Hearts in Ice: a Yuzuru Hanyu Fanfiction

21: Seoul

Sakura's POV

We arrived in Seoul a day before the competition. Yuzuru and the TCC gang went out for some coffee, while I stayed behind to rehearse for the second round.

The Korea International Piano Competition is one of the most prestigious competitions in the world. It lasts for three days, and participants are carefully selected through four stages. Each stage has different requirements, varying in complexity and duration of the pieces.

The preliminary round was done through a blind audition, where each participant had to submit a 25-minute video of themselves playing an etude by Chopin, the contest piece, and a solo work of their choice. Thanks to Yamaguchi-sensei's help with the preparation, I passed the first part of the competition with ease.

"You got that section wrong, Chiyo-san," I heard Yamaguchi-sensei yell across the room. "Play it again!"

"Gomen'nasai," I apologized. I groaned in frustration as I repeated a section of Beethoven's piece: the Hammerklavier.

Yamaguchi-sensei noticed that I was exhausted and ended our session early. I decided to rest as soon as I felt my body stiffen after playing for a long time.

With a tired sigh, I collapsed on the couch and placed my hand over my head. This competition was surely a challenge. I had to compete with the best musicians from around the world, and each stage was a test of my memory, skill, and endurance. Three years of not competing might put me at a disadvantage among the participants. I didn't want to embarrass myself again this time.

A phone call suddenly interrupted my train of thought. It was Yuzuru.

"Kkura-chan, am I interrupting you right now?" he asked.

"No," I answered. "I just finished rehearsing."

"Have you had something to eat?" Yuzuru asked again.

"Not yet."

"Jun-hwan is treating us to dinner at a restaurant," he told me. "Do you want to join?"

"Sure, I'm starving already," I pouted. "I'll be out right now."

"Alright," replied Yuzuru. "The gang and I will see you outside the hall, okay?"

"Thanks!"

I hurriedly packed my things and headed outside the concert hall, when someone bumped into me, causing me to fall on my back in front of a group of pianists.

"Hey!" the woman hissed angrily. "Watch where you're going!"

I looked up and saw the face that tormented me in the past. I felt my body stiffen in shock as Rachel Parker looked down on me with the same sly grin on her face.

"Well, if it isn't Sakura Chiyo," Rachel smirked. "Finally, we meet again."

I immediately stood up from the ground and dusted myself off. Rachel continued to say mean things about me in front of the other participants.

"Will you please excuse me?" I closed my eyes. This woman was testing my patience.

The group laughed in response, and Rachel turned to face me, this time with an angry look on her face.

"That's not how you greet an old friend, Sakura."

"Leave me alone, Rachel," I glared at her, taking a step forward, but she pushed me back.

"You better know your place here, bitch," she pushed me by the shoulder, which made me almost stumble. "Because I am going to win this competition."