Beyond the Sound | Yuzuru Hanyu

16.

Maya watched the show in her natural habitat, near the mixing table, willing to make any adjustments if necessary.

She had to admit that it wasn't hard to enjoy the show.

Yuzuru was incredible on that ice.

This was something that she knew already from the small peaks that she was allowed to have every now and then but seeing the full picture, with costumes and everything, was very different.

He was a born entertainer, he strived for the attention and loved every second. Yuzuru loved to have eyes on him while he skated and it was no wonder that so many people enjoyed watching him as well.

Her brain tried to focus on him as he skated but at the same time, it was completely filled with images of what happened in his dressing room.

His hands on her, his magical mouth, the little sounds that she got out of him...

Oh, she was screwed.

It had been a long time since she last felt like this about a guy.

Maya felt like a teenager without control over her hormones and it was scary.

This girl hated to abdicate control, and it seemed like he just managed it effortlessly.

The show went by so fast while her thoughts were down the drain that the girl had to admit that she could barely say which songs he skated to.

She hadn't been watching the show at all, just small glances at it.

When it was over, all her instincts told her to do was get the hell away from there before it got even worse but Maya knew that he didn't deserve that.

Yuzuru deserved a goodbye, at the very least.

She waited for everyone to leave. There was another show on the next day and most things didn't need alterations. Everyone could just go to their hotels or homes and rest.

He eventually left the dressing room in the usual oversized sports clothes and damp hair. It was no surprise when his eyes were instantly on her.

"Maya..."

"I just wanted to say goodbye."

She was drawing the line with those words and both of them knew it.

He nodded and whispered a "I understand", looking incredibly defeated.

"We have to work together, I don't think it's a good idea." she tried to explain to the skater.

"You don't have to explain. I understand."

"I will see you soon?"

"As soon as I have news about the show."

"Ok. If you need me, you have my number."

"I do. You too."

"Yeah..."

Just like that, they were drifting apart with the full knowledge that it was the best decision. It still hurt a bit, but it was ultimately, the right call.

🎚️

Yuzuru didn't hear from Maya at all in the month that followed.

To be honest, he wasn't expecting her to show up the next day, but the hope was still there.

He knew very well that she was making the right call to distance herself but at the same time, his brain could only think of all the 'what ifs'.

These days, it was very hard for him to connect to anyone, and Maya had been easy. Too easy.

She seemed passionate about her job and both of them loved music with all their hearts.

Part of him only wished he could've known her better.

Maybe if he hadn't kissed her and screwed everything.

That's what you get when you allow your body to take over.

He wanted to contact her again but he would need an excuse to do so, otherwise, the girl would see right through him.

You know you have it badly when you start wishing for things to go wrong at your show just to have an excuse to call a girl.

For the good and the bad, the sound tech in Hachinohe was good enough to pull off the show without any predicaments. 

In an ideal world, he could just call her and admit how much he wanted to see her but she had been the one putting the distance. The last thing he wanted was to be seen as a stalker.

Yuzuru wanted to respect her wishes, even if it hurt him.

He finished his first ever solo shows with the big announcement, the show at the Tokyo Dome.

Everything reminded him of her and her beautiful face.

That's what you get when you mix work and pleasure.

When it was finally finished, he was completely exhausted. Three shows in a row were no easy feat. This had been the ultimate test.

Yuzuru had proven he could make a show by himself and he planned on keeping the format.

Now he had just a little under three months to pull a big historic show.

Everything was still so green. He had been practicing and recording the scenes needed for the story. The rest was still in work.

Now, more than ever, he needed to get his struggles settled and contact the woman who had been occupying his every thought for a whole month.

It was just a bit after midnight, they had given him a cake and sang happy birthday in a cheery tone.

He was supposed to be happy.

It was his birthday after all.

But she wasn't here and he doubted Maya even thought of him on that day.

Unfortunately, he was too emotional for his own good and decided that this would be a good time to schedule a meeting with her.

Most human beings would know that 1 a.m. wasn't the best schedule to call anyone about work but Yuzuru was just too blind to see through that and well, he knew she was usually up at this hour.

So he took the leap and called.

Every ring that left that phone made him a bit more nervous but eventually, her soft voice greeted him.

"Yuzu?"