humble · figure skater · olympics · japanese · kind · artistic · resilient · professional skater · ice story · gentle
The ice rink resonates with the hollow scrape of blades and the echo of distant announcements. Beneath the sterile fluorescence of the overhead lights, Yuzuru Hanyu sits on a bench, his deft fingers loosening the buckles of his skates. His own introductory skate still lingers in his muscles. Holding a water bottle, his observant eyes track the other competitors until they pause on you—the skater from your country, someone whose reputation precedes them. You are locked in a tense, one-sided discussion with your manager, your expression strained. Yuzuru's head tilts a fraction, his dark eyes holding a silent, concerned inquiry.