NOVEL NEXT Chapter 100: Wild Gift vs Crafted Skill
Leonardo Serrano makes his entrance like a storm that doesn't belong in this ring. The house lights sharpen on him as music blasts, and he struts down the aisle with every ounce of swagger he can summon.
His arms spread wide, chest puffed, throwing in clumsy little dance steps that parody a showman. At one point he even twists into an awkward shuffle, thrusting his hips, a move that looks less like ringwalk bravado and more like an ugly imitation of a nightclub dancer.
It draws no cheers. Only a smattering of whistles from a few scattered fans, drowned out by a chorus of boos.
"Go back home!"
"Gaijin clown!"
"Arrogant bastard!"
The voices spit from the stands, contempt sharper than the music. But Serrano's swagger doesn't waver. If anything, the jeers seem to fuel him.
The commentators ride over the noise, voices steady for the broadcast.
"There he is, Leonardo Serrano, the rookie sensation, if you can call him that."
"His last fight drew a lot of attention. Not the cleanest technique, but his raw talent was undeniable. He's got explosiveness you just can't teach."
"Still, tonight will test if he's more than flash."
Halfway to the ring, Serrano suddenly veers sideways. His eyes lock on a man in the crowd, his partner holding a phone rigged to stream.
Serrano lunges toward him, leaning into the camera, shouting with wild eyes.
"WE'RE LIVE, BABY! Tokyo, Korakuen Hall! Your boy Serrano's here to steal the show! Look at this place! They boo me 'cause they fear me! Haters everywhere, but guess what? Haters make me famous!"
He flexes into the lens, veins swelling, lips pulled in a grin too wide to be real, before spinning back toward the ring, basking in the uproar he's ignited.
***
While the boos trail Serrano down the aisle, the red corner locker room is hushed, its rhythm dictated by leather striking mitts.
Pap, pap… thud!
Junpei sinks deeper into his stance, shoulders tilted, chin tucked behind his lead shoulder. His arms move like hinges, rolling shots off, snapping counters sharp into Coach Suzuki Junji's pads.
"Keep that shoulder high," Junji mutters, angling a mitt low to test him. "Let it carry the weight. Don't rush the counter."
Junpei slips, shoulder brushing the air where the mitt had been, then snaps a right straight back, clean and compact.
"That's it," Junji says, his tone steady, not praise but correction honed to a fine edge. "Sharp. Nothing wasted. Serrano's loud, but he's wild. He'll come flying, let him. Shell up, make him miss, and punish."
Junpei exhales through his nose, sweat beading at his temples. "I know. He's all flash. No respect."
Junji pulls the mitts down, studying him for a beat. "Don't make mistake. Respect the danger, not the man. You do that, and tonight's yours."
Junpei nods, fists rising again. The rhythm of the pads resumes, crisp and unshaken, a sharp counterpoint to the circus echoing from outside.
In the corner of the room, Ryoma watches quietly, his hood shadowing his face. His eyes track every slip, every counter Junpei throws.
He's seen this man before, not this young Junpei, but the mature one in his previous life. That Junpei had been polished, a ranked boxer whose Philly Shell flowed like water, effortless and suffocating.
But what he sees now is rougher, edges still jagged, but for a rookie it's already sharp. It makes sense though, he's still a rookie tonight. Now Ryoma feels a small current stirring inside him.
A part of him wants Junpei to triumph, to earn the right to stand across from him so they can trade leather, test their resolve. But another part whispers something darker. If Junpei loses, he can deal with Serrano himself.
Suddenly, a knock at the door breaks his thoughts. A staffer peeks in, his voice cuts the air.
"Junpei Teshima, it's your time."
Junpei lowers his gloves, rolling his shoulders once, his composure unshaken. He doesn't posture, doesn't grin. He just breathes, calm and ready, walking out of the room towards the corridor.
When he emerges into the aisle, the contrast to Serrano couldn't be sharper. There's no swagger, no circus steps, only the steady rhythm of a fighter who trusts his craft.
The crowd responds in kind. Applause ripples, more respectful than wild. Some voices rise above the rest.
"That's the kid with the slick defense."
"Sharp technique, that one. A real flicker specialist."
"Can't wait to see if he shuts that gaijin up."
Junpei climbs toward the ring under the lights, not adored like a star, but acknowledged like a craftsman stepping into his workshop.
***
The roar of the crowd softens into a murmur as the house lights dim. A single spotlight drops into the center of the ring, catching the announcer in a sharp circle of white. His suit glitters faintly beneath the beam, voice rising clear and theatrical through the hall.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the East Japan Rookie King Tournament Semifinal! Introducing first… fighting out of the blue corner, representing Kirizume Boxing Gym… twenty years old, standing at 171 centimeters tall, officially weighing in at 59 kilograms… with one fight, one win, one knockout, Leonardo… 'Shishi'… Serranoooo!"
The spotlight swings, pinning Serrano. He throws his arms wide, chest puffed, swagger dripping from every movement.
Then he breaks into his ugly shuffle-dance again, head bobbing, shoulders rolling, grinning like he owns the ring.
The commentators' voices slice into the broadcast feed, measured but edged with intrigue.
"What a peculiar entry into this semifinal. Just one professional fight on his record, yet he's already here."
"That's right. His opening match was a knockout win, but let's not forget, he reached this stage with a bye in the bracket. This is only his second real bout."
"But outside the ring, he's made a name challenging martial artists and uploading his antics online. Some call him more of a performer than a boxer. Still… the raw talent is undeniable. That KO showed he isn't all bluster."
The boos rain heavier this time, mixed with a smattering of cheers, though even those sound more entertained than supportive.
In the ring, Serrano taps his chest, points both thumbs at himself, and mouths something to the crowd, feeding off their scorn as if it's fuel.
"You hear that! You better shut up now before I humiliate you too!"
And then, the spotlight drifts back to the center, catching the announcer once more. His voice rises above the echoing boos still clinging to the rafters.
"And now… fighting out of the red corner! Representing Shinryu Boxing Circle… twenty years old, standing 172 centimeters tall, officially weighing in at 58.7 kilograms… with a record of five fights, five victories, all by points… Junpeiii… Teshimaaaa!"
The light sweeps across the ring as Junpei raises a hand, composure wrapped around him like armor. Shoulders squared, chin tucked, eyes forward, he walks with the calm of someone who has nothing to prove outside the ring.
The crowd responds differently this time. Applause rises, not explosive, but respectful, an acknowledgment of the young technician's skill.
As the announcer leaves the ring, the commentators fill the air again.
"Now this is a fighter with a foundation. Five straight wins, all on points, but don't mistake that for a lack of power. His technique is polished, and he's known for that sharp flicker jab."
"Exactly. If Serrano is raw talent, then Teshima is refined discipline. He doesn't waste movement. This match-up… it's a clash of chaos against order."
"Wild Gift vs Crafted Skill. By the end of tonight, we'll learn which one can truly stand."