I'm surprised Aoba wasn't knocked out. He got hit cleanly on the temple with a punch he didn't see coming. He should have been out like a light. Orima not following up properly and the bell basically saved him.
I wonder what the plan is now. Aoba was already out of options before. I cant say much about a corner that lets him walk back out like that without a word, though I understand that in the fight world giving up then will give you a bad reputation with the public and might be career-ending.
Hopefully, Aoba stops thinking that he's just there to entertain the champion and actually goes in with killer instincts regardless of how outmatched he is.
I find it funny how everyone in the comments is getting worked up about Kenshin. XD
Being self-centered is what sells fights. Or in this case, the manga through the eventual match with him.
He's also taken Orima's punch before so he certainly didn't see it coming the first time. Or, if that scar was the outcome as is suggested, he did partially dodge it.
Besides, it's the final round, so Aoba might not win the fight, but if he can still put up a fight and survive until the final bell, Kenshin is going to have to eat those words he just spewed about the fight being over, and it can also be considered a pretty good achievement against Orima to lose on score rather than get KOed.
For me it’s the complete disregard for the level of courage and preparation it took for someone like Aoba to get this far
Why "for someone like Aoba"?
And the courage and preparation is expected. If Aoba had nothing to show at all, Kenshin wouldn't just be annoyed, he'd be livid.