"Ani, show me what you're going to do during the Hot Springs on Ice," Victor says, skating over to her.
"It's the history makers routine," Ani says. "You know the song," she skates to the center of the rink, and gets into her starting position. The music begins to play and she starts to skate.
"Oi Victor, are you going to help us with the last minute refinement?" Yurio asks.
Victor puts a finger to his lips, and points at Ani who had just landed a quadruple salchow, and was in a camel spin. She goes for victor's signature move, a quadruple flip, and it's preceded by a triple toe loop and lutz.
"Her last jump is coming up," Victor whispers. "She's always been the most determined to land this one." Ani goes from a spread eagle into a triple axel, and lands it. She then finishes it with a flying sit spin, and with a hand on her heart, she extends the other hand towards the three.
They all clap enthusiastically, "wow Ani," Yurio says. "You're a gutsy skater."
"You're amazing," Yuri says. "Flawless."
"Wow! That was so amazing!" Yuko squeals as her daughters video and take photos.
Victor claps with a smile on his face, "Ani you've most certainly grown in the past couple of months."
"Thank you," she smiles.
Victor skates out to her, "yuko chan, any chance your daughters can post an exhibition video of us skating for the Hot Springs on ice?"
"We're on it!" The trip exclaims, "the skating otaku will love it!"
"Victor," she looks uncomfortable, "I don't really like pair skating. You know this right?"
"Just follow my lead," he smiles at her. "Okay?" The music starts, and he takes her hand. They do a synchronized quad salchow, but Ani falls hard with a yelp, "Ani! Are you okay?"
"Victor I fell," she says, getting up, "that's normal."
"Roll up you sleeves."
"What? Why?" She asks confused.
"I want to see your arms," he says, crossing his, "you fall and bruise easily."
"Fine," she rolls up the sleeves of her jacket, revealing a large bruise near her elbow.
"You tried to do the quadruple axel again," he notes. "That's a pretty hard jump to land."
"No one's ever landed it," she says. "I want to be the first."
"Ani why do you always push yourself?" He asks, "you don't have to juggle everything you do."
"Because I'm not you Victor!" She yells at him, "I'm not a living legend, I can do everything you can, but I'm still seen as just your little sister! I never wanted to be seen as that," she sighs. "Everyone would always come up to me at school to talk about you! Mom got me into skating because she wanted another you! That's why I push myself. Because I'm not you Victor!"
Her voice cracks as tears stream down her face, "I'm Ani," her voice quiets down, "your little sister and number one fan. I'm those things, but not just them."
Victor's eyes are wide as he sees Ani break down in front of him, realizing all of the signs he missed when they were younger. He steps forward, and pulls her into a hug, "Ani I know this," he replies, resting his head on top of hers as she cries into his chest. "You were never me. You were always your own person."
"13," she responds, closing her eyes. "That was the first time."
"I know."
"Anika why can't you be more like Victor?"
"Well, Mom I'm sorry I can't be a living legend," she responds, rolling her eyes, "I'm actually trying to focus on my education."
"He's coming home today," she says. "He told me that he wanted to see your new free skate program."
"Well tell your precious Vitya that he's going to have to wait," Ani responds, "I have a big chem test tomorrow."
"So you're skipping practice again?" She sighs.
"I switched to morning sessions," Ani explains. "Dance practice at night 3 times a week."
"You used dance everyday," she says. "Vitya practices much more than you."
Ani slams her hands down on the table, "well your precious Vitya isn't in school like me!"
"Anika! Don't raise your voice at your mother!" She scolds.
Ani scoffs, "I'm going out." She grabs her bag, and walks out the door.
"Anika! Don't walk away from me!"
"Mom, why are you screaming at Ani?"
She turns around to see Victor standing in the doorway, "nothing. Just an argument," she responds. "I still don't understand why you call by the name."
"It's cute," he smiles. "In complete honesty, I absolutely adore Ani. I prefer her over my ex."
"I don't know what's been up with your sister lately," she sighs. "I know she loves skating, but she isn't focused enough."
"Is it possibly because she's studying?" Victor asks, "that's probably my doing."
"What do you mean?"
"I encourage Ani to follow her heart," he says. "I also encourage her to do well in school because I know there might be a slight chance in which she doesn't go professional with skating like Yuri has already done."
"You're a good older brother," she says.
Suddenly she starts to violently cough, "mom!" Victor runs to her side, "get some rest I'll find her."
He walks out, and seems to have a place in mind, "oh look it's Anika!" Victor hears a mocking tone, and sees 2 boys and girl surrounding her, "sister of the living legend."
"What do you want?" She asks, bored, "I have stuff to do."
"Ah yes the neighborhood nerd," the girl sneers, tossing Ani's hair, "I don't understand why you can't fix yourself up a little. I mean you barely look like Victor, and he's hot."
"Hmm, I maybe the neighborhood nerd, but at least I don't have to sleep with my teachers to pass," she retorts.
Suddenly the girl slaps her, knocking Ani's glasses off her face, "you should really shut up sometimes." She lunges at Ani, and is soon knocked back by a kick to the gut.
"Huh," Ani says, looking at the girl hunched over, "I suggest you take your own advice."
The other two charge at her, but Ani ducks under one punch, takes his arm and throws him into the other. She then goes to pick up her glasses and her bag, then walks off.
Victor quietly follows her, and she heads to the library. She heads to the top, and onto the roof, "what is she doing?" Victor asks himself.
Ani takes off her backpack and puts it down. She climbs onto the ledge, and looks down, "one step and it will all be over. Just one step. The taunts, the scoldings, everything." A tear drops down her face and she chuckles, "sorry Victor. You were just starting to regain my love."
Her foot is over the ledge, and Victor jumps out from his hiding spot, "Ani stop!"
"Victor?" Both feet are back safely on the ledge, "what are you doing here?!"
"Ani please don't jump," Victor says, walking towards her, "you have so much to live for."
"Like what?! Do you know how hard it is to be your little sister? The pressure, the stress! I want it to end," she screams. "Being constantly compared to you, by my peers, and even my own mother!"
"Who cares?!" He yells back, "you told me you'd always be my number one fan! Well guess what? I'm yours Ani! I don't care if you follow me, I just want to you to be happy, and with me!"
"You're my number one fan? Despite everything?"
"Yes," he sighs. "Please, I want you to be my little sister forever."
Tears streams down her face, and she jumps off the ledge and into his arms, "I'm so sorry!" She sobs, "I'm so sorry!"
"Shh," he smiles, reassuringly, and pats her back, "it's okay. I'm here for you and always will be."
"Mother died the next week didn't she?" Ani asks.
"Then I got full custody over Auntie," Victor explains. "Ani I can't go through another scare like that. Please," he says, looking at her in the eyes, "promise me you'll be strong."
"I promise."
