Tachibana paused, chest heaving slightly from the exertion of trying to keep up. "What?" he asked, reaching up to rub at his cheek, only barely aware of the cut that had formed.

He had been so utterly focused on the fight -- something he had to do to give Hajime anything resembling a chalance-- he hadn't even noticed his own state.

...well. Outside of the general ache that was reminding him that he hadn't been regularly practicing for a few months now. But he was very used to just ignoring that.