Junior High School, x years ago

Today was a special day. Most of their friendship revolved around school and the rink, but today Yuuri and Yuuko sat in Yuuko's bedroom. It was the day of Men's Singles at the Grand Prix Final, and Viktor Nikiforov would be skating within the hour.

Of course—they had watched the whole event, but today was the first day that they would be able to watch it live, unhindered by their school schedule. Despite being a year apart, their families and mutual love for skating made sure that they spent most of their free time together.

"I don't know why they are speculating so much. He's totally going to win gold." Yuuko pulled the tray of snacks her mother had prepared closer to them, popping open the Chip Star canister and offering it to Yuuri.

Yuuko narrowed her eyes. "Something… is different." She turned down the volume of the TV, as if it would help her see better.

"I'm not wearing my uniform?" Yuuri fidgeted nervously. Wearing the skirt was hell, even with PE shorts underneath it.

But Yuuri couldn't put that discomfort into words.

Hiroko was understanding, letting Yuuri dress in sweatpants and shorts on the weekends. She probably thought it was just her youngest daughter being a Tomboy.

"Duh. You're not wearing your track suit either." Yuuko crawled onto her hands and knees, staring Yuuri down, nearly nose to nose with her friend.

"You're flat! You're totally flat!" Yuuko clapped her hands, suddenly sitting up. She watched as momentary joy flickered across Yuuri's face, only to be replaced by terror.

"How'd you do it?" Yuuko sat back on her heels, resting her hands on her knees. Yuuri's shoulders folded inward, head bowing.

"I wanted to see what it would look like…" Yuuri mumbled.

"You've gotta be the only girl in our entire school not trying to get them bigger! I've been drinking milk every day, and here you are!" Yuuko laughed cheerfully. "Are you going to cosplay Viktor?"

Yuuri only shrugged.

They sat in silence, the low murmur of the commentators in the background.

"How did you do it?" Yuuko asked with more reverence. Yuuri turned red.

"It's just some sports wrap I found at home…" Yuuri's voice was low and shy. It wasn't rare to have elastic bandages or tape—Yuuri had taken dance just as long as Yuuko had.

"No way! How can you breathe?" Yuuko scrambled to her feet. "Take off your shirt."

"What? No—" Yuuri stuttered.

"Take it off!" Yuuko said more firmly as she shuffled through one of her dresser drawers. "You're going to hurt yourself. You're doing exactly what they say not to do in Cosmode."

"I'm not cosplaying!" Yuuri bit out in defense. Yuuko came back to Yuuri's side.

"I know." She said softly, placing an old sports bra in Yuuri's hands. It was a couple years old, and Yuuri was definitely wider. It wasn't perfect, but it would be closer to the binders she'd seen for mail-order in her cosplay magazines.

Yuuri stared at it, the fabric bunching in tightening hands.

"I won't look." Yuuko turned back to the TV, resting her back against her bedframe.

Secretly, she was happy. Happy that Yuuri had chosen today, and trusted her enough to shed the winter coat Yuuri had worn since she left her house.

Her….?

"It's not that…" Yuuri trailed off. He grew up in an onsen. The naked body wasn't anything to be worried about.

Yuuko turned back to her friend, tilting her head and examining Yuuri.

Basketball shorts and a T-shirt. A short haircut that would make Yuuko herself look like a coconut and would be tragic for most other girls. Somehow, it fit Yuuri perfectly.

"What is it then…Yuuri-kun?"

Yuuri hid her face in her knees.

"Was that bad?" Yuuko bit her bottom lip.

Yuuri lifted her head, smiling.

"No," She said shyly. "It was really good."