Chapter 370

Where I Belong
Chapter Info
Next	Chapter 371
Chapter	370
Previous	Chapter 369
Volume	41
Japanese Title	居場所
Romanized Title	Ibasho
Pages	19
Arc	Battle of Hawk Arc
Episode	Round 17 (Season 2) (p.1-19)
Issue	Weekly Shōnen Magazine #49, 1997 (cover date): November 19, 1997
Release (JP)	November 5, 1997

Where I Belong is Round 370 of Jōji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo manga series.

Details

• Locations Introduced: Takamura Enterprises
• Title Page Character(s): Ippo Makunouchi, Masaru Aoki, Tatsuya Kimura, Wataru Takamura, Kyōka Takamura

Summary

Ippo, Aoki, and Kimura are shocked when they see the oldest daughter of the Takamura family, Kyōka and the third son, Wataru. The three remember there being a chain of Takamura hotels and resorts, but didn't know it was the Takamura they knew. The two Takamura family members explain they just visited to wish Takamura luck on his world title fight. Wataru then asks the three if one of them is Aoki, as Takamura warned him to stay away from him. Kimura states his name, however, Aoki states that he is Makunouchi, With no option left, Ippo states he is Itagaki. "Itagaki" asks Kyōka why Takamura would not mention his family, she replies that he removed himself from the family as he felt like he didn't belong there. She then mentions there is an older son named Suguru. Elsewhere, after Takamura threatens Suguru for saying his existence is troubling, Suguru states that Takamura always resorts in violence and that is why there is mud on the family name. Suguru believes that if their father didn't cover for him, he would be in trouble, but Takamura states that he never asked for help, as he has been alone ever since he was thrown out during middle school. Suguru then begins leaving, saying to come back home when he gets the belt, as he will give him some businesses. At Takamura's place, Kyōka remembers the rugby incident that caused Takamura to leave the family. "Makunouchi" and Kimura then remember the rugby star, Takamura Suguru, Wataru then explains that one time Suguru's team was crushed and fans insulted him, that was when Takamura injured about 20 fans and got the team penalised for a year, resulting in Takamura detachment from the family. Wataru then asks "Makunouchi" why he likes boxing, "Itagaki" then remembers the time when Takamura stated when he won, it felt like he was acknowledged by the world. When "Itagaki" asks Aoki if he agrees, Aoki now knowing his cover was blown, has a fight with Ippo and Kimura. Kyōka then realises that boxing is the place where Takamura gets recognised, where he can be himself and have wonderful friends, finally finding where he belongs. Takamura then believes boxing is the only thing he can live on and he will fight to protect where he lives.