A rolling anger boiled to the surface, shrinking his clear blue eyes as he turned to defend Char-chan against Seo's assault. It was one thing to keep from pummeling a man due to employer-ship, it was another to allow one to bad mouth a genuine Gunpla fighter. And still, as if out of habit, he shut the lid of those raging emotions. His grasp on the wheelchair tightened until shivers ran up its frame. At that point, he let go entirely and maliciously decided he would take Naoki up on his offer out of spite. It must've been strange he assumed, for an enemy to stride up to their group and accept such an offer as quickly as he did. "You got my services, Kid. If for no other reason then to piss off taskmaster Seo over there," he told him, thumbing Team Zenshin High.
Afterwards he casually strode away, leaving the crowded arcade, sliding through the throng of people as if the wind pushed him along their canals. Once on his path home, he took a deep breath and exhaled, still struggling with the intense feelings barreling in his stomach. It made him feel heavy and to some degree, worthless. He rubbed the back of his head out of sheer exhaustion, determined to fix his mood before returning home to his cramp and untidy apartment.
- - -
Settled in the stands, keeping a hard eye on Ryoichi as he left was a rather unique looking
man. He was dressed in a somewhat formal attire, though the air he held around him was intense. The boy next to him had been blubbering over Ryoichi's defeat; cheering during his victories too and on the edge of his seat the entire tournament. That had meant a lot to the gentleman, seeing as Ryoichi was his student for all intents and purposes. As the people around them begun to leave, the man stood up, and with wide burning eyes and a slight, even smile said,
"What an ugly mess. It would appear my pupil's potential has been dulled over the years. I was excited to hear he had finally gotten back into battling... Only," his open and honest gaze lowered into a steely edge.
"It would appear my pupil has committed the most grievous sin against himself. He's ceased to allow himself to grow. I believe its time for a little reunion, don't you?" he asked the boy.
The boy nodded, holding a "limited-event kit" to his chest. "Want me to show you where he stays? we live next to one another."
"That would be splendid!" he said with heart and mirth.
"In return I shall ensure you get home safely lad. Of this much, I promise you!"