Hope

19

It was about 7 p.m. and we had finished eating out dinner. It was a very simple dinner in the hotel itself but it was very funny since I was with a lot of amazing skaters.

After dinner we could walk a bit through the city, go shopping etc. But Yuzuru and I already had a plan.

"Let's go, the rink isn't too far away!"

We went it by foot, it was a really nice summer night. While we were walking I kept asking questions about the Japanese language and what was written on the signs. Hanyu explains to me, kanji per kanji, he had a really excited facial expression, which makes my heart jump Everytime that I see it.

We got into the ice rink lobby.

There was an old lady at the reception she looked really nice. When she saw Yuzu she asks for an autograph and a photo, is so nice to see that Hanyu is beloved by everyone at any age.

"Kanojo wa dare desuka?" The old lady asks, I couldn't get what she said but Yuzuru pulled me closer and presented me.

"I told her your name and that this is your first time in Japan." He whispers.

"Yoroshiku" the lady said and bowed, I did the same.

Then she made a sign for us to follow her and opened the ice rink's door.

"Hanyu-san, (Y/N) wa suki desuka?" The woman asks before opening unlocking the door. I notice that Yuzuru showed a surprised face.

(Translation: Do you like (Y/N)?)

"Gomennasai..." She slightly smiles and let us go skating.

"What did she asked you? You look scared." I was a bit concerned about him, what if she asked something too personal and made him feel bad, Yuzu hardly ever talks about intimate things, even with us from TCC. It is one of the reasons why Javier tells us that Yuzuru is a mystery.

"N-never mind... oh! Look at the smoothness of the ice!" Hanyu runs near the board and lean forward. I get closer and indeed the ice was impeccable. Not all of the lights from the arena were on, so it was not as bright as an competition day's ice rink.

"C'mon! Let's put our skates on!" I speak taking the skater's arm and pulling him to a bench.

I sat down, there was only us there, the Ice King and I, sitting on a bench in a huge arena.

"This is crazy..." I say while looking around, there were a lot of benches for the public. It will be filled tomorrow and I can't control the adrenaline inside me, just thinking about all the people who will see me skating... It's just nuts.

"I know..." Yuzu giggles and leans his back on the wall.

"Have you already tied your skates?" I shout and star lacing my boots in a really fast speed.

Yuzuru giggles and takes something from my backpack, it was the towel which I use to clean my skates. I had it for a long, long time.

"Hey, is it some king of good-luck-towel?" He asks while inspecting it.

"Not really, I just bought it a couple of years ago."

"Hmm..." He flips it over and over. It was a really basic towel, when I bought it, it was snow-white but after years, it became yellowish.

"I have a lot of whinnie the pooh towels that my fans give me, I'm gonna give you one as a present!" He smiled, folds and put my towel back, not waiting for any answer from me.

He stands up and heads into the ice. Hanyu skates really fast through all the rink it was such a beautiful sight. Just him and the ice, nothing else.

I finished tying my skates and go skating. As I step my blades on it I felt the energy that it brings. I can't wait for tomorrow.

"Hey!" Yuzu suddenly brakes near me and I see ice crystals flying in front of me.

"The ice is incredible!" I exclaim. Then he takes my hand and we skate through the frozen water.

"Look below us! Look!" Yuzu points to our feet.

"It's us!" He giggles and I could see our reflection.They had just passed the Zamboni so the ice was spotless, it was like a mirror. I could see we both, holding hands and smiling to the ice.

I look up and close my eyes, letting my blades slide. It was very cold but I think the adrenaline made my body warmer.

I hear Yuzu's small laugh and open my eyes.

"What?" I joke, he was staring at me, laughing.

"You're just so adorable and the atmosphere is so nice here..." He smiles, leaving me speechless, did he called me adorable??

"Okay, let's train a bit now. I'm gonna play your song."

I go to the middle, where my choreography starts.

[Yuzuru's POV]

I play start in (Y/N)'s short program's song. It was a really delicate song, I love it from the first time that I heard. And seeing (Y/N) dancing to it was breathtaking, I think she did better than me and the best thing ever is to see her satisfied with her work.

The song starts, she begins with some footsteps, the moves were completely in sync with the melody.

The triple flip and double loop were the first combo and she did it perfectly! I would give the maximum GOE.

Her interpretation, was out of this world, every movement, every facial expression, she was doing it with love, with passion, proudly.

Some jumps were messed up, including the triple Axel, but the spins were fantastic! We trained a lot so she could use a little bit of arm choreography while spinning, it really makes the skating more beautifully.

When she finished, I saw her there, a girl, in the middle of the ice rink, breathless. A smile is shown on her face. I couldn't hold my tears and my smile.

"It was amazing (Y/N) I loved it!!" I skate as fast as I could and give her a really tight hug.

"Are you crying?" She asks me laughing.

"Well, let's say that it touched my heart! I've got hope that you will get on the podium!" I slightly shake her shoulders and hug her again.

"I'm really glad that you liked it Yuzu! You have no idea!" Tears starts falling down her cheeks and she returns my hug.

I could feel that she was very satisfied with herself. I can't stop smiling, the thought that she is everytime closer to her dream is really great. I'm so proud of her...