Love Him...Forever

Closer Than Yesterday

"Don't get me wrong... I know you're with Allen now. But we never really had the chance to get to know each other—as friends, of course," Yuzuru added before Shine could react.

"Ah, yes! I agree. I don't really know much about you... Except that you're a great figure skater," Shine replied almost factually—because, as Hana, she truly knew nothing about Yuzuru anymore.

"I am a figure skater, yes," he said, almost sheepishly. "But I wouldn't call myself 'great'. I still have a lot to show and prove... I haven't even reached Evgeni Plushenko's level."

"...and there, I just learned that you're humble too," Shine teased lightly, glancing at her reflection in the glass door.

"When you get to know me, you'll see I'm not that humble," Yuzuru laughed.

"We'll see," Shine smiled, turning her chair toward her bed. Her alarm clock read 23:45.

"Oh shoot!" she blurted.

"Why?" Yuzuru asked immediately, worried by her sudden alarm.

"It's nothing..." Shine covered, realizing she overreacted. "I just didn't notice the time because I was enjoying talking to you," she admitted softly—and truthfully.

"Me too," Yuzuru replied.

"It's almost midnight, and as much as I still want to talk to you, friend... I have to sleep. I still have work tomorrow."

"Oh, right. Have a good sleep... friend."

"Same to you, friend."

They both hung up.

The next morning...

"Hello, Hana!" Nam greeted brightly—too brightly. Probably still thrilled about yesterday with Allen.

"Hi, Nam." Shine turned to get his key.

"Where's Monika?" he asked.

"She's off today. You didn't know?" Shine said, reaching for one of the keys on the rack, confusion slipping into her voice.

Nam shook his head.

"Really?" she said, walking toward him.

"Nah, just kidding. Of course I know!" Nam grinned, taking the key.

He's lying. What's that about this time? Her inner voice muttered.

One thing Shine had learned from living this false identity:
Sometimes lies sound more convincing than the truth.

"Oh, good! I thought you didn't know." Shine smiled politely.

Nam smiled back—but not his usual smile. Then he waved goodbye and headed to the rink to begin his World Team Trophy practice.

I wonder what happened between Nam and Monika yesterday... Shine wondered silently.

The club felt strangely slow without Monika to talk to. Shine sat behind the desk, waiting for break time—it felt like forever.

Allen's words from yesterday kept replaying in her mind:

"...You can go back to being Shine."

She couldn't help the wide smile on her face.

Javier appeared suddenly in front of the desk.

"Why are you so happy?" he asked.

But Shine didn't hear him. She was completely lost in her thoughts. He knocked on the counter.

"Hana!"

"Javi! How long have you been standing there?" Shine startled.

"Not long. But what were you thinking about? You looked really happy."

"Nothing! I was just thinking—"

"Allen?"
Yuzuru's voice cut in before she could finish.

"Yuzu? What are you doing here?" Shine asked, shocked and excited at the same time.

"I forgot I needed to do something," Yuzuru replied happily.

"Guys, I'll leave you two alone," Javier said quickly. He clearly noticed how Shine lit up at Yuzuru's presence. He began walking away.

"Wait!" Shine hurriedly grabbed his key. Javier stopped and looked back.

"I didn't give you your key yet," she said, holding it out.

Javier laughed and waved her off.
"No need. I'm going just to see Nam anyway," he said loud enough for both of them to hear before disappearing from sight.

Shine turned to Yuzuru again.
"So, since when are you here?" she asked, still surprised.

"I've been here since yesterday, friend!" Yuzuru beamed.

"Yesterday?" Shine blinked.

"Yes. Yesterday afternoon, to be exact," he said, clearly enjoying her reaction.

"But... I thought you were in Japan, friend?" Shine frowned.

"If I were in Japan, I wouldn't have called you... friend."

"Why?"

"Aside from overseas calls being expensive... I don't talk to anyone when I'm there. Except Shine."

"But why?" Shine asked again, trying not to sound too happy.

"I just don't want distractions. I even tried not calling Shine before but..." he sighed with a small, sad smile. "I just couldn't."

Yuzuru looked around.
"By the way, where's Monika?"

"She's off today," Shine answered.

"I see." He finally stopped searching and looked directly at Shine.

"Are you staying here in the club for long?" Shine asked casually.

"Why?" Yuzuru asked, though he seemed to already know.

"Well... you can join me here inside," she offered.

Yuzuru smiled.

"I mean—if that something you need to do isn't important. And I kind of need someone to talk to, since Monika's off."

She corrected herself quickly, cheeks warming.
"Oh, let me rephrase that—I want someone to talk to, friend."

Without hesitation, Yuzuru stepped behind the reception counter and sat in Monika's usual chair.

"What do you want to talk about, friend?" he asked, smiling as he tapped the seat beside him.