His pendulum rhythm slowly returns afterward, the cadence becoming calmer now, almost lazy again. He continues swaying lightly while circling at long range, but no punches come out this time.
And somehow, Shimamura stops attacking too. He simply waits at the center ring with countless openings exposed, both gloves hanging loosely while his body sways subtly beneath the arena lights as if inviting Elliot to approach him instead.
"Oh… interesting."
"Look at Graves slowing everything down here. He's thinking now."
"And Shimamura immediately stops pressing too! It's like both guys suddenly realized something about the other."
For several seconds, neither fighter commits. The arena noise lowers into a tense murmur while Elliot continues circling carefully, eyes locked toward Shimamura's strange loose posture.
Then finally, Elliot tests him, and a clean textbook jab shoots out, and another one.
