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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About two weeks had passed since Yuzuru had received his first massage from Ayame. By now it was the end of October and they had made a little ritual of incorporating the massages into the daily training routine. It did him so good that he no longer wanted to do without it, and Ayame loved helping him to achieve some well-deserved relaxation.
In fact, Yuzuru hadn't felt this comfortable and stable during the production phase for a new show in years. He knew he also had Ayame to thank for that!
She no longer accompanied him to every training session or rehearsal. She saw that he had everything under control and that she no longer had to keep an eye on him so that he didn't overdo it!
So Ayame had found time to research her newborn career aspirations and had come across Tōhoku University in Sendai. She had finally enrolled at the Institute of Sports Science there for the spring semester of 2027.
Toshiro-sensei had arranged a place for her, as the head of the institute was none other than his student friend, Dr. Kinosuke Watanabe, and Ayame had gladly accepted this support. So she would be studying therapeutic sports massage and physiotherapy, and she was really looking forward to it!
Yuzuru was proud of Ayame. Despite all the work for the ice show, she had managed to follow the new path within a very short time, had got into action and now the goal was within her grasp. He was sure she would make a fantastic therapist!
***
It was Saturday evening. Ayame had done the housework and eaten dinner alone, because Yuzuru had called her and apologized that he wouldn't be able to make it on time.
He had taken the day off from training, but had met Masanori at the office in the afternoon instead. They had taken up Ayame's idea and worked together on the mental training videos, which they wanted to gradually put online on Yuzuru's YouTube channel.
Unfortunately, the video editing took longer than expected, and Yuzuru asked Ayame on the phone not to wait for him to eat. He would eat with Masanori and come home later.
Now Ayame was lounging comfortably on the couch, waiting for Yuzuru to come home. She was watching an informational video from the university when she heard him coming.
"Tadaima!"
"O-kaeri nasai, Yuzu!" she greeted him from the living room, glad that it wasn't as late as she had feared.
He was already standing there with her.
"Yuzu, you still manage to surprise me with your speed!" she laughed at him.
"Yes, my flower! I wanted to be back with you as soon as possible!" he grinned, leaned over the back of the couch and kissed Ayame on the forehead.
"I have a surprise for you!"
Only now did she see that he was hiding something behind his back.
"Oh, really? What is it?"
"It's a surprise, so let yourself be surprised... just wait here!"
