At the end of round six, the contrast between them becomes impossible to ignore.
There are bruises forming along Ryohei's cheekbone, a swelling beginning at his right temple, a faint split at the edge of his lower lip.
The marks of combat are there. Yet none of them come from a clean, straight shot down the middle.
Every counter Hamakawa manages to land catches at an awkward angle; glancing across the temple, scraping along the jawline, thudding against the side of the head without ever snapping it back flush.
And whenever a hook lands solid on the side, it almost always comes in the middle of a trade. The damage Ryohei receives is real. But it is shared damage.
When the bell rings and they separate, Ryohei turns with shoulders still level, steps steady as he walks back to his corner.
He even flicks his glove at Hamakawa's annoying supporters to provoke them.
"What happened? Why so quiet now?"
A few of them shout back immediately, faces flushed.
