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The roaring applause from the crowd, the bright lights shining into his eyes, the ringing in his ears, the absolute unreal feeling in him.
Minkyu Seo had just skated the skate of this life. Anything he does after this will never come close to this moment in the center of this arena. He had finally had his moment after such a rough season where nothing seemed to be in place, but it finally came together here.
He sits in the leader’s chair, proud as can be as his place on the podium is already set in stone, all he has to do is see this last program that will determine if he’s going to walk home just proud or if he’s going to walk home with the title of his nation’s savior.
Him winning a medal in it of itself is fantastic. But it would be even better if he gets a gold medal and the title of champion too..
Both of those possibilities lie on the shoulders of one man. The man that Minkyu had been head to head with since the beginning of his career and the one that is the last to skate after Minkyu.
And Minkyu oh so fortunately has a front row seat to witness him.
As he steps onto the ice, the announcer announces his name.
Rio Nakata. Arguably Japan’s strongest chance to get that gold medal here in the men’s event and the person Minkyu only wishes the best for.
Ok that was sarcasm, but still something nice to say right?
He can see from the sidelines, Rio has started and it’s going absolutely and unfortunately perfect. He already feels the dread that’s creeping up from inside his stomach at the prospect of him losing to Rio at such an important event. He kinda feels like throwing up from it.
When he turns his head around to watch him again, Rio makes an uncharacteristic mistake..
It was nearly a fall but he saved it before he faceplanted onto the ice. But not long later, there was another mistake, a pop on a jump he almost always lands perfectly?
It’s concerning, people usually try keep these types of mistakes to a minimum. Especially at an event like the Olympics.
It’s making a mixture of hope, sadness and a bit of disappointment swell in Minkyu. The sight of his long time rival skating this way is pretty jarring. Well it’s probably Olympic pressure, but still..
He watches Rio again and he makes a mistake in his spin, it’s just a bit too rushed and unthought of. It’s just a bit depressing.
As Rio finishes, he can see the devastation on his face and how he seems to try and hold onto himself like to not fall apart. He can almost see the tears threatening to spill out of his eyes and he just feels so…
Sad.
—-
As they are waiting for Rio’s scores to come out, Minkyu can see his face. He can tell that he’s going to break down at whatever score that will show itself. He is patiently waiting as he can feel Habin jokingly shaking him from behind. Everyone is waiting anxiously. But one thing is for certain, if it’s not from the Korean uncle that he can see is already standing ready or his mom who’s nearly sobbing now, then what?
As he is called to the chair to react to Rio’s score, he knows, Rio knows, hell everyone who is watching knows. They all know that he won.
No doubt about it. He has to have won.
The score comes and it’s bad. Maybe subpar at best, but the only thing that’s certain is that it isn’t enough. It isn’t enough to beat Minkyu, but he can settle for 2nd.
As he sees the number 2 beside Rio’s total score, an immense amount of relief almost fills him to the brim and he can’t help but let a couple of tears out. It’s feels so unreal that he feels like he might wake up any second now.
His mom and coach nearly squeeze him to death as his teammates laugh and congratulate him. His eyes might have moved to the unfortunate sight close by, but that shouldn’t concern him!
Not right now at least..
He still can’t believe it, the deafening cheers of the crowd definitely doesn’t help either..
He only really realizes it’s real when a red-rimmed eyes having man comes and congratulates him with a handshake.
Then it finally clicks in his mind. He’s an Olympic champion!
He’s taking home his country’s first Olympic gold in figure skating since Yuna Kim!
He’s so happy.
He should be so happy.
He’s waiting patiently for the medal ceremony to happen before he is greeted by a man he just saw sobbing and crying a few moments ago. His eyes are still red and he still seems like he still has an ocean of tears left to cry.
Minkyu doesn’t know how to feel about it. On one hand, this is because he beat him and finally achieved the thing he wanted to achieve. On the other hand, he kinda shattered this guy’s Olympic dream, but that thought didn’t really go far since well, what happened, happened and if he was choosing between his dream and this guy’s dream, then who would be surprised if he picked his own?
“Congratulations.” that was what he said and held his hand out for him to shake.
“Congrats to you too.” It felt very sweet for Minkyu to get this recognition.
“You skated great.” Obviously.
“You too.” And Rio gave a hollow laugh at that.
“Your words are too nice about it.” He looks spaced out as he says it. There’s almost an air of unbroken tension that can’t seem to break.
“But you did.” And he gives Rio a smile to which Rio doesn’t react much to. He does feel kinda bad for the guy, but not too much honestly.
They suddenly get called over to prepare for the victory ceremony.
—-
“The silver medalist, representing Japan! Rio Nakata!”
“The Gold medalist, the Olympic champion! Representing South Korea!
Minkyu Seo!”
As Minkyu hear his name come of the announcers mouth, announcing him as the champion, he can feel nothing other than glee. All of the tired days training, all of the competitions he won and lost that built the foundation of the skater he is now, all of the sleepless nights full of imagining this moment. All of it came to this moment.
The medal is heavy on his neck, it’s probably the heaviest medal he has, he can feel the cheering and seeming crying? from the crowd. Even then, he can hear Rio giving him a small applause just to his side. There’s nothing that could possibly be better.
“Ladies and gentlemen if you can, please stand for the anthem of the champion.”
As the flag of his dear nation is raised and as the anthem he has made heard all throughout the world is played, it finally dawns on him what has happened, it comes a bit at a time, just a few drops he can hold in, until there is a small and steady stream coming out of his eyes.
He had done it.