Then his expression tightens. His gaze sharpens, and for the first time, he finally pushes back against Nakahara's judgment, though he doesn't entirely deny what he's been accused of.
"Fine! You're right. I did think about retiring. And yes, seeing Kenta win changed my mind. So what? What's wrong with that? What's wrong with finding the desire to fight again after watching someone else achieve something great? Does that make my ambition any less genuine?"
Nakahara holds his gaze, his expression hardening. "There's nothing wrong with being inspired by someone else's success. But that's never been your problem, Ryohei. It's the way you look at it. You see Ryoma and Kenta moving forward and suddenly you think you can do the same. You see where they end up, but never what it costs them to get there. You see the glory, but not the sacrifices. You want the same destination without ever understanding the road they had to take."
