VISION GRID SYSTEM: THE COMEBACK OF RYOMA TAKEDA - Chapter 433: Under Pressure, Under Assessment

Chapter 433: Under Pressure, Under Assessment

Festival Hall breathes differently tonight. The lights are brighter than Ryoma expects, harsher too. The ring sits at the center like a fixed point in a restless sea.

The cue comes, and his name rolls out through the speakers. Ryoma steps out from the tunnel, and the reaction he gets is nothing more than polite.

A ripple of applause spreads like a courtesy extended to a guest rather than a welcome offered to one of their own. A few claps, but many people simply watch, eyes assessing with judgment.

He walks the aisle steadily, robe brushing his calves, gloves hanging loose at his sides.

Most of the faces staring back at him only carry curiosity. Some of them know him only from a video that went viral back in 2015, a teenage prodigy moving too smoothly for his age.

Others remember his name from two months ago, when he fought Paulo Ramos. But none of them have ever seen him fight live.

This isn’t home. There’s no roar, no rhythm to the cheers. What Ryoma feels instead is judgment; quiet, patient, and waiting.

“So this is that viral kid.”

“Let’s see if he’s worth it.”

Above them, the commentators fill the space his supporters do not.

“Here comes Ryoma Takeda,” one voice says. “Only seven professional fights on his record so far. That’s an incredibly short résumé for a man challenging for an OPBF title.”

“True,” the other replies, “and only one of those bouts was at regional championship level. But let’s not forget… that fight was against Paulo Ramos. Undefeated at the time. Champion of the Philippines.”

“And Takeda handed him his first loss.”

The camera follows Ryoma’s walk, close enough to catch the calm set of his jaw.

“The question tonight,” the commentator continues, “is whether Takeda continues his trend as a record stopper… or whether his own perfect record ends here, against one of the most dominant champions the Pacific has seen in recent years.”

Ryoma keeps walking. Nakahara’s eyes never leave him. Sera follows just behind, steady as ever.

But Kenta’s grip tightens around the bucket, knuckles whitening under the strain. Aramaki lingers half a step back, the folded Japanese flag clutched in his hand. He hesitates, eyes sweeping the packed arena, the noise pressing in on him harder than he expected.

Nakahara catches it in his peripheral vision. He turns his head just enough to see Aramaki standing there, frozen.

“Oi,” the old man says quietly. “That’s not decoration. Wave it.”

Aramaki flinches. “R-right.”

He unfolds the flag and raises it, movements a little stiff. But he waves it anyway, slowly, as if reminding himself why he’s there.

Ryoma climbs the steps and slips through the ropes. He raises a hand and turns, acknowledging the arena.

He spots Kagawa Jun and Dr. Mizuno in the front row and nods once. But as he meets the crowd’s assessing eyes again, and catches sight of the flag from his own country, pressure settles heavy in his chest.

He isn’t here for himself alone. He carries Aqualis Labs’ brand, also a country that will be watching whether he wants them to or not.

***

Moments later, the lights shift. And the arena changes temperature as Jade McConnel’s entrance begins.

This time, the reaction is different. The sound swells, not unified, not drilled into a single voice, but loud nonetheless.

Applause comes from everywhere, overlapping, uneven, layered with shouts and cheers that don’t move together but still fill the hall completely.

Jade emerges to a roar that belongs to him.

“That’s the champion right there,” one commentator says over the rising noise. “Three years on top of the OPBF. Undefeated. And remember, he’s currently ranked eighth by the WBC, not on the line tonight, but it tells you exactly how close he is to the world stage.”

The hometown hero, the man who has ruled this region for three years. The undefeated OPBF champion. The face people recognize even if they don’t wear his colors.

“You don’t need to tell this crowd who Jade McConnel is,” the other commentator adds. “They know him. They’ve watched him finish fights here.”

Jade walks with ease, soaking none of it in and missing none of it either. He climbs into the ring, the noise peaking again, and for a moment the contrast is stark.

“That’s experience,” the first voice says. “He’s been here so many times, this moment doesn’t pull him out of himself.”

One fighter greeted with curiosity. The other with familiarity.

Ryoma stands in his corner, looks steady. He knows how to look steady. But for the first time, the calm doesn’t come on its own. It comes with effort.

The space feels tighter than he expects. He breathes in, slow and measured, and holds it a second longer than necessary, just to keep everything where it belongs.

The first commentator clears his throat. “You look at them side by side,” he says, “and it’s fascinating. One man defending a legacy. The other trying to create one.”

“And that,” the second replies, “is exactly why this fight is so intriguing.”

***

The lights dim further. A hush rolls through the arena as the ring announcer steps to center ring, microphone lifted.

“Ladies and gentlemen! This is the main event of the evening. Sanctioned by the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation…”

Applause rises, then fades.

“This championship contest is scheduled for twelve rounds… and it is for the OPBF Lightweight Championship!”

The announcer turns toward the blue corner. “Introducing first… Standing 173.8 cm tall, officially weighing in at 61.2 kilograms, 21 years old, representing Nakahara Boxing Gym, Tokyo, Japan…”

“With a professional record of 7 bouts… 7 victories… 5 wins by knockout…”

The announcer raises his voice. “Please welcome… Ryoma ’The Chameleon’ Takeda!”

Polite applause moves through the crowd, respectful, reserved, but still curious.

The announcer pivots sharply toward the red corner. “And now, introducing the champion!”

The arena responds instantly.

“Fighting out of the red corner, standing 174 cm tall, officially weighing in at 61.2 kilograms, 25 years old. With a professional record of 21 fights… 21 victories… 17 knockouts…”

He takes a brief pause, letting the noise swell.

“Representing Southern Cross Promotions… the reigning and defending OPBF Lightweight Champion…”

The announcer spreads his arms. “Please welcome… Jade ’Outback Reaper’ McConnel!”

The reaction breaks unevenly across the arena; cheers, whistles, scattered chants. It’s still disorganized, but overwhelming in volume.

The announcer steps back, lowering the mic. “Championship fight. Twelve rounds. Lightweight division.”

The referee moves forward, gesturing both fighters in.

“Seconds out. Clear the ring.”

The corners peel away, ropes parting as trainers step through. The noise dulls, like the room holding its breath. Only Ryoma and Jade remain.

The referee brings them together. “Gentlemen, this is for the OPBF Lightweight Championship. Obey my commands at all times. Protect yourselves at all times. Touch gloves if you wish.”

Both fighters touch gloves, respectful, then step back. They roll their necks, loosen shoulders and arms, bodies settling into rhythm.

And then…

Ding. Ding. Ding.

The bell cuts through the arena. The referee sweeps a hand between them.

“Box.”

“One round to set the tone,” a commentator says. “And you can feel the tension already.”

Both fighters move toward center, measured and careful.

Jade takes the space first, southpaw stance tight and composed, elbows in, gloves high. A mid-range fighter’s posture, balanced, disciplined, built to punish mistakes.

Ryoma meets him orthodox. His shoulders stay loose, gloves hanging almost lazily at chest level as a subtle pendulum sway begins.

It looks casual, but his eyes are sharp now, reading everything.

He studies the angle between them; the distance, their lead feet. His left shoe drifts close to Jade’s right, close enough to feel dangerous, yet something feels off. The reach still isn’t there.

Jade notices the hesitation and acts.

Zrrsh…

Two right jabs snap out in quick succession, thudding hard against Ryoma’s guard.

Dug. Dug.

The impact surprises him, heavier than any jab he’s ever blocked. Before he can reset, a left cross follows. And Ryoma gives ground, taking a wide step back.

Then his rhythm shifts. The pendulum widens, steadier now, almost Soviet in its economy.

He answers with a triple jab; first textbook, straight into the guard. The second slaps across the shoulder.

Dug. Dug.

But the third cuts only air as Jade has already slid his right foot back, quiet and precise, switching to orthodox mid-motion.

“Oh, there it is,” one commentator blurts. “That stance switch… did you see that?”

It’s subtle, but suddenly Ryoma is standing in between stances, and Jade’s left hook flies toward his head.

Ryoma raises his right glove, protecting the side of his head…

Dug.

…and the pendulum has already carried him backward.

“Beautiful defense,” the second voice cuts in. “That hook was sharp… and Takeda read it clean.”

Ryoma looks hesitates to get any closer, and his sway turns smaller. The gap stretches again, safely outside punching range.

“Less than ten seconds in… and he’s already switching stances.”

<< That tells everything… He’s taking you seriously. >>

It’s still early, but Ryoma is already thinking too much. His eyes are still sharp, but for the wrong reason now, driven by pressure instead of patience.

His pendulum sway stiffens.

And the crowd notices; even the viral prodigy looks strained in front of the OPBF champion.