First Step

Sometimes finding a worthy motivation to engage in sports can be quite challenging. Perhaps this is why more and more stories about athletes and their achievements are being released. The anime First Step Season 4, the release date of which remains unknown, tells the story of what heights in sports can be achieved if one sincerely desires it.
Plot of the series
Ippo is a high school student. He is characterized by shyness and a lack of confidence in his own abilities. This is why he often gets picked on by other students. Recently, he has been particularly unlucky. A real gang has formed at his school, and they always choose weaker boys as their victims. For this reason, the hero soon falls into their sights. The situation is further aggravated by the fact that he has no friends who could stand up for him or provide the necessary help. He has no companions at all. The reason for this is that the young man dedicates almost all his free time to helping his mother. She runs a fishing business, but the family barely makes ends meet.
Recently, it has become increasingly difficult for the woman to catch fish. She is not only aging but has also been diagnosed with a serious illness, so she needs to rest as much as possible. However, she has no time to rest, as she must also manage the household. But she cannot completely give up work either. She needs to provide for her son, who is soon to graduate from school and enter university.
One day, bullies ambushed him after school and beat him up brutally. He sustained serious injuries and could have died if not for the intervention of a mysterious man. The enigmatic stranger quickly chased off the bullies. It turned out that he is a professional boxer, so he can stand up for himself. To treat the unfortunate boy's wounds, the savior took him to a sports center. It belonged to his friend, and it was completely safe there. This is where the person who saved Ippo from the gang of bullies trained.
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When he came to his senses, the hero realized what a terrible situation he was in. He knew that the beatings would not stop there. Moreover, they would likely become even more brutal. The coach noticed that the young man was in a state of stress, so, wanting to cheer him up a bit, he suggested venting all his emotions on the boxing bag. This is how the hero's acquaintance with the sport of boxing begins. Gradually, his interest in training grows, and he even decides to start training seriously. The coach gladly agrees to help him and takes on his training.
Main characters
Ippo Makunouchi – a quiet boy who is often bullied at school because the bullies know he will never complain. He is forced to grow up very early to help his mother provide for the family. One day he is beaten by gangsters and decides to put an end to the bullying by becoming a boxer.
Umezawa – a school bully who managed to gather like-minded individuals and organize a real gang. He often picks on the weak. He is the one who, along with his accomplices, beat up the hero.
Mamoru Takamura – a professional boxer who is Ippo's savior. He became the person the young man looked up to and wanted to change for.
Genji Kamogawa – the coach who first saw the potential in the newcomer.