Facing Phantoms, Pursuing Flowers

10,000 Miles Apart

Hanyu Yuzuru, who is currently in first place will be taking the ice next.

The first few tunes of Seimei echoes all around the arena.

Coach Tracy, Javi, Melody, and Nam were gathered around the TV.

Today was the day for the men's long program for Japan Nationals.

Right before Yuzuru takes off for the Quad Salchow, Nam whispers, 'In the Quad Sal, we trust'

And Bam! Yuzuru lands it swift with finest as he had been doing all of this season. The short program fall was just a one off thing.

So the first half continued with grace and beauty, but the second half was not as good as people wanted it to be.

Fall on the Quad Toe combo.

And after that, fall on the Triple Axel......missed combo...

Four pairs of eyes stare at the screen in shock...

'When was the last time Yuzuru fell on his Triple Axel? I can't remember.' Javi shook his head in disbelief for his amazing but visibly exhausted comrade, who had had three major competitions in a month, no one else had to go through that.

For Yuzuru, it felt like eons before the music ended, but for the crowd, it ended in a flash.

Yuzuru went off the ice, sweating like a mad cow and talking to Brian.

Melody turned to Javi and Nam, 'He could still win with that, right?'

'Yeah, I mean, if you think realistically, no one in that competition beats him in any of the aspects in terms of program component score. And besides that, even with shaky landings and two falls, Yuzuru still has a greater difficulty for his spins and jumps, for the entry and exit. So really, no one can match up to that standard. Plus, he has a strong lead from the short program over anyone else apart from Shoma.' Coach Tracy Wilson was the one who answered.

'Oh good, now for Sota! Come on buddy! You can do it' cheered Nam.

Yamamoto Sota, who is currently in 11th place will take the ice next.

'Come on Sota....you can do this!' Whisper-yelled Melody.

'Yeah, send him some mental strength,' Javi added.

On the other side of the world, Sota took the ice and breathed.

I gotta do this, I can do this for her....

I think it's about time I told her...
If I place in top 5, I'll tell her. And I will place in the top 5.

I will.

Triple Axel...Fall!

Quad Toe...Fall!

Triple Lutz, check.

Second half Triple Axel combo...Land!!

Everyone was so shocked he landed that. It almost seem as though it was a mistake that he landed it.

The rest of the second half was more like the usual Sota.

Sota Yamamoto - 215.15, in six place overall.

At least I didn't pop anything and actually went for it.

Wow.

Seriously? 6th place again?

If I had placed a tad bit higher, I would tell her, but since I placed 6, not in the top 5, I suppose I won't tell her yet.

Somehow, I feel really relief that I don't have to tell her yet. Why? Must ask Shoma-san how to muster the courage to tell her.