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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"We should clean your room!" Ayame suddenly suggested. It was true, everything was just as they had left it yesterday.
"Oh yes... it has to be!" agreed Yuzuru. "I definitely have to remove these traces... Will you help me?"
"Of course!"
They went upstairs. Suddenly they heard his screams coming out the study where Yumi was watching the video of the ice therapy...
"Oh dear..." muttered Yuzuru, lowering his eyes.
"Come on, let's go to your room and start tidying up!" Ayame wanted to distract him quickly. She took him by the hand and pulled him away, into his bedroom, where he sat down on the bed. He looked around and groaned.
"I didn't think it would catch up with me up here so soon..." he stammered.
"Don't let it drag you down now!" Ayame knelt down in front of him and placed her hands on his thighs, stroking him reassuringly. "You'll put this behind you!"
"Yes..." he still sank down a little.
At that moment, Yumi came out of the study opposite. She saw the two of them and knew immediately what was going on. She came to them.
"Yuzuru!" she shouted at him. "You're strong, do you hear me? Keep your mind where it was a few minutes ago! With the future, not the past!"
Yumi was only thinking about him now, no matter how she felt after she had just seen him fighting with himself on the ice in the video...
Yuzuru looked up at his mother. "Yes... Okāsan! I know... but it's hard..." he paused for a moment. "I'm going to call the therapist today that Toshiro recommended to me, because I just realized that I need to go deeper here!"
"It's good that you're getting help when we can't really help you anymore, Yuzu! Sometimes it's just necessary," Yumi said encouragingly, and Yuzuru nodded in agreement.
He now gently pushed Ayame aside and they stood up together.
"I'll start here and now with the external signs!"
Yuzuru began to pick up his things, refolding clothes, stacking papers and putting back in order all the things he had torn from the drawers and closets in his anger and rage the day before.
The two women watched him, saw that he had regained his composure. They nodded to each other and began to help Yuzuru with his task.
***
Yumi had cooked, while Ayame and Yuzuru had cleaned the room after tidying up. So everyone contributed in their own way to a nice, relaxed lunch.
"Okāsan, thanks for the gyoza! I can never get enough of it!" Yuzuru bit off a piece of the last dumpling and let it melt on his tongue, chewing with relish.
"I know what I can spoil you with. Ayame-san, you must remember that: Gyoza are the solution to almost every problem!"
"I know, Yumi-san! I've already made them once for him and wanted to freeze a few. But that didn't happen!"
They all laughed, Yuzuru was just too gluttonous when it came to the delicious dumplings.
Full and satisfied, they all sat at the dining table they had chosen for today's meal.
"It's nice not to be responsible for the food for once," Ayame remarked.
"But you cleaned everything upstairs with Yuzu, at least just as exhausting," Yumi replied. She thought for a moment. "What if you two took a few days off?" she suggested.
"That... that's an excellent idea, Okāsan!" Yuzuru's eyes lit up. "I mustn't neglect my training, I really need to get back into shape. But a few days after everything that's happened..."
"Oh, that would be nice!" Ayame agreed.
"The only problem is..." Yuzuru pondered a little, "... where could we go to relax in peace? I can't show my face anywhere...!"
They all thought about the topic for a while.
"Tazawa!" Yumi suddenly exclaimed.
"Tazawa?" Yuzuru looked at Yumi questioningly.
"Yes, the lake... you once mentioned that Keiji's family owns a house there, right?" Yumi was very excited. "Maybe that would be an idea?"
"Okāsan, even a wonderful idea! I visited there once. It's just beautiful, in the middle of the forest and right by the lake, less than four hours from Sendai. It would be ideal for a few relaxing days..." Yuzuru was very excited.
"I'll call Keiji right away and... oh!" Yuzuru looked at Ayame. "Aya, would you even be okay with that? I mean, relaxing in nature with me for a few days? It's pretty lonely there, and somewhat cut off from the outside world..."
Ayame immediately blushed up to her ears, and Yumi giggled.
"I don't think she'll mind being alone with you!" she laughed.
Ayame blushed even more, but quickly regained her composure. "That's exactly right, Yuzu! Nothing better than that!"
"Oh..." Yuzuru blushed in turn. "That... I just mean... I think we could just use some rest..." he mumbled, a little embarrassed.
"Of course, Yuzu! Don't be so shy. Please spoil the lady of your heart by every trick in the book!" Yumi cheered him on.
Yuzuru jumped up from his chair, bright red. "I'll call Keiji!" With that, he escaped the embarrassing situation and hurriedly left the living room.
Ayame was still a little flushed, but now smiled softly to herself, her eyes shining. Of course she had also thought about diving back into the sensual world with Yuzuru! They had had to take a forced break far too soon, a real challenge for a young couple newly in love!
Yumi seemed to have guessed Ayame's thoughts.
"Ayame-san, don't be embarrassed. I know very well what effect Yuzu has on women. But he's not just handsome on the outside, his heart and soul are good too, and he'll always carry the woman he loves on his hands and uphold her needs. But you already know that, don't you?" Yumi spoke in a gentle voice.
Ayame looked at her a little uncertainly now.
"Please, don't worry! Of course his father and I respect Yuzu's privacy!" Yumi put her hand on Ayame's reassuringly.
"I think, even though I'm naturally biased... You're very lucky that Yuzu is opening up to you like this and that he's letting you get to know him completely. He'll give you everything he can give!"
Ayame smiled and just nodded.
The conversation with Yuzuru's mother suddenly felt so familiar. Something arose between them that Ayame hadn't felt since the loss of her own mother.
"Yumi-san, thank you for your understanding and your trust! I'll take good care of Yuzu, I promise," she said.
"I know that and I can see it very clearly now, Ayame!" Yumi squeezed Ayame's hands with a smile.
Yuzuru stood quietly in the doorway. He had heard the last few sentences and felt very lucky that the two women had become so close so quickly. At that moment, he felt the love he felt for Ayame only grow stronger.
