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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They arrived at the ice rink on time. It was five minutes before 7 p.m., and Yuzuru opened the main entrance himself because there was no one else there that evening. They entered the foyer.
"I see, they haven't taken the key from you yet," Toshiro-sensei teased.
"No..." Yuzuru laughed. "They don't dare!" He was suddenly humorous, a good sign.
Ayame smiled at him and took his hand.
"Nice to see you laughing again," she said softly. Yuzuru suddenly let go of his bag and took Ayame's face in his hands. "Aya, my flower... what have I done to you again today..."
She just closed her eyes, shivering lightely, and he kissed her on the eyelids, took her in his arms and they stood there in silence for a while.
"So, you two lovebirds," Toshiro-sensei called out. "Let's get going, you'll still have time to cuddle later."
***
While Yuzuru warmed up, always within sight of his doctor, Toshiro-sensei and Ayame sat on one of the slightly raised benches in the spectator lounge, which had been newly integrated into the hall recently. They kept an eye on Yuzuru.
The doctor suddenly put his arm around Ayame's shoulder, gave her a gentle squeeze and explained what was about to happen. She was a little taken aback by his confidentiality, but on the other hand, she had perceived him as very approachable from the start.
"Ayame-san, I want you to be prepared..."
"Y... yes? Even worse things than have already happened today?" Ayame looked somewhat horrified.
"I can't say for sure... but I can assure you that this isn't the first time Yuzuru and I have been through something like this together. He has to work through the knot all by himself now. I'm just his adjutant. And I, in turn, have the best aide I could wish for... namely you!" He gripped her a little tighter around the shoulders. "So, hang in there!"
"By your command!" Ayame tried to make a little joke. But it wasn't easy for her.
At that moment, Yuzuru joined them, he had a shortened warm-up.
"We're about to start!" he said, almost a little gleefully. The usual warm-up movements had obviously done him good. He was sweating slightly, but this time it wasn't an emotional shock, just his warmed-up body, ready for work.
Yuzuru took off his overpants, sat down and began to knead and prepare his calves, shins and feet. Then he took his tablet out of his pocket and handed it to Ayame.
"My flower, would you please record everything I do on the ice? I know it's a lot to ask because I don't know how long..."
"No, Yuzuru, I'll take care of that," Toshiro-sensei interrupted him. "Your flower has already done enough today. She should be there for you without any burden."
