How's it going folks? I hope you had an amazing weekend, because I certainly didn't.

Sorry for delay. I wasn't feeling well these past few days but now I'm okay and back in a game.

Woah, unintentional rhyming. Maybe I should lay down...

To be honest, I worked my behind (gotta keep it censored) off writing this chapter. Since I already reached anime, I'm trying to keep all events and conversations that have nothing to do with my OC directly more or less the same.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my OC.

The last chords of beautiful aria still echoed of white walls, perfectly in synch with my palpitating and pounding heart. Then, a spacious rink was suddenly plunged into an eerie silence. My skin was covered in goosebumps and I lost a count of how many chills ran down my spine that evening. But it had nothing to do with crisp and chilly air that surrounded us and surged into my lungs. No, it was the same feeling I experienced while listening 'March of the Lions' for the first time or singing carols in church's choir during Christmas. Having your cat massaging your arm, purring loudly, feeling nothing but pure and untainted love for its owner.

I heard a sharp intake of air somewhere by my side, then-

"That was super cool! A perfect copy of Viktor! What do you think, Sophie?"

Loud voice, closely followed by a pair of palms banging rail in uncontained excitement snapped me out of a daze, making me blink owlishly and finally return back to reality.

"Huh?"

"Yuuri executed Viktor's program perfectly! Don't you think?" Round and sparkling magenda eyes bore into me, waiting for confirmation but all I could do was stare at young woman in utter confusion and puzzlement.

"I'm sorry, who?"

Prominent gasps escaped both Yuuri and Yuko's lips and I cringed at my own mistake. I shouldn't have said that.

"Viktor Nikiforov, of course!" Yuuri exclaimed, his words dripping with disbelief at my obliviousness. He stared at me as if asking 'have you been living under a rock for a past decade?' Not exactly, but close enough.

"Ahhh" I let out a little sound of acknowledgment before shaking my head. "Doesn't ring a bell."

"Are you serious?" Yuko mirrored her friend's stare impeccably and I got a sudden urge to roll my eyes. Do they really think I'm just messing around?

"Yep. Never heard of him." I turned around and leaned against rail with my back as Yuuri stepped of the ice and put protectors on his blades. "So, this Viktor guy... Is he any good?"

Two faces, black with mortification made me want to crawl in a deep and dark pit and live there for the rest of my days. For some reason I suddenly felt bad for not keeping up with them. Then I got mad at myself for feeling bad in a first place. Luckily, Yuuri spoke up, effectively breaking a train of my thoughts.

"Is he any good?! Viktor is beyond good, he's amazing! He also has five consecutive wins in World Grand Prix Championship!" A bright fire of admiration in Yuuri's chocolade brown eyes reminded me of the way I used to watch my best friend practicing in studio near my house for the next Nationals. Only my gaze kept equal parts of pride and envy in it. Pride, because I got to see one of the most potential young dancers make progress while being under my supervision and envy, because one visit at hospital was all it took to put an end to my carrier. I felt a smile tugging at a corners of my lips.

"Sorry for not keeping a track on your celebrity crushes. But you got to cut me some slack here; I can't even keep a track on my own ones." I smirked lightly, trying to defuse an awkward tension that threatened to suffocate me. Especially since I was the one who created it.

Yuko giggled slightly and I felt a great burden lifting itself of my shoulders. I saw Yuuri blush deep red and now it was my turn to laugh.

"So I was right! This Viktor person really is your celebrity crush!" I squeeled like a crazy fangirl I am before clapping his shoulder reasuringly. "But don't you worry, Yuuri! I totally support you!"

A deep blush adorning Japanese boy's round, baby-ish face got even darker and I doubled with laughter. Aww, what a pure and innocent ray of sunshine!

Apparently Yuko agreed with me wholeheartedly because she joined me in this little roasting session, only adding more to male's embarassment.

"H-He's not! I-I mean, I admire him, that's all!" Stammered Yuuri and covered his flaming cheeks with his palms. I decided to take a pity on poor guy and end this little entertainment before I could accidentally overstep the line and let my big insensitive mouth destroy yet another friendship.

"It's okay to have someone to admire and look up to, Yuuri." I tried my best comforting voice, accompanied by a smile that was full of understanding. Yuuri sensed a change in my tone and peaked through his fingers carefully. It was a bit too early to playfully haze and roast my newly made friend. Yuuri drew the same conclusion because his expression shifted to the one of relief and even gratitude. The last one took me aback but I decided to push it aside for another time.

"But seriously. I may not know much about ice skating, but one thing for sure - that was amazing." I continued as soon as I noticed young man's face returning to its usual color. It didn't took long for Yuko to pick up were I left off because she chirped up enthusiastically.

"She's right, Yuuri! Your performance just now was perfect! I seriously thought you will be depressed or something." Yuko took over conversation and I perked up involuntarily.

"I was." Skater nodded slightly and I focused all my attention on him. You can think of me whatever the hell you want, but life taught me how to observe people and right now I could sense a story behind Yuko's short comment and Yuuri's even shorter response. "But soon I got bored of being depressed. And then I thought... I just wanted to get my love for skating back."

My heart quivered after hearing these words. Part of me wanted to make an excuse and get out of here, because this conversation started to fell more and more like a confession. Despite my surprisingly good relationship with these foreigners I just met, I couldn't help but feel like a stranger, invading their intimate confessions. Being here and unintentionally listening to the two... It was like eavesdropping and I felt rotten inside, because curiousity was a bane of my egzistance and I'm weak. The fact that Yuuri's story sounded so relatable didn't help the matter at all.

"So I thought I could remember how it was when I copied Viktor with you, Yu-chan." Yuuri gave a small sad smile and my maternal instincts which I never even realised I had screamed at me to hug a poor boy. His expression, much like performance I got to witness just recently, tugged at my heartstrings and I found myself understanding Yuuri's feelings on a deep emotional level. Something came over me and without a second thought I grabbed his wrist, pulling skater into a tight hug.

Little did I know that we weren't the only visitors in an ice rink at such late hour. Three identical little girls grinned mischieviously as a phone in one chubby hand recorded everything.

And here we go. Finally picking up speed in the story. But I swore to myself not to rush relationships between characters and I intend to keep my word. A lot like 'there can be only one Yuri', there can also be only one person who can afford forgetting to keep important promises and I'm letting Viktor to have this position.

Sorry. I'm just bitter about not being able to post this earlier.

Speaking of Viktor, our dear skating Jesus should make an appearance soon. Wonder how Sophie is going to react to their blatantly gay actions?

Oh, one more thing! THANK YOU for 400 views. You guys are amazing and I love every single one of you.

Please leave a review! It really does help to boost my confidence and gives even more motivation than I already have.

See you in the next chapter!