Ippo Makunouchi wakes up one morning to discover he's become a girl—and he's not the only one. At the Kamogawa Boxing Gym, the entire crew has been transformed: Takamura is now a stunning beauty, and a frantic blonde researcher named Marie from Italy's Florence Institute of Curse Studies arrives with a confession. A cursed trophy in the gym's basement has unleashed a gender-reversal curse on everyone present, and Marie's power alone can't undo it. To break the curse, they must heal the "sorrow"
Hajime no Ippo: The Gender-Swap Curse Chaos - Despairing feminization progresses! Losing her voice, losing her comrades—can she still face forward?
Morning light cut thin stripes through the old wooden gym.
Ippo let out a small breath in front of the mirror.
Long black hair. Pale skin. A round face. In the mirror, as always, stood someone who looked like a girl.
"...Ah."
Ippo touched a hand to their throat. Tried to speak. Only air leaked out.
"Ah, ah..."
No voice. Yesterday, it had come out, hoarse but there. Today, nothing at all.
Ippo stared at their reflection.
Black hair reaching the shoulders. Softer contours than yesterday. Small, red lips. A girl, no matter how you looked at it.
(My voice... won't come out.)
Ippo clenched a fist.
(The curse is advancing.)
Something tightened deep in their chest.
Since the trophy was stolen, the changes had been accelerating.
Yesterday, Marie had said it:
"Distance yourself from the curse's source, and the progression accelerates."
(At this rate, I'll...)
Ippo looked away from the mirror.
---
In the center of the gym, Marie sat before an old black rotary phone.
Her long blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail. Her emerald eyes were red and swollen.
"Hello, Luca? It's me, Marie. ...Yes, that's right. ...Yeah, listen. ...The curse's source has been taken. ...Yes. ...And now the progression is accelerating. ...There's someone who can't speak anymore. ...Yes, it's my fault. ...If I had just done things properly. ...Yeah, yeah. ...Huh? ...A way to stop the progression? ...There isn't? ...I see. ...Current curse research hasn't established one. ...Understood. ...Thank you, Luca. ...I'll call again."
Marie set down the receiver and heaved a deep sigh.
Then she bowed her head, shoulders trembling.
"...I'm sorry. ...I'm so sorry, Ippo..."
Marie wept, stifling the sound.
Ippo lowered themselves to the floor beside her.
(Marie's crying.)
Ippo gently placed a hand on Marie's shoulder.
Marie lifted her face. It was a mess with tears.
"...Ippo. ...Because of me, I've put you through this. ...I'm truly sorry. ...I'm supposed to be a curse researcher. ...And I can't do anything. ...Nothing at all."
Ippo shook their head.
(It's not Marie's fault.)
That's what Ippo wanted to say. But no voice came.
Ippo picked up a training notepad nearby.
Pen flew across the page.
'It's not your fault, Marie. I'll search too.'
Ippo showed Marie the notepad.
Marie looked back and forth between Ippo's face and the page.
Then she started crying again.
"...Thank you, Ippo. ...Thank you. ...But I, I..."
Marie kept crying, sounds that weren't words.
Ippo patted her back gently.
(It's okay. I'll figure something out.)
Ippo murmured it in their heart.
But contrary to that resolve—
Deep in their chest, a black unease kept growing.
(No voice. Less strength than before. What can I do with a body like this?)
Ippo bit their lip.
---
"Ippo-kun!"
Kumi came running in through the gym entrance.
Her brown, shoulder-length hair swayed. Her gentle brown eyes fixed straight on Ippo.
"Ippo-kun, are you okay? You look pale. ...Oh, I brought this."
Kumi held out a notebook to Ippo.
A cute flower sticker was stuck on the cover.
"I heard from Marie that you can't speak. ...So, let's talk with this, okay? Because I want to talk with you lots, Ippo-kun."
Ippo took the notebook.
(Kumi...)
Ippo opened it and wrote with the pen.
'Thank you. But I might stay a girl forever.'
Ippo showed her the page.
Kumi's eyes went wide.
"...That's not true! You'll definitely turn back! I'll definitely get you back to normal! So don't give up!"
Tears welling, Kumi threw her arms around Ippo.
She held Ippo tight.
"...Ippo-kun. ...Ippo-kun."
Kumi's warm body heat seeped through.
Ippo gently wrapped an arm around her back.
(Kumi always cries for my sake.)
A warmth spread slowly through Ippo's chest.
But that was when it happened.
Kumi's heart gave a big, hard thump.
The softness of Ippo's girl's body. A sweet scent.
Kumi was bewildered by a feeling she hadn't even noticed in herself.
(Wh-what is this? ...Ippo-kun's body is so soft, and smells so good. ...What am I thinking?)
Kumi's face went bright red.
Ippo didn't notice the change in her.
They were simply saved by that warmth.
---
It was that night.
Brrrrrrrrrrrring!!!
The gym's black phone rang shrilly.
Ippo's shoulders jumped.
(...That phone again.)
Ippo approached the black phone.
Picked up the receiver.
"...Hello."
No voice. Only air leaking out.
"...Oh? No voice, is that it? ...Well, fine. ...If you want the trophy, come alone to the abandoned warehouse on the riverbed tomorrow night. ...Bring anyone with you, and the trophy gets smashed to pieces. ...Understood?"
The man said only that, then hung up without waiting for a reply.
Tuu, tuu, tuu...
The hollow tone droned from the receiver.
Ippo stood frozen, gripping it.
---
"Ippo, what's wrong?"
Kimura noticed something off and hurried over.
Ippo wrote in the notepad.
'Come alone to the abandoned warehouse on the riverbed tomorrow night. Bring anyone and the trophy gets smashed.'
"...What!?"
Kimura's expression changed.
"...It's a trap! It's obviously a trap!"
Aoki shouted.
Ippo wrote again.
'But if I don't go, I can't get the trophy back. I'll go.'
"...Ippo, you're planning to go alone?"
Takamura stared hard at Ippo.
Ippo met his eyes.
And nodded firmly.
"...You idiot! It's obviously dangerous! I'm going too!"
Takamura's voice rose.
Ippo shook their head.
Wrote in the notepad.
'If you come, Takamura-san, they might destroy the trophy. I'll go alone.'
"...Then I'll follow you secretly. ...That works, right?"
Takamura gripped Ippo's shoulder.
"...I'll wait nearby too. ...If anything happens, I'll come running immediately."
Marie stood beside Ippo.
"...Ippo-kun, I'm going too. ...I absolutely won't leave you alone."
Kumi squeezed Ippo's hand tight.
Ippo looked around at everyone's faces.
Then wrote in the notepad.
'Thank you. But it's okay. I'll go alone.'
Ippo wrote that, and bowed deeply to everyone.
---
The following night.
Moonlight painted the surface of the Kamo River silver.
Ippo walked alone toward the abandoned warehouse on the riverbed.
The riverbed was quiet.
Only the sound of wind rustling the grass.
(...Here it is.)
Ippo stood before the warehouse.
An old tin-plated shed.
The door was half open.
Ippo took a deep breath and stepped inside.
It was pitch black.
A musty smell hung in the air.
"...So you came."
A low male voice came from the darkness.
Ippo braced.
The man slowly emerged.
A thin man in a black coat.
"...Hoh. ...You really came alone. ...I'm impressed. ...So, where's the trophy? ...Ah, right. ...You can't speak, can you."
The man spoke mockingly.
Ippo pulled out the notepad and wrote.
'Please give the trophy back.'
The man looked at the notepad and laughed.
"...Give it back, you say. ...How stupid. ...That's mine now. ...It's got nothing to do with you. ...Besides, what can you do with that body? ...No voice, no strength, a woman's body. ...You think you can defy me?"
The man stepped closer.
Ippo backed away.
"...What can a frail woman like you do to me? ...The trophy's already been moved somewhere else. ...It's none of your concern anymore. ...Now, go home. ...Or would you rather play with me a while?"
The man grabbed Ippo's arm.
Ippo tried to shake free.
But in a woman's body, no strength came.
"...Don't resist. ...Be a good girl and stay still."
The man tried to drag Ippo out of the warehouse.
(Bastard... let go!)
Ippo struggled desperately.
But the man's strength was overwhelming.
Ippo was thrown to the ground.
"...So you were inside the barrier. ...I see. ...That's why you're so weak. ...But it's over now. ...I'll drag you outside the barrier. ...Then your curse will advance even further. ...Amusing, isn't it?"
The man grabbed Ippo's hair and dragged them.
Ippo let out a soundless scream.
(Someone... help!)
Ippo cried out in their heart.
That was when it happened.
"What are you doing?"
A cold voice rang out.
The man froze.
Turned.
There stood Miyata—feminized.
Straight black hair to the shoulders. Narrow, dark eyes. A cool, beautiful face.
"...Who the hell are you? ...Don't interfere. ...This is between me and this woman."
The man glared at Miyata.
"Let go of her."
Miyata spoke quietly.
"...What?"
"Didn't you hear me? I said let go of her."
Miyata looked at Ippo.
"...Ippo, are you all right?"
Ippo looked at Miyata's face.
(Miyata...)
Tears spilled over.
"...Hoh. ...Ippo, you say? ...So you're Makunouchi Ippo. ...The boxer who turned into a woman. ...Interesting. ...But you're in a woman's body too. ...I'll take you both on at once."
The man released Ippo and turned to face Miyata.
"...Are you underestimating boxing?"
Miyata quietly took his stance.
"...Even in a woman's body, a boxer is a boxer. ...Come."
The man lunged at Miyata.
Miyata slipped it lightly.
And countered.
Thwack!
Miyata's left straight drove into the man's face.
"...Gwah!"
The man staggered.
"...Even in a woman's body, I can throw a punch. ...Did you learn your lesson?"
Miyata said it coldly.
The man glared at Miyata, frustrated.
"...Damn you. ...You'll pay for this!"
With that, the man fled into the darkness.
---
Miyata rushed to Ippo's side.
"...Ippo, can you stand?"
Supported by Miyata, Ippo got to their feet.
(Miyata saved me.)
Ippo wrote in the notepad.
'Thank you, Miyata. You saved me.'
Miyata looked at the notepad.
Then stared hard at Ippo's face.
"...Ippo. ...You've gotten cuter than before."
For a moment, Ippo didn't understand what had been said.
(...Huh?)
Ippo's face went bright red.
Protesting with a voiceless voice.
"Ah, ah...!"
Miyata gave a small laugh.
"...Just kidding. ...But I'm glad you're safe."
Miyata spoke with a serious expression.
Ippo's eyes welled at his words.
(Miyata...)
Ippo wrote in the notepad.
'It looks like the trophy's been moved somewhere else.'
"...I see. ...Then I'll search too. ...Don't carry this alone."
Miyata clapped Ippo's shoulder.
Ippo looked at Miyata's face.
(Miyata said he'll search too...)
A warmth spread slowly through Ippo's chest.
The two began searching the warehouse.
Then, in a corner, a scrap of paper lay on the floor.
Ippo picked it up.
'The trophy has been moved elsewhere. If you want to find it, meet my business partner. I'll contact you with the location later.'
That's what it said.
Ippo showed the note to Miyata.
"...A business partner, huh. ...Then we wait. ...Ippo, you're not weak. ...Even without a voice, even without strength, you're still you. ...The boxer, Makunouchi Ippo."
Miyata looked straight into Ippo's eyes.
Ippo took courage from his words.
Wiped their tears and nodded firmly.
---
Just then, Marie, Takamura, and Kumi came running.
"Ippo!"
"Ippo! You okay!"
"Ippo-kun!"
The three confirmed Ippo was safe and let out relieved expressions.
Ippo wrote in the notepad.
'Miyata saved me.'
"...I see. ...Miyata, thanks."
Takamura said to Miyata.
Miyata looked away, embarrassed.
"...It's nothing. ...I just happened to be passing by."
"...But thank you. ...Miyata-san."
Marie bowed deeply to Miyata.
"...Ippo-kun, thank goodness. ...Really, thank goodness."
Kumi clung to Ippo.
Ippo gently patted her back.
(Thank you, everyone.)
Ippo murmured it in their heart.
But the trophy still wasn't back.
Still no voice.
Still a girl's body.
Ippo looked up at the sky.
Moonlight painted Ippo's long black hair silver.
(I'm not giving up yet.)
Ippo clenched a fist.
That hand was still small, still trembling.
But those eyes looked straight ahead.
Wind swept across the riverbed.
The grass rustled.
With a new clue in their heart.
Ippo and the others' battle was far from over.
Marie gently took the scrap of paper from Ippo's hand.
"...So this is the clue."
Marie's fingers pinched the edge of the paper. They were trembling.
"...We just have to wait?"
Kumi's voice shrank.
Ippo nodded.
Opened the notepad
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