Pairings: Viktor/Yuuri. Phichit/Tamaki
Warnings: AU Universe. Non-canon. Gender bend. Some character bashing
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroko no Basuke and Yuri on Ice and any of the characters, but the OC characters belongs to me
Chapter Four: Letting Go
Wakamatsu Kosuke stood by the side of the court, his eyes glued to his phone, and ignoring everything around him.
Imayoshi who had been dealing with the Center's fanboy tendencies since last year knew that the blond could really block everything out when he's watching his favourite ice skater on screen. But as Wakamatsu had never let it interfere with his training, even Coach Harasawa had let it be as long as it doesn't distract the rest of the team.
"Watching Kuroko Tamaki again?" Yoshinori Susa asked Wakamatsu with a teasing grin. "You really like her, don't you?"
None of the Touou regulars fail to notice the stiffening that a certain ace is giving on the stage—just lazing around with a basketball, with a large white bandage around his nose and his lower jaw. Honestly, Imayoshi don't even want to know what Aomine has done that is so bad that he had pissed off the most even mannered and gentlest person on the Teiko team to the point that she had slammed her bag into his face.
Not too far from Imayoshi, Sakurai whimpered when he saw the dark aura around Aomine darkening and the dark growl from him.
"It's the Japanese regionals today!" Wakamatsu looked excited—a first for the normally sullen Center. At this point, Imayoshi wouldn't be surprised to find a shrine dedicated to the teal head in Wakamatsu's room, with how obsessed he is over her. He is honestly surprised that the blond didn't ask Kuroko Tamaki for an autograph that day when she'd broken Aomine's nose and dislocated his jaw (that action had probably only endeared Wakamatsu more to her, as he had never liked Aomine starting from day one). "If she makes it to the podium and get gold for singles, she'll get to represent Japan for the Grand Prix! Japan has never made it to the international stage for years now."
A rude scoff coming from Aomine caught Wakamatsu's attention, and he narrowed his eyes, tearing his attention away from the phone in his hand, and glaring at the tanned teen. "You got something to say?" Wakamatsu almost growled.
"She doesn't belong on some skating rink." Sakurai whimpered as Aomine made it sound worse than it already is, and judging by the dangerous growls coming from Wakamatsu, he clearly didn't appreciate the underlying insult to his favourite skater. The timid boy prayed to whatever god that is listening that Wakamatsu wouldn't fly at Aomine and break his nose for the second time that week. "She's just wasting her time out there. She'll just humiliate herself on television and—"
"And clearly, you've never bothered to learn more about your old teammate beyond anything basketball related." Wakamatsu interrupted, his eyes flashing daggers at this insult to his favourite skater.
Thankfully, Aomine had never brought in his other favourite skater in his torrent of insults, or Wakamatsu would likely pull a Kuroko Tamaki and smash Aomine's face in. Though with a basketball this time. Any skating enthusiast who is also a basketball player would know of Kuroko Tamaki's long list of victories in the figure skating world when she had already been participating in the novice competitions since she was six years old.
Thus, the figure skating world was upset and had almost rioted when Kuroko Tamaki had chosen to take an undetermined amount of time off right after her parents' demise. Japan had however understood, and had left her alone save for the condolences for her loss.
Thus, it was a very big relief when it was announced that she would be returning for this season, and using it as her senior debut. Majority were of the opinion that it is most likely Viktor Nikiforov that had dragged her back into figure skating to begin with, as like most young skaters, it is well known that Kuroko Tamaki had also looked up to him since his own debut as a junior. It didn't really help the rumours when it was announced that Viktor Nikiforov had asked Tamaki to be his pair skate partner.
"What?" Aomine growled at Wakamatsu, glaring daggers, but the blond wasn't deterred at the look that had often sent several of the younger Teiko students running back when he was still in middle school. "She can't be that good—it's her first year or something. She should be concentrating on basketball, not wasting her time—"
"Kuroko Tamaki is Japan's top female skater—and had been since she had started competing as a junior!" Wakamatsu cut in, eyes narrowing dangerously. If that bastard says just one more word about Kuroko Tamaki… "She had been skating long before she had even started playing basketball! If you had even bothered to learn more about her outside of indulging in your own self delusions, then you would have known that!"
Kuroko Tamaki had never made it a secret after all—especially back when she had first entered middle school, and a reporter had interviewed her about her debut as a junior skater. Her skating career just never came up much if you just focused on the part about her as a basketball player.
Most probably, Teiko had known about it, but had allowed her to miss classes and practice as much as she has to due to her skating career. In that way, Teiko's motto of 'Always Victory' had helped in her case. At least until Tamaki had ended up stopping for a season right after her parents had died.
"T-Tamaki-chan never said anything about it—" Momoi Satsuki who had been really quiet since her former best friend had broken her childhood friend's nose stuttered, and Wakamatsu felt a flame of annoyance.
He don't know the full story in regards to that famous team and what had happened last year, but he got the general gist of it since he had a younger cousin who is a second stringer in Teiko, and said cousin was really furious in regards to the Inter High finals last year.
It must be really bad if the Akashi Seijuro and Kuroko Tamaki have banned the entire team from returning after the Teiko versus Meiko match and had picked the next batch of regulars themselves instead of following tradition and allowing the current regulars to pick their own successors.
Thus, much like any basketball player who had followed the middle school Inter High matches last year, Wakamatsu doesn't have much love lost for anyone associated with the Generation of Miracles (unless you are the captain and vice-captain). It is also why he had been one of the most vocal when Coach Harasawa and Imayoshi-san have told the team that they would be recruiting the ace of the Generation of Miracles and their manager.
As it is their coach's decision, Wakamatsu had accepted it grudgingly, but from day one, he had already shown that he neither liked nor respected the pair. And if they want his respect, they are going to have to earn it!
"With 'friends' like you, I'm not surprised." Wakamatsu said snidely and sarcastically, and he felt a sense of pleasure upon seeing Momoi hold back tears and a flinch, and Aomine glared at him. "Now shut the fuck up. I want to watch Kuroko Tamaki's senior debut."
XXXXXX
At the home of Yakov Feltsman in St. Petersburg, the old man is currently catching the live broadcast of the Japanese regionals, despite the time differences between Russia and Japan, and he knew that he should really be sleeping right now, or he'll be extremely grumpy the next day.
He could still barely comprehend what he had just seen with Viktor and Kuroko Tamaki's pair skate routine.
When the JSF and Viktor have first contacted him out of the blue months ago with that crazy proposal, Yakov was sceptical. He knew of course that Viktor had been playing about with the idea of pair skating for awhile now, with how much he had been asking the pairs at their home rink about their routines, and how it differs from singles.
He just never imagined that the short vacation to Japan that he'd forced Viktor on to rest right after the Russian Nationals last year would actually lead to him stumbling upon his ideal pair partner.
For despite Viktor's genius skill on the ice, not just anyone could become his pair skate partner. Yakov could attest to that, as he had seen Viktor trying with several of the other female skaters at their home rink who are more than willing to pair up with him, and they just couldn't sync up with him properly, or doesn't understand his mindset, much to Viktor's disappointment.
And here comes an underage Japanese girl whom Viktor just saw skating on a frozen lake by chance whilst on vacation, and he had immediately decided that she is whom he wants as his partner?!
Yakov had of course known about Kuroko Tamaki, currently Japan's top female skater. She had competed against Mila in the Junior Championships more than once since she had debuted as a junior, and Mila had never beaten her once.
It is clear however that Mila had looked up to her, and was beyond pleased when she had heard the confirmed news that Kuroko Tamaki will be competing this season—assuming that she would be sent as Japan's representative to the Grand Prix qualifiers.
Those two were clearly good friends at least, if not friendly rivals, with how Mila had overreacted when she had first seen Viktor having a video call with the teenager. Yakov's ears are still ringing from that loud shriek that Mila had given that had almost caused poor Yuri to lose balance on the ice—trying to master the step sequence that Viktor had just shown him.
Kuroko Tamaki's skating style is really unusual, from what Yakov could tell, and from what Mila could tell him. It is extremely mythical-looking and elegant—resembling a dance of some sort. But as her mother is well known to be a retired dancer, it isn't too surprising if Kuroko Tamaki had learned dancing alongside skating.
(Yakov wonders for a moment if his ex-wife would have known about Kuroko Mayumi)
Most skaters generally learned some form of gymnastics or even dancing as a sideline to improve their skating skills, particularly once they move up to the senior division when they would have to perform more complicated quads, steps, spins and even jumps if they want to aim high for the program components.
Probably, Kuroko Tamaki's unusual skating style is what matches her up so well with Viktor to begin with.
And honestly, Yakov really takes his hat off to the teenager for having the patience to put up with his idiotic student. He knows from personal experience that Viktor isn't the easiest person to get along with, as he had the strangest whims and could act like a child instead of the nearly twenty-two year old man that he is.
Though from the conference calls that Yakov regularly had with Kuroko Tamaki (thank goodness that she spoke Russian as fluently as a native!), and from what he could gather from Viktor and what he would tell to anyone willing to listen, the silver haired skater is extremely fond of the teal head, and looks at her like a little sister.
Young Yuri had even gotten curious enough about Viktor's mysterious Japanese partner, and had gone to the trouble to drag up her past performance videos. Kuroko Tamaki had likely gained a fan in the ten-year-old boy after that, despite Yuri's denials, especially after Mila had caught him reading a Russian translated article about Kuroko Tamaki.
And now, just from the pair skating debut routine that the teal head had with Viktor that had easily clinched them gold on the podium, Yakov could admit to himself that Viktor had picked well. The girl is talented, and it is also clear that she has passion for the sport, and is willing to work hard.
(Anyone who is willing to put in double the extra practice for both singles and pair skating had his respect. And not to mention that the person involved is still a student in high school)
And honestly, Yakov found it very difficult to believe that the teenager had been away from the ice for over a year.
The old coach is now almost eager to see what Kuroko Tamaki is capable of for her singles' short program and the free skate. And he is also almost looking forward to meeting her face-to-face instead of over a video call.
Maybe if she is fortunate enough to get assigned to the Rostelecom Cup for one of her Grand Prix qualifiers, he would get to meet her without waiting until the next winter break when she could get time off from school to head to Russia.
Yakov smiled as he watched the screen where the camera is focused on the female skaters, with the Japanese announcer saying something he can't understand, impatiently waiting for the routines to begin.
He is almost looking forward for the chance to coach Kuroko Tamaki once she'd finished college.
XXXXXX
If it's anything about figure skating tournaments that Tamaki dislikes, it is the game of chance aka the drawings to determine which skater goes first.
And honestly, she has to be really down on her luck that day to having gone first with the pair skating category earlier with Viktor. And now, she is also going first for her solo short program again due to having drawn first!
Is this some kind of karma for having left the ice for well over a year?
By now, it is nearly three in the afternoon, and the stands were slowly filling up with the excited spectators that were fortunate enough to get a ticket. Several of the other skaters who were here as competitors were also present, including the pairs who have already finished their own competitions, and even the male skaters who have just finished their own singles' short programs that had just ended an hour earlier.
From what Hayato could tell Tamaki, as he'd stayed to watch the male singles whilst Nanami had headed to Hall 3 together with her, Katsuki Yuuri had done well enough, considering that this is his senior debut too. But he had came in third for the short program component, as he had unfortunately flubbed some of his jumps due to his nerves acting up again, much to the older teen's disappointment.
Tamaki had high hopes that Yuuri could catch up for the free skate tomorrow however, as the free skate component had always been his strength. And she really hoped that it would be Yuuri who will be standing on the podium tomorrow and representing Japan for the male singles, as it might just be the one thing that can increase his confidence.
"All right there, Tamaki?" Viktor asked from beside Izuki Shuji, both men watching as Tamaki strapped on her skates and double checking that there are no nicks or cracks in the blades and that it is well sharpened. A malfunctioning pair of skates can spell disaster on the ice, especially if you're in the middle of a competition. "Feeling nervous?" The Russian asked, remembering how nervous he had been when he had first skated during his senior debut.
"Strangely enough, no." Tamaki said, looking up at them, and getting to her feet from the chair that she is sitting in.
The murmurs and excited chatter from the crowd sounded almost mute to her ears. She is familiar with this feeling. This is just another competition. And all that she has to do is to entrance the audience, like what Shuji had always said. This is her senior debut after all. And like hell if she'll disappoint all those supporting her and cheering for her!
Tamaki then slipped off her jacket, handing it to Shuji who folded it over his arm. The coach then tsked and checks over her outfit once more, ensuring that there isn't any tears or rips in it that he could see.
Next to Shuji, Viktor's eyes widened when he finally saw the outfit that Tamaki would be wearing for the singles' short program.
Her short program outfit is sleek and figure hugging, with straps over her shoulders. The flared sleeves on the other hand only begin from her biceps and ended at mid-arm, thus allowing some freedom in movement. Much like her pair skate outfit, it had a flared skirt too, only without the slits.
However, instead of the deep wine red of her pair skate outfit, a deep dark blue spreads along her torso, with it fading to a cerulean sky blue from the skirt. A pattern of silver stars decorated the outfit. And under the lights of the arena, her outfit glittered.
Viktor had it right when he had said that this season is a coming-of-age year for her, and also a coming-of-age piece when it comes to their routines.
Tamaki is using this season to end whatever bonds that still existed and still tied her with Teiko and her former teammates. After the regionals, she'll let go. She'll let her cousin cover up any loose ends that still existed—like what he'd been saying that he would do for both of them for well over six months now.
This burden isn't hers to bear, Akashi had argued. He should never have gotten her involved in the drama that is the basketball club to begin with. It is just that back then, he couldn't form a new varsity team alone, and thus, had sought out her help.
None of this should ever have happened to her.
Walk away from basketball completely, Akashi had told her. Shigehiro too. If it is something that had brought her nothing but pain, including the one incident that had almost crippled her for life if not for sheer dumb luck, then walk away from it. No one will fault her for it. Seirin and Rakuzan will topple the Generation of Miracles from their self-delusional thrones, Akashi had told her, with Riko and Kagami saying the same thing.
We'll take down the Generation of Miracles for you, Kagami had swore that night when she had told him everything.
All that I want is for you and Shige to smile again, Akashi had told Tamaki desperately when she was still pondering if she should accept Viktor's request or not. If basketball had brought you both so much pain, then walk away from it. If the ice can heal you both, then return to it.
"Tamaki, good luck!"
Tamaki's head snapped up at the shout, and turned only to see a grinning Hayato next to Nanami and a very embarrassed Katsuki Yuuri in the spectator stands, waving to her. Celestino Cialdini, Yuuri's Italian coach from his college skating club in Detroit who is sitting on his other side looked very amused.
Viktor touched Tamaki's shoulder, a look of concern on his face. "All right there?" he asked quietly, and she nodded. "We've worked on this for months. Remember what I said? When you're out on the ice, your one job is to entrance the audience. Catch their attention. Make them look at you and you only."
Shuji smiled and nodded next to the silver haired man. "He's right, Tamaki," he said encouragingly. "I know what you can do. You can win gold on the podium easily. Show Japan what you've got." One of the organisers who had a clipboard in his hands signalled to them that they're ready to begin, and Shuji sighed before patting Tamaki on the shoulder. "You've come so far. You're ready for the international stage, Tamaki." He murmured. "It's showtime."
I'll leave it all behind with this, Tamaki thought to herself even as she removed her blade guards and handed it to Shuji. Sei. Shige. Viktor. Aunt Yuki. Coach. Kagami-kun and everyone from Seirin. Hayato. Nanami. And Yuuri-kun. You've all been there for me since the beginning. This is for you. After this performance, I'll let go. I'll look forward instead of behind. As for my past, I'll leave it all up to you, Sei.
Her first solo competition in well over a year—and nearly a year since she'd left basketball behind.
She'll let go of her past completely after that.
"First up will be Kuroko Tamaki, 15." The loudspeakers above blared out even as the cheers echoed around the arena. "She will be skating her short program to the song 'Croatian Rhapsody'."
Tamaki take a deep breath before she stepped out onto the ice, skating to the center of the rink amidst the audience's cheers. She bowed to the audience slightly before getting into her starting position.
I'll let go after this. Promise.
Closing her eyes, Tamaki let the music take over her actions.
And then, she skates.
XXXXXX
Get on the live broadcast now.
That was the group message that Akashi had just sent, with a website link attached to it. And Midorima Shintaro had a pretty good feeling he knew who the others in the group message are. For a moment, he is confused, wondering what is possessing Akashi to message them all out of the blue when he'd ignored them since graduation, and had acted quite frosty even before that.
And as for Tamaki—no one had even seen her since graduation.
From the messages and teary calls from Kise, Midorima knew that the airheaded blonde had gone to Seirin where everyone knew is where Tamaki had intended to attend school, but Kise had claimed that she isn't there.
Calls and messages to her phone went unanswered, and as of five months ago, she had cut her line and had apparently changed her number and email address. She had even resigned from the florist's where she had worked, and her aunt refused to let them see her too, stating that Tamaki didn't want to see them.
Clearly, for whatever it is that they had done, Tamaki is still pissed with them.
And much like Akashi, Tamaki can really nurse a grudge.
Midorima furrowed his brows at the weird message that Akashi had sent—cold and curt even for him. But he obliged anyway, since he is currently at home in front of his computer doing his homework and preparations for the upcoming test.
The green head almost choked on his drink when the first thing that he saw on the screen is a certain teal haired former teammate of his.
"…What?"
His phone pinged with another text message. Midorima don't even need to look at the sender's name to know that it's Akashi.
Watch until the end. And know that it is you who had done this.
XXXXXX
Kuroko Tamaki's routines are always full of emotions, and with a story behind.
It is something that every figure skater and skating enthusiast in Japan knew by now. Even several of Tamaki's international fans knew this.
Her theme for this season must be 'farewell' for a reason too.
The starting piano notes for the music starts, sounding from the speakers and echoing around the arena. Yuuri who is seated amongst Hayato, Nanami and even Celestino in the spectator stands had his hands clasped in a prayer motion, inwardly praying for Tamaki to do well, and that she'll get over her grief due to her parents' deaths and whatever that had happened in between the year that had put that cracked glass look in her eyes.
Even as the music begins, the expression in Tamaki's eyes changed, and her movements immediately changed. Yuuri's brown eyes widened when Tamaki moved—he could almost imagine her on the dance floor and not skating in the middle of an ice rink.
Tamaki immediately goes into a complicated footwork, her movements syncing in time together with the music. Light bounces off the sequins sewn on her costume even as she dances across the ice before she moves into a camel spin, soon transitioning it simply into a complicated Biellmann spin.
Next to Yuuri, Celestino sat upright and took notice, his mouth twisting in a grim line, and his eyes are almost sparkling with that of interest. Yuuri recalled during the warm-up when Celestino had mentioned scouting Tamaki once she'd finished her high school education and giving her an invitation to Detroit for further training.
"Something's different about her usual style." Nanami commented, frowning. "This is the first time that we've seen her skate in well over a year, but it has gone from innocent and mythical to well…" Nanami trailed off, a light blush on her face when she recalled the pair skate routine from earlier.
"Enchanting and seductive?" Hayato finished for her, grinning. "She's moving onto the senior division. It isn't surprising if Tamaki wants to change her style up. I did too when I first moved onto the senior division. Tamaki's style—it's gone from child-like to adult. Can't say that I don't like it."
"So you both are saying that it's different before?" Celestino asked suddenly, and Hayato gave a start before looking at the Italian coach and nodded.
"I was her first pair partner, so I know her style remarkably well." Hayato answered, turning his focus back to the rink, linking his fingers together. "Back when she's still competing in juniors, Tamaki's style is more mythical. It makes you want to know what she'll do next. You don't want to look away in case you miss something. But with this…"
"It's enchanting. Seductive." Yuuri said slowly, coming to understand his good friend's thinking and what she had planned for her short program. "It captures your attention. You can't help but want to keep your eyes on her. You want to look at her. You want to know where she'll go next. You want to know what she'll tell you with her dance. It entrances. Seduces. Almost like the sirens of legend."
Celestino smiled. "Then this is going to be good," he commented.
"An Ina Bauer!"
Shuji grinned to himself, trying to calm his beating heart. Next to him, Viktor is almost vibrating in excitement. He had helped Tamaki to choreograph her routines after all.
"That's it, Tamaki." Shuji whispered. "Enchant the audience. Make them keep their eyes on you. Don't let them look away."
"A double toe loop! And a triple flip!"
Tamaki lifted from the ice neatly, with her arm movements moving in accordance with her jumps, and she landed just as neatly on the ice, with her skirt flaring together with her movements. The cheers from the audience almost drowned out the commentator's words.
'The jumps are coming next.' Shuji bit on his lower lip. 'In official competitions, most female figure skaters never had much luck in landing complicated quads due to the complicated footwork. But…' Shuji grinned. 'They've never met Tamaki. She sure likes challenging the 'impossible'.'
Everyone's eyes are now fixated on Tamaki, unable to look anywhere else even as the teal haired skater in the middle of the rink glides in a graceful dance on the ice before taking off into the air.
"A quad-double!"
Tamaki landed back gracefully on the ice, and the cheers grew even louder. She then swiftly moves into a death drop before spinning on the ice neatly into a camel spin, transitioning into a sit spin.
"The second half is coming up." Nanami murmured, her eyes wide, and she couldn't bring herself to look away.
Tamaki moved gracefully onto the ice, and for a moment, Viktor is reminded of the time when Tamaki had to teach him ballroom dancing all over again in preparation for their pair skate routine.
It really feels like she's dancing more than skating.
But yet, it is precisely because of that that you cannot look away.
"A quadruple salchow!"
Yuuri gasped next to Celestino, and the Italian coach quickly counts the number of rotations even as the petite skater rose into the air—one, two, three, four—
"A perfect landing!"
Another camel spin. Yuuri's eyes were wide and full of awe and pride for his friend.
The music is getting more intense, with the notes of the piano and even the guitars and drums growing in intensity, with Tamaki's movements moving together in time with the music. Her movements and choreography on the ice is also equally getting faster and more complicated.
"A triple loop!"
"Nice!" Shuji grinned.
"An outside spread eagle before transitioning into an Ina Bauer!"
"That's it." Viktor whispered. "Become the music, Tamaki."
Celestino felt his heart almost leaping to his throat even as his eyes were wide opened with excitement. He hasn't seen a female figure skater challenge the normal traditions like this before. Most female figure skaters weren't able to land complicated quads and jumps. It isn't impossible—it just takes a very long time and long hours of practice. But most just never do as it takes an extreme drain on their stamina, and most females never had the stamina of their male counterparts to do the complicated moves.
How long must the teal head be practicing if she can land all these perfectly?
The music rose in intensity—with the violins and the piano singing together with intensity. They are fast approaching the climax.
Tamaki goes into one last combination: another camel spin that elegantly transitions into a Biellmann spin.
Her movements are clean and elegant and moving in an almost seductive dance, with her movements ending in perfect sync with the music.
The sequins on her costume sparkled like stars in the night sky as Tamaki struggled to catch back her breath. Yuuri then realised what her costume is meant to represent. Of the skies. Of goodbyes.
All was silent for several moments. And then, almost like there is some invisible signal, the stands erupted—all of them erupted with boisterous applause and cheers.
"What a performance! A perfect comeback after a break for a year!"
Tamaki breathed in deeply, taking in the cheers and applause before she bowed. It's been a long time since she had been in a competition like this, and she found that she had almost missed the thrill of successfully completing a program like this.
She then moved across the ice towards the rink where a smiling Shuji and Viktor were waiting, both of them clapping alongside the rest of the audience. If her eyes aren't failing her, she is certain that she had seen Hayato, Nanami as well as Yuuri amongst the audience too.
"How did I do?" Tamaki asked breathlessly, her eyes wide.
"I think you aced it." Shuji answered, and Viktor nodded with agreement. "I didn't think that you could really manage to land all those quads perfectly, but you did. Chin up and look sharp, Tamaki. You might have just broken all records for female figure skating scores in Japan."
"They're announcing the scores." Viktor said suddenly, and Tamaki's attention turned towards the electronic scoreboard where the score is appearing.
"86.98! A new personal best!" The commentator exclaims, and the crowd went wild again even as Shuji grabbed Tamaki in an elated hug, a grin on his face.
"Damn, she's good." Celestino commented, impressed even as he stared at the scoreboard. "I won't be surprised if she end up representing Japan for the Grand Prix series during her senior debut year. I can understand why the JSF emailed me about her, and why Viktor Nikiforov of all people asks her to be his partner."
"Tamaki likes challenging the impossible." Hayato commented with a grin, eyeing his old partner who is currently getting the life squeezed out of her by an ecstatic Viktor Nikiforov. "She's always been that way."
Yuuri smiled to himself, feeling a competitive flame surged in him. "Then we have to work hard too, don't we?" he commented. 'It'll be nice if we could both manage to be the representatives for Japan for the Grand Prix this year.'
A/N: I had a really difficult time churning out this chapter due to the moves that I am brainstorming over. So I got reviews that mentioned female figure skaters can't do complicated quads. But like with my Princess of Miracles' series, if a girl can play with the legendary team of male basketball players, then why can't female figure skaters perform complicated quads that their male counterparts could?
I hope you like the point of view from Yakov, and originally, I was going to have Takao and Midorima make an appearance here (with Takao being a fan of Tamaki the skater), but as I already have Izuki and Wakamatsu as skating fans, it might be a bit too much to have Takao as well.
I'm glad that you've enjoyed the scene of Aomine getting his face whacked by Tamaki. Haha! I honestly have no idea how I'm going to redeem the Generation of Miracles, or even if I want to. Remember that Akashi and Tamaki are both royally pissed off here because Shigehiro is their childhood friend here, and their only friend until they entered Teiko.
I've made some decisions regarding the Yuri on Ice cast, and as for what I've gotten planned for the Sochi GPF, you just have to wait and see! The canon for Yuri on Ice won't begin for several chapters, as I'll be covering Tamaki's education in Detroit, and even her meeting and romance development with Phichit. There will most likely be a time skip after the current tournament, as I'll likely not cover the Grand Prix qualifiers for Tamaki—skipping ahead to the Rostelecom Cup or even the Grand Prix finals.
Honestly, I'm still wondering if I should let her win gold.
(Yes, I know Yuri won gold at his first GPF and senior debut, but even I feel that his win is really way out there as compared to all his fellow competitors who have years of experience on him)
Also, let's just say that Tamaki and Seirin will be heading to a certain hot springs town next chapter (if I could squeeze it in). Three guesses which?
I swear that I've been updating this story every two days since I've first started it, but I doubt that you peeps are complaining! Anyway, I hope that you like this chapter, and please read and review! Reviews give me inspiration to update!