Fact of the Chapter: There are six types of jumps, today I will briefly explain two of them, the flip (Vity's signature quad) and the lutz (Chris' signature quad). The flip and the lutz are very similar, in fact, there is only one difference between them: the edge of the take-off. This might not make much sense, if you don't know much about figure skating, but imagine this. Your skate has to touch the ice before you jump into the air. For a flip and a lutz, the way you jump, is by tapping one of your feet into the ice to gain momentum. The edge of your non-tapping skate will have to be on an inside edge for a flip, and an outside edge for a lutz. Should a skater take off on an inside edge for a lutz, the jump is dubbed a flutz and only receives 80% of it's point value as well as negative goe. An outside take-off for a flip is dubbed a lip. The consequences being the same.
That was a handful but I promise this bit will be quite important in the future.
"You want to take a quad out of your program?" Yakov isn't so much yelling as he is just bursting out pure confusion.
"Yeah," is the intelligible answer Viktor gives him as he glides over the ice, running through his short program step sequence at half speed.
"Why?" Yakov is still utterly confused. It's a fair reaction seeing as Viktor was the one to push for both three and four quads back when it was still uncharted territory. "Europeans is next, and you can't rely on Yura screwing up again like he did at nationals. Not to mention Giacometti, who you of all people should know only gets better as the season goes on. Crispino has been improving steadily as well. Don't forget that he was a Grand Prix Finalist last season. And while Nekola might not have the most refined programs, the boy still has four quads! And you want to compete with a one quad layout? I'm not even sure you can win if the others make mistakes!"
"You make it sound like the world will end if I don't win," Viktor smiles. He's still very focused on this step sequence. He'd lost a level on it at nationals because he had rushed through it. He's determined not to make the same mistake again.
"You don't want to win?" Yakov is now sounding like he's trying to understand what is going on inside Viktor's head. Not the best move.
"Of course I want to win. There is no point in coming back to a competitive sport if you don't want to win. But I have something else I want to do too."
"And that something is having a one-quad layout like when you were eighteen?"
"If you want to look at it like that."
"How else am I supposed to look at it when you're not telling me why you want to do this? I am not opposed to you lowering your technical content when you just came back to competition, hell, I had a whole lecture prepared as to why I thought you should only do three quads, but this I don't understand."
"Ah, but I'm gonna have two quads in the short program," Viktor says as if it will make the entire situation okay, "I think the short is best if I have two quads."
"I give up," Yakov sighs, "Give me a run down of your planned content and then we'll work from there. If this is your plan, you have no excuses if you don't make the best of it."
"Yes, coach," Viktor says and skates up to Yakov who is holding out a pen and some paper for Viktor to write down the new jump layout.
"Now then," Yakov says sternly, back in full-coach mode now that he's accepted Viktor's little stunt, "Let's practice that triple loop you had so much trouble with at Nationals."
Viktor groans. He hates the loop.
Viktor comes home to the kitchen smelling like chicken and thyme. Usually Viktor is home before Yuuri starts preparing dinner, but practice had dragged out and Yakov had kept Viktor for a little longer, just to make extra sure he understood what only having one quad in the free meant.
"You're late," Yuuri says from the kitchen. Viktor is still in the hallway getting kisses from Makkachin, "I assume you told Yakov about your jump layout."
"Yeah," Viktor says, when Makkachin finally calms down, and makes his way to the kitchen, "He didn't really get it."
"Did you explain why?" Yuuri looks at Viktor accusingly. He knows him too well.
"I mean..."
"You're hopeless," Yuuri shakes his head and Viktor hugs him from behind as he plants a kiss on Yuuri's cheek.
"Hopelessly in love."
They put away the dishes and decide to wash them later in favor of cuddling on the couch first. They don't actually get to spend a lot of time together with both of them competing. Whatever time they can get together, they'll take.
"I wish I could go with you to Ostrava," Yuuri says. He's resting his head on Viktor's shoulder, while Viktor is combing his fingers soothingly through his hair.
"You'll lose too much practice time," Viktor says like he has done so many times, "Four Continents is next month."
"I know," Yuuri sighs, "At least I get to take you with me then."
"Of course. I have coach privileges now."
"Mmm~ Let's go on a date before the competition starts."
"For Valentines?" Viktor asks. He knows Japan and Russia has different traditions for that particular holiday, so he decides to just follow Yuuri in this.
"It will be fun. Something to take my mind off of the competition."
"I see," Viktor says thoughtfully, "So we go on dates to distract you from competitions. What shall we do when you retire?"
"Well according to you I shouldn't ever retire, so it should work out fine," Yuuri smiles, "Or maybe you could just start asking me out on dates and it would solve the problem."
"I haven't actually done that, have I?"
"No you always wanted to skip the date part and go straight to the bedroom fun."
"I'm a bad boyfriend," Viktor fake sighs.
"That's okay," Yuuri says and leans up for a kiss, "You're a great fiancé."
Yuuri accompanies Viktor and the other Russians to the airport. He says his goodbyes to everyone before he gives Viktor a hug and a thousand goodbye kisses.
"I'll be cheering for you," Yuuri says between kisses, "But if you break my world record, I'll be mad."
"Is that so?" Viktor steals another kiss, "I'll be careful then."
"You can take Yurio's though," Yuuri says loud enough for Yurio to overhear, "I don't think he needs it."
"Oi! I'm coming for the last two records, Katsudon! Don't be sad when I beat your stupid fiancé and claim another one of his titles."
"Davai!" Yuuri says and gives him a thumbs up. Yurio turns his back.
"I think you made the kitty mad."
"Why would you think that?" Yuuri laughs.
They kiss goodbye until it's time for Viktor to leave.
Viktor spends half of the plane ride sleeping and the other half reading one of the books he's taken with him. It's an old favorite of his. A romance novel set in a world that seems like a fairy tale. Viktor has always liked it, but he thinks that now that he's in love, truly in love, he can understand the protagonist's feelings even better. Viktor starts playing with the idea of cooperating the story of the book into an exhibition piece.
They land in Ostrava late in the afternoon. It's about enough time for them to get settled in their hotel and then eat some dinner. Team Yakov go out together, but Viktor honestly doesn't follow the conversation much.
"I know you're incapable of functioning without Yuuri, but you don't have to ignore us," Mila says as she pokes his arm, "What are you doing anyway?"
"Normal adult stuff," Viktor says. He's on his phone. Texting Yuuri.
"Ew. Gross," Yurio says. Viktor weighs the pros and cons of making a sex joke. Before he gets to decide Mila snatches his phone.
"You're texting Yuuri!" She says as she goes through the last couple of messages, "It hasn't even been a day!"
"I miss him!" Viktor explains. Mila won't understand. Mila's not in love.
"Look! Even Yuuri is telling you to socialize with us," Mila waves the phone in front of him as if he's unaware of what Yuuri has been telling him for the past ten minutes, "I'm taking your phone," Mila decides as if she doesn't already have it and puts it in her bra.
"So what were we talking about?" Viktor asks.
"Predictions for the women," Georgi explains, "Mila insists this will be her year."
"And it will! Mark my words, in a weeks time, you'll be looking at the European Champion."
"You're right," Yurio says unexpectedly, "I'll be sure to congratulate the Crispino girl."
Mila throws a piece of bread and Yakov intervenes for the first time since dinner started. Or maybe Viktor had just not noticed it before.
"Regardless of Mila's placement," Georgi tells Viktor, "I'll beat you this time." The table has gotten rowdy, so it's just the two of them having this conversation now.
"Yakov only went along with your one-quad insanity because you're stubborn, but I don't trust it. You can't win with that. Not in this day and age."
"Comes from the person who can only do two kinds of quads," Viktor teases. He means nothing by it. The two of them have known each other for many years.
"A good salchow is better than a half-assed flip. You've barely been able to land it in the second half, and now you're taking a page from Yuuri's book and putting it as the last jump? Love has made you dumb."
"On the contrary, love has opened my eyes," Viktor says wistfully, "Besides, I don't want to hear that sort of thing from a guy who dedicated an entire season to his ex."
"I'll still beat you," Georgi says, "Maybe you won't even get on the podium. Yura and Giacometti could stand on the podium with me."
"Maybe," Viktor smiles, "Or maybe not." Viktor has a plan, and he's going to go through with that plan.
They have four days in Ostrava before the men's competition starts. Viktor spends the evening before the competition doing some light sightseeing. He has always enjoyed travelling and experiencing new cultures. Although it is hard to really experience a new country when you are there to compete. He goes to an art museum and a shopping mall, where he gets both food and a nice present for Yuuri (It's a cute beanie because Yurio had "burrowed" the one with cat ears that Yuuri had taken with him to St. Petersburg, and kept "forgetting" to give it back.)
The rest of the time is spend practicing between the events and resting in his hotel room.
You should go out with the others. Yuuri had texted him on the second night. Viktor knows he should, but he doesn't really have the energy to socialize. He always finds himself cornered by journalists whenever he goes to the arena, and some enthusiastic fans when he goes outside. He needs the space he can get. He'll ask if Chris wants to go somewhere after the free program, but right now they're both focused on the competition ahead.
On the third day of the European Championships the men's competition starts. Viktor is in the last group along with pretty much the only skaters in the competition he's ever had a proper conversation with: Yurio and Georgi are obviously there, Chris too. Then there is the Crispino twin (without his sister surprisingly) and Emil Nekola.
Yurio is up first. Despite having broken a world record with this piece, Yurio is still trying to improve. His edges have become sharper since the Finals, and Viktor is sure he'll see a visible improvement in his skating skills. It's almost flawless until he doubles the last part of his combination, which throws him off slightly on his final spin. But those are all small details and Viktor is sure he'll still end up with a monster score.
Viktor is up last, and watches the competition as it goes on. He understands that with how he has planned his free skate he needs to finish the short program in first place to have a chance of gold. When it's his turn, the top three are Yurio in first place, Chris in second less than half a point behind and Michele in third trailing Chris by about four points. The competition is tight, and mistakes have been minimal. The pressure is on.
"Next skater representing Russia: Viktor Nikiforov!" The announcer says and Viktor greets the audience as he makes it to the center of the ice. He takes a deep breath and gets into his starting position. The crowd slowly grows silent and the music starts.
The program is very carefully crafted. When Viktor performed it at the Russian nationals it was far from complete and his goal had been to enhance the music and give a beautiful performance. The choreography has changed slightly since then.
If you had to describe what kind of feeling Japan exhibits, what would you say? Viktor had asked Yuuri one day. Strong and Elegant, Yuuri had said. Viktor understood. This was what Viktor needed to show. At Nationals he had shown the elegance, this time he would show the strength too.
The program opens up with his favorite jump: The quad flip. The jump blends in beautifully with the choreography and he uses the loud response from the audience when he lands it to go into his combination: a quad toe immediately followed by a double toe with his arms raised. Another round of deafening applause. The music can barely be heard. He transitions into the first spin, never pausing to allow the audience to relax.
The program enters the second half and he can feel himself getting tired. He enters the triple axel from a backcounter, and amongst the cheers that follow, Viktor can hear Yakov cheering him on too. Another spin and he moves onto the step sequence. When making this step sequence, Viktor had studied Yuuri. Used his free days and evenings and whatever time he could find to watch Yuuri's old programs, his old exhibitions, everything available on the internet. He had studied him, learned from him, drawn inspiration from him and the way he made music with his body. Anyone could appreciate this step sequence, but Viktor thinks Yuuri will be the only one to understand it.
When Viktor enters the final spin, the audience is already on their feet and the applause has completely drowned out the music. Viktor takes his ending position, keeps still for a second and bows to the audience as the flowers and plushies rain down around him.
He is exhausted. He can feel the adrenalin already starting to leave his body and he carefully maneuvers around all the gifts - picking up a few things along the way - and takes to the Kiss & Cry with Yakov.
"You'll go into the lead," Yakov says before the scores are up. They are still replaying his jumps on the monitor, "If you put in the Lutz instead of the Toe at Worlds, you could take back your world record." Leave it to Yakov to always come up with something to change even if you have a flawless skate.
"Well, let's see what the scores are before we think of making any changes," Viktor says and positions his Makkachin tissue holder on his lap so it's facing the camera in front of them. When he sees his face appear on the monitor he smiles wide and takes Makkachin's paw to wave at the audience. Then the announcer speaks again.
"Viktor Nikiforov's short program score is..." Viktor holds his breath. There is only one number he wants to hear, "115.35." And he gets it. The applause bursts out once again, but Viktor doesn't think they've noticed what he's done.
"Vitya..." Yakov says beside him. Viktor can tell he's in shock. He's figured it out. Viktor didn't just go almost five points into the lead. He maxed out his score.
The program was carefully crafted. Viktor had chosen his best jumps, positioned them where he knew he had the energy to perform them perfectly. Every stroke of his blade, every edge, arm movement and facial expression was carefully chosen to get this result. A perfect result. Skaters with a difficult jump layout often had to sacrifice other elements of the program, but Viktor was determined to show that this sport was still about the whole package and not just the flashy jumps. All of his elements had gotten the highest grade of execution available. All his program components had been awarded an astounding 10 across the board. A perfect program.
"Is this why you only have one quad in the free?" Yakov asks, slowly realizing what Viktor is aiming for.
"Yes," Viktor says. Tomorrow he'll skate a perfect free program.
There is a press conference after the short program for the three leaders. Viktor gets asked what he thinks about his scores and he simply says that he's happy that he's still competitive after some time off. He sees Chris eye him as he answers, but looks away when a reporter directs a question towards him.
"A perfect score!" Chris corners him after the press conference, "You don't know how to do anything halfway, do you?"
"It's how you stay on top," Viktor answers and is about to congratulate Chris on setting a new season's best, but he doesn't get a chance before Chris is speaking again.
"But don't think I'll let you stay on top. I'll surpass both you and little Yuri in the free!"
"I'll cheer for you," Viktor responds. He wouldn't mind losing to Chris. He would prefer winning, but if he had to lose to someone, he'd choose Chris.
"I swear, if I win, don't bring up Bern. I know you were just thinking about it."
"You have no way to prove that," Viktor accuses. Chris was right though.
"As your best friend I have earned the ability to read your mind," Chris states in a matter-of-fact, "You need to let it go."
"If we swap medals, I will," Viktor teases. As much as the circumstances of Bern deeply annoys Viktor, it was the competition where he and Chris had become friends, so maybe it hadn't been that bad after all.
"Oh my God. You're such a drama queen."
"I learned from the best," Viktor laughs. They go back to the hotel together, skillfully dodging reporters as they go.
What happened in Bern? Yuuri asks later that evening. They're texting because Yakov has forbidden phone calls and Viktor is scared of his super hearing. Especially when their rooms are right next to each other.
Who told you about Bern? Viktor knows it must have been Chris.
Chris texted me saying that I should make you shut up about it. Of course he did.
Bern refers to Europeans in 2011. Viktor explains. He may or may not be dodging the question, because Yuuri will definitely be siding with Chris on this one. Yuuri never misses an opportunity to poke fun at Viktor.
I figured as much, but I assume something happened that no one knows about? Did you sleep with Chris?
You think Chris would want me to shut up about that?
Maybe you were really bad at it and he wants to erase it from memory? Viktor pictures Yuuri's cheeky grin as he reads the message.
Rude Yuuri! Rude! (ᗒᗩᗕ)
No but really, what did you do? Yuuri is annoyingly good at staying on topic.
I won.
Obviously I know that too.
Yeah but I shouldn't have won.
? What?
The judging panel didn't call out the edge change on my lutz. If they had I wouldn't have won.
And Chris would have taken second… I see.
So basically you're upset that you won, because it wasn't fair.
Not only that but it was in Chris' home country! He should have won, but he didn't! Outrageous!
I can see why Chris wants you to let it go.
Noooo, Yuuriiiii! Don't take his side! (●´⌓`●)
It's been six years, Viktor, let it go.
Everyone is so mean to me. I just want justice.
Sure thing, sweety. Goodnight xxx
Goodnight, my love, I'll bring home gold for you to kiss xxx
Viktor wakes up early the next day and goes on a morning jog. He picks up a cup of green tea (Yuuri's favourite) on his way back to the hotel, does some light yoga while his free program music plays on a loop and takes a brisk shower. He joins the others for breakfast a little late and eats a light meal. Yakov makes a brief comment about how he should eat more food, but he knows that Viktor never eats a lot on a competition day.
Mila never comes down for breakfast. Her competition ended the day before and Viktor knows she's going to sleep until the first event of the day starts. Mila had gotten bronze and come to Viktor afterwards. Teach me the triple axel, she had said. Yakov had said no. Viktor had said yes. He'd teach her when they get back to Russia. But before Viktor can teach anyone anything, he needs to skate a perfect free program.
When the men's competition starts, Viktor doesn't follow the competition like he did the short program. He stays in the warm-up area, headphones in, volume up, ignoring everything around him. He knows most of them do this. Yakov gives him a sign when there are about five minutes left until the last group get to begin their six minute warm up, and Viktor puts on the music for his free skate again, and goes through it one last time.
An official enters the warm-up area when it's time for them to get ready, and the skaters slowly move out. It's the same six people in the last group as yesterday, the only difference is the order. Chris is first, Yurio is last. Viktor goes fourth.
When the warm-up is over, all the skaters, except for Chris, go back to the warm-up area to wait their turn. Viktor puts his headphones back in, determined not to let the other scores get to him. He watches as the the other skaters are called out one after the other until it's just him, Yuri and Crispino left. Viktor takes a deep breath and readies himself as Yakov gestures that it's time.
Emil is finishing up his program as Viktor enters the arena. All eyes are on him as he readies for his last jump. Viktor closes his eyes. He doesn't need to see. Yakov taps his shoulder when the program is over, and Viktor takes to the ice before all the flowers have been picked up. He tunes out the noise as he jumps a couple of triples, skates up to Yakov for some last second advice which turns out to just be don't mess up and with a rather firm slap on the back, Viktor greets the audience as his name is called.
The free program feels shorter than the actual short program. Viktor let's the music carry him through. He thinks of Yuuri and all the things he has taught him, and let's that be his guide. He finishes the program feeling less tired than he thought he would. Probably the magic of only having one quad even if it was the last jump. When Viktor had finished the short he was almost certain he had achieved the perfect program. This time he isn't so sure. He seemed to have more or less blanked out in the middle of the it, and while he knows that's good for his component scores (he's been in this situation many times before), he knows he has a tendency to rush the step sequence. He hopes today wasn't one of those days.
He picks up a cute plushie of a chibi Yuuri and makes his way to the Kiss & Cry. He doesn't know what the standings are, but he figures either Yakov will tell him or he'll ask Chris when they get to the green room.
Waiting for his scores seems to take a longer time than skating the program and Viktor hugs his Yuuri plushie tight for good luck. Finally the scores come. 206.61. Another perfect pcs. The 100 looks really good, but it's not as good as the short program. He's about four points away from the best score he could get and he's willing to bet all his money on having lost a level on the step sequence, but where he lost the rest of the points, he doesn't know. However, this is the price he has to pay for having had these programs for less than two months. His body hasn't memorized them well enough yet. But he can go over the faults later. For now he'll celebrate another perfect component score.
That doesn't mean that Viktor doesn't notice the '2' beside his total score.
Viktor joins Chris and Georgi in the green room. Only the top three are allowed here, and he seems to be replacing Emil Nekola who gives him a fistbump on the way out.
"So which one of you is beating me?" Viktor asks. They had both said they would beat him this time around, but it seems that only one of them will get the pleasure.
"That would be me, mon amie," Chris say and gestures for Viktor to come sit beside him, "I told you I would win."
"There are still two skaters left," Viktor points out, "Don't get cocky." Viktor is still hugging the Yuuri plushie and he sees Chris mouth cute to Georgi, who just rolls his eyes.
"You flutzed," Chris says, "It's been a couple of years since you did that last, and on a triple no less. I'm disappointed."
"The lutz isn't my jump," Viktor explains, but now he understands where he lost some points.
"Someone who can jump a quad lutz doesn't get to says that it's not 'my jump'," Georgi intervenes and Viktor immaturely just sticks his tongue out.
They get distracted when Michele finishes his program, and when the camera in front of them goes off, they all wave and blow kisses. Michele takes third and switches place with Georgi.
"Why is little Yuri always last to skate?" Chris sighs, "He is good enough to overtake us both, but he's also pretty inconsistent. Anything could happen."
"If he nails his quad combo I think he wins," Viktor says, if he was holding the real Yuuri, he would no longer be breathing.
Yurio does not, in fact, nail his quad combo. He pops it, has a couple of wobbly landings, but no falls. Viktor is pretty sure him and Chris are guaranteed for first and second.
Yurio ends up with bronze, only a point clear of Michele and he seems quite dissatisfied.
The medal ceremony takes place almost immediately afterwards and then comes then press conference. Viktor forgot what it was like to not win. Most of the questions are directed at Chris, which gives Viktor a chance to just sit back and not keep his brain in fifth gear, trying to think up the best replies to every single plausible question they could ask him. The most interesting question he gets is how he feels about his first silver in roughly six years. He says that he's satisfied with the result, but will work hard to win at Worlds in two months.
Even though it's late, Viktor goes through with his promise to himself and asks Chris to join him for dinner. He gladly accepts, but they somehow end up dragging most of the skaters they know with them. It reminds Viktor a lot of night in Barcelona, and once again he wishes that Yuuri was here.
Chris does a good job of keeping Viktor from everyone else and they end up having their own private conversation at their end of the table. Viktor always forgets how easy Chris is to talk to, especially during competitions. The two of them are highly competitive and during a competition they can easily seem a little hostile towards each other, but when the competition ends, they revert back to simply being best friends.
"You should come visit us in the summer," Viktor says when the night is drawing to a close.
"Of course. I hope Yuuri has transformed your bleak apartment into something a little more cozy."
Viktor laughs: "I think you'll be surprised at the changes actually."
"I look forward to it."
Yuuri meets them at the airport, and Viktor jumps at him as soon as he can.
"I missed you," Viktor says, hugging Yuuri tight.
"I missed you too."
"How was practice with Lilia?"
"She killed me at least twice."
This makes Viktor giggle: "So not too bad then? When I did ballet with her, I'm pretty sure she killed me at least twice a day."
Yuuri laughs. Viktor has missed Yuuri's laugh.
They finally let go of each other (still holding hands though! The hand holding is very important), and maneuver their way through the airport. They take a cab home.
"I invited Chris over in the summer," Viktor mentions before he forgets.
"Maybe I should kiss his medal then," Yuuri teases. Viktor wants to act offended, but all he can do is smile and lean his head on Yuuri's shoulder.
"Rude," Viktor says with a smile.
"At least now we match," Yuuri points out and squeezes Viktor's hand, "But you better get used to the silver. I'm winning Worlds."
Viktor looks up at Yuuri and, if possible, smiles even wider, "I'm sure you will, but you should set your eyes on Four Continents first."
"Don't worry gorgeous," Yuuri says and kisses his forehead, "I'll win that too."
1) For anyone interested in Viktor's jump layouts they were as follows:
SP: 4F, 4T+2T / 3A - Maximum score available: 115.35
FS: 3Lz + 3T, 3Lz 3Lo, 3F / 3A+2T+2T, 3S+3Lo, 2A, 4F - Maximum score available: 209.03
2) Popping a jump. This term refers to when the skater makes less rotations than what they intended. Let's say they try to jump a quad, but the end up doing a double instead. We call that a pop. (This was talked about in the anime, but I don't remember if they used the term 'pop')
3) Mila wanting to do a triple axel is pretty crazy. Only nine (I think) women have ever landed a triple axel in competition, and of those only two skaters, Mirai Nagasu (USA) and Rika Kihara (JPN), is currently attempting it in competition.