Ryoma remains frozen for another moment, his eyes fixed on the man with the scar. A beat later, he finally realizes, a little too late, that several people at Erzhanov's table have already noticed him staring.
Their conversation has stopped, and more than one pair of eyes is now quietly studying him in return.
Then a voice reaches him as though from somewhere far away.
"Ryoma..."
After that, a hand suddenly grips his arm, and this time, the voice suddenly sounds so close.
"Hey, Ryoma."
Ryoma draws a short breath as his attention snaps back to the present. Turning slightly, he finds Sera looking at him with obvious concern.
"What's wrong with you?"
Ryoma doesn't answer. His gaze instinctively sweeps across the room once more, checking faces, exits, and movements before finally settling on one of the WBO staff members standing behind Kurogane.
"Mr. Takeda," the staffer says politely. "Please, this way. We've prepared your table."
