Suddenly, Ryohei finds himself genuinely worried for Ryoma, even feeling a pang of pity despite how bright and carefree he seems at the moment.
For the first time, he begins to see Ryoma as a genuinely fragile and vulnerable young man, someone who could fall apart at any moment.
Meanwhile, Ryoma's bright expression gradually fades. Ryohei's silence after his greeting begins to stir a familiar sense of guilt within him.
But rather than using his keen observational skills and manipulative genius to regain control of the situation, Ryoma chooses a more honest approach.
He climbs down from the ring and walks toward Ryohei, making no attempt to put on a facade or resort to another psychological trick.
"Still holding a grudge against me, huh?" he asks, trying to act casual. "Or are you starting to regret getting stabbed while protecting me from that guy?"
For several moments, Ryohei remains speechless, unsure how he should act around Ryoma now.
