"At least I'm not first this time..." murmured Yuuri, as he waited for his turn in Japan's Junior National's FS- the previous day he had qualificated as the second best of the participants.
"Don't worry about it, your SP is never the best. However, you always make a good come back in your FS. Just remember that you have a step sequence of the highest level, which will make your presentation point fly, and you have enough triples in your routine to secure a gold. If you feel confident enough to add a Triple Axel that's your choice, but don't feel presure into doing it. You can save it for next season, a trcik under your sleeve" Alyona gave her student a small pep talk, before handing him his ear plugs "It's time"
The male skater looked at his hands on his lap and took a deep breath, before following his coach to the rink. He knew what all would be thinking about, asking themselves if he would ruin his FS like he did in the JGPF. He skated to the center, ready to perform the same FS routine he's been doing all season... his first season as a professional ice skater. However, this felt different. He looked deep into his coach's green eyes and smiled, an easy, relaxed smile. This time he wouldn't be performing to prove something to the others, no, this was for him... for fun... for winning!
Before he knew it, his body began moving to the beat of the music; as if he were possessed. At the end Yuuri didn't recall if he made a mistake, if his jumps were high enough, or if the landing was wobbly. What he does remember, was that two of his Triple Toes were changed into Triple Axels. He didn't even know why he did it?! But it felt good. What he does remember is the silence of the crowd at the end, which made him nervous thinking that he had messed up completely. But soon was followed by a loud cheering, people standing up of their seats and throwing things on the rink. He doesn't recall how he made it to the Kiss and Cry, or how he ended up with a bouquet of Lilies and an Onigiri Plushie. But the tear stained face of Alyona... that's something he'll never forget.
It all felt like a dream. He double checked when he heard that he had broken the world record for the Junior FS, made by Viktor Nikiforov. His coach huggs the life out of him, reporters all over him demanding how he felt by this great achivement, Alyona beating them away from him, the other skater performance, him standing on th podium with a golden medal around his neck... everything going too fast for his mind process it. Soon he was sitting next to his coach with a hoard of reporters ready to pounce... it was intimidating. But Alyona's hand gripping his under the table gave him reassurance and snapped him out of his obvious trance.
"Katsuki-san how do you feel after breaking Viktor Nikiforov's world record?" A male reporter on the front row asked gently, Yuuri liked him. The reporter was aware of the young skater's state and was trying to make this whole ordeal easier for him.
"I feel... I feel as if I were in a dream" Yuuri answered, slowly "I'm still not sure if this is really happening or if I'll soon wake up at Yu-topia Katsuki, finding out all of this was a dream" many reporters laughed at the skater's response, not in a mean way but amused.
"We see that you finally got a coach. Do you give Feltsman-san the credit of this achievement?" This time was another reporter, she was a pretty young woman who made Yuuri feel uneasy.
Luckily, Alyona was fast to the rescue and answered for him: "No. Yuuri always had the talent to succeed, he proved it by getting so far on his first season as a competitive ice skater on his own. I did not cause this achivement, the credit should be given to Yuuri who worked relentlessly these last months. He would have done this good on the JGPF as well, he just needed some guidance; and that's what I am here for. Next" her tone left no place for argument.
"Will you be participing on the Junior Worlds? With this gold you'll surely will be a candidate. But in the social media it's being said that you're preparing to move to Russia. Can you confirm if that's true? And if it is, wouldn't it overlap with your training for Worlds?" The roughness of the voice of the old reporter on the second row kind of scared Yuuri, but when he saw the pride and kindness in his eyes the male skater relaxed a bit.
"It is true, I'll be moving to Russia for my remaining high-school years under a contract with Alyona Feltsman. That's my prioity and yes, it would overlap with my training for Worlds... if I were going to participate on the Junior Worlds" Yuuri's answer cuased an uproar, thankfully it was silenced by a scary glare from part of his coach "I still have many seasons to come, so I'll take things slowly and not push myself to the limits. I hope not to dissapoint any of my fans with my decision" Japan's angel bowed, showing everyone again why he was nicknamed that.
Alyona had to supress a smile when the reporters fell from their seat to apologize to her student, Yu-kun knew how to play them like a string: being all cute and adorable, making the media love him and the crowd protect him. The funniest thing was that Yuuri thought he was being akward... which he was, but that's part of his charm. He had no idea of what kind of effect he had on people.
"Will your coach be your guardian?" The first reporter asked gently, once everyone had calmed down.
"No, she has a beautiful daughter to take care of. I couldn't impose like that. My choreographer and dance teacher, who is family to me, Minako Okukawa will be coming with me to Russia as my guardian and as the new dance departmen dean of Lila Baranovskaya's Academy. I'll be a student there, under a scholarship that was given to me when Baranovskaya-san recruited me after seeing my presentation at the Benois de la Danse" he said a small white lie, almost without stuttering which can easily pass as aprt of his shyness.
Alyona prepared this story, half truth and half lie, in case it was necessary. They couldn't have people knowing that he got the scholarship because of his coach's mending, though he had all the requirements, the dance world would stand up at against Yuuri for having my way easied into getting in one of the most prestigious Dance Academies. So, the official story would be that Yu-kun already had the scholarship before Alyona got into the picture.
"That's a great honor, Katsuki-san. Congratulations!" The same reporter said, with a kind smile, earning a small one from the male skater.
"Will this mean that you'll get back into professional dancing?" The same annoying woman of before demanded to know, causing evryone to hold their breaths.
Everyone was waiting for Yuuri's answer, which was getting into his nerves... again. He looked at his coach who was giving him a reassuring smile and was ready to exclaime 'No Comments' and usher him away if necessary. He returned the smile and took another deep breath, before answering:
"I am still dancing in a professional way, I just changed the stage for an ice rink. Poeple lately have been calling me Japan's Ace and that had me nervous, unsure of where I stand. For a long time I've been Japan's angel, bringing fun and light to the crowd. Now I was being thrown into a whole new role... I was so lost and confused. But my coach told me that I am not Japan's Ace and I am not Japan's Angel, I am Katsuki Yuuri; which means I am both and so much more. Rest assure I won't stop dancing, I love dancing! I'll surely have to participate into some events for my new school. I might never enter in a dance competition again, or maybe I will, who knows? I am no fortune teller, I am a fifteen years old boy who still has a lot to decide. Luckily, I have a great coach, my family and amazing friends to help me figure it out. That's from where I took the theme for next season: Angel. To remind Japan and every fan I have around the world, both from my dancing career and my ice skating one, that I might be competing in a new sport but I am still the same Katsuki Yuuri they know"
There was a deep silence which was starting to become uncomfortable for the male skater, when suddenly Alyona took him by the arm and dragged him away from the sudden uproar of the reporters.
"Did I say something wrong?" Yuuri asked to his coach, confused at the whole thing.
"No, Yu-kun, you didn't say something wrong" she replied, calmly, voice thick with emotion.
"Then what happened?" He demanded to know.
"You said all the right things" Alyona answered, tearing a bit, only serving confusing the young Katsuki even more.