✔️ Body and Mind

It's a date!

Yuzuru was staying late after his practice, trying to land the damn Quad Loop properly.
He was already mixing up with the classes for the public that Brian was coaching every Tuesday evening but he allowed him to stay, knowing the 2018 Olympics are approaching fast.

The last thing Brian wanted was grumpy Yuzu, and he knew there was no point trying to talk some sense into him. He gave himself a promise to always treat his students like adults and he wanted to respect Yuzu's decision. Even though he was slightly worried about him, overstraining himself.

His last two new students arrived and he led the two girls to the rink with the others.

At least this group of adults already knew how to somewhat skate and he was enjoying these classes the most. No competing, just a bunch of people enthusiastic about skating.

He led them onto the ice and asked them to watch out for Yuzu, ideally leaving him a little bit of space in the back of the rink, near the mirrors.

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After half an hour of the extra time Yuzuru got, and after landing only half of his 4Lo attempts, he was getting more and more frustrated with himself.
Suddenly a girl slid close to him on her butt, looking all embarrassed after her fall.
Yuzuru skated closer to her and extended his hand to help her get up, only noticing it is the same girl that helped him find his class.
She looked up to him, smiling but slightly blushing from the fall.

-Oops, sorry! I'm so clumsy!!

-That's OK, uhm....nice to see you again...if you remember me? Rachel, right?

-Oh, you are the boy looking for the class!

She said and still smiling accepted his hand and let him pick her up.

-You like skating?

-Well, yes, but as you can see I am not very good at it.

Rachel started to brush the snow off her butt, secretly hoping that Yuzuru would help her with that too, but he didn't. Though she did notice he looked at her butt more than once and that pleased her.

-Do you ever watch figure skating?

-Nah, that would only bring my confidence down. It was enough watching you doing all the crazy jumps here.

-Well it was just one specific jump. But I can't get it under my skin.

-You mean to get the hang of it?

-Yes. Sorry...

-Don't apologize, your accent is cute!

She gave him a big smile and Yuzuru for a moment forgot about his frustration from doing so miserably at today's practice. Suddenly he felt he wanted to show off in front of this girl.

-You skate for many years?

-Yes. I can show you something. Come.

And he skated towards the metal plaques hanging below the entrance of the rink. He pointed at those naming the Olympic champions.

-See? I'm up there. Training now for the 2018 Olympics.

To his surprise, she wasn't looking at the plaques, but at him and instead asked, laughing.

-Which one? You still didn't tell me your name!

Yuzuru immediately realized he never introduced himself to her and felt really embarrassed for being so impolite.

-I am so sorry! Hanyu Yuzuru! But everyone here calls me Yuzu.

-Aww, that's cute!! Yuzu!!

-Well, it's not supposed to be cute. Just easy to say.

And he was slightly annoyed for being called cute. Again. He didn't want to be cute, that's for girls.

-Wooow...an Olympic champion, hm? That is so impressive...

Yuzuru straightened his back, to make himself look taller.

-Thank you!

-Maybe I should get classes from you instead!

Yuzuru grinned at her but then noticed her serious expression. She actually meant it.

-Well I don't give classes. I need to practice.

Rachel started to pout, knowing it always gets her what she wants.

-But...I helped you find your class...and you didn't even introduce yourself until now! I thought Japanese people are supposed to be really kind and polite...

Yuzuru started to feel really guilty now. He didn't like when people were having so stereotypical view of the Japanese as some kind of robots who are constantly kind and polite. On the other hand, he did feel like he might have been rude towards her.

-At least one lesson, hm?

-I really don't know. I don't have much time....

-Coffee then? Everyone has time for a coffee!

-Eehh, coffee is OK I think.

-Great, Friday evening at my place then. Will pick you up here at let's say 6 pm?

-Eeehh...yeah. OK.

-Great! It's a date!

And she skated back to her group.

Yuzuru was standing there for a moment, wondering what did just happen.
He went to change but then waited for Brian to finish his class. He rather waited in the locker room, to avoid the girl and ending up with more than one date.
Once it was just him and Brian at the rink he approached him.

-Oh, you still here Yuzu? Please go home and get some rest!

-Yes, I am on my way home. But can you please tell me what does it mean "It's a date?"
Can it be something else, then .... well... a date?

-Yeah, it can be....It can be also just confirming an appointment. Depends on who says it and how.

Yuzuru sighed with relief.

-Was it that pretty girl that you talked to?

-Yes.

-Well in that case it means an actual date, boy.

Yuzuru's look was now slightly terrified.

-I didn't mean to agree to such a date though!

-Well, if I were you, I would be careful around that one. She just signed up for the classes with her friend and that fall near you looked almost intentional to me. I specifically asked everyone not to skate near you.

-Nah, she didn't know me. She didn't know my name or that I won the Olympics.

-Well, if you say so...

And Brian gave him an all-knowing look, still surprised by Yuzu's naivety even after so many years of knowing him. He knew that Yuzu was too kind and hardly ever seeing through people's deceptions. But he also knew that he is a grown-up man now and needs to learn those lessons himself. He kind of felt sorry for him. Lost in his own world of skating, barely knowing anyone in Canada, nobody to relate to, but still not giving up.

-Do you want a ride home, Yuzu? It's quite late, the bus doesn't go that often now.

-That would be nice, thank you.

Brian sadly smiled at Yuzu and they went to turn off the lights and go home.