Finding Juliet [VERY slow updates]

Act VI

My mother and I moved to Higashi.

Saya didn't tell her about Ken, but she told her about the distance of the rink from home. At least it wasn't Ken, but hey, she didn't have to say that.

Mom decided to accompany me in a small apartment near the rink. It doesn't feel right, in all honesty. New rink, and now, new home. We are so far from my dad and sister.

Coach Nanami, she still makes an effort to go with me when she's able to. I mean, as she had said, she might just leave me with coach Syoichiro in some cases. And since mom's with me, she said she doesn't have to worry when that instance happens.

Anyway, today, mom and I went to the rink earlier. Since we're near, I decided to go a little bit early. It's nice because no more long long rides to training.

As we were walking towards the entrance, a figure started to wave at me from afar. I took off my earphones and heard the loud yelling of the young man, who is apparently around the same age as me.

"Yuzuruuuuu!"

"Ranmaru," I sighed with a smile, throwing a wave. "So you're always this early, huh?"

Ranmaru laughed and stepped forward, stopping in front of me. Once he had noticed my mom, he bowed and immediately lowered the tone of his voice.

"Oh, this is your mom? Hello!" He turned to mom and grinned.

Meanwhile, my mother returned the smile and lowered her head, executing a bow. "I am. It's nice meeting you, Ranmaru."

"Maru is fine, Mrs. Hanyu," The guy said, "Oh, that's for you too, Yuzuru!"

I blinked. "Maru huh.. then, Yuzu is fine." Smiling at him, I pointed at the glass door with my head. He went ahead of me as I walked with mom from behind.

This is the first time mom went here. I began to tell her things about the place, and she looks amazed. I think this is a bit bigger than Ice Rink Sendai, or is it just me?

That reminds me, I miss my home rink.

"I'll be here in the benches, Yuzu." Mom spoke softly, stroking my face as gentle as she can. I smiled reassuringly and nodded, handing her my tissue box and other essentials.

After stretching with Ranmaru, we stepped onto the ice and began with our own routines.

"Hey, isn't Ken going to practice?" I asked Maru when we were both free.

"Why are you always looking for her, dude?" He replied and looked at me with those questioning eyes. "Could it be…"

"Could it be that I'm worried?" I rolled my eyes and playfully punched him in the arm, as he had dodged it easily with a side step. "You know, yesterday—no, some other day, the day she cried.. I think I said something wrong. Did I say something wrong?"

"I wasn't there," He immediately responded, "I just skated to you when you got ditched."

"That wasn't called ditching. I think it was a walk out or something." I sighed, wiping my sweat off my forehead. What if she took it seriously and cried and cried for nights? Wait, I don't think she's that kind of person though.

"Yuzu, honestly, I've never seen Ken be like that, ever. Being all sad just because of an action she did to a person? We've been friends since we were 5, I know her so well." Maru shrugged. "Anyway, what day is it?"

I jolted at the sudden question. "Day? It's… Wednesday, I think."

"Aha!" Ramming his fist onto his palm, Ranmaru exclaimed. "She'll be returning after lunch. She'll be having her hair cut."