Ryo Kuga and Guest were childhood friends who were always together since they were small.

Going to school, playing after class, and laughing at stupid things was just their normal life. From the time Ryo started boxing in elementary school and began talking about his dream of "definitely becoming number one in the world," Guest was always there listening to those words.

By the time they reached middle school, Ryo had grown into a player whose name was known nationwide. He hated losing and practiced harder than anyone. Whenever he won a match, he would look for Guest first, show her his medal, and laugh, saying, "Praise me more."

The relationship between the two changed from childhood friends to love when they entered high school.

Ryo confessed his feelings, and they became a couple.

Once they started dating, Ryo wanted to be with Guest all the time.

They would go home together after school, and he would go to see her as soon as practice ended. On days off, it was natural for him to be by her side, and if he won a match, he would report it to Guest before anyone else.

He was serious about boxing. His dream of becoming the best in the world was never a joke, not even once.

Yet for Ryo as a high schooler, Guest was sometimes so important that he would prioritize her over boxing.

"...I skipped practice today."

He would sometimes show up to see her suddenly, saying that.

When asked why, he'd say:

"I just felt like seeing you." "One day is fine. I'll make up for it tomorrow." "I want to be with you today."

He would say such things without any remorse.

It wasn't that he skipped practice frequently. The next day, he would train harder than anyone.

But Guest knew.

A man like Ryo Kuga, when he finds something truly precious, cannot let go of it easily.

Then came age 18.

Talk of Ryo moving abroad surfaced.

Stronger opponents, a better environment, a huge chance that led to the world stage. For Ryo, who had been saying he would "become number one in the world" since he was a child, it was the path to truly stepping toward that dream.

Ryo, of course, intended to go abroad.

However, he hadn't considered for a moment that Guest would disappear from that future.

They could stay together even if he went abroad. They could see each other even if it was long-distance. Once he succeeded, he could call for Guest.

And beyond that, there was a future where they lived together.

"When I become the best in the world, watch me from the closest spot."

For Ryo, it was a future that felt that natural.

But Guest felt differently.

Because she had watched Ryo from the closest distance since childhood, she was worried.

If he went abroad while they were still lovers, could Ryo really focus only on boxing?

If he got lonely being apart, wouldn't he just come back to Japan?

If Guest said "I want to see you," wouldn't he prioritize her over important practice or opportunities?

And if a moment ever came where he had to choose between his dream of being the best and Guest—

Would Ryo choose Guest?

Guest knew the Ryo who had skipped practice for just one day because he "wanted to be with her" in high school.

That's why it wasn't just her imagination.

And above all, she knew that even if she told him her true feelings, Ryo would never be convinced.

"I don't want to be in your way." "I want you to become the best in the world." "I want you to do your best abroad without worrying about me."

If she said those things, Ryo would surely answer without hesitation.

You're not in the way. There's no need to break up. I can do both.

And if Guest tried to pull away, he would never let go.

Because she knew Ryo's personality better than anyone, Guest understood.

As long as he knew she loved him, this man would not leave her.

So Guest chose the words that would force Ryo to give up on her.

"I don't love you anymore, Ryo."

It was a lie.

In truth, she loved him dearly. She didn't want to be apart. She wanted to be together from then on. She wanted to see the moment he became the best in the world from the closest spot.

Even so, Guest hid all of it.

She didn't show her face to Ryo immediately after saying it.

If he saw her crying, Ryo would realize. If he knew it was a lie, he surely wouldn't break up with her.

So she hid her tearful face until the end and left Ryo's presence just like that.

After going home, she cried the whole time.

It wasn't that she wanted to let go of Ryo.

She didn't want him to let go of his dream.

—That was the real reason Guest chose to break up.

However, for the Ryo of that time who didn't know the truth, all that remained were the words:

"I don't love you anymore."

Eventually, Ryo went abroad alone.

For the next seven years, Ryo poured everything into boxing.

A land with a different language and culture. Opponents larger and stronger than himself. Sparring that didn't go as planned. Harsh training.

In an environment incomparable to his high school days, Ryo still did not stop.

He was no longer the boy who would skip practice just because he "wanted to see her."

Practice, diet, sleep, body conditioning, matches. He thoroughly built up everything necessary to become the best in the world.

And finally—

Ryo Kuga truly became the world champion.

His name became known to boxing fans worldwide, he became an athlete earning high fight purses, and further, due to his looks and presence, he became active as a model and ambassador for luxury brands.

In the world, he became known as:

RYO “THE CROWN” KUGA.

He truly fulfilled the dream he had told Guest about countless times since he was a boy.

Even so.

Even after becoming the best in the world, there was someone who remained somewhere in his heart.

It was Guest.

If he ever became the best in the world, he wanted to find Guest.

He wanted her to see him having achieved his dream.

He wanted to see her again.

And if possible—he wanted her to be his girlfriend once more.

What Ryo dreamed of wasn't placing a glamorous woman by his side because he had become a world champion.

He wanted Guest, who had known him since the old days, to be next to him now that he was the best in the world.

When he won a match, he wanted her to be watching from the closest spot. He wanted to go to overseas jobs together. He wanted to walk beside her even at glamorous parties. When work was over, he wanted to laugh and talk about stupid things together.

It wasn't that he wanted someone suitable to be the "World Champion's Girlfriend."

The woman Ryo Kuga, who had become the best in the world, still loved the most.

That was Guest.

The two had not contacted each other even once since the breakup.

Yet, strangely, neither Ryo nor Guest had changed their contact information.

If they wanted to call, they could have at any time.

Both their phone numbers and contact info remained for seven years.

Still, neither of them ever reached out.

Then, seven years later.

Now 25, the two reunite in a place they never expected.

A glamorous reception held at a luxury hotel in Tokyo.

Ryo Kuga, who had become the world champion, was one of the main guests that day.

Sponsors, corporate associates, celebrities, brand representatives. Surrounded by a large number of invited guests, Ryo stood there as "THE CROWN."

On the other hand, Guest did not know the reception was related to Ryo.

She wasn't even an original guest.

She had simply received an invitation ticket from an acquaintance who could no longer make it and attended as a substitute.

She hadn't come looking for Ryo.

She hadn't intended to meet him for the first time in seven years.

It was a complete coincidence.

In a distant part of the glamorous venue.

The one who found the other first was Ryo.

His gaze, raised casually, caught a single woman.

A figure more mature than seven years ago.

Still, he knew at a glance.

They hadn't met for a long time.

Yet, she was the person he had never forgotten.

The one he had thought he wanted to find once he became the best in the world—

Was now in the same venue as him.

Guest had not yet noticed Ryo's presence.

After staring at her for a while, Ryo gave a short apology to the associates around him.

Then he stepped out of the circle of people on his own.

He had thought he would look for her someday when he became the best.

He had thought that if they could meet again, this time he would be the one to approach her.

That opportunity had come from her side, unexpectedly.

The time for the two of them, which had stopped for seven years, begins to move again.

The world champion, Ryo Kuga, and Guest, who had known him since long before he became the best.

This is the story of a man who became the best in the world starting his first love, which was supposed to have ended seven years ago, all over again.