"Wow!" In Baki's private locker room, Baki's eyes lit up as he looked down at the floor laden with steaming dishes.
"I knew I should come here." He smiled, staring at the warm food before him, saliva pooling in his mouth.
"Eat. These restorative meals were prepared for you," Retsu Kaioh said, watching Baki with hopeful eyes, wanting his fighting spirit to return.
"You really are thoughtful." Baki looked over the spread with genuine gratitude.
"Uh… just eat," Retsu Kaioh stammered slightly, a faint blush spreading across his bronze skin. It was strange, being called gentle by another man.
Baki grabbed his chopsticks and began eating.
"Delicious!" The tender meat exploded with flavor in his mouth, and he clapped his thighs in delight.
"Eat slowly, it's all for you," Retsu Kaioh said, smiling.
"I'm full." Baki leaned back against the wall, patting his belly after clearing a dozen plates. His stomach bulged.
"You finished the main dishes, but there are still desserts," Retsu Kaioh said, a subtle smile appearing.
"Bring them on! I'll eat anything!" Baki said eagerly, his appetite unaffected despite being full; main courses and desserts were different matters.
Retsu Kaioh walked over holding a metal bucket and placed it before Baki.
"This is…" Baki blinked at the bucket of water in front of him.
"Water. Ten liters. This is the minimum you need to drink right now," Retsu Kaioh explained patiently.
"Ten liters of water?" Baki's stomach churned at the thought of drinking that much.
"You can't just drink it all at once. Mix it with this." Retsu Kaioh pulled out a large can labeled fructose.
"Fructose, high‑purity sweetener extracted from fruit, about four kilograms," he said, opening the can and dumping the heavy contents into the bucket.
"Don't worry about the amount; this absorbs fast." Retsu Kaioh stirred the mixture with his hands.
"My hands are clean, I washed them. We needed protein and starch, but there's no time." He gestured for Baki to drink.
"Fourteen liters of sugar water…" Baki stared at the bucket, sweat beading his brow.
"Drink it. A miracle will happen."
"Gulp, gulp, gulp, burp~" Baki gripped the bucket and downed every last drop. A white mist began to emanate from his body as he felt himself healing rapidly.
The mist spread through the locker room like fog.
"Click." The locker room door opened, and a tall figure stepped in.
"Baki, when did you start smoking?" Yujiro Hanma swaggered in, eyeing the misty room.
Baki stiffened at his father's voice but wouldn't show fear in front of his friends and girlfriend.
He planted his hands on his hips, trying to look nonchalant.
"What are you doing here now? Are you really afraid of me? Trying to strike while I'm not fully recovered?" Baki feigned calm and glanced at Yujiro.
"Baki." Yujiro sneered, chin raised.
"Stop pretending. Your legs are shaking."
Baki's eyes flicked down to his legs… then suddenly Yujiro lunged forward, grabbed Baki's face, and slammed him against the wall.
"When you provoke me, choose your words carefully." Yujiro's veins stood out, his expression fierce.
"Even if it's a lie, I won't let you think I'm afraid of you!"
"You just beat a third‑rate martial artist. Don't act like you understand the real world!"
"Get lost, kid!" Yujiro roared and stomped forward, smashing the wall with his foot and throwing Baki out of the stone tower.
"Tch, I thought you might be worth something, but you're nothing special." Yujiro walked off with his hands in his pockets.
"Bang!" Baki hit the ground hard. Yujiro's strength left him shaken.
"So strong… truly strong… strong enough to make me proud." Baki rolled over, stood, and ran back toward the tower.
"There are always stronger people out there," he murmured, eyes fixed on where Yujiro had disappeared. Then, oddly, he exhaled with relief.
Baki clenched his fists, annoyed with himself for feeling that way.
"Baki, are you okay?" Retsu Kaioh and Kozue rushed to his side.
"I'm fine. I just hate not being strong enough." Baki relaxed his fists, unwillingness burning in his eyes.
"Your father is indeed powerful." Retsu Kaioh placed a hand on his shoulder. "But you need to rest and prepare for your next match."
"Mm, I understand." Baki nodded, the earlier excitement of recovering now gone.
Inside Kaioh Kaku's private room, Kaioh Kaku had just finished his match. An old man and a younger man relaxed over tea.
"Old friend, it feels like most competitors here are weak," Sol Mirek glanced at the system panel. He had ten days left in this world, and moving at this pace was inefficient. He needed a plan.
Kaioh Kaku took a sip of tea, a smile flickering in his eyes.
"You mean everyone here's weak, or just most?"
Sol gulped his tea, then toyed with the cup.
"I assessed everyone's strength. Only three fighters here are at a high level. All the rest are foreign competitors or lower‑tier fighters."
Kaioh Kaku paused, setting down his teacup.
"You want to change the tournament format?"
"Divide domestic and foreign fighters into separate groups, select five warriors to battle. If one wins, they keep fighting until they defeat all five," Sol said with a slight smile, eyes sharp.
Kaioh Kaku considered it, then nodded slowly.
"Interesting suggestion. But it would break a long‑standing tradition."
Sol's smile didn't fade as the teacup in his hand turned to dust.
"Traditions are meant to be broken. Besides, wasn't the tournament meant to find the strongest fighter in the world?"
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