Weaker is Round 1011 of Jōji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo manga series.
Details[]
- Title Page Character(s): Ryō Mashiba
Summary[]
Ippo and Kumi wait in the living room for the food to cook. Kumi notices that Ippo's bandage is dirty and begins replacing it. Kumi, seeing Ippo's swollen face, notes how she still worries about him. Ippo tells her the reason boxers like him train so hard is to make it home in one piece. Kumi tells him that she knows he is doing his best, but notes that she still worries about him. As their heart beats loudly, Ippo and Kumi are about to kiss, but then get shocked as Mashiba arrives to tell them that the pot they're using is about to boil over. Kumi runs for the pot while Ippo begins climbing a well in fear of Mashiba. Mashiba asks Ippo what he was doing with Kumi. Ippo, terrified, stutters as he tries to explain they were making dinner in the kitchen, however, Mashiba misheard him, thinking he said they were making kids. Ippo claims they were cooking, but Mashiba thinks he is saying they were cooking something up. Kumi throws a spoon at Mashiba, telling him that dinner is ready. As they eat, Mashiba likes the food until Kumi mentions that Ippo helped make it, causing him to spit it out. As everyone finished eating, Mashiba asks Ippo who beat him. Once he learns that it was Sendō, Mashiba reminds Ippo that Sendō is the one he beat twice, wondering why he got beat by him recently. Ippo thinks it is just that Sendō has gotten stronger, thinking that it is a miracle he won before. Mashiba asks Ippo about him saying he trains to make it home in one piece. Ippo explains that his mother is always waiting and worrying at home for him, and while he is somewhat prepared for what happens in the ring, he wants to come back home safely so his mother doesn't worry as much. He adds that even if he comes back bandaged and bruised, he wants to walk home with his own two feet. Mashiba asks him if that is really what someone aiming for the world title should say, but Ippo and Kumi thinks so. Mashiba sees why he got beaten as he tells Ippo that he has become weak, shocking Ippo. As Ippo leaves the house, Kumi scolds Mashiba for ruining their time together. Walking home, Ippo remembers Mashiba calling him weak, planning to train.