Yuri was confused. Yuuri had been acting strangely all day. Like he'd been trying to tell him something. What freaked him out most was the crying…and the hugging. He didn't like to show affection, he didn't like to hug people other than his grandpa. He didn't let people close, people just hurt you. They couldn't hurt you if you didn't let them in. Didn't let them close. But sometime over the past few months Yuri had gained a second big brother. Yuuri. Victor had always been like an elder brother to him. They had a strange brotherly relationship, competitive, but supportive at the same time. Yuuri seemed to genuinely care about him, and support him. He was still competitive but it wasn't quite the same as with Victor. Yuri had a bad feeling about Yuuri's behaviour today. It put him on edge. He felt like Yuuri was trying to tell him something bad. Like his grandpa when he'd had to tell him his mother wasn't coming to see him. Or when he'd had to tell Yuri she wasn't coming back. She'd left him. Yuri had been trying to puzzle it out. It was bothering him. He didn't want to lose Yuuri. He wanted to keep his presence in his life, he wanted to see him skate perfectly. He wanted…he wanted to keep his little ….his little family together. That's what they felt like. He'd returned the elder man's hug without even fully realising he'd been doing it. But he'd..liked it.

Yuri didn't work out what was going on until Victor approached Yakov.

"You're what?! You're coming back!?" Yuri could hear Yakov's shout over his headphones. He stared in disbelief as Victor confirmed Yakov's shout. Started talking about the Russian Nationals. His brain was putting all the pieces together. Yuuri wanting to tell him something. The hugging. The crying.

"Wait, does this mean the pork cutlet bowl's going to retire?!" Yuri grabbed Victors arm. Wanting him to say no. Willing him to say no. To say Yuuri was going to continue skating, say that they where both coming to Russia…

"Well that is entirely up to him. He said he was going to make his decision after the final" Victor replied and Yuri could only gape at him. He couldn't believe it. So. He'll retire and just go back to Japan. Maybe visit Victor a few times a year…he's…he's leaving me too? Before Yuri could process everything properly a shadow fell over him and he looked up to see Victor coming at him fast, before he could react, the older man had grabbed him in a tight hug. His chin resting on Yuri's shoulder. Yuri didn't like it. He knew Victor knew what he was feeling, what he was thinking. He knew Victor was trying to comfort him but it made it…it made it real. It confirmed that the decision was already made. Victor tightened the hug as he felt Yuri's breath hitch like he was going to cr-no. I don't cry. I haven't cried in years. I refuse to cry because of the piggy.

No. I'm going to skate. I'm going to skate my best. That's what Victor is telling me. He's telling me to skate the best I can. To show everyone what I can do. He's supporting me. Like always. I'll still have Victor. I will skate the best I have ever skated. And I will tell pork cutlet bowl exactly what I think of his decision.

Yuuri watched Yurio skate and he heard every word. He watched as the teenager fell to the ice, crying. He'd never seen the boy cry before. Never. He wasn't vain enough to think it was entirely about him. Yurio had put a lot of pressure on himself. To be at the top of his game. To figure out who he was outside of Victors approval, something he'd always craved, after Victor left. No. Yurio might be upset about Yuuri retiring. Might not want him to retire, but he was also releasing all of his stored up emotions. He'd pushed himself so hard. Yuuri knew he didn't want to disappoint anyone and he had never been prouder.

Damnit. Who told him!? Huh. As if I don't know. Stupid Victor. Can't keep quiet can you?