courage dear heart | Yuki Ishikawa

53

As I stepped into the break room, I found almost everyone present, sprawled across the sofa and sitting on the floor in front of the large television screen.

The moment I walked in, all eyes turned to me, and I suddenly remembered how I was dressed.

"Hey!" I greeted, scanning the room for Yuki.

I caught sight of Kaito sitting with wide eyes, and I offered him a half-smile in return.

Then my gaze landed on Yuki, tucked into a corner with the same astonished expression on his face. A wave of happiness washed over me as I made my way toward him.

As I walked, I felt a slight flutter of attention directed my way. Reira flashed me a warm smile and said, "You look amazing!"

"Thank you," I whispered to her, smiling.

I reached Yuki, who pulled me down to sit on his lap.

He wrapped his arms around me and gave me a gentle kiss on the top of my head. "How come you're dressed so nicely? You look stunning, Nabi," he whispered.

I smiled and turned to face him, shifting to sit on one of his legs and wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "My dad took me out to dinner," I said.

His eyes sparkled as he looked at me while he gently caressed my leg.

Ayumu settled down on the floor in front of me, looking excited. "It's about to start! You should watch the screen," he said, raising the volume.

A video began to play, and I instantly recognized what it was. It showcased the Olympics that were set to start in less than two weeks, featuring the various Japanese teams that would be participating. When it was time for our team, everyone erupted in cheers, their excitement palpable. I could hear Yuki behind me, cheering happily alongside me.

The video showed clips of us training, and one by one, each athlete was introduced. A photo appeared with the athlete's name before showcasing their highlights. First up was Ayumu, proudly labeled "Captain," and the room erupted into cheers as we watched him pull off some impressive tricks. Next were Reira, Hiro, and Kaito, each receiving their own round of applause.

Finally, it was my turn. "Chō, Kim Na-bi," the screen announced, and my heart raced as a wave of cheers washed over me. I couldn't help but smile widely as I watched footage of myself jumping, nearly unable to believe how far I had come. It was an overwhelming mix of pride and joy, and I felt grateful for the support around me.

After the introduction videos, another clip started playing, this time featuring my father speaking about the upcoming gala.

"Look! Nabi's father!" someone said.

He looked polished and confident as he explained the purpose of the event, highlighting the importance of the charity work it supported.

"Everyone is invited, and I hope to see all of you there," he concluded, smiling broadly.

The breakroom buzzed with excitement as my teammates reacted to the announcement.

"Wow, that sounds like a big deal!" Ayumu said, grinning. "I can't wait to see all the important people in one place!"

"I've never been to a gala before. It sounds fancy!" Reira turned to look at us.

Ayumu chimed in again, "And we get to dress up! I hope there's good food too. I'll eat everything!"

"Just make sure you save some for the rest of us," Hiro teased.

As the video continued, my father shared details about the special guests and the performances planned for the evening. Everyone in the breakroom leaned in closer, captivated by the opportunity to be part of something so grand.

"You're going to shine." Yuki's voice was a mix of admiration and awe.

"Thanks, but it's not just about me," I said, feeling a little shy. "It's a team effort."

Ayumu nodded vigorously. "Exactly! We're all in this together. I can't wait to support you at the gala!"

The excitement in the room was contagious, and I felt a swell of pride as I realized how much my teammates cared. As the video ended, we all shared eager glances, the anticipation for the gala hanging in the air like electricity.

"So we're all going back to Tokyo this weekend for the gala?" Reira asked excitedly.

"Ah... is it really this weekend?" I asked, covering my mouth in surprise.

Ayumu jumped up. "Yes! And the weekend after that, we're off to Milan for the Olympics!!"

I stared at him in shock, my mouth open.

I felt Yuki laughing softly against me. "You're adorable. You didn't realize how soon it is?"

I shook my head, still stunned.

He chuckled again and pulled me closer.

We all stayed there, chatting about the video and discussing what to wear to the gala. Ayumu begged me to help him pick out his outfit because he had no clue what to wear.

I removed my blazer since it was getting warm and tried to pull down my short dress as much as possible, but with little success.

As I was showing Reira some dresses she could wear, Yuki rested his arm on my legs to cover me a bit more, while his other hand gently stroked my waist, sending shivers all over my body.

He knew exactly where my sensitive spots were, so I had to adjust my position on his lap to ease the growing tension inside me.

As Reira was showing my phone to Ran, going over the photos, I shot Yuki a glare, but he was already watching me with his usual smirk.

He tilted his head to the side like I often did. "What is it? Need something?" he whispered quietly, so the others couldn't hear.

"You already know what I need right now because of you," I scowled at him.

He tightened his grip on my leg, leaning in to kiss me.

"Nabi."

I turned to the voice calling my name.

Kaito stood in front of us.

I looked up at him. "Hey Kaito, what's up?"

He glanced at Yuki's hands on me before looking back at me. "Can you come with me on Friday after practice to find something to wear for the gala?"

"But I need to get my stuff ready for the flight. It's early in the morning," I pouted.

"You owe me a favor, remember? Or should I post that other photo?" he smirked at me with his usual teasing grin.

I got up to face him directly, trying to look intimidating.

He tried to keep a straight face before breaking into laughter. "Alright, then Friday afternoon it is," he said, taking a few steps back. "Nice dress, Nabi," he winked before leaving the room.

I sat back down. "Hiro-senpai, doesn't your cousin have any other girls to bother?"

Hiro shrugged. "Haven't seen him talking to anyone else for a while."

I sighed. "Please introduce him to someone so he'll stop bothering me."

"I don't think that would change much..." Hiro muttered.

I felt Yuki pull me closer, burying his face against my neck. "I don't like him..." he mumbled against me.

"What?" I asked, turning toward him.

He pouted and shook his head. "Let's go?"