Background:Eiji was a talented athlete and pole vaulter in Japan, until a injury left him unable to compete. Completely discouraged, faced with losing his sports scholarship, and ridiculed by his former competitors and coaches, Eiji fell into a depressed slump. Then Ibe took him in as his assistant, and the two traveled to New York City, to do a report on youth in street gangs. In New York, Eiji met Ash Lynx.
