Chapter 1039 - 1039: The Sign of Declining?

Over the next few days, Ryoma continues the same technical drills, with Kenta experimenting with small adjustments to his stance, rhythm, and positioning.

The movements still feel awkward to him, as they remain unfamiliar and far from something he can express naturally.

But once Kenta begins applying these adjustments in actual sparring, they also change how he controls the fight, not just how he defends himself.

"Come on, Kenta! Be more proactive! This isn't a defensive drill anymore. Stop waiting for him to make the first move!"

For a while, Kenta focuses solely on using feints and fake steps to keep Ryoma guessing about when he might move in.

But when he hears Nakahara's command, he starts thinking about attacking instead. He doesn't consciously try to apply the new adjustments, yet the movements emerge on their own, finding their way into his actions.

He stutters briefly, then throws a one-two.

Ryoma reacts without much trouble, catching both punches on his palms.

Dp. Dp.

But he loses the initiative, and Kenta is already there, beginning to build his pressure.

Ryoma quickly angles off the line and flicks a jab.

Dug.

Kenta blocks it, adjusts his positioning, and immediately resumes making small, unpredictable movements.

His right glove hangs low as his head dips from side to side, his stance shifting levels with occasional stutters in his footwork.

The constant variations force Ryoma to think before acting, making him assess each movement rather than simply react on instinct.

And the moment Ryoma slides his lead foot forward, Kenta pulls his own lead foot back, then dips his torso slightly to the right, his right hand lowered once again.

Ryoma hesitates, and Kenta takes the opportunity to angle off with a short L-step before casually walking right and left.

They remain within punching range, neither too close nor too far. Yet for several beats, neither throws any real punch.

Ryoma probes, testing the distance. And Kenta answers with occasional half-hearted jabs to gauge his reactions, all the while maintaining those small, deceptive movements.

The sparring looks almost polite, as though Ryoma is holding back. But the real difference is that Kenta is making things a little more complicated than usual.

There isn't much in the way of serious exchanges between them until the bell rings to end the first round.

Ding!

"Not bad," Nakahara remarks from ringside. "Take a minute. Get some rest."

Kenta immediately heads for his corner. But the moment he turns around, Kenta finds Ryoma standing there.

"Hey, it's the break," Kenta says.

"I know," Ryoma replies. "It just got me thinking. You've probably seen my sparring sessions with Aramaki over the past few weeks. Think you can do the same? That way, you can help me prepare for my next opponent, too."

"You want me to put more pressure on you?"

"Yeah. And I'm going to focus more on my footwork. After all, your next opponent is a former all-around champion. He's got plenty of experience and a good ring IQ. What happens if he starts using his footwork more and forces you to keep chasing him?"

"He has a point," Nakahara chimes in. "Declan Byrne is a versatile fighter with plenty of experience. You can't underestimate his ring IQ."

***

The second round looks more one-sided. Ryoma pays closer attention to his footwork, constantly angling away and avoiding exchanges, while Kenta returns to his pressure-fighting style.

But unlike the old Kenta, who would simply hunt his opponent down and unleash combinations whenever he got close, he now applies the same principles Ryoma once taught Aramaki.

He blends the deceptive movements he's just learned into his pursuit. Feints, stuttered entries, and hesitation movements force Ryoma to react and adjust his position.

Kenta doesn't rush to attack whenever he gets within range. He keeps making Ryoma respond to his measure short combinations and feints.

The moment Ryoma transitions into another step to get off the line, that's when Kenta launches a serious assault.

"That's it!" Nakahara calls out. "Don't give him space."

Kenta steps in with a rapid series of jabs to the chest, followed by a right straight to the body.

Ryoma slaps the first jab aside, then lowers his stance into a tight guard.

Dp. Dug. Dug.

But with Ryoma still moving backward as he settles into the defensive stance, the heavier right straight disrupts his balance further.

He stumbles another step back, struggling to regain his footing, making it easier for Kenta to drive him toward the ropes.

"Keep the pressure on, Kenta!" Nakahara calls. "Don't let him settle, not even for a second."

The approach makes it easier for Kenta to drive Ryoma toward the ropes and trap him in a confined space. Even so, Ryoma never gives him a clean shot.

With the ropes behind him, Ryoma still reads Kenta's combinations well, slapping punches aside, blocking them, and shifting into a Philly Shell before rolling and deflecting incoming shots with his lead shoulder.

As Kenta's right hand is deflected by the inward twist of Ryoma's lead shoulder, Ryoma slips in a compact, coiling counter to the chest, deliberately avoiding targeting his head.

Thud!

He then drives his lead shoulder forward, bumping Kenta just enough to create some space.

Ryoma flicks out a quick left jab before slipping away from the ropes.

"You're still not making this easy for me, huh?" Kenta says.

"That wouldn't be training if I made it too easy for you." Ryoma replies.

With Ryoma back in the center of the ring, Kenta has to start his pursuit all over again.

At ringside, Nakahara continues to watch in silence. He's pleased with Kenta's progress, but his concern has now shifted to Ryoma, especially after the deliberate counter to Kenta's chest.

Thinking back, Nakahara realizes that Ryoma hasn't once targeted Kenta's head with his right hand.

Even during this exchange, when Ryoma finds an opening to counter, he aims for the chest again, never throwing higher.

He slips away, then fires two rapid jabs. This time, he clips the side of Kenta's head, but both punches land on his headgear.

A short while later, Kenta manages to trap Ryoma against the ropes again. And once more, when Ryoma's Philly Shell presents an opening for a coiling counter, he directs his right hand toward Kenta's chest.

Ryoma clips the side of Kenta's headgear with a left jab before slipping off the ropes, inviting Kenta to resume the chase.

"Come on, Kenta. You've done great so far, but you haven't even made me tired yet."

"Maybe you should stop running around like a scared rabbit, then," Kenta shoots back with a grin. "Give me something to hit."

Honestly, that's the best you can hope for in a sparring session: focusing on technique without letting your ego get in the way and hurting your sparring partner.

But that's not what Nakahara expects from someone like Ryoma. And the situation leaves him somewhat uneasy.

A moment later, Sera approaches Nakahara from behind, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"First Aramaki, and now Kenta," Sera says. "Just when I think those two have reached the best versions of their boxing, this kid keeps showing them there's still room to grow."

"Hmm." Nakahara nods. "He always finds a way to push you to become better."

"And look at what we've achieved thanks to his help," Sera says.

"But now I'm worried. After what he did to Umemoto, I can't help feeling that Ryoma himself is the one who's regressing."

A moment later, Hiroshi rings the bell to end the second round.

Ding!

"Not bad, Kenta," Ryoma says with an approving nod. "You're starting to get the hang of it."

"Starting? That's all I get after chasing your ass around the ring for three minutes?"

Ryoma chuckles. "You want a medal for that?"

"Wouldn't hurt. Maybe a little more praise, too. You know, something befitting a Continental champion."

"Fine," Ryoma says he steps back. "You're a promising student. Keep it up, and maybe one day you'll become a decent boxer."

"Fuck you." Kenta laughs, shaking his head as he walks toward his corner. "I'm starting to regret agreeing to this."

Sera then raises a hand to get Ryoma's attention. "Hey, Ryoma. I just got a call from Kurogane. Maria and Reika are coming over. Apparently, they want to discuss the production in Ota."

Ryoma's bright smile slowly fades. He gives Sera a single nod before turning and walking back to his corner.

Once there, he keeps facing outward without turning around. Unnoticed by everyone else, his expression grows cold and calculating.

Just hearing the names of the two women from NSN is enough to change his demeanor.

When the third round begins, Ryoma's approach to sparring changes with it.

Kenta meets him in the center of the ring, once again applying the random movements and deceptive steps he's been practicing.

"This is the last round. Why not step our game up a little?" Kenta says.

Ryoma doesn't answer, but he himself has no intention of using his footwork to run away.

He still reacts to Kenta's random movements and feints, but not to evade. He's looking for openings to counter.

Kenta finally builds his pressure, stepping in with a measured one-two.

Ryoma parries both punches as he pulls his lead foot back, then makes a feint with his upper body as though he's about to angle off.

Kenta waits for him to transition, but suddenly…

Dsh!

Ryoma smacks the center of Kenta's face with a compact jab.