogant. However, from very start to finish he was a character you clicked with because of the passion he shared with Joe. This series was building up a passion which exceeded the value of a championship belt, or the title that comes with it. Yuri represented what it looks like when you are simply looking for a real fight, and you can only get that from someone who is just as hungry as you to experience the thrill of relying on your own ability. Not the gear you’re wearing. This could have been Yukiko who always left you on edge for the desperation she had to hold onto the future she was working towards. Someone in her position could have done some despicable things to keep what was hers. Yet, every time when it mattered most you could see that there were lines she was not willing to cross. Especially if it would make those around her disappointed in her. This even could have been Mikio for the lengths he was willing to go in order to take back everything involving the company he believed belonged to him. He does do some shady stuff to keep control of his plans in his corner, and he definitely filled the roll of that someone who doesn’t respect the lower class. Though this was also someone who went through an arc of self-discovery towards understanding the importance of the boxer wearing the gloves.

Underlying themes helped this series go the distance as well. What made me connect with this story so much was the attention they placed on poverty and opportunity. The things that people have to do to get by, to make a living, to participate in things which others can easily because of their privilege. Not so different from a world where you struggle to make a living here without proper citizenship. They were consistent with the determination these characters had to prove that anything is possible no matter where you come from. As they said, skill can only be measured in the ring. You can’t defy the odds if you aren’t willing to take a leap of faith.

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What really makes a difference for anime like Megalobox is having the right studio animating it. For Megalobox, that would be the combination of studios TMS Entertainment and 3xCub. I can’t say I know who did what, or if it was more of a collaboration effort, but regardless they did amazing work with this series. The choreography of every match and action scene was stunning for the smoothness of it all. Every hit looked real, the footwork was clean, the exchange of punches felt like poetry in motion. It was almost as if you were watching the real thing, and that is the best compliment that I can give an anime series that is about a sport. Above all, there was nothing ridiculous about the fighting either. When it’s anime, sometimes you expect that they will go a bit over the top. But these animators kept it real. Jabs, uppercuts, holdings, counters, it was all by the book. Looked like any punch that you or me would throw, only of course with the power behind it from someone who actually trains to box.

It didn’t surprise me that they would rely on hip-hop music for a series like this, but I’m glad they went for it. The music is composed by hip-hop artist Mabanua, and they surely made me a fan of this artist by the end. It wasn’t the kind of hip-hop that you listen to today. It was the classic stuff that really puts you into the moment. As if you are watching an older boxing movie. I did also find it cool that a certain character actually had a scene where he dropped some verses.

So at the end of the day, Megalobox is yet another sports anime that I recommend wholeheartedly. If you want more people to take a chance on those which focus on boxing, or even those sports more obscure? You have to make sure that the series oozes with appeal. The characters have to matter, the sport itself has to matter, the visuals need to be on point. And above all? You must put some passion into it. I can’t stress enough how important it is to make sure that the viewers believe how important said sport is to that world. In the case of Megalobox, they never once let you forget that these athletes were striving for a genuine experience, which in turn is what we got as well.

REVIEW: Megalobox – Sports Anime With Some Passion Behind It ***Spoiler Review*** What's up everyone! Welcome to Beyond The Panel. Coming at you today with talk about Megalobox!

[recentanimenews]

We Find the Perfect New Sports Anime FOR YOU

If you're anything like me, the first question you ask every season is: What are the new sports anime airing this time around? Some seasons have one or two, and some have none – barring the eternal runners like Yowamushi Pedal, which is on its fourth season now, bless its soul. But even when we get a handful, it's hard to deny that they can end up feeling a little too similar to each other. Luckily for us, Spring 2018 has come out with sports anime in full force, giving everyone a reason to tune in to their weekly dose of adrenaline and competition.

So, the question becomes not “is there one?” but “which one do I choose?” and we have a handy guide to help you find the sports show for your tastes this season!

YOU: “I want a traditional sports story – underdogs, guts, determination, and most importantly, heart-pumping action!”

YOUR ANIME: MEGALOBOX

Tell me if you've heard this one before – a down-on-his-luck outsider finds a place for himself in the rough and dirty underbelly of competition, only to find meaning and, hopefully, freedom through their talents. Oh, and there are robot-enhanced arms to help them out. Welcome to MEGALOBOX. Osamu Dezaki's 70's masterpiece Ashita no Joe has been given a makeover, adding a cyberpunk setting and hip-hop aesthetic to the proceedings.

MEGALOBOX has all the thrill of watching two passionate athletes go all out on each other with the added spice of visuals that pack a punch and a soundtrack that makes even the cheesiest lines feel inspiring. Whether you're familiar with the seminal sports classic or a complete newcomer, this 50th anniversary reimagining of the classic boxing show will surely fill all of your blood and sweat desires.

YOU: “Sounds good, but let's rein it in. I'm all for the classic sports beats but want something a little more grounded.”

YOUR ANIME: MAJOR 2nd

Many of us have been kids with a lot of ambition before, joining clubs or teams with the dream of being the best in the field. Most of us haven't, however, had the privilege and pressure of actually being the child of one of the most celebrated athletes of our times – which is exactly where Daigo Shigeno finds himself as he finally gets the chance to prove himself in his elementary school baseball team.

Much like MEGALOBOX, MAJOR 2nd comes from another source, the long-running mid-00s series MAJOR which covered our new protagonist's now-famous dad Gorou Honda all the way from Little League to the Major League. Think Boruto vs Boruto's dad. Despite that gigantic prequel series, MAJOR 2nd manages to stand entirely on its own, assuming the bare minimum knowledge that Daigo's father is a big deal. Everything else is its own story entirely, following Daigo as he struggles to pursue his dreams with the weight of his dad's legacy on his shoulders.

YOU: “Underdogs, kids, it feels like we get these kinds of stories all the time. Where are the adults? What's it like working in sports professionally?”

YOUR ANIME: Gurazeni: Money Pitch

OK, so we're not all latent prodigies waiting to be discovered or the children of timeless talents. What if a sports anime decided to talk about the realities of working professionally in this field as an adult? Gurazeni: Money Pitch is here to satisfy that curiosity, following Bonda Natsunosuke, a left-handed relief pitcher for a professional team.

Unlike our previous heroes, Bonda isn't out here to find his place in the world or come out of the shadow of his family's legacy – he just wants to make sure he makes enough money to live on before he retires. Gurazeni has a unique perspective on the game as a profession as Bonda doesn't necessarily focus on if his team is winning or losing as much as ensuring he personally does well, because that's what the people determining his salary are going to focus on before anything else. It also follows some other players like Bonda who pursue other avenues of income for post-retirement, such as commentating, and even the struggles of newer pro players.

YOU: “This has gotten too real. I want to go back. Give me the most off-the-wall, ridiculous thing you can throw at me.”

YOUR ANIME: Umamusume: Pretty Derby

Horse racing is exciting. What if the horses were girls? What if those girls were reincarnations of race horses from another universe? What if the winning horse girls also gave thrilling idol performances after winning to prove that they are just that good? Hoof it over to Umamusume: Pretty Derby for the answers to all of these questions and more.

Don't let the ridiculous premise get in the way – from goals to focus to payoff, Umamusume ponies up on the important sports elements, including training and blood-pumping races. In case you still weren't sold on the authenticity and dedication of this show, the athletes are even named after real-life race horses.

If you're like me and have a bit more loose definition of “sports” anime, I have to recommend the online gaming anime Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online. Also, if you're still not on the train, catch up on Yowamushi Pedal; I promise it's worth your time. Until then, I hope you find something to enjoy from this list, and if you have your own sports recommendations from the past or present, I'd love to see them in the comments!

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If you want to talk about sports anime, David Lynn is your guy. You can get him excited about weekly anime on Twitter @navycherub or hear him gush on his podcast @Tsunday_Best.

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[italicwatches]

Megalobox - Episode 11

When was the last time things were stable? I’m really missing stability right now. But, okay. It’s Megalobox, episode 11. Here we GO!

-A shitty old parking lot somewhere. Nanbu’s parked, drinking and listening to the match on the radio. Everyone’s predicting a victory for Joe…And Nanbu finally turns it off, when Fujimaki calls. He’s got some of his men watching Nanbu just to make sure nothing happens, while he makes a very specific, high-stakes bet on Burroughs…

-And Nanbu throws that cross he’s had on his rearview mirror out the window, before starting to drive.

-Opening!

-Fancypants Shirato house. Sachio’s trying to pass the time and process his emotions with…

-Flower arrangement. He found a vase, found some flowers growing out by the trash, and got to work. As much to not have to owe Yukiko for room and board, as anything else. She can see he’s got a knack for it, for this gentle art…And he’s used a band-aid to stick one small flower to Joe’s ID card. A good luck charm for the man. And there’s so many complicated things.

-Lessons he learned from his mother.

-The feeling of being back on this side of the tracks.

-The question of Joe.

-And, perhaps the biggest…The question of tonight’s match. If he heads out now, he could make it to see it…But that’s…There’s a whole extra layer of complication to it. Fear? Doubt? Faith? Go in there and see Joe lose, the dream’s killed in front of him. Go in there and see Joe win, the dream lives, but he might not.

-The arena. The BLOODY LION himself, Glen Burroughs, steps up! And against this mighty lion, the bare hunter with only his fists, hailing from Team Nowhere, GEARLESS JOE!

-Back in his new bedroom, Sachio’s full of contemplation, remembering a talk with Joe…About what to do when you’re scared. When the fear gets you.

-Joe’s advice? Touch something. Anything. Just…Get your hands on something. It grounds you, puts you back to center and gets your head into the moment, instead of worrying about what-ifs.

-And of course, you’ll recall, Joe touches the wall every time he goes into the ring. As the conversation plays out in his head, Sachio reaches out and touches the finely wallpapered wall in front of him…

-While down at the arena, first, Joe’s staring at his earpiece. And second, Yukiko up in the fancy box comes to join Yuri. The room service guy passes by, and they’re not having anything, so it’s down to the next box…

-Where Nanbu and Fujimaki are sitting there. And getting a fresh explanation of how this is going to go. Joe’s going to lose in the tail end of the third round…Make sure he makes it look good until then.

-So what’s for dinner, you might ask? Fish. Whole fish, boiled in hard mineral water. With the empty eye still staring out, and scars up and down the body. The message is real, fuckin’, clear.

-Into the ring. Burroughs takes his position on the back of a mini pickup truck, and then Gearless “Naked Boy” Joe steps out…With a Gear frame? It’s his old kit from the pit days, and he’s running fully solo, no backup…

-Up in the box, Nanbu gets on the headset, and starts to talk. Joe’s got his earpiece in, and hears when they’re expecting the fix. Third round, a minute left. Hold out until then.

-Burroughs tries to get into Joe’s head, and then it’s ON right off the start of the bell!

-Everyone, of course, is pretty confused, especially as Joe starts on the defense…Out in the city, Sachio’s on his own, staring at the huge TVs, when his crew find him! What the hell’s going on?! What HAPPENED?!

-…Sachio’s…He’s done. With tears in his eyes and snot running from his nose, he flees, his dream fractured before his eyes and his drive shot through with holes.

-Back in the ring. Joe takes a rough blow, springing off the ropes to avoid another, but he’s hard on the backstep…Nanbu starts giving him the real advice. The way to hold out, to survive. Burroughs leans too hard on being a big man, letting himself loom and letting his upper body do the work. He never steps through, never puts his whole force into it, and that leaves openings! Use those legs, kid! Get in fast!

-In the city, Sachio tries to convince himself to stop caring…

-While in the ring, Joe and Burroughs start both stepping it up, until the first round bell goes off! The commentators are seeing a match that could go either way. Burroughs has power, but he’s letting himself get anxious and antsy. Joe’s a total glass cannon, but that cannon’s shot through a hell of a lot of people to get into this ring. If Burroughs can’t pin him down…

-Up in the box, the big men are starting to get concerned Joe might go off script…But Nanbu’s convinced Joe would’ve landed that uppercut if he was trying to win. He came up short on purpose. The kid knows how to sell a loss. You just don’t get it.

-Fujimaki, though, does. He can see the way young Joe is selling it, taking some rough hits just a little more than he needs to, keeping his punches just a little shorter than he could. But he’s also not taking Nanbu’s advice proper…

-Megalobox, Round 11. A DEADmarch

-Round two. Burroughs is getting cautious, too concerned about Joe’s rapid counterpunches…But Joe overextends, and gets punched himself! He starts leaving himself too open, taking some rough hits from Burroughs, until finally he’s got to take Nanbu’s advice. Block, let the frame do the work, and then weave out…Of course, that punch also takes the actuators off of Joe’s left arm…

-It’s at this moment that I realize Joe’s real gambit.

-He probably never had that Gear fixed.

-It’s a dead frame.

-The second round ends, and Joe’s exhausted in his corner…While Nanbu watches. And Fujimaki points out that Nanbu’s actually acting like a real trainer for once, not like back in the pits…

-In the thick of the city, Sachio’s just wandering, with no idea where to go, what to do…Realizing he was just using Joe for his own ends…But…But? Joe’s song comes to him, as he sees a lit-up platform in the area and clambers up onto it. He starts to move his body, trying to mimic Joe’s training. Trying to find that fire in himself.

-His own singing over the track follows in as Joe and Nanbu both await the third round. Sachio works himself ragged, but there’s something burning in him now…

-As the third round starts off. Nanbu tries to remind Joe that this is the last one, that he’ll finally be free…But Fujimaki clarifies. There’s no freedom for the kid. He’s going right back under Fujimaki’s thumb where he belongs. The scorpion and the stray dog. That’s how this is always going to play.

-Nanbu’s horrified, and for damn good reason…somewhere in there, it stopped being about keeping himself alive, and started being about getting Joe free.

-As the timer ticks down, Joe’s stuck on the defensive…When Sachio races in towards Joe’s corner, shouting out! DON’T LET IT END LIKE THIS, Joe! Everyone’s shocked…And Yuri rises from his box, as Joe takes a rough hit…

-But he doesn’t drop. He springs back like a whip, as the fall point comes…Men get sent to go retrieve Sachio…And Nanbu, what will you do?

-Joe takes a ferocious uppercut, and hits the mat…! Security starts to retrieve Sachio…When Yuri steps up. And Joe. Did you forget what you told him?!

-He will not allow you to disappoint him on his stage, Joe!

-Joe’s vision goes hazy, dark…But Nanbu’s voice cries out, having just put Fujimaki’s man on the ground. GET UP, JOE! This doesn’t end like this! Your tomorrow is YOURS! The muscle start going for Nanbu, but he starts fighting his way out…He’s not going down without making it hurt. And you, you’re not going down! RISE! Junk Dog the pit fighter is dead, but JOE LIVES ON!

-Joe rips the old Gear off his back, and finally free of its prison, he rises, forcing himself to his feet on the nine count! He’s exhausted, he’s woozy, he’s rough…But he throws that earpiece to the ground. It’s not ending like this.

-Nanbu smashes his headset, as the muscle come for him proper, Fujimaki just eating his fish…

-The match is on anew, and Joe’s moving like a new man, as he starts nailing those punches! Burroughs gets desperate, and goes in for a cross counter…A counter that Joe out-plays, being the only one to land it clean! He’s non responsive, and the match is called for GEARLESS JOE!

-Sachio races for him, the ID card slipping out of his hat, as he clings to Joe with joyous tears in his eyes…

-Back in the box, Nanbu’s managed to force the men to draw knives…And Fujimaki finishes his meal. He can respect stones…But it ends here, Nanbu. …Maybe it does. But Nanbu grabs his dinner knife, ready to make it hurt…

-Yukiko finally finds Yuri…And for the first time, Yuri feels envy. A wild, thrilling jealousy, of wanting to have been the man in the ring instead of Burroughs. Joe’s the real deal.

-After the match, Joe and Sachio race to the box…Where they find Nanbu, clutching his face…Did he…?

-…He did.

-He paid for it with his other eye. He drove that dinner knife into his other eye, the original debt that Fujimaki put in front of him, to save Joe’s freedom. And Fujimaki just has them take the old man away. Suffering that much for the kid…Not even he can keep pushing after that. Not after Nanbu gave up his only way to see Joe’s greatest moment.

-That night, back at his place, Yuri trains like a man possessed. Even his dog growls, the anger and ferocity like an aura around him…

-Credits.

…Fuck…

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Megalobox - Episode 10

Let’s get into this. It’s Megalobox, episode 10! Here we GO!

-Under a red moon, Fujimaki gives Nanbu a simple order. Tell Joe everything, and bring this to a close. Speaking of, Joe steps out to come take a piss…And Nanbu’s forced to admit that their real fight is over, all while Fujimaki just listens to the torture and pain he’s putting them through…

-Opening.

-Flashback. That day in the restaurant, when Nanbu made the oath to get into Megalonia…And Fujimaki wasn’t interested in some bight dream. Fujimaki pushed Nanbu even harder that day, past the easy bluffs and the noble dreams and into something darker…

-So Nanbu’s forced to admit his real bluff. It wasn’t getting to Megalonia. It wasn’t even winning Megalonia.

-It was throwing a match at Megalonia. Turning the hopes and dreams of the entire fucking slums into Fujimaki’s profits, and burn the idea of a better tomorrow into ash. Making enough profit off of everyone back home trying to show their faith in the local kid done good, that it would wipe Nanbu’s debt.

-Joe, of course, realizes he never had Nanbu in his court, not really. Not with any idea of taking it to the top. You were ALWAYS looking for your cash-out! Nanbu tries to counter that this was the only path where either of them survived, and look, you’ve got the ID. You’ve got the rankings. You drop this last time, and they’re free and clear! Just a quick detour. Just put the headset on, one more time…

-Joe clocks Nanbu across the fucking jaw, throws the earpiece to the ground, and stomps it to dust. You’ve only ever been looking for yourself. The last time he played your game was in the fucking pits, Nanbu. Never again. Never again. Nanbu snatches up Joe, trying to convince him that they’ve got no other path, that they’re a pair of frauds with no hope of legitimacy, that all they can do is survive…

-Joe’s not interested in hearing it. He’s not even mad, he’s just, disillusioned. Utterly and truly. He just gets on his motorcycle, riding off…And leaving Nanbu to deal with a horrified Sachio. And, worse, a satisfied Fujimaki, who makes something very clear…If Joe doesn’t throw his match, all three of you are dead. The rain begins to fall, full of fury…

-And Joe, in the dark and bitter rain, rides against that desert cliff one more time.

-The next day, the three established Megalonia competitors are doing a press conference. One that Joe was supposed to be at too, but he isn’t showing…Also, side note, Burroughs speaks in pretty solid English, that makes me think they got an actual native speaker to do his lines.

-Joe finds himself at Abuhachi’s, with no other place to go. And it’s not like he’s upset to see Joe here, but what happened, kid? You get lost or something?

-…Yeah, lost is a good way to put it.

-While in the slums, Nanbu comes and finds Sachio…Who’s disgusted with Nanbu. But Nanbu pops the hat right off of Sachio’s head, and knows exactly who you are, kid. The son of a freelance engineer. A guy who got fucked by Shirato, and who took his own life…

-As far as Sachio’s concerned, Shirato killed his dad. His mom, without cashflow, got sick. Couldn’t afford a doctor. Died a year later. He lost everything…And when he saw Joe, he, he thought, maybe they could…And then YOU RUINED IT ALL! Nanbu just picks up the spare clothes he brought, and starts walking away…

-They end up at a fancy party after the press conference. …Things are different now, Sachio. If you want your revenge…She’s right there. Out in the open. No security. The CEO of Shirato. He passes the kid a knife, and, if you want an eye for an eye…Take the eye.

-Sachio’s real, fucking, close to doing it, too, to racing in there over the fence and attacking Yukiko…When he sees her talking and playing with a pair of kids. A pair of kids about his age. Had things gone a different way, he’d be right there next to them. Of course he would have. But now…

-…He can’t do it. All he has in him, is believing in Joe. …They both bet on Joe. They both put it all in. But that leaves Joe as the only man who can decide how this ends.

-Back under the bridge, Joe’s burning some steam on the bags…And Nanbu, at the party, gives Sachio another path. Leave the knife, kid, and come on.

-To Yukiko’s doorstep, where Nanbu’s got a request for her. His most absurd yet. …He needs you to keep this kid safe. A dishonest man wants him dead. And, to be blunt…Your company put that kid in this position. Your people led to his father’s death, his mother’s death, and him ending up a rat in the slums. You owe him.

-Yukiko counters, that she could just force an exchange. She could make Joe withdraw from the tournament. …Nanbu wouldn’t be too unhappy if that happened, at this point. At least it would be the first honest thing he was ever part of. But no. He knows you. You’re not going to do that. And, besides…This is the last you’ll be hearing from him.

-Nanbu’s gonna disappear. The only question for him is whether it’s on his feet or in a box. Either way, none of you are ever going to see him again. He passes Sachio an ID card, and then he’s gone, a single wave goodbye…

-Megalobox, Round 10: The DIE is Cast

-To MEGALONIA! The opening salvo is on, and the crowd is going wild! It’s the biggest tournament in the history of the sport! Yukiko’s doing her rounds with the upper crust, when her assistant has something for her…A full internal audit was done. And the integrated Gear’s immunosuppressant system was not acquired on the up and up. The boy’s claims are legitimate. His father was stolen from, and their company profited from it.

-Speaking of Sachio, he’s alone in a dark room, just staring at that photo on the inside of his hat…He drops the ID card in there too, ramming the whole thing back on his head as, despite himself, the tears start to fall…

-The first match is on! Yuri is up against The Spider, Pepe Iglesias. The second ranked boxer in the world, straight out of Mexico! And his opponent? Yuri. The king of kings! The world champion! Number one in the entire world, representing Team Shirato!

-Both men enter the field, as Yukiko watches…She’s got every intention of seeing this through. But she does make a quick request…Get every single fucking name who was involved in that perversion of justice. Every last person who helped steal a man’s work from him and take his livelihood, and life, away. They will be dealt with. …Oh she is pissed.

-And of course, all eyes are on this first match…Joe’s way in the back, watching, and even down at the bar, Nanbu drowns his sorrows as people watch…

-The match is on, as Spider’s tricks become obvious. He’s incredibly flexible above all else, and light on his feet, which lets him dodge and pull off tricks that hardly any other boxer can deal with. Even Yuri can only hold his own, not actually get any ground, as both men test each other…

-Round two comes fast, and both start trying to actually claim some momentum in the ring…With Spider managing to get the first solid shot and draw blood! But that just snaps Yuri awake hard, as he goes all out…Spider throws another punch, but he just comes into the man’s guard like a ghost, and uppercuts him cold, before a followup left hook! Spider hits the mat, and even the commentators can’t even see it until they go back to the slow-mo footage!

-The count hits ten, and the match is called! Yuri claims his first victory in Megalonia!

-After it’s over, Joe’s out by the rider with his motorcycle, full of heavy thoughts…When a dog comes up, all eager to see him. Yuri’s dog. The two men end up standing there, chatting…Joe’s changed, since the last time they really interacted. He’s seen Yuri is the real deal, and he’s got some legit respect for that match. That was a hell of a hook you finished with!

-Yuri tries to play it down. The ring is the ring. You win or lose. That’s all. Everyone has the same two chances in front of them. …Why are you fighting bare, Joe? Why Gearless?

-…If he’s honest? It started as a bluff. A gamble. A way to get people to be willing to fight him, and to get the newspapers to actually give a shit about a man at the bottom rankings. But the more he’s gone, the more it’s about…Pride? Honor? Maybe t’s just the thrill of knowing he doesn’t have anything helping him, and doesn’t have anything holding him back. It’s just his own two hands out there, just his own speed and skill protecting his life.

-And he wants to see how far he can take it. This isn’t about proving something to anyone anymore, Yuri. He doesn’t want to get in the ring with you to, to take back something from that night in the pits. He wants to see how far he can go, and test himself. Against you, against the best…Joe just wants to see the heights he can reach, pushed by someone that strong. But what about you? What makes you step into that ring?

-…A dream. A single, simple dream. Someone believed in him, Joe. Someone pulled him up from the dark, all for a dream. And he wants to see her dream come true. That’s all there is to it.

-While Nanbu, drunk off his ass, stumbles back to the houseboat���Fujimaki treated him to a drink, and chatted with him about the old fable of the frog and the scorpion…As across the city, Joe stares into the water, Sachio looks out the window of his home slash prison, and Nanbu slumps over under the bridge, thinking of a scorpion’s nature…

-The next morning, Joe leaves Abuhachi’s, having received a fresh earpiece…And Abuhachi asked him, plain and simple. Who should he really bet on, tonight?

-Credits.

Fuuuuuuuuuuck

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Megalobox - Episode 06

Alright, photos taken, now I just need to work on them. And then, I’ve got plans. So many plans. But first, it’s Megalobox, episode 06! Here we GO!

-We begin in the past, with a younger Aragaki. Nanbu’s wisdom worked its way into his mind, into his body…

-And in the Now, all that wisdom has crashed across Joe’s fucking jaw…But on the nine count, he only use manages to rise, and put Aragaki’s attention back on him full out…! The old man isn’t your opponent, HE IS!

-Opening!

-The match is on proper once more, as both men keep exchanging blocked blows…And Nanbu is realizing just what kind of crazy tricks Aragaki’s worked into his boxing. His prosthetics have a spring to them, a bounce to make walking and running easier…And Aragaki uses that springiness to speed up his footwork, to be able to bob and weave out of the way without having to take his body out of prime punching position!

-Things go from punching into a grapple, as Joe tries to force Aragaki’s hand, but Aragaki manages to force him back into the ropes, and start the beatdown…Joe tries to respond, but he just gets countered…!

-And it’s only the ring of the bell that saves his life. Joe just about collapses into his corner chair, and Nanbu’s about ready to literally throw in the towel… They can get another match, a better match, Joe! They don’t need this…

-Yeah fuck that. They’re doing this. The next bell rings, and Joe’s back in the ring…But things have changed. He’s remembering Nanbu’s ring advice, splitting his weight more evenly…And he’s mumbling about it to himself. Just loud enough for Aragaki to hear.

-And enough to put Aragaki off-balance. He starts throwing too much into it, and manages to clip Joe’s chin and put him back on the mat…

-But the fight isn’t over, still. Even as it turns into a fucking slobberknocker, just fists flying on both sides, as both men try to wear each other down…Until the bell rings again. Second round, done.

-And back in his corner, Aragaki flashes back to Nanbu’s wisdom back in the day…And he’s scarcely even listening to his caretaker back in the Now.

-While in Joe’s corner, he’s thinking. Aragaki’s…Holding awful close to the rules, for a man full of hate. He’s not in this to torture you. He’s in this to win the fight. The third round begins, and Aragaki’s on Joe in a flash! But Joe can see he’s slowing down, getting sloppy…He’s an older boxer. They say you lose power last…But that means your speed and your stamina go first.

-Nanbu watches this all, and realizes what a fool he’s been…How much of this is his fault….As Joe’s luck starts to run out. He takes a hard body blow that has him coughing up blood and spitting out his mouthguard…

-And yet, one more time. One, more, time, Joe RISES. Because he’s not doing this for Nanbu. He’s not doing this for anyone’s past. He’s doing this because a man put up his fists in front of him, and the only thing Joe knows how to do is to wreck anyone who does that…

-Even as Aragaki delivers blow after blow, Joe manages to force himself to stay up through it all, to keep his weight balanced and keep himself on his feet, as Aragaki’s fury comes out…Way too hard…He remembers the day he shattered Nanbu’s old gym window and crawled in…And he leaves himself open to one quick, hard punch to the jaw. One that has so much of his own weight going into it, that he drops.

-And the count starts.

-Megalobox, Round 06: Until the Last Dog DIES

-He manages to rise on the eight count, shaking the cobwebs out of his head…But Joe’s on him immediately, pushing him back bit by bit, until the bell rings…

-Back in his corner, Joe gets patched up bit by bit, while Aragaki’s shaken by that one shot.

-It’s round four, and Joe’s moving like a completely different man, one with a stronger stance, a firmer will…Aragaki keeps coming at him, keeps trying, but Joe’s able to hold out against Aragaki’s speedy Gear with ease…And when Aragaki over-extends, Joe’s there in a flash, dropping punch after punch! The man’s getting desperate, he’s getting tired, and he’s getting sloppy. He’s on tilt, and Joe’s singular, most potent ability is that he does, not, tilt.

-Aragaki finds himself against the ropes, his war and post-war flashbacks haunting him as the match turns south for him…And to make it worse, his footwork isn’t going right. His leg isn’t locked in right. Something he took unseated his knee, and he’s forced to work against it, to just go in for raw power and blow after blow…But the more power he throws in, the slower he gets, and the more open he gets, as Joe just punishes everything…

-Blood from both men spills across the mat as they just try to beat each other into the ground…Until the fourth round bell rings, moments before they can cross-counter each other.

-Back to the chairs. Joe’s still got it in him. Aragaki doesn’t. And when the bell rings, Joe’s up…And Aragaki is still in his chair. He’s forfeited the match. The crowd erupts into cheers…And Joe collapses as soon as the adrenaline leaves him, while Aragaki’s got to be carried out of there.

-Aragaki tries to apologize for throwing the match…But the caretaker would’ve called it if you hadn’t. He saw what was going on with your leg. The last thing he needs is for you to be down for good.

-In the aftermath, Aragaki’s taking a long breather on a bench, as Nanbu comes in to talk…Aragaki’s prosthetic is bloodied and disconnected, and both men are just…Silent for a long time. Until Aragaki admits…This isn’t the first time. He’s been overworking these prosthetics. He was at risk of being outright bedridden, and the doctors were insisting he retire…

-And then he saw Nanbu. And his new boxer. And…He was so confused, Nanbu, so unsure what he wanted to do…But seeing Joe, fighting him, and doing that match…With tears in his eyes, Aragaki admits he’s finally ready to hang it up. To live a new life. All he’s done…It was enough, wasn’t it, coach?

-It was so much more than anyone could have asked. You did…You did amazingly, Aragaki. And Aragaki hands him a slip, something to give to Joe…

-…The old betting slip. The lost slip. Back on Aragaki’s last day, Nanbu bet all he had, trying to get enough to treat his boxer to a nice dinner. It of course failed, and he gave Aragaki the slip as a luck charm. A symbol that he was worth taking the risk on, and that Nanbu had his back out there. That he’d be waiting for Aragaki…

-Back in the Now. Aragaki admits, that ticket saved his life, Nanbu. He was…He was close to ending his own life, when it fell out of his old gloves. If it hadn’t…

-Nanbu starts to get misty-eyed himself…But listen, Nanbu. The goal is Megalonia, right? Be sure to tell Joe that he’s got people rooting for him…And Aragaki’s gonna be cheering the kid on, too.

-Far away, Yuri stands on a balcony, as the third competitor to enter the Megalonia tournament is announced…Glen Burroughs of the Killer Bomb Crew! Known as the “Bloody Lion”, a heavyweight who’s all ferocious and terrifying force, using his massive body to overcome the advantages of middleweight boxers…There’s less than a month to go at this point, and a fourth competitor will be announced soon…

-Of course, by this point, people want to know if Gearless Joe will be entering…And out on the balcony, a man by the name of Mikio comes to chat with Yuri. Tough luck for Glen back there. Everyone’s more interested in seeing if this gimmick fighter will be entering, than talking about Glen’s actual entry.

-Yuri, of course, recognizes Gearless Joe when he sees the highlights on a TV billboard…And both men wonder if this stray dog can get in…

-Credits.

God damn. That got so heavy…What the hell will Joe’s last pre-Megalonia match look like, let alone Megalonia itself? I guess the only way to find out is to push forward, and see what happens next time, in episode SEVEN of Megalobox! Wait for it!

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Megalobox - Episode 05

Man, I always forget how deep GMing a session drains me. For just sitting around goofing, I am beat after once the spinning-plates adrenaline fades off. Anyways, let’s do this. It’s Megalobox, episode 05! Here we GO!

-We open cold, on a war zone. A battlefield full of dead and dying, sand ripping through the desert and forcing those still making their way through it to go full goggles and masks just to hold together…Their intel says the enemy’s gone, and they’ve got to pull a search and rescue on any civilians still stuck in this mess, but there’s no guarantee of safety…

-And one of the soldiers has a complete and total breakdown, unable to deal with seeing the bodies of the civilians…When he spots something. A dead woman, cradling a bundle. Could she have…?

-…No.

-So much worse.

-Someone put a bomb under her body on their way out. He has a single moment to realize…And then, fire.

-Opening.

-Back in the Now. That boxer turned soldier, Aragaki, has just told Nanbu his story. His body’s a mess of scar tissue. He’s lucky to be alive, and luckier still to have something akin to a normal life…And now, he’s made a decision. He wants to break that kid of yours, Nanbu.

-Wh…What?

-Payment of debt, Nanbu. He lost a lot going down the road you started him on. And breaking your newest toy is going to help pay for that loss.

-Back in the houseboat, Nanbu’s really thinking about dropping this fight…Because he’s scared. He’s scared of what Aragaki could do to Joe, and how much the man knows of the same training Joe would have…

-Which is when Sachio looks up Aragaki’s data. And…Whoa.

-He lost a lot more than you’d think, looking at him in his street clothes.

-Both of his legs are prosthetics. Gear. Chances are his left eye is, too. He’s fighting with a body half destroyed by a war he never asked for, turning the frustration and despair into a weapon…

-The reactions are deep and profound. Nanbu thinks they can’t fight a man who’s so fiercely willed as to come back to the ring like that. Joe thinks they can’t turn a fight from that man down. This is their best possible shot…

-So they’ve got to train. Twice as hard, twice as much. Nanbu and Joe end up back in the ring, with no special tricks or plans they can use. All they can do is refine. What’s the perfect distance where Joe’s punches have maximum force for each form. What’s the closest he can be and still have room to react to something coming at him. How much stamina can he burn and still bounce back in the next round. All of these questions are what they need the answers to, and to refine those answers…

-The next morning, Joe gets back from a job to eat breakfast, finding that Nanbu bailed after making food…And Sachio’s been pulling a lot of data on this Aragaki guy. He first hit the legit scene ten years ago, and pulled a mess of one-round KOs…But then he got called in for military duty. He’s only been back in the ring for three years, and in that time he’s climbed hard…

-And look at his opponents. He beats them into the fucking ground.

-A moment back in time. When Aragaki went to the service…And when Nanbu found out that the local kid done good wasn’t in the ring anymore.

-Then it’s to the Now. Nanbu’s gone to the veteran center…Where he sees a man being taken to the hospital, and meets the caretaker at the center. And he sees the graveyard in the back. Stones for those men who the war took…And most of the ones here? They’re not KIA. They’re suicides. Men who tried to come back, but the war tore them too deep…Aragaki’s one of those broken men. And the caretaker here was broken, too, one of his hands a prosthetic…

-He got back, thinking he could return to the ring, thinking he could return to Nanbu’s side…And then Nanbu, having heard he was KIA, wasn’t there. Aragaki hates you now, Nanbu. He doesn’t want to see you ever again.

-…Yeah. Nanbu’s not surprised, not really. …But tell him not to take it out on the kid. Whatever their problems are, Joe deserves an honest match. You’re not going to ask for your own forgiveness? …No. No he isn’t.

-To the center’s gym, where Aragaki works his body, and the caretaker comes to ask Aragaki a simple question. What do you want? If it’s to get into Megalonia, you should cancel this match and go fight someone above you, climb the ranks.

-Aragaki’s logic is that he can bring in cash for this place this way. Fight the infamous Gearless Joe, get attention, get sponsors, get cash.

-They don’t need cash, Aragaki. They need people pulling themselves back together, being whole in spirit. And this isn’t getting there. This isn’t about the money…You’re jealous, Aragaki. Jealous that he found someone new. And you’re clinging to the past, instead of looking forward.

-But Aragaki isn’t hearing it. He’s not abandoning his path.

-Back in the past. Aragaki sitting in a shit apartment with his service pistol in his fucking mouth, ready to eat the bullet…When a note slipped out of his boxing gloves, an old betting slip from Nanbu. That single distraction was enough to hold him back for that briefest moment, enough for survival instincts to kick in and stop him from doing something he could never take back…

-The next day, he went to find Nanbu’s old gym…And found it abandoned, boarded up. His mentor gone. The place he’d called home, turned to dust in the mouth. He wept there, a disabled veteran in the slums, for a long time…

-In the Now, that old building isn’t even there anymore. The lot is dozed over, waiting for investment that’ll never come. Aragaki stands, staring at the empty hole that used to hold his second home…When Joe rides up on his motorbike. Yo.

-Megalobox, Round 05: The Man From DEATH

-Back at the houseboat, Nanbu gets back, and Sachio’s been doing tons of research. Aragaki’s going for all light and lean, hardly any power…And Aragaki’s an old vet. He’s gotta have way less stamina. Joe’s going to have to win this one by attrition.

-Nanbu has a different thought. Aragaki was a lot like Joe. A speed man. His Gear’s lightweight for the same reason Joe’s old kit was, to keep that speed up. And Sachio just straight up calls Nanbu out for why he never even noticed Aragaki climbing the ranks until now…

-Which leads to Nanbu stepping out and sitting in his truck, where he knows all too well what happened. He let himself put Aragaki in the past. Let himself believe the man was definitely dead. Because it was easier. A few days of grief instead of a lifetime of hard calls. He buried even Aragaki’s memory, and left him abandoned…

-Joe and Aragaki are just…Talking. And Aragaki has one simple question; what the fuck happened? The Nanbu he knew would never pull off something this ridiculous. You’re fighting Gearless. Why.

-…Joe agrees. It’s ridiculous. It’s absurd. But right now, it’s all they’ve got. They’ve just got to put their faith in each other. …That kind of faith gets betrayed, Joe. He’ll abandon you.

-So the legs, you blame him for them? Aragaki freezes up, uncertain how to answer that…

-And when the conversation ends. Joe just welcomes Aragaki’s challenge. They’ll settle things in the ring. You want to destroy him? Come try and destroy him. But he’ll put up a fight.

-More training. Nanbu’s focusing on Joe’s speed above all else, trying to make Joe able to out-dance Aragaki…And Joe can see that Nanbu’s rattled. He genuinely doesn’t think Joe can win, and he’s not even able to lie about it.

-Aragaki’s having a hellish flashback, remembering that fucking day in the desert…But when he remembers turning over the woman’s body, she has Nanbu’s face, and grabs him to keep him from escaping the explosion…!

-He awakes, gasping for air, having dozed off in the locker room…Nanbu’s not the only one who’s rattled. That man re-entering his life has put Aragaki on the brink of collapse.

-In Joe’s own space, he’s suiting up…And Sachio arrives to find no Nanbu. Did….Did he give up? Who fuckin’ knows, kid. Who, fuckin’ knows.

-Nope. He’s gone to the other side, to finally confront Aragaki and talk to him, and beg him to keep what’s between them between them. To not take it out on Joe. But Aragaki barely even hears him…

-The match is starting. Both men have fans going wild, ready to see how this will go…

-And Nanbu remembers the night when he saw it. When he saw Aragaki’s name on the KIA list.

-In the ring, the caretaker asks Aragaki one thing. If this is what he thinks it is…Be ready to move on and get your closure. One way or the other. …Yeah.

-The bell. Both men are tense, testing each other…Neither’s willing to go all out, whether in power or speed. It’s footsies, the careful dance of two men on even footing…Until Aragaki gets a solid shot in that, even when Joe blocks it, he’s forced back, landing right on the ground.

-And sure, Joe springs up. But he’s on the backstep. Aragaki keeps getting in glancing blows, and dodging what Joe has…And then he goes in for a full force strike, dancing around one of Joe’s punches, and puts a haymaker out that sends Joe down! The timer starts as he lays there, and as the timer counts, Aragaki takes one look at Nanbu and smiles…

-Credits.

FUUUUUUCK