Sera finishes reading the clause carefully, then lets the paper lower slightly in his hands. He doesn't look alarmed. If anything, he looks thoughtful.
"That doesn't automatically cut us off from NSN," he says at last. "This clause only binds Ryoma."
He turns toward Ryoma. "It prevents you from signing any personal endorsement deals for their betting only. But it doesn't stop the gym from using NSN's platform to organize or market events. That's a separate relationship."
Sera exhales lightly. "So accepting Aqualis Labs' terms doesn't shut doors. It just draws a line around Ryoma himself. Which, frankly, was probably the point."
"I said it before," Ryoma says. "He's got his own war to fight. Call him conservative if you like. But I don't dislike that about him."
***
By early evening, Ogawa arrives at the gym.
He reads the contract slowly, methodically, glasses perched low on his nose as he works through each clause without commentary.
