The afternoon session begins nearly two hours after lunch, when the heaviness in the stomach has settled into a quiet readiness. The air inside the gym feels denser, not because of noise, but because of expectation.
Today is not about experimenting with variations or testing new tactics. Today is about ten full rounds; structured, intense, and centered entirely on Ryoma.
In the corner of the ring, Dr. Mizuno stands beside Hiroshi. Before the final warm-up ends, he opens a compact case containing monitoring equipment arranged with precise order. His movements are economical, deliberate.
He explains each step in a calm, academic tone, making sure Hiroshi understands not only what to do, but why.
"This session is controlled stress exposure," Mizuno says quietly. "We measure input, then we measure response. Do not skip steps, even if the pace accelerates."
Hiroshi nods once. "Understood."
