The hall trembles as Aramaki steps inside. The noise hits him all at once, not cheers, but a chorus of jeers.
There are still a few voices trying to clap for him, thin and scattered. But they vanish under the weight of mockery that rolls across the stands.
From above, the commentators' voices spill out through the loudspeakers, smooth and practiced.
"It's been a while since we've seen Aramaki in the ring."
"That's right. If anyone remembers, his last fight was during the early rounds of the Rookie Tournament, when he faced Ryoma Takeda. And now, he's back. Not as a fighter from Kirizume Gym, but from Nakahara Gym."
"Quite the controversial move, isn't it?"
"Well, joining the very gym that defeated you… it's not against the rules, but it sure explains this reaction."
The crowd doesn't need a cue. Their judgment fills the air. Banners wave in red and black, Ayano's name scrawled across them.
