"A man who carries everyone else's weight often forgets the load on his own back."
It's an old saying Nakahara used to throw at stubborn fighters who overtrained, but now he's become the living example of it.
In these past few days, he edges dangerously close to that very risk, carrying the entire gym, every fighter, every negotiation, every expectation, all on shoulders already worn thin.
He grows busier by the hour, juggling phone calls, paperwork, sponsor confirmations, and final approvals from the Commission.
Even so, he never lets the workload pull him away from training. He still runs every session, correcting forms, giving instructions, and watching over the fighters with the same sharp eye as always.
But it becomes clear that he is paying especially close attention to Ryoma.
"Come on, kid. Hop in the ring," Nakahara says, slapping the mitts together once. "Your body's changed. Your rhythm needs to follow."
"On it," Ryoma says, getting prepared for mitt session.
