If someone would've told Hayami that she'd became the manager of a volleyball team she wouldn't have believed them.
And there she was.
Becoming a manager, a teammate, a friend, a sister.
But mostly, an ice skater.
A strong one.
A National Star.
She...
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"Alright, the next competition is up in January," Usagi remembered her at the end of practice, rubbing her gloved hands together, "that won't be as simple as the first one. It'll be international and the semifinal possibility for us to get to the next Olympic Game, okay?", of course, Hayami already knew all those things, "For the final competition, we'll talk about it next year, I don't want to put much pressure on these small shoulders!", she massaged the girl's shoulders, sighing at her disappointed face.
"You can tell me now," she tried, wiggling her brows, "it would be a nice gift, y'know?"
But the woman didn't let herself be trapped in those big eyes, "No. Also, your birthday is tomorrow, so, I can't give you the gift the day before it."
Hayami rolled her eyes, giving up, zipping up the blue turtleneck jumper she was wearing, "I tried."
Usagi patted her back, accompanying her to the exit, "What will you do tomorrow? Did you organize something with your new friends?"
"Not exactly."
"Huh? Why?", she thought those boys were funny enough to pull her out of her home on her birthday.
Hayami twisted her lips, lowering her eyes, "They don't know it's my birthday."
Usagi stretched her neck, in disbelief, "Excuse me?"
The reality had a deeper meaning; Hayami never had someone she cared enough to share her birthday with. Her acquaintances didn't know the date and they didn't ask either, accepting the birthday wishes Hayami gave them during the year, but without reciprocating the gesture.
Neither once.
So, even if that time was completely different and her friends were real ones, the part of her that didn't want to share her birthday with others just got the upper hand, leaving her to spend the day alone with her family.
Again.
"I know they would like to know it, but something in my mind stopped me," she shrugged, "I didn't tell them."
They exited the ice ring together, the cold September air hitting them, "Think again about that. It's Saturday, you guys can hang out and be together. Trust me, you won't regret it."
Those were useless words, 'cause once the girl fixed her mind into something, it was impossible to make her change that idea. It was like trying to move a mountain as a tiny human.
A utopian hope.
"Thank you, Usagi", Hayami nodded, quickly squeezing her hand, her rollers already on her feet.
"Bye, kid."
Hayami waved, rolling away.
She thought about what Usagi said for two minutes before tossing away her suggestion.
No, she won't tell them.
It was too late anyway.
So, she went home, had dinner with her parents, and avoided the questions on her birthday, promising them they would all go and eat something together the next day, to celebrate.
