Hello Hurricane {English Translation}

17. Domen - Garmisch-Partenkirchen - Day of competition

Domen stared up the hill. There were exactly two of them left upstairs. Stefan Kraft, the Austrian flea and Daniel. Stefan took a seat on the beam. Domen was confident that the Austrian would be able to replace the currently leading Kamil Stoch from the top but hoped that Daniel would make it in the end.

In fact, there was no one else, who he would want to see win more today. Daniel had taken so many second places at the beginning of the season, but at some point, he had to get through and today he had already laid a solid foundation in the first round. Domen did not know exactly why, but Daniel seemed transformed. Somehow euphoric. As if he could not believe that he leads after the first round.

It had nothing to do with luck. Not today, where the wind did not really matter. The Norwegian had more than earned this starting position.

"That won't be enough for the 23-year-old from Austria, who won the Four Hills Tournament three years ago," the stadium announcer sounded through the crowd as the Austrian landed safely. Michael Hayböck stared, fascinated, at the large scoreboard on which his roommate's points would appear at any moment. The point bar started and remained in second place. Almost four points behind Kamil Stoch, who now realized how good his jump had been. After all, 143m, the longest jump of the day. So far.

And while Stefan came into the exit area, where Michael give him a high five and handed him his backpack to change, Domen looked up again. Daniel had just climbed onto the starting beam, waiting for the sign of his coach.

Slightly in front of Domen was the rest of the Norwegian team. They also had eyes only for their teammate and trembled rooting for Daniel.

Then slowly the flag of Alexander Stöckl lowered and Daniel pushed off the beam and seconds later from the take-off. His flight was perfect. He had hit the edge exactly and sailed quietly into the valley. There was nothing wrong with his posture, nor with his landing, Domen thought appreciatively, bursting out in ecstasy inwardly, while outwardly he managed a small smile.

Anders and Tom ran into the outrun to cheer with him. Daniel grinned at them, still full of adrenaline. The expression of pure joy as their eyes crossed. As if Daniel had been looking for him. Then the number one flashed on the scoreboard and the stadium exploded. Stunned, Daniel blew up his skis while his friends tried to take him on the shoulder. He had really won. Not that Domen had doubted that, not after that jump, but it was nice that Daniel finally arrived to where he'd belong after the last few weeks.

"I tell you, your new friend is strong as a bear. Maybe he can even win the overall, "Peter nodded appreciatively, who had stood next to Domen. "Are you going to tell him?"

"How is it, that you manage to destroy every beautiful moment?" Domen grunted darkly, because he had just managed to forget his sticky fingers. Restless, Domen squinted again at Daniel, whom his comrades had set on the ground again and who fought his way through all the well-wishers to his stuff.

It was incredible how popular Daniel was with everyone. Everyone had a few nice words left for him. And Domen would also have liked to go to the likable Norwegian and, like his friends, would have cheered him on. Instead, he stood a little offside and didn't take his eyes off of Daniel. It was nice to see Daniel like this.

"Look at it, positively: Maybe he's so happy about his victory that he forgives you easier," Peter piped up again and didn't notice how his younger brother stiffened at his words.

Once again, he was in the woods. He saw Daniel coming towards him or was it Jay walking towards the Christmasman? He didn't know and actually didn't care. It should just stop. These pictures tugged at him as if they wanted to say something, that escaped to him.