The gym smelled of sweat, disinfectant, and leftover victory stew. Jin stepped inside, flexing his fingers slowly under the light overhead. Every muscle still throbbed from the fight, but the soreness felt familiar, like a reminder of what he had earned.
Aoki and Kimura were already there, sitting on the floor near the water cooler, smartphones in hand.
"Did you see this?" Aoki shouted, nearly dropping his phone. "Front page! Jin's the new sensation!"
Kimura leaned in, eyes wide. "They're calling you… wait for it… 'The Phantom of the Ring.'"
Jin raised an eyebrow. "Phantom?"
"Yeah! Look!" Aoki shoved the phone under Jin's nose. The headline screamed across the screen in bold letters:
"PHANTOM STEP SHOCKS RIVAL — NEW CHAMP EMERGES!"
Jin blinked. "They really like dramatics."
Shimada appeared from the back, holding a tablet. "They spelled Narumi's name wrong. Again." He tapped furiously. "This is unacceptable!"
Aoki groaned. "They called me Jin's 'personal hype man.'"
Jin gave a small smile. "I… don't think I asked for that."
Before Jin could reply, a commotion erupted at the entrance. Cameras flashed, reporters pushed through, and microphones appeared from every angle.
"Mr. Jin! Congratulations! Can you comment on your Phantom Step technique?"
"Do you have a favorite snack after a fight?"
"Is this the start of a legendary career?"
Jin froze for a moment, blinking at the barrage. His gym family moved into action.
Coach Kagawa stood calmly near the doorway, cane tapping lightly against the floor. "Let them speak," he said, voice steady, while Aoki waved frantically to stop one particularly aggressive reporter.
Shimada hissed under his breath, "They're going to misquote everything!"
Jin stepped forward, keeping his voice calm. "Thank you. The fight was hard, but Narumi was an excellent opponent. I couldn't have done it without my gym."
"Do you plan to use the Phantom Step in every fight?" one reporter pressed.
Jin hesitated. "It's not about the step. It's about trusting your feet and timing."
Aoki leaned over and whispered loudly, "Smile more! Fans love smiles!"
Jin shot him a side glance, lips twitching faintly. "Not sure smiling is the main strategy."
Kimura snorted. "He's humble… and awkward."
Through the chaos, the female lead appeared quietly in the corner, notebook in hand. She scribbled notes, occasionally peeking up at Jin with a faint smile. Jin caught her gaze for a second and gave the tiniest nod before returning to the reporters.
After what felt like an eternity, the questions finally tapered off. Jin stepped back, breathing slow, and leaned against the wall. He watched his friends handle the leftover reporters with exaggerated gestures, waving them off dramatically.
Shimada groaned. "I can't believe they called you a ghost. A ghost!"
Aoki shrugged. "It's catchy."
Jin laughed softly for the first time that day.
Once the reporters left, the gym quieted. Jin sat on the floor, hands resting on his knees. He looked at his wrapped fists, still slightly swollen, and realized the fight had given him more than a victory. It had given him recognition, respect, and, unexpectedly, a connection to everyone cheering—even from a distance.
The gym buzzed around him with chatter, laughter, and teasing. He let it wash over him.
The ring had been loud.
The gym was home.
And the world was just starting to notice.
END OF CHAPTER
Author's Note:
Huge thanks to TheBuns for the continued Power Stones support! 🙏
This chapter shows Jin's life outside the ring after his big win. If you enjoyed it, please comment, vote, and add it to your library — your support helps keep this story moving forward!
Next chapter: New Challengers & Training 🥊📘