Korakuen Hall is already awake when they arrive. The lobby buzzes with the low noise of preparation; staff moving clipboards, fighters lining up with towels over their shoulders, and a small cluster of boxing journalists hovering near the entrance.
For a rookie tournament weigh-in, the press presence is modest. Most of them are young, eager, still learning how to stand their ground without getting in the way.
One of them is Aki. And she spots Ryoma and Satoru almost immediately.
"Ryoma," she calls, lifting a hand as she steps closer. "You're finally here."
She turns to Satoru next, eyes bright with curiosity. "First big stage, right? Are you nervous?"
Satoru scratches his cheek and nods. "A little."
"That's normal," Aki says with a smile. "It'd be strange if you weren't."
Then her gaze shifts past Ryoma's shoulder. She pauses, looking once, then again, as if expecting someone to materialize.
