Sorry about the really late update, but onto the chapter!
When Todoroki opened the door he felt a sudden shift of temperature from the exhausting cold skating rink to the comfortable room that had the temperature to at least to seventy degrees, it was warm and comforting. At least that would have been his orginal thought if it had not been the rest of his colleagues sitting stiffly against the leather couches. All of them waiting for his dad to arrive. Endeavor Todoroki was his name, and he was placed currently at second place for the Olympics. His name was Todoroki Shoto, the son of the former Olympic medalist. To follow his father's footsteps he has been skating since he was four, and almost, he would be hitting the age of twenty. For the last couple years of his life, he has been training with his dad. Todoroki would participating in local competitions and once in a while leave Japan to compete competitively in other countries. For about two years, his partner has remain the same and her name is Momo Yayorozu.
Over the last couple years his demeanor was cold before he met her. If anything his life has changed because of her, and it created a flutter to his heart when he says that. She is beautiful, no doubt, and he wouldn't deny he has feelings for her. Momo's mind is calculated and precise, she knew how to approach him, and created a good first impression when they first met. However, in the beginning, he didn't have any feelings towards her, if anything he didn't have any feelings anything beside numbness. Todoroki was tired, tired of his father trying to make him take his place in the future. She was another partner that her father would fire in a couple month, it didn't matter to him.
His thoughts were shifted when he really noticed her for the first time which was during her downfall. Her personality had shifted from being confident, un-afraid of taking risk and wiling to do anything she was asked to being afraid and an introvert, scared that her probability would be wrong no matter what. The sudden shift of personality change was during the time they had failed one of their competitions and did not have enough points to move to the next round.
She did recover from it, but it had taken quite a bit of time and a lot of convincing. To say unwillingly, he would not able to find a partner as astonishing as her.
If anything Todoroki was going to admit, he does have feelings for her. Who wouldn't. The time he would hold her hand during a performance, every time they got close to each other, he couldn't help but let his heart flutter. She was intoxicating and he just wanted her, he wanted her to be all his and no one else. He could tell she wanted the same, the way she would awkwardly look down as she blushed profusely when they practiced by themselves, and when their bodies were close all he could feel his heart was thud against his.
Yet, he knew it wasn't right. He knew deep down it is not allowed to have these type of feelings, if his father knew, she would be gone in a heartbeat and everything would go back to the way it use to before.
Snapping out of thoughts, Todoroki father waltzed in, slamming the door and quickly taking a seat with everyone he has gathered.
"Have you guys been reading this," He said, pushing the newspaper so that everyone could see the title.
Figure Skating, No Longer The Same.
"It's as if figure skaters this time around is no longer taking competitions seriously. No longer movements are unconfined but they're robotic, the recent stream of figure skating have not shown any potential that they can bring into this world," Endeavor said without glancing at the paper, as if he memorized what the entire article said.
"They can't be talking about us.." A short brown hair girl shyly said, she went by the name of Uraraka.
"They could be, and it sounds like you guys are not even trying at all. I have seen your performance," Disappointing as glared at all six in the room, which consisted of Uraraka, Lida, Momo, Shoji, Asui and himself. They have all been working with each other for about one-two years, which his father had picked and deemed as best of who could be trained by him.
"If you want to be deemed as number one, you need to understand who your competitors are. You need to know their strengths and weaknesses and use it against them. You need to understand that figure skating is a competitive sport, there is no time for free time and no time to make any friends, you guys are here to aim for the top so I expect you guys to exceed much more than the normal person. The judges won't accept any mistakes and neither do I, you understand?" Endeavor declared harshly, letting his gaze wander to Todoroki then to Momo, who was frozen on the spot.
"Good. Today, we're going to watch some of the competitors who could challenge you guys. I want you to pay close attention about the information that I'm going to give you, and I want the two of you to imbued it in your mind."
"This one however will be a tricky one, the figure skater you're going to see has not participated in any competitions during the last couple years. She has gone off the radar from the world of figure skating and from what I heard from the media, she probably has retired for good. The reason why I want to show you her is because I believe you have the potential to reach to her level, even to go beyond her. She had her chance, but she officially lost it," Endeavor said, switching to a different person, one who was unfamiliar, to Todoroki.
The screen displayed a girl who he presumed to be around sixteen or eighteen, her partner was none-other than a well-known competitor that is still in league to this day. Further inspecting he was not amazed. Her leotard was a bright green, which he presumed had to have been cheaply made or bought somewhere on sale. He would have mistaken her for her boy from her bushy short hair if she hadn't worn a leotard.
The setting the two were at had shown it was a practice round. They were not surrounded by an audience, but by an old fashion type of ice skating rink, to which he grunted in disgust. He didn't understand how individuals could practice in such an environment.
The green hair girl was rather nervous, she was unable to look at her partner in the eye. However, her partner was the opposite, he was fierce, and too proud. He expected this of him, he still showed the same stance to this day. However, there was something unfamiliar, the spark of emotions that flared in his eyes and his smile. Clearly the two of them have known each other for a long time, there could have been something behind his expression but he wasn't the type to make these type of observations.
When the music started, Todoroki demeanor had shifted from unconcern to surprise, the sudden transformation of the girl has changed, her posture straightened and her expression was more confident, more graceful. The tempo of the music was fast, and their body matched each drop, each rise and pattern. She was easily able to match his speed. Their expressions were adding to the music, as if they were telling a story, a story yearning and desire.
The two has separated from each other, as if there was a barrier from each other, and they no longer could see each. Todoroki heart had tugged at the sight of this, and for once he was in the tip of his seat, glancing furiously at the screen, watching each person carefully, waiting to see what would happen next. His hands folded over another as he watched. From a glance from his teammates nearby, it looked like they felt the same emotions he was. Muttering to each other yet quiet to see what was next.
The next part he did not expect, they both ran to each other, trying to grasp at each others hand before it slipped out as the tv blanked out to nothing.
Everyone looked at each other in awe and surprise.
"What happened to the rest of the film?" Lida asked, clearly disappointed.
"This was just a video filmed a couple years ago before the person filming this got kicked out. This was the best amount of information we could get," Endeavor said in annoyance before he continued, "What did you guys take out of this?"
"I.. I have not seen anything like this in such a long time. It's as if the two were telling a story, as if they had known each other, they matched each other wavelengths and the emotion on their face, it's as if they were yearning for each other, wanting each other but they knew it couldn't happen. As if they were stopping themselves or something was stopping them. Letting go of each other was representing how they both had to let go, they had to let go, and it felt like they were not in the same agreement. One clearly wanted to chase their dreams, the other one wanted them to be happy, as if they could leave their careers and could be happy together',"
Everyone in the room was silent, they didn't want to say anything against Momo to make it seem like she was being over-dramatic. They couldn't, if anything she was the smartest one here, and if she could make an observation they didn't want to change her mind.
"What about you," Edneavor said directly to his son, who has not said anything since his appearance.
Originally, his thoughts before the small video was he did not understand why he needed to learn about someone who no longer competed. If anything it was a waste of his time. This time was difference, his heart thumped against his chest and he felt like he was shaking.
Todoroki knew in his heart, he has to meet her.
No, he knew, he would meet her, and he was going to do anything in his will to do so.
"I want to meet her," Todoroki muttered, still looking at the screen as it had zoomed to her face, a cleared pain look with an un-noticeable tears in the corner of her eyes, that dripped down her cheek.
"Impossible," Edneavor said, turning his back on them and shoving his hands in his pocket, as he glanced at the screen.
"Why?"
"She went off radar. No one knew where she went, or where she is now, she did anything in her damn ability to make sure know one could find where she was,"
His heart died at that part, he felt disappointment that quickly vanquished into nothing. He knew how to numb himself, and just in a moment, he was in disbelief he was amazed by someone he just met in a mere five minute video. He could feel Momo's glance at him, as if she was looking at him in vain, as if she was crushed for a minute, but quickly it had shifted to seriousness as she went back to his dad, as if she didn't want to be caught staring.
"Alright everyone, we're moving on to the next people. I want you guys to use this as a motivation, to try to beat this," Edneavor said, as everyone let out a nod in response.
"Todoroki, we are going to have a little talk later,"
Izumi had allowed the last ten minutes to be free time so that they could do whatever they wanted as they waited for their parents to pick them up. Mei was done with construction of the building for today, so she took the last couple of minutes to play or assist with the kids. Giving Izumi a much needed break for her aching feet.
It's been a while since she skated, and it was clear. Her movements weren't as sharp, and it was harder to keep up with the kids, her breathing felt as if it was more heavier. She understood the reason why, her life in America during the past years was cruel to her, it was hard to have any free time or time to be active to maintain her figure.
Izumi sighed as she stared at her phone, with the free time she was trying to get caught up to see how ice skating has been developing the last couple years. She had watched a couple videos of competitions that have happened for figure skating during the last couple years, and it honestly wasn't what she was expected. Each performance was beautiful, the music went along with it and what they wore was beautiful. They were missing something, something she couldn't place her finger on. She was shocked by the amount of newcomers that there was, she barely recognized anyone who competed. She had recognized some of the people who were now competing competitively but they were soon to retire. Something she had noticed with a particular group was that they looked like they were fit for each other, the spark were there but it was off, their moves were more mechanical, their expressions could have fooled anyone, but it didn't fool her, they were forced, practice perfectly till it seemed like it was sincere.
"They show motivation.. but not inspiration," Izumi muttered to herself, removing herself from her screen to the now empty building where only one person remained, which was Mei.
"Whatchya doing over there? How's your feet doing also, it's not painful?" Mei grinned, letting her arms rest against Izumi's shoulders.
"It's not too bad, it's just a little sore. Also, I'm just catching up, you know, I have to know what minors like these days," Izumi replied, sighing as she continue, "Honestly, I'm just a bit more disappointed. I was expecting so much more for the time I was gone, but hey, I can't be picky. It's as if I'm watching a movie and they're all just staring at their script as they act. It's all practice, they're not taking it to the heart,"
"Hey, relax, you just got back into skat-," Mei replied, before she was interrupted.
"No, I'm not going back. I'm just briefly helping you," Izumi, retorted, before she closed her eyes and sighed.
"Sorry, temporary help till you get back onto your feet to skate," Mei said, grinning, clearly not giving up her idea.
Izumi sighed, as she quickly glanced back to her phone. She was watching a recent video with two skaters known as Lida and Uraraka, Lida's movements were fast and robotic, yet, he couldn't tell his partner was unable to meet his pace as she struggled to match his speed as she got slightly sick from the amount of moves they had to make in a short period of time. They could have been better if they both were able to understand their traits and struggles from each other.
"Mei?"
"Yeah Izumi?" Mei replied, as she still watched the video playing from Izumi's phone.
"Do you know the difference between being inspired and being motivated?" Izumi asked, as the video moved onto another pair, another one she did not reconginze.
"Aren't they practically the same thing?" Mei responded as she shrugged, grabbing a purse from the corner of the bench and returning back to the original position she was in.
"Kind of, but they are different in a way. Motivation is mainly thought of as helping yourself and inspiration is helping others," Izumi said, shrugging her shoulders in discomfort as Mei's arms were burying down fiercely onto her shoulders.
"Man, are you giving me one of my old man's lecture again," Mei groaned.
"No, no. It just makes me think. Today, I can see everyone is motivated but they forget to inspire others who want to grow. To be inspired is to be selfless and give your dreams up to help others, you want to help others grow. I want to know your opinion about this. Should people be motivated or should people be inspiring?" Izumi said, as she gripped her phone, clearly something was in her mind, but she did not want to say it outloud
Mei studied her and quietly thought to herself, thinking carefully of what words she should give as a response.
"It's difficult to say, I'm going to give an idea where both examples fit. A CEO has worked his entire life, he has given up the idea of family and friends for the sacrifice that his pockets would be full for the remaining amount of years of his life. He has motivated himself, and it shows, he has a hard-working establishment in which he worked to the top all by himself. This shows that he was motivated, he got the life he wanted, and he was content. He didn't need a family, his business is his family. Now the opposing one, inspiration. A teacher who has to work relentless hours per week, pushing themselves to spend endless nights and their own time to give advice back to their students, that's inspiration. Even though they get paid low, they still try hard. All or most just wants to inspire students to try their best, to be the best that they can. That's inspiration," Mei said, glancing back at Izumi for a shift of any emotion before she continued.
"If it's about skating then I'll have to choose motivation, if you want to get to the top, you can only motivate yourself. You have to demolish those in your path, and you have to try the hardest you can to get there. You can't have your feelings get in your way or it will just cause a downfall," Mei said, before she quickly stopped herself.
"I can see where you get that point of view. Could you do me a favor and grab my bag from the locker, it's locked and you have the key to it," Izumi said casting her head down to the wooden floors.
"Yeah sure, you want to come along?" Mei said carefully, examining Izumi's face.
"No, it's okay I'm just going to sit here, and rest my feet, my feet have been hurting and I want to take a quick break before you go,"
"Okay, I'll be back quickly, don't go anywhere, I have this app I want to show you on the way home, and I think you'll like it,"
"Sure, I'll check it out tonight,"
When Mei left, it was quiet and peaceful. Most of the lights have been turned off beside the couple that remain lit. Solitude, had let her collect her thoughts. The solitude make her think.
"If it's about skating then I'll have to choose motivation, if you want to get to the top, you can only motivate yourself. You have to demolish those in your path, and you have to try the hardest you can to get there. You can't have your feelings get in your way or it will just cause a downfall,"
Thank you guys for reading, following, reviewing and leaving a favorite! Honestly I thought I was done with this, but you guys clearly want more and I will have to fulfill it. Let me know what you guys think so far, and what you would like to see! Your comments will definitely shift the story. I promise things will get moving along, it just has to be slow so I can kind of release how she has been for the last couple years.