Chapter Text
Eventually Rin’s team won 5 – 3.
Rin had gone to grab his phone off the bench. Isagi behind him, raising an eyebrow.
Isagi spoke up, “You seem awfully distracted today Rin?”
Rin sharpened his gaze. “Shut it, you NPC. I don't want to hear it.”
“My bad.” Rin could hear Isagi scoff before he'd walked away and found Bachira. Hm. Why was Isagi so insistent on caring? He didn't care, not really; he just wanted to better himself. They were all fighting for the same spot, but he didn't get it. He never would.
Rin sighed heavily before he left the field. It was midday. The streets were crowded.
Before long, Rin found himself at his house once more. Inside was just as he'd left it. Sae’s keys weren't on the table; he must've been out. Good. Rin didn't know if he could handle a conversation with him right now. He didn't know if he could handle one with him, full stop.
The first thing he did was have a shower.
Rin paused before he grabbed a blank journal. He sat himself down at the table. He needed to organise his thoughts.
Firstly, ice-skating.
What he could be do consistently, sometimes and what he cannot do – what needs practice.
Consistent
All Triples
Enough level 4 spins
ChSq
Inconsistent
4S
4T
4F
4Stsq (short)
Unachieved
4Lo
4Lu
4A
He hated loop. Awful jump. If he could land quads, he stood a very viable chance to place. If he placed at nationals, he would get a spot at junior worlds and grand prix's. Not that he'd have the time to do many grand prix's let alone any with his soccer commitments.
He didn't want to give up soccer. Not yet. He still had something to prove. He can't just give up everything he's ever worked towards like that.
With ice skating you retire young, but with soccer he could very easily keep playing.
But what was his current priorities?
Hm.
That he had to decide. He just had to see how nationals went.
Rin sighed to himself. He headed into thos room. Leaving the journal at his desk.
He did know one thing.
He was going to prove himself. He had to. He needed to achieve something, to do something meaningful with his life. He doesn't want to live constantly in Sae’s shadow.
He doesn't want to be known as Sae’s brother to the world.
He just wants to be Rin. Rin Itoshi. Rin Itoshi who just happens to be Sae’s younger brother.
—------------
Before he knew it, morning had come. Skating always awaited him. It didn't judge, it was simply honest.
With a grumble, Rin got out of bed and headed to the rink. He hated early starts, it never gets better.
Eventually he found himself Infront of his coach.
His coach spoke up, “So, have you warmed up your jumps yet?”
“Yeah, I have. Been on the ice for a good thirty minutes.”
“Good. Can you remind me of the jumps in your free program again?” His coach had asked… why did he ask that? Was the thing he wanted to adjust Rin’s jumps?
Rin paused. “Uh, two Triple Axels one with a Triple loop, Triple Lutz, Triple flip toe, triple flip triple sal then Double axel and a double Lutz.”
“I see. Can we turn the two triple flips into two quads?” hahaha. He's serious. He's actually serious?
…
“...But it's inconsistent?”
His coach raised an eyebrow. “You have two months, and if I put it in your program you have to really practice it.” That wasn't how it worked and they both knew it. But then again, if he wanted to win, he needed the technical score. He couldn't win without a quad. Hm. He didn't like what this was implying for his free skate program though. Either with those elements he's gonna cook the completion or he'll fail miserably and get cooked.
“...”
“Your Double axel will be a quad Sal and your double Lutz will be a quad toe.” Seems like the world was out to get him. Actually wanted him gone.
Rin sighed. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” His coach sharpened his gaze. The kind of gaze that said it was final. He wasn't in the mood to argue, not at 7 in the morning anyway.
“Now let's run that in the program shall we?”
“You're certain?” Rin paused.
“You warmed up, no?” His voice left no room for exceptions.
“Fine.”
“Head over, I'll start the music.”
Rin sighed to himself. He willingly chose this. It's fine, right? He'll do fine. And if he doesn't… it won't end like that at nationals. It just can't.
‘insert music start’
Rin had started with some turns and counters before he landed the first jump – a triple axel. Good.
He pulled his weight over the right side, and fell on the landing of the second quad flip.
And later he went up once more as he pulled in, but completely missed the landing as he slid across the ice slightly on his knees.
Rin groaned as he got back up and finished the program.
That fall was gonna haunt him. He landed the 4T and one of his 4F’s.
Rin skated over to his coach, he couldn't read his eyes.
“Rin, we are going to work on your quad jumps for the rest of the lesson. Your choreo sequence and spins were great.”
“...thank you?”
He didn't know if that was a compliment or not. But he did know one thing. He needed a clean program.