Unforgettable | Yuzuru Hanyu

48. IRS

Maybe you could almost think that the fact that Kana was now close to her grandparents and allowed to finally meet him would change much but the truth was that all she felt was just an overwhelming sense of happiness.

Her personality didn't change and the way she saw most of the moments in her life didn't either. Meeting her grandparents did, however, make her realize that the joy of having people to lean into was more valuable than anything else. She was happier when surrounded by them.

Time in Japan showed Kana a side of herself that she barely knew. Exploring new foods, new experiences, and new territory widened her way of seeing the world and her past.

In a way, the most special of moments after meeting her grandparents for what felt like the first time, was going to the rink where she grew up.

Yuzuru was so excited about the whole thing that she could only say yes to his every request. The skater, as usual, had made sure that she brought all of her equipment to the Asian country and had been talking about a shared session for what felt like the very first second since they stepped into Japan. Truth be told, every day she spent in the familiarity of Sendai and the closeness of her family, little glimpses of memory would show up as well.

The breakthrough in the little memories that she recalled was a bit unexpected but not underestimated by any means. Kana had to admit that once again, Yuzuru was right about something. Maybe all it took was exposure to familiar territory for her to be able to at least remember part of her life.

She also thought that all of this strategy of his to get her to the rink was part of it.

Everything was planned in detail and when he admitted that her grandparents were going as well, Kana should have predicted that he was onto something.
Yuzuru was way too busy with FaoI and sponsor work to be caring about something like this but it didn't seem to matter.

On the chosen day, they all met in front of the famous rink at a privately arranged hour. He had booked the rink for them and made sure that Kana could have the privacy she needed to explore this place on her terms.

Truth be told, entering and seeing her surroundings, Kana felt a weird familiarity, one that she hadn't felt anywhere else but Yuzuru's embrace. It was as if her body remembered being in that place and the feelings consuming her body were way too weird to describe.

She walked slowly, taking in every single part of the building and the decorations without sparing a single glance at the people observing her and every reaction.

Nothing about her current situation was normal but one thing was certain, like most of her experience through Yuzuru's hometown, her hometown as well, Kana had always felt this sense of being home.

The staff of the rink watched in silence as well as she walked freely. No one told her to avoid certain rooms and no one guided her through the building. She found her way through the halls by instinct and you could almost say that she knew where to go.

Kana soon found herself in front of a rink where she had supposedly spent half a lifetime on. The training hours and childhood time spent on this slippery surface were so meaningful that she felt the goosebumps rise to her skin.
Only after a few moments of looking at the rink did she notice that there was an old man by the boards, one who looked a bit familiar.

"I... I think I know you" she found herself saying, even without being able to elaborate much further. It was almost bad to admit it in the way she did but Kana had developed an immunity to feeling embarrassed with her current predicaments.

"Hello, Kana, it's nice to see you again."

She felt lost as her body was unable to connect the dots in her brain. The mere fact that she somehow recognized a person from her past was already impressive, expecting to be able to do more than that was just crazy hope.

"I..."

Yuzuru read her better than ever expected, running to her side almost right away and wrapping a hand around her in comfort. He knew she hated the feeling of being lost and wanted to take it all away as quickly as possible.
It was only after a few caring pecks on her cheek that he whispered.

"This is Tsuzuki-sensei, he used to be your coach, our coach."

Suddenly, she was able to connect the figure to the little memories she had of Yuzuru on the rink, the figure in front of her often lecturing them for being way too distracted on that very same ice.

Remembering felt way too good, like a part of her was being recuperated after being lost for so long, and even with how much there was still to do, Kana felt better than she had in the past years. She finally had answers.

"I... I remember " she admitted with a smile that her boyfriend was quick to return.

"You have no idea how proud I am of you." he whispered for her ears only. "One day, everything will be back and I want to be right by your side when it does."

Right then, all she could think was how much she loved this man and what he had done for her in the past months. Just like he had done previously, she kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear.

"I love you."

"I love you too..." He answered right away just before excitedly asking whay he wanted so badly "Now... should we skate for a bit?"