When the latest clip ends, Shiki exhales softly. "The kid is good, I must say," he admits, arms crossed. "Sorry to say this, but Japan is right to pin their hope on him. With his age, he could carry the flag on the world stage for a decade."
Tsuchida scoffs under his breath. "Maybe. But his attitude's nothing to be proud of. Almost every fight, he humiliates his opponent just to stir hype."
Shiki doesn't argue right away. He leans forward, elbows on his knees.
"Or maybe he's just that good. Maybe his opponents can't help but get humiliated. He fights like a man who carries a nation's expectation. For that kind of pressure, maybe he has no choice but to show everything he could do."
Sōda stays quiet, watching Ryoma's frozen face on the monitor, that faint knowing smirk after the knockout.
He doesn't deny the truth. He's not blind, and deep down, he never truly hates Ryoma. He knows Kanzaki had his own faults, his own pride that led him into that storm.
