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The next two days featured the ladies’ skate, which Yuuri wasn’t as enthusiastic about watching with Yuuko not there. He still went, to support Tamae and Iona and the Russian skaters and Skye. Tamae took silver, Skye bronze. Paul was thrilled to see her shiny medal.
Viktor and Yuuri kept getting asked about their plans for their exhibition skates. As medalists, they were obviously both skating, so what did they plan to do?
The answer surprised a lot of people. Yuuri went out and did his normal exhibition skate. Cao Bin did his, and then Viktor took the ice to do his normal exhibition skate. The press, naturally, had to ask. “No surprises this time?”
“I think everyone was surprised by the lack of surprises!” Viktor winked at the cameras. “Apparently the plan was to get engaged, but no, we already did that, so we just decided to keep everyone on their toes. After all, we wouldn’t want our surprises to become expected!”
With that over, Yuuri started thinking hard about vacation. He even asked Misha, Georgi, and Chris and Masumi for suggestions. They had some good ones, but nothing that really jumped out at Yuuri. They’d be spending time on the beach in Thailand, so another beach didn’t really make sense. Aside from making packing simpler. Which was a good consideration.
Viktor seemed amused by Yuuri’s predicament. “Tell you what – how about I pick three places from my list that I want to go to, and you pick one of those three? Or hate them all and make me choose again, but somehow, I don’t see that being a problem.”
Yuuri agreed, and Viktor gave him the Australian Outback, Egypt, and Peru. “I don’t expect we’ll ever go to any of those on skating trips! Australia, maybe, but not the Outback.”
“Peru? Why Peru?” Australia and Egypt, well, maybe Viktor had a thing for deserts. Besides, they both seemed cool. Peru, on the other hand...
“Machu Picchu, among other Incan places. Lima. Lots of interesting history and some very beautiful scenery and we could see llamas! Llamas are like more interesting sheep, and I know how much you love sheep…”
Yuuri covered his face, but he was laughing. “At least we shouldn’t run into any ninjas.”
Viktor pretended to pout. “I know. That is a downside, but we are going to Hasetsu. There are ninjas there.”
“You and history seems like a weird combination.”
“Why? It's so fun, lots of great stories! Also, lots of good inspiration for skating." Viktor winked, but quickly sobered. More than usual for him. "I was thinking maybe I’d major in it at university when I go.”
“You’re… going to university?” Not that Viktor wasn't smart enough, Yuuri had just assumed he wasn't interested in college and didn't feel the need to go since he'd never have to work a job that required one.
“Most male Russian skaters do. Russia has compulsory military service starting at 18, and being a student is one way to get exempted. No one's going to buy that I have a physical disability that makes military service impossible for me.”
“Okay, so why now instead of right after you finished high school?” He hadn't thought of that - Japan didn't have it. It made him shiver to think of Viktor in uniform for real, not just for a skating program.
Viktor kissed his temple reassuringly. “So far, they’ve been deferring me because of my underage soulmate. Their policy, not mine, and not one that’s guaranteed to work for everyone. The recruiters don’t always pay attention. One good thing about the media loving me: I’m high-enough profile that there would’ve been questions if they tried to make me go despite qualifying for an exemption. There’s a possibility, given our well-known trouble with separation, that they could make that a permanent deferral on medical grounds, but I’d rather not count on it when there’s a better way. Besides, university will be fun with you!”
“Okay, but...” That only protected him until November.
“You’re finished in March, right?”
“Yes, but unless I start right away at a Japanese university, that still leaves almost a year.”
Viktor shook his head. “They draft in the fall – this year you’re still underage until after it’s done, and next year, I should be in school.”
“Oh. Good. What happens after we’re done?”
Viktor shrugged. “I don’t know. I might be able to stay in school, work on an advanced degree. That’s something I’ll figure out when it’s a little closer.” His face lit up with a smile. “Speaking of closer, it’s vacation time, where are we going?”
“Peru. But you’re taking me to see llamas!” Yuuri leaned in to curl up against Viktor. “The other thing we might want to do… Irina’s supposed to have her baby in June, isn’t she? Someone should take Yuri out to New York to meet his sister…”
“That’ll be a fun trip for whoever goes. Are you sure you want to?”
“Not really, but I don’t know that Misha and Emiliya would want to go with her pregnant, and Yuri hates Anya for some reason so Georgi probably won’t want to either. If Yakov can’t do it, we’re the best choice.”