Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sound of skates hitting the ice provided a sort of comfort to Niko as he let them drown out the announcers' voices. He did small circles around the rink as he took it all in. Everything looked so much different on the ice compared to being in the stands. He had only ever seen such a thing on TV, never had he imagined he’d be one of those Olympic skaters. The chill was stronger here, invading his lungs like a frosty death with every inhale he took and seeping through the clothes he wore and into his bones. Looking out to the stands, he could see Snuffy watching him with Barou standing beside him. He could see Sendou further ahead practicing some jumps and spins before pausing to look around. 

The redhead spotted his teammate with ease, speeding over and pulling Niko over to the side of the rink with him. They leaned on the railing and Niko’s nerves must have been written clear on his face. Despite his usual attitude in competitions, the costumes and makeup were always the things to set him on edge. His hair was slightly curled with one side slicked back so that both his eyes were visible to the cameras. His face felt more exposed than he was used to and that alone made him want to get off the ice. 

Snuffy must’ve seen his discomfort, that or Sendou did and called for him to come over. Before he knew it, Snuffy reached a hand out to the boys, ruffling their hair before setting it back down into position. He smiled at them, softly pulling the knitted hat further down his head until his light hair was covered. “Relax you two, you’re gonna do great. Your short program was excellent; all I need from you is your best. Not gold, not silver, not even bronze, just your best.”

He grabbed their hands and gave a comforting squeeze before asking for their sweaters and sending them away to take in the rink. The sweaters had their names and Italy written proudly on the back and with them gone, their costumes were revealed to the public. Sendou's was more like what you'd find men wearing in these competitions. 

He wore black velvet pants that had gems bedazzled along his hips and sides of his legs. The top was made of a similar fabric that stopped around his pecs before transitioning to a black mesh. The mesh went down the length of his arms stopping at his wrists with a sharp cut. There were gems placed in a waterfall pattern going from his neckline downwards dissolving into the velvet. Niko’s was more on the feminine side of male costumes. Tight black pants made of velvet. He had a thick belt that was bedazzled in similar gems and his shirt was frilly and loose. There was a small cape attached to the shoulders made of glitter black mesh and something similar could be found around his waist making a small skirt. 

Despite the change in rules for who can partake in the pairs and ice dancing, the costumes remained gendered. Regardless of his feelings toward it though, he can’t be bothered to worry about it. On the ice, he skates in time with Sendou, practicing the timings on jumps while the announcers talk about them. Talking about their stats, previous scores, previous competitions, and their opinions on the skaters, to the point it all became nothing but white noise. Before he knew it, the group was ushered off the ice. Niko stood beside Sendou at the gate, his arms at his sides but his hands twitching a bit as he steadied his nerves. Sendou, like he always did, reached down to pull Niko into a hug, and in a blink, they were on the ice. 

“First up for the free skate, representing Italy, Ikki Niko, age 14, and Shuuto Sendou, age 18. They’ll be skating to The Four Seasons - Summer in G Minor by Adrian Chandler.” With that, they get into their starting position.

Niko stood in front of Sendou, his feet crossed in a way that was similar to a ballerina. He had one arm raised to the sky while the other was pointed outward. Sendou held his hands with his feet pointed out to the sides. When the music starts, Sendou spins Niko to face him before the two push away and skate in opposite directions. The rink was the standard for competitions, giving them optimal space to dart across the ice at top speed. At the first pause, they stand at the opposite ends of the oval rink spinning until it starts back up again. After, they take off to each other, so close you might think they would’ve collided. They mirrored each other, creating symmetrical patterns in the ice before meeting back up in the center. They locked their hands together as Sendou led the jump. 

At the land, Niko let his leg stretch and graze the ice before Sendou pulled him up into the air. So far everything was perfect. He heard the sounds of the crowd oohing and ahhing at their show. The applause that followed every move and the idea of this being televised was pushed far from his mind. His eyes found Sendou's and there was a level of confidence and faith in them that allowed Niko to relax his mind as they entered into a death spiral. 

From the spiral, it's another lift. A twist lift that leaves him dizzy from the movement. From here Niko knew that jumps followed a step pattern. He did the routine easily, his legs burning from how hard he skated. The first jump was easy. Dizzying but easy, his foot hit the ground barely giving himself enough time to steady himself.

As he went for the second jump, he felt the wind from the jumping but something was wrong. He was on the ground but he wasn't standing. He was supposed to be gliding right now, mirroring Sendou but he can't. They were supposed to be gliding in circles for the extended pause in the song, and all yet all he heard was silence.

Not the crowd's bated breath, not the scratch of blades on ice, not the sound of cheers at the elegant designs they made. All that entered his ears was his own heavy breathing. The adrenaline from skating muted everything and slowly his senses came back to him. 

The smell of ice freezing his lungs, the taste of iron from his lip, the sight of his skate facing wrong, and his hand red from where it cut against the blade.

The pain was the last thing to come back and when it did, it came back in full force.

°•°•°•°•°•°

"Alright, Yo-chan, last season wasn't great but it was better.” His mother’s voice pulled him out of his game, making Hiori pause it and rest the device on his lap. “I think if we add some more endurance training, as well as some other things to your solo routine, you'll be ready for the next season," she said happily, her hands clasped together as she smiled brightly at him.

His father was in the kitchen making their dinner. Hiori never knew what was in it, just that it was rich in nutrition and would supply him with all the energy he needed for the day. The smell of it only served to lessen his appetite more as he listened to his mother ramble on about his future routines and all the ideas in her head.

He paid little attention to her rambling, they always consisted of the same thing anyway, More training, changing his diet, more of this, and less of that. When Hiori was scouted by Bastard Müchen and told he'd need to move to Germany, he thought that meant he could escape his parents' judgmental eyes. He thought it meant he would be alone and would need to listen to his coach and no one but his coach. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

His parents followed him to Germany, going as far as buying a home there just so Hiori could live with them and not in the dorms. So caring they made sure that Hiori would never be able to escape their gaze. It was suffocating but if it kept them happy, he could handle it. 

"Yo-chan, are you listening?”  His mother’s tone bordered on upset, he could almost hear the restraint in her voice. “I know you must be hungry but I wanna see you with silver, at least." She said, reaching out to softly ruffle his hair.

Hiori had always been told he looked a lot like his mother. Same bright cyan hair, large eyes in the same color, delicate features, and smooth unblemished skin. The only thing that set them apart were the traits he took from his father. His skin was sunkissed and lightly tanned and his hair had a slight curl to it. During competition season, it was always pressed flat as if that would make the judges like him more.

Looking into his mother's eyes from where he sat, he could see features that were the telltale signs of her patience thinning. Her eyes were stone as she looked at him and her tender smile wavered as she waited for a sign of Hiori hearing her. Moving the switch completely off his lap, he turned his body to face her fully and smiled before leaning into the touch.

A practiced motion, one he knew would keep the peace with his parents. One that would make them coo and dote on him and keep up the illusion of the perfect household. She smiled brightly as she pulled him into a hug before his father called out for dinner. He always took great pleasure in describing their meals and how everything would help him get better. Hiori knew it was all for him to get that gold medal but in moments like these, he allowed himself to forget the thin sheet of ice keeping his house safe. He let himself forget the fact that once he left and the doors closed that they would argue and go right back to hating each other.

He could forget skating, the issues of his home, the feelings that bubbled up into a nasty mess, he could forget all of it. Forget and pretend everything was fine if he wished. Dinner passed in a blur, the sound of his parents engaged in idle conversation about work and his tutoring turned into white noise as he picked at his plate. His parents cooed at him as he left the table. It was strange, he knew they were going to fight once he left but at the same time, he wanted nothing more than to leave them behind. 

His room in Germany was different from his room back in Japan. He didn't have most of his consoles here. Just the easy-to-transport ones and a P.C. His switch was always in arms reach and his computer held most of his game data. The missing consoles weren't so bad, after all, they were all back home under his grandparents' watchful eye and would likely remain untouched until he returned.

He didn’t mind all of that but what he did mind was the emptiness of the room. His room back home wasn't customized or elaborately decorated but it was a representation of him. His walls had holes from old posters he hung up with staples and thumbtacks. There was paint missing from where the tape had ripped it off. His sheets were always partially hanging off his bed and he could still hear his parents berating him over it. There were always different game cases on the floor, a different collection every day and you could always find Hiori in the center of the mess entranced in a game.

That last part didn't change, he still spent most of his free time engaged in a game. Something about blocking out the rest of the world and focusing on a screen made everything feel okay. All his problems weren't as big and he could just be a kid. The only things that mattered were the keyboard and mouse in his hands. It was just a shame that his room felt more like a hotel room than a bedroom, a gift from his ever-gracious parents. After the move, his parents were much more concerned about him "growing up" and being more responsible that they had taken the redecorating of his room into their own hands. 

From then on, the childish messiness of it all was put to a forcible stop. His sheets were always a perfect match to his covers and pillowcases, and his bed was made perfectly every day. His game collection was stacked neatly on a shelf and the most that graced his floors were the pajamas from the previous night. It was the kind of manufactured neatness you'd see in a game. Like the room of a fraud that no one really knew.

As he lay on his bed, that nauseating feeling of being a fraud in his own room stuck to him like the sweat that pooled under his competition costumes. It was a gross, slimy feeling that made him want to drown himself in the shower. Filling his head with muck and grime, leaving Hiori feeling disgusted with himself. The only difference between the feeling of being a fraud and sweat was that, at least, he could wash off the sweat.

That night, he had a dreamless sleep. The sort of sleep that made you toss and turn and when you finally settled down, it was time to wake up. The kind of sleep that made you more tired and only served to pass the time than actually refresh you. Hiori was used to this sort of sleep though, so used to it that when his alarm went off he didn’t react to the way his body yearned to go back to bed. 

He didn't bother to look at the clock, he knew what time it was. 5:30 am like always. He'd shower, change into training clothes, do his parents' training regimen, and finally eat breakfast before being sent to the Bastard Müchen's rink to do Noa's training. Somewhere in between he'd eat lunch and then practice more, before being sent home and doing more training. Because, in his parents' words, the off-season was no reason to keep out of shape.

The sun hadn’t even come up yet when he began to fix his bed, making it look like it hadn't ever been used. The chill of the shower was more than enough to wash away the ache in his bones and he fell into the routine of his life. His parents were already ready by the door fixing their shoes and grabbing their water bottles. They smiled at Hiori when their eyes landed on him and Hiori was quick to return the pleasant smile. Ruffling his hair, the three of them took off for their morning run. By the time the sun was rising Hiori could already feel his stomach calling out for the dieted breakfast he ate every day. It took a lot of planning to make a plan that would provide him with everything while also adding the least amount of weight. As his mother said, a skater is nothing without their looks.

There were many quotes that his mother and father gave him. Funny ones like “ No matter how you do we’ll always love you. ” Silly ones like “ Dieting will keep you looking perfect, ” and “ Your next costumes should be more feminine while also masculine. ” Their words always meant so little to Hiori, they had no reason to matter when he knew the second he stopped skating his family would disappear. He didn't bother to verbalize his goodbye to them just waving as he started up his switch.

The walk to Bastard's rink made him grateful that his parents hadn't deemed the device too immature for him. He let himself get lost in the offline games, turning the long walk into something much more bearable. The Bastard Müchen rink was a large building with one main skating area shared by all the skaters. They specialized in figure skating but mainly the men's and women's singles.

Pairs, ice dancing, and teams were done sparsely but Noa had skaters he transferred for those competitions if need be. Skaters like Michael Kaiser and Alexis Ness were often chosen and paired up together, while skaters like Isagi Yoichi and Yukimiya Kenyu, skaters that came from the same Japanese program as Hiori, were always in the men's singles. Even the bigger skaters with more bulk on them did figure skating though they mostly were relegated to minor competitions and winter lessons.

The sounds of blades against ice filled Hiori's ears as he entered the rink. The chatter of locker rooms was even more overwhelming making Hiori regret not having his headphones in. He let himself move on autopilot, taking off his outer layer of clothes till he was in just leggings and a tank top. The chill of the rink was already sinking into his skin and he could see his breath in the air as he exhaled.

Getting on the ice, he relaxed his muscles and began his usual warm-up. It was a routine he had memorized since childhood with only a few slight adjustments for his age. Two laps around the rink, another lap with 10 jumps in between, spins, and twizzles. He didn’t even do ice dancing and still, his parents thought it important for him to learn a twizzle. Every skill he would need to know, he practiced in his warm-up and let the sounds of the rink numb his mind. He lost himself in the practice, his mind drifting to games he could play when he got home. He thought of strategies for Splatoon and red stone machines for Minecraft, along with some tricks he could try in Fortnite.

Interrupting his warm-up, a voice called out to Hiori and startled him from his trance. He floundered a bit and bumped into another skater, eliciting a low hiss from the man’s lips.

“Watch where you’re going, cornflower.” Obnoxious, arrogant, and rude. Hiori didn’t need to look to know that it was Kaiser talking down on him. His sharp blue eyes, similar to water under a frozen lake, glared at him as if Hiori committed the highest level of sin against him. The older boy clicked his tongue in disgust, his strange lackey, Ness, repeating the same motion before the two skated off. Hiori couldn’t help but roll his eyes at the two before turning to the voice that initially called for him. He was met with a pleasant face, smiley and cheery as he drew close to the edge of the rink. Isagi leaned on the railing waving as Hiori forced himself to relax. 

“Isagi, good morning, how have you been?” His voice as always was level and polite and it seemed to resonate well with Isagi who only smiled wider. Taking in the older boy’s reaction was calming. He liked seeing that he could make people happy and keep them smiling, even if those feelings never came back to him.

“Ah, I’ve been well,” he said with a shrug. His midnight eyes softened as he looked at Hiori, something Hiori recognized as pity. “It’s surprising you always show up so early. You don’t look like you enjoy skating, you know?”

“You’ve said this before, Isagi.” The laugh that followed felt hollow in his ears as he leaned further against the railing. “I come early-”

“Because you enjoy being productive and sticking to your routine,” he parroted. His eyes drifted away from Hiori looking up at the ceiling tiles instead. “Yeah, I know… It's just…"

"Just what?" Hiori asked. Isagi’s lack of eye contact put Hiori on edge, compelling the younger of the two to look at Isagi harder. His hands were messing with bag straps and he kept shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Isagi bit his lip for a second before he spoke again.

"Well, you know, the season is about to start again, and your whole situation. It just sounds so stressful. If I were you-" Isagi was cut off by the booming voice of their coach Noa, looking at Hiori one last time before leaving. His bright eyes were stuck in Hiori's mind long after he left. 

His eyes were too honest, it was sickeningly easy to read him at times. He couldn’t help but feel unnerved as he stood on the ice. The other boys gathered and lined up and Hiori felt himself get pulled in line with them. It took a few seconds but he did eventually push Isagi's words to the back of his mind as he waited for Noa's announcement.

It was the usual start-of-season nonsense. The upcoming competitions– both major and minor, their previous rankings, and scores from last season. With the usual prattle, Hiori couldn’t be blamed for letting his mind drift. He stood in the middle of the group, and let his eyes wash over the boys around him. He could see Ness and Kaiser whispering to each other, likely about their next routines and how they can win gold. He saw Isagi enthralled by Noa, likely taking the man’s words to heart and working out his plan of action. He couldn’t help but roll his eyes at Isagi’s drive, training under his idol with the sole goal of surpassing him. If this were a book or anime Hiori would likely be rooting for him but here? It felt like nothing more than a slap to his face.

It’s so easy to spot when someone enjoys what they do. Hiori could see how skating brought such delight to their souls and he couldn’t help but hate it. His eyes scanned the crowd of kids and those vile feelings of hate and disgust only intensified. He was surrounded by boys and girls that took up skating as a profession because of a profound respect they held for the sport, because they had a talent they could profit off of, because they had a choice in the matter. Hiori stood amongst them like a peer but all he did was wish them the worst. 

He forced himself to tune back into the conversation, even if only to prolong the burning in the back of his eyes and keep his facade in check. There was no need to ruin what he had and be sent home to deal with the creatures he called parents. His mouth felt dry as Noa’s eyes tracked through the crowd and landed on him. They made eye contact so tense that his stomach coiled under the Frenchman’s gaze. 

“Yo Hiori,” he called out, singling the teen from the others. The skaters moved, separating themselves from Hiori leaving him standing alone under their eyes. “I need to speak with you privately, come to my office when you get the chance.” He didn’t project his voice across the rink, but at the same time, he didn’t need to. When Noa spoke the room went so silent you could hear a pin drop on a carpet. When Noa was done, the group dispersed back into their little cliques and groups around the rink. Hiori let out a shaky breath and sighed, he could still feel their eyes on him. His stomach folded into itself as he stepped off the ice and into the locker rooms. He was so screwed.

He didn’t hesitate to remove his skates, going through the motions to at least preserve the blades, putting on the rubber guards, and shoving them back into his bag. His head was throbbing and he knew better than to panic or stress. He had to be calm, had to be the same he’s always been, had to keep his cool and let people’s words roll off his back as they always did. He couldn’t allow himself to be affected by something so minute. It took a few minutes to gather himself but he was soon tying his sneakers in the same practiced motions he always did before heading for Noa’s office.

The office wasn't in the main building, but rather in the side building that held the dorms for the players that wished to stay there. Hiori had been in and out of the building multiple times despite not living there. Isagi and Kurona made it easy to relax there for a few hours without the devil breathing down his neck. The building held three floors and was split down the middle with the boy's rooms on one side and the girls on the other. Noa’s office was in the center of the first floor, making it easy for anyone to find him. Noa spent most of his time in his office only really coming to the rink when the competition season truly started and the competing players needed routines and guidance. The door to Noa’s office looked as normal as any other door in the dorm, with just an engraved plaque that read his name hanging on it.

When Hiori entered, he was met with the usual office decor. Noa’s awards and trophies lined the wall behind his desk, and security footage from the multiple cameras around the facility played in a loop from a monitor by the door. The hard tile of the office made Hiori’s footsteps echo in the room in time with the scratching of pen on paper. He had grown up seeing the red and black but Noa’s office always gave him a headache, everything about it was loud. The dark hardwood desk almost blended with the walls and if not for the red seat cushions the chairs might’ve done so as well. The bright lights of the room made the colors stand out more, burning themselves into Hiori’s eyelids.  

The chair's plush cushions allowed Hiori to sink into its backrest and he watched as Noa shuffled through some papers before acknowledging him. The stretch of silence only served to put Hiori more on edge. Noa wasn't one to check in with players or bring them to his office for nothing. Noa didn’t have the capacity to care about trivial things that weren’t outright harming skaters. The last ones to be in his office were Kaiser and Isagi and it was over them trying to trip each other on the ice. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered if he was being let go by Bastard. If he were kicked by the club, he could only imagine what could’ve happened next. 

Kicked from the club and blacklisted from every club in Germany. Maybe then his parents would get off his ass about the sport and move on. It was more likely that they'd start arguing in front of him, blaming each other before Hiori himself for the shortcoming. They were always looking for some excuse to show how they hated each other.

 Noa slid some papers in front of Hiori and the blue boy was met with the headshot of a man by the name of Marc Snuffy.

"Have you heard of the Ubers, Hiori?"

"Yeah, I see them here and there at every competition,”  Hiori’s eyes drifted up from the page, “What's going on, sir?" Noa’s eyes were sharp on him, golden pools that burned as they stared unwaveringly at him. He did not have a good feeling about this. “Sir?”

“After speaking with the head coach of the Ubers team, Marc Snuffy, we came to the agreement that you’ll spend this upcoming season with them,” Noa’s eyes returned to his paperwork and the lack of care in the man’s tone and actions made Hiori’s head spin. “And should you wish it you’d be permitted to stay permanently with the team.”

“If you don’t mind sir,” He hated how his voice sounded shaky in his ears. “Why am I being transferred?” Something, no everything about the situation was upsetting. A sudden transfer? Why? Why at the start of the season, why him, why was he always being moved around with any thought for his feelings?

“Snuffy wanted a player from my roster and we settled on you. You can ask him for more details when you get to Italy.” The blonde was as nonchalant as ever, Hiori grit his teeth. “I suggest you head home early to start preparing for your trip, both our teams and theirs  have made the needed preparations for you and your family.”

“Am I dismissed?” Hiori asked, his face blank as he held eye contact with Noa. The man handed him some more papers before nodding and bidding him goodbye. Hiori switched back to autopilot, he knew it was something that he shouldn't do so often but it helped. Letting himself escape reality and his thoughts, even if momentarily, soothed his mind. He could drift aimlessly and when he returned back to his body, he'd be able to handle the challenges ahead. 

He skated this way too, letting his body move on its own while he watched it with eyes that were not his. Emotionally detaching himself from everything related to skating so that when he inevitably quit the sport there wouldn’t be any harsh tugs on his heartstrings or memories to haunt him. In his mind, if the only things that tied him to the sport were his parents, when he no longer needed them there’d be nothing holding him to skating.

He lost himself in his mind, moving around the city he’d called home for almost 6 years now. When he thought of leaving, he was scared and worried about it. He wasn’t excited about the life that awaited him either.  It was a numb sort of feeling, one that he knew likely wouldn’t have changed if he was staying in Germany or moving back to Japan. When he finally returns to his body, he’s in the playground by his house. He can see the apartment they lived in from where he sat, the baby blue curtains drawn shut over the windows hiding everything inside. He watched the windows for a bit, watching how shadows changed and how lights shifted. He let out a sigh at the thought of going inside and pulled out his phone. Since he had time, he might as well research his new team.

°•°•°•°•°•°

His parents took the news as well as he expected them to. Brief flashes of anger on their faces before it settled into worry. Worry for his future and their chances for a gold medal but never for him. They called Noa repeatedly to get the details about the flight and their accommodations to which the man did nothing but state that one of Snuffy’s men would be in München to help them sometime in the coming week. His parents tried to push for more details but Noa just told them to wait until Snuffy and his team arrived in Germany. Everything leading up to the arrival of Snuffy was stressful. They cleaned out his room leaving only his bed sheets untouched and his room full of boxes. Funny how easily his life in Germany could be packed up.

He watched his parents periodically call their landlord and neighbors to see if anyone could watch their place for a bit while they were gone. Hiori knew what they really wanted. What they were actually going to do. He knows because they did the same thing when he was leaving Japan. Asking someone to watch the house for a month while they decide whether or not they’ll follow him. And he knows they will, they’d hate for their precious Yo-chan to do anything without their input. 

Perhaps that was why when he finally met Snuffy with his parents, he couldn’t help but be annoyed by the man’s aura. He was tall and slimmer than Noa but he was still very muscular for a skater. He knew he worked on the ice just by looking at the man’s legs but it was hard to tell if he was a figure skater or a hockey player. The man had a large hooked nose and deep-set eyes. His eyebrows were obscured by a black headband across his forehead that had the Uber’s club logo plastered on it. The large black and white shield was decorated with three gold stars and the club’s signature U plastered on it. Hiori despised it.

His jumpsuit was a similar color. Black and white color-blocked sports jacket and sweatpants as well as a pair of well-used but well-cared-for sneakers. His hair was darker than Noa’s platinum blonde hair, more of a strawberry blonde if anything. His eyes were almost owlish in nature and he had two other men at his sides. They didn’t stand out in Hiori’s eyes, looking more like the average dark-haired European he’s grown used to seeing around. 

What stood out in his eyes though was how the man introduced himself. He didn’t look at Noa first, he didn’t look at Hiori’s mother or father, no what he did when he first met up with Hiori and the others in the lobby of the Bastard’s ice rink was hold a hand out to Hiori. He reached a hand out to him and looked at the boy head-on as he introduced himself. The blue-haired boy couldn’t help but be a bit taken aback by that. He stood off to the side as he watched Snuffy talk to his parents and Noa. Polite and casual manner of speaking, never too forward, and the most touching he’s done so far was the handshake and occasional shoulder pat with his men.

Hiori watched the man’s behavior, looking for signs of anything that could tell him his true nature. His parents had easy tells. His mother’s eyes would narrow and her smile would become more forced. His father’s hands would twitch and his stance would get more rigid as he got upset, Even Noa had his ticks. The man’s brow would move up or down depending on the emotions and while his mouth made no noticeable change, his eyes would give away everything. Snuffy had no tells that Hiori could see easily. Everything about him was too… pleasant. He was too professional and too friendly. Hiori was so used to explosive personalities he felt almost uncomfortable.

Snuffy didn’t make himself an active part of Hiori’s life while they were still in Germany. He went about his usual routines, only this time Snuffy was there watching his life and taking notes. He was there at breakfast, during their runs, and even went to Hiori’s final practices as a member of Bastard. That seemed to be what garnered Snuffy’s attention the most. He watched with something similar to that of an eagle staring at his actions. Silently judging his actions and performance before marking them down somewhere. It felt almost like when the judges would mark his competition routines with nothing more than a look and a nod. A judgment sort of stare that made Hiori wonder if he was doing something wrong.

By the time the flight to Italy came, Hiori couldn’t be more relieved about it. A private flight from München to Turin. One in which he could just sleep and be left alone for an hour until he got there. The flight was as uneventful as he hoped. Nothing more than an hour and some change of silence. His parents were chatting it up with Snuffy, trying to pry as many details about the Ubers as they could though he was very adamant about not sharing. Hiori spent the flight drifting in and out of sleep, only thoughts of which Nintendo game to ask for and future routines drifting about in his head. 

By the time they landed, Hiori wished he could get back on the flight and go back to München. His parents couldn’t be happier about it, taking in the beauty of Turin. Snuffy’s men had left for Uber's private rink taking most of the stuff they packed to their respective places, allowing Snuffy to give the Hiori family a tour of the area. They passed many shops and stores, diners, bakeries, and many other things that passed in a blur for Hiori. He found himself nodding and mumbling in agreement with things without paying it much mind. When they finally arrived at the dormitories, Hiori’s eyes widened as he took in the building. 

The building towered over him and it felt more like an apartment building than anything else. He suspected it was likely a renovated apartment complex but he didn’t mind that thought. He could see a courtyard in the middle of the rounded structure pathways leading to different sections and boys his age wandering about. They all looked… happy. They looked at peace like the only thing stressing them out was ice skating. Hell, he even saw boys sitting under the arches, phones in hand playing online games, laughing and joking around. He saw girls doing TikTok dances and twirling around, gossiping on the grass. There were groups of younger kids being read to by different adults and he could see their parents smiling and talking to each other like old friends.

Looking at them, he was reminded of his last days in Japan. He remembered in elementary school watching the kids on the team run around and play games with each other. Watching them talk so easily with one another was frustrating. He was reminded of Karasu and how he was the only one to see off even if they weren’t best friends. Looking back at his parents, he saw their faces twinged with disgust and annoyance. That thin thread of longing he felt snapped as he looked at them. Forcing his gaze away from the dormitories he kept his eyes on the ground until they reached the Uber’s place of operations.

Stepping inside, he was met with the familiar chill of an ice rink. The tender chill of the outside couldn’t compare to the frost of the rink. Just breathing he could see his breath puff out in front of him. Snuffy directed his parents to his office, leaving Hiori alone to wander the rink and get used to the layout of it. The lobby was large and spacious, with a reception desk directly in the center of it. Looking up he met the usual tile ceiling as well as signs. In a large bold font was Italian, which he couldn’t understand followed by English words in a smaller font. He let out a sigh at the fact he’d need to learn Italian since German wouldn’t be all that helpful here.

The signs read Hockey Rink to the left and Skater’s Rink to the right. Somehow the idea of Ubers being a hockey team wasn’t surprising. Even though he did the bare bones amount of research, he still wasn’t surprised by the fact the Ubers were a dual club. After all, the first people to come up with the Ubers were big guys and elegant skaters as well as their list of achievements, all of which Hiori skimmed through. He could hear music coming from the Skater’s Rink and chose to follow it. After all, that rink would be where he spent most of his time anyways, he might as well see his future teammates. The music was some Italian song playing loud enough he could make out the lyrics from the other side of the double doors. 

He cracked them open slowly, not trying to draw attention to himself as he entered. If the building was cold, the rink was closer to the tundra. Inside the rink, the music rang clear in his ears. He couldn’t understand the lyrics but that didn’t stop him from getting lost in it. The music echoed throughout the rink, pulling Hiori closer and closer to the railing. He walked past lines of seats, letting his feet guide him to where he saw angels dancing. 

He watched them move across the ice like they were floating. Hand in hand, they spun around jumping in time with the music. The shorter of the two looked to trust his partner with his life, letting him lift the boy and spin so many times Hiori got dizzy watching them. Something about them was enchanting, casting spells on Hiori, freezing his feet in place. He had seen pairs skating before, watching Alexis and Michael or Isagi and Kurona perform together many times but this was different. As the song ended, Hiori felt almost enlightened by the performance, his eyes never leaving the shorter boy’s form.

They skated to the other side of the rink and it was only then Hiori tuned back into the world. On the other side was a tall man with long black hair pulled back into a loose bun. He had sharp features and everything about him was long and slender. The man moved rather strangely and Hiori found himself watching the interaction with wide eyes. Still reeling from the routine, Hiori almost didn’t hear when the question was directed at him. 

“Hey! Who are you?” The taller of the two asked. He spoke in English but Hiori could identify a Japanese accent when he heard one. His eyes drifted back to the shorter boy but he forced himself to look at the redhead. 

“Hiori. Yo Hiori.” 

“...Where are you from?” By now the two on the ice had skated over to where Hiori stood and the man they were talking to was making his way to the other side. 

“Japan. I was previously in the German club, Bastard Müchen.” With them so close, the urge to stare at the boy only grew stronger. Taking in his features, he couldn’t help but imprint them into his memory. Soft-looking dark hair that went down to his nose bridge, obscuring his eyes from Hiori’s curious ones. His skin was pale and he had the body of an ice skater. He wore fewer clothes than Hiori would’ve thought with loose shorts and a tank top, yet even as Hiori stared at him, the boy never seemed to be affected by the chill.

The redhead opened his mouth to speak again but was interrupted by the doors opening. Snuffy walked in, a smile growing on his lips as he saw Hiori with the three of them.

"Ah! Wonderful you're already making yourself known. Yo, these are some of the club members they're in the figure skating department." 

Hiori took a step back as they lined up in front of him. Standing in order of tallest to shortest, Snuffy began to introduce them. "The tallest one is our male singles skater, Jyubei Aryu, the redhead is one of our pairs skaters, Shuuto Sendou, and the shortest is the youngest of our team, Ikki Niko. Boys, this is our latest addition to the company Yo Hiori."

°•°•°•°•°

The rest of the day Hiori spent adjusting to the changes. He met the rest of the figure skaters as well as some of the hockey players. His parents were of course there, but strangely they weren't rushing him to move into the home they had rented for the month. His stuff from Germany was left inside a dorm room assigned to him. He hadn't gotten the chance to unpack when there was a knock on his door.

He was met with a head of thick hair and he hated the way his face flushed. The boy, Niko, stood there, his body relaxed as he seemed to be choosing his words.

"Hiori right?"

"Yes. Can I help you?"

"Wanted to know how you were settling in." Niko leaned over to peek inside Hiori's room, his mouth curling slightly as he did. "Looks like you haven't started yet though…"

"You could say that. I'm doing fine though, thank you for checking in Niko." The shorter boy nodded and without a word, entered the room across the hall. Times like these told Hiori that if there were a god, he's a cruel man. 

Hiori would never be the one to admit it aloud but something about Niko kept gnawing at him. He felt so familiar yet at the same time, he was a stranger in every sense of the word. Like a dream you can't quite place, only remembering the ghost-like touches left behind. He didn't do much unpacking, only taking a shower and attempting to go to bed.

Hiori tossed and turned in bed more that first night than he had ever before. It felt like sleep was avoiding him and as much as he didn't want to, Hiori spent the night on his phone. He wasn't sure why but Niko was at the epicenter of his mind. He turned his phone volume as low as possible before pulling up YouTube and searching up the boy's name. After all, if he's skating in the professional league, there are bound to be videos of his competitions.

The first video result was a short program from the previous year. From the thumbnail alone, it was easy to identify Niko and Sendou and the title of the video only confirmed it. The video said the song playing was " Me and My Husband" by Mitski and their movements matched the pace of the song almost perfectly.

They flowed hand in hand like water across a stone, bending the ice to their will. They looked like they were floating across the ice, the technical movements softened into something much more intimate. Hiori watched the routine a few times, cheering with the crowd in his head and holding his breath when the two made risky moves. 

The scoring section was significantly more impressive with the two getting more than double the points of the previous pair. That alone shot them up to first place. Watching the video, Hiori could identify Snuffy as well as one of the hockey players he had met earlier, Barou. The two of them looked at Niko and Sendou with proud smiles and words of Italian praise could be heard even with the Japanese announcer talking over them.

Niko looked vastly different in the video than he did in person. His eyes were his most striking feature. Large seafoam teal eyes. They were glassy in a sense, the lights of cameras being reflected so easily it looked like his eyes were holding gems. His eyes suited his face though. The perfect pair of glass eyes for the doll that was Niko Ikki.

Without his hair in the way, it was easy to see how rounded Niko's face was. Full cheeks and lips, a button nose, and thin eyebrows that only enhanced everything. Not a single blemish touched his skin. His cheeks and nose were flushed a gentle pink and he seemed to glow under the lights. Like his Hiori was sure some part of the effect came from the magic that was makeup, but something in his gut told him that Niko would be this enchanting even without makeup. He looked nervous, fidgeting next to Sendou as the video faded out. 

The next video auto-played and Hiori scrambled for his headphones. It took a few seconds to plug them in but when he succeeded the first thing he heard was,

"Could this be the last time Niko competes?"

Hiori's not proud of it, but like a moth to a flame, he needed to know more. The video was of some Youtuber with a thick English accent. He pulled up different videos of Niko's previous competitions, from regional championships to his most recent one at the Junior Olympics. 

He went into an almost concerning amount of detail about Niko's life from the prefecture he grew up in to when he was scouted by Uber's team. Pulling up interviews from Snuffy as well as some of the hockey players. Part of him wondered just how creepy this could be considered but that thought was pushed to the back of his mind.

The next clip that came up was Niko's free skate from the Junior Olympics. It showed Niko in the middle of a jump and when the clip played Hiori watched in horror. Niko's foot didn't land right, knocking the boy onto his ass. From the way his foot was twisted alone, Hiori knew it was a serious injury but at the moment Niko looked confused.

Absentminded as he tried to check his foot. His hand cut across the blade and Hiori could see tears welling up in the boy's eyes. He was biting his lip harshly and it didn't take much to see the shakey frantic breaths Niko was taking Sendou was already by Niko's side trying to calm him down before the adrenaline ran out but was unsuccessful as the clip ended with the sound of Niko crying in pain.

The sound rang clear in his ears, almost echoing in his brain as he put his phone away. As a skater, Hiori knew accidents could happen. It didn’t matter if you were a trained professional with years on years of experience or a beginner just starting out on the ice, accidents happened. Most skaters got scrapes on their legs or bruises across their bodies but something as serious as a twisted ankle was more than enough to ruin a skater during competition season. The recovery time for the physical injury as well as the recovery time for the mental injury could take up the whole rest of the season. If it didn’t, it meant that any competitions you were previously signed up for had to be forfeited and you could likely only do minor ones for the season. 

Though looking at Niko now, he seemed to have completely recovered. That practice he had seen earlier was proof of that. Niko whizzing across the ice with the same speed and elegance he had in the videos. He still enamored audiences and cast himself in the limelight with ease and his trust in his partner was still strong as ever. Hiori knew these were baseline assumptions, after all, he doesn’t know Niko or know the inner workings of his mind. There weren’t any videos of Niko’s recent competitions, just different versions of old ones. 

Hiori let out a groan as he realized just what he did—watching multiple videos as well as a biography about the boy that was just across the hall. He turned off his phone completely at that putting it on the charger and hiding it under his bed. He forced himself to bed, pushing any thoughts of Niko out of his mind, and prayed sleep or death would take him. 

His dreams were endless and empty as always. Nothing but a black void in which Hiori is the sole resident. It wouldn’t be so bad if he woke up refreshed or well-rested. The lack of people paired with the quiet of it all was soothing. The void reminded him of the night sky like he ascended and was no longer just a person but a star. Often, Hiori found himself just sitting there drifting and swaying with the void. He wasn’t sure when he noticed it, but there was something new in his void. A flower, growing out of the void. There was no dirt and no other changes to his void but the flower remained. 

Tiny and blue. A forget me not last he checked. He reached out trying to grab it but when his fingers brushed against the flower, he woke up.  Hiori needed a few minutes to take in his surroundings. Waking up in Italy after being in Germany for so long was strange. From his window he could see the sun starting to rise, its rays of light peeking over the horizon. He chose to head to the rink, he needed to get used to the place before he could ever truly skate on it and warm-ups at this time shouldn’t interrupt anyone. 

The Skater’s Rink was as empty as he expected it to be. He didn’t bother to turn on the lights, opting to just skate in the dark. At least that was the plan except someone else thought of a similar idea. Somewhere in the stands, high up so far Hiori had to strain his eyes to see him, was Niko. He was making himself as small as possible and if not for the dim light from the boy's phone, Hiori doubted he’d ever see him. He wasn’t entirely sure what to do in this situation. 

If he were back in Germany, he would’ve just continued with his original plan. After all, in Bastard it was a lot easier to do anything by just keeping your nose out of people’s business and having a friend.  He couldn’t do that here. Here, Hiori was the new recruit and everyone wanted to assess his capabilities and skills. No one would willingly want to associate with him until they knew what he could do. It wasn’t like his relationship with Isagi and the other boys on Bastard who he grew up with. For the first time, Hiori was alone.

°•°•°•°•°

Hiori attempted to leave the room without being noticed but his plans were spoiled by Snuffy. The man entered the room flicking the lights on and immediately making his presence known. Hiori could see Niko curl further into himself but his dark hair stood out more against the sliver of the stands.

Snuffy seemed almost surprised at Hiori's presence in the rink, clicking his tongue and muttering something in Italian under his breath. The older man turned his attention away from Niko as he spoke to Hiori.

"Yo. This is my fault for not telling you sooner but weekends are mandated rest days." He looked apologetic as he spoke to Hiori, guiding the boy out of the rink. "Ikki! That applies to you as well! Get out of there!"

There was muffled cursing from the stands and Hiori watched as the boy almost floated down. He looked angelic under the rink's intense lighting. Every feature of his from his rounded cheeks to his delicate hands highlighted. He walked with purpose and confidence and perhaps Hiori was being dramatic but he swore he saw a halo atop Niko's head.

Snuffy was quick to usher both boys out of the rink, confiscating Hiori's skates in the process. Hiori spotted a few of the other skaters loitering around the front of the building eyeing Snuffy like they were looking for an opportunity to get inside. Snuffy, despite his pleasant demeanor, was in fact a cruel man. He locked the doors from the inside and without a second glance turned his back on them. Most of the skaters in the area dispersed into their own little groups, leaving the area to wander the city. 

Hiori was never a social butterfly. His first ‘friend’ was Karasu Tabito, an older boy that was in his prefecture’s skating club. That boy approached him first only to compliment him as well as criticize his investment in the sport. He became friends with Isagi because Isagi’s skating style was something that caught Hiori’s attention. They talked about Isagi and his thought process in competitions, not Hiori and his lack of motivation. Any friends he made after Karasu and Isagi were friends of Karasu or Isagi. He couldn’t remember the last time he went out of his way to become friends with someone. 

That being said, he might’ve made the coward’s move. He went over to the far end of the courtyard and beneath one of the trees. Scrolling through the contacts on his phone, he looked for a familiar name. His searching however was interrupted by someone calling his name. He was met with red eyes staring at him. 

Barou Shouei was big. Wide, tall, and buff. His hair was a deep black, almost ink-like with how it flowed down his shoulders. He had three thick red stripes in his hair that matched his eye color perfectly. Hiori would’ve taken in more of the man’s appearance but his face looked like he was mere seconds away from throwing things. One of the other guys near Barou noticed Hiori’s confusion and waved him over, sealing Hiori’s fate. 

Standing next to the group of skaters, it was strikingly obvious just how much taller they were. The only one that wasn't taller than Hiori was Niko, who looked surprisingly relaxed next to the group. Where they were loud and rowdy, Niko was reserved and quiet. Always observing and watching. Even with the hair over his eyes, Hiori could feel how the boy would shift his gaze over people. That paired with the knowledge of what Niko’s eyes looked sent shivers up and down Hiori’s spine.

“You’re from Germany, right?” The one asking this question made Hiori do a mental double-take. His hair was something like a mullet with the back section of it dyed a bright neon green and everything else his natural hair color. He had a light stubble on his chin and his smile screamed sleazy. His eyes though were his most unique feature, one black and the other a neon green. How lucky did one have to be to get eyes like that? “Hello?”

“Sorry. I moved from Germany, but I’m from Japan.”

“Another one.” He laughed as he spoke but Barou looked unimpressed. Just holding his hands out as he waited for the other man to pay him. “Yeah, yeah I know. My name’s Oliver Aiku by the way.” After he paid Barou, he went about introducing everyone to Hiori. He knew the names of most in the group but the last he introduced, Don Lorenzo, made Hiori wonder just what kind of people were in this club. Though, Aiku’s introductions did answer a lot of Hiori’s questions. Barou, Aiku, and Lorenzo were members of Uber’s hockey team while Niko, Aryu, and Sendou were part of the figuring skating team. 

Hiori wasn’t entirely sure when they started walking but before he knew it the rink and dorms were nowhere to be seen. He walked in time with Niko, listening to the older boys' conversation halfheartedly. His eyes kept drifting back to Niko. Now that they were fully in the light it was easier to see the Banana Fish hoodie he wore but the headphones around his neck were interesting. 

“Are those Madoka Magica headphones?” He asked, not even processing the question he asked. Niko’s reaction was nothing short of funny in Hiori’s eyes. Niko froze for a second before turning his head to look at Hiori. He snapped his head like Hiori had said something outrageous and he couldn’t help the way a giggle escaped his lips.

“You watched Madoka Magica?”

“Yeah. I haven't watched the movie yet but finished the show and manga.”

“Who was your favorite from the show?” By now, Niko had put his phone away and given his full attention to Hiori, his gaze intense on Hiori. The sound of the others muffled in Hiori’s ears as the two found a bench to sit on. Niko sat crossed-legged on the bench while Hiori kept his posture rigid like his parents had taught him. 

“Mm… I think Sayaka to be honest,” he said, putting a hand to his chin. “I relate to her and her design is one of my favorites.”

“Whoa surprising.” 

“Let me guess, you liked Homura?”

“So what if I did?”

“Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Banana Fish. You really like your tragic romances.” Niko’s laugh sounded like wind chimes, flowing with the breeze and enchanting all those that heard it—time slowed as the breeze brushed Niko’s hair out of his face. For a split second, Hiori saw the start of universes, flowers blooming, and the very essence of joy encapsulated in those seafoam eyes. Hiori could feel how his words caught in his throat, how his eyes widened, and how his mouth went slack. 

Just as quickly as time stopped, it started again. The birds chirped from above them and the people walked past them, the main characters of their stories. “Did you ever watch Yuri on Ice, Hiori?”

“Huh?”

“Yuri on Ice,” Niko repeated. Hiori nodded and as the conversation picked up again, Hiori found himself losing track of time. They walked around the city, Hiori following Niko as they talked about different anime and mangas they read. September wasn't even over yet but the warmth of summer kept its hands on Turin. The sun hit Hiori’s back as he listened to Niko talk about the latest show he was watching. That stopped when they reached a homey-looking shop. 

The awning of the building was green and white with the windows having hand-painted ice creams and gelatos. Chairs and tables took up most of the front section and Hiori saw that the place was mildly active. More so than he expected for a Saturday morning. Niko's phone began to ring, disrupting the pleasant silence they had. The call lasted for maybe 5 minutes but in that time, one of the waiters at the shop managed to corner Hiori with a plate of free samples. The smell of sweet cold treats filled his nose– vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, blueberry, banana, and more. He was assaulted with cheery questions in rushed Italian, going so fast he could barely process the syllables in the words.

Hiori attempted to make space between them. Raising his hands trying to get the waiter to understand him. With every question asked, Hiori could only respond with, I don't speak Italian. He said it in English, in German, and even in Japanese. Niko was his saving grace. He spoke softly, gesturing to Hiori and himself as he spoke to the waiter. The waiter let out a sound of remorse, guiding the pair to a table inside the store. 

Sitting inside the shop, the noise of the morning was lost in Hiori’s ears. For the first time in who knows how long, Hiori didn’t feel the need to hold his phone like a lifeline in a public setting. It was easy to sink into the conversation and let himself rock with the tides. He didn’t know how to describe it, but it was comforting. Somewhere in the back of Hiori’s mind, he wondered. When was the last time he spoke this freely? When was the last time he spoke about niche fandoms with someone his age?

Isagi was pleasant company but it was clear the boy only cared about skating. He lived and breathed the sport and if it wasn’t skating he didn't know much. Karasu was a similar story along with the other boys in Bastard. They all had their own things and skating was the only real thing that could make them sit and talk to each other for more than ten minutes. It was something Hiori never truly had. He was always watching from the sidelines. The boy across from him spoke casually, his words muffled by the gelato. 

It wasn’t like the prim and proper German he was used to hearing. It wasn’t the strict English his parents used either. It was like home, he could pretend he was back in Kyoto, chatting online with strangers sipping Yakult. He wasn’t sure if Italy was for him, but he did know that he’d enjoy his time while he was here.

°•°•°•°•°

The weekend passed in the blink of an eye. He spent most of it with Niko and his friends, breaking off from the group with Niko to wander Turin more often than not. That’s not to say he didn’t talk to others. Aside from Niko, Hiori found Barou to be good company. They mostly stayed out of each other's way and it was easy to share a space with him. Reminded him of the tenseness of his house whenever he came home early. Speaking of his parents, he learned they were staying in an Airbnb just outside of Turin. Supposedly they were going sightseeing and enjoying the peace while Hiori got adjusted, telling him that they’d be moving back to Japan after this. That was surprising but just like the dorm situation Hiori wasn’t going to question it.

It was Aryu that told him how practices went at Ubers. They considered themselves a company, everyone had a part to do, and during competition season, they were selected from the previous season and who Snuffy thought could show out this season. You could have a less-than-great season the previous year but if practices showed promise Snuffy would sign you up for a lesser competition. It was strange in Hiori’s eyes but the team managed to make the Olympics so who was Hiori to really judge?

The practice during the week was rigorous but ultimately more like a 9-5. Mondays were a free skate. From 6 am to 11 pm, all the figure skaters would be given an opportunity to show Snuffy potential routines as well as attempt to be selected for competitions. It allowed for the new recruits that came sporadically throughout the year to be given a stage to show off and prove their worth.

Tuesday, Snuffy would come to the skaters with critiques and ways for them to improve. Improve their endurance, their leg and arm strength, and improve their stamina. After meeting with Snuffy one on one, you were free to train in the weight room, or gym, or stay on the ice.

Wednesdays would be group training. Snuffy would be with the hockey team, meaning his co-coaches, Ariana Dimamelli and Leona Giovanni, would take over guiding the figure skaters. They were trained under Snuffy and were part of the Ubers figure skating club back meaning they knew what the Ubers and by extension, Snuffy wanted like the back of their hand. They served to make sure the figure skaters stood as equals, in Aryu's words. Of course, some skaters work better with certain people, but it was Ariana and Leona's job to make sure no matter who they were paired with they could create magic.

Thursdays and Fridays followed a similar format as Wednesdays and Tuesdays. Solely for the skaters to practice and train. When competitions actually started, those competing would be moved to a separate rink to practice routines with Snuffy or their partner. At first, Hiori was confused about how such a schedule could work. After all, he had seen a lot of skaters walking in and out of the dorms, a large range of ages. 

They ranged from 10 to 30 and Snuffy was just one man. Hiori then learned that Mondays were the only days all the figure skaters no matter their age were gathered in that main rink. Which also explained why training days were 6-11. After that, skaters were separated by age group and brought to different rinks with different coaches. Snuffy was one of the higher-ups in this company so he could pick and choose which group he wanted to inspect. That first week, adjusting to the constant back and forth from dorms to rinks and whatever food places he visited in between that wore Hiori out.

In Bastard, everyone was on a meal plan. Those living in dorms were provided for by the staff and those living with family were told what they had to do. At the Ubers, you were allowed to eat mostly whatever but it did mean you had to take full responsibility for what happens to your body. If a figure skater gained weight, that skater would be responsible for losing it and getting back in shape. 

Body maintenance was the sole job of the skater and Snuffy wouldn't even mention your body or weight unless it interfered with your skating. Another thing Hiori noticed and couldn't help but delight in was Snuffy's policy on parents in the rink. Snuffy forbade parents from entering the rinks and all skaters had to live in the dorms if they were to be part of the team. Parents of the smaller kids could visit the dorms if they wanted after all, Snuffy never wanted to cut a child off from their parents but in his words, the skaters were to focus on skating and nothing else.

His parents had even called to complain about it. Snuffy ignored any calls about the rules he set and Hiori? Hiori was too busy to have a call with his parents that lasted more than 2 minutes, much to their displeasure. Texts from his parents began to pile up to the point even his grandparents from both sides were trying to reach him. 

Amid all the changes, there was one constant. Niko. He found himself having meals with the younger more often than not. They would binge shows and movies together over the weekend and the amount of new multiplayer games on his phone only seemed to grow. Ariana and Leona would do room checks around midnight, just to ensure everyone was where they were supposed to be in case of an emergency, though it didn’t prevent Hiori from wandering the dorms at night. 

The rooftops were free access to the skaters, everyone was allowed to use them as there was a pool and patio up there for them to relax and rest. Sitting up there, with the night chill brushing against him, Hiori felt peace. It was like the void of his dreams only this time there were sounds that touched his ears like whispers from angels. Sitting up there after hours, he found himself disassociating more. It was hard to tell whether or not he was awake or dreaming, if the things he heard were real, and if the stars that smiled at him were truly there. Even now as the chill of October began to take over, Hiori found himself lying on the rooftop. 

He had his headphones plugged in and he could hear the sounds of Karasu on the end shifting and moving about. It was comforting to hear that Karasu’s accent hadn’t disappeared even after being away so long. Likely because Karasu went back to Kyoto in the off-season before returning to France. Hiori would be lying to say he wasn’t jealous of that fact. Even if most of the friends he had were international, the quaintness of his childhood home was something he missed. 

“Yo-chan? Are you still up over there?”

“Huh? Yea, I’m up, I’m up…” Hiori spoke softly, the small traces of his Kansai accent making themselves known in his sleepy state.

“How’s Italy treating ya? You enjoying it?” 

“It’s… It’s been nice. I like it.” His voice sounded quiet even with his headphones in and if not for Karasu’s hum of approval, Hiori would’ve thought he was whispering. “I made some friends, they’re from different parts of Japan so that’s nice.”

“Tell me about ‘em.”

Hiori went quiet at that. Where would he start when talking about them? He knew that Karasu was likely itching to look up names and research the players. He was always so eager to learn more about people, it was strange how little he cared about how that would be perceived. “Well, the group I’ve been hanging around has both figure skaters and hockey players for starters.”

“Go on.”

“There’s Aiku, Lorenzo, and Barou. They're hockey players.” The iconic sound of keys on a laptop filled Hiori’s ears as he thought about what to say. “They’re… They’re strange. Loud, kinda seems like Aiku and Lorenzo get a kick out of bothering Barou so that’s funny.”

“And the figure skaters?”

“I like them. They’re really easy to talk to and they made the adjustment easier…” Hiori closed his eyes as he spoke. Letting the words escape from his mouth felt freeing, just letting his thoughts escape from his ever-cluttered mind. “Two of them made it to the Olympics.”

“They did? Which ones?”

“Niko Ikki and Sendou Shuuto.” Images of Niko’s smile appeared in Hiori’s mind and he could feel how his face flushed at the thought. “They were in the Junior division for pairs skating.”

“Wasn’t Niko the one that got injured during his free skate?” His tone was curious but Hiori knew Karasu was already fact-checking that. 

“Yeah, but he’s seemed to have recovered from that. He skates beautifully… It’s addictive to watch ya’know.” Just thinking about it made Hiori dizzy. He couldn’t help the way he rambled, complimenting the younger boy like he was blessed by the gods themselves. “His skating is magical, Tabito. It’s pretty clear why he went to the Olympics.”

Karasu went quiet. Somewhere in between his ramblings, he heard noises in the background of Karasu’s side. He couldn’t truly hear it but it was enough to make Hiori stop and think about what he was saying. They sat in silence for a beat before Karasu’s deep laugh reached Hiori’s ears. “Someone sounds lovesick.”

“Don't joke like that. It’s not funny.”

“Who says I’m joking?”

“I’m hanging up on you, good night bird brain.” Karasu’s caw-like laugh was the last thing Hiori heard as he ended the call. He stayed on the ground for a bit before rolling and standing up. The familiar sound of cracks and pops filled the air as he stretched. It wasn’t long before the chill finally got to him, pushing Hiori back inside in search of the comfort of his bed. Even as he took the long way down to his floor, Hiori couldn’t stop thinking about what Karasu said. 

Lovesick? What a novel idea. Hiori wasn’t one to be above giving credit where credit was due. After all, Niko was a strikingly talented skater, especially for his age. It wasn’t often you saw a 14-year-old amass the level of recognition Niko had in the span of a year. And even now a whole year later, Niko still gets recognized by the average person. Walking with Niko on the weekends he could see just how often someone would wave at him or offer well wishes. 

Hiori wasn’t lovesick. He knew the difference between lovesickness and admiration. Lovesickness was closer to the way Alexis reacted at the mention of Kurona. It was the way Karasu got flustered around pretty boys and would say things that no one would say with a clear mind. It was the way Isagi spoke about his “best friend” Bachira. Hiori was not lovesick. He refused to be. After all, what use would such a disease as love be to someone like Hiori? Being friends was more than enough for him. He wouldn’t be so greedy even to imagine something like that. 

°•°•°•°•°

“Skaters! Gather in the center for me guys!” Snuffy called out. He sat on the rink's edge, his gaze more focused on the clipboard in his hands, than the teens in front of him. The rink lights beamed down on them, lining everyone’s features in gold. Low chatter filled the room and echoed off the walls, everyone knew what this meeting meant. 

The upcoming competitions, Snuffy’s personal picks, and the first come first serve sign-ups. The excitement was almost tangible. Thrumming in the air like electricity, Hiori could feel his nerves alight on fire. Snuffy raised a hand, silencing the conversation in its tracks. “Ahem, I know everyone’s eager to hear about this year’s upcoming competitions so let’s start off with the Ice Dance competitions.”

“This year we have the Grand Prix Espoo, in you guessed it, Espoo, Finland. That will be held around the middle of November.” Before Snuffy could even ask if anyone wanted to participate, hands were raised in the air and Snuffy was quick to mark down some names. “Glad to know there’s some enthusiasm.”

Snuffy’s laugh bounced off the walls as he continued to list out the upcoming meets. Their hands went up and down as he went through the different categories. As expected, men’s singles and ladies' singles were by far some of the most popular disciplines. Hiori’s hand went up without a thought to it. He heard Snuffy make a sound but it wasn’t the hum of approval others got, rather it was closer to confusion and hesitation.

“Actually Yo, I was wondering if you’d be willing to participate in the Ice Dance competition?”

“Ice Dance?”

“Yes. The one in Finland.” He put the clipboard down, putting his weight onto his hands while making eye contact with Hiori. “I think you and Ikki would be a fine pair, and it’s only one competition.”

“Well-”

“Think about it and get to me later. That applies to you as well Ikki.” Snuffy clapped his hands as he got off the railing. Dismissing the skaters to return to their usual antics while Snuffy returned for paperwork. The chatter of the room returned with ease. Everyone split back up into their groups and cliques. Hiori could see Aryu in a layback spin, it was entertaining to see how people moved away from Aryu to avoid being hit by his legs. He could see the girls of the club practicing their synchronized skating routine. They didn’t have the full rink to themselves but Hiori knew that it would look like a blooming flower if they did. His eyes wandered the rink, taking in the ever-moving, always-changing environment. 

It was strange, back in Bastard something like this would’ve been enough to make his bones feel like lead and his blood ice. The sinking feeling of loneliness would’ve found Hiori with ease, grabbing him by the neck and strangling any other emotion away. Back in Bastard, something like this would’ve made him feel like a lone island. Yet, he couldn't find it. That jealousy of those who were in the competitive sphere of skating because they enjoyed it was still there. His parents still called to talk to him and criticize him. 

Those negative feelings that felt like acid in his mouth still existed and Hiori knew that. He felt them every time he spoke to his parents, every time he checked social media and every time he was left alone with his thoughts for too long. They still existed but with the Ubers, it was different. Maybe it was due to the change. Maybe he still hadn't settled into the environment. Maybe the Ubers were magic. Whatever the reason, he wasn't able to fester into those emotions.

The community of the Ubers was always there, forcing him to interact and engage with others. It wasn't like Bastard where you could easily isolate yourself. With the Ubers and their company-like mindset, teamwork, and well-roundedness were the most important aspects. He drifted off the ice, taking off his skates and replacing them with sneakers. It was reminiscent of the day Noa had called Hiori to his office. Only the walk to Snuffy's office didn't feel so damning. Snuffy's office in this building was towards the back of it. This means you'd have to pass Ariana's and Leona's offices, the bathrooms, and the other staff offices.

Snuffy's door was decorated with Post-it notes. Doodles covered the tiny papers with the skaters' interpretations of the man on the other side. The gold plaque with Marc Snuffy inscribed was barely visible under it all. One light knock and a soft “come in” and Hiori was taking in the man's office. With his office in the back of the building, it was easy for natural light to find its way inside. Framed photos lined the walls. A lot of them consisted of Snuffy with another man, either hugging or celebrating in different poses. Other photos had Snuffy with the hockey players, pulling them close in a large group hug. There were some with the figure skaters and all the other photos were solo shots of his team members. 

There was a large black leather couch and the thrum of the air conditioner chilled the room. Snuffy’s desk was a thick metal one with papers stacked neatly atop with Snuffy deep into his work. The man in question was quick to make eye contact with Hiori, gesturing to the couch for him to sit on. Snuffy told Hiori to get comfortable as he put away some of his stuff. Hiori could see another framed photo on his desk, though the image was facing Snuffy so he couldn’t see it like the others. 

“Why do you want me in the Ice Dance?” The question left his mouth softly. His eyes avoided meeting Snuffy’s, he just couldn’t find it in him to look at the man. His eyes were too much in Hiori’s mind. An eagle’s stare, sharp and focused on Hiori, as if he was trying to read him like a book and know Hiori’s secrets. It made him feel vulnerable.

“Well. I have a few reasons.” He said, turning away from Hiori to finish fixing up his office. He wandered behind Hiori, standing in front of the photographs cleaning and adjusting them as needed. “You show promise in practices but seeing as this will be your first and  potentially last winter season with us, I want you in a competition to see how you work with others under stress.”

“Wouldn’t you get the same result from singles?”

“Nope. With singles the only person you worry about is yourself and I’ve seen your routines. They’re good from  a technical standpoint but they lack any life to them.” Hiori made the mistake of looking at Snuffy, immediately getting put on the receiving end of the man's gaze. 

“How would ice dance change that?”

“With ice dancing, your routines need to be alive and full of emotion if you want a good score. Your technical ability means just as much as your storytelling ability. Meaning you can’t get away with a lackluster performance.”

“Alright… Why Niko though?”

Snuffy was quiet. He pulled a photo off the wall, brushing his hand against the glass. Hiori moved silently, standing beside the man to peek at the picture. It was one of Snuffy, Sendou, and Niko. They all looked much younger, maybe 3 or so years. Sendou’s salmon-pink hair was lighter in the photo and his eyes were shining as he held a trophy in his hands. Niko wore a medal, shiny and gold that glinted in the flash of the camera. Snuffy held the two close with a proud smile on his lips. He looked like a parent and when Hiori’s eyes looked at the other pictures that pride was seen in all of them. 

“Ikki had an accident at his last competition and I don’t want to thrust him back into all so harshly.” He speaks softly like his mind is elsewhere, glassy eyes drift from photo to photo as he places it back on the wall. With a heavy sigh, he speaks again. “There’s… There are a lot of different factors for why I paired you two up but I think the simplest one is that Ikki likes you.”

Snuffy continues speaking but Hiori can’t hear any of it. He knows that Snuffy means it in a friendly way. Niko likes him as a friend that’s as obvious as the sky is blue. It’d be an inaccurate assumption to think Snuffy could mean it in any other way. But Hiori’s heart pounds at his chest and his blood sounds like a roaring river. “Someone sounds lovesick.” Such a stupid thing for Karasu to say. It made him think stupid things and make hasty decisions. 

Decisions like agreeing to the ice dance competition. Decisions like leaving the office and wandering to the rink. Decisions like standing at the edge of the rink and staring at Niko. Well, maybe that last one isn’t a stupid decision. His face flushes as he watches Niko from the sidelines. He skates passionately, his skates hitting the ice and leaving marks that will be proof of Niko’s existence here. He skates around Barou casually messing with him while he practices and the other boys laugh along at it. Barou’s face while annoyed isn’t angry and when he gets Niko and the others in a chokehold, the laughter only grows. 

Niko spots him with ease and Hiori can some hushed Italian as he makes his way over. Hiori hates how he freezes even if it's only for a second. He hates it because it adds evidence to Karasu's stupid idea. 

“Are you gonna do the ice dance?” Niko asks quietly. His voice doesn’t reveal anything, smooth and confident, relaxed as if he couldn’t care less about the answer. But everyone has ticks and tells. He learned that from his parents. Niko’s hands are hidden in the pockets of his sweater, something he started wearing as the weather got colder. Even over the chatter of the other skaters, Hiori can hear how Niko’s blade scratches against the ice. He gently bites at his lips and Hiori wonders if Niko would like his answer.

“Yeah.” The word feels incomplete hanging in the air between them. It leaves a stretch of silence that Hiori wants to fill and he fumbles for his words. “I- I've never done pairs or ice dancing so I hope that we’ll do well together.”

"Guess you're lucky you got me as a partner then." Niko held his hand out, the tips of his fingers tinged a pale pink. Hiori grasped his hand and with a firm shake smiled at Niko. His heart sped up as he watched Niko's lips pull into a small smile. "Going for gold?"

"Going for gold," Hiori affirmed. The sound of Aiku calling for Niko knocked Hiori straight out of his trance. He watched with a soft expression as Niko skated away, immediately getting his hair ruffled by the older boys. When Hiori realized what he was doing, his face flushed and he hurried back to the dorms. 

It was only when he reached his room he wondered what exactly ice dancing meant. The most he had seen of it was when Bastard skaters would practice their routines but Hiori never paid them much mind. Thinking further, Hiori realized that he didn't even know what the theme of the competition was if the competition was themed at all. 

Would Hiori and Niko choose the song? Or would Snuffy choose the music and tell them to make a routine to it? Or would it be the inverse and Snuffy makes the routine? What technical skills would need to be included in the routine and how would they be judged? Who were the judges? Who was making the costumes? Where were they getting the costumes? Why did he agree to this in the first place and what did Snuffy mean by his skating being lifeless?

Hiori's head was pounding with all the questions. So much clogging his mind he almost didn't hear his phone ring. He grabbed his phone frantically and seeing his mother's face on the screen was almost enough to make Hiori cry. It was always something with them. He watched the phone ring and ring the repetitive sound of his ringtone bouncing across the room. It turned into a missed call and within seconds his father's number and face showed up. 

If he didn't answer would they believe he was in the midst of practice? How many missed calls would it take for them to get the hint? Turns out the answer was ten calls for two hours. After that, they sent texts that had passive aggressiveness seeping out of the screen. It was disgusting how they acted. So much faux concern for a son they couldn't care less about. If Hiori hadn't shown promise on the ice they would've just forgotten him and tried again for a better child. And despite knowing that they still call like they want him and not a gold medal or first place trophy. 

Hiori's festering was interrupted by a knock on his door. He wondered if the stress on his face was visible as he opened the door and was met with Aryu's towering height. The man leaned down to inspect Hiori, grabbing his chin in between his fingers and turning his face this way and that. He hummed and nodded after his inspection, muttering something about a "natural glam" in Hiori's appearance. 

"Go get changed, Hiori. Hurry, hurry, the others are waiting for us." 

"What? Why what's going on?"

"We're celebrating Shuuto's birthday so hurry up." Hiori thought about arguing but his complaints were stuffed down. It was either hang out with friends and celebrate a birthday or deal with his parents and that choice was the easiest one he'd made in a while.

It didn't take long before Hiori was dressed and practically dragged downstairs to join the others. The group was a little bigger than Hiori had grown used to but his discomfort fell just a bit as he heard all the casual Japanese being spoken. Hiori's hands were holding his switch, the blue and green joy-cons standing out amongst his dark hoodie and jeans.

The hoodie was a black one with Killua's face and name pasted across the chest. On the back was Killua's skateboard drawn in blue and white. He was in the midst of a game when he heard a little laugh. Looking up, his eyes fell almost instantly onto Niko. It was becoming too easy to spot him in a crowd but Hiori didn’t want to confront what they could mean. Not lovesick.

Niko was wearing a similar hoodie. Maybe less similar and more matching. He was wearing a white hoodie with Gon’s name and face in the position as Hiori’s Killua one. On the back was Gon’s fishing rod. The white hoodie suited Niko in his eyes. Brought more attention to him and his features. They shared a laugh about the matching hoodies and Hiori was quick to offer a joy-con to Niko. They piled into Barou’s car as Hiori adjusted his game mode.

The car ride was bumpy but that could be attributed to Lorenzo and Aiku's taste in music. The car was loud. Laughing and yelling and screaming along to the lyrics of whatever song was playing. Aiku very much so against Barou's will made sure everyone had a chance to pick a song. Between the multiple rounds of Smash Bros. Ultimate and the constant conversation, the drive passed in a blur. Hiori partially wondered if Barou was breaking speed laws and they hadn't noticed or if he had been that invested in the game. 

It was no surprise to anyone that Hiori won most of the rounds. After all, Hiori was always playing on the device but Niko got a few wins. It was funny listening to him shit-talk during the match even after he lost. The party for Sendou was held at a high-end restaurant that gave a beautiful view of the main square of the city. The table was on the roof of the building under a stained glass dome. Dazzling and impressive, with the entire area reserved and decorated just for the occasion. Hiori hadn’t been there long so he didn’t know the context of why Sendou was so happy but what he could feel was the happiness that radiated off of him. 

Music played from the speakers and there was a TV set up that played happy birthday messages from his friends back home. Other members of the club showed up as well, dropping off gifts from themselves as well as the ones that were shipped overseas. From 12 pm to 12 am was a celebration. Hiori watched as Sendou and Aiku got drunk and how fast the card games turned into mild gambling. It was hard to see the stars under the dome. 

The glass made everything hazy, locking them away from the rest of the world. He stood against the edge of the crowd, his back touching the cool glass as he watched them. There was a tapping on the glass, directing Hiori’s attention away from the party. On the other side of the glass dome, there was a thin walkway that was guarded by a railing. Also on the other side of the glass, was Niko. The boy in question looked relaxed, smiling and waving at Hiori from the other side. He pointed to the other side of the roof and Hiori could just barely make out a door.

Making his way across, Hiori slipped through the crowd. He made sure not to bump into anyone or do anything that would draw attention. The escape of the night was calling for him and who was he to ever deny such a thing? Stepping outside felt like stepping into a different plain of existence. The party instantly hushed and became muffled and all he could hear were the sounds of Turin at night. The flutter of a moth or insect making its breakfast, the occasional car passing by, the sound of quiet murmurs from the people below. It was as close to ascension as Hiori could reach with his own two hands. 

It didn't take long for Hiori to reach Niko, he still stood in the same place only now he leaned against the railing staring up at the sky. The hood of his sweater was pulled over his hair and with the stars and moon shining down on him like a spotlight, all Hiori could think was that this one right here was chosen by God. He remembers his parents, back when they were still his parents and not wannabe coaches, telling him a story. It was about a boy created of moondust brought to life by the Moon Goddess herself. She took her favorite aspects of the moon, its delicate gift given from the Sun, the fragile surface that could dent from just a feather, and the strength it had to stay together no matter how many craters were made. She took those qualities and used one of her stars to give him life. 

Looking at Niko, he could see the Moon Goddess's tender hands that made him. The star that was his heart made his very being glow like no other, so bright the Sun was jealous. Like a taunt, Niko turns to look at him and the wind blows his hair out of the way of his eyes and Hiori swears he hears wind chimes singing. His eyes freeze Hiori where he stands and he can't help but stare. Stare in the seafoam and pray it takes him. Stare at the gems Niko calls eyes and wish he could live inside them. Stare at Niko and hope that one day he could call Niko his and that one day Niko would do the same.

"Hiori?" His voice was quiet as if getting too loud would break the delicate silence.

"You… You have really pretty eyes, Niko…" His face flushes and his smile makes Hiori’s heart stop. He mumbled out a low thanks turning back to the railing to hide his face. With a little laugh, he asked, “Is that why you always stare?”

“Do I do it that often?”

“Yeah… Your eyes get all glassy like you're witnessing something…” He trailed off, bringing a hand to his chin as he searched for the words. “You look at me… You look at me in such an intense way I feel almost exposed. Why is that?”

"Hm…" It was Hiori's turn to look away now. He sat on the floor next to Niko, his back flush against the glass of the dome. He couldn't find an answer. He didn't know what Niko wanted to hear. Would he want a serious answer? Should it be flirty? Is this a conversation he should avoid altogether? Hiori didn't know. "I… I think it's 'cause you're pretty…"

"You think I'm pretty?"

"Yeah." Hiori's eyes drift close as he hears Niko move around before settling down next to him. They lean into each other like magnets coming closer til their heads touch. 

Hiori likes the night. In these hours, it is himself, the night sky, and his thoughts. In these hours, he's alone and he's able to drift as far and as long as he wants without anyone to tell him he can't. The endless starry escape was a place that was his and as he sits here with Niko at his side, he makes some adjustments to his previous thoughts.

He doesn't mind sharing the night with Niko. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he thinks he wants to share this escape with Niko for as long as he's allowed to.