[Akihiko frowned with disbelief. He was going to have to be completely blunt with Ryoji, to make sure he understood what he was possibly getting himself into.] You need to be aware that this is just the beginning. It’s only gonna get harder from here on out. Muscle soreness – that goes away, and your body can build up resistance to it. But the other stuff? Most of it’s mental, and you need to be able to handle all that. I’m gonna have to push you to your limits, Ryoji. That’s the most effective way for you to get stronger.

[It was what he went through. Whenever his body felt too tired, or if he even had an inkling to quit, he would think of Miki. He would remember how helpless he had been to save her, and how much he hated that feeling. It gave him enough motivation to run just one more lap, throw one more set of punches, push himself that much further. He didn’t become a boxing champion by sitting idly on his ass, after all.

Akihiko sighed quietly, recalling the way he had spoken to Minako earlier.] Are you talking about the… [He paused briefly and looked around to make sure no one else was listening in.] …Death stuff? I know that you’re going to… die, in the future. Why do you think I’d turn you away for that reason?