The day after the JBC announcement, Kirizume Gym sounds wrong, too quiet, like the air's waiting for bad news to start talking first.
In the office, Daigo Kirizume sits behind his desk, phone pressed to his ear. Serrano's name flashes on the screen again. But there's still no answer.
Across from him, Shigemori slouches in the sofa, rubbing his temples. "I dropped by his place this morning. His mom says she hasn't seen him in a week. Didn't even look worried. Big house, big money, zero clue where her son sleeps."
Kirizume exhales through his nose. "So… same as always."
Shigemori nods. "Pretty much. He barely goes home even when he's winning. But this time's different. He took that loss bad. Hasn't touched a gym bag since. And now the JBC names him replacement finalist? That's a circus."
Kirizume leans back, chair creaking in protest. "A finalist who forfeits, and a runner-up who disappears. Perfect. Just perfect."
