During the recovery week, Ryoma spends most of the day at his mother's barbershop; sweeping hair, taking payments, chatting with regulars, running errands, handling the small work so she doesn't have to.
On off days like this, he takes over as much as he can, letting her rest.
Only in the early afternoon, around two, does he head to the gym. Not because he's rushing his recovery. He isn't hurt badly enough to justify hiding at home, but Nakahara still refuses to let him train.
It's for something else.
By then, the youngsters are warming up, and the professionals are finishing their work. Ryoma steps in quietly, rolls up his sleeves, and helps where he's allowed: holding mitts, fixing stances, correcting timing.
It isn't training his body. But it keeps him inside the ring anyway.
The gym has only grown livelier lately. More kids now. Word travels fast, and by this point there are over ten youngsters crowding the floor.
