The Boxing System: I Became the King of the Ring-Chapter 15: December Shift

"Don’t puke in the snow, rookie."

Tommy’s breath came out in white puffs as they hit the five-mile mark. December air cut through their thin hoodies. The streets were empty except for delivery trucks and early shift workers heading to subway stations.

Javier’s legs moved steady now. Months of training had built something in his body that wasn’t there before. Muscle memory. Endurance. The kind of strength that came from showing up every day when your body screamed no.

"I’m not gonna puke," Tommy gasped, but his face looked green around the edges.

"Good. Miguel said "if you throw up on his shoes again, you’re cleaning the gym bathrooms."

They rounded the corner toward the recreation center. Five miles done. Neither of them had managed that distance in October. Now it was routine.

Vicente jogged beside them, ghostly form unaffected by the cold. "Your friend’s getting stronger. Took him long enough."

"He’s trying," Javier replied under his breath.

"Good. Keep pushing him. He’ll need it tomorrow."

Back at Marcus Garvey, the group home kitchen smelled like burnt coffeet. Mrs. Rodriguez stood over scrambled eggs that looked like yellow rubber.

"More eggs," Javier said, holding out his tray.

"Again?" Mrs. Rodriguez sighed, but dumped another scoop onto his plate without argument. She’d stopped questioning the extra portions months ago.

Tommy did the same. They’d learned to eat everything put in front of them.

"Carlos, are you ready for Sunday’s game?" Kevin asked from across the table.

"Ready as I can be," Carlos replied, cutting into his toast. "Coach says we have a real shot at making the playoffs if we win."

"That’s big," David said. "The whole school’s gonna be there."

"No pressure," Carlos laughed nervously.

"Are you nervous?" Tommy asked.

"A little bit. But good nervous, you know?"

"Yeah, I know that feeling," Javier said.

Kevin grabbed the syrup bottle. "Man, these pancakes taste like cardboard."

"Everything here tastes like cardboard," David added. "Except Mrs. Rodriguez’s cookies."

"Those are store-bought," Mrs. Rodriguez called from the kitchen.

"Still good though," Kevin grinned.

**************

School meant final exams and holiday energy. Students clustered in hallways, comparing answers and making winter break plans. The building buzzed with freedom just hours away.

"Mr. Restrepo," Ms. Peterson called as he walked past her classroom. "Your history final - ninety-three percent. Well done."

"Thanks."

"Your focus has really improved this semester. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up."

Javier nodded and kept walking. Boxing had given him discipline that spilled over into everything else.

Tommy appeared at his locker, waving his math test. "Eighty-seven percent. Dr. Vasquez is gonna be so happy."

"Not bad for a future brain injury patient," Javier said with a grin.

"Hey, I’m gonna be a smart brain injury patient."

The final bell rang. Students flooded the hallways, shouting about parties and vacation plans. Javier gathered his books, ready to head to the gym.

"Javier!"

Three girls approached him at his locker. Leila Rodriguez, Anaya Singh, and Ashley Williams. All of them carried wrapped packages.

"We got you something," Leila said, holding out a small box. "For the holidays."

Javier took the package, surprised. "You didn’t have to..."

"Open it," Anaya interrupted.

Inside was a pair of athletic wristbands. Good ones, not the cheap kind from the school store. They felt expensive.

"For training," Ashley explained. "We know you’re really serious about boxing."

"These are nice. Thank you."

"We’ll miss you over break," Leila said, stepping closer. Her hand touched his arm. "Maybe we could hang out sometime? Go to a movie or something?"

Anaya moved to his other side. "Yeah, we hardly see you anymore. Always rushing off to the gym."

"I could try," Javier said. "Training’s pretty intense though."

"We know," Ashley said. "It shows. You look really... different."

The girls lingered, talking about holiday plans and asking what he was doing over break. Their attention felt strange but not unwelcome. He wasn’t used to this kind of interest from anyone at school.

From across the corridor, a group of boys watched with obvious irritation.

"Look at Javier over there," one of them said loud enough to carry. "Getting all the attention."

"Man’s got muscle now and thinks he’s special," another added.

"Before school starts again, I’m gonna be built too," the first boy declared. "Hit the gym every day over break. Show these girls what real strength looks like."

His friends laughed. "You? At the gym? You get tired walking up the stairs."

"Just watch me."

The girls eventually left, but not before Leila squeezed his arm again. "Don’t forget about us over break, okay?"

After they walked away, Tommy appeared at his side, already unwrapping one of the candy bars from Leila’s gift bag.

"Nice," he said, taking a bite. "You’re like a celebrity now."

"It’s weird."

"Yeah, but you like it though, right?"

"Just weird."

They headed toward the exit. The attention felt hollow somehow. These girls barely knew him. They liked what they saw on the surface - the muscle, the confidence, the idea of dating a fighter. But they’d never seen him at five AM, throwing up after his first run. They’d never watched him get his nose bloodied during sparring or heard him cry in the shower afterward.

Vicente materialized beside them as they walked. "Fame’s always been like that. People fall in love with the image, not the person."

"I’m not famous," Javier muttered.

"You’re famous in this building. The same principle applies."

Tommy shouldered his backpack. "Break starts, but no sleeping in. Miguel said we’re doing extra conditioning this week."

"I wouldn’t dream of it."

**************

Gleason’s Gym had holiday lights strung along the walls, but the atmosphere remained serious. Fighters moved through their routines with the same intensity as any other day. Christmas didn’t stop training. If anything, it made them work harder.

"Looking sharp," Danny called out as Javier hit the heavy bag. "Your combination work’s getting crisp."

The bag thundered under his punches. Jab, cross, hook, uppercut. Each strike landed clean and purposeful. The repetition had built something in his hands that felt natural now.

[HEAVY BAG SKILL: 51.3/100] flashed in his peripheral vision.

[STRENGTH +0.1] appeared as he threw a particularly hard cross that made the chain rattle.

Tommy worked the double-end bag nearby, his timing finally starting to sync with the rhythm. The bag snapped back and forth as he found his range.

"Better," Miguel said, watching Tommy’s footwork. "You’re not chasing the bag anymore."

"Way easier now," Tommy panted.

"That’s what consistent training does. Builds neural pathways."

Javier moved to the speed bag next. The leather sphere bounced in a steady rhythm as his fists found their timing. Left, right, left, right. The sound filled the gym like a drumbeat.

[SPEED +0.1]

[TECHNIQUE +0.1]

"Keep your elbows up," Danny advised, watching Javier’s form. "Let the bag do the work. You’re just redirecting its energy."

The rhythm became hypnotic. Javier’s breathing synced with the bag’s movement. His shoulders relaxed as muscle memory took over.

After the speed bag came mitt work with Miguel. The trainer held up padded targets while Javier threw combinations on command.

"Jab-cross-hook!" Miguel called out.

Javier’s hands moved automatically. Three clean strikes hit the mitts with satisfying pops.

[JAB +0.1] [Current: 67.4/100]

[CROSS +0.1] [Current: 61.6/100]

[HOOK +0.1] [Current: 58.3/100]

"Double jab, right uppercut!"

The combination flowed naturally. Javier’s feet moved with his punches, maintaining perfect balance throughout the sequence.

[FOOTWORK +0.1] [Current: 63.2/100]

[TECHNIQUE +0.1]

"Excellent," Miguel said, lowering the mitts. "Your timing’s getting sharp. Ready for defense drills?"

Miguel threw slow punches while Javier practiced slipping and blocking. Left slip, right slip, parry the jab, block the hook. Each defensive movement felt more natural than the last.

[DEFENSE +0.1] [Current: 59.4/100]

[SPEED +0.1]

"Good," Miguel said, lowering his hands. "You’re getting the hang of it."

Vicente appeared beside the ring, nodding approvingly. "Not bad, kid. Defense keeps you alive."

The final drill was shadowboxing. Javier moved around the gym, throwing combinations at invisible opponents. His reflection in the mirror showed improved form - tighter guard, better footwork, more fluid movement.

[TECHNIQUE +0.1]

[ENDURANCE +0.1] [Current: 71.3/100]

He was finally seeing the changes he wanted but it might not be enough yet for the tournament that was getting nearer and nearer day by day.