✔️ Body and Mind 3

Beijing 2022

Anya was switching between clenching her knees and rubbing her palms against her thighs to remove the excess sweat. However, no matter what she did, the all-consuming nervousness was still there. Filling every part of her body and she couldn't believe she still didn't get used to watching Yuzuru compete live.
On the other hand, these were the Olympics, so she was trying to give herself some credit for at least being conscious and not fainting. Yet.
And also when she turned around, all of the people sitting around her looked exactly the same. Their faces tormented with anxiety for the last group of men to skate their long program.

Anya crossed her fingers, knowing very well that this time Yuzuru will need it way more than for the short program because he did really well there.
And anytime he did well during his short, there was always a large question mark above his free skate.
She looked around her once more and saw that everyone was possibly thinking exactly the same as Yuzuru now skated in the middle of the rink and almost everybody stopped breathing, including Anya.

He began with his usual ritual of crossing his shoulders and hips and Anya meanwhile once more looked at the ceiling.

"Hey there, so it's been four years since we last spoke. I would definitely have few points that you could work on to improve, but considering I need another favor, I will keep them to myself. For now. But you can be an ass sometimes. Anywhooo....that guy on the ice now really gave it his absolute best to be where he is now and he never did anything to upset you. Unlike me. But you don't exist, so you should not be really mad about it. So, can you please pull your non-existent strings and help him win once more? And I wouldn't be exactly mad if he would land the quad Axel as well....just a small hint. Thanks."

Anya looked down from the ceiling back on Yuzuru and for a moment thought about all the scientists whose biographies she used to read and who went crazy.
Wondering if she is now getting closer to their stage of insanity before they completely lost it.

But then the music started and her mind directed its focus solely on Yuzuru.

He began with his usual forward skate towards the judges, the determination burning through his eyes as he folded his arms in front of his face.
Next, he went to circle around the rink, preparing for his first jumping pass that everybody assumed would be the Quadruple Axel.
Right at the start and Anya wasn't sure if she is glad about it or if it's making her more stressed.

He turned backwards and she couldn't help herself but do a quick, anxious facepalm when she saw he is intending to do even the quad Axel from a back counter.

_______________

Yuzuru crossed his chest and hips, closing his eyes as he clasped his hands together and cleared his mind from the outside world. From the nervous stares of his fans, from the encouraging words of his coaches, from all the pressure he was feeling was weighing down his shoulders, and even from Anya who was very possibly now inside of the Arena and watching.
There was nobody else, just him and the ice.

He assumed the starting position and a moment later his body was carried to the music solely by the muscle memory obtained during all those months of hard training.
He finished his glide around the rink and prepared for his first official attempt of the Quad Axel.
No, not an attempt, he will land it! He must! But what if the irresponsible training he put himself through really messed up his chances more than he was willing to admit? He did somewhat land it few times last week but would Anya be disappointed in him if he failed? If it's not perfect?

He propelled himself up in the air but already knew that he won't land it well.
The moment he went to the back counter, his mind was yet again flooded with thoughts that should not be there.
One, Two, Three, Four, Half aaand.....his right skate made a contact with the ice, feeling the impact going through his whole body and sensing that he may not be able to save it.
In a split of a second, his hand was on the ice but he quickly pushed himself off, reviewing the blade marks with a quick glance and noting that except for the touching of the ice he did land it.