Chapter 5: Pork Cutlet Bowls and Gold Medals

Katsumi's Point of View

[Four Years Later]

Hi my name is Katsumi Mori and I'm twenty years old. Returning for my third grand prix, after taking home a bronze and silver medal I plan on taking home a gold medal this year; I hope. I'm one of the many female figure skaters representing Japan, although they tend to call me the rising star skater. I don't really believe the reporters but sure, if that's what they want to call me. After the short program I am currently in third place, but I know my free program will knock them dead. Currently I'm in the locker room stretching before my performance, my position in third means I'll perform a little later. I grab my speaker and turned on my iphone, I needed to do well at this competition. After all of the hard work Rose put into me, I just want to make her proud. Sitting down I stretch my legs and visualize my routine, when my favorite song started to play. The song always motivated me before a competition, that's why I listen to it before I perform. It also blocks out the noise of the crowd, which helps calm me too. "Tonight we are victorious," I started to mumble, stretching my arm behind my back. "Champagne pouring over us," I pulled myself off the floor. "All my friends were glorious," a familiar voice chimed in. I turned around and noticed my coach, she seemed to be dancing or having a heart attack. Our eyes locked when it returned to the chorus, "tonight we are victorious." We giggled and she continued to dance, later grabbing my hand and dipping me. I couldn't seem to stop smiling and that's how my performance would be as well. It was almost time and I needed to get ready.

I stripped off my sweatpants and playfully threw them at Rose, oddly enough they landed across her face. Next I pulled on my leggings and remove my sweatshirt to reveal a blue sports bra. My coach snuck up behind and groped my chest, "Kat you went and grew on me." I jerked away from her and clutched my breast, "these are reserved for me and me alone." Rose could only laugh at me, "that's not what you've said before, in regards to your precious Viktor." She continued to chuckle while I slide on my top, which was a black long sleeve with studs all over the top. It also had silver embroidery around the turtleneck, however, the most revealing parts were the slits up the side. Then again this was typically a one piece, but I had it altered because I needed to hide the prosthetic. Yes, I Katsumi broke the tradition of female skaters wearing only dresses. Then again I didn't even intend on this happening, though I'd rather face flak over breaking traditions than having people find out my secret. Rose took me into her arms "how about you stay close to me," she mimicked a russian accent. My face grew redder than my blush, "oh quiet Mrs. pork cutlet bowl." By the end of our conversation, we were both flustered and speechless. "Let's go win a gold medal," I said with a deadpan voice, which sent Rose into a laughing frenzy. Exiting the locker room Rose and I walked side by side, as we inched closer to the rink. The sound of the crowd started to grow louder and then when the doors opened, the lights hit me. The flashing lights of cameras almost lit the ice rink, while the current skater graced the ice. If this was my first competition I would've been nervous and a bit shaken, luckily I'm a seasoned vet. It also helps that my doctor prescribed me anxiety medication, on the downside some people think there steroids. I guess the tabloids need something to do. The girl ends her routine to the sound of applause and I turn to Rose, "looks like it's your time to shine." I grin and glance around the rink, I wonder where Yuuri could be? Rose noticed my wandering eyes, "relax Yuuri is running a little late, besides he would never think of missing one of your performances." I stood at the entrance of the rink and turned back one last time, extending my hands placed together to Rose. Others watched in confusion, as we did our special handshake that ended with a sassy snap.

I skated out onto the rink, "representing Japan, Katsumi Mori." The announcer's voices boomed through the stadium, while I glided around the rink. Waving to the audience and ending in the center, "at twenty years old she has won a bronze and silver medal. This year she has her eyes on fixated on the gold medal," the voices echoed throughout the rink. My eyes searched the crowd because somewhere my dad was watching, when a fedora flew out from the ocean of people. I snatched it out of the air, it was black with a royal blue ribbon around the hat. Placing the hat on my head I got into my starting pose, "this year Mori will be skating to Tank and her theme is deception." The horn entrance blared and stirred the audience, the music then silenced with bass and drum remaining. I started to turn and glide across the ice, letting the simplicity of my movements flow with the bass. A set of bongos started to speed up the tempo, which I then began to move faster. I know Rose said to remove the quad at the beginning and instead replace it with an axle. "I'm sorry Rose," I muttered under my breath, as the drumbeat continued to speed up. "Mori has planned two quads for her program, originally three but later removing one. Yet she has planned some of the hardest and intricate footwork in her routine, seems her couch has big plans for Mori." Approaching the jump I went into a quad loop and landed softly, which seemed to stun the audience and announcers. The singer began to talk and I reached down to my skate, seductively snapping up my leg and above my head. I placed my hand on the hat in time with the music, "three, two, one, let's jam." Removing the hat I tossed it over to Yuuri and skated backwards, I threw my arms back and flicked my head up. Not many people know but this is the theme song to Cowboy Bebop, it was about the bounty hunter Spike and his crew. I loved the show and declared that I was the Spike of our group, I tried convincing her she was Faye. Then she got really mad and screamed how she'd rather be the dog. While on the ice I was the bounty hunter, with my graceful and intricate moves. The music starts the false ending and the saxophone blares, I start to thread my feet at the lighting speed of the saxophone. Ending the solo I leap and kick my right leg inches away from my face, landing facing backwards. The saxophone solo concluded and I started toward my next quad, with the horns entrance I lept. "Her second jump, a quad lutz, which she landed flawlessly. That footwork was incredible as if her legs were robotic," the announcers concluded. While the music began to rise and grow in intensity, I went into a lay spin and drew my leg into scorpion. The music began to screech and I released my leg heading for the last jump, leaping into a quad flip and sending the audience into a frenzy. The bellowing of the saxophone sent me back to the middle, Yuuri tossed the fedora back. Ending with the fedora covering my face and my other hand shot to the sky, "Mori has done it! Performing a flawless routine and dripping with charisma."

My hands were shaking, my breaths were now short and ragged. I turned and waved to the ecstatic audience, who were throwing flowers and stuffed animals. Taking the hat off of my head, I kissed the rim and threw to the next skater. I skated off towards the exit, where Rose and Yuuri anxiously awaited me. "Rose! Yuuri!" I shouted, leaping at them for a hug. I slightly knocked over Yuuri, luckily Rose kept us from falling over. "That was an amazing performance Kat," Yuuri said, while Rose couldn't break her stare from me. I dropped to my knees and clasped my hands over my head, "I'm so sorry Rose but I landed it. The score can now land me in first place and I, I mean we can claim the gold medal." I pleaded with her, tears mixed with sweat dripping from my face. Rose placed her hand under my chin and tilted my head up, "I'm actually prod you took that risk, it just proves that you're ready for harder work." Rose smiled cupping my face, "also it means we should ramp up your training." Rose chimed, hiding her malevolence behind a grin. Yuuri and I shuddered at the thought of what Rose considered a harder training regiment.

Our moment was cut short, since we had to report to the kiss and cry booth for my score. Strolling to the booth I sat down, with Yuuri and Rose on each side as I clasped their hands. "Mori's free program score is 150.79, with the addition of her short program of 95.79. She is now leading the group at a cumulative score of 246.58, beating her personal record." The announcers concluded and my heart was bursting from my chest. "We did it," I cried out squeezing Yuuri's and Rose's hands. "I'm proud of you Kat," Rose responded pulling close for an embrace but there were still two skaters left, which drove my anxiety. While we left the booth I glanced back at the rink, the next skater was from Russia. "Davai," I shouted. Then I glanced at the group standing by the entrance, they were also russian. "Hey Rose?" I asked tugging her jacket sleeve. "Yes?" Rose looked back at me. As we made it to the outside of the rink, "who caught my hat?" The question sent her into a laughing frenzy. "I should've known it. At first I thought what you did was pretty gutsy, either way you gave it to someone special." Rose smirked pointing towards the group of Russians. I turned around to find Viktor running his hand around the rim of the fedora. When our eyes locked and my precious Viktor winked at me, which sent me hiding behind Rose and all she could do was wave.

Now I only had to wait for the next two skaters to finish, then the placements would be declared. I was terrified that someone would knock me into second or even third place, I couldn't even watch any other skaters without worrying. At first I started cracking my knuckles until they were sore, next I started biting my nails until only nubs were left. I even tried grabbing onto Rose's hand and then she knocked my hand away. "Katsumi the competition is over. You need to look," Yuuri said, helping me off the floor. Looking at the scoreboard I could feel my heart stop, I was still in first place. "We did it!" I shouted, tears streaming down my face. While Yuuri and Rose tightly embraced each other, before breaking apart with bashful expressions. I bounded to the entrance of the rink, like a deer who had just learned to walk and skated out with the other two skaters. While the Russian skater got second and the Chinese skater stood in third, I stood above to present my first gold medal. A shame I couldn't hold myself together, since I was crying the entire time from happiness. Mom, Dad, Rose, and Yuuri, I hope your watching because I am not the same girl who spent her time crying. My arms are proof, covered entirely of bruises and scars. Because I was too damn stubborn to admit defeat and give up, which is why I am able to stand here. The competition ended and the audience began to exit the stadium, where I ran off the rink and straight to Rose. Kneeling down on one knee I shot the medal up to meet her gaze, "my lady, is this what you wanted?" she could only chuckle. Cupping my cheeks I looked into her blue eyes, "what I wanted was for you to see what you could accomplish, this gold medal was due to your hard work." I got up from my knee, joining Yuuri and Rose as we left for our hotel. This night was fantastic and sleeping would feel amazing right now. Too bad I can't sleep in but I have the men's grand prix to attend tomorrow, to cheer on Yuuri and my love Viktor.