That thought lingers with Kenta a little longer. Not quitting isn't enough. Not when people have put their trust in him, when they've looked at him and expected something more than just effort. That kind of belief demands something real in return.
His mind settles on his next opponent almost naturally: Marvin Dela Cruz.
Kenta steps away from the noise and crouches beside his bag, unzipping it before pulling out his phone. He scrolls through a familiar folder, then taps one of the saved clips, and the video plays.
On screen, Dela Cruz barrels forward, cutting off the ring with steady, aggressive steps. His punches come in heavy combinations, each one thrown with full intent, forcing exchanges whether his opponent is ready or not.
"Dela Cruz stepping in again… look at that pressure!" a commentator's voice bursts through the speaker. "He doesn't give his opponent any room to breathe!"
