VISION GRID SYSTEM: THE COMEBACK OF RYOMA TAKEDA

Satoru finishes reading the contract and hands both the documents and the pen back to Kurogane. And Kurogane accepts the folder with a small nod and briefly checks the final page.

“That was quick,” Ryoma says.

“Yeah,” Satoru replies. “I can’t wait to start my morning roadwork.”

He immediately turns, intending to join the others. But Ryoma halts him soon after.

“Satoru, wait a second.”

“Yes?”

“Listen,” Ryoma begins. “We’re using this fight to help you get your Class-A license. It’s an important match. But Aramaki will have his first title fight too, and I’ll be acting as his chief second. And I still have my own fight against Liam O’Connell. So, I’m thinking of putting you under Sera’s supervision for this one. What do you think?”

“Oh, sure,” Satoru replies simply.

The answer comes so naturally that Satoru is already turning around before Ryoma can say anything else.

Ryoma blinks, not expecting it would be that easy. Apparently, he had worried for nothing.

A few moments later, Reika approaches. “Good morning.”

Maria offers a polite nod. “Kurogane-san. Ryoma-kun.”

The conversation begins with a few simple pleasantries. Reika asks how preparations are progressing. Kurogane responds politely. Ryoma contributes only a few brief answers before the discussion naturally reaches the reason they came.

“We were hoping to speak with you about the proposal,” Maria says.

Kurogane exchanges a glance with Ryoma before nodding. “Of course. Let’s go upstairs.”

At almost the same moment, a sharp clap echoes across the gym floor as Hiroshi gathers everyone’s attention.

“Alright! Roadwork time. Move out.”

Ryoma watches the movement around the gym without saying anything. The fighters begin heading toward the exit, some stretching their shoulders as they walk, others already discussing pace and distance.

Only Aramaki remains behind. Having already completed his morning roadwork with Ryoma earlier, he stays for the footwork session Sera has prepared for him.

One by one, the others disappear outside behind Hiroshi. The atmosphere shifts almost immediately, the gym becoming noticeably quieter than it had been only moments ago.

For several seconds, Ryoma simply stands there. After the last few days, and especially after this morning’s roadwork, he already feels as though he is falling behind.

The urge to put the management issues aside and return to training is still there, nagging at him more strongly than he wants to admit.

But Kurogane’s voice comes from the staircase.

“Ryoma. Would you joing us?”

For a brief moment, Ryoma hesitates, unable to hide a trace of disappointment. But eventually, he turns away from the gym floor and heads toward the stairs, joining Kurogane, Reika, and Maria as they make their way to the second floor.

***

Once they reach the second floor, the discussion starts almost immediately. Under normal circumstances, Ryoma would have forced the negotiation to continue for hours. He would have tested every assumption, challenged every condition.

But circumstances are no longer normal. And because of that, Ryoma finds himself arriving at a conclusion far sooner than he normally would.

“We’ll accept the offer,” he says.

Kurogane’s eyebrows rise slightly. Even Nakahara, who has remained mostly quiet throughout the discussion, turns his head toward Ryoma.

Maria looks equally surprised. She had come prepared for resistance, prepared for bargaining and endless arguments. Instead, the decision arrives before she has even opened her folder.

Oddly enough, rather than looking relieved, she immediately decides to push further.

“We’re very pleased that you’ve chosen to trust us again,” she says with a professional smile. “Now that this matter is settled, NSN is also interested in acquiring the exclusive broadcasting rights for the American and European territories.”

“Hey, hey…” Ryoma immediately cuts in. “Another exclusive rights deal? What are you trying to do? Monopolize us? Don’t push your luck.”

Maria remains completely unfazed. “We’re willing to purchase them for ten million dollars.”

The number lands heavily inside the room.

Even Nobusawa and Hiroki, who have mostly remained observers throughout the discussion, cannot completely hide their reactions.

Both men glance toward Maria almost at the same time, clearly surprised by how casually she mentions an amount that most businesses would spend months negotiating over.

Maria notices it; the surprise is obvious enough. What interests her more, however, is the lack of reaction from the three people whose opinions actually matter.

Ryoma remains silent. Nakahara does not move. Kurogane simply watches her. The offer has undoubtedly attracted their attention, but none of them look particularly eager to accept it.

Realizing that, Maria decides to continue. “That four million dollars for Japan will be paid upfront. And I believe that would help fund your project immediately. As for this ten million dollars, we’re also prepared to pay half of it upfront. The remaining half will be…”

“If we want to,” Kurogane cuts in before she can finish, “we could probably raise twenty million dollars from those two regions alone. Ten million might sound impressive, but it’s not nearly enough to make us overlook what we’re giving up.”

“If you want to,” Maria says, not losing her composure. “If you work hard for it. We are aware of that potential. We’re also aware that it won’t be nearly as easy as you hope. There is still a possibility that after months of effort, negotiations, and marketing expenses, you don’t even reach ten million dollars.”

A faint smile appears on Kurogane’s face. “Oh? Is that a challenge?”

“No,” Maria answers calmly. “I’m not here to corner you. I’m simply offering a deal. The truth is, we’re already satisfied with the exclusive rights inside Japan. If you decide not to accept this one, that’s perfectly fine.”

Her answer leaves the room quieter than before. Because everyone present understands what she is really saying.

Yes, Ronin might be able to generate more money on its own. Perhaps seventeen million. Perhaps even twenty. But that would require time, effort, negotiations, marketing campaigns, and a degree of success that no one could guarantee in advance.

NSN, on the other hand, is offering certainty. And certainty has a value of its own. Ryoma understands that better than anyone in the room.

More importantly, he can no longer afford to act brave simply for the sake of pride. Not with pressure coming from every direction at once.

Eventually, he rises from his chair and heads toward the door. “Please wait here for a moment. I need to discuss this with Liam’s camp first.”

Maria blinks, visibly puzzled by the response. Before she can ask anything, Kurogane also stands from his seat and gestures for her to remain where she is.

“You see, we made an agreement with Liam’s camp before this,” he explains while following Ryoma out. “This concerns them as well.”

Across the room, Nobusawa’s expression gradually turns more serious. Unlike Kurogane, she does not see this as an offer that should be resisted. If anything, she suspects Kurogane is already preparing arguments to convince Ryoma to walk away from it, and the thought alone makes her uncomfortable.

Considering Ronin’s current situation, she simply cannot bring herself to dismiss a ten-million-dollar offer so easily. Eventually, she pushes herself out of her chair and follows after them.

Nakahara watches her for a brief moment, mildly puzzled by the reaction, before quietly rising from his own seat and heading after her as well.

Maria follows their departure with her eyes while remaining composed. But inwardly, she feels more confident than before.

By the time Nobusawa and Nakahara reach the corridor, Kurogane is already bringing up his argument as he follows Ryoma to his office.

“We can build that value ourselves,” he says. “Without giving NSN room to monopolize the market. This is the same as handing a weapon to our enemy.”

Nobusawa enters the conversation immediately. “But let’s be honest about our situation. We need this. Desperately. You can keep seeing them as enemies if you want, but that doesn’t mean we can’t use their money as ammunition to compete against them.”

Inside the office, Ryoma has already taken his seat behind the desk. The telephone remains untouched. For now, he simply listens and reconsiders his options.

A few moments later, his eyes shift toward Nakahara. For the first time since Ronin Fight Management was established, Ryoma is openly waiting for the older man’s opinion, as though he has finally reached the threshold of what he can manage alone, and recognizes that carrying every burden by himself is no longer the most responsible choice.