Meanwhile, Ryoma is watching the fight alone in his apartment. The broadcast is delayed, and he knows that this is already past somewhere else.
Round five is just beginning when he settles in, posture loose, attention unforced, the way he watches any match without expectation.
At least, that is what he tells himself as Shimamura rises from the stool and moves toward the center of the ring.
<< You're still watching this? >>
The system's voice feels close, familiar, as if someone is sitting beside him instead of inside his head.
"Why not?" he answers quietly. "I'm still a boxer. I need to know who's moving around my weight class, especially fighters like them."
<< So you're still thinking about fighting them? Still want the Japanese belt? >>
"Not really," Ryoma exhales, eyes fixed on the screen. "I'm chasing a world title now. Unless they stand between me and that, there's no reason for me to fight them."
