Ankh, for just a second, feels satisfied with the effect that punch seemed to have had. He doesn't realise how much his grip has weakened until Eiji takes advantage of it to make an escape, and that catches him enough by surprise that Eiji's on his way through the door before he has a chance to respond.

As he chases after him, he curses himself for reacting to that taunt probably exactly the way the other had wanted him to. Damn Eiji's ability to manipulate situations. All this time, and Ankh still occasionally forgets he does that.