The time for the meet up at the arena slowly approached, with spectators already beginning to gather despite the delayed start time. The energy around the resort was palpable as people prepared to witness what promised to be an exceptional final match.
Thirty minutes before the scheduled bout, Noah received an unexpected call from Ichigo. Seeing his former opponent's name on the phone screen brought a smile to his face.
"Ichigo! How are you feeling?" Noah asked immediately upon answering. He had given Ichigo the bread to help him heal, and he wasn't sure about the effects it had on him yet.
"I'm doing great, actually," Ichigo replied, his tone surprisingly upbeat for someone who had been hospitalized just days earlier. "Much better than I expected when they first rushed me to the hospital. The doctors here are really good."
"That's such a relief to hear," Noah said with obvious sincerity. Noah didn't expand on it, he didn't need to remind Ichigo about his loss to Kenzo.
