This is the story of Ayame, a young artistic gymnast who, due to a stroke of fate, can no longer practise her sport. In search of a new purpose in life, she comes to Sendai from her home town of Sapporo by chance to work in the house of a famous fig...
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That's how found Toshiro-sensei found them.
"Oh, very good. He's awake..." he mumbled as he walked in the door. Ayame turned to look at him.
"Yes, sensei, it worked on the third try." Ayame looked relieved, wiping some tears from her face.
"Well done, Ayame-san, well done. Let me see our patient."
"No, stay!" exclaimed Yuzuru as Ayame tried to make way for the doctor.
"I'll stay close by, Yuzu. Be reasonable and let the doctor check on you."
"Okay... but don't go away, Aya... please!"
"No, I won't. Look, I'm staying right here." Ayame had now moved to the end of the bed, and Toshiro-sensei took a seat at Yuzuru's side instead of her.
"Let me see, Yuzuru. But, dry your tears first..." the doctor handed his friend a handkerchief. Then he began his examination. "Hm... I like your vital signs. Your pulse is calmer and even, your breathing too. How do you feel now?"
"I... I feel exhausted, but also somehow quite... light. I don't really know how it all happened...", he began. "I remember that Ayame brought me here after the argument with Yumi...", he closed his eyes briefly, "... I mean... after that. And then, all of a sudden, anger and rage welled up inside me. That's when I knew I had to be alone..."
"Mmm, because your tantrums are no walk in the park, are they? You didn't want to do that to Ayame-san, did you?" added Toshiro-sensei.
He had had to put up with Yuzuru's anger more than once in the past when he had been injured and nothing went the way he wanted it to. The doctor had stoically sat it out every time and always found a solution. And he intended to do the same this time.
"Yes..." Yuzuru stammered. "You know what I'm like... not many people know that about me, but you do..."
"Oh yes, you're unbearable! Listen, Yuzuru. I can understand what happened today. I know for a fact that you can overcome this too. Please let me help you!"
"Mhm... of course, Toshiro! I trust you!"
"Good... so first of all: Yumi knows it!"
"What? Why?" Yuzuru was suddenly very excited, the tiredness seemed to be blown away.
"Oho, so the energy is still there, isn't it? Please don't get upset again. She needed to know, you know that. You'll settle your argument and talk it out. But that can wait. I'll talk to her again first. But you'll have to sort out the rest with her on your own."
"Okay... you're the doctor..." Yuzuru gave in.
"The first thing you have to do is get on the ice!"
"But that's not possible, Yashida-sensei!" Ayame interjected. "He's still far too weak, isn't he?"
"Don't worry, Ayame, I'll accompany him to the ice rink - and you, you're coming too!" he pointed at her. "We'll look after you, Yuzuru. You just have to want it. Physically, you can do it. It's not a strenuous competition. You know it'll help you get back on the ground, right?"
Yuzuru had just listened to the two of them. He knew his friend was right.
"Yes, Toshiro... it has to be. I've booked the ice time anyway. So there's nothing stopping me! Except maybe my overthinking..."
"Hm, very good. If the will is there, it will work! Just a few things: You have to eat something first, and then you won't jump or do anything else crazy!"
Yuzuru just nodded.
"I'll take care of the food," Ayame called out. She wanted to do her part to solve the whole crisis.
"Alright, Ayame-san, and I'll take care of washing the patient. Off to the shower, Yuzuru! We'll get you cleaned up."
***
While Ayame prepared a snack for them all, the doctor made sure Yuzuru got in and out of the shower. He watched him the whole time, seeing that the physical wasn't the problem.
Yuzuru had regained his strength surprisingly quickly, or so the doctor thought. The nerves had obviously calmed down a bit and Yuzuru was moving normally, looking stable.
Toshiro-sensei was always amazed at how quickly Yuzuru could deal with crises physically when it mattered. He was like a machine that just needed to be switched on.
That was precisely why the doctor had been so worried about him over the last few months, because Yuzuru had seemed at the end of his strength for far too long - it had never been this bad before.
That's why the doctor didn't want to leave anything to chance. As he handed Yuzuru the shower towel, he gave him precise instructions.
"Apart from the jumps and other craziness, which you'd better not do, I want you to follow your heart. Just let yourself drift on the ice. Do what you feel like, but don't overdo it! It's not about points, it's about emotions, you know? Let out what's inside you! "
"Yes, sensei, I know exactly what you mean... it's therapeutic."
"Just like when you didn't want to skate backwards after the crash at the Cup of Russia.... Or when you were fed up with the ISU and your federation after the unfair ratings..."
Yuzuru still remembered exactly. Each time, the doctor's method had helped him to process and finally overcome the fear, anger and rage that had arisen.
"Well, let's go to your wonderful woman and have something to eat before we go to the ice rink."
"You call her my woman and you think she's wonderful?" Yuzuru was surprised, for Toshiro-sensei was not easily impressed.
"Oh yes! She's not only wonderful, she's got her heart in the right place and she'll do you more good than anyone has ever done before, I'm sure of it!"
