For Okabe, it is not even about personal hatred toward Higuchi. From the very beginning, his goal has always been straightforward; reaching the throne.
Now Higuchi sits at third rank after losing to the champion, which means, beating him tonight changes everything. And if he does it by knockout, like Ryoma told him before this, there is a strong chance he could jump all the way to second rank.
For someone constantly labeled talentless, this fight feels like one final attempt to prove his place in the sport. Because if even this still means nothing, then maybe staying in boxing any longer really would be meaningless.
That pressure keeps replaying itself inside Okabe's head before Nakahara's voice cuts through the room, standing behind him with the mitt pads raised.
"Okabe. Get ready."
Okabe turns around, nods, and the moment they start working, the atmosphere inside the locker room changes.
Pak!
Pak-pak!
