The noise hasn't fully settled when the ring announcer finally steps through the ropes, microphone in hand.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he begins, voice steady and formal. "The winner of the Super Lightweight Class-A Final, by technical knockout… at two minutes and twenty-one seconds of round eight… Ryohei Yamada!"
The arena surges again. Ryohei exhales sharply, lifting his gloves, still trying to catch up to the moment.
"With this victory," the announcer continues, "The winner has earned the right to challenge for the Japanese Super Lightweight Championship."
An official steps in with a small trophy, polished and modest, fitting the occasion. Another follows with a placard displaying the prize: ¥3,000,000, along with confirmation of a one-year exclusive sponsorship contract.
Ryohei accepts them all with careful hands, fingers tightening briefly around the weight of the trophy and the placard.
