November 18th, 2021, Ryuji's Apartment
The cold had set in early in 2021, and Ryuji clung to Sakiya as she woke up and looked at him.
"Like a kid…"
She smiled as he ran a hand through his hair. It had been well over a year since they truly confessed to one another, and in that time, Sakiya realized just how much it meant to her to have him by her side. Love was a strange thing, but it was powerful. Over the course of the past year and a half, Sakiya had performed better than ever before, and she couldn't help but think it was because she knew Ryuji was watching her.
"Sumire… Is this what you've felt the whole time?"
The thought crossed her mind often, and one day she wanted to ask it out loud. Of course, she knew the answer was "Yes," but self-confirmation wasn't enough for her.
"Mmmmm…" Ryuji slowly perked an eye open. "Happy Birthday…!" He yawned.
"Thank you, Ryuji." Sakiya rolled out of their bed and stretched. "It might be my birthday, but I've still got classes and practice!"
"You… wouldn't have it… any other way right?" Ryuji continued to yawn mid-sentence as he stood up.
"Nope!"
"Still riding that bronze medal high, huh?"
"Not necessarily." Sakiya bent down to touch her toes. "But I am excited to go past that."
"Heh, yeah." Ryuji walked over to the bathroom. "We're havin' a party tonight after practice, right?"
"Yup!" Sakiya skipped over to him.
"We'll have drinks at this one for sure."
"Plan to tease Sumire again?"
"Yup!"
The two laughed together as they went to finish getting ready for their day.
"Yahello!" Futaba leaned out from behind Hanako as they stood in front of Ryuji's apartment door while Sakiya and Ryuji stepped outside. "Happy Birthday!"
"Happy Birthday, Sakiya-chan!"
"Thanks, you two."
"We got you a great present!" Futaba pointed at Hanako's pocket.
"Ah-" Sakiya held up her hand. "I appreciate it, but let's save presents for the party."
"Sure thing!" Hanako nodded.
"Aww…"
"This is just how Sakiya is, Futaba!" Ryuji laughed. "She won't even let me show her my present."
"I bet you already showed her a present down there." Futaba snickered.
"What do you mean, Futaba?" Hanako turned to her girlfriend, totally innocent.
"Oh… uh…. Like..." Futaba looked around in a panic, praying for an escape.
"Oh, Hanako-chan! I forgot to mention that I've almost finished a new difficulty!" Sakiya clapped her hands together.
"Really?"
Instantly, Hanako's attention was diverted.
"Phew… nice save…" Futaba thought to herself.
"Yup! I'll show you at practice!"
"Great!"
"Hey, we're gonna miss the train!" Ryuji looked at his phone in a panic. "Let's go!"
November 18th, Afternoon, Kichijoji
"Happy Birthday, Saki-chan!" Sumire beamed a smile as she hugged Sakiya, fresh out of the locker room in her leotard. "Ren wanted me to tell you as well!"
"Thank you, Sumi-chan!" Sakiya hugged her back. You're here early."
"Yes! My last class was canceled, so here I am!"
"That doesn't happen often." Sakiya backed up and started stretching. "An extra hour of practice doesn't mean you'll catch up to me, though."
"Trust me, Saki-chan." Sumire flourished her ball, bouncing it several times. "I know I'll have to practice a lot more to beat you."
"I'd love to see it!"
"You will!"
"Looking forward to the party after this?" Sakiya smirked.
"I am! It'll be fun to gather everyone tonight, if only for a little bit!"
"Looking forward to… the drinks?"
"Wh- Sakiya! It's a Thursday!"
"That never stopped anyone."
"Don't be so irresponsible!"
"Now now, ladies." Hiraguchi stepped forward. "I'm glad you want to celebrate Sakiya's birthday, but birthdays don't excuse practice."
"Sorry, Coach!" Sumire bowed.
"Right!" Sakiya joined her.
The two gymnasts began practicing their routines, and Hanako joined them shortly after alongside Murakami, who also wished Sakiya a happy birthday. For the occasion, Hanako and Sumire swapped out one of their special sessions for another day. Since competing in the 2021 World Championships, Sakiya and Sumire had tripled down on their performances and difficulties, asking both Coaches and Hanako to judge them. After several hours of grueling practice, the three were dismissed, and they made their way to Ryuji's apartment.
"Happy Birthday." Ren lightly waved a hand as they stepped inside. He stood up from the couch where Futaba also sat, with Ryuji in his lounge chair.
"Ren!" Sumire immediately ran up to him, her hair bobbing against her back, tied at the end by her red ribbon. It reached her lower back at this point. "You're out of work?"
"Yup." He wrapped his arm around her waist. "Gotta enjoy the occasions…. Occasionally…?"
"I'm happy you made it."
"Get a room you two!" Futaba stuck out her tongue as Sumire blushed.
"Happy Birthday, Sakiya!" Morgana meowed from atop Ren's shoulder.
"Morgana says Happy Birthday, Sakiya." Ryuji walked up to her and pointed with his thumb.
"Thank you, Ren, Morgana." Sakiya gave them both a nod. "No, thank you all for coming tonight. I realize that we're all quite busy, and that some of us may have classes tomorrow, but it's nice to know you all could join Ryuji and I. I did not invite you all here just to celebrate my birthday, though. I actually have something I need to announce."
Futaba gasped and jumped up from the couch. "Did you get knocked up?"
"What? No!" Ryuji waved his arm at her, like shooing away a fly. "Jeez, Futaba."
"I'll tell ya that woulda made for some crazy drama."
"Please, Futaba…" Sakiya shook her head. "I'm not so irresponsible as to jeopardize my own future as a rhythmic gymnast by getting pregnant."
"Okay, maybe I jumped the gun!" Futaba fell back onto the couch. "I just can't think of what else you might need to announce!"
"P-Pregnant…" Sumire buried her beet red face in Ren's chest.
"Anyway…" Sakiya cleared her throat.
"Oh, Morgana-chan!" Hanako walked over and picked up Morgana. "It feels like it's been years since I've seen you!"
"Hey, Hanako." He meowed.
"Morgana says hi." Futaba pinched his cheeks."
"He's such a gentleman!"
Sakiya sighed loudly.
"Oh!" Hanako put a hand over her mouth. "Go on, Sakiya-chan!"
"Thank you, Hanako. So, what I wanted to announce was that, one year from now, on this same day, you won't be looking at me as the winner of the bronze medal at the All-Around Finals of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships." Sakiya glared directly at Sumire, who had turned her full attention to her.
"Next year, I'm going to win the gold!"
Sakiya's statement reverberated through Sumire's eardrums, burrowing into her skull and brain. She felt her heart skip a beat and Ren silently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Hell yeah!" Ryuji pumped his fist. "Let's go!"
"I dunno… Feels like Hanako could win again… Futaba whistled.
"How exciting!" Hanako giggled. "I know you can do it, Sakiya-chan!"
Sakiya kept her eyes on Sumire. What would she do? How will she react? This announcement was meant for her, specifically.
"Let me hear your resolve, Sumire!" Sakiya shouted to herself internally.
"I'm not going to let you win, Sakiya." Sumire looked into her eyes with a dead set-on resolve.
"That's it, Sumire!" Sakiya told herself.
In a bout of confidence, Sumire clapped her hand against her chest.
"Using everything that Hanako-chan, Coach Hiraguchi, Coach Murakami, and you have taught me… I'll win the gold in 2022."
A blazing fire burned in Sumire's eyes. Sakiya felt her heart beat faster and faster. This is what she loved almost as much as Ryuji.
"You can certainly try, Sumire." Sakiya looked down at her, standing several inches taller. "If you don't show me your best, who am I to call you my rival?"
"I'll show you more than my best."
"I know you will."
Sumire held herself high, unwavering, her lover and most devout supporter by her side. To her, Sakiya was not an unclimbable wall, like she thought Kasumi had once been. She knew better now. The two stared at one another with tense expressions, bursting with confidence. Neither said a word, but everyone knew what they were saying to one another. Ten seconds passed.
Twenty seconds.
Thirty seconds.
Sakiya's smile only grew wider.
"I'm proud to call you my rival and best friend."
"So am I, Sakiya."
The two wrapped their arms around each other once more, the tension in the room fading with the gesture. Ryuji and Futaba let out deep breaths, while Ren, Morgana and Hanako smiled at one another.
Three years ago on this same day, Ren first felt a bond with Sakiya. Sumire and her had been practicing together for an even longer period than that. Up until the 2020 Olympics, the two practiced under Coach Hiraguchi nearly every day, though Sakiya went to many more international competitions than Sumire. After the Olympics, the rivals were nigh inseparable in competitions. Every single day of the week, excluding holidays, the two met and performed their routines together. They noticed every slight improvement they made with a specific apparatus, every little adjustment to their difficulties, and every little flaw in their performances. Wherever Sumire faltered, Sakiya helped her improve and adjust. By helping others, you helped yourself.
That's what her parents always told her, and what she always practiced. By pointing out others' mistakes, no matter how harsh you may sound, you will help both yourself and them to never repeat it again. Lately, though….
Sakiya realized Sumire was making less and less mistakes. Each time she came in and performed her routine, Sakiya found less mistakes to point out. Less things to improve on. All she could see what a fierce, determined woman whose performances mixed grace and boldness in an almost impossible fashion. Sakiya was proud of her. So proud.
Yet…
"Let's partay!" Ryuji yelled. "I got the drinks!"
"Woo!" Futaba jumped up again. "In case you were wondering, I did the math, and yes, all of us here can drink!"
"Keep it light, everyone." Ren stated as he grabbed a large glass.
"Nah, man!" Ryuji corked open a sake bottle. "We're wipin' all out!"
"Um…" Hanako looked at Sumire, who looked back at her, both of them sharing the same, cornered look.
"Let's sit down and keep an eye on everyone, Hanako-chan."
"Mhm!"
Things quickly devolved into chaos.
Very quickly.
"Hanko-cha!" Futaba slurred as she stumbled up to Hanako. "Take.. a ship!"
"Just a sip?"
"Yah!"
Sumire sighed. "Go ahead, Hanako-chan."
"Okay…"
…
…
"Futabaaaaaaa! Let's hug!"
"Wooooo!"
Hanako stood up and hugged Futaba, swaying back and forth until the two fell backwards and landed on the couch. Sumire dodged out of the way and stood up. She was incredibly confused, because she knows Hanako really only took a sip.
"Oh dear…"
"Mmmm… Alcohol is delicious… Hmmm… Futaba-chan… I love you…" Hanako curled up and rested her head on Futaba's leg.
Several more minutes passed while Sakiya and Ryuji drunkenly danced around the apartment, while Ren lovingly stared at Sumire, holding onto his large, now empty glass.
"I thought you didn't drink, Ren."
"Sometimes, Sumire… Sometimes a drink is exactly what I need. If I don't I have you!"
Ren smirked as Sumire puffed her cheeks and turned her head away.
"Jealous of the alcohol?" He stood up and walked over to her. "Just how greedy are you?"
"I'm not greedy!" She huffed.
"Is that sooooo? Guess I'll get back to my drin-"
Ren felt Sumire pull him down by the collar of his shirt aggressively. "Just… be quiet." She kissed him, leaving Morgana alone to watch the chaos unfold.
"Futabaaaa…" Hanako leaned back up, swaying. "Why are there so many of you? This is unfair! I want… all of yous!"
"Eheheh…" Futaba giggled as Hanako hugged her. "That drink was… really good! Wh-Why did you keep it a secret?"
"A… secret?" Futaba hiccuped. "I just… I dunno!"
Both of them passed out, lying against each other. The rest of the night passed eventfully, with Ren, Morgana and Sumire having to round up the drunkards and get them to their respective apartments.
The next day, all of them except for Sumire and Hanako had splitting headaches. Sakiya opened her presents and found that everyone had bought her history books, while Ryuji had bought her a new outfit.
January 1st, 2022
"Happy New Years!"
"Happy New Years!"
Sakiya and Ryuji clinked their glasses of sake together as they watched the clock tolled midnight on TV, snuggled beneath a large blanket on Ryuji's bed.
"I can't believe it's 2022…"
"You better believe it, Ryuji! This is my year!"
"Heh. Yeah…"
"What's your New Year's Resolution, Ryuji?"
"Hmmm… I don't really got much of one. I guess I wanna keep exercising with you and spending time like this!"
"It doesn't need to be a big goal." Sakiya nodded. "Mine just happens to be a pretty big one."
"I know you've got this Sakiya." Ryuji took a sip from his glass. "You've been practicing like crazy."
"And you've been studying harder than ever. I'm happy to see you putting so much effort into your education."
"I owe the doctors who helped me a lot." He rubbed his leg. "I wouldn't have been able to win the Bronze, or even make it to the Olympics if they didn't help me fix my leg. I want to be able to give others the chance I got."
"You're so headstrong… I love that about you."
"I wouldn't be nearly the same guy you know if I never met Ren."
"You've told me." Sakiya nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. "And I know firsthand how impactful Ren is. I don't even know how he does it. Everything he says just… makes sense, and I feel like I can tell him anything. I even felt that way when we first really spoke!"
"He's always been like that. I always thought it had to do with him being the leader and having special powers when we were Phantom Thieves, but… It's gotta be more than that. Maybe it was because he knew that long-nosed guy…"
"Long-nosed guy?"
Ryuji cleared his throat and told Sakiya an incredibly long, nigh unbelievable tale about Yaldabath, Igor, and even Lavena.
"It's sad that you all aren't remembered for your accomplishments there…" Sakiya lowered her voice, letting out a low sigh.
"Meh, I felt the same way back when we were still in action. I wanted to tell everyone "Hey, I'm a Phantom Thief!" and become all famous and get a bunch of girls on me and shit… Now I'm glad we never did. I'm happy that we kept to the shadows, helping change society in whatever ways we could. If people relied on us too much, no one would want to change themselves, y'know?"
"That's… Wow." Sakiya found herself at a loss for words.
"There's no point in dwellin' on it, though!" Ryuji kicked his legs up in the air, stretching. "I mean, just look at how far we've come!"
"We have come a long way… I went from thinking that I needed to do everything by myself to wanting to do everything with you. There's something just… So much more fulfilling, knowing someone has your back."
"I know what you mean! Without anyone to compete against or share your progress with, is there really a point?"
"Exactly…" Sakiya cupped her hand under her chin. "Sumire and you… Both of you make this all worth it."
"Thanks, Sakiya. We both run solo, but we're still together, right?"
"Yes. Thank you for letting me rely on you, Ryuji."
"Same goes for you." He raised his glass. "Here's to another year."
"And here's to a massive victory in the coming World Championship and your continued support."
The two clinked their glasses again before finishing their drinks and falling asleep shortly after.
The next two months flew by for the duo, with Sakiya resuming her practice sessions and Ryuji his studies. He still ran as a part of the track team, but he didn't have any real intention of trying for the Olympics again. He had what he wanted. For Valentine's Day, Sakiya employed Sumire to help her make chocolates for Ryuji, just as she had every year prior. For White Day, Ryuji went to Ren for help. Both of them knew how to cook decent meals, but in their eyes, Ren and Sumire were the cooking experts. Hanako did a pretty good job herself, surprising Futaba on both Valentine's and White Day, just because she wanted to. Once White Day passed, Sakiya told herself that she'd talk to Sumire soon, before the first World Cup in April.
But first, she needed to evaluate her own routine.
March 19th
Sakiya watched Sumire twirl, spin, jump and roll as she practiced her routine. While the two practiced together every day, their movements and styles couldn't be more different. After Hanako told them about the incorporation of artistry as a part of the scoring, Sumire began to lean heavily into trying to score a perfect 5 within every performance.
"That must be how she views rhythmic gymnastics…" Sakiya thought to herself while she watched her. "As for myself, I want to keep pushing my difficulties as far as possible. I've got my execution down, but I feel like I can wow the judges even more if I just throw a little bit higher. The angle is so specific, and we have to know when and where we're throwing it while we're moving around. We don't get any time to stop and think. I tried to incorporate artistry at the World Championship last year… It worked well, but do I really need to change my style that much?
No.
I don't think so.
Sumire wants to make her performance as graceful yet bold as possible. I have grace, but I rely more on pulling off insane difficulties and coming out in one piece. I just need to be more daring."
Sakiya quickly thought back to her numerous performances.
"More daring… Right. I know Sumire has been practicing with Hanako after I leave. I'm happy that she's willing to push herself so far, and that she has Ren to back her up. I just hope she doesn't push herself too far… I should tell her that. It's difficult, though. I need to focus on my own routine while keeping an eye on Sumire's. She's improved a lot since we met. I mean, she's catching up to me, fast! I can't afford to fall behind… That's why I need to push myself further than ever with these upcoming competitions. Just do what you've always done, Sakiya! Take risks, remove yourself from your performance, let your body do the work. Don't just be like water, be a tidal wave!"
Sakiya found her thoughts interrupted by the sound of her rival's voice.
"What did you think, Saki-chan?" Sumire stood up after her final landing, wiping a bit of sweat from her brow.
"You just keep getting better and better. You learn fast, and you aren't willing to stop for anything."
"Thank you! I learned that from you, actually!"
"That's not true, Sumire." Sakiya told herself.
"I believe your determination is yours alone." Sakiya put a hand on her shoulder. "Say, would you like to eat with me after practice?"
"Oh! Um, sure!"
"Are you busy?"
"Well, no, but… yes…"
"When would you be free after practice?"
"A few days from now, on my birthday."
"Sure, if you're alright with that. I've had a lot on my mind going into the next World Cup series, and I'd like to talk about it."
"I do too, actually!" Sumire nodded excitedly, her red orbs shining.
"Good." Sakiya turned her head toward Hiraguchi for a second before looking back at Sumire. "We've still got another couple of dances in us. Shall we?"
"Yes!"
March 25th
On Sumire's birthday, after practice, Sakiya and Sumire went to the Ginza Sushi Bar, taking the train. Ren stayed true to the deal Sumire and him made, electing to get her a simple gift, another new pair of glasses. Everyone else got her a variety of new clothes, jewelry, and even exercise gear.
"Ginza Sushi? Can you afford that, Sakiya?" Sumire stared with her eyes wide as they stood in front of the restaurant. Normally, she wasn't one for food budgeting, but she remembered the last time she went with Ren. Part of her felt extremely guilty, but the other part of her didn't regret a thing.
"Of course I can!" Sakiya smirked and held up a small suitcase. "It's your birthday! I've been saving my prize money for an occasion just like this!"
"Thank you so much, Saki-chan!" Sumire bowed.
"C'mon, stand up!" Sakiya waved her arm. "Don't worry about the bill, okay? I've got this."
"Okay."
The duo walked inside, and Sumire took in the familiar sight of the bar, which hadn't changed a bit since she last came. A wave of nostalgia washed over her as she looked toward two seats and saw Ren and herself, making their promise to take the world stage and more. Her entire spine tingled, and she smiled. Sakiya asked for a private booth, and once the two were alone, she pulled out her bronze medal and put it on the table.
"What did you want to talk about, Saki-chan?" Sumire tilted her head slightly, looking curiously at the medal.
"I want to talk about you and me, Sumi-chan." She tucked the medal away as fast as she had taken it out. "I've had a lot on my mind, lately, and I imagine you have, too. Every day, we both come one step closer to our final showdown. Eh, that sounds silly, but that's basically what it is. We've had a lot of fun these past few years together, and I'm proud of you. When we first met, well, before that, I saw so much potential in you. I mean, hell, you inspired me to finally take the plunge and try international gymnastics. My French Coach was content with me just practicing, but I wanted to go further after watching you."
"I've always wondered why it was my performances that caught your eye, Saki-chan." Sumire ran her finger around the lip of her cup, which sat on the table.
"I still don't know for sure." Sakiya shrugged. "I just knew, more than anything, I wanted to compete against you. I saw so much potential within you, and I wanted to bring that out so I could try and become better, myself."
"I'm grateful for everything you've done." Sumire nodded. "Truly. Hanako-chan and you have been blessings for me. Before we met, I only had Coach Hiraguchi and Ren. I didn't have a true gymnast partner, not since Kasumi passed away. Your declaration that I was your rival made me so anxious but excited. I realized that a rivalry was something I wanted. I still call Kasumi a rival, but she's not one I can compete with." Sumire looked Sakiya directly in the eye, a strong, heavy look piercing Sakiya to the core of her soul. "I've actually wanted to ask you something."
"What's that, Sumire?"
"Sakiya, how would you feel if I won the 2022 World Championships?"
Sakiya blinked. Once. Twice. What? The cogs within her head started whirling.
"Sumire thinks she can win, huh? What would I do if she won? I didn't even consider the possibility… I've been so keen on winning that her victory over mine seems like a totally foreign concept. How would I feel? I think… Huh. I don't feel jealous."
Sakiya closed her eyes and imagined Sumire standing on the central podium, biting the gold medal as she won the 2022 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria. She didn't feel bitter, or jealous, or mad. She didn't even feel dissatisfied. Nex to her sat Ryuji, Ren, Futaba, and Hanako, who were all cheering Sumire on. Ren was in tears, and Ryuji was as happy as ever.
That made Sakiya feel… Happy. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
"I'd be happy regardless of who won, Sumire." Sakiya smiled and laughed. "If you won, that'd mean everything you've done so far has paid off, and by extension, so have my efforts in helping you. I think it goes both ways, though. We've both taught each other so much." She put her hand on Sumire's shoulder. "Whenever I think about all the training we've done together, I feel so satisfied. At first, you weren't very confident in your own routine, not even with the ribbon. You feared failure, and that held you back."
"You taught me to embrace it, Sakiya." Sumire closed her eyes and placed her hand on Sakiya's. "I'm not afraid of anything now. With the grace that Ren, Coach Hiraguchi, Hanako-chan, and you see in me, alongside the boldness that I learned from Kasumi before she passed, I'm goingto win the Olympics in 2024." She opened her eyes, and saw Sakiya smiling at her.
"I thought we were talking about the World Championship, Sumire."
"That's important too, of course. I just thought I'd tell you now."
"Unwavering and confident... You've changed so much."
"It's thanks to Ren and you that I've come this far, and I'm not going to let anyone down. Besides, you've changed too, Sakiya."
"I have?" Sakiya raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. What do you think about when you imagine yourself winning?"
"Ryuji."
"What did you think about before?"
"I thought about…"
Sakiya's mind blanked. What did she think about when she wanted to win, before meeting Ryuji?
"I… I don't quite remember. I started rhythmic gymnastics because I wanted to leave a mark somewhere, to tell the world I was special... To be remembered… Huh… That kind of sounds dumb, compared to your dream."
"I don't think it's dumb, Sakiya." Sumire spoke gently, shaking her head. "A dream is a dream. It's something that can't be taken from you, no matter what. When Kasumi passed, I thought the world had ended. I couldn't cope with her loss. It was just… so painful." She took a deep breath. "But then, I met Ren, and everything became clear to me. He accepted me without a second thought and helped me find myself. He helped me realize that the dream was true. It never went away. Our dream did not die with Kasumi. I'm still here, and I can still make it real. Just because you can't remember what you thought about before doesn't make your dream any less important. Now…" Sumire poked her chest where the medal sat. "Now, you share that dream with Ryuji-senpai."
"I…" Sakiya choked on her voice. She felt her throat tighten as tears welled up in her eyes, and she couldn't find the words she was looking for. "T-Thank you…"
"Thank you, Sakiya, for everything."
Sumire leaned in and hugged her, resting Sakiya's head against her chest as she wept.
"I… Why am I crying? Am I that stupid?"
"Not at all." Sumire patted the back of her head. "Let's keep being rivals until one of us wins in 2024, okay?"
"Yeah! We-We'll be rivals past that, too! A-And I'm gonna win!"
"For Ryuji?"
"For Ryuji, and everyone else!"
"I want to win too."
"I know… I know, Sumire."
Sakiya sniffled and leaned back.
"Let's… Let's eat now. Can't compete on an empty stomach, right?"
"Nope!" Sumire smiled and picked up a napkin. "Let's clean you up! They should be here with the food soon."
"Thank you again…" Sakiya laughed as she stood up from her chair. "I feel like I'm talking to Ren, pouring my heart out to you…"
"It's okay to be emotional, Sakiya."
"I know… I just don't practice what I preach. I'm always yelling about winning, but now that you've made me think about it, I wouldn't really care if you won. I'm just happy to have you as a rival. I feel like the better person for it. Really."
"You're a wonderful person, Sakiya-chan, and an amazing rival, too!"
"I think we're starting to talk in circles…"
"We're just hungry!" Sumire giggled. "Let's eat!"
"Right. Waiter!"
With a deepend, sisterly understanding of one another, Sakiya went to the bathroom to wash her face. Soon after, she returned and joined Sumire to gouge down their food like mad, eating well over 100,000 yen worth of sushi. That night, their boyfriends found themselves acting as pillows for the two.
The next several months passed rapidly for Sumire, Sakiya, and Hanako, who all continued to compete in World Cups and World Cup Challenges this year, with both Sakiya and Sumire insisting they go to as many events as possible. Hanako was happy to back them up, and Futaba was ready to nuke all trolls who tried to tarnish the reputation of her friends. Ren and Ryuji supported their girlfriends in the same fashion as always, hooting and hollering through text, over the phone, or in person, depending on where their girlfriends were at the time.
The events spanned from April to July, with the three going to eight total events. Sofia, Tashkent, Baku, Pesaro, Portimão, Cluj Napoca, Minsk, and Moscow. The locations were the same each year, but the competitors varied greatly. In every event, Sakiya consistently placed first, while Hanako and Sumire began to alternate placing second or third. Between the 2021 World Championship and their first event, both Sakiya and Sumire had surpassed Hanako, but this caused her no grief. Hanako was happy to participate in rhythmic gymnastics especially with her friends.
Over the months that the gymnasts performed, Ren, Futaba and Ryuji explored the internet to gather information regarding the reception of Sumire, Sakiya and Hanako.
"With the retirement of the Averina twins after the 2020 Olympics in Japan, it appears that two other Japanese rhythmic gymnasts have taken it upon themselves to follow in Hanako Natsuki's footsteps and dominate the world scene..."
Ren and Ryuji high-fived Futaba as they sat in her apartment, watching one of the finals. Sumire and Sakiya had everyone stay home for these events, which was the easier alternative.
"From 2017 to 2020, Arina and Dina Averina were virtually untouchable on the world stage. It appears that the next three years will see Sakiya Archambeau and Sumire Yoshizawa dominate. Linoy Ashram and their own partner, Hanako Natsuki, are putting up a good fight, but these two appear to have a synergy not unlike the Russian twins!"
"Bah." Futaba took a swig of water. "Sakiya and Sumire are gonna destroy the records those twins set."
"Sumire will, definitely." Ren grinned.
"Sakiya, you mean." Ryuji smirked at him.
"Sumire."
"Sakiya!"
"Hanako!" Futaba yelled.
"Hanako already won, Futaba!" Ryuji threw his arms up.
"Yeah, so? She can do it again!"
"Nuh-uh! Look, Sakiya's already placed first a couple times!"
"T-That's cause Hanako is just warming up."
"Sumire is the dark horse that will usurp Sakiya!" Ren dramatically gripped his fist.
"What kinda video game language are you speaking, man?"
"That's not leet speak, Ryuji, this is leet speak!"
Futaba proceeded to mumble a bunch of jargon.
"Uhh… Sure. So what do gymnastics fans think of Japan rising to the top anyway?"
"Well, Ryuji, your old pal Alibaba happened to create several forums and polls just for the occasion!"
Futaba proceeded to swipe her hand across the keyboard, hitting select keys as she did, much to the amusement of Ren and Ryuji. Her numerous screens all changed to show different polls and forums.
"Who is more beautiful?"
Sumire: 33%
Sakiya: 36%
Hanako: 37%
"Huh… Well Sumire would be 100% if anyone had taste." Ren mocked.
"Man… Does Japan just like traditional lookin' women that much?" Ryuji rubbed his hand through his hair. "No offense to Hanako, 'course."
"I dunno, but they definitely aren't wrong here!" Futaba snickered. "Now, before we go into the forums, just know that a lot of these opinions are gonna be pretty stupid. I still think it's worth looking into, but that might just be my curiosity. Public notoriety is important though. I mean, just think back to our times as Phantom Thieves! Now… here's the first one."
What do you think of Japan's rise in rhythmic gymnastics?
Sakiya Archambeau isn't even really Japanese! She waltzes around with her blonde hair and green eyes. Hell, Sumire is barely Japanese, either! A redhead? Really? What kind of representatives are these? We need more women like Hanako and Kaho Minagawa…
Get your head out of your ass, you old mook! Not all Japanese women need black hair just to appease to your dumbass. Instead of looking at their physical traits, why not judge them based on, oh, I don't know, their skills? Some people…
"Wow, that almost sounds like Ann." Ryuji laughed.
"It could very well be." Futaba shrugged.
I'm glad Japan is excelling in such a niche sport. It's niche for our country, that is. Nobody really cared about it until Hanako started scoring big victories, and now we have three rhythmic gymnasts damn near at the top. I hope Kaho can catch up to them. I feel bad for her.
Sumire sucks, really. What kind of rhythmic gymnast wears glasses, anyway? Her style is uninspired and boring...
"Wow… You told us to prepare ourselves, but man…" Ren's eyebrow twitched. "Anonymity is a hell of a drug."
"Sorry, partner." Futaba sighed. "That's just how the internet is. I could easily find out who said that, but Hanako would promptly revoke my cuddling rights and that is something I cannot do without."
"Grr…. Uninspired. They wouldn't know inspirational performances if they were the one performing!"
Ryuji laughed at Ren's bickering, until Futaba read the next comment.
Sakiya isn't a real Japanese woman! How could she come to Japan, compete under our flag, while being French! Archambeau! Blonde hair! It's a shame that our great country is letting FOREIGNERS represent us.
"But she's half-Japanese!" Ryuji cried out. "I don't even look up the rules but gymnasts can change who they represent after a certain period, right?"
"Yeah." Futaba kept scrolling. "Don't take them seriously…"
Hanako Natsuki? More like Hanako TooBusty. Why is a fat chick performing in rhythmic gymnastics anyway?
Futaba's eye rapidly twitched.
"Body shaming… Really…? You're not even going to judge her based on her performances…?"
"Let's just stop doing this for now." Ren shook his head and rested a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "It's not worth getting angry over. I know Sakiya, Sumire and Hanako wouldn't care about these, so we shouldn't let it get to us. We all know what they're actually like, and why they perform."
"Right…" Futaba took a deep breath. "Ahem. So anyway, back to some relevant opinions. Sumire has been doing really well, landing in second, third or fourth pretty consistently."
"I know! She's so happy whenever she brings home a medal!" Ren cheered. "She makes me so happy when she jumps into my arms and thanks me for just existing… I mean, if that's enough for her then why am I going to argue. God, I'm just so proud of her."
"She's pretty popular overall." Futaba nodded. "Honestly, she's probably going to be the most popular come the Olympics."
"But… Sakiya…" Ryuji hung his head.
"I don't make the big polls. They do that stuff on Friendbook."
"I guess we'll just have to see what happens at the World Championship, right?" Ren looked back at the screen.
"Do you guys wanna actually go to Bulgaria?" Futaba excitedly jumped up.
"Huh? Can we do that? We got classes and shit…" Ryuji scratched his head.
"Don't worry about it! Futaba's got this!" She puffed her chest.
"If you can figure something out, Futaba, I'd love for a chance to watch Sumire up close again."
"I've got you covered! Oh, by the way... Who wants to make bets for who wins the gold?"
"I'm in." Ryuji nodded.
"Deal." Ren pulled out his wallet.
"Heh... Whatever happens this year is really gonna shake things up! It's not just going to impact Sakiya and Sumire. Everyone is going to watch and see if Japan can dominate against the best… But you bet your ass Sakiya is gonna win!"
Futaba snorted.
"We just gotta wait and see!"
Summer 2022
Once summer rolled around, many of the original Phantom Thieves returned home, with the exception of Haru and Makoto, who were busy working. Haru now worked alongside Takakura in managing Okumura Foods, while Makoto successfully joined the Kyoto Police Department, taking her first steps in her career. During that time, Sakiya invited everyone to a Japanese summer festival.
"Yukata!" Futaba cheered. "I get to see Hanako in her Yukata again!"
The group, consisting of Ren, Sumire, Ann, Shiho, Yusuke, Ryuji, Sakiya, looked at Futaba with confused stares.
"Uhhh… What's up? Guys?"
"Futaba." Ann giggled. "What… What is that shirt?"
"Huh? Oh this!" Futaba tucked down on her shirt, which had a massive picture of herself and Hanako on it, posing together. "Isn't it great! Hanako got it for my birthday and I finally got to wear it!"
"I… see…" Ann sighed, and realized she had her work cut out for her yet.
"You should have seen Futaba when I showed it to her!" Hanako giggled. "She um, 'went ape' as she put it!"
"It looks like you're wearing one too, Hanako." Ryuji pointed at her, though she was wearing a jacket that was half zipped.
"Oh, yes!" Hanako unzipped her jacket, revealing a printed shirt of Sakiya, Hanako and Sumire together holding the gold medal as part of the 2021 Team All-Around.
"Wh-What?" Sumire's eyes widened. "Where… When?"
"I took this picture of you two together! Isn't it cute!"
"You definitely have an interesting sense of fashion, Hanako." Sakiya laughed. "You two are supposed to be wearing yukata, though."
"I know! Futaba and I were going to change soon! I just don't like wearing my yukata everywhere."
"Ohhhh. Sure thing."
"Hm.." Futaba looked over the group. Yusuke wore the same, plain blue yukata he always had, Ren wore a black one, Sumire a violet one, Sakiya a green one, Ann a red one, Shiho a lighter purple one, and Ryuji a yellow one. "I didn't think you'd actually wear a yukata, Ryuji."
"Sakiya wouldn't let me go unless I did."
"That's because it's traditional Japanese-wear for festivals like this! Have some respect!" Sakiya punched his arm.
"Ow! Yeah… I know. It's actually pretty comfortable…"
"You all look stellar." Yusuke nodded while framing his hands. "I always appreciate when we can gather like this. The occasion has become incredibly rare. I do wish that Makoto and Haru can come, but alas."
"They'll get some kind of vacation soon." Ren shrugged. "I mean, I think Haru can take any vacation, any time. Who knows."
"We were warned adulthood sucks…" Shiho sighed. "It's got its perks, though."
"Yeah, I guess." Ryuji lightly swung his foot in the air. "Well, once you two get changed out of… those things, we'll get goin'."
"Hey!" Futaba pointed at him. "These 'things' are highly valuable merch!"
"Let's get going, Futaba!" Hanako gently took her hand, and the two disappeared to a local clothing store, where they got changed. Everyone waited for them outside, and once the two stepped out, they saw Futaba wearing a black yukata with green, alien-like symbols patterned around it. Standing next to her was Hanako, who wore a white yukata with a violet and cherry blossom flower pattern and a purple sash, along with a purple ribbon attached to her flower pin.
"Wow." Ann walked up, smiling. "Now that's nice."
"Thank you very much, Ann-chan!" Hanako beamed a smile.
"She looks so goooooooooooooooood!" Futaba cried out. "Thank you for my life!"
"Well, with that settled, let's get going." Sakiya nodded and led the way. After a short walk, the group found themselves on festival grounds, with several tents set up, lanterns placed to illuminate the area.
"What is the objective of this?" Yusuke quizzingly looked down at Futaba, who was trying to catch a fish with a small, paper paddle.
"It's simple, Inari! You gotta scoop out a fish without letting the paper break!"
"I see… Are there any lobsters?"
"No…?"
"Well, I've lost interest."
"You can do it, Futaba!" Hanako cheered Futaba on as she held the paddle, her hand shaking.
"Just like the simulations… Hyah!" Futaba ran the paddle through the water, managing to scoop up a fish.
"Huh? I did it!"
"You did it!"
"I did it!"
The vendor congratulated them and put the fish in a bag filled with water.
"Check this out, Sumire." Ren grabbed her shoulder and pointed at a wild west game. "Does that gun remind you of anything?"
"Ohh! It does!" Her eyes lit up.
"Wanna try it out?"
"Mhm!"
"The Van Der Linde Shooting Gallery… Huh." Morgana popped out of Ren's yukata and looked at the vendor. "Let's see if you're rusty, Sumire."
"I'll do my best, Morgana-senpai!"
Sumire paid the vendor and picked up the toy gun, which resembled her weapon from the Metaverse. The game began, and she was tasked with shooting "rats."
With reflexes that seemed to have never left, Sumire effortlessly shot all the targets.
Bam! Bam Bam!
"Well there, little lady!" The vendor laughed. "Seems like you're quite the shot. Feel free to choose any prize you'd like. We've got a couple plushies, since this was intended for kids, we have a char-"
"I'll take the charm! Thank you!"
"Sure thing."
"Still got some Violet in you, huh?" Ren clapped her on the shoulder and laughed.
"You don't forget things like that."
"True enough."
Sakiya led Ryuji around the area, holding his hand and skipping like a child.
"Oh, look, Ryuji!" She pointed at a mallet. "A strength contest!"
"A strength contest… Lemme try it out!"
Ryuji rotated his arm a few times before picking up the mallet.
"This brings me back… Let's go!"
He slammed the mallet down, knocking the puck all the way to the top, causing the bell to chime.
Ding Ding Ding!
"Good job, Ryuji! What did you win?"
"Uhh… A sense of pride and accomplishment?"
"Maybe!"
"Ryuji, you have to try the candy apples!"
Ryuji and Sakiya turned to find Ann approaching them, munching on a candy apple while Shiho ate takoyaki.
"I might!"
Yusuke, as far as anyone knew, had disappeared. After searching for him for several minutes, Ren elected to call him.
"Ah, hello Ren."
"Are you alright, Yusuke?"
"I am. I found some fireworks and decided to create a display. Please tell everyone to look up."
"Uh… Sure. Look up everyone!"
A second after Ren yelled, several fireworks shot off. In the sky, they saw a series of red and white fireworks go off, forming the shape of the Phantom Thieves logo.
"Wow…. Now that's nostalgic!" Ryuji's jaw went slack as his eyes went wide.
"Inari… Guess he does have taste!" Futaba smiled.
Ren put the phone back to his ear.
"That's just beautiful. Thank you, Yusuke."
"It was my pleasure. Now, does anyone have takoyaki?"
"Yeah. I'll get you some. My treat."
"That is very much appreciated."
The festival came to a close with Ren buying everyone takoyaki and candy apples.
After the festival, Sakiya, Sumire, Hanako and her devoted the rest of their summer to training for the World Championship, while Ren, Ryuji and Futaba started to get in contact with the UTokyo staff, planning their schedules around joining the rhythmic gymnasts on the trip. They succeeded.
September 14-17, 2022
On September 12th, Ryuji, Sakiya, Sumire, Ren, Hanako and Futaba flew out to The World Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria, the same location as the 2018 Championship, where Sakiya first met Hanako. As per the schedule of previous years, the qualifiers and individual apparatus finals occurred over the first four days of the event. Many familiar figures made their appearances, but everyone knew that this year belonged to three people. Linoy Ashram was back to try and win another gold, while Sumire and Sakiya were also competing for it. As the qualifiers came and went, Sakiya took first place in the clubs, ball and ribbon finals, winning three golds. She placed second in the individual hoop finals, winning a silver. Hanako placed first and took the gold for hoop, but only hoop.
Sumire won two silver medals, placing second with the ball and clubs. She also won two bronze medals, placing third in the ribbon and hoop, behind Sakiya and Hanako. The qualifiers ended with Sakiya in first place, Sumire in second, Linoy in third, and Hanako in fourth. For the first time, Sumire got to step up on the podium and accept several medals on an international stage through her own, individual accomplishments. The Japanese team won the gold medal for the team competition again, but on top of that, Sumire won her own medals. Once upon a time, she might have been satisfied with that, but within her heart she knew this was just one step toward her true goal.
September 17th, Night
"Bronze in the ribbon…" Sumire laughed to herself as she sat down in her hotel room with Ren. "I was so focused on practicing with the clubs, hoop and ball that I've gotten rusty."
"You'll just have to double down on it in 2023, right?" Ren snuggled up next to her, wrapping his arm around her waist.
"Yes. I kind of expected this to happen. Throughout 2019 and 2020, I focused primarily on the clubs, and now I've mastered those. Throughout 2021, I focused on the ball, and I've mastered that too. This year, I've been focusing on the hoop, and I feel like I'm close to mastering it."
"So that just leaves you 2023 to remaster the ribbon…"
"That's right."
Sumire nuzzled her nose against his neck. "I want my ribbon performance to set records. I don't want it to just be a performance, I want it to be a story."
"I know you can do it."
"Thank you, Ren."
"The ribbon… It was the apparatus Kasumi and you specialized in?"
"Rhythmic gymnasts start practicing with all four apparati at a young age, but Kasumi picked the ribbon as her favorite, and, me being myself, I followed along. As it turns out, I ended up being more skilled in the ribbon due to my graceful approach, and I guess Kasumi was jealous of that!"
Sumire giggled to herself.
"I can't believe Kasumi was scared of losing to me. I've put the sadness long behind me, though. I'm going to make up for my performance with the ribbon in the individual finals by perfecting my routine for 2023."
"I'll continue to support you, like I always have."
"Knowing that you're watching me while I perform…" Sumire looked him lovingly in the eyes. "It's the greatest feeling in the world."
"I'm happy to hear that. I'll keep doing my best."
"Do better than your best, Ren."
Sumire smirked before leaning in and kissing him. Their night came to a close soon after.
September 18th
The All-Around Finals were intense, with Sakiya and Sumire giving some of their best performances yet. Sumire's training with the hoop paid off, and some of Hanako's training shined through in her graceful performance. There were several erratic poses mixed in, but Sumire made them her own. Their ball, hoop and clubs performances were nearly evenly matched, with both of them scoring nearly the same. Hanako watched them perform from the bleachers, sitting next to Futaba, Ryuji and Ren. She knew Sumire and Sakiya had long surpassed her, but she was happy to see them reaching closer to their dreams. All that mattered to her was that she could enjoy rhythmic gymnastics and her friends could with her. She had spent more time training Sumire throughout 2021 and 2022 than actually practicing, so she wasn't surprised at all to find the two soaring ahead of her.
Regardless, Hanako was happy.
In her moment of triumph, Sakiya performed with the clubs last, setting a new record with her performance. With all of her performances completed, Sumire followed up, giving one of her best ball and club performances ever. Once she finished, and all the other gymnasts performed, the final, all-around scores were calculated.
Sakiya Archambeau placed first, winning the gold in the All-Around Finals.
Sumire Yoshizawa placed second, winning the silver in the All-Around Finals.
Linoy Ashram placed third, winning the bronze in the All-Around Finals.
During the victory ceremony, Sumire gracefully accepted her silver medal, letting the FIG Officials place the medal around her neck as she stood on the second highest podium.
She was close. Incredibly close. No fear or anxiety stirred in her heart. Instead, all she felt was excitement. Ren was watching her accept the medal, and that was all she needed. The sense of joy that she felt when she looked up and saw his smile couldn't be matched. Of course, knowing that all of her friends were also cheering her on only made her smile more.
Sakiya felt her heart having palpitations as she felt the medal rest upon her neck.
She did it. She won the gold.
Well, a gold medal. In any case, it was a huge step toward the 2024 Olympics.
Sumire, Linoy and Sakiya bit their medals, took their diplomas and flowers, and waved to the crowd as the ceremony came to a close.
For the first time, Sakiya stood on top of the rhythmic gymnastics world.
While she did, she realized that the only person she truly wanted to look at her and cheer her on... was Ryuji.
September 20th, Evening
"Welcome homeeeeeeee!" Ren sang as Sumire stepped into their apartment. "I made you dinner!"
"I'm home! Thank you, Ren!"
"Morgana even helped me!"
"Really?"
"Yes, I did!" Morgana jumped down from the cupboard, laughing.
"I'm just so damn excited… I haven't been able to sleep!"
"Um, Ren, I'd really like for you to sleep, and so would Morgana-senpai…"
Morgana jumped down and motioned for Sumire to bend down.
"Ren's been so excited since you two got back, and we need to lull him to sleep. Do you have any ideas?"
"I'll try to talk to him about my medals. That's probably what he wants to yell about."
Sumire cleared her throat and stood up.
"Coach Hiraguchi is forcing us to take a break until next week, so…" She walked up to her half-asleep boyfriend. "How are you doing, Ren?"
"I'm perfectly fine, dear!"
"I see… Why are there bags under your eyes, then?"
"No… reason!"
"Ren…"
"Listen! How am I supposed to sleep when you won all of those medals! You got the silver in the All-Around Finals, Sumire! You were so close to the gold!"
"I'm happy that you're excited, Ren." Sumire wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "I'm excited, too, but I'd like it if you could calm down. This is just the start."
"The start…" Ren took a deep breath. "Ah… Okay maybe I am tired… I'm just really proud of you." He raised his hand and stroked her hair. "So proud…"
"Thank you, Ren." She giggled. "I'm happy to have placed so high, but I'm not quite satisfied. Next year, at the 2023 World Championship, I want to blow everyone away, clean sweeping the event and taking home every gold medal. More importantly, I want to give one of the best ribbon performances ever."
"Next year… Right."
"Mhm. Next year. We're getting closer, Ren. So close…"
"Phew…" Ren closed his eyes. "Uh… Huh… I'm pooped… Mind if I take a nap?"
"Yes. Go to sleep now."
Ren closed his eyes and slumped against Sumire, and she carried him to bed before eating the curry he made her for dinner.
September 24th, Late Afternoon
"Congrats!" Ryuji cheered as he stepped inside the Yoshizawa-Amamiya apartment, Sakiya right behind him.
"Thank you, Ryuji-senpai! Congratulations, Sakiya!"
"That's everyone, then." Ren looked out in the hallway from the living room, where Hanako and Futaba sat on the couch, playing video games. "Come on in."
"Ah… Home sweet home!" Sakiya sat down at the dinner table with Ryuji.
"Very funny, Saki-chan."
"I did live here for a bit…"
"You did." Sumire set down two drinks. "But now you practically live with Ryuji-senpai."
"We alternate apartments sometimes!" Sakiya retorted.
Ryuji shook his head, sliding his hand across his throat, mouthing. "Not hers!"
"I see…" Sumire took a deep breath before walking to the sliding glass door. "Thank you for coming, everyone. Ren wanted us to gather so we could celebrate our victories at the World Championship this year. On top of that, I wanted to make an announcement."
"Are you pregnant?" Futaba blurted out snarkily.
"No." Sumire remained unphased.
"Aw, darn!" Futaba stood up and walked over to Ren and Ryuji, who silently slid her a considerable amount of yen.
I wanted to extend my thanks to Hanako-chan and Saki-chan again, for helping me get this far. It's thanks to all of you, actually."
"We're happy to help you, Sumire-chan!"
"Of course, Hanako-chan." Sumire closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"As you all know, the 2023 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championship is the last one before the 2024 Olympics. Depending on how well Saki-chan and I do, we could be picked to participate in the Olympic event. Today, I'd like to announce that I will win the All-Around Finals in the 2023 World Championship. I intend to place first in all of the individual finals, too."
"That sounds like a challenge, Sumire!" Sakiya leaped out of her chair, pumping a fist. "Well, I accept it!"
"It is a challenge, Sakiya." Suire turned to her, a fierce look in her eyes. "A challenge that I intend to win."
"We'll see about that, Sumire!"
"Yes." Sumire turned to Ren and gave him a nod.
"Please, watch me!"
