Melody of You | Yuzuru Hanyu

45.

Their lives resumed as usual. They would sneak some naughty time almost every single time Yumi left the house and the older woman was keenly aware.

The physio sessions had been going okay for both of them. His ankle seemed to be improving significantly and her wrist started regaining some range of motion.

During the last physio session, the therapist encouraged her to try to play again when she felt comfortable. That encouragement came with the warning that nothing would be as easy as before.

Sophia didn't mention anything to Yuzuru as she took the violin from its case. In their shared room, she opened his laptop and opened up a few random music sheets on Google that seemed easy enough.

Regaining courage wasn't easy, she was afraid of how bad she would sound, and questions on whether she could even play filled her head.

Pushing all of the negative thoughts aside, she took the bow and placed the violin into position. Doing a quick read of the sheet of paper in front of her, Sophia took the leap and tried to play.

It was easy to tell how scared her bow strokes were, the sound audibly unsteady and weak. Still, despite all of that, she was able to take a decent sound out of the instrument and the song in front of her gradually took shape.

Her playing was nowhere near her best, this wasn't the playing of a multiple award-winning violinist and soloist of one of the best orchestras in the world, but it was still her playing.

When she finished, the breath she had been holding since the start finally left her and the soft sound of clapping filled her ears.

Turning towards the door, she found Yuzuru watching her play

"Wow"

"Hey" she said with a smile.

"Hello, my beautiful girl... I gather you're cleared to play?"

"Yes... I was afraid but it's not as bad as I thought it would be."

"Didn't sound bad at all. God...I love watching you play"
Yuzuru pecked her lips after approaching her. "I told you it would be ok"

"I'm still not going back"

Sophia meant the orchestra and he knew it.

"If that's what you want, I will be right here to support you on the next adventure."

"Fantasy on Ice...can we do it?"

"Yes. I will make sure you're performing there. Anything else I can arrange?"

"No... Just one step at a time."

"I think that's wise. I know it's not my place, but have you considered teaching?  You're great with kids and you seemed like you were a great teacher when we were in the States."

"I'm not sure if it's something I would like to do long term"

"Doesn't hurt to try. At least you would have something to do. I know how you have been hating being alone at home"

"I might try it... how's being back on the ice?"

Yuzuru started his on-ice conditioning that week and they hadn't talked about it yet.

"It's okay. My ankle still hurts a bit but nothing too crazy. I have all the summer to recover, either way, the only thing I'm doing is FaoI"

"And then you will come back on full force!"

"You can bet on that... Now... How about you play a bit more and I'll just watch?"

"It's not that good, Yuzu"

"Doesn't matter to me... I love listening to you."

Sophia took a few of her old music sheets and her eyes landed on "The Swan". She laughed when she thought of their interaction with this piece, time flew so fast...

She saw Yuzu look at her with a weird face and wondered why she was laughing. The violinist turned the sheet of paper and it brought a smile to his face.

"You know, back then I had no idea you had a program to 'Notte Stelatta'." She told him with a grin.

"I know... I remember being excited about the possibility of watching you play that while I skated"

"It would have been so fun..."

"Maybe someday we can still make it happen... How about you try to play it now?"

"There's a big chance it will be shitty"

"I told you I don't care"

The sheet of music was balanced on the laptop screen and she tentatively tried the first measures of the song.

The familiar movements of her fingers came back as if she didn't stop playing for months. It was one of the songs she played more times during her violin career and the muscle memory didn't disappear. Once she started, the sheet of paper in front of her was almost useless, a mere guide in case she forgot something suddenly.

Her violin playing just came back naturally and it felt incredible to be playing again. The connection between her and the bow almost perfect.

Sophia always thought it would be harder, that her playing would take a while to get back to what it used to be, but at least in that particular moment, everything seemed easier than ever.

Yuzuru watched her enter her music bubble with a huge grin. He knew how important this moment was for her and watching it in front of his eyes felt almost like a privilege.
He closed his eyes and immersed himself in the song completely, his body moving to the sound almost as if he was skating. This was a habit he couldn't break. Once his brain was immersed in the program, it was almost predictable that his hands and head started moving accordingly.

The playing was magical, she had a special touch that made each and every song slightly more magical than any other player he ever heard.

Sophia finished the piece and opened her eyes, a huge smile on her face.

"You still got it" Yuzuru told her smiling.

"I still got it!"