To those who only know Ryoma as the Cruel King, the moment feels completely out of place. A fighter with that reputation doesn't pull punches, not in a fight of this level.
But the ones who have seen him up close, this isn't new. They've watched him soften in sparring in some occasions, holding back just enough to avoid hurting his partners, choosing control over damage when he doesn't need to prove anything. Still, seeing that same instinct surface here, on this stage, makes no sense.
At ringside, Dr. Mizuno shifts slightly, eyes narrowing as he studies Ryoma more carefully. He has seen these shifts before, labeled them as adaptive intelligence, a flexible mind adjusting to the situation.
But this doesn't feel like that at all. This isn't intelligence. This is him choosing to be kind at the worst possible moment.
