Of Angels and Phantoms

Chapter 21- Encouragement

He wiped out the quad toe...My stomach lurched when Yuzuru's back crashed against the boards.

Axel- yes...one more triple lutz combo-

Oh, shit...2 wipeouts. This is going to be bad...

I watched him worriedly as he did his last spin before striking the finishing pose. The disappointment and regret was apparent on his face even as he tried to mask it with a smile, bowing to the audience.

Hang in there, Yuzu...

I clapped the loudest I could, but a smile was impossible.

Not when you've got that expression on your face...

Coach gave him a tight hug as he stepped out of the rink. 'Hang in there,' I faintly heard him say.

Yuzuru's face started to wrinkle up, his eyes getting watery. Oh, no- Oh no. He's crying...

Coach continued to pat his back, attempting to comfort him. He kept his head down, his hands clenched.

"Yuzuru Hanyu- 75.94."

He bowed at the audience with a forced smile, his tears mixed with perspiration. Making one last bow, he quickly left the Kiss and Cry, heading to the dressing room. My phone started to ring moments after they were out of sight.

"Hello?"

"June? Brian here."

"Oh, C-Coach..."

"Could you meet us outside in 30 minutes? We're going back to the hotel once the boys are done with the interview and debrief."

"Mm, yeah..." I mumbled, letting out a loud sigh as soon as Coach was off the phone.

What do I do now...

—- —-

"C'mon Yuzu...Don't be so hard on yourself! I mean, I- I messed up too!" Javi made another attempt at comforting Yuzuru, but he was persistently silent, hugging his knees as we sat in the car awkwardly while Coach drove us back to the hotel.

"That triple axel was really good, you know...and your spins were on point today! It was just the triple lutz combo..." Javi continued despite knowing that he was treading on thin ice. "And the quad, it was- I mean, it just..."

"It's okay, Javi." Yuzuru forced a smile before his head dipped again as he hugged his knees tightly.

Holding back his tears, huh...

At least Javi's trying. And here I am...I sighed quietly, looking out of the window.

We're back...I quickly got out of the car and took out the skates bags, carrying them over my shoulders while Coach left for the carpark after dropping us off at the lobby. Man...everything's a blur.

"I-I'll carry..." Yuzuru grabbed his bag, but I jerked it away from him without thinking.

"E-Eh?" He moved his hands away in surprise, staring at me with questions written on his face.

"Ah...sorry..." I shook my head. "My brain's not working. Here you go..."

"June, I'll take mine too." Javi lifted his bag off my shoulder and swung it over his. "You two hungry? Want to get some dinner? My treat!" Still persistent, huh...

Yuzuru shook his head and smiled. "Not hungry...Javi and June go and eat. I'm going back to my room."

"You still have to eat, right...?"