One Pound Gospel (1ポンドの福音)

Kosaku, keep moving! Don't let him corner you!

I feel sick! I'm going to throw up!

What? You have a stomachahe?

It feels like it's going to explode.

You didn't pig-out after your weigh-in, did you?

No, of course not.

He did wander off, after his weigh-in.

I took a walk.

Are you sure you didn't go for food?

I swear!

Lord, I pledge my life and my service to you.

Lord, please grant me your strength.

I ask this to save the lost lambs of your flock, who have strayed.

My stomach is an empty pit.

Is that why I feel so dizzy?

What's wrong?

Please, try to hold on!

Hi!

Amazing!

In such a rich nation, who knew we still had starving people?

You collapsed from hunger, in a land of plenty?

Please, help yourself to our food.

Thank you, Lord.

You sent me this starving lamb who was at death's door.

Oh, no! Sister Angela!

You gave him something to eat?

Sister, I know you're new here, but --

We aren't supposed to feed him!

What's that supposed to mean?

Kosaka Hatanaka 19 years old Featherweight, six-rounder A pro boxer... More or less.

Sister Angela 21 years old A nun, in the service of God. Recently assigned to this parish. Has not yet faken her vows.

Kosaku! Kosaku!

Foul! Foul!

Kosaku!

Get up! Don't go down on a foul!

Yeah, but...

I've got to be strong!

I'm going to do it!

Kosaku!

Hatanaka! Keep moving!

Dammit!

Kosaku!

He lost it!

That moron!

No, it certainly wasn't YOUR fault!

He's the one to blame. Tell her, Ishida!

No, it's all my fault.

I was the one who tempted him. I gave him food before his fight.

And he'd been struggling so hard to lose weight.

I have committed a great sin.

Don't worry about it. I wasn't your fault.

He's to blame.

He's done it before, too. But this time, I won't forgive him!

This time, he can just go to hell!

If you hadn't fed him, he would have found some other feedbag.

You know, I used to think of him as my golden egg.

He's a natural at boxing.

I spotted him back when he was still in high school.

I convinced him to quit school, and train full-time in my gym.

I thought of him as my last, best hope.

At first, he had incredible luck.

He passed the Class-B pro boxing exam when he was only 17.

He debuted as a flyweight, and K.O.'d his opponent in Round 1.

Those were our salad days.

He was the first pro boxer my gym ever produced.

I was suddenly seduced by success.

But then...

On his next fight, he failed his weigh-in.

He threw up in the ring, like yesterday. He was knocked out.

He started going up in weight classes:

Bantam, Feather... and up and up.

Sister Angela, he hasn't had a single good fight since then!

Not one?

Not one!

Howdy!

Hi, I didn't know you were here. Did you see my fight yesterday?

Guess I didn't have a very good day.

I'll have to work extra hard on my next fight!

Your next fight?

You moron!

What makes you think you're going to have another fight?

Professional boxers don't puke in the ring!

What boxer would take you on now?

I could search the whole country and not come up with a match!

Doy you finally get it? You will NEVER enter the ring again!

I had your fights lined up for the rest of the year.

But they've all called in and canceled.

It's only natural.

I had a rotten fight. I shamed my coach.

But... if I only had one more chance! Then I'd show him!

Everything...

Everything begins with your efforts.

If you are truly dedicated, the Lord will be merciful to you.

May the Lord's blessing be upon you.

Sister!

Dedication, Kosaku.

I'll pray for you every day.

Take care, Kosaku.

Tyson! Tyson!

That's the spirit!

I'm sorry! I'm really sorry! Are you okay? Did I hurt you?

I'm not ranked, but I'm a pro boxer.

Uh, maybe we should go see a doctor...

Are you okay?

It WAS a great punch, though.

Tyson! Tyson!

So Kosaku, what WOULD you do, if you had another chance?

I'd do my best, naturally!

I'd lose weight, and never make the Coach cry again!

If you stick to a diet, you didn't have to starve before fight.

And that way, you stay in top condition.

What's wrong? Done already? You still have some left.

I'm on a diet.

Great! Everything depends on your efforts.

If you're dedicated, the Lord will be merciful to you.

Who told you that?

I'm not telling.

Coach!

I searched the restaurants to find you. And here you are.

You have one more chance!

Someone actually asked to fight you! But it's your last chance!

No more food!

Amakusa, I managed to line up that fight you wanted.

But Kosaku Hatanaka is the guy who puked in the ring.

This is your first fight after winning your Olympic medal.

Why do you want to fight such a loser?

No reason.

But what a waste, to see him thrown out of boxing.

A waste?

Yes, a waste!

Then you've met him?

No, I've never had the pleasure.

By the way, Amakusa, where'd you pick up that shiner?

I told you! I fell down!

Dammit, Coach! I must have told you a thousand times!

Retirement is too easy for the man who hit me!

I'll beat him to a pulp, and exile him from boxing forever!

Put some power into it!

Not last night but the night before...

I thought you were going to do your best!

I am, it's just that...

It's just what?

I'm talking to YOU, not your stomach!

You listen Kosaku, and listen good!

Screw up this time, and your life as a boxer is over forever!

I know that!

So, does it hurt yet?

It hurts!

That's because you're covered in fat!

I could work you down to Junior Bantam-Class!

I want to fight Middle-Class!

What was that?

FIGHT!

What's wrong, Kosaku?

I heard the voice of God!

What the hell?

It came from that bridge!

You fell asleep on me!

Lord, I'm so hungry!

Coach! Take a look at this!

He's still over the weight limit, but he IS losing weight.

This is great! He's finally getting serious!

Watch out!

Kosaku! That's too hard! Take it easy!

Tabuchi, I want to talk to you after practice.

That's the spirit!

Hey, Tabuchi, over here.

¥500?

Please!

They cut off all my money!

I'm training from dawn to dusk! I don't have time to do laundry.

I need to buy underwear. Just ¥500!

I'll pay you back in a month or two.

No way.

Why not?

You'll just buy food with it.

My whole life depends on this next fight!

Do you think I'd ruin my only chance?

I sure do. You have too many prior offenses.

I'll lend you my underwear.

It wouldn't even fit me!

Okay, fine!

Don't ask me to pull my punches anymore.

Kosaku!

My God! What's he thinking?

I really AM going to buy underwear!

Besides, what food could you buy with only ¥500?

A hamburger dinner plate is at least ¥650.

Chicken kabobs are ¥100 each! That would only buy me 5 sticks!

Hold on a second. I could have 5 sticks...

See you tomorrow. Bye-bye.

No, Akira! You have to keep your face clean.

Good work, Sister! Time to rest.

Yeah, I just bought coffee cake.

Oh, Mr. Hatanaka.

You want to make a confession?

I have to talk about this, or it will keep tormenting me.

I see. Put your faith in God. Now confess your sins.

What is it?

How are you doing?