🌨🧤 ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ #7 ⛸️❄️

Giyuu Pov:

I woke up in bed. My head was throbbing with pain. I looked to the side and grabbed my phone from the nightstand.

I sat up. A small sound of pain escaped my lips. I felt warm and my heart was pounding in my chest.

I placed a hand on my chest. My heart was beating so fast as if I had just run a marathon.

I took a few deep breaths before I stood up. I felt a little dizzy and had to put a hand on the wall, to not fall.

I must have overexerted myself during training yesterday. But I don't have time for a break. I can't afford to let myself slack now, not when we've just started.

- A while later -

I was sitting on the bench in the ice hall, busy putting on my skates. My headache had gotten better after taking some ibuprofen.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps coming closer and closer in my direction. I looked up and saw Shinazugawa.

He looked very annoyed, as he often did, but I could swear there was something else.

"You look like you've been hit by a train," he said mockingly. Of course, he had to come up with another one of those lines.

I know I look terrible. I was paler than usual, and dark circles appeared under my eyes.

But why was he looking at me like that? I'm sure he notices something's wrong, even if he probably won't admit it. But what would I even say if he did bring it up?

That I could hardly breathe? That I felt like I was about to fall over? No, then he would think I am weak.

"If you're already at your limit, I guess I can get the gold on my own." I heard him say, but I continued to ignore him. But something was missing in his voice. It seemed a little softer to me than usual. But I was probably just imagining that.

I decided not to worry about it anymore and ignored his comment. I turned my attention back to putting on my skates.

- A while later -

I heard my skates leaving their tracks in the ice as I skated across it. I took a run-up and jumped off the ice with all my strength. The world blurred before my eyes, but a blink of an eye later, I was back on the ice.

The world turned black before my eyes and I had to stop for a moment. What was wrong with me?

I was breathing heavily. I felt weaker than usual. "Why are you stopping?" I heard my coach call from the side.

I slowly started to build up speed again. A while later, I took another run-up and used the momentum for a pirouette on the eyes. I fixed my eyes on a point to not get dizzy. But when I stopped spinning, everything went black again.

I had to stop again. The world blurred before my eyes, and for a moment, I felt like I was about to collapse. I tried to take a deep breath and get my breathing under control.

My legs were shaking so violently, as if they were about to give way beneath me at any second. I clenched my teeth and forced myself to keep standing. Breathe. Just... breathe.

"Tomioka! Over here!" I heard my coach yell. His expression was annoyed. I took another breath before making my way to the edge of the ice rink. "What's wrong with you today?" my coach asked.

"It's nothing; I probably just didn't eat enough," I replied. My coach looked at me appraisingly for a moment. He seemed a bit annoyed, but finally he said, "Okay. Short break. Make sure you eat and drink something."

I nodded briefly and walked over to the small gate leading on and off the ice and stepped off the ice. I sat down on one of the benches and took a few deep breaths.

I looked up at the ice. I could have Sworn I saw Shinazugawa glance at me before continuing with the Training.

I watched him for a few moments before I glanced down at my Lap. My hands gripped the edge of the wooden bench tightly. My heart pounded against my ribcage, as if it wanted to burst out of my chest and escape at all costs.

I grabbed my water bottle and drank it almost in one gulp. But no matter how much water I drank, it felt like my mouth and throat were completely dry. My hands were shaking so badly that I could barely close the water bottle.

What's wrong with me? Why? Why now? When we were getting closer and closer to the competition. I can't show any weakness now. Not now. No one can notice. Absolutely no one. Especially not Shinazugawa.

"Are you done then? Come on, training is waiting, or do you want to sit there all day?" I heard Shinazugawa's voice call from the ice. I stood up and made my way back onto the ice, but as I skated past him, I noticed something different in his gaze. Something I couldn't quite place.

- Later -

I drank my water bottle in one gulp. My hands trembled as they gripped the edge of the sink. I looked up at my reflection in the mirror. In the background, I saw the white and blue tiles decorating the wall of the boys' restroom in the ice hall.

My breath came out as heavy pants. I was pale, and dark circles adorned my face. My eyes were sunken and tired.

I kept trying to convince myself that I had just overexerted myself. That it was all just the stress and pressure. But deep down, I knew something was wrong.

I took a deep breath and tried to stand up straight. If I act strong, maybe my body will believe me someday. Weakness is not an option. That can't happen now. Not now. Not right before the competition...

- A/N 📖✨️

Hello, Dear readers I hope you liked the chapter. 🫶

I'm sorry if there are any mistakes. I'm a bit tired at the moment. 😅

Here are some snacks for you: 🥞🧇🍗🍔🍟🍕🌭🥪🌮🌯🥙

And here is something to drink: ✨️🧃🧋🥤🧃🧋🥤✨️

See y'all in the next chapter. 👋

Butterfly 🦋