January 1st, 2023
As the massive, electronic projections lining every building in Central Shibuya counted down to zero, three "Happy New Years!" echoed through the Amamiya-Yoshizawa household as they sat together, watching the display on their TV.
"2023 already…"
"Isn't it exciting, Ren?"
"I'm not sure if "exciting" can even capture how… oh… excited I am."
Sumire giggled as Ren found himself unable to think of a better synonym.
"Are we all going to share New Year's resolutions?" Morgana poked his head up from between the two, having sprawled himself out along both their laps.
"I don't have anything to share this time, Morgana-senpai. We all know what I'm going to do. My goals aren't something I hope to do anymore."
"Have I ever told you how you give me arm chills when you're determined?" Ren kissed her on the cheek.
"All the time."
"Don't you at least have something about graduating?"
"I'm well on my way to graduation, too. Sakiya, Hanako-chan, and I are all going to graduate together."
"It's too bad you couldn't graduate with Futaba, Ryuji and me. Then again, we were in advanced programs. Class of Spring 2022!"
"Futaba has done some incredible things." Sumire nodded. "She may have graduated, but the University has kept her around so she can continue doing her research, since it's so groundbreaking. Ryuji's been doing physical therapy, right?"
Ren let out a sigh before throwing his arm around Sumire and pulling her closer, pressing his head against hers.
"That he is. It's tough work, but he's enjoying the hell out of it. He loves helping people, as it turns out. As for Futaba, her work is groundbreaking for a lot of people, yes. For us, it's old news. The Metaverse hasn't come back, and if it does, it'd spell even more trouble. I understand Futaba's motivations, though. She doesn't want Wakaba's death to be in vain."
"Just be there for her, okay?" Sumire wrapped her hand around his. "Who knows what will happen when she can finally publish her research."
"We all have her back."
"Good."
A few moments of silence passed before Ren picked up the conversation.
"As for me… my resolution is to become an officially licensed therapist this year. I've basically got my degree, and I have years worth of internship experience. I even have Dr. Maruki as a reference. He thinks I'm already doing a much better job than him, but he doesn't lend himself enough credit. It's been almost six years, but he still puts himself down for being so misguided."
"Doesn't lend himself enough credit… Sounds like someone I know." Sumire playfully tugged his cheek.
"I know I know… I owe him a lot, though. He tells me how much I've grown and changed over the years, and how well I've been able to handle clients of all sorts. After leaving Shujin, I thought I'd end up being a barista, a politician, or a therapist. Given where I am now, looks like this was the career for me. It's been a long road, but thanks to Hanako, I've pushed through the mental stress. Of course…" Ren gently raised one hand and brushed away her bangs before kissing her on the forehead. "I have you to thank, too."
"You're going to do a great job, Ren."
Sumire's red gems gleaned beneath her black-framed glasses, her warm smile melting Ren's heart as she slowly raised her own hand and brushed his bangs out of the way.
"You always manage to make me feel like everything is going to be fine, no matter how hard it gets…"
"That's how I feel when I know you're going to watch me perform. When I think about you watching me, I don't feel like anything can stop me."
"Hmmm…" Ren closed his eyes for a few seconds, taking in Sumire's soft touch as she ran her fingers through his hair.
"There's one last thing…" Ren bit his bottom lip as he hesitated for a few seconds. "One last resolution I wanted to talk about."
"Go ahead."
"It's about…" he took a deep breath. "My scar. The one on my chest."
"Open your eyes, Ren."
Ren opened his eyes and found Sumire looking at him with a hardened expression, her eyebrows furrowed and eyes blazing with determination.
"Lift your shirt."
Wordlessly, Ren lifted up his sweater and shirt, a small shiver shooting down his spine as his skin hit the air. The had heat, but it was a cold winter. After completely lifting it, Sumire saw a small, circular scar in the center of his chest. Without changing her expression, she touched her hand against it and kept her eyes locked on his.
"I… I wanted to know if this still meant anything to you." Ren nervously clenched his teeth. "This sound stupid now that I'm actually asking…"
"It's okay." Her voice soothed his mind and calmed him down instantly. "Back then… I was afraid of who I really was. Sumire Yoshizawa was a crybaby, a fraud, a good-for-nothing. She got her sister killed because she was afraid to explain how she was jealous and afraid of falling behind. She was angry because Kasumi couldn't see that. I never tried to understand where Kasumi was coming from, or how she felt. I was too absorbed in my own little "woe is me" world. When Dr. Maruki offered me a way out of that world… I accepted it without a second thought. I left Sumire Yoshizawa behind and became Kasumi. I always knew that wasn't the right choice."
She took a deep breath, her hand locked against his chest.
"When the spell broke and you tried to rescue me, I was too scared to accept reality. I didn't want to go back to being Sumire… So, I stabbed you out of desperation. I stabbed you, but you never fought back. Instead, you held your hand out, calling for me. For Sumire. You saved me on that day."
Sumire lowered her hand and looked at the scar.
"Now, after all these years, I don't feel anything. I look at this scar and know for a fact that the weak, insecure Sumire is dead. It's all thanks to you, Ren. I was stubborn, stupid, and wallowing in my own self-pity, but even then, you never gave up on me. You said all those silly things, and when I think about them, I can't help but smile. I've always loved you, and I'm thankful every single day that you encouraged me to accept who I really was. Today, I'm proud to call myself Sumire Yoshizawa and your girlfriend. Nothing matters more to me. That is how I feel."
Sumire's warm, smooth hand caressed Ren's face as she slowly pulled the shirt and sweater down with the other.
"When this is over, and I've fulfilled my promise to Kasumi, I'll be the best woman I can be for you, too."
An immaculate, heart throbbing, warm sensation billowed up in Ren's chest. The sheer determination Sumire spoke with filled him with so much pride he didn't even know what to say.
Instead, he slowly cupped his hand under her chin and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. The warm sensation they felt as their lips met shot through their bodies, and the two remained this way for a while. Upon release, the two gave each other an affirmative nod.
"I can't wait to see."
"I can't wait to show you."
"I'll be cheering you on too, Sumire!" Morgana pressed his head against her arm. "Just keep practicing, and remember everything I taught you!"
"Of course, thank you, Morgana-senpai. With your training, Hanako-senpai's training, and Coach Hiraguchi's, I'll make sure I win the gold in every single event."
"There's only one thing to do until then, right?" Ren held up one of Morgana's paws and grabbed one of Sumire's hands.
"Yes!"
The first three months of the year flew by, with Ren and Sumire focusing on their respective work. In fact, everyone was busy. Ryuji was interning as a physical therapist, a position he had studied incredibly hard for with the help of Sakiya. Hanako was studying to receive her certificate to be a rhythmic gymnastics coach with Murakami and Futaba's help, while Sakiya and Sumire were holding off on any further studies. Both of them wanted to get teaching licenses, Sakiya for history, and Sumire for elementary-level physical education. On Valentine's Day, White Day, and their respective birthday's, they celebrated lightly, simply giving one another chocolates or small gifts. They'd been together long enough to know little gifts weren't a measure of how much they loved each other.
In late February, the couple visited Maruki, Rumi and Etsuko again. Since babysitting her for the first time, they found themselves occasionally, though rarely visiting.
"Sumi-neechan! Ren-niichan!" Etsuko waded up to the two, stumbling as she walked. The apartment hadn't changed, but Etsuko had grown.
"Hello, Rumi-san, Dr. Maruki, Etsuko-chan!" Sumire waved as she bent down to pat Etsuko's head.
"Hello you two. Been a while." Rumi stood up from their couch and stood next to Maruki, who was behind Etsuko.
"Thank you for taking time out of your schedules to visit. I know it's difficult these days." A nervous chuckle escaped Maruki. "But Etsuko really wanted to see you both."
"It's no problem, really." Ren lightly shrugged his shoulders.
"That's okay!" Sumire waved her hand. "How have you been, Etsuko-chan?"
"Good!"
"I'm happy to see that you're walking now! Is it fun?"
"Yeah! Yeah!" Etsuko bounced up and down before falling on her behind. "Oh."
"Careful, now." Sumire patted her head. "We brought a friend. You might not remember him."
"Friend?" Etsuko's eyes widened in excitement.
"Mhm! Morgana-senpai!"
On cue, Morgana hopped out of Ren's bag and jumped onto the floor.
"Hello there!" Morgana ran up to her and rubbed his head against her leg.
"Kitty!" Etsuko placed her hand on his head and pet his ears.
"Morgana-san, hello." Maruki gave him a nod.
"Hello, Doc."
"Papa!" Etsuko looked up at Maruki while continuing to pet Morgana.
"Yes, Etsuko?" He smiled at her.
"I wanna talk to the kitty too!"
"Go ahead. He won't bite."
Etsuko turned back and looked down at Morgana.
"Kitty!"
"Meow?"
"Good kitty!"
Morgana let Etsuko pick him up and pet him. She was surprisingly gentle with him, scratching around his ears and the top of his head.
"Mmmmm…" Morgana purred.
"Hehe! The kitty's warm!"
"I'm glad to see that you're doing well, Etsuko-chan." Sumire held out her hand, which Etsuko took. "You're super cute!"
"I know! Mama and papa are good, Sumi-neesan!"
"Of course! They love you very much!"
"I love mama and papa!"
Etsuko's smile managed to melt the hearts of everyone present in the room. Sumire told Rumi a bit about how she was about to graduate, Ren told her a bit about work and his progress, and they both talked about their immediate future goals. The visit didn't last long, but Etsuko managed to keep herself from crying as they left. With a burst of smiles and waves, the couple concluded their visit.
Late March 2023
On graduation day, Hanako, Sakiya, and Sumire all stepped out in their cap and gowns as Ren, Ryuji and Futaba waited in the car outside the apartment complex.
"Hellooooooooo!" Sakiya waved as she ran up to the car.
"You're late." Futaba snickered.
"Futaba!" Hanako ran up to the window next to Sakiya, wearing a bright smile on her face. "We did it!"
"That we did! Well, almost. You still have to get the actual degree and stuff."
"It's thanks to you that I even got this far!"
"Nah. You graduated on your own merit, Hanako. Now, get in!"
"Mhm!"
"Finally here!" Sakiya laughed as she got in the car. "Now I can focus on practice completely!"
"Did we give you enough time?" Sumire whispered to Ren as she stepped around the car to his window.
"Yeah, the apartment's all set up. Don't worry."
"Good!"
The three of them squeezed into the car and made their way to the University of Tokyo, where they met up with Akane, Uzumi and Shinichi Yoshizawa, Sojiro, Coach Hiraguchi, and Coach Murakami. Sakiya's parents were busy in France, but she didn't mind. A celebratory phone call was enough for her. The three graduates made their way to their seats to receive their degree certificates, while the adults, Futaba, Ryuji and Ren made their way to the guest seats. The President of the University congratulated the students, gave a speech, and then started handing out the certificates. Once the ceremony was over, the whole group made their way to Ren and Sumire's apartment, where the three were asked to wait in the hallway.
"You told me everything was ready, Ren…" Sumire sighed to herself.
"What's up, Sumi-chan?" Sakiya patted her back. "We just graduated, so turn that frown upside-down! Now that we're totally done with uni for the time being, we can practice to our hearts' content!"
"You're right." A smile crossed Sumire's face. "There's nothing left between us and our routines now."
"See, much better!"
"I'll be cheering you both on!" Hanako raised a fist in the air.
Several moments passed before Sumire felt her phone vibrate.
Ren: You can come in now.
"Let's head inside, everyone…" She grabbed the doorknob, slowly twisted it, and stepped inside.
…
...
"Congratulations!"
Hanako, Sakiya, and Sumire were met with a series of loud bangs as party poppers shot off throughout the hallway leading into the apartment. Standing at the end of the hallway were Ren and Futaba, both wearing party hats.
"Come one, come all!" Futaba motioned for them to step forward. "As you all have heard beforehand, due to conflicting schedules and a bunch of other adult reasons, we're having the graduation party right after graduation! It's easier for everyone, including everyone's parents! That being said…" She opened the door behind her. "Let's celebrate!"
Everyone stepped inside to find the apartment completely rearranged for the party, with the table pushed into one corner, a new, longer one temporarily in its place. The couch and desk chair lined one side of the table, while several chairs lined the other. A pot of curry, a large cake, and several other dishes were placed on the center of the table. The adults sat on the less decorative side, waving as the graduates entered.
"Congratulations, Sumire!" Uzumi, Shinichi and Akane spoke as one.
"Thank you mom, dad, grandma."
"Now where's my grandch-"
"Congrats, Sakiya, Sumire, Hanako." Hiraguchi interrupted Akane, giving the three a nod.
"Indeed, congratulations." Murakami stood up and walked over to Hanako. "I'm proud of you, Hanako."
"Thank you so much, Coach!" Hanako wrapped her arms around Murakami in a tight hug.
"Now I can completely dedicate myself to teaching you how to be a Coach."
"Mhm! Thank you!"
"Thank you, Coach Hiraguchi, Coach Murakami!" Sumire bowed.
"Thank you." Sakiya joined her.
"Congrats you three!" Ryuji gave them two thumbs up.
Ren stood next to Sojiro, Morgana perched on his shoulder. He looked over his group of friends, happy to see how far they've come.
"Good evening, everyone." He cleared his throat. "As the graduates are aware, several of our friends found themselves unavailable to join us on this wonderful occasion. I'm sure that they have all received individual congratulatory messages, but I have some text messages that are meant for all of them. Please grab a plate and some food, though, since this might take a bit."
"That's a great idea!" Sumire's stomach growled. Sakiya's did seconds after.
"Let's eat!"
Working their way around, everyone managed to grab themselves a plate of food. Ren observed carefully, and once everyone was ready, he pulled his phone and looked at the first text.
"The first is from Makoto and Haru, who are both extremely busy with work. They both wish everyone well, stating that graduating in but one step into true adulthood. Haru expects several marriage invitations, including one from Ryuji and Sakiya, Hanako and Futaba, and Sumire and I. Makoto wants everyone to know that you should not let your work consume you. Indulge in your hobbies, enjoy yourselves, and enjoy your time with your significant other. Work hard, play hard."
Ren lowered the paper to find Futaba covering her face from embarrassment, Sakiya and Ryuji smirking, and Sumire lightly blushing. The adults all looked on with approval, while Akane and Uzumi seemed to be bickering amongst themselves.
"Marriage…" Hanako looked lovingly at Futaba and subtly took her hand. "That sounds like so much fun!"
"H-Hahah… yeah… I'm totes not ready for that…"
"That's okay!" Hanako giggled and tightened her grip around Futaba's hand. "Let's take our time!"
"The next is from Yusuke, who is running another art exhibit." Ren cleared his throat. "He says that he is proud of how far everyone has come, and wished you all the best. If there were any photos taken at the graduation or this party, he would like them for future reference."
"Classic Inari…" Futaba sighed. "I do wish he was here, though."
"It's kinda weird not havin' Yusuke around." Ryuji scratched his head. "I can't really explain it, but he definitely adds an air of… something whenever he's around. Then again, we only talk through phone calls and texts. Why does adulthood gotta keep us all so damn busy?"
"This is just the start, kid." Sojiro chuckled to himself. "If you have kids, just know you might never get a lick of sleep again."
"K-Kids?" Ryuji jumped back. "I still gotta get a handle on myself!"
"And I still need to win the Olympics!" Sakiya boasted. "Kids are a no go!"
"I'm just warning you, sheesh."
Sumire didn't speak, but she did glance at Ren, tapping her fingers together, blushing like mad.
"The next is from Ann and Shiho. They're currently overseas, but they both wish everyone the best. Shiho wrote that she wanted to play volleyball with everyone again. That trip was years ago… She also wants to have some sort of exercising contest between the three gymnasts. Additionally, Ann wants us to save a slice of cake. She always says she's totally down to help with picking out wedding dresses. Why does everything think we're going to do that immediately?"
"That's sweet of her!" Hanako nodded. "I'd love to see Futaba in a wedding dress!"
"Ack- Hanako!" Futaba felt the heat in her face come to a boiling point.
"What an odd couple of ladies." Uzumi rubbed her chin with her hand. "I hope you don't keep us waiting too much longer, Sumire."
"I won't, grandma! I promise!"
"Hmmm… I'll be here."
"The last is from Dr. Maruki and Rumi, for Sumire and Futaba. He wishes you both the best, and hopes you can make a better reality with your head held high."
"It's been a while since I've heard from the Doc…" Futaba poked an eye out from her hands.
"I'll have to tell him thank you personally." Sumire nodded.
"If you want to speak with anyone, feel free to call." Ren put the letters in his pocket after neatly folding them. "For now, we celebrate."
April 5th, 2023
"Start from the beginning, Sumire."
"Yes Coach!"
Sumire picked up her ribbon and got into her starting pose, placing her left foot in front of the other. After mastering the hoop in 2022, she dedicated herself to perfecting her routine with the ribbon while she practiced with Sakiya and the coaches. During her practice with Hanako, she focused on fine-tuning her difficulties, artistry, and execution. On top of that, she dove headfirst into the Code of Points, from which the rules for every single one of her performances was derived. This book was just as important as the ribbon she wore in her hair. Without it, her performances would quite literally mean nothing. The book detailed penalties taken by time, line and the head judge, of which there were 24. It outlined what a difficulty was, and how it was to be used. It did the same for execution and artistry. The rules were long and only comprehensive to an experienced rhythmic gymnast or coach, of which Hanako was both.
April 16th, 2023, Night
"Welcome, Hanako-chan!" Sumire opened the door to their apartment as Hanako gave her a wave. "Thank you for stopping by. I know we didn't practice together today, so I'm happy you'd take the time to come help me study!"
"It's no problem, Sumire-chan! I finally feel comfortable at Sakura-san's. Our landlord was kind enough to give us a whole month to move out, but Futaba managed to convince Sakura-san to let me stay with them!"
"I think Boss-san would have said yes no matter what." Sumire giggled.
"I think so too!"
"In any case, that's good to hear. Now please step inside. I've recently looked further into the Code of Point and I have some more questions."
"I'd be happy to answer anything you're curious about!"
With an excitable air to her, Hanako settled in and followed Sumire to the living room, where they both sat at the dinner table.
"Hanako-chan, it says here that every apparatus must have the manufacturer's logo and "FIG approved logo" in specified places."
"Mhm! You don't need to worry about that!"
"I never thought about it before, but Ren had a custom ribbon made for me several years ago. Every year, we've gotten it refurbished, but I'm not sure if the logos are there."
"You've been performing with it, right?"
"Yes."
"Then you're fine! I could take a look at it, if you'd like."
"That sounds like a good idea."
Sumire stood up and walked over to her gymnast bag, pulling out the wood-carved, thin ribbon which had Kasumi's name, Ren's name, and her own written on it. When sprawled out, the ribbon consisted of a pattern of lotuses, violets and cherry blossoms.
"How beautiful!" Hanako gently took a hold of it. "It's perfectly made, too!" She inspected the handle, reading the carved text, eventually finding two small logos, placed on opposite sides at the end. "Here they are!"
"Thank goodness…" Sumire let out a sigh of relief. "Let's see… I never realized there were so many rules for our leotards! I never had to worry about it…"
"That's really only something the coaches and judges need specific details on." Hanako nodded along. "Do you remember when you were young and started rhythmic gymnastics for the first time?"
"Yes. They asked me what color I wanted my leotard. I chose blue, and Kasumi chose pink."
"Exactly! You never had to worry about it again, right?"
'No."
"Then let's keep it that way!"
The nights Hanako and Sumire spent together alternated between reading up on the rules and intense practice. Whenever Sumire practiced with Sakiya, she noticed that her routine hasn't changed too much from last year. It was certainly better, but the actual specific movements, difficulties, artistry and execution, hadn't changed so much. Perfecting what you're already good at wasn't an illegitimate strategy, but it did make Sumire wonder just what Sakiya planned to do.
In comparison, Sumire had drastically altered her routine with the help of Hanako and Hiraguchi, with Murakami to an extent. The core of it all, her grace, acted as the roots from which everything derived. Hanako taught her how to implement some of her poses without breaking the flow of the performance, while Hiraguchi continued to support her and push her to incorporate more bold tactics. Taking daring risks was Sakiya's domain, and Sumire knew she could never truly match her in that field alone.
As it turns out, that did not matter. When the time came for them to compete in the World Cups in Baku, Sofia, Tashkent, and Pesaro, which all occurred in April, Sumire won the gold in every single final. The rhythmic gymnastics world cheered her on as her popularity skyrocketed with each victory. In every year before 2023, she had been the underdog. Sakiya had always pulled ahead. Now, things were different.
With each victory, Sumire looked at Sakiya with a smile on her face, and Sakiya congratulated her with a hug each time. From what she could tell, Sakiya was happy to see her win. She wasn't jealous or angry, she was proud. Meanwhile, Ren nearly flipped backward in his desk chair each time he saw her win, staying up late each competition to watch the finals.
Proceeding the World Cups came the World Challenge Cups. The first was in Guadalajara, and the results were the same there as they were everywhere else. Sumire consistently placed first, and everyone was in an uproar. Sakiya continuously placed second, and Linoy Ashram third. Japan had risen to the top of the rhythmic gymnastics world, succeeding the Russians. Other competitors in the greater Belarus sphere, such as Aleksandra Solatova, Boryana Kaleyn, Vlada Nikolchenko, Ekaterina Selezneva, and Katrin Taseva all managed to place between fourth and eighth place, but Sumire and Sakiya had cemented their positions as first and second, respectively. Hanako came along for each trip as the backup, but she never found herself needing to step in. While her hoop performance was still extremely good, she was content in watching her best friends, who she helped train, consistently place at the top. The results were the same at the World Challenge Cups in Minsk, Cluj Napoca, Kazan, and Portimão.
Sumire had become an unstoppable force of nature, something she constantly stated was possible thanks to her Coach, Hanako Natsuki, her rival and best friend Sakiya, and her boyfriend, Ren Amamiya.
Except, she wasn't unstoppable.
August 12th
"I'm home!" Sumire exclaimed as she opened the apartment door, a smile on her face.
"Welcome back." Ren gave her a nod from the kitchen table, putting down the ladle he had been stirring his curry with. Upon glancing at her once, he noticed that she was tired.
Extremely tired. But that was fine! She thought. She was used to being exhausted after practice. Every muscle in her body ached, but that was all just a part of the routine. It was paying off, and she was getting closer and closer to victory.
Despite her enthusiasm, Sumire's leg's felt heavier as she stepped inside. Her vision became slightly blurry.
"I have my glasses on, right?"
"You do, and you look great."
"I feel… dizzy… Ren…"
"Sumire?"
"Ren…"
Sumire took a step forward and lost her fitting, falling straight onto the floor with a loud thud.
"Sumire!"
…
…
…
"Nngh…"
Everything felt heavy. And now her body ached even more. It hurt A LOT. The pain felt like tons of needles pushing against her muscles, and those muscles were already torn. Even trying to move her neck caused her to groan in pain.
"Stay still." Ren pressed his hand against her forehead.
"Wh-What happened?"
"You passed out, scared the life out of me, and now you're lying on our bed."
"I… passed out?"
"I've warned you so many times…" Ren sighed. "I knew I couldn't stop you."
"I'm so sorry…" Sumire felt her heart sink at the thought of knowing Ren had to see her like this.
"Don't be sorry about anything." He wrapped one hand around hers. "Look, I don't want to stop you. I know you need to do this, but you also need to relax a bit more. Take a day off once a week, or maybe twice."
"I'll have plenty of time… to relax… after… the Olympics." She spoke between pained breaths, and she realized just how must her chest hurt.
"Sumire… I knew I couldn't win. Well… If that's what you want to do, I won't stop you."
Ren bent his head down and kissed her forehead. "But know that I'm going to do even more to support you. And since I know you won't stop… Would you mind if I called a friend to come check up on you every few days?"
"A friend?"
"Yes… Tae Takemi. She owns a small clinic in Yongen-Jaya."
"I see…" Sumire took a long, deep breath. "Ow."
"So that's a yes."
"Please…"
"Is there anything else you'd like for me to do? I'll follow your lead, Sumire."
"There is." She weakly nodded. "Please keep me on my feet!"
September 6th, 2023
In the weeks after Sumire's incident, Takemi did a home visit three times a week, calling it a favor on Ren's part. In the past few years, Ren made sure to keep in contact with each of his old confidants, even if they weren't active participants in one another's lives. Takemi continued to run her clinic and take care of the residents of Yongen-Jaya, living a peaceful, quiet existence. On extremely rare occasions, she would call Ren to have him test some new form of medicine she was working on, but he could only remember this happening about four times. Upon her first visit, she found Sumire to be perfectly healthy, but exhausted. She wasn't letting her body rest enough, which was dangerous in her own right. Sumire and Ren informed her that the World Championship was the last major event of the year, and she highly recommended Sumire take a break for a few weeks after the competition. The detail she stressed above everything else was that overworking one's body could result in permanent damage, and that she didn't want to see "her guinea pig's guinea pig" permanently out of commission.
With that in mind, Sumire paced herself in a much healthier fashion as the first day of the qualifiers for the 2023 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championship came. Ren managed to work his way around scheduling any appointments for the week, and joined her in Valencia, Spain. Ryuji, Sakiya, Hanako and Futaba all managed to make it as well. The interior of the structure was designed just like every other competition. Nearly half of the stadium was split off by a large wall with a massive screen on it. The wall was painted yellow, with a rhythmic gymnast painted as a grey silhouette in a pose, holding a ribbon that spelled out "Valencia." The large screen repeatedly displayed the same information on repeat, and the qualifiers began. Day 1 had the ball and hoop qualifiers, where Sumire placed first in both, Sakiya second in the ball, Hanako second in the hoop, and Linoy third in both. On Day 2, the gang participated in the ball and hoop finals once the second round of qualifiers were over. The finals for the hoop and ball saw the same results. Hanako won the silver medal in the hoop finals making it in place of Sakiya, as only two representatives from a country could participate in a final. Sakiya won the silver in the ball, and Sumire won the gold in both the ball and hoop.
Day 3 consisted of the club and ribbon qualifiers, where Sumire placed first, Sakiya second, and Linoy third, respectively in both. Day 4 consisted of the ribbon and club finals. To Sakiya's complete and utter surprise, Sumire placed first in both finals, winning the gold in every single individual final. At the end of the day FIG held the victory ceremony for the finals, and Japan won the gold in the team competition for the third year in a row. Hanako, Sakiya and Sumire all got to sing the Japanese national anthem, and the day ended with Sakiya and Sumire anticipating the All-Around Finals.
September 9th, Night
Sumire ran her hand through her hair as she looked in the hotel room mirror. It had reached a length she finally felt comfortable with, which, funnily enough, was just short of the length she kept it at when she met Ren. Her hand brushed against her red ribbon, which was tied at the end of her hair. With a smile, she turned around and laid down next to Ren.
"Tired?"
"I'm not going to be able to sleep!" Ren put his phone down. "Everyone is talking about you! You won every single individual final! C'mere!" He pulled her in for a tight hug and gently stroked her hair. "I'm… I'm just so proud of you, Sumire!"
"It's all thanks to your support, Ren." Sumire wrapped her arms around his back. "Yours, Morgana-senpai's, Coach Hiraguchi, Coach Murakami, Sakiya, Hanako, Futaba… everyone. I was able to push myself this far because you all believed in me."
"I'm not going to stop, either." Ren leaned his head back. "Tomorrow is the last step before the Olympics."
"That's right!" Morgana perked his head up. "We're so close to the treasure, I can almost taste it!"
"I know, Morgana-senpai, Ren. I'm going to believe in the faith you have in me, as well as the grace Kasumi saw in me. I'll combine all of that with her boldness, and I'll show everyone that we're ready to truly steal the world stage."
"You called it the crown of the gymnastics world, right?"
"Yes."
"Then it really is like we're stealing a treasure. I know we made that promise a while ago, but thinking about it like this makes it that much more exciting!"
"Thievery is an art, Ren, that's why! The thrill of pulling off the perfect heist is just as important as securing the treasure!" Morgana laughed. "Now if you're serious about this, let's get to bed."
"Yessir!"
"Right, Morgana-senpai!"
September 10th
A rainstorm washed over Valencia as the rhythmic gymnasts prepared themselves for one of the most important performances in their lives. For some, this would be their second, but last shot at making it to the Olympics. Every gymnast knew that turning 23 meant they were in their twilight years. A 25 year-old gymnast was nearly unheard of, but there have been a few. After 25, rhythmic gymnasts were expected to be retired. It was an incredibly intense sport on the body, and after a certain point, the flexibility, mobility, and maneuverability required to perform were things their bodies could not do anymore. Being a rhythmic gymnast meant that you were putting yourself on a time limit to succeed.
For Sumire and Sakiya, this was their only chance.
They were ready, though.
Sumire was the first and last in the performance lineup, starting with the hoop and ending with the ribbon. Sakiya started with the club, her best, and ended on the ball, which was arguably her worst apparatus. Ren, Futaba, Ryuji and Hanako all found themselves completely absorbed in every single one of their performances, and the amount of effort they put into each made them wonder how much more intricate their Olympic performances would be. By the time the performances were over, no one could question that they were going. It was an undisputed fact.
Sumire Yoshizawa placed first, scoring over 100 total points. Sakiya Archambeau placed second, scoring only a few points less than her. Her club score was still higher than Sumire's, but that was it. Linoy Ashram placed third, lagging behind Sakiya. With every performance over, the first victory ceremony commenced, with Sumire being picked as the recipient of the Longines Prize for Elegance. Ren's cheers could be heard above the rest, even as the announcers began to speak in eight different languages. Sumire, Sakiya, Linoy, and the other five top gymnasts stepped out, with each name being announced until they reached fourth place. When Linoy's name was announced, she stepped up onto the podium, a smile on her face. Sakiya stepped up as they announced second place, carrying herself high as she spotted Ryuji among the crowd, beaming a smile. Lastly, Sumire stepped up onto the center of the podium as they announced first place. Three men in suits held the medals, while FIG officials presented and placed them around each gymnasts' neck.
Sakiya gracefully accepted her silver medal, a wide smile on her face. Ryuji was happy, Sumire was happy, and she was happy. A silver medal or a gold wouldn't change how she felt in the moment.
Besides, the Olympic gold is what she still wanted.
Right?
Sumire waved using both of her arms, looking around the stadium before focusing her attention on Ren, who stood out between Futaba and Ryuji, his jet-black hair acting as a muted color compared to their unique, dyed hair. The officials brought out a bouquet of flowers and diplomas, handing them to the top three first before distributing them to the rest of the top eight. Sumire and Sakiya both got to sing the Japanese national anthem again, while Linoy sang the Israeli anthem. Once they were finished, Sakiya and Linoy stepped up next to Sumire, shook hands, and bit their medals.
While they did, the announcers spoke up.
"With the conclusion of the individual All-Around Finals, the top sixteen rhythmic gymnasts have been chosen to compete in the 2023 Paris Olympics. These include Sumire Yoshizawa, Sakiya Archambeau, Linoy Ashram…"
The announcer's words turned into white noise as Sumire heard her name and Olympics together. An overwhelming sense of joy and excitement gave her heart palpitations, and she saw Ren smiling at her.
At that moment, they both knew what had just happened, and what they still had to do.
September 12th
The flight home took some time, but once they touched ground in Japan, Sakiya approached Sumire in the airport.
"Sumire. I'd like to talk to you before we head back to our apartments."
Of course, Sakiya."
Sumire could feel the will power and resolve emanating from Sakiya, practically forming an aura around her. Ren and Ryuji joined the two as they took the train to the Rainbow Bridge in Odaiba. They arrived in the evening, and the multicolored lights spanning the length of the bridge lit up the immediate area. Sakiya remained silent, even as they stopped walking. Ren and Ryuji stayed one step back as Sumire approached her.
"Sakiya."
"Sumire."
"What did you want to talk about?"
Sakiya took a long, deep breath, gazing at the bridge. "You won the gold, and I'm damn proud of you. Hell, you completely kicked my ass this year. You even beat me with the clubs, though I somehow scored better in it for the All-Around final. Watching you made me realize I need to get moving. This whole time, I was ahead of you. But don't worry. I'm not jealous. I'm just… Surprised. I didn't even notice how much you improved."
"I didn't want to lose to you, Sakiya." Sumire shook her head. "I've practiced hard, and disciplined myself even more. The entire time, I was thinking about how hard you were training, and how much you wanted to win. Your determination pushed me to train even more, and I won because of it. To be honest, my body wouldn't stop shaking when I went back to the hotel that night. I really managed to give it my all, and Ren was so, so happy. His smile made me realize it was worth every minute, no matter how painful it got. I know you feel the same way about Ryuji."
"That's right!" Sakiya raised a hand and clapped her on the shoulder, a wide grin on her face. "I realized that I was happy, even if I lost to you. Ryuji's cheering was more than enough for me. We're one to one, now. The only thing left is the Olympics."
"That's right." Sumire gave her a firm nod, determination written on her face. "There's only one thing left for us to do."
"Yup! We're going to train even harder. Both of us made it in, so that's all we can do! At the Olympics 2024, the winner takes all!"
"Hell yeah!" Ryuji pumped his fist. "Let's go!"
"This is it, huh?" Ren wiped a hand through his hair.
I'm looking forward to what you two pull off. These are going to be your final, and greatest performances, right?"
"Yes, they are."
Sumire and Sakiya spoke in unison, their own blood oath formed. Ren watched them shake hands, confirming to one another that they'd compete until the end. At that moment, a thought crossed his mind.
"I should get my butt in gear… There's a few things I still need to do…"
