The bell rings, and the sound cuts cleanly through the heavy silence.
Okabe steps forward first, but he does not claim the center. He immediately settles into a defensive posture, raising a tight guard that sits slightly lower to shield his body.
He keeps his elbows tucked in, his chin buried behind the headgear, and his head moving in small cautious slips. His intention is clear. He is not here to dominate. He is here to survive.
Across from him, Ryoma does not wear any headgear. He stands bareheaded under the gym lights, as if he does not consider Okabe dangerous enough to require protection.
The decision is deliberate, and everyone in the gym understands the message behind it.
Ryoma does not circle cautiously as fighters usually do in the opening seconds of a round. He does not test distance with light jabs. He moves forward immediately with the intensity of a final round in a title fight.
