Chapter Text
Okay, what the hell.
Minako’s response echoed throughout Yuuri’s subconscious, while his face remained in its shocked state. He probably looked like a fish, the way he was staring past Minako, his lips parted in genuine shock.
It’s November 24, 1994. Wasn’t it just February 18, 2030, yesterday?
Yuuri put his mental calculation skills, which he had honed by anxiously adding his short program score to his free skate score, to the test, subtracting today's date from yesterday’s.
…The difference is approximately 35 years.
The reason why his voice is abnormally high for a 40-year-old is that he isn’t 40 anymore—he’s … turning 5. Again. The Minako he’s looking at right now (not blurry at all despite not having glasses on, to add) was the Minako of 35 years ago. That’s why she looks so youthful.
Also, the reason why he was already sitting down despite lying down on a bed was that he wasn’t on a first-class flight from Munich to Tokyo anymore—he was on an economy-class flight from Fukuoka to Osaka!
Memories from three decades in the past came surging forth, overloading Yuuri’s brain, causing him to clutch his head with his tiny hands. He winced in pain, blinking back tears.
“W-What’s wrong, Yuuri?!” Minako asked in concern.
‘Everything’s wrong, Minako-sensei! I, 40-year-old Yuuri Katsuki, was somehow sent 35 years into the past in my 4-year-old body!! All I did was fall asleep, and now, I’m in the freaking 90’s again!!! Also, my long hair is GONE!!!!’ Yuuri wanted to answer honestly. But he settled for a curt response,
“...My head hurts,” He muttered.
“Oh, it’s probably because you aren’t used to the air pressure up here. Your ears feel stuffy, right?”
“...Right.”
Minako hummed, “Yeah, you’re not used to flying. It’s okay, just relax! We’re about to land, anyway.”
‘Oh, I wish I could just relax…’ Yuuri thought to himself once more before leaning back and waiting for the plane to land. ‘I can’t panic right now. I might throw up on sensei; I’m sure she won’t appreciate it if I did.’
Yuuri forced himself to shut his eyes tight, swallowing the bile that wanted to escape his throat. He blocked out the captain’s reminders in the overhead speaker and focused on the aircraft’s steady whirring.
Minutes passed, and Yuuri felt the plane descend. His stomach was gaining that familiar, visceral feeling he usually gets when a plane experiences turbulence or is about to land.
⋆꙳•❅*°⋆❆.ೃ࿔*:･*❆ ₊⋆
Yuuri and Minako arrived in Osaka, Japan. The deplaning process went by like a blur; Yuuri's mind was too preoccupied with his swirling thoughts to be in the present moment. He was trying to recall what happened during his and Minako’s stay in Osaka 35 years ago. Minako-sensei said that their duo trip to Osaka was for his 5th birthday, so any figure skating-related competitions that occurred in Osaka are crossed out.
Yuuri racked his brain for a few solid hours, and by the time they were in a taxi on the way to the hotel they were to stay at, he finally remembered the purpose of this birthday trip.
‘We went to see a production of Swan Lake for my 5th birthday!’ Yuuri concluded, eyes lighting up in recognition. He felt sort of disappointed in himself for not remembering the reason he took ballet lessons with Minako-sensei more seriously. He remembered being enamored with the prima ballerina who played both Odette and Odile in this production, so much so that he begged Minako-sensei to teach him simplified variations of the White and Black Swan’s dances despite it being a female role.
This experience is up there in his top 10 ‘Best Birthday Presents,’ where getting Vicchan and marrying Victor reside.
‘Speaking of Victor…’ Yuuri thought, his sparkling eyes losing their shine.
…No, now’s not the time to think about that. Not now. He needs to be alone to process this.
Yuuri forced himself to get out of his own head, opting to stare at his surroundings.
Osaka looked … vintage. Old—not like the bright, technologically advanced city he’s used to. It was like he was looking at the city through an old camera that his father would probably own. Overall, it felt … wrong, like he’s not supposed to be here.
A knot of anxiety pooled in his gut, tightening by the second. Looking around is not helping with the feeling of existential dread he’s been bottling up since he woke up on the plane.
Okay, maybe talking to Minako-sensei would help.
“M-Minako-sensei,” Yuuri began, his voice soft and high.
“Yes, Yuu-chan?”
“Where are we going? I mean, I know this is for my birthday, so it’s probably a surprise…”
Minako smirked, cupping one of Yuuri’s round cheeks. “First, we’re going to a hotel to rest up. If you’re up for it, we can go sightseeing today or tomorrow. 2 days from now, what we’ll be doing is a secret!” She winked, bringing her free index finger to her lips, making a shushing motion.
Yuuri couldn’t help but smile; he missed Minako-sensei dearly. He only got to see her a few times per year, and it only lessened once he, Victor, and Yuri moved to St. Petersburg when he retired as a competitive figure skater.
During the off-season, he and Victor would visit Japan, residing in an apartment in Fukuoka for a month or two. The rest of the year, however, they're in St. Petersburg to train Yuri and their other students.
He decided to play along, bunching his eyebrows together, forcing his bottom lip to jut out into a pout.
“But senseeeiii,” He whined, brown puppy-dog eyes sparkling deceptively. “I wanna know what the secret is!”
Minako made a choked sound, stiffening. His plan is working…!
“Please, sensei! Tell me the secret; it’s gonna be my birthday, so I have to know!” Yuuri bemoaned.
The ballerina looked away, unable to handle Yuuri’s pitiful pleas.
“I-I’m sorry Yuu-chan, but if I tell you now, then the surprise will be ruined!” Minako sighed, running a nimble hand through Yuuri’s hair, which Yuuri realized was styled into the infamous Asian bowlcut when he saw himself in the car window’s reflection earlier.
The realization made him miss his long hair that grew past his shoulders. Dammit!
“...Okay,” Yuuri conceded, adding small sniffles just for the fun of it. He heard Minako-sensei let out a poorly hidden squeal at his adorable antics.
Minutes passed after the conversation, but Yuuri still gazed at Minako, memorizing how youthful and energetic AT (Alternate Timeline) Minako is compared to her OT (Original Timeline) counterpart.
Minako, on the other hand, felt Yuuri’s glittering gaze. She nearly began to fidget out of nerves, but a heavily accented voice in her head (that sounded concerningly similar to Lilia Baranovskaya, her mentor) told her not to.
Instead, she thought of a way to appease her student, and the first thing she thought of was—
“Katsudon! Yuu-chan, once we get to the hotel, I’ll have them make katsudon for you, okay? So don’t be sad anymore! Please?” Minako begged, grabbing Yuuri’s hands and squeezing them softly.
…Even after all these years, katsudon has room in Yuuri’s heart.
Also, Minako-sensei begging him to stop making her pity him with the puppy-dog eyes is starting to drive Yuuri to pity her instead.
“...Okay!” Yuuri complied, half out of pity and half out of a craving for katsudon.
.
.
He’ll just ignore the tightening ball of dread in his gut.