Serrano tries to create distance, but his legs no longer carry him far enough. Within seconds, he is forced to stop retreating altogether.
He simply holds his ground and tightens his guard, waiting for the pressure to arrive.
Aramaki immediately gets to work, rotating through a stream of short hooks.
Thud! Thud! Dug. Dugh. Bugh! Dug. Thud!
Most of them target the body. Serrano stays behind a tight guard, blocking and absorbing, offering no counters and showing no interest in forcing another exchange.
"Look at him," Ryoma says. "If Serrano is really fine, why did he stop trading punches? Why did he suddenly become so disciplined about defending?"
Nakahara reluctantly admits there is some truth in what Ryoma is saying. Even so, he refuses to abandon his pragmatism.
"What if they're simply waiting for Aramaki to get tired?" Nakahara says. "What if Serrano plans to beat him up later?"
