RRR
Iwamaki Rikitarou is a free man. He’s got no ties or obligations to hold him down, nothing to stop him from determining his own way of life, and that’s the way he likes it. Except… his girlfriend wants to break up with him, his bandmates don’t respect him, and with no accomplishments to his name, he’s just hit twenty seven, the age at which several of his musical idols died, and also the age at which Oishi Raita, the Japanese international boxing champion, has just announced his retirement. Feeling the pressure to make something of himself, Rikitarou decides to muster up his commitment and go professional with his band.
Meanwhile, Oishi Raita has pitched a reality tv show to a studio, which will chronicle the trials of boxing amateurs as he trains them up to challenge the pro test. The studio snaps up the idea, all they need now are some interesting amateurs to drive the first season.
The premise of the manga promises that their lives will intersect, but it’ll take a twist of fate, as well as some personal tragedy, to see it come to fruition.
- A Lady on Each Arm: Ren.
- Affably Evil: From Iwamaki's brief conversation with him, Asahina Ren seemed like a pretty cool guy to hang with, albeit completely reckless and a shameless playboy, but that all changes in Chapter 87, when he verbally confirmed that he's the one responsible for the death of Rikitarou's sister and the fact that he has no remorse for doing so.
- Berserk Button: Hurting Aozora, for Rikitarou.
- Camp Gay: Tamejiri, the band promoter.
- Curb Stomp Battle: Raita vs. Moritaka, and in turn, Moritaka at his pro test.
- Determinator: Rikitarou, when he's backed into a corner.
- Diving Save: Rikitarou to Aozora.
- Education Papa: Moritaka comes from a long line of doctors, and his father insists he keep up the tradition.
- Groin Attack: Used twice by Rikitarou, once in his first sparring match, and once in a street fight.
- Heroic Resolve: Used repeatedly, but subverted in the first chapter when an extremely drunk Rikitarou pulls himself together from the beating he's taking and commits to fighting back with everything he has, throws his best punch, and projectile vomits on his opponent.
- I Am Not Left-Handed: The reason why Rikitarou is considered to be a boxer with much potential is the fact that he's capable of performing "switch-boxing", that is, to switch fighting styles at a rapid rate.
- Jerkass: Moritaka and Kamiyama start off as this, but it's justified once they are given a proper backstory.
- Promotion to Parent
- Reality TV: How Rikitarou gets his start in boxing.
- Training from Hell: Rikitarou and Moritaka go through one in order to get ready to pass the boxing pro test.
- Would Hit a Girl: Moritaka.