Icy Highness | Yuzuru Hanyu

5.

Joanna's sudden revelation of being a fan of the sport was an opportunity for Athena to finally understand at least part of how the scores were given.

"I still don't understand most of it, but I guess I still have a few days to see it."

"Jumps are hard to tell apart, steps too, but it's usually easy to understand who's better."

The next day, during the men's competition, Jo was constantly beside Athena and trying to explain as much as she could. Even if her maid and friend kept saying she didn't understand everything because she wasn't a skater herself, it was clear that she knew a lot about the sport.

Still, it was hard for her to see the appeal.

When sudden screams filled the arena, Athena got even more confused.

"What's going on?"

"Hanyu" was all Joanna answered while pointing at the small figure in Japan's team wear.

"Is he that popular?"

"You have no idea... He's like a rockstar in Japan. These people fly from continent to continent every time just to see him skate for a few minutes"

"Damn."

By now, Athena understood the concept of the 6-minute warm-up before each group and that was exactly what they were watching now.

She didn't expect it, but as soon as the Japanese skater stepped foot on the ice, the screams were deafening.

"Is it always like this?"

"Yeah... From what I read on social media."

"This is crazy."

The screams stopped for a few seconds before resuming.

"Oh well... There's Javi! He looks so good."

"Javi?"

"Javier Fernandez, the Spanish skater I was telling you about."

"The one you find hot?"

"Your highness!"

"Come on... I can see why... But you were wrong. He isn't my type at all."

"Do you even have a type?"

"I guess"
was all Athena answered while her eyes focused on the Japanese skater again. His face was stern but his eyes were oddly familiar, even if she couldn't exactly remember where from.
He looked young but at the same time, his stern expression had such an intensity that it was hard to explain what was drawing her in.

"Are you talking about Yuzuru?" Joanna asked with a surprised expression.

"Huh? Who's that?"

"Hanyu... His first name is Yuzuru."

"Huh... No."

"You're a terrible liar. I honestly didn't expect this... But I mean... I can understand the appeal. He's a great guy... But I'm afraid he has pretty much married the ice"

"I didn't ask"

"You're not the first to have a crush on him."

"A what? Are you crazy? I have no such thing."

"Hum hum"

Joanna didn't believe it one bit, not with the way the princess's eyes were lingering on him.

"I mean it, Jo, he's just a kid."

"A kid? He is 21..."

"What?"

Athena was suddenly very surprised at the revelation that this guy was apparently older than her. It was just hard to believe when he looked like that.

"I know he has a baby face... But he's a full-grown adult, there's no harm in thinking he's hot."

"I don't think he's hot..."

"You're looking a lot for someone who doesn't."

"It isn't like that. He just seems to have this aura that draws me in. I don't think it's about the looks"

"I guess I can understand that...But I would also understand if you found him hot... I mean... Especially when he's wearing his training clothes."

"Training clothes?"

"They are tight...all black... Show his assets well."

"Ok"

"Let me show you a picture."

"No need..."

"You're totally into him."

"I'm not. Remember who I am for a second Joanna. These things are not for members of the Royal family ."

"You know what his nickname in the skating community is?"

"No idea."

"Ice Prince... Oddly fitting don't you think?"

"Stop... I don't even know the guy."

Athena couldn't believe that Joanna was already pretty much marrying her to this skater just because her eyes lingered for a little longer. As if that was how things worked. The reality was that even if she came to want to get married one day, it wasn't just her will that counted.

In no time competition started again and Athena's thoughts were gone.

A series of skaters went by but none made her more interested than him.

As soon as Yuzuru stepped on the ice again for his program, the screams were back and so was her attention on the ice.
Even if she had been watching before, it was never with the same attention as now.

The blue top he was wearing shinned with all the crystals embedded and he stood in the middle of the ice with his head down.

The unmistakable notes of Chopin's Ballade started playing in the venue and he started moving. Athena had played that piece on the piano enough times to know every single note by heart

In those next few minutes, it was as if there was nothing else happening in the venue, her eyes were fully captured by his smooth movements on the ice. The expression on his face was serious enough to make him look older than just a few moments before.

Athena was mesmerized by his ability to capture every single note with his body. It was breathtaking.

It was only then that she understood that his skating was unlike no one else's, at least in her eyes. The other men and women that she had seen before hadn't captured her attention like this.

She blamed it on the fact that he was just very good at this, especially when the scores came and it turned out he was in first by a good margin.

Chaos settled on the arena when the scores were announced, but the princess didn't understand why.

"It's a new world record... It doesn't even surprise anyone anymore. He has been on fire."

"Why is he asking people to tone it down?" Athena asked when she noticed his finger on his mouth, gesturing for the crowd to shut up.

"Because Javi still has to skate. They are friends and training colleagues."

"Oh"

This guy was a true box of surprises, and with every single thing Athena learned, it seemed like her interest in him only increased.

And boy, it was dangerous.