Two months after their first sparring session, the empty lot near Lincoln High hummed with disciplined energy. Date's self-defense crew was no longer a collection of fearful misfits; they were a disciplined unit, their resilience forged in the crucible of their intense new regimen. Date, the 5'5", 62 kg master of explosive movement, had instilled his training philosophy—rooted in his own relentless 100-rep routine—into the eight students.
"If you can control the burn," Date instructed one evening, his own voice tight as he drilled his ghost jab, "you can control your fear."
The students embraced the grind, training five days a week for 45 minutes to build their foundation. They powered through 50 Push-Ups in sets of ten, building upper-body strength. Hana and Yumi, once shaky, now hit full sets with steady, strong form. For core stability, they did 50 Bicycle Crunches, the burn echoing Date's intense liver blow training. Aiko and Toshiro tightened their abs, feeling the functional strength that fueled their swift movements.
Forging Strength and Focus
Leg power was critical for their low kicks and escape sprints. They performed 50 Squats, with Riku, the stocky student, leading the sets. His legs, once a source of shame, were now strong pistons. Sora's balance and shy steps improved dramatically, finding confidence in his grounded stance.
Grip strength, vital for breaking free from harassment, was tested using a sturdy pipe in the lot for five sets of 1-Minute Hanging Bar drills. Emi, who'd previously struggled, could now hold the full minute, her hands calloused but ready for any wrist escape.
For agility, they drilled 10 Minutes of Jump Rope (or mimicked the motion), boosting footwork. Yumi's sprint-ready speed and Sora's rhythmic balance sharpened, borrowing from the rhythm of Date's flash step.
The final ten minutes were dedicated to Shadowboxing. They drilled light jabs, palm strikes, and low kicks to refine technique. Kenji and Aiko worked on combining strikes and defense, their movements mirroring the smoother, faster pace of a seasoned fighter.
"My arms don't burn; they just obey now," Kenji remarked one day after completing his push-ups, celebrating by delivering a palm strike that hit the old tire with a force that made it rattle. His glasses, once a target, now framed his intense focus.
Hana's front kicks consistently toppled the tire stack. "It's like Ryo never happened," she told Sora, her confidence a quiet, fierce fire.
Toshiro, once scrawny, now had density in his core. "I actually have abs now," he grinned, showing Date. "I don't just dodge; I snap back."
Their bonds grew tighter with every shared set. The lot was no longer just a training ground—it was where they became fearless, their collective strength pushing back against the lingering shadows of Rewan's crew.
Date's Next Challenge: The Need for Power
While his students flourished, Date knew he couldn't afford complacency. Rewan's initial defeat had alerted the area's wrong crowd to his presence, and the gang recruiter, Jin, was still circling.
Date's old Muay Thai neighbor had warned him: "Your flash step and rolls are fast, Daisuke. But you can't rely on speed forever. The bigger guys, the pros... they hit where you can't dodge. You need an answer."
Date understood. Against a truly professional heavy-hitter from the underground circuit Jin ran, speed might not be enough. He needed more power, and a defensive technique that could handle a relentless assault.
Driven by the need to protect his students and stay out of Jin's corrupt orbit, Date doubled his personal regimen in secret. He focused on power generation and unbreakable defense. He began studying the techniques of seasoned professional boxers, focusing on how to absorb punishment and counter with devastating force—a new level of discipline that would demand even more from his 17% body fat frame. The fight to stay clean and keep his crew safe was about to become the fight of his life.