Of Angels and Phantoms

Chapter 37 - A change of tempo

Hellooooo my friends

this trash is back

Sorry for being MIA for 5 months (tbh I really wanted to finish everything last year but I really had no time to write)

btw HELLO NEW READERS I SEE YOU HAVE BEEN HERE welcome to my crib, hope you guys enjoy this :3

I'll try to update whenever I can, and I'll keep my promise to finish this fic someday :)))

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"I'm sorry."

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I dragged my trolley bag across the road, walking down the same familiar street. The summer here was not at all humid, but the sun was still unrelenting in August.

"Welcome back!"

"Hello," I smiled at the club gardener as he watered the plants outside, entering the centre. A chilly breeze swept past me as I walked in, putting down my backpack and trolley bag. Coach smiled at me and signalled me to go warm up as he spoke with another skater while they strolled towards his office. I sat down on the floor and did my stretches before putting on my skates, getting up.

"Hello, hello!" Javi slid over and thumped my back with a cheeky grin. "Welcome back, bro!"

"Hey, Javi." I smiled and greeted him, taking my water bottle out. "Long time no see."

"How was your holiday? With June?" He winked, chuckling. I shrugged it off and took off my guards, stepping onto the ice. Javi followed closely behind as he continued to egg me on.

"June must've been touched by the birthday surprise, right? That dork doesn't even remember her own birthday."

I smiled and shrugged again quietly, skating away. God, why can't Javi just leave this topic alone?

"C'mon, don't be shy! Don't tell me you didn't confess-"

"I got rejected, okay?" I stopped and sighed exasperatedly, rolling my eyes. Javi halted and stared at me blankly.

"Sorry, what?'

"June rejected me."

"What?" Javi gaped, looking at me incredulously. "Dude, are you kidding me? You must've heard wrongly, right?"

"I-I don't want to talk about it..." I shook my head and skated away, but Javi followed behind.

"Yuzu, it's gotta be a misunderstanding...I'll go ask her, okay? I-"

"Javi, please. Just leave me alone." I groaned and brushed his hand away. "I just want to focus on my training."

Javi went silent and left me behind as practice began.

Focus, Yuzuru...don't think about it anymore. I sighed and began practicing my triple axel entry, my vision getting blurry after a few times. Focus, dammit!

"Yuzuru, stop." Coach folded his arms and called me out sternly, signalling for me to go over. "Your footwork is all messed up. This isn't what we agreed on, is it?"

"Sorry, Coach. I...I'll go practice more." I bowed and grit my teeth, cursing myself inside. Coach's already unhappy with all the post-Olympic stuff I had to get involved in...I can't be-

"Ow-!" I flinched as my hand instinctively grabbed my back as I crumbled down on the ice, cringing. Coach and the medic immediately rushed over, calling out my name.

"I-It's okay! I just fell..." I bit my lip, rubbing my back. It hurts, though...my back.

"Help him to the bench, please."