Chapter 966 - 966: A King in Isolation

Hayakawa studies him for a moment, his expression measured and clinical, as though assessing a problem rather than judging him.

"I've seen enough to say it. Looks like you've got some mental issues."

Ryoma's expression hardens, irritation and disappointment crossing his face at Hayakawa's words. He does need Hayakawa here, a precaution in case something goes wrong while sparring with the Phantom Mode. But he didn't expect it would lead to this.

He pushes Hayakawa away, then slowly rises to his feet, keeping one hand against the ropes for support.

"You remember what I asked you when you first started accompanying me here?" Ryoma says. "Whatever strange things you see me doing in this place, you keep it to yourself."

Hayakawa meets his gaze without flinching. "As long as it doesn't involve a criminal act, or something that directly puts your life at risk."

"Oi, oi..." Phantom Ryoma immediately cuts in, grinning from behind Hayakawa. "You're not actually thinking about telling him our secret, are you?"

For a brief moment, Ryoma considers it. He could tell Hayakawa everything. The Phantom. The Vision Grid System. The things he knows that no one else should know.

But the more he imagines himself explaining it, the more absurd it sounds. He would only give Hayakawa more reason to believe something is seriously wrong with him.

Ryoma closes his eyes and draws in a deep breath. When he opens them again, his expression is serious.

"Remind me of your professional boundaries," Ryoma says. "How far are you willing to follow my instructions while keeping what you learn about me confidential?"

"As long as you're not asking me to cover up a crime," Hayakawa says, "and nothing you ask conflicts with my responsibility to keep you safe."

"Then suppose I really do have the kind of psychiatric problem you're worried about," Ryoma says. "Does that alone give you a reason to intervene? Would it mean I'm a danger to myself or someone else?"

Hayakawa is silent for a moment. "What exactly do you want from me?"

"Like I said, I want you to keep everything about me confidential. You don't discuss any of this with anyone else. You focus on your job and make sure I stay safe. I already know there are risks. That's why I need you here."

Hayakawa exhales. "Fine."

Ryoma looks toward the exit. "Now help me get back to my room."

Hayakawa remains concerned about Ryoma's condition, but eventually gives in and supports him all the way back to his room.

Along the way, however, Ryoma becomes increasingly convinced that he may have been the one who killed Hayashida Muneyaki, without any memory of doing it, and without having any control over his own body when it happened.

The next day, and the days following it, Ryoma never leaves the residence again. He continues training, follows the news about himself, and closely monitors developments in London in preparation for the pandemic he believes is coming.

He limits his morning roadwork to the track inside the property. He stops going to Ronin Boxing Gym and withdraws completely from the promotional activities surrounding Kenta's upcoming title defense in Ota.

The residence becomes a place of protection, keeping Ryoma away from the threats outside while perhaps also keeping him contained from any danger he might unknowingly cause himself.

***

23 February, 2019 — Ota Gym, Tokyo

The Ota Gym is packed to near capacity, with only a handful of empty seats scattered throughout the stands. The noise inside the venue is constant, thousands of voices merging into a restless roar that rises and falls with every movement around the ring.

Japanese supporters fill much of the arena, many waving banners bearing Kenta's name while chants roll through the crowd from one section to another.

Tonight, Kenta defends his WBO Asia Pacific Welterweight title against the twenty-six-year-old Indian challenger Arjun "The Lion" Rathore.

"Arjun is pressing again! Moriyama gives ground, but look at how patient the champion is… he's refusing to get drawn into a firefight!"

"Arjun comes forward behind that jab! Right hand over the top… Moriyama blocks it! Another combination from the challenger, and Moriyama is giving him absolutely nothing in return!"

"Thirty seconds left in the round! Arjun has been the aggressor from the opening bell, but Moriyama is still there, still composed, waiting for his moment!"

Despite both men competing in the Welterweight division, Arjun Rathore looks considerably bigger than Kenta inside the ring. He is naturally taller, with a longer reach, but the difference appears even more pronounced after the weigh-in.

It is not merely a matter of height or reach. Arjun's overall composition makes him look as though he belongs in a much heavier division. It raises the question of whether such a large weight regain is truly ideal for a Welterweight fighter, or simply another advantage he has managed to bring into the ring.

"Another right hand! Moriyama slips underneath it! Arjun immediately follows with the left hook… blocked! What pressure from the challenger!"

"And Moriyama finally fires back! Short right hand, cleanly landed! That might be exactly what he's been waiting for!"

"Arjun doesn't care! He walks straight back in! The challenger is refusing to give the champion any room to breathe!"

For the first few rounds, the challenger genuinely dominates the fight, leaving the local supporters watching with growing anxiety. Kenta appears almost too passive, allowing Arjun to dictate the pace and occupy the center of the ring.

Despite Arjun's sustained pressure, however, Kenta is doing an excellent job of minimizing the accumulated damage. He constantly changes angles before Arjun can extend his combinations, using his pendulum footwork to absorb as little of the incoming offense as possible.

And all of it is, in fact, the result of careful strategic planning. Arjun's tendencies are hardly a mystery to Ronin team. He is fierce and physically imposing in the early rounds, especially with the substantial weight he regains after the weigh-in, but his performance has consistently declined once the fight reaches its middle stages.

***

Entering the sixth round, Arjun has become increasingly flat-footed, relying almost entirely on his imposing frame and superior reach to control the exchanges.

When he commits to his three-punch combination—jab, cross, lead hook—his hands take noticeably longer to reset after the last punch.

Kenta seizes the opening, stepping through before Arjun can recover his position. He closes the distance and fires his own three-punch combination, faster and tighter.

Dug. Dug. Dug.

Arjun blocks them well, but Kenta has at least managed to get into range.

He anchors himself inside the pocket, lowers his center of gravity, and forces the challenger to trade punches.

Arjun swings a right hook, but at this range, there is simply not enough room for his long arms.

Kenta rolls underneath, rotates to his left, and comes back with a compact left hook.

THUD!

Arjun immediately answers with a left hook of his own, but Kenta's lower level allows him to tilt his body underneath it, the punch sailing harmlessly over his shoulder.

Kenta comes right back, digging another right hook into Arjun's side before immediately driving a left hook into his midsection.

THUD! BUGH!

"Whoa! Whoa! What is happening here?!"

"Kenta is finally getting inside! Arjun is having serious problems at this range!"

Kenta quickly sends a compact uppercut from below.

Arjun manages to block it, but suddenly…

DSH!

A sharp right hook smacks against the side of his head from the outside.

"Whoa! That one got through!"

"Arjun is hurt!"

The punch jolts Arjun's balance, his feet momentarily crossing as he stumbles sideways.

He quickly reaches for Kenta in an attempt to smother the exchange and force a clinch.

But Kenta is already moving. He moves sharply around Arjun's flank and toward his rear, forcing the challenger to turn.

The moment Arjun turns to face him, Kenta drives a devastating right hand straight into his head.

BAM!!!

The arena erupts.

"HE'S IN TROUBLE NOW!"

"LOOK AT ARJUN!"

Arjun flails, his body leaning backward while one arm swings wildly through the air, desperately trying to keep him upright.

But that desperate effort only gives Kenta another opening to inflict more damage. Stepping in, Kenta unleashes three devastating punches in rapid succession.

DSH!

DSH!!

BAM!!!

Each one of them snaps Arjun's head violently from side to side.

"Those punches landed with devastating force!"

"Arjun is staggering! He can barely keep his feet underneath him!"

"He's going down! Arjun is down!"

"Can he get back up? Can he beat the count?"

"Oooh, they're stopping it! The referee has seen enough!"

Ding! Ding! Ding!

"It's over! Kenta Moriyama has ended the challenger's night with a devastating finish!"

The Ota Gym erupts in unison with the ringing bell, thousands of voices exploding into a deafening roar.

Nakahara and the rest of his team rush into the ring, their earlier anxiety finally giving way to unrestrained euphoria after several rounds of wondering whether their strategy would actually work.

The supporters begin chanting Kenta's name in unison.

KEN-TA!

KEN-TA!

KEN-TA!

A large portion of them are actually members of the Cruel King Army, Ryoma's die-hard supporters who have followed Ronin so far.

Yet as the entire Ronin team gathers inside the ring, the celebration carries one unmistakable absence.

Everyone quickly realizes that someone is missing.

Ryoma Takeda is not there with them.