Nearly a week has passed since Kirizume walked out of Ryoma’s office, yet inside Nakahara Gym, life continues as though nothing has changed.

Aramaki still arrives before most of the others, still trains with the same intensity, and still approaches every session as if his title fight against Serrano is already waiting just around the corner.

The possibility that the fight might never happen has never crossed his mind, and perhaps that is exactly why he keeps asking questions to Nakahara in the middle of his mittwork.

"Coach, what if Serrano starts giving ground on purpose? Not because he’s hurt, but because he wants to pull me forward."

Nakahara lifts the mitts again. "Then stop thinking about what Serrano wants."

Aramaki’s expression becomes even more dissatisfied. "That’s not really an answer."

"Because you’re asking the wrong question," Nakahara replies before snapping the mitts together. "You’re not the one who needs to adapt to Serrano. Focus on your boxing, and make Serrano adapt to you. That’s always been your best weapon."

Aramaki exhales through his nose and immediately goes back to work. The next sequence arrives harder than the last, forcing Nakahara to brace himself slightly as punches continue hammering into the pads.

Ever since the title fight was announced, Aramaki has become obsessed with understanding Serrano. Sometimes he studies footage until midnight. Sometimes he spends entire training sessions trying to solve situations that may never even happen inside the ring.

To everyone else, it looks like preparation. To Ryoma, however, it looks more like anticipation.

Standing near the heavy bags with fresh tape wrapped around his hands, Ryoma watches the exchange without saying anything

And every time Aramaki starts talking about Serrano, Ryoma feels a faint sense of discomfort he cannot openly show. The man keeps preparing for a fight that Ryoma himself is no longer certain will take place.

Not to mention he has his own fight against Liam O’Connell coming up, something that should be occupying far more of his attention.

***

Almost a week has passed since his conversation with Kirizume, and that uncertainty is beginning to bother him.

At first, Ryoma doesn’t think much of it. Yet as the days continue passing, the silence gradually becomes difficult to ignore.

There is still no statement regarding Serrano. No attempt to prepare the media for a postponement. No indication that Kirizume is laying the groundwork for the narrative Ryoma suggested.

Under normal circumstances, Ryoma would have taken that as a rejection and moved on. The problem is that Kirizume has never struck him as someone foolish enough to ignore the reality of his situation.

Either Kirizume has changed his mind after leaving that office, or he is busy dealing with something else before addressing the Serrano problem, the answer arrives on the seventh day.

It begins with several photographs published by Australian boxing reporters. The images show Kirizume leaving a restaurant in Sydney alongside Liam Kuroda and several members of his team.

And the photographs spread quickly across boxing media.

KIRIZUME SPOTTED MEETING LIAM KURODA IN SYDNEY

IS A RETURN TO JAPAN FINALLY COMING?

UNEXPECTED TALKS SPARK SPECULATION

Before long, theories begin appearing from every direction. Some reporters believe Kirizume is trying to bring Liam back to the JBC circuit after more than a year of inactivity.

Others assume the meeting is related to a potential comeback fight, although that theory immediately creates another question.

Kirizume Boxing Gym currently has no notable fighter in the Welterweight division. There is no obvious opponent, no clear business reason for Kirizume to suddenly involve himself with Liam Kuroda.

A few journalists suggest that Kirizume may simply be acting as a promoter for a future event. Others wonder whether Liam is considering leaving Raging Fox Gym altogether.

But the media doesn’t have to wait long for an answer, because only two days later, reporters are invited to Kirizume Boxing Gym for an unexpected press conference.

The reason becomes obvious the moment Liam Kuroda walks into the room wearing a black suit alongside Kirizume. The moment is enough to trigger a wave of camera flashes throughout the venue.

Kirizume waits patiently for the commotion to settle before stepping toward the microphone.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice," he begins. "I’d like to formally announce that Liam Kuroda has officially joined Kirizume Boxing Gym."

Another burst of camera flashes immediately follows. Calmly, Kirizume allows it to pass before continuing.

"Many of you already know Liam Kuroda," Kirizume begins. "A former top-three contender in both the JBC and OPBF rankings. A fighter whose name spent years among the most respected in the Welterweight division."

"Unfortunately, due to his inactivity over the past year, Liam’s position within the domestic and regional rankings has naturally declined. That’s unavoidable."

Several reporters exchange glances. They can already sense a larger announcement coming.

"However," Kirizume continues, "our objective isn’t to spend the next two years climbing back through the national rankings one step at a time. At the end of May, Liam Kuroda will officially return to the ring against Kanda Matsumoto."

The room erupts almost instantly. Unlike Liam, Kanda has remained highly active over the last year and actually snatched Liam’s spot on the third position in the OPBF.

What initially sounds like a comeback bout suddenly carries far greater implications now.

"Kanda is one of the strongest Welterweights in the region," Kirizume continues. "His ranking reflects that. If Liam still intends to compete at the level he once belonged to, then there is little value in taking unnecessary detours."

A reporter quickly raises his hand. "Does that mean Liam is targeting the OPBF title?"

Kirizume’s smile widens slightly. "Let’s just say Liam didn’t come back to spend his time chasing participation trophies. We believe he still belongs among the top fighters in the Asia-Pacific region, and we’re prepared to prove it."

***

Immediately, discussion surrounding Liam Kuroda’s arrival has already spread throughout the domestic boxing scene.

Most people are focused on the obvious story: Kirizume has somehow convinced one of the most recognizable names in the Welterweight division to join his gym.

Nakahara, however, finds himself paying attention to something else. Despite all the activity surrounding Liam’s recruitment, the situation between Aramaki and Serrano remains exactly where it was before.

There is still no official date, no progress regarding Satoru’s opponent either. Every important issue that should have been addressed by now continues floating in uncertainty.

The more Nakahara thinks about it, the less he likes it. Eventually, he heads upstairs and pushes open the door to Ryoma’s office without bothering to knock.

"I thought you said the fight would be cancelled," he says.

Ryoma looks up from the papers and immediately understands what this is about.

"I said that’s what I told him to do," he replies.

"Well, he doesn’t seem interested in doing it," Nakahara press. "He flew to Sydney to sign Liam Kuroda. He already announced a comeback fight for the end of May. Meanwhile, we’re still sitting here with no update regarding Serrano."

Ryoma places the documents aside. "So Liam really signed," he says, almost to himself.

"Don’t change the subject," Nakahara barks at him, looking impatient.

"I’m not."

"You were the one who suggested Liam to him, weren’t you?"

"Before he left, yes."

"Well, he listened to that part, and ignores the most important one"

That observation leaves Ryoma unusually quiet. Kirizume followed the Liam suggestion almost immediately. Yet for some reason, the matter that should have been far more urgent remains untouched.

It is not like Kirizume to hesitate. More importantly, it is not like Kirizume to leave valuable options hanging in the air without deciding which direction he intends to take.

Nakahara studies him for a moment before speaking again. "You don’t know what he’s doing either, do you?"

Ryoma leans back in his chair, slowly folds his arms as he shakes his head slowly.

He can understand recruiting Liam Kuroda. He can understand rebuilding the gym. He can even understand delaying a decision for strategic reasons.

What he cannot understand is why Kirizume continues keeping the Aramaki situation suspended while moving so decisively everywhere else.

The contradiction is difficult to ignore. And the longer Ryoma thinks about it, the more he begins to suspect that Kirizume may have started reconsidering the entire Serrano problem after securing Liam Kuroda.

"I’m afraid that fight is still going ahead," Ryoma says. "Recruiting Liam Kuroda changes the entire equation. The risk of losing Serrano isn’t nearly as frightening when he already has another cornerstone to build around."

Nakahara’s face immediately turns sour. His jaw tightens. The muscles around his cheek twitch once before settling into a hard expression.

He understands exactly what Ryoma was trying to do. Suggesting Liam Kuroda was an honest attempt to build trust, a gesture of goodwill offered to a rival who had backed himself into a corner.

If Kirizume accepted it, then perhaps they could gradually establish a healthier business relationship in the future. Not friendship, not partnership, but at least a relationship built on mutual benefit instead of constant hostility.

Yet now, looking at the situation, Nakahara can only feel irritation rising inside him.

Kirizume took the benefit. He took Liam Kuroda. He took the opportunity. But now it looks as though he intends to use that very opportunity to push forward with the same title fight Ryoma tried to steer him away from.

The realization leaves a bitter taste in Nakahara’s mouth. More than anything, he hates how it makes him feel.

The concern he showed for Kirizume has make him feel naïve. Like a fool who willingly handed over a knife and is now watching the other man sharpen it.

"That bastard..." Nakahara mutters through clenched teeth. "He really only listened to the parts he liked."