Chapter Text
Tsukasa was a middle school student at that time when he learned about Yodaka Jun on TV. That evening was just like a normal day— he went home from his school, then chose a random channel on TV for him to watch while doing his homework later. One thing that he noticed first was the song that was playing since he looked away from the TV a bit to grab a drink. He thought it was a music program, but suddenly, he heard a crowd cheering. That made him curious. Then he looked back at the TV, watching what was happening on its screen. He read the program’s name, it was the All-Japan Junior tournament.
He almost dropped the TV’s remote. He was instantly captivated. His eyes were glued to the TV— he couldn't move his sight from the figure who was ice skating so beautifully. He never looked anything as beautiful as that person’s skate. His movement was so elegant. Every jump he made looked flawless. He didn't know the rules, but he could say that he was sure it was perfect. Every movement that person made was counted, and not a single mistake was made. What dumbfounded him was that it seemed that their age were similar. It was unbelievable. He knew that at that moment, his life was about to take a dramatic turn. He was no longer uncertain about his future career.
He wants to try it.
No. That sounds incorrect.
He needs to be able to do that. He has to.
He also needs to see that skate in person.
Yodaka Jun. It was the skater’s name. He read it once the skate was over. His serene expression after he was done skating spoke loudly of his confidence.
He turned on his phone to search for the nearby ice rink. He clicked on the first website that popped up and saw the price. He then searches for other things related to ice skating and, of course, Yodaka Jun’s profile. He was right that they were about the same age; they were only months apart.
Tsukasa gulped. Honestly, he was scared. He was scared of what would unfold once he tried to learn ice skating.
Will he ever reach Yodaka Jun’s level ever? It was unimaginable.
In the first place, how did he manage to get accepted into a skating club? No club will ever accept an amateur of his age. People expect boys around his age to at least have the bare minimum to join one.
He calculated the budget he needed to ever join an ice skating group class.
oh, he was screwed.
He had a lot to think about tonight. His homework could wait until tomorrow morning.
Akeuraji Tsukasa, age 14 years old, lacks the money to even start his career journey.
“C’mon, Tsukasa. Cheer up!”
He was in his school right now, in the middle of copying his friend’s homework that he didn't do last night. The one who tried to cheer him up was not the owner of said homework, but another classmate of his who also didn't do his homework. He was Shirone Kohaku, a young ballet dancer.
“Figure skating, huh? I think Mika’s older sister is a figure skating coach,” commented Kamogawa Kohei, the one whose homework was being copied by his two friends.
“You mean Yuitsuka Mika from class B?” Tsukasa asked. Kohei nodded. Kohei had met Mika and his older sister once at the Nagoya Sports Center when he was little.
“Say, didn't you try figure skating when you were still in elementary school, Kohei?” asked Kohaku. Kohaku was enrolled in the same elementary school as Kohei, so he knew Kohei better than Tsukasa.
“Yeah, but I stopped after a bad jump happened,” he shrugged.
Tsukasa suddenly jumped from his chair, knocking his pen to the floor and startling both Kohaku and Kohei. Then, he grabbed Kohei’s hand with both hands, his eyes sparkling with tears.
“I-I will pay for it! Please teach me how to skate, Kohei!”
Kohei didn't expect Tsukasa to be this enthusiastic over figure skating. He had left figure skating behind, but seeing another person have such passion for it, even when he knew he was almost too late to start learning it? He would feel bad if he refused Tsukasa’s request.
“I just know the basics, you know? You don't have to pay for me.”
“No way, at least let me pay the entry and skate shoes rent fee for you! I will also pay for your lunch!”
“Okay, I understand! You are being too loud!”
“Thank you, Kohei. I won't ever forget your kindness!” Tsukasa let go of Kohei's hands, but seconds later, he hugged Kohei tightly. “I feel so blessed to have a friend like you, really,” he sniffed.
“Stop it, Tsukasa! We are in the middle of the classroom!” Kohei tried to hide his embarrassment.
“Guys, don't leave me behind! I can teach you ballet, Tsukasa, don't worry!” Kohaku then joined in to also hug his friends.
“Not you too, Kohaku!”
THREE OF YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN
was probably what went on in their classmates' minds.
Once Tsukasa and Kohaku stopped hugging him, he coughed.
“Realistically, it was almost impossible for you to be a figure skating athlete, Tsukasa. Are you really sure about this?”
Tsukasa replayed Yodaka Jun’s ice skate last evening once again in his mind.
“I’ll do whatever I need to be a figure skater.”
The next Saturday, the three of them went to Nagoya Sports Center. Tsukasa bought the ticket to access the ice rink and rent the skate shoes for him and Kohei, while Kohaku watched them from the spectator area—which he insisted to not let Tsukasa pay for as he just wanted to see them skating in his free time.
Kohei turned out to be a great teacher. His explanation was easy to understand, but he panicked every time Tsukasa fell to the ice.
“Tsukasa, have you really never done ice skating before?”
“Well, that hurts,” Tsukasa said jokingly.
“Hey, I was being serious. Forget it, let's take a break.”
“Good job, guys! Here's your drink and your towel!” Kohaku said once they took a break.
“Thanks Kohaku, I really appreciate it. I hope my bad skate can entertain you just a little bit,” Tsukasa said sheepishly.
“Hey, Kohei, I really want to thank—”
“Gosh, stop it. I’m doing this because I also want to try skating again. Also, you have thanked me enough! I’ll practice alone while you're resting, so don't follow me.”
Kohei ran back to the rink, leaving a confused Tsukasa and an amused Kohaku behind.
“Hahaha! Did you see how red Kohei’s face was?”
“I guess I need to stop thanking him since I don't want to lose my temporary coach,” he laughed.
Both of them were now looking at Kohei.
“Kohei’s skate looks so good, don't you think?”
“I agree. I think ice dancing will fit him since it doesn't require a lot of jumping and is more on the dance choreography.”
“Hey, do you think that person recognizes Kohei?” Kohaku asked while pointing to a boy on the ice rink.
Kohei had stopped moving. In front of him was another boy who shouted, “Kohei, are you back to skating?!”
“I think so, he might have known Kohei when he was still active skating,” Tsukasa replied.
Kohei said something but they couldn't hear it. But they could guess what it was as the boy replied with another shout while clinging to Kohei’s shirt, “Why?! I saw your skate just now, you still have a chance to be an ice dancer! I can try asking my coach to teach you!”
So he also recognized Kohei’s potential in ice dancing. Kohei was awesome. Tsukasa felt more motivated than before.
It seemed their conversation was over. All of a sudden, the boy who had talked with Kohei skated towards them.
“Tsukasa, am I crazy or do you think he's coming at us?”
Tsukasa couldn't answer that question since a loud voice interrupted him.
“You need to help me to convince Kohei! You saw his skill too, right?! Isn't that's why you asked him to teach you?”
“Stop it, Juna!” someone who Tsukasa guessed as that boy—Juna’s coach was approaching them. He could also see Kohei followed him from behind.
‘Oh god, we really stand out…’ Tsukasa said in his head. He could feel a lot of stares on them.
Enough with thanking Kohei, Tsukasa thought he needed to start apologizing to Kohei as soon as possible.
That coach hit Juna’s head and dragged him away from them.
“Sorry for the trouble,” he said before leaving them.
“Kohei, I hope you won't regret your decision,” Kohaku said. It was such a rare moment for Tsukasa to see Kohaku being so serious. He didn't know Kohei’s past as well as Kohaku, but he had an idea that Kohei actually never stopped practicing ice skating.
“I would think you deliberately put me in this situation if I don't know you any better, Tsukasa.”
“I’m sorry, I didn't have any idea that today would turn out like this.”
After some moments, Kohei let out a sigh.
“Fine, I will reconsider it,” Kohei said, “but I have a condition.”
“What is the condition?”
Kohei didn't answer him. He replied while smiling, “You'll know when the time comes.”