He taps the door lightly with his knuckles, then pulls it open. The steady rhythm of gloves striking pads fills the air.
Across the room, Satoru is still working with Kenta, sweat already gathering along his temples as he snaps another jab into the mitts.
"Satoru," Ryoma calls. "Maybe it's time we start adding some of that Soviet system into your boxing. We still have time before your rookie tournament final."
Satoru straightens instinctively. Kenta lowers the mitts with a faint grin, already sensing that the session is about to get a lot more fun now.
Behind them, the office door remains half open, the sound of the gym drifting back inside where Nakahara and Kurogane sit in silence for a moment longer.
For a moment, neither of them speaks. Then Kurogane lets out a short chuckle, shaking his head with a look of disbelief.
Nakahara immediately shoots him a glare. "What's so funny?"
