The red corner greets Ryoma with energy, but he doesn't return it. Of course, it would've been perfect if Aramaki had stayed down. But fights rarely go the way you want.
"It's a shame," Nakahara says, steady but firm. "Still, you dropped him twice. You owned the first round too. Last until the end, and this match is yours."
"Well… if I can last that long." Ryoma's voice carries a sharp edge of doubt.
Nakahara blinks. "What's wrong? Did he catch you? I didn't see him land anything clean."
Ryoma shakes his head, but the worry won't leave his face. His eyes flick toward Nakahara, as if words hover on his lips but refuse to surface.
"Something on your mind?" Nakahara presses, leaning closer. "Say it. Nobody knows your body better than you."
Ryoma exhales, shuts his eyes a moment, then lets it out.
"Maybe I'm just overthinking… but in sparring with Ryohei and Okabe, I never lasted four full rounds."
