The bell's echo fades, but the arena doesn't loosen. It buzzes instead, low and restless. Voices overlap, arguments forming in the dark rows. The press section rustles with movement, pens scratching faster now, pages already marked with question marks.
In the stands, expectations split.
"He's gotta press now!" one of Aramaki's supports shouts.
"That's his fight! He should get inside next!"
The answer from Hanazawa's supporters comes immediately, and it's harsher.
"Enough playing around with that kid!"
"End it already, Hanazawa!"
"Crush him!"
Finally, the referee steps forward, voice sharp, practiced.
"Seconds out."
Chairs scrape back. The corners peel off, leaving the fighters alone with the space again.
Aramaki rises first, rolling his shoulders once. His eyes stay forward now, steady.
Hanazawa pushes up a heartbeat later. He straightens, cracks his neck to one side, then the other. The grin doesn't come back this time.
