Title fight or not, Ryohei leaves the gym in the late morning as usual. There is no extra roadwork, no request for additional pads, no lingering discussion with Sera about adjustments or strategy.
Nothing about his routine changes. He showers, changes, and walks out as if the sparring session from earlier has already slipped into the background.
Okabe walks beside him, hands shoved into his jacket pockets, their footsteps echoing lightly along the sidewalk. To anyone watching, they look like two fighters heading home after an ordinary day.
"Man…" Okabe exhales, tilting his head back. "That kid's getting way too full of himself lately."
Ryohei glances at him for only a second, and then looks straight ahead again.
"I mean, I don't hate that he became OPBF champion," Okabe continues. "Good for him and all. But honestly? I kinda hope he tastes defeat at least once. Just so he knows how bad it feels to be ordinary."
