The next morning, Ryoma pushes open the gym doors, and there he is again. Satoru Fumihiro, the overeager high schooler, standing right by the entrance like a puppy waiting.
"Good morning, Senpai!" He bows deeply, grinning before Ryoma even steps inside.
And this time, he's brought company. Two boys Ryoma hasn't seen before. They don't look like thugs the way Kobo's crew did. If anything, they look like nerds who stumbled into the wrong building. Ryoma doubts either has the frame for boxing.
Satoru gestures proudly. "Hey, you guys! This is Ryoma Takeda. You probably never met him before, but he represented our school at Interhigh. Won gold… twice."
The two spring into action, snapping into stiff bows with voices that nearly echo off the walls.
"Good morning, sir! I'm Yahiro, class 1-B, Kamisaka High!"
"My name is Furuse, same class! Please take care of us!"
Ryoma says nothing. His expression stays flat, unreadable, but suspicion flickers in his eyes.
