Chapter Text
Isagi Yoichi was born on April 1st in Saitama, Japan.
His parents were ordinary people, with nothing special. But they both knew their son was different from them; he had something special, something unique.
Something only a genius could have.
Isagi Iyo and Isagi Issei didn't know what it could be, but they were sure their son was destined for greatness, brimming with unique talent.
They weren't wrong about that, because at the age of 4, he started ice skating.
He fell completely in love with the sport after watching his greatest idol, Ren Miyamoto, performed his free skate at the 2005 Olympics.
It was beautiful; it was like watching a bird flying and dancing freely on the ice rink, being free.
He wanted to experience that freedom too.
He wanted to figure skate like Ren.
He wanted to feel what it felt like to dance that way on the ice rink.
Ren Miyamoto, the prince of ice, the greatest skater of all.
Yoichi wanted to be just like him.
Like him? No, Yoichi wanted to be better than him, to be the best of all, the number one.
He wanted to break records, win gold medals and titles, and complete the Super Slam, and that way he could be the greatest of all time.
"Mom... I want to do ice skating and be the best"
That was the wish of that little boy who had just turned 4.
A rather ambitious wish, but one his parents knew their son was capable of fulfilling.
.
Iyo and Issei decided to move to China, where Mei Shimizu, the former teammate of legendary figure skater Yuna and former coach of Ren Miyamoto, lives.
They wanted their son to have the best coach of the century, according to the ISU, so she could help their son reach the top.
Yoichi debuted at 13 years old, at the Junior World Championships, winning the gold medal. He made a prodigious debut, one never seen before. Until then, they had never seen a skater like Yoichi, with that technique and artistry, which were key to winning gold and being the first of all to win a gold medal in his debut.
Thanks to his artistry, ethereal beauty, technique, and magical, fairy-tale-like movements, he was nicknamed “the Ice Angel.”
Mei Shimizu, the “creator” of the Japanese skating prodigy, the Ice Angel, admitted that even she, considered the best figure skating coach by the ISU, had never seen such a phenomenon.
“I didn’t create him; I was simply incredibly lucky to discover him. I find it incredible that such an incredible skater as Isagi Yoichi exists, and the best part is that I am lucky enough to have him as one of my students. Yoichi is not an ordinary genius; he is the genius of geniuses.”
—Mei Shimizu
“I just don't think it's normal that a kid like him, at 14 years old, can already perform Ren Miyamoto's hydroblading without any difficulty. And not only that, he's also capable of quad jumping, something I've never witnessed throughout my entire career as a skater and coach.”
—Alexei Schwert, Ren Miyamoto's coach.
@Kirr.aky: Hey, should this kid even be in the Junior category? He's got what it takes to compete in the Senior category; it's just too unfair for the Juniors to compete against him.
@Theivanlebedev: I hope not. I don't want to be humiliated by a 14-year-old prodigy in my last season. I want to end my career on a high note.
@Renren.miya: Dude, Ivan, you're 32. People don't give a damn if you're humiliated, you old fart 😸
@Theivanlebedev: And we were supposed to be training partners? A brat as insolent as you? Young people these days don't respect their elders anymore.
@Vvvalery: He's even better than Miyamoto at his age!! He might be able to surpass him, right?
@Dudd_72917: It could be, unless he gets injured before he can reach the Senior category, which wouldn't surprise me, considering he's doing a lot of dangerous jumps for his age.
@Doctormeedv: Do you really think it's worth risking so much just for a few titles? Yeah, everyone knows he's a genius and all, but does he realize the danger that poses? At 20, he'll already have the knees of an old man, and he'll probably end up injured.
@Vera_564: Are you sure he's not doping or something? I don't think it's normal that a kid like him can achieve all that.
@ogin.wa: I don't think so. They always do drug tests on him and he always comes out clean. He's a genius, that's all.
@yuum.me: What if they're inflating his score? It just doesn't make sense that he has so many points in his programs.
@user1627857: Bro, it's not like he was Russian to be overscored.
@ae.lumi: Are you blind or haven't you seen his programs? He's literally performed moves that have only been seen in the Senior category at 14 years old, and he always maintains very good technique and artistry. I'd say he's actually underscored, since he sometimes receives very few points for the jumps he performs.
@bbb.32: You know, there's a rumor that Isagi's entire success is thanks to bribes from his coach and parents.
@yuum.me: Oh no, Yoichi's fans have come to me.
@Vizzenz: Isagi isn't Miyamoto's successor; he's just a kid playing God.
@Wwang.yyumei: I don't know about you, but I need more interaction between the Ice Prince and the Ice Angel. They could have a really nice brotherly relationship. 😭💗
Those were the comments Yoichi received most often, although he ignored them, since he wasn't interested in what people said or talked about him.
He was only focused on achieving his goal: to be the best.
But let's be honest, it was just too easy for Yoichi.
While other skaters took months to master a spin or jump, he was already capable of mastering it in less than two months.
He knew better than anyone that it was risky to perform those jumps at such a young age, considering the physical consequences it would have in the future, the number of injuries he could sustain.
But his excuse was always the same: he'd retire soon anyway; there was no point in worrying so much about his leg if he'd probably retire before his 20.
After all, lately, he's felt a great emptiness inside when he looked at his gold medals, as if they had lost all meaning to him.
This makes it clear that if he doesn't retire because of injury, he'll do so because he'll self-destruct his own passion.
"They say obsession defeats talent... But what would happen if a talented genius became obsessed?" Shimizu once wondered, thinking of a possible answer.
And when he met Isagi Yoichi, he got the answer he longed for.
Isagi Yoichi was a talented genius who was obsessed with being the best. He managed to beat them all: the geniuses, the obsessed, and the best.
But what if this genius has stopped obsessing? What if he's lost the passion for something he once loved so much?
.
"Issei... I'm worried about Yoichi..." Iyo Isagi, Yoichi's mother, worriedly told her husband.
“Hmm? What's wrong, honey?” Issei asked his wife, seeing her worried expression.
“Don't you think our son is strange? He's always developing new interests and hobbies, but once he reaches his goal, he gets bored and loses interest, completely abandoning everything he was once interested in…”
“What do you mean, Iyo? I'm saying Yoichi is as usual, normal. You're overthinking things. I'm saying this is because he's in his teenage years and discovering what he likes.” Issei chose not to pay much attention to his wife's concerns.
“But I don't see it as normal, Issei. He started playing chess three years ago, but after becoming a Grandmaster, becoming the Japanese chess champion, and beating several Grandmasters six months ago, he started getting bored and quit! Same with piano, basketball, judo, and so on… He's a genius, yes, but at the same speed he achieves everything, he'll quit too! And I still have more examples of this kind of behavior.”
“Well, maybe you're right… But I don't think he'll quit ice skating, right? He still has a long way to go, and if this case were like the previous ones, he would have quit already.”
“Maybe you're right… We're too normal people to be able to understand a genius, even if he's our own son…” Despite his words, she still hesitated.
“Well, putting that aside. You know my brother, Jinpachi, has a new project? Apparently it's about soccer.” Iyo remembered what her younger brother had told her a few weeks ago.
“Oh, is that right? Do you know what it's about?"
"He says it's to create the best striker in the world or something, in Japan."
"Hmm, sounds very Jinpachi-esque. He'll probably give the poor participants a lecture about their "ego" and all that." Issei laughed, remembering his brother-in-law's strange personality.
"A genius, huh? What's the fun in being a genius if it's so easy to achieve everything?" Yoichi, who was lying peacefully in his bed, thought with some annoyance.
His room was filled with trophies, gold medals, and extraordinary accolades he'd earned over the past 14 years. Yet they were all covered in dust.
In all this time, he hasn't bothered to clean them even once, as if they were of no importance to him or they didn't exist.
It was fun being a genius until you started feeling empty and bored with it all.
When you lose real motivation to do things.
"Why should I keep playing chess if I've already beaten several Grandmasters?"
"Why should I study so hard if I already know this?"
When your parents argued secretly and blamed themselves for putting too much pressure on their son.
“Iyo, I think it was my fault for putting so much pressure on him to improve at basketball… It turns out he quit the team because everyone was ‘terrible’!! They’re just 11-year-olds…”
“Issei, Yocchan told me he wasn’t going to read any more books on art history, that he already knew all the facts in those books and none of them were new or interesting to him… I shouldn’t have given him so many books to read.”
When trophies no longer have any value to you, because you feel like it was so easy to get them.
“Isagi Yoichi takes gold again!”
“And the winner of the Beijing Cup is… Isagi Yoichi!”
When you’re so good at everything that you’re no longer happy about doing something or winning anything.
“And the award for best student of the year for this class goes to Isagi Yoichi!”
When you simply want a new challenge, one that isn't so easy to come by.
Basketballs, canvases and paints, books, chess pieces… All lying in a corner of his room.
.
“Yoichi, let's practice jumping quads. I want you to be the first skater to successfully jump a quad axel in a competition,” Shimizu said to his star student.
“A quad axel? It's a great challenge… I like it, I'll do it. I promise I'll win the Olympics and jump three quads.”
“Okay… Wait, three? You're really hard on your own, Yoichi… But hey, I have high expectations for you, don't let me down. Teach this world because you're the best.” She knew Yoichi wouldn't let her down, but she needed to put pressure on him so he wouldn't slack off too much for the Olympics.
“Oh yes, I have something for you.” Shimizu took out a small box of kintsuba for his student. “Congratulations on the gold medal at the Cup of China, Yoichi.”
“Oh, thank you very much, Coach,” Yoichi thanked him with a small smile. It had been his coach’s custom, ever since she found out he loved kintsuba, to buy him a small box of kintsuba every time he won a gold medal.
Yoichi opened the box to take a bite, but after taking that bite, he found the kintsuba tasteless.
Something that surprised him, since that was the brand he always bought.
The kintsuba had lost its flavor, just as he had lost his passion.
Yoichi realized that cruel truth.
He himself had destroyed his passion.
Yoichi continued eating in silence until he remembered he had to inform his coach of a certain decision he'd made.
"I plan to quit skating if I win gold at the Olympics." Yoichi dropped the bombshell when he least expected it.
"What are you saying...? Why? If you're the best in the team, there's no reason you should quit... Am I being too picky? Or do you dislike someone on the team? Your parents know?" Shimizu didn't understand. Why would someone as talented as him give it all up? It didn't make sense to him.
“No, I just got bored. If I win gold at these Olympics, I'll complete the Super Slam, and once I complete it, I'll have no more goals to pursue.”
“Yoichi, do you know how many people would like to be in your place? All those people who strive day and night to achieve at least one of your accomplishments? You can't just give up because you got bored—”
“Well, let those people keep trying. I don't have to keep fulfilling other people's frustrated dreams. I've always been like this, and you know it. If something bores me, I'll just quit.” Yoichi interrupted his coach, not wanting to hear her absurd lecture.
“And you think your parents will be happy? Seeing you give up again for the same old excuse? Do you know how much money they've spent on you for this sport?” Shimizu wouldn't accept it; she refused to accept her student's retirement. 'I got bored' wasn't enough of an explanation for her.
“Don't involve my parents in this. I don't care what they say, since it's my life, not my parents'. Besides, those losses have already been paid for with my sponsorships and gold medals.”
“Ha… I hate geniuses like you. I know you're better than ordinary people like us, but I hate the way you give up so easily due to lack of motivation despite your great talent and skill, how you look down on those of us who try hard…”
“Shimizu…” Yoichi muttered sadly at his coach's reaction. Even though he didn't understand her, he could sense the clear resentment she felt toward geniuses.
“Leave it alone. We'll do whatever you say, you selfish genius. Win the Olympics and retire. Once you do that, we'll stop having contact, and I don't have to worry about you anymore.” She'd had enough, so she simply decided to continue training, knowing that nothing she said or did would ever rekindle the passion of a selfish man like him.
The rest of the training session had a more tense atmosphere, something everyone present noticed, but no one commented on it for fear of upsetting both parties involved.
.
Once home, instead of the typical warm greeting his mother gave him, accompanied by a sweet smile, the scene he received was very different.
His mother was crying in his father's arms, whose face was disappointed.
"Mom? Dad? Is something wrong?" Yoichi had a sneaky suspicion about what might have happened; most likely, Shimizu had told them about the retirement.
"Yocchan..." His mother hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her face. "Tell me, why are you quitting skating? Weren't you supposed to like it?! Don't tell me you've gotten bored of it and that's it, like always... Yoichi, tell me, can you really love something and not throw it away at the slightest sign of boredom? No, if you were truly interested and loved something, you would never abandon it..."
"Mom, what are you telling me? That I'm not capable of love? That I'm not capable of maintaining my interest in something?"
“Yoichi, your mother is right, and you know it. You’ve never truly loved anything. Did you really think your mother and I didn’t see all your trophies and accolades gathering dust? Or how you’re able to throw some of them away?” His father’s sad look held a hint of disappointment.
“And what are you supposed to do if everything comes so easily to me? It’s boring; nothing causes me stress or difficulty. I can’t love something that doesn’t keep me interested. Or maybe it’s that everyone is so mediocre that they can’t surpass me.” No one could understand Yoichi; to him, they were just judging him harshly, without understanding his point of view.
“Yocchan… What’s the point of us supporting you in everything you do if you’re not passionate about it and just look at everyone with a blank smile, like a hollow doll?”
“Hollow doll?” That comparison his father had made had hurt him. The fact that he’d said that to him meant they believed he had no emotions.
He wasn't capable of feeling, and inside him there was nothing, like a hollow doll.
That passion that once burned within him burned with such obsession that nothing remained but traces, only ashes of a former version of him.
From when he started ice skating at age 4, with a sweet smile filled with love for the sport.
A version of him that no longer existed.
And his parents surely missed that Isagi Yoichi.
They no longer recognize the Yocchan he is now; perhaps they just see him as a selfish genius.
Yoichi remained silent for a long moment, not knowing exactly what to say, lost in his own insecurities, his gaze lost in thought.
"Yes, you've been acting like this for years. Your mother and I may have decided to ignore it, but honestly, we just can't take it anymore. Please, let us help you with this, son."
"No, you're right. I'm just an empty, emotionless doll..." His throat tightened as he spoke those words, but he didn't want to leave his parents without an answer either.
With nothing else to say, Yoichi returned to his room and locked himself in.
He opened his desk drawer and saw the photograph he had taken with his parents when he won his first gold medal in his skating career.
A happy smile, looks filled with pride. A lost innocence.
"Pathetic..." He muttered with a certain nostalgia, but grabbed that photograph and threw it in the trash.
He hated that feeling of remembering what once was and knowing he could never get back.
That innocence he lost long ago.
.
During the preparation period for the Olympics, everything returned to normal.
Or so it seemed, since no one was able to accept his decision and simply preferred to pretend he was going to continue his successful career.
Of course, no one was able to accept that the genius was retiring.
And not because of an injury, but out of sheer boredom.
"Aleksandar, that triple axel you just performed was pathetic. You should improve your technique and landing; if you keep going like this, you won't get very far," Yoichi commented to one of his teammates after seeing the jump he performed.
"Oh, okay, I'll do it—" Hearing Yoichi's harsh comment, he laughed and nodded, not a bit annoyed by the other's strict tone.
"Hey, genius, not all of us are as talented as you, so don't ask so much of others," Ryota, another of his teammates, said with a tone full of contempt.
"I'm just telling him something so he can take it into account and improve. It'll be his decision if he decides to listen to me."
"Of course, you were just telling him his jump was pathetic, in that self-centered tone of yours. You're a big thinker, aren't you? You were just lucky to be born with talent, so keep that arrogance to yourself."
"Hey Ryota, you're going too far, stop it." Ahyeon, another of Shimizu's students, tried to stop Ryota before he could continue making nasty comments.
“Oh come on, do you really think my pathetic words will affect this genius? He's just an emotionless, empty shell. Are you even human? Can you feel anything? I remember when I told you two years ago how much I admired you, and you just ignored me and said my program sucked,” Ryota recalled with hatred and resentment. Two years ago, his idol at the time had humiliated him in the worst possible way, completely damaging his pride.
“I was just being honest back then. I don't like lying. And I must remind you that you found me at a very delicate moment for me at the time, and you know that. Although I know it's no excuse for the way I treated him back then.” He remembered how two years ago, when Ryota joined Team Shimizu, he had found him in the locker room just after he had fainted from a lack of nutrients due to the extreme diets he was on, and that's why he had spoken to him in such a manner.
The atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense, so that he could easily cut himself with a knife.
“What are you doing? Get back to practice. There are only two weeks left until the Olympics, so I won't accept any slacking right now. You have a country to represent, no matter where you're from. You have to put on a good performance and be a source of pride for your country. If you have problems, talk to a psychologist, but don't argue here. I'm not interested in your personal matters; I'm only interested in your ability to finish on the podium.” Shimizu noticed the tension between his senior students, so he decided to interrupt whatever they were talking about so they could focus solely on their goal.
Everyone returned to what they were doing without complaint, except for Yoichi, who had stared at the floor without saying anything, listening to Aleksandar and Ahyeon's amused laughter as they attempted a triple axel.
"Yoichi, focus and ignore those guys. If you're going to retire, let it be with a gold medal. You have to jump at least three quads in your free skate."
"Oh, yeah, I'll do it." Yoichi snapped out of his bubble and nodded, returning to practice.
.
The day all ice skating fans had been waiting for had arrived.
It was the Winter Olympics.
Yoichi's goal was clear: to win the gold medal and thus complete the Super Slam.
Although he would have to face Ren Miyamoto, the prince of ice.
The first to complete a Super Slam, the first to exceed 100 points in the short program, a pioneer in mastering the quad salchow and quad toe loop, and many more records and titles.
But to be honest, he wasn't too scared of the idea of facing him; he believed in himself to beat him.
After all, he was a genius; no matter how hard Ren tries, he'll never be able to beat him.
“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the 2017 Pyeongchang Olympic Games! Today, the ice skaters will show us their beauty on the ice rink! Who will be the Olympic champion this time? Who will be the athlete who leaves us all speechless?”
@jjkm.7809: If Yoichi doesn't win gold, I'm suing the ISU
@User1092087: Let's hope the same thing that happened to Queen Yuna doesn't happen again 😞
@User928801: Let's see, first and second place are already secured for Isagi and Miyamoto (although I can't say for sure who will come in first), I say the rest will compete for third place, at least to get on the podium.
@Mcha.Kaiser: The one in blue is cute.
@gesner257: Kaiser??? 👀👀
@Benedictgrimmmm: Has the Emperor fallen in love with the Ice Angel?? Incredible!!!
@Alexns: Ooo, he's so cute 💜
@gesner257: OMG, You too, Ness???
@Khaeo.tt: Is it just me or am I sensing a really toxic atmosphere among the skaters under Shimizu?? Like, she's a good coach and all, but I don't think the Seniors get along with each other, especially with Isagi.
@Yuqiqi08: Wow, you just discovered that H2O is water. Should we call you Einstein?
@Lizazturkm: Bro, Aleksandar himself admitted that he didn't like the toxic environment between them at all and that few people got along with each other on the team, that they were like duos or trios who didn't like each other outside of their little group.
@Khaeo.tt: Oh, that's a shame because Shimizu usually has the best skaters of his generation, I thought they'd have a good relationship with each other 😿💔
@Lizazturkm: Well, it's a problem with these new generations, because the 2 before this one had a good relationship. Although I remember him saying he had a good relationship with Isagi, I don't know if that's still the case.
@Yuqiqi08: I think that since Yoichi joined the team, Shimizu has shown a lot of favoritism toward him, although he's also stricter with him than with the rest. I'd say it's more due to jealousy and Shimizu's treatment of some people.
@Hayew.len: I don't know who to support, Ren or Yoichi 😔
@Hyun.luk: I bet Yoichi breaks a record.
@Miz.sua: I think the podium will end with Yoichi in first place, Ren in second place, and Ivan in third place.
@Ivntill: I have a feeling these Olympics will be chaotic…
@Ryota.fannumber1: I hope Isagi loses and finally gets his reality check and wakes up. The day Isagi realizes he's just a lucky "genius" and that luck abandons him, I'll be happy 😻
@Charlescharleschevalierr: Ooo, a bootlicker of Oinari Ryota, it's clear that you're a poor, sad fan with a lack of attention because his favorite athlete is a shitty skater and can't win anything HAHAHAHHAHAH
@gesner257: And what are you doing with your phone and not training? Loki will kill you 😨
@Dnyik.vy: I don't know, I want Aleksandar Iliev to win (I know he's not as popular as Isagi or Miyamoto, but I want him to win)
@Yuqiqi08: It's just that you too... You get your hopes up all by yourself, so you have to perform a ritual so Aleksandar can win... Or at least finish on the podium.
The first to perform his short program was Aleksandar Iliev. To Yoichi's surprise, he put in a very good performance. He had taken Yoichi's words to heart and had improved all his weaknesses.
"Yoichi! Thanks for the feedback the other day. If you had never told me, I would never have been able to score 85 points in the short program!" Aleksandar hugged him tightly, with a smile full of happiness and pride for what he had achieved.
That action had left him frozen; it was the first time someone other than his parents had hugged him with such joy. He didn't know how to react immediately, so he hugged him back while he thought about what to say.
"Mmm, no. This was thanks to your effort. I just made a few comments, nothing more. After all, you could have ignored my words and that's it, but you decided to listen to me and focus on improving those mistakes." He didn't know what to say exactly, since it was the first time someone had thanked him for one of his comments.
"Yeah, but you were kind enough to tell me. If it weren't for that, I would never have improved. Yoichi, I admire you. I want to be like you, so please teach me how to be like you. I know I'm not talented, but I'll try hard enough not to let you down and be a worthy rival." Aleksandar was a huge admirer of Yoichi; from the moment he saw him skating, he fell completely in love with his art.
He truly looked like a blessed angel dancing on the ice.
“Mmm, you may not have the talent, but you have the passion, Alex… You'll go far.” Yoichi spoke these words sweetly, something extremely peculiar, and left the locker room for the ice rink without another word.
“Thank you!! I'll strive to be better!!” Aleksandar thanked him with a big smile. For him, receiving such words from his idol was the best thing that could have happened to him all day.
“Wow, so Yoichi isn't as cruel and mean as some people say.” Hwang Ahyeon, Aleksandar's friend and also a student of Shimizu, was surprised by Yoichi's behavior.
People used to say that after so many consecutive victories, Yoichi's kind and sweet personality had changed, and that he was now a self-centered and mean young man who didn't respect any of his team and saw them as “inferior.”
“I don't know who invented the rumor that Yoichi was mean to his fans and teammates, but it's definitely a lie.”
“I think it's just the typical reporters looking for drama, seeing how last time Yoichi didn't smile at a kid who had told him he was his idol, but well, all that was misinterpreted because the kid had spoken to him in Russian, a language Yoichi clearly doesn't know and therefore didn't understand.” Ahyeon recalled when that event had gone viral on social media. Although it was quickly denied, the rumor that Yoichi was an egocentric continued to circulate.
The next person to perform the short program would be Yoichi.
Yoichi walked toward the ice rink with seriousness; it seemed that smile from a few minutes ago didn't last long. He couldn't get distracted; even though he's a genius, he shouldn't get too confident either. After all, his knee wasn't in the best possible condition, and he couldn't risk injuring it.
“Yoichii! Good luck with your presentation! Although I know you don't need it because you're very talented.” Miyamoto, who was standing next to Shimizu discussing some matters, approached him and stroked his head while smiling.
Ren Miyamoto was the noblest person he had ever met.
Despite being rivals and possibly soon being dethroned by Yoichi, he continued to smile and be kind, without a trace of malice or envy. No matter how much Yoichi surpassed him, he was always there, smiling and celebrating his achievements.
For Ren, there was no reason for anyone, even if they were worse or better than you. Everyone has their reasons for their ways and actions, and therefore everyone deserves to be respected.
“Thank you very much, Miyamoto… This is a competition between you and me, right? I'll beat you.”
“Good! That's the attitude. I'll do my best to beat you. I don't plan on giving up my throne so soon, angel.”
“Same here, Prince.”
The audience cheered with joy as they saw the angel step onto the ice, ready to begin his routine.
Yoichi wore a platinum blue outfit with small metallic details in silver and purple. His sleeves were white and wide, resembling the wings of an angel. His long hair was tied with a blue ribbon, the tips of which were burnt, and there were traces of glitter in it, symbolizing the ashes of something.
“Isagi Yoichi, representing Japan,” the announcer announced, receiving a huge wave of applause in response.
The music began to play, and his blades began to glide across the ice.
With his arms spread like wings, he executed a hydroblading jump so low that his toes touched the ice. His hydroblading was better executed than Ren's.
Then he began his jumps, starting with a quad toe loop followed by a triple toe loop and finishing with a triple axel. Each of his steps and jumps flowed in perfect sync with the music; it was harmoniously beautiful.
His jumps, cantilever, and spins were ethereal, worthy of an angel.
It was like watching an ice fairy dancing freely on the ice.
At the end of his short program, the audience erupted in applause and a shower of Hello Kitty plush toys and flower bouquets.
His score was 125.69, surpassing Miyamoto's record.
"Good... I'm getting closer to achieving my goal... Just a little more and all this will finally be over..."
.
The first day's men's figure skating standings were as follows:
- Isagi Yoichi: 125.69
- Ren Miyamoto: 113.87
- Iván Lebedev: 94.20
- Aleksandar Iliev: 85.93
- Javier Hernández: 82.01
- Oinari Ryota: 80.56
"Hmm, not too bad. If I perform as well in my free skate, I'll win gold and be done with this sport," Yoichi thought as he looked at the results.
"Oh? So the genius can't wait to retire already?" Miyamoto appeared behind him, with his trademark friendly smile.
“Ren…”
“You know, from my point of view, you're an angel who flew too fast and has already grown tired, Yoichi.”
“What do you mean? I don't think I flew too fast; you're just going too slowly.”
“Hmm, of course not, Yoichi. You've gotten bored of skating because it's so easy for you, and you accomplish everything quickly and easily. We go at our own pace without needing to accelerate, keeping the passion within us, without having completely burned it out in the process like you did.”
“Well, it is what it is. I just loved skating so much, so much that I wanted to achieve everything and be the best, but once I achieved all that, I realized I didn't enjoy the process, not even the result.”
“Yeah, and tell me, you're not just training out of lack of interest, right? You're injured. I noticed it on your last jump of the short program, your lack of balance landing that triple axel.”
“So you figured it out… And I'm doing my best to keep this under wraps, but well, there's not much I can do about it now." Yoichi simply sighed. There was nothing he could do right now.
The second reason he'd been hiding for so long had been discovered by Ren, by a single mistake. He knew Ren wasn't going to extort him, reveal his secret, or anything like that. Maybe he'd just keep it to himself.
“My knee couldn't handle my jumps and is on the verge of serious injury. I'm not even sure if I can jump in the free skate, but oh well. I know all this is because I started doing quads at a young age, I honestly don't regret it.”
Of course, in order to be a legend, since being the best is too easy for you, you'd be willing to put your health at risk.
“Yoichi, I don't know what to tell you, but I hope you can rest and recover from your injury after these Olympics. I hope to see you in the future enjoying some other sport.” Miyamoto hugged him, trying to comfort him, even though he didn't know if Yoichi was one. He didn't understand geniuses, but he clearly saw that Yoichi didn't enjoy being one and therefore pushed himself too hard to be like the others, like those who strive to achieve their goals.
He was just a 15-year-old kid wanting to work hard to achieve something, even though he knew he didn't need to work hard. But all that overexertion led him to the end.
To his loss of humanity and passion.
.
“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! Today, we will witness the free programs of our beloved figure skaters.”
Each of them went out to perform their routines until it was Yoichi's turn.
In this free program, he had decided he was going to give his best and end his career in the most brilliant way possible, even if there was a risk of injury.
Yoichi began his routine with a series of quick and precise steps, his blades slicing through the ice perfectly, as if he were a robot.
His first jump, a quad salchow, was perfect; his body rotated four times in the air with a precision that left the audience speechless.
The second quad, a toe loop, was at the climax of the musical piece. This time he added a triple toe loop combination. The height he reached was astonishing, his rotations so fast and perfect that watching them could only make you feel admiration.
He then performed a flying camel spin, spinning so fast that his figure blurred, the sparkles of his costume creating a hypnotic effect. Like seeing a magical being on ice.
The third and most difficult quad, a loop.
This was the jump he had been secretly perfecting, the one that even Ren Miyamoto hadn't fully mastered. But as expected of the genius, he pulled it off with ease.
And to finish his routine, he jumped a quad axel.
A jump never before executed in Olympic competition.
The entire crowd held their breath as he accelerated toward the corner of the rink. His body rotated four and a half times in the air with superhuman precision. The landing was so clean that the judges exchanged looks of disbelief; they had just witnessed a historic record in skating.
The routine ended with a combination of increasingly faster spins, culminating in a final pose where he hugged himself. Earning countless cheers from the crowd, along with a shower of Hello Kitty plushies.
However, what no one noticed was that on this last jump, his knee creaked, a sign of a possible injury. To avoid it, he skipped the fifth and final quad he had planned, to avoid injury.
"God... It was just a creak, but it hurts... Damn..." Yoichi muttered in the locker room, when no one was near him.
The pain he had felt on previous jumps was bearable, but this last one certainly wasn't.
This one hurt too much, as if his knee was tearing apart...
Thank goodness he hadn't jumped a fifth quad...
That way, he could retire without anyone knowing about his injury.
.
It was all over, and as everyone expected, Yoichi had won.
Yoichi took first place with 352.25 points, Ren took second with 298.88, and Ivan took third with 278.87.
"Wow... The difference between first and second place is huge... almost 60 points?" Aleksandar murmured in surprise as he looked at they score.
Despite his efforts, he finished in fourth place, with 278.02...
Meanwhile, Yoichi stared at his gold medal without emotion. He had performed the best program of his entire career, broken multiple records, and had just won the gold medal and completed the Super Slam.
But that emptiness definitely lingered; he had been foolish to believe that this time he could regain that old passion.
Well, there's no point in complaining if he's going to retire now.
“Aleksandar, congratulations on fourth place. You did your best and it was wonderful. Keep going, okay? Keep spreading that love you have for skating to all the spectators, you'll go far.” He approached Aleksandar to congratulate him, trying to distract himself from his thoughts. He had also noticed the Bulgarian's look of disappointment.
“Yoichi… I guess it was a bit risky of me to think I'd get a better score and finish on the podium, wasn't it? But thank you for your kind words.” Aleksandar was still looking at the floor as he said this, a tear running down his cheek.
“I don't know. But I know you'll be a great skater. I want you to know that not all flowers bloom at the same time. Some need a different climate and environment to flourish, and those will always be the most beautiful and long-lasting. To me, you're like an edelweiss, which blooms in extremely cold climates and is able to survive those temperatures.” Yoichi was sure that if Aleksandar continued like this, in the strict environment that characterized the Shimizu team, he could survive and remain on the team as the new star.
He had already said those same words to someone he'd just said to the Bulgarian.
Who was it? He didn't quite remember his appearance, but it was a blond guy named Michael.
“Thank you so much, Yoichi, I'm really grateful… I was afraid to get too close to you because of your coldness, despite how much I admired you. But that was just my prejudice. You're an incredible person. Good luck with your future projects outside of skating.” Aleksandar flashed a genuine smile as he said goodbye to the Japanese man.
“Congratulations, Yoichi, you beat me.” Miyamoto, as usual, appeared out of nowhere behind Yoichi.
“Oh! Thanks a lot, Ren… You're going to keep skating, right? Surely you enjoy it and are passionate about it…”
“Clearly, figure skating is what I love most in the world. Although it's a shame my biggest rival is retiring because he got bored, but hey, it motivates me to improve, because if you got bored, it's because I wasn't a good enough opponent. Yoichi, the next time we meet on the ice, if there's a chance, I'll show you my improvement and that I'm a great opponent to entertain you.”
“Pfft… Thanks, Ren, I'll look forward to that day…”
“The next time we meet in a competition, I'll beat you.”
Yes, if there were such a chance.
.
Yoichi received several goodbyes from teammates, rivals, and tears from his fans, even the judges.
Aleksandar had given him a dried edelweiss.
“You know, I'm sure even ashes can burn brightly again; it's just a matter of finding the right place.”
“You think so, Alex? Well, I hope to find that place soon, but I'll support you in your career.”
However, those goodbyes meant nothing to him; he felt nothing for the pain or sadness of others. For him, the whole show was simply unnecessary.
“Oh, this whole show is unnecessary because skating is boring,” Shimizu appeared, mockingly pitying him.
“Coach Shimizu”
“Yoichi.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Nothing. I wanted to say goodbye to my best student, even though I know how little you care. So it will be a brief farewell, in which I will probably repeat the same things everyone else says.” Good luck with your search for something to love. I trust you are capable of love.”
“Thank you—”
“Shut up, I haven't finished speaking. I've always hated geniuses because when I was younger, I was defeated multiple times by a genius and could only finish second on the podium, and so, I began to resent her. And I thought that by having you, a genius, as a student, I might be able to understand a little of what geniuses were like, but as you can see, it hasn't helped.”
“Hmm?”
“She was a genius with passion, you weren't. But let it go, I'm sure you'll find that passion one day.” She hugged Yoichi.
“Hmm, I think this is the nicest thing you've said to me since you became my coach… Thank you so much, my dear strict and evil coach.” Yoichi smiled and broke away from Shimizu's hug, saying his last goodbye before returning to the hotel with his parents.
.
“Dad, Mom, I'm back…”
“Yocchan! Congratulations on the gold medal and the Super Slam!” Iyo hugged her son with great joy.
Yoichi loved his mother's hugs, as he felt that thanks to them, he was slowly regaining some of his humanity.
It wasn't long before his father returned to the hotel room, a letter in hand.
“Dad, what's that?”
“A letter your Uncle Jinpachi sent us,” Issei handed the letter to his son.
Ego Jinpachi, a name that sent chills down Yoichi's spine every time he heard it.
“To the little genius brat:
Look, I don't care if you've lost your passion for everything you do, like if you're going to retire from skating even though you're the best at it.
But I have a proposition for you: go back to playing soccer.
And don't give me your excuses about "getting bored," because they're useless to me. I know you stopped playing soccer because it was the only thing you couldn't master the first time. You got stressed, and that's why you stopped playing soccer.
Isagi Yoichi, join Blue Lock and compete against 299 other players to become the best striker in the world.
Perhaps along the way, you'll be able to rebuild those former ashes and find passion for something again.
Oh yeah, it'll be in a year, enough time to recover from that hidden injury, right?
"-Ego Jinpachi"
"So Blue Lock, huh? Sounds interesting..."
Ego was right.
He had abandoned soccer because it was the only game he couldn't master the first time, and that's why it fell into oblivion.
It bothered him deeply to be reminded of that defeat, his only defeat.
But now that he remembers, he'll do everything he can to master the sport and regain a part of himself that he lost so long ago.
Besides, he was lucky that by the time the project begins, his knee will surely be feeling better.
"Yocchan?" his parents asked, seeing their son's determined look.
"Dad, Mom, I'm going back to Japan to participate in Blue Lock. I have a new goal to pursue."
Perhaps those ashes that burned for so long will slowly be rebuilt in Blue Lock.