Yuuri:
One thing I never liked about the world is that people always like winners. If someone is a champion or a genius or succeeded incredibly in an area of life, then they are entitled to do whatever they desire and others would simply accept it. Cause who can say no to a winner? Others are pale in comparison, ignored and forgotten.
I was proven right on this matter when I approached my faculty about skipping grades. I just charmed them by speaking various languages with almost no accent, perfect use of the grammar and vast vocabulary. Sat for a few exams and the next thing I knew they are telling me I have all the requirements, they only asked for me to take some of the standard classes students have to go through during freshmen year. Not even all of them! That would only take me one semester.
My alma matter simply wanted to be known for having a genius graduating from their university. Fairness didn't matter to them, just prestige.
When they found out I am also an international figure skater, the top one from my country, they offered me a sports scholarship as long as I represent my University. I might have manipulated them into it, but if they were planning to use me, why not do the same to them? I am not the same innocent boy that came to Detroit so many years ago, I grew up and toughen up.
Though, I didn't feel guilty when everything was dealt with my faculty, I did leave the place confused. The teachers and dean kept mumbling about how great that someone like me was putting an example out there. That my kind could achieve greatness if we put our mind into it. Also, that having someone of my secondary gender graduating so early will make them super famous.
I did not understand a thing and didn't have the time to think about it. So, I simply focused solely on my training and left it as them being impressed that an athlete was smart and interested on his future after his sport career was over. It was a week of hard training, not only my body had to get used again to the routines, I had to train my body to be able to make the more difficult jumps again. I was planning on leaving the routines the same for the qualification events, but add more difficult quads for the Grand Prix Final. Otherwise, I won't be able to beat Viktor.
Wow...
I might not be the same boy who always doubted himself, but thinking that I can beat Viktor- even though, I had already done that- came out of no where.
Going back to my training, at the end of the week I was able to preform my routines at the same level as I did when I competed in Barcelona, minus the quad flip. I was still not even close of landing it, but I had no hurry on that. I still have a lot of time before the Grand Prix. I am confident on being able to medal in both qualification events with my salchow quad and toe loop one.
Feeling ready and confident, I prepared myself to "meet" Ciao Ciao and show him how much I "suddenly" improved since my Junior Years.
Surprise indeed he was...
"Yuuri! That was incredible! I'm not going to ask how you choreographed two amazing routines in such a short span of time, but I like this new confidence you are showing. I am so proud of you boy!" he exclaimed.
Ciao Ciao clapped my back, making me stumble from the strength. Though I didn't mind it much, I was attentively waiting for it. For when he finally processes what he had just seen.
In thre... two... one... BOOM!
"You've been practising not only one, but two quads on your own!" he snapped at me "Are you insane?! How can you be so reckless? You could have hurt yourself! Does it hurt anywhere?! Yuuri! Do you understand that your body is more fragile than the other skaters!"
I swallowed my laughter at his reaction, it was worse than what I would have expected. I might as well leave the fact that I almost twisted my ankle at training for the quad flip.
Then I frowned.
What does he mean by 'more fragile than the other skaters'? I thought, confused all over again- as when I left the faculty's office.
But shook my head afterwards, blaming it on my age, and focused on making sure Ciao Ciao doesn't fry me.
"I'm fine Cia... Cialdini-san. I'm not hurt. I am sorry for worrying you. I know I was reckless but I'm also aware that I had to improve otherwise Seniors would have eaten me alive" I replied respectfully, knowing that coaches love that about me- in comparison of their normally disrespectful athletes "My family has already suffered enough to maintain me and my dream of being a professional skater. They need the money and sponsors winning brings" I hate playing the victim but it always helps to calm others down.
"Ah" Ciao Ciao sighed "I understand Yuuri, but you need to take care of yourself, as well. You are still young and a lot of opportunities for winning. You doing good during Juniors wasn't what made me decide choosing you as my student, was the potential I saw in you. I wanted to be the one who made you unlock it... but it seems I was a bit too late. Someone else got to you first and helped you start believing in yourself" I blushed at the memory of my husband and thanked Kami that Ciao Ciao didn't notice "Seeing you today only enforced my belief that you will thrive. So, promise me that you won't practise another crazy jump on your own again. You need a coach there to guide you through it"
"I promise" I answered him.
"Also, we've been through with this already, call me Celestino. Cialdini-san is too formal for me" he chastised me, making me blush slightly. He always was able to make me feel like a kid when he does that... then again, it seems like I am back to being one "At least, now I know that I do not have to worry about your competing this season. It is a very important season after all" I frowned at his comment, not understanding what he meant. But then again, simply putting it as him worrying about my debut in Seniors "It's enough training for one day, get off the ice and tell me how are you adapting to Detroit"
I always liked this about Ciao Ciao. Always with a smile on his face, calm and taking his skaters feeling into consideration. Not that the other coaches don't do that. But with Celestino you could always talk to him about other things that are not ice related. One day I told him that my dog was sick, he gave the day off and the following day he asked me if Vicchan was better.
While taking off my skates and putting on my shoes, I heard him mutter under his breath something about Omegas being able to do quads now. If I kept frowning as much as I'm doing this last week it will be a permanent attachment on my face.
What does he mean by Omega?! I exclaimed in my head. More importantly, what does that has to do with me?! I'll just look it up later.
"Good. The campus has everything and the guys at my dorm aren't that bad. I like it here" I told him, once we were both sitting at the stands "Though, I think I want to get a place to myself once I start making profit. I miss Vicchan, my poodle, too much and the dorms don't allow pets.
I recall that precious small loft that Viktor bought for us, in that secure and modern building near my alma matter. That loft that we both had been planning on living in for a year, so we can overlook the growth of our baby inside the surrogate mother we chose. That dream that we weren't able to fulfill because of this time traveling cra...
Bad Yuuri, you shouldn't curse even if this whole situation is fucked up... oops.
"What about college?" Ciao Ciao asked, snapping me out of my thinking.
"Good, great really. They gave me a scholarship for ice-skating and told me that if I apply myself during this semester before competing I can graduate" I told him in Italian, to show him why the college allowed such a thing.
"I don't only have a genius on the ice, but also out of it?!" exclaimed Ciao Ciao "You also speak Italian? Training will be so much fun now, I truly missed speaking to someone on my mother tongue!"
"I do. I also speak Thai and Russian. If you add English and Japanese that makes a total of five languages. I am thinking of adding French to the repertoire. Though I don't know if I want to add it to my master degree or studied apart while I get my PhD" I commented.
"Don't sweat yourself boy, you are still young and have time. For now focus on finishing your degree before the season starts and on training. Then, on competing. Afterwards, when things have calmed down we will face the rest. You are no longer alone Yuuri, I am your coach and we are a team. One thing at the time, buddy" he slowed me down.
It was a call I really appreciate, since I feel like I've been running on adrenaline lately. Doing too many thing in such a little time. But it also, brought me close to tears. A team... that's what I was with Viktor... and now I do not have him...
Keep it together Katsuki! I scolded myself. You'll get Viktor again. And even if he doesn't remember you, you'll just have to make him fall in love with you. You can do this. I can do this.
