Of Angels and Phantoms

Chapter 11-Arrival

"Congratulations on your silver, Yuzu!"

Yuzu smiled shyly and scratched his head. "Thank you..." He took out his medal from Skate America and showed it to me happily. "Javi get medal back from Skate Canada too!"

"Yeah, I will!" I grinned and ruffled his hair, swinging my arm around him as he put his medal back in his bag and left the dressing room together. June was outside sitting by the benches, engrossed in a pile of documents and files.

"Busy?" I asked as we sat beside her, picking up one of the files lying on the ground.

"Yes, Captain Obvious. Thank you for pointing that out." June took the file in my hand and sighed, scanning through the documents inside.

"What's that?" Yuzu asked.

"Stuff for Skate Canada and NHK." June slotted a few forms into the file and put it on top of the other files. "Done. FINALLY."

"Alright, let's go out! To celebrate Yuzu's silver-" I clapped my hands together, but June cut me off, whacking my forehead.

"You're not going anywhere. Your competition starts tomorrow, tomato boy!"

"But!!!" I whined, pouting at June. "Tomorrow's just warm ups and boring stuff...please? Just dinner..."

June's eyes softened, sighing. "Sorry, bro. Coach's orders." She shook her head and carefully carried up the stack of files, turning towards Coach's office.

"I'll help you!" Yuzu quickly took a large portion of the files over from her and followed her. I jogged up to them as we entered the office together.

"Javi? Aren't you heading home yet?" Coach looked up in surprise. "It's going to be a long day tomorrow, better rest up."

"Yes sir..." I sighed and plopped onto the sofa. "Even though it's right here in Ontario..."

"Yuzuru, do you want to join us tomorrow? I believe I have an extra admission pass, along with June's..." Coach opened his drawer and took out a pair of tickets, handing one to June and the other to Yuzu. "They're front row seats, and Patrick will be on the ice as well."

Yuzu's face lit up and nodded quickly. "Tomorrow...I will go."

"Good! So I expect everyone to be here tomorrow by 7am. I'll drive."

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I pulled out my luggage from the boot and placed it on the ground, letting out a loud yawn.

"Javi sleepy?" Yuzu walked over, pulling out a small hand luggage from the boot and strapped his Pooh onto it.

"A bit..." I stretched my arms and sighed deeply. "Thank God the competition doesn't start today."

Coach got out of the car and opened the sidedoor, peering in. "June?"

There was no reply, but a soft and steady breathing was heard, with gentle sniffles in between. Yuzu bent down and looked in curiously, breaking into a wide grin when he saw her sleeping face.

"Get up, sleepyhead. We're here," I slipped to the backseat and tapped on her shoulder, whispering into her ear. She stirred, but continued napping.

"WAKE UP CHICA WE'RE HERE!"

June jerked up with a start and blinked, looking around. She stared at my face for a while, as if she was trying to register something in her mind.

"YOU." She scowled and rolled her eyes at me, pushing me out of the way and got out of the car.

"Come on! You wouldn't wake up!" I laughed and swung my arm around her shoulder as she stormed to the back of the car. She pouted and nudged my arm away, dumping a duffel bag on my luggage before going to the front to collect a briefcase from Coach.

"I'll go park, you guys go to the lobby and wait for me." Coach got into his car and drove away, stopping beside an empty lot. We entered the hotel, the warmth of the heater soaking us the moment we stepped into the lobby. June and Yuzu sighed comfortably simultaneously as we sank down onto the leather sofa.

"I'm tired."

"Me too..." Yuzu sighed lazily.

"I caught barely two hours of sleep last night." June groaned, her eyes half-open.

I glanced over at her. "Why?"

"I was...doing stuff."

"Stuff? Like what?"

"...stuff." June muttered and looked away. Yuzu looked curiously, saying something to her in Japanese. She shook her head and groaned annoyedly, waving us away and got up. "I'm going to the toilet."

I looked at Yuzu. "What did you ask her?"

"Eh...I asked her..." Yuzu paused, biting his lip. "Why she...early...at rink."

"Huh?" I frowned, barely comprehending. "Early at rink? At Cricket?"

Yuzu nodded. "Early. Before 6.30am...June was there. Before me."

"Mhm," I nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe she had some...stuff to do."

Coach walked towards us, pulling his luggage across the marble floor. "Where's June?"

"Toilet." I pointed behind, playing with my luggage tag. "Should we wait or check in first?"

Coach sat down beside Yuzu and pulled out some forms from the briefcase. "We'll wait for her." He took out a pen and filled up some details, glancing at his watch while he jotted down some things.

A black car pulled up in front of the hotel lobby and a familiar face stepped out. Yuzu's face immediately lit up, recognising her.

"Kana-chan!" He got up and ran out, greeting the girl excitedly. The girl exclaimed, smiling widely at him and hugged him while they rambled in Japanese. Yuzu greeted her coach and manager, helping them with their baggages as they entered the lobby.

June walked over to us, wiping her wet hands on her jeans. "Where's Yu...eh?" She looked up, frowning slightly, as though trying to register her face. "Murakami...Kanako?"

Yuzu turned and pointed towards us, saying something in Japanese. Kanako turned her head and smiled, bowing slightly. Her eyes turned to June, suddenly brightening up. He pulled her along and ran towards us.

"My friend! Kanako!" Yuzu introduced her enthusiastically as Coach stood up and smiled.

"Nice to see you again!" Coach shook her hand and greeted her coach and manager.

I smiled charmingly and hugged her, giving her a tight squeeze. "It's been a while, Kanako!"

She smiled back and returned the hug politely before breaking away, turning to June excitedly. "Matsumoto June!"

June looked up in surprise, slightly taken aback. "N-Nice to meet you..."

"You...are Matusumoto June...right?" Kanako asked in anticipation, in an accent similar to Yuzu's. "I know you! World junior champion...2009?"

June's face fell a little, forcing a smile. "Y-yeah. I am."

"I'm a fan!" Kanako clasped her hands around June's excitedly, her eyes sparkling. "Are you joining competition...Skate Canada?"

June shook her head quickly. "N-no, I'm not. Sorry." June gently pushed her hands away, looking down.

"Chica, you alright?" I whispered to her, patting her back slightly.

"Mhm." She nodded. She looks pale as hell. How can she be alright?

"Coach, should we check in first?" I asked, hoping that Coach would notice June. Coach looked at June for a while and nodded, sighing quietly.

"Yeah, we should. Yuzu, you want to join us or catch up with Kanako first?"

"I go with you." Yuzu turned to Kanako and said something in Japanese. Kanako nodded and smiled, giving us another slight bow. Yuzu joined us at the counter and waved goodbye to Kanako as June followed along quietly, tugging at my shirt lightly.

I peeled her fingers off my shirt and grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly.

"Don't worry. It's okay."

"I'm fine."

"Mhm."

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