xi

HI GUYS! I know, I know. I'm late by one day. BUT I assure you that it will be worth it. (Hopefully for you)

I just want to say thank you again to all the people who still read this story. We're almost at 300 reads! Thank you so much. Words will never be enough to express how much gratitude I feel ❤️

Anyway! Here's chapter 11. I hope you guys enjoy!

I'll indicate where you guys can play the music! --------------------

Luna's POV

We just finished dinner at the hotel's restaurant. It was not only us skaters and the coaches though. My family also made time to join us after the competition was over.

Let's just say that other than the fact that we discussed about the events that just happened, there was also NONSTOP teasing regarding that little moment between Yuzu and I caught by the cameras. I was actually as red as the bolognese that I was eating.

But the most memorable snippet for me that night was how Yuzu always held my hand whenever I stopped eating and constantly squeezing it as if comforting me. Or rather calming himself down. I know he's pressured with the free skate coming up tomorrow. To ease his nerves, I knew just what I had to do.

Our curfew was not until 10 PM and it currently its only 9 PM. So Zhenya and I just arrived in our room.

"Hey Zhenya. Do you mind if I could use the bathroom first? I was planning in meeting Yuzu at the rooftop in 15 mins." I looked back at her as I was getting my silky black pajamas from my luggage.

"Yeah sure no problem. Are you perhaps planning on...?" Zhenya stopped what she was doing and said to me.

"No. I don't want to burden him any further Zhenya. Besides, look. I'm doing fine! Even after my short, I was fine. Let's not make things any bigger than it actually is." I just flashed her a smile. A smile which I, myself, know is forced. A smile as if to comfort my own worries.

Instead of arguing, Zhenya audibly sighed and replied "Alright. Its your call Luna. But you and Yuzu. I can see your relationship is more serious than you actually think. Don't you think he deserves to know?"

I just stood up and looked down at my feet. "He does deserve to know. After everything he's done for me. But I... I just can't. I'm sorry." I whispered as I felt tears slowly drop from my eyes. I didn't even realize I was silently sobbing.

"Oh Luna. Come here." I heard Zhenya come closer and engulf me in a hug while caressing my back. I had no choice but to continue crying on her shoulders.

After a few minutes, I calmed down and took a huge breath. Zhenya pulled away from the hug and held my shoulders. "Now go get your man, missy. Fix your face you look messy from all that crying." She said as she wiped my tear-streaked face like stopping a wailing child from crying.

I smiled at her. I seriously don't deserve a best friend like her. I hug her one more time and said "Thank you so much Zhenya." She just returned the smile and pushed me towards the bathroom.

I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I was determined. I know its selfish. I'm selfish. But would I really call myself selfish for hiding the truth in order for Yuzu to focus solely on living his dream?

timeskip

Me and Yuzu are just chilling here in the rooftop. It was just the two of us as the night was getting deeper and the people are preparing to rest.

We were just standing in comfortable silence, leaning over the railing and looking over the night lights of the city and the beautiful, twinkling stars in the sky.

I looked up to the sky, broke the silence and said "Yuzu? Its okay."

"Huh?" He replied and tilted his head to the side as I saw him from my peripheral vision.

I continued to look up but I closed my eyes before saying "Its okay. Don't feel pressured to do anything. Life is short to be stressing over small things y'know..."

I heard him sigh before saying "I know. I just can't help it. You deserve me only when I'm at my best. How can I present myself to you when I can't even do it?"

Finally, I looked at him. He deserves so much more than this.

I slowly crept my hand into his.

"With or without medals, I'll still stay. Nothing will change."

His face then turned to me and smiled at me. I decided to lighten up the mood and pinched his cheeks.

"So listen here. Calm down okay? Don't feel pressured or anything. You're still the amazing Yuzuru Hanyu everybody loves. You're still MY Yuzuru Hanyu."

"Owwww. You know you have a way with words right, Luna-chan?" He chuckled as he pulled my hands away from his face.

"I do. And that's why you love me." I joked and winked at him.

"Just one of the many reasons." Yuzu said while smiling fondly at me.

A smile I wish I could witness everyday forever.

timeskip the next day (AGAIN)

Megasport Arena

Since my pep talk last night with Yuzu, I decided not to bother him anymore backstage while he was warming up. I just hugged him and fixed his hair which was styled a bit compared to his hair style during the short. I prefer it when his hair is slicked back though. He looks uhm... he looks. Like a proper man. Okay fine. He looks hot damn it.

Anyway back to the issue at hand, Dmitri Aliev just finished his performance and Yuzu was coming up next. All jokes aside, I still feel nervous. Not for me though. For him. Don't get me wrong, I know he'll SLAY everyone with his skate to Seimei but as someone who supports him with all their heart and is a huge fan, you can never be calm. Especially since he's sitting in silver medal position behind Nathan Chen who was almost 7 points above him.

As he was on the ice preparing to go after hearing Dmitri Aliev's scores, he made eye contact with me. I gestured for him to take a deep breath and motion for him to calm down. I gave him a smile and two thumbs up before winking at him. It looks like it worked because he returned the thumbs up to me.

"Please welcome on the ice, from Japan, Yuzuru Hanyu."

As he took the center, may I just say how dashing and charming Yuzuru Hanyu is in that costume. As he took a deep breath being the first beat of his performance, he started.

From there, everything went by like a blur. Well, to me at least.

I held my breath throughout the whole performance. I could not even react to anything. I just watched him like a hawk. After his performance, the crowd erupted into loud applause as the stadium rained countless Pooh-sans.

After his scores were announced, he was sitting at 1st place with a free skate score of 195.92, making his total 290.77. Everyone could see him nodding and accepting the results but deep down, I know he felt like he could've done more. He didn't nail all his jumps.

I was proud of him though. He landed his quad lutz despite a very low landing. As a fellow skater, I was able to pinpoint all the jumps he flopped (which was almost every jump he did) and honestly I understand him somehow. His injury must've been hard to deal with.

But I knew he was still gonna get a high score because of his GOE. Yuzu never fails to amaze me with his charisma and presence on the ice. Its like he commands the atmosphere inside the arena. I couldn't take my eyes off of him.

As he was heading backstage with Coach Tracy and Coach Brian, he passes near our seat which was near the door. I stood up and leaned down to him.

"You did amazing, Yuzu-kun. Now wait for me backstage, I'll just---" I was cut off by Coach Tracy who cleared her throat.

"No. You two --" she gestured to me and Zhenya "go back to the hotel and rest up. Javi, please accompany them and make sure they don't do anything wild." She continued with a serious look on her face.

I just pouted and looked at Zhenya. I also pouted at Coach Brian who just shook his head. Lastly. I turned to Yuzu and pouted even more.

He just laughed at me and said "She's right hime. You need all the rest you can get."

I just replied with a 'hmp' and crossed my arms over my chest. I was about to reach down for Yuzu's hand. Before our hands touch, my hoodie was pulled back by Javi and Zhenya who were snickering.

"Let's go Juliet." Javi said as he laughed even more while dragging me away from the railing.

I just looked at Yuzu and waved.

approximately 4 hours later

Here I am. The last skater to go. We were just waiting for Zhenya's score. She's in the Kiss and Cry with Coach Tracy because my uncle is here with me in the sidelines.

"Evgenia Medvedeva has earned a free skate score of 150.46, giving her a total score of 231.21 which puts her currently in first place."

Now that is a high score. I'm so proud Zhenya did soooo good! I wish I could just hug her right now to congratulate her. But I'm stuck here in the middle of being an excited freak and a nervous wreck.

In the back if my mind, I just have to do like I normally do and everything will turn out as I want it to. This is for Yuzu. Speaking of the guy, he didn't meet me backstage which I TOTALLY understand. He total score fell short and got a silver medal. But he ranked first in the free skate still. Maybe he just needed time to compose himself.

But I texted him. I told him to watch me. And I told him to keep his eyes on me because I dedicate this skate to him. To make him feel better. To remind him that its okay to make mistakes as long as you still feel good about yourself.

"Last skater on the ice, from Canada, ladies and gentlemen, Luna Saito." And with that, I hugged my uncle one more time before skating towards the center of the rink.

As I take my position, I carefully dusted off my costume. This dress was gifted to me actually by Sky. I was asking him for costume ideas after I let him hear my free skate piece. Then the next day he took to this private tailoring place (which looked luxurious btw idk how he knows this place. prolly for his girlfriends) and took my measurements. Sky said to trust him and that he'll come up with the design.

My dress is actually breathtaking. Its a midnight blue tube dress that has gems that shine like the stars in the evening sky. It has the same color of off-shoulder sleeves made of sheer, think fabric that flows smoothly with the wind. Not to mention this simple diamond necklace he gave me with a crown as a pendant adorned with a gem similar to the color of my dress.

For the last time, I looked to the stands and there I saw Yuzuru Hanyu giving me his signature smile. I felt myself relax even more.

I took my position as I took a deep breath and begin.

- please play the music above -

I chose the best music that can convey my emotions. And here it is. As most skaters, three of my jumps are in the first half of the program and the rest on the second half.

I prepare myself for my first jump which is a triple axel triple toe combination. I did not land the triple axel the way I wanted it so I had to lean back more for my triple toe.

My second jump is a quad toe which I landed the best that I could. I followed with a combination spin. My choreo sequence was next and before I knew it, I was preparing for my third jump.

I prepped with a three-turn before doing a triple lutz and because I was feeling the music, I raised my hands above my head.

After the first half of the program, I had time to breath. This was planned on purpose by Uncle Brian because... because we don't want a repeat of what happened years ago. Not again.

I prepare myself as the music builds up and I found myself, once again, lost in the music. If you know the backstory of this movie, I guess you could say that I found myself similar to Hina. I am here skating my heart out, doing what I want most in the world despite knowing the consequences that I will suffer. And Yuzu is here to support me all the way because he doesn't know that my dream could kill me.

I succeeded the two jumps that came after my choreo and step sequence which were a quad loop and a triple lutz triple toe combo.

My second to last jump was supposedly a lone triple axel. However, I felt as though my vision blurred and my head pounded. Despite this, I decided to proceed with the jump but alas. I fell out of it. Kinda hard to. Now not only my head was throbbing, I also felt my ankle burning.

I shook my head and stood up before going into a combination spin again, not minding my throbbing right ankle.

And for the last jump, I did a triple loop, my hands above my head. As I landed, I spun out and did a flying camel entry into my ending pose. I stood still in middle of it all, my left leg outstretched behind my right, head bowed, right hand clutching my left chest. Where my stupid, defective heart is.

I felt my eyes close because of exhaustion and I could clearly hear and feel my heart beating out of my chest, begging for oxygen. I was breathing unevenly and rapidly.

I was about to pass out but I heard a voice. A distinct voice that I recognize anywhere I go.

"Luna-chaaaaan!"

And with that simple call for my name, I held myself together. I looked up and bowed to the audience who were all standing from their seats, tossing carnations and tulips to the rink. I smiled widely and gracefully bowed to everyone while mouthing countless thank you's.

He simply called my name once. That one call pulled me before I entered oblivion. Like a guardian angel stopping the death of his human.

-----------------THAT WAS IT GUYS! Oh my gosh I guess its obvious that I'm an emotional bitch HAHAHAHAH

Hear me out though. I know Weathering With You just hit the movies last year 2019 which is faaaar away from the setting of our story in 2017. HOWEVER, please do understand that I chose this piece of music because it fits our story really well. (In my opinion that is) So please understand my predicament. Also, the other music I was supposed to choose as Luna's free skate piece was a Your Lie in April medley. However, between the two, I just felt like the presentation of our chosen music was better than the other one because this has an orchestral vibe to make it more emotional.

Okay enough blabbering. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Don't be silent readers though and vote and leave comments. Also follow my account 🤗

Thank you so much! Keep safe always. Stay golden, lovelies! ✨