July 22nd, 2024, Night

"Welcome home, Ren!"

"Hey, Sumire."

Ren felt his stress, which had acted as two heavy weights on his shoulders, disappear as he saw Sumire's smiling face. It had followed him everywhere, and he desperately wanted it to disappear. There were few times in his life where he felt nervous, but he knew she wouldn't be. Sumire wasn't at all, but he was for her. In fact, it was probably his stress that kept her calm. Regardless, it seemed to disappear once he actually saw her.

"Shouldn't you be asleep? We leave for Paris in the morning."

"I might have gotten a little excited… And I wanted to wait for you!"

"Fair enough." Ren smirked as he walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her in a hug. "The games start on the 26th, but your performances aren't until the 9th, right? I see you packed your leotard already."

"Yes!" Sumire hugged him back, and the two looked at the empty mannequin, where her blue leotard once sat. "There's plenty of time for some final training!"

"You're going to win this, Sumire."

"We're going to, you mean."

Sumire leaned her head back and gave him a loving smile, her deep, ruby eyes piercing his black, onyx ones.

"That's right!" A voice from below shouted up.

"Get up here, Morgana." Ren chuckled and let Morgana climb onto his shoulder. "Our deadline is roughly three weeks from now."

"Yup! This is our true final mission as Phantom Thieves. We might have stolen the hearts of the people before, but this time, we'll make sure it's not forgotten!"

"Of course, Morgana-senpai!"

"Ren and I will act as your support, Sumire. You've got this."

"Understood!"

"With that in mind…" Ren took a step back before deftly sweeping his arm under Sumire's leg and throwing another against her back, picking her up in a bridal carry. "Let's head to bed!"

"It's time to sleep!" Morgana cheered and raised his paw.

Sumire's face turned a light shade of red.

"I-I can walk myself…"

"Nonsense! You need all the rest you can get!" Ren laughed boisterously, which made Sumire sigh.

"If you insist, dear."

Laughing the entire way, Ren walked Sumire to their bed, set her down, and laid next to her while Morgana climbed into the cat tower he was recently gifted..

Seconds turned to minutes as the couple stared at one another, both their hearts competing to burst from their chest.

"Um… Ren… I still can't fall asleep." Sumire lightly giggled as she raised her hand and ran it through his black hair. "My heart is pounding, and all I can think about is how we're finally going to be able to fulfill our promise."

"I know."

Ren smiled back at her and gently took her free hand.

"Not even Morgana can sleep, and he's the expert."

"This is a once in a lifetime heist, and we haven't done anything like this in years!" The cat whined from his tower. "I thought age would make me more tired, but I still have the heart of a true thief!"

"Hmmm… Ren."

"Yes, Sumire?"

"Will you hold me tight? Maybe we can calm down that way."

"Of course."

Giggling to themselves, Ren scooted closer to her and wrapped her up in a hug again, pressing his face against her chest and listening to her heartbeat, all the while she held her hand against his.

"Now I can feel your heartbeat syncing up with mine… Oh no. This isn't helping."

Ren burst out in laughter.

"It never helps us calm down, you know that!"

"I can't help but want to be close to you, though… As excited as it makes me, it also makes me feel like everything is going to be alright. Sakiya is going to give everything she has in the competition while Ryuji watches her. I'm going to do the same."

"You're not worried, are you?" Ren frowned as he twirled a finger through her hair.

"Not at all. This mixture of excitement, anticipation, and butterflies is unlike anything I've ever felt, though."

"If that's the case, I'm just going to have to hold you tighter than ever before." Ren leaned back and smirked. "Think you can handle it?"

"Let's find out." With a smirk, Sumire took off her glasses and placed them above their pillow before fully embracing Ren back. The two spent a long night together like this before finally falling asleep in each other's arms, with Morgana eventually following suit.


July 26th, Early Afternoon

Ren checked his phone as he stepped into the Five Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, France. He held his duffel bag on his right shoulder, Morgana in tow. He had already deposited his suitcase and belongings elsewhere, and came only with his cat. While he considered himself erudite, learning French had proven itself to be a difficult task, one that he had been undertaking since 2023. Sakiya and a load of smartphone apps helped him, and thankfully, his phone provided directions and translations if he needed help. Better yet, his phone could now record the speech of someone and do rudimentary translations. The Opening Ceremony for the 2024 Olympics was in a few hours, and he had anticipated the crowds and traffic and had driven, even if it cost him some time. Five Seasons Hotel George V and the stadium were only 13 kilometers apart, which would normally be a 16-minute drive, turned into a 3 hour one by traffic alone. It didn't bother him, though. He had time. Sumire had no idea about this hotel, which was exactly what he wanted. She was staying in the Olympic Village with Sakiya and Hanako, and knew that Ren was staying with Ryuji at a much cheaper hotel along with Futaba. Of course, his stay with Ryuji was a cover-up and a part of the plan.

"What's this place?" Morgana popped his head out of Ren's brown leather bag, taking in the main lobby, a huge, white-painted room with a decorated marble floor, multiple archways that led to different locations in the hotel, a front desk made of black, carved marble, and an incredible number of flowers set up in vases all throughout the lobby.

"This is the hotel we'll be staying in after the competitions are over, from the 9th to the 16th."

"You never told us about this!" Morgana gasped.

"Of course I didn't!" Ren laughed. "As a gentleman and a thief, you know you cannot tell Sumire, right?"

"R-Right! Who do you think I am?"

"The one, the only…"

"Morgana!"

"Exactly. Now get back in the bag, please."

"Yup!"

Morgana disappeared back into the bag, and Ren approached the front desk receptionist, confirming his room number, time of stay, and other necessary details. He wanted this to go as seamlessly as possible, so notifying the staff ahead of his check-in put him at peace of mind. On top of that, he knew the route to the hotel. After confirming everything and stepping outside, Ren called Maruki.

"Hello, Doc."

"Hello, Ren-kun. How is Paris treating you?"

"It's a beautiful place. I'm calling because I wanted to thank you again for slotting in for me."

"Don't worry about it. I'm happy to assist you and Yoshizawa-san in any way possible. Both of you are incredibly close to accomplishing her dream."

"Our dream, Dr. Maruki."

"Right. Given the time difference, I won't be able to watch the performance live, but we'll be sure to send my congratulations when I can."

"She's come a long way, huh…" Ren smiled as he looked up toward the Eiffel Tower, which towered above every other building.

"Yoshizawa-san, no, Sumire-san is a completely different woman from the one I met back in 2016, and it's all thanks to you, Amamiya-kun."

"She did this all by herself, but thanks."

"In any case, I'm proud of both her and you. You're so liked at Tokyo Mental Health that they approved of your three-week leave without a second thought."

"I did tell them several months in advance."

"That's true. I need to put Etsuko to bed now, so I must take my leave. Best of luck, Amamiya-kun."

"Thanks. I'll see you around."

With a relieved sigh, Ren stretched his back and got into his car to make his way to the Stade de France for the Opening Ceremony.


July 26th, Late Afternoon

"Yooooooooooooo!"

Ryuji waved his arms above the crowd as he spotted Ren, waiting outside the entrance to the stadium. "You made it, RenRen!"

"Sorry for keeping you all waiting." Ren nodded at Ryuji, Futaba.

"That's going to cost you a durian!" Futaba snickered.

"A durian? Really?"

"Yessir!"

"Ugh… Fine. Let's go find our seats." Ren sighed and trudged forward past Futaba.

"I'll cover for you, Ren!" Morgana whispered.

"I heard that, kitty!"

The three of them found themselves in a long queue to enter the Stade de France, with a crowd nearly the same size as that of Tokyo's Olympics surrounding the stadium and its entrance.

Once inside, the three seated themselves in one of the many rows of bleachers, surrounded by thousands of people. Ren couldn't even begin to think about how many people were actually in the stadium, let alone how many were watching live on TV. What he did know was that they would all be watching Sumire win in a matter of weeks. It felt odd to think about how Sumire's Olympic performance was in two weeks compared to the months and years they've waited. The noise of the people around him and the stadium itself faded to white noise as he let his mind wander back to the Ginza Sushi bar, a cold, January night, seven years ago.

"That makes me happy. I… I feel like I've finally managed to move past the trauma. I'm ready to be an international champion. And Kasumi… well, she'll be right there with me."

"That's why I want to turn this world back to how it used to be. I want to keep my promise with her."

"We're our world's champions, Sumire. I love you and the world."

"Huh? The whole world…? You're right. Why stop at gymnastics? We'll be the true champions of our world!"

By the time Ren opened his eyes, the Olympic bell had been rung, and the performers began their dances on the stadium floor. The performances went across borders, genres, and history itself as people from all around the world showcased their culture and pride. These went on for over two hours, with Futaba and Ryuji commenting on the different shows put on. Ren found himself with a dead set-on focus, however, waiting for Sumire to walk around the stadium with the rest of the athletes. In time, the athletes made their way out, all donning white suits or dresses. Like a hawk, Ren easily spotted her amongst the crowd, her deep red, crimson hair standing out. Standing next to her was Hanako, and next to her, Sakiya, their arms wrapped around one another as they walked, smiling and waving. Every nation made its way around the stadium before disappearing, but Ren knew in that moment, Sumire was content.

He didn't have anything to worry about. All he had to do was watch her.

Of course, he had bigger plans. Working with Hiraguchi, Ren managed to get himself employed by FIG as one of the male escorts. All he had to do was dress up and walk the rhythmic gymnasts to the floor. This gave him access to the Warm-Up Hall and more, which all played into his grand heist. All he had to do was wait. The rest of the Phantom Thieves were on their way, too.

The stadium went dark for a few moments before thirty men and women carrying large, rectangular, four-sided mirrors stepped out and began dancing, creating a lightshow in the same manner as the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremonies. The light's in the stadium dimmed as they danced, and before long, they had all positioned themselves in five circles, creating the symbol of the Olympic Games as thousands of blue irises sprung from the top of the mirrors. At the same time, hundreds of fireworks went off, creating more of the same symbol in the sky, for all of Paris to see. Everyone in the stadium applauded before the lights went dark once more. Several seconds later, the central platform lit up, and the names of the representatives for the 2024 Paris Olympic Organizing committees were announced. Each representative made several speeches, speaking once in English, and then once in French. Afterward, the current President of France made their own speech, and once they were finished, the Olympic relay runners passed the lit Olympic torch off to one another, with the final runner placing the torch into a massive cauldron. This cauldron exploded in a blaze as it was lifted up.

The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris had begun.


July 26th, Night

Upon returning to the hotel they were all staying at, Ryuji and Futaba both proceeded to lose their marbles out of pure excitement.

"They're actually here! Sakiya and Sumire are actually doin' this! RenRen, ain't this amazing?" Ryuji grabbed his friend by the shoulders, all while his hands shook.

"Trust me, Ryuji, this is more exciting than any heist we undertook as Phantom Thieves." Ren smirked and grabbed Ryuji's shoulders. "Sumire's here. Sakiya's here, and Hanako is making sure they kick ass out there!"

"Damn right!" Futaba snickered and pumped her fist. "Hanako's gonna help those two clutch!"

"Those two have done plenty on their own, Futaba." Ren scoffed. "But Hanako has been a big help, yes."

"Heheheh. Feels like yesterday that Hanako was up there alone!"

"A lot of things just 'feel like yesterday' now that I think about it…" Ryuji frowned. "Feels like just last year we were all screwin' around in the apartment complex… Now we're all adults, and our girlfriends' are all at the Olympics!"

"I like being an adult more than I do being a teen, personally." Futaba pushed her glasses against her head.

"A lot of it sucks, but it's also cool. Thank God I wasn't working totally full-time… Dunno how else I woulda been able to come."

"I got really lucky." Ren brushed a hand through his hair.

"Yes you did." Morgana poked his head out of Ren's bag. "We might as well explore France and watch some of the other games. We're going to be here for a while."

"Great idea, Morgana!" Ryuji walked up and scratched his ears. "Want to go now?"

"No! Now, we go to bed!"

Ren, Futaba and Ryuji all groaned as Morgana forced them to their hotel rooms to bed down for the night.


August 1st

Sumire and Sakiya woke up at the exact same time every day in the Olympic Village. 7 AM sharp. They spent the first hour of their day eating and preparing themselves for a long day of training. The sessions were both intense and lax, with the main focus being to perfect their routines. There could be no margin of error, no execution penalties, no difficulty slip-ups. Everything had to be perfect, and they both knew that. From 2 to 4 PM every day, they got a break to eat, stretch some more, and prepare themselves. The last leg of the day included more practice, and after 8 PM, they were free to do as they pleased. Hanako followed the same schedule, wishing to help them every step of the way. There was nothing else she enjoyed more, except for spending time with Futaba.

"Are you ready for this, Saki-chan?" Sumire huffed as she held her right arm up in the air, stretching.

"I was born ready. Ever hear that phrase?"

"I have. I feel the same way!"

"Take as much time to breathe as you can, okay you two?" Hanako held out two water bottles in front of them.

"Right! Thank you, Hanako-chan!"

"Thank you for watching over us, Hanako." Sakiya took a bottle and chugged it. "To think you'd come to Paris with us…"

"I am the reserve gymnast for Japan, after all!" She giggled in response.

"I hope this doesn't sound rude, but I really hope we don't need you to step in."

"I completely agree, Sakiya-chan!" Hanako held herself in a pose. "This is your Olympics! You're both breathtaking!"

"No, you're breathtaking as well Hanako-chan!" Sumire giggled. "It's hard to think this is real sometimes, but I can tell from my aching muscles and pounding heart that we're really here. All of us."

"Yeah." Sakiya patted her shoulder. We're here to show everyone what we're made of. Hanako laid the foundation for both of us to reach the top, so let's not put all that effort to waste."

"Yes!"

"I was only performing and participating because I love rhythmic gymnastics!" Hanako giggled. "I'm happy to hear my love for it has pushed you two so far."

"Love can go a long way." Sakiya smiled. "Isn't that right, Sumire?"

"Absolutely! Thinking about how Ren is going to watch me helps me to go beyond what I normally feel I can do!"

A fierce, determined look covered Sumire's face. It was a relentless look, but also kind. She was dead-set on what she wanted, yet harbored no ill-will or malice.

"In that case, let's keep practicing!"

Over the next several days, Hiraguchi and Hanako kept a close eye on the gymnast duo. They wanted to ensure there were no hard feelings, which were doubts unfounded more than anything. Sakiya and Sumire were closer than they had ever been.


August 8th

Ren patiently waited outside the Stade De France with Futaba, Ryuji, and Morgana. One by one, he started to see familiar faces wading through the massive crowd around him.

Ann and Shiho. Makoto and Haru. Yusuke. They all made it.

"Heyyyyyyyyyy!" Ren waved them down as they slowly made their way to the group. "Thank you all so much for doing this. It means the world to me."

"I wouldn't miss this for anything!" Ann threw her arms up. "I want to see Sumire win!"

"I'll be taking bets." Shiho giggled and opened her purse.

"Hello everyone." Yusuke waved as he stepped forward. "I see that we all made it… Wait, where is Hanako?"

"Hanako is the backup member for Sumire and Sakiya, so she's with them getting ready right now." Futaba explained. "I thought you knew the rules, Inari."

"I'm afraid I don't know all of them, Futaba. I've been focused on my own work."

"I missed the part where that's my problem." She stuck out her tongue playfully.

"You just love to act unhinged when Hanako isn't around, don't ya?" Ryuji laughed, rubbing the back of his head.

"Hello." Makoto and Haru stepped up next, their arms interlocked. "It feels good to walk around like this without getting strange looks."

"Japan is getting there." Ren sighed. "Slowly but surely. Acceptance is much harder to elicit than merely signing a bill."

"Indeed." Makoto nodded.

"Hello everyone!" Haru cheerfully spoke. "Let's all get ready to cheer Sumire-chan and Sakiya-chan on!"

"That, I can get behind." Ren held out his fist, and the group proceeded to bump their hands together.. "To the Olympics."

"To the Olympics!"

In a shout of unison, the former Phantom Thieves, and Shiho, made their way into the stadium.


August 8th, Preliminaries

The group all sat down in the same general area of booths and watched the contestants all be introduced. Sumire, Sakiya, and Linoy were the "big three" of the event, and the most likely to qualify and make top marks. Ren recognized some of the other rhythmic gymnasts, though he lost their names to time. At the end of the day, he was there for Sumire. The first of the preliminary rounds began, and they all watched the performances together. Every gymnast was stellar, and Ren could tell they were giving it their all while at the same time saving their best for the finals, if they made it. The music Sumire utilized for her ribbon performance, which was easily the best of any that day, was very different to what she normally used. Ren could only assume she had something even grander in mind for her final performance. One after the other, the gymnasts performed with each different apparati.

One after another, it became clear that Sumire, Sakiya and Linoy were leagues ahead of everyone else. When the preliminaries ended, the top ten finalists were announced, with Sumire and Sakiya placing first and second, respectively. At that moment, Ren wanted to jump down onto the stadium floor and give her a big hug, but he knew he couldn't yet. They hadn't really won.

Not yet.


August 8th, Night

"Saki-chan, we did it!"

"Damn right we did!"

Sakiya picked Sumire up in a bear hug as they stood in her dorm.

"You know what this means, right, Sumire?"

"Yes! I need to call Ren!"

"Not that! We finally made it! After six years together, we made it!"

"We did…" Sumire took a deep breath. "We did."

"So…" Sakiya took a deep breath of her own. "How did I do?"

"How did you do?"

"As a rival, I mean."

Sakiya twiddled her thumbs together and for the first time, looked nervous.

"Sakiya…" Sumire gently took her hands and looked her in the eye. "You're the greatest rival a girl could ask for. More than that, like Hanako-chan said a while ago, you're… like a sister to me. I'll never forget Kasumi, but that doesn't mean you can't be that way to me. I do this Kasumi, Ren, and myself. I'll never forget that, long after I've won. I only got this far because you helped dig me out of my own pit of self pity. So… Sakiya."

"Sumire…" Sakiya felt her chest tighten as tears threatened to burst from her eyes.

"Thank you, I love you."

A smile widened across Sakiya's face.

"I love you too, Sumire."

In an act of love, Sakiya wrapped her arms around her in a full bear hug and refused to let go.

"I'm doing this for Ryuji and myself. We're going to reach the top together, Sumire."

"Yes we are, Sakiya. Let's do this, together."


August 9th

Ren finished buttoning up his undershirt and looked at the mirror, smirking. He wore a pair of slick blue jeans, black dress shoes, a black suit jacket, and a black undershirt with a white collar. Tucked in his left pocket was a small, black box. Everything he needed.

"Looking cool Joker!"

Morgana sat at his feet, smirking.

"I'm pretty good at getting into places I shouldn't be."

Donning his Joker-esque, wide grin, Ren exited his hotel room with Morgana, who made his way over to Ryuji's room. He made his way over to the Stade de France, entering the Warm-Up Hall where he was to act as an escort for the finalists. Sumire, Sakiya and Hanako were all there, practicing together like they always had. There was only an hour left until the All-Around Final Competition began, and Ren made his way to his position. Taking a quick peek into the main hall, he saw Haru and Makoto already seated in the section of the booth Ren had specially reserved for himself and his friends. It was extremely close to the Warm-Up Hall, and an entrance, which would allow him to easily sneak up to watch when he wanted to. Despite his age, there was still a bit of Phantom Thief in him. Time passed slowly, and surely enough, all of his friends arrived and took their seats. Ann, Shiho, Yusuke, Futaba, Morgana, and Ryuji all joined Makoto and Haru, completing the group. All that was left was for Ren to do his job. He couldn't directly speak to any of the finalists. At least, he wasn't supposed to.

The first contest of the 2024 Rhythmic Gymnastics All-Around Competition was Sakiya, performing with the hoop. With a smile on her face, she walked up to Ren in the Warm-Up Hall and let him escort her to the floor. The stadium was packed to the brim with people from all around the world, and as she saw the faces of dozens of different ethnic peoples, Sakiya knew she was performing in front of the world. If the people weren't here watching, they most certainly were on their TV's. She wanted them to watch her, but most of all, she wanted Ryuji to watch her. Luckily, the Phantom Thieves had made themselves standouts amongst the crowd, with Ryuji and Yusuke holding up a banner reading "GO SAKIYA." Haru giggled and motioned to Makoto, who helped her pull up another banner, which read "SUMI-CUTE" for a second before putting it down, waiting until Sumire actually performed.

Satisfied, Sakiya stepped up to the center of the mat and assumed her starting pose, holding the hoop straight up with her left hand, with her right foot stretched out. She placed her head under the hoop slightly, keeping it on the top of her head and letting it rest there. As soon as the music began, an instrumental version of Sign of the Cross by Iron Maiden, Sakiya let the hoop roll out into her right hand, immediately moving into a twirl as she lifted the hoop and spun it around above her. While it spun, she swapped it between her hands multiple times, walking backward. Letting it go, the hoop fell and bounced off the mat, rolling toward her as she did a backward handstand. Like a matador, she held her arm out and waited for the hoop to come to her, catching it in an elegant fashion. Using her thumb, she pushed it up her arm and let it roll across her shoulders before kicking her right foot up and into the hoop, rotating it around her before she took a risk and tossed it into the air. As it fell, she held her right leg up and let it bounce between the mat and her leg twice, catching it right after. Holding it behind her back, Sakiya did a spinning jump, letting the hoop fly straight up into the air as she landed.

It nearly hit the ceiling, but her daring maneuver paid off, as she leaped forward, did a split, and caught the hoop without breaking a sweat. She spun the hoop around her once more, kicking her right leg up high and bouncing it off her toes into the air. In a similar, but unique way, she posed, echoing the time she spent with both Sumire and Hanako. The hoop was latched onto her as she held her arm in a C, and she proceeded to leap forward again, spin it around her, and toss it into the air before tapping her feet on the ground to the beat of the music. After three seconds, the hoop landed around her, and she immediately flipped it while lifting her left foot up to the back of her head and rapidly spinning the hoop around her right shoulder. After putting her left foot down, Sakiya did a full body rotation on her left leg, throwing the hoop into the air as she did. In a risky move, she rolled forward and spun onto her back, catching the hoop with her right leg at the last possible second, just inside the mat. Next, Sakiya lifted the hoop up and spun it around her shoulders and neck before tilting her head and letting it fall, catching it quickly with her right hand. Bravely, she tossed it into the air as high as the last time, twirling around and flourishing herself as it flew. Sakiya easily caught the hoop as it fell, and she put her right hand onto the mat and did a pivot using her right foot, rotating around while the hoop sat around her waist. With her risky style working perfectly, she lifted her left foot behind her head again and held her arms outstretched, throwing the hoop up and around her before catching it and putting her foot down. As the music intensified, she rotated the hoop around her wrists over and over, creating a flurry until she tossed it into the air, stepped forward, and held her right leg up behind her head. The hoop bounced off the floor and then her right foot, and she caught it while putting her foot back down.

Once more, Sakiya tossed the hoop, caught it with her neck, and let it spin around her arm until it reached her right hand. Drum beat by drum beat, Sakiya leaped forward, tossed the hoop, bounced it off her back, her leg, and threw it again. To everyone's surprise, Sakiya did three rolls forward on the ground in quick succession, catching the hoop between her legs after the third roll. Keeping the pace up, she stood up, held the hoop around her, and held her left leg up behind her as she pivoted around on her right toes. Upon pivoting three times, she kicked the hoop between her legs and behind her back, throwing it into the air and catching it with her right arm, letting it slide down as she kicked her right leg up again for a second, balancing on her left foot. Slowly, she let the hoop fall until it was around her left ankle, and then she put her right foot down inside the ring.

Now at the climax of the song, Sakiya rapidly spun the hoop around her ankles before jumping up with her feet together, slamming them down and spreading them so both were at the edges of the inner side of the hoop. Moving into one last handstand, she kicked the hoop up for the final time, twirling around three times until it landed around her right arm, which she held high. The final portion of her performance consisted of several more high tosses, leaping around the mat to match the music as she risked losing the hoop over and over. She even faked out a final pose, catching the hoop while doing a roll, lying for a split second, and then tossing it one last time before lying on her side with her left hand pointed toward the sky, the hoop between her legs and on her back.

Sakiya's first performance was met with acclaim from throughout the stadium, with everyone clapping and whistling for her as she stood up and walked over to Hiraguchi. They shared a brief hug before sitting down next to one another on a comfortable couch, set up for the end of each performance as the gymnast waited for their scores. Ren guessed the judges were warming up, as it felt like a lifetime passed before they announced her score. He gazed up into the booths and easily spotted Ryuji, who was rubbing his hands together eagerly, unable to calm down whatsoever. If he could continue yelling, Ren imagined he would be at that moment.

...

30.000.

The audience, Ryuji most of all, burst into applause again.


Kicking off the second round of performances was Sumire with the hoop. Mummering a small prayer to herself before walking up to Ren, she thought of Hanako and the countless days that she stayed late into the evening at the Kichijoji and UTokyo gymnasiums, helping her get this far. Once her name was called, she opened her eyes, walked up to Ren, shared a silent nod with him, and let him escort her onto the floor. Walking to the center of the mat, she placed the hoop down and stood inside of it, pressing her toes against the inner edges. Holding her right hand against her thigh and raising her left arm above her head, she stepped out of the hoop into a handstand split as soon as the music, Wish Come True, started. Her right foot hooked under the hoop as she propelled herself forward, sending it flying into the air as she stood up, curtsied, twirled and caught the hoop effortlessly. It rolled up her arm, and while it did, she flicked her left leg into it and let it slide doing, doing another handstand as it did. She turned the handstand into a cartwheel as the hoop traveled between her legs, and she caught it with her right hand while standing up. Flipping it over, under and around her several times in quick succession, her routine echoed that of Hanako's, yet had a level of dignification that was hers alone.

Sumire rotated the hoop around her right hand as she twirled her own body around, moving on to do several jump splits before taking the hoop with both her hands and tossing it into the air. As it soared, she did a jump and a twirl, landing into a roll and catching the hoop with her left leg held up before moving into a full somersault. It rolled down her body as she positioned herself upright, part of the hoop on the mat, and the other against her right heel, with her leg pressed down on the mat. Graciously, she did another handstand, kicking the hoop into the air again and pressing her left leg down, and then her right, taking two steps forward in tandem with the beat of her song. The hoop landed in her hands behind her back as she did this, creating a wondrous scene. Not letting down at all, she did a standing rotation, lifting her left leg high and spinning the hoop around it, letting it slide down before moving it around her right leg. Pushing it down, the hoop hit the top of her right foot and the mat, with her left foot inside. Kicking her left foot slightly under it, she lifted her leg up above her head, bending forward and letting the hoop spin around her waist in a series of pivots.

One pivot. Two. Three. Six. Sumire didn't stop moving, grabbing the hoop and rotating it around her before putting her foot down. She moved into another cartwheel kick, throwing it into the air with her foot once again. This time, as it flew, she flourished her body, throwing her arm up to the beat and twirling around each time. Upon the third spin, she caught the hoop and kept it spinning around her, moving into another set of twirls before tossing it high. Pressing her hands onto the mat, she held herself in a handstand as it landed around her right foot, and she kept it spinning around her leg as it slowly rotated downward. Completing her handstand and placing herself upright, she kicked the hoop around her right foot and grabbed it with her left hand, lifting it into the air and out of her legs as she pressed the back of her left foot against her hair bun. She pivoted several more times in this position, holding both arms with her wrists crossed before pulling her left arm outward, taking the hoop with it. Resting her left foot on the floor for but a second, she flicked the hoop behind her up into the air and dashed in the direction it was flying, stepping forward in a dance as she reached her hand out, caught it, and spun it through her leg mid-jump around her once more. Continuing to flick it, she quickly got herself out of the hoop and began spinning it around her right wrist, until she threw it into the air, curtsied once, and rolled forward, catching the hoop under her legs as it landed.

Upon standing up, she placed it around her neck and let it spin as she took several steps forward, kicking her right foot up to her head quickly and pulling the hoop down, beginning the climax of the performance. Sumire kicked the hoop around her ankle once, lifted it up and held it with her left hand and under her left foot. Bowing forward, she tossed it into the air, flourished her arms, and positioned herself in a backward handstand, catching the hoop around her right foot and spinning it. As it rolled down her leg, in a similar fashion as to the last time, she let it rotate downward until moving into a cartwheel and taking a hold of it. Rotating it around her right shoulder, she tossed it again, kicked her left leg up backward, held her arms out and caught it with the knot in her hair, letting it spin once before grabbing it. For the final stretch, she repeated her high-leg pivot, spun the hoop up and down her body, with it going between her legs, up and down one arm, through a leg outward, eventually resting on her right foot. Kicking it into the air one last time, Sumire bounced it off the back of her leg before catching it behind her back, jumping onto her knees and pressing the hoop down around her, completing her performance.

A round of applause echoed through the stadium as Sumire stood up and walked up to Hiraguchi, hugged her, and the two sat down, waiting for her score. Ren crossed his arms and smiled, already satisfied based on her performance alone. He looked back and saw Hanako clapping excitedly, happy to see how much Sumire has taken from her, and how far she's come on her own. Hanako was proud of her.

34.000.


Continuing in the order, Sakiya let Ren escort her out as she held her ball between her left arm and side. She waved to the audience as she walked onto the mat and laid down, holding her right arm up with the ball held between her legs. Upon hearing the music begin, an instrumental version of The Final Frontier by Iron Maiden, Sakiya rolled around onto her stomach and grabbed the ball with her left hand, tossing it to her right as she rolled around again, pivoting herself sideways on her left leg. Standing up with her right, she put her left hand on the mat and did a handstand forward, holding her legs in a split as the ball balanced between her right arm and leg. She let it bounce once immediately upon landing, switching it to her left hand and pressing it against her stomach before doing another quick handstand and split. The ball bounced one before she caught it with her right hand and tossed it while completing the handstand. Sakiya leaped forward once and caught it behind her back effortlessly, showcasing her daring nature and mindset. It rolled up her back and around her right arm due to the momentum, and she let it slide down between her legs, under her left as she bent it. Holding herself for a second, she did a standing full body rotation and tossed the ball from her leg, causing it to go flying into the air. She held her right arm out, her hand backward as she caught it and moved onto twirl, toss the ball behind her back, do a mid-air split, and twirl around two more times, tossing the ball high mid-jump.

It landed between her feet after the second toss, and she immediately did a forward roll, lightly tossing the ball up with her feet and catching it with her right hand. While she jumped up, it rolled down her arm, and she did another high toss before falling onto her belly, kicking both legs up behind her, and catching it with her back as both feet touched the floor, her back arched like a C as she laid on the floor. No roll could be left incomplete, so she pushed herself forward, tossed the ball again, and caught it between her legs after rotating around quickly. Moving on, Sakiya did a backward handstand, pushing the ball between the backs of her legs until she held it with her bent left leg, catching it with her right hand and throwing it lightly. As it moved through the air, she held her hands together and bounced it off her arms like a volleyball, twirling as it flew once more. Upon catching it, she did another full body rotation on her left leg, tossing the ball around her as she did. This dizzying move was extremely risky, but she had it completely covered. Sakiya caught the ball and continued tossing it, catching it in all sorts of daring ways.

After letting it bounce off the ground once, she kicked it onto her left foot and then up into the air, nestling it between her arms as it landed and twirling around once. Holding it behind and above her head with her left hand, she lifted her leg behind her head and did a short series of pivots, tossing the ball once she completed them. In a flashy move, she let it bounce off her back once after it bounced off the floor, and for a split second it appeared as though she wouldn't be able to catch it. Of course, she proved everyone wrong by easily catching it and moving to do several cartwheels forward, tossing and catching the ball each time without breaking a sweat. Once she completed her second cartwheel, she caught the ball between her legs and did a backward roll before standing up, holding the ball behind her left shoulder and pivoting around on her right toes again.

With the climax of the song here, Sakiya tossed the ball up again, caught it behind her and did a series of dance steps, marching like a soldier on his way to battle until she did a leap backward, tossing the ball and bouncing it off her back before crossing her arms above her head and catching the ball between her hands. As a final move, she spun, tossed the ball again, rolled forward and caught the ball between her legs, jumping up one last time as she balanced on one leg, threw the ball up and behind her, and laid down on her back on top of the ball as it landed.

Whistles and bravos resounded through the stadium as she stood and walked over to Hiraguchi and sat down.

She scored a 32.400.


Soon after Sakiya finished her performance with the ball, and after several more performances from the finalists, Sumire stepped up with her ball, Ren giving her a silent nod as he led her out. She walked to the center of the mat, outstretched both her legs, stood on her toes, and held her left hand with the ball above her head, using her right hand to support her left arm. Upon the first beat of her song, Keep Your Faith, Sumire raised her left leg behind her back and above her head, grasping her foot with her right hand as she did several pivots. Flawlessly, she completed them, put her foot down, and twirled once before tossing the ball and twirling around quickly four times before catching it. With the ball secured, Sumire did a cartwheel and tossed the ball from between her legs, letting it fly as she posed herself and caught it with her arms behind her back. Immediately, she did a series of backward steps, gaining momentum as she did a split jump backward, spinning around and tossing the ball again mid-spin. Upon landing, she held her hands up in the air, and the ball fell between her arms, landing on the back of her neck. While she balanced it, she placed her hands on the mat and pushed her body up, lifting her legs off the ground and touching her feet to her shoulders, keeping the ball in place the entire time.

With the flick of her feet, she threw the ball off her back, rolled forward, and caught it with her right hand, letting it slide down her back and into her left hand as she moved into a cartwheel. Each one of her movements carried a high degree of grace and boldness, a feat that no other rhythmic gymnast had accomplished in this event. Sumire twirled, tossed the ball, spun around onto her legs, spun again on her bottom, and caught the ball between her legs. Pushing it under her right leg with her left hand, she moved into a backward handstand, clenching the ball between the back of her calf and thigh. She held herself in this handstand and pushed the ball into her left leg, holding it in the same way while she planted her right foot back onto the mat. Holding herself on her right leg, she held her left leg high and let the ball roll across her back, her right arm, and right into her hand. She bounced it once, letting it hit the floor and then her chest before catching, pushing it against her, and doing a forward roll while keeping her legs in a split. The ball bounced one as she completed her flip, and with it secured in her hands again, she twirled, tossed it into the air, held her arms out, and caught it by letting it hit her right bicep and slide across her chest and left arm into her hand. She let herself fall as she did this, spinning around on one knee while tossing the ball between her hands. Elegantly, Sumire let the ball slide across her body, up and down her arms and across her back as the music soothed the hearts of the audience.

Knowing she had captured the attention of the entire stadium, Sumire tossed the ball, twirled, and caught it while bending herself backward into another handstand, doing a split as she balanced herself. With a refined, distinguished pose she held her left leg bent up behind her before bouncing the ball once and spinning around on her right foot, tossing the ball from her left hand and letting it fall between her arms onto the back of her neck again. This time, she didn't hold it, instead letting it roll around her neck into her hands. On her left toes, she did a standing full body rotation while holding the ball out with her right hand. Sumire danced as she tossed the ball again, clapping her hands together while crossing her legs, letting the ball bounce off the mat, onto her knee, and into her hand in one swift motion. She did another forward handstand, tossing the ball and catching it between her legs once it landed. Taking it with her left hand, she let it roll down her arm while she did another rotation on her leg, sweeping it up with her right hand as she completed it.

At the climax of the song, Sumire held her left leg in the air again as she bounced the ball while pivoting around and leaning forward. She tossed it slightly into the air and bounced it off her elbows before letting it bounce off the floor again and off her right foot, which she held in the air. Spinning around again, she tossed the ball, got onto her right knee, and bent her right foot behind her back and over her shoulder, letting the ball bounce once off her foot before doing another roll. For her final act, she did a spinning cartwheel, tossing the ball and arching herself backward before catching it and pivoting around on her left hand and foot. She pressed the ball against the back of her head and left leg, which she lifted behind her head and grabbed with her right hand, performing one last series of pivots until she tossed it into the air, rolled backward, and pressed her chest against the ball as soon as it hit the ground, the music stopping right on cue.

Cheers echoed throughout the stadium, most notably in the Phantom Thieves' section of the booth as Sumire stood up, walked over to Hiraguchi and waited to receive her score.

34.100.


As the next round began, Sakiya took a calm, deep breath in the Warm-Up Hall. Neither Sumire, Hanako or herself had said a word to one another. All focus was on last-minute practice. There was nothing to say. They all knew what was at stake, and they silently understood one another through their own body movements. Once her name was called, Ren guided her to the floor with a smile. They did not need to speak out loud either. Sakiya felt a strange warmth in her chest, far different from the one she felt with Ryuji, which told her Ren completely understood her in that moment. It helped calm her down. She stepped out onto the mat, held her right leg out, and placed the combined clubs on the mat upright and held them in place with her right hand. When the music began, an instrumental version of Speed of Light by Iron Maiden, in a daring yet quick move, Sakiya did a rolling handstand along with a split while she flipped the clubs in her left hand and threw them into the air as she planted both feet onto the mat. While they flew, she did a short series of erratic body movements, swaying her hips and arms before twirling and catching the clubs mid-spin. The audience didn't even notice her split off the clubs, and she continued to spin them around separately before walking forward and doing a flourish with them, juggling them both between her hands.

Keeping in-tune with her song of choice, Sakiya did another twirl, tossing a club and catching it before repeating the same burst of movements without letting up whatsoever. The clubs spun around in her hands like helicopter blades, moving so quickly that Ren was surprised they didn't fly away entirely. She kept up the momentum as she moved her arms up and down, tapping her feet on the mat in a series of flashy, bombastic dance steps. At different points, the clubs left her hands and flew through the air while she continued to dance, and every time, she caught them perfectly while not stopping whatsoever. The clubs were tossed in various ways; one between her legs as she did a standing split, the other mid-jump twirl. Every single toss was extremely well-practiced and calculated. Ren had watched Sumire and her enough to know that if she went out of sync with her music for even a second, she'd lose one of the clubs.

That was how Sakiya loved to perform, though. On top of that, she was performing with her best apparatus in front of Ryuji at the Olympics. No medal mattered at that moment. Tossing one club into her raised right arm, she crossed them in an X and lifted her right leg up completely before doing a quick pivot and tossing both clubs immediately as she put her foot down. One toss went so high that Ren lost track of it, but before he knew it, she had the club in hand once more. Like a tidal wave, she wouldn't stop for anything. Her next series of dance steps included four high leaps while doing a split, tossing a club and catching it each time. Sakiya swirled and twirled, spinning the clubs around her wrists before doing a spinning jump, tossing them both, and sliding onto the ground, only to catch them and continue on. One club rotated between her legs and under her right foot as she rolled sideways and spun the other with her left hand.

Kicking the club up, she started to juggle them again while on one knee, her right leg outstretched. Bouncing one club off the other, she stood up, spun around, and caught it behind her back before throwing them up into the air separately. Both landed in her hands as she leaned forward on her right foot, holding her left into the air behind her, touching the back of her head as she drummed the clubs against the ground. Each tap directly matched the beat of the drums from her song, and she threw a club into the air while she put her foot down, doing another spin and catching it. Following up this move was a full body rotation on her left leg, where she tossed the clubs again and caught them once she was standing upright again. Back in position, she followed a similar pattern of twirling around and tossing the clubs as she moved. They both flew extremely high in the air, but she managed to catch them both while doing a cartwheel. When it came to the pivotal, turning point of the "story" for her performance, Ren felt it came and went faster than he could really notice. Sakiya tossed the clubs into the air and rolled on her ride, catching them on her back before standing back up, doing another full body rotation, juggling the clubs, rolling backward, and doing one last cartwheel before landing on the ground in a pose, the clubs pressed against the mat in an X shape while she held up her left hand with her index finger and pinky up.

Like a roaring thunder, the audience clapped for her, Ryuji the loudest rumble of them all. Sakiya stood up and walked over to Coach Hiraguchi, sitting next to her to receive her final score.

33.450.


Several other finalists performed after Sakiya finished her club performance, and Sumire's turn came up not long after. Placing her left foot in front of her right, leaning on her toes, Sumire placed the combined clubs on top of her head, the stick pressing against her hair knot. Slowly, she lowered her arms, and the clubs sat, unmoving. As soon as the music began, Colors Flying High, Sumire tilted her head slightly forward, and the clubs rolled off right onto her left knee as she leaped forward. They bounced into the air, and she did a quick jumping twirl before catching them with her right hand and doing a forward cartwheel, holding herself in an upside-down standing split with her left hand pressed against the mat. After a second passed, she completed the cartwheel and tossed the clubs into the air as she landed on her feet. Without any delay, she moved into a series of quick twirls before jumping forward again to catch the clubs. Once she caught them, she held them above her head and split them apart before crossing them in an X shape with her left hand. Holding her left leg bent behind her, her left arm outstretched, and her right in the air, Sumire pivoted around three times before holding her left leg up to her head and grabbing it with her hand and doing three more pivots. Each one of her movements was seamless and graceful.

This fact did not stop as she moved on to gently twirl and jump around the mat, spinning the clubs with both of her hands as she went. Every time the music hit a high note, she jumped and did a standing split. Upon doing this three times, she threw the club in her left hand into the air, and then the club in her right hand, one second apart. Posing like Hanako, she waited for the first to fall and caught it before doing a quick backward roll and catching the other one. Moving onto several more tosses, Sumire kept a high degree of boldness in each one of her performances, though it perfectly blended with her grace each and every time. She spun the clubs between her legs before tossing one, catching it, and throwing one to the ground while throwing the other into the air as it spun. While the one spun, she kicked the one on the floor between her ankles, caught the other, and tossed it forward before doing a roll. Taking the club between her ankles, she held her hand out, caught the one in the air, and rolled backward to stand up.

Sumire continued to pull off several more unique difficulties, combining them in an order not yet seen. Ren could feel her determination as she tossed the clubs into the air again, twirled around several times, and caught them as she did a spinning fall onto her back in a nonstop montage of rapid movements. After rolling backward and standing up, she outstretched her arms, held her right leg backward and high into the air, and began to pivot around on her left foot while drumming the clubs against the ground. She pivoted around four times before tossing a club and lowering her leg, catching it a second later. Following up with a bold move, she rotated herself on her left leg, throwing a club as she did, catching it with her left hand held under her leg. Continuing to match the beat of her song, she twirled and rotated the clubs around her as she moved. The clubs never stopped, spinning and spinning as Sumire happily showcased her perfected execution and aesthetic performance. Upon tossing a club in the air while holding herself backward, she caught it and did one last forward rotation before spinning around into a sitting position, crossing the clubs into an X, held against her back with her left hand as she held her right arm out in the direction of Ren, her performance complete.

Several seconds passed before she stood up, the stadium roaring with applause as she walked over to Hiraguchi, hugged her, and sat down.

She scored 33.500, beating out Sakiya by .50 points.


With the final round of performances coming to its conclusion, Sakiya stepped up onto the mat with her green ribbon. It was wrapped around her leg, and she held the baton in her left hand. Placing her left foot two feet in front of her left, balancing on her toes, she held her back straight up and assumed her starting pose. In a flash, the music began, an instrumental version of Eagles Dare by Iron Maiden, and Sakiya spun the ribbon around her in a rapid flourish, with it quickly unraveling from her leg as she spun it around her chest and head. As she continued, she lifted her left foot behind her and lowered the ribbon so it spun around her leg as she rotated around. Upon the high notes of the song, she quickly lifted her arm, throwing the ribbon into the air as it twirled on its own. While it flew through the air, she did a somersault forward and spun around on her bottom, catching it flawlessly. Just as fast as she was on the floor, she jumped back up and spun around, angling the ribbon around her, letting it flourish as she raised and lowered her arm, spinning on her right foot.

This continued for several seconds until Sakiya lifted her left leg at a ninety-degree angle behind her, holding her arms outstretched as she spun the ribbon in front of her. Swiftly, she moved the ribbon behind her, and then between her legs, switching hands. Once she lowered her leg, she began to leap around expeditiously and full of energy. The smile on her face as she jumped around the arena made Ryuji smile in return. She knew this was her last performance, and she wanted to show everyone her style. Her routine. The scores so far made it clear that this performance wouldn't change what was coming, but she wasn't going to let that stop her. Using the momentum she had built up, she made one grand leap and did a standing split in the air, waving the ribbon high above her while keeping a firm grip on the baton. With another spin, she tossed her ribbon into the air once more and pivoted around on one foot, catching it mid-rotation. Each throw was extremely risky, as it all depended on how fast the ribbon would fall and how fast she spun. For Sakiya, it was clockwork. Sumire and her had been practicing their final routines together for the past nine months, and now they were showing the world how hard they had worked.

The next step Sakiya took was to toss the ribbon into the air again, spinning around on her right foot while holding her arms against her. This lasted for several seconds before she held her right arm and leg out, catching the ribbon as it fell. As soon as she caught it, she did a handstand with her free hand, spinning the ribbon around her as she held herself for several seconds. After landing, she did two more quick spins and let the ribbon slide down her leg before kicking it into the air. Before it landed, she jumped forward and held her hand under her leg, which she lifted into the air as the ribbon fell. With the baton and part of the ribbon in both her hands, she began to twirl the ribbon around her in a series of quick body motions, dancing around the fabric as she floated around the mat. With each of her movements there was a hint of grace, yet she let her daring, bombastic approach to her performances always shone through. Sakiya jumped, twirled, and continued to throw the ribbon around with precision in every step. At one point, she spun it around her back before lifting her right leg above her head and doing another series of spins. In another flourish, she tossed the ribbon and did three rolls forward on the mat, barely catching the ribbon as she held her hand forward. In terms of difficulties, that was extremely risky, but she pulled it off.

As the music came to its climax, she rolled backward on the mat, and as her body moved, she twirled the ribbon around herself, without it ever getting caught against the floor. Standing up, she held a leg in the air again and did another rapid flourish. The last bout of her performance consisted of several repeated movements, throwing the ribbon in the air while spinning, ultimately culminating into her final pose, which consisted of her throwing the ribbon into the air, posing, and dramatically falling over, with the ribbon landing between her legs. Applause erupted throughout the stadium, with Ryuji's resounding above everyone else's. With a bow, Sakiya walked over to Hirauguchi, hugged her, and sat down, waiting to receive her score.

33.000.


At that moment, Sakiya knew she had lost. Her score wouldn't add up to what Sumire already had, and there wasn't a doubt in her mind that Sumire's ribbon performance would be the best there ever was. As she thought about it, though, her mind felt clear. Sumire, her rival and best friend, was going to win the 2024 Olympics. Sakiya knew that for a fact, but she was happy, sitting next to Hiraguchi, doing the math in her head, and looking up at Ryuji and her friends.

This was fine. Before any tears formed, she saw Ryuji's smile, and just like that, everything was all right.

Besides, Sakiya wanted to see Sumire pull off a miracle for the whole world to see.

Sumire felt her heart having palpitations as she listened to Sakiya receive her score with the ribbon, which was her final score for the entire competition. Following her breathing technique, she stepped forward in the Warm-Up Hall, where Ren waited at the curtain, a smile on his face.

"We're finally here." Sumire smiled at him.

"The World Stage." He replied with a grin.

"And now, for our last performance of the 2024 Rhythmic Gymnastics All-Around Competition: Performing with the ribbon: Sumire Yoshizawa!"

Nodding, Sumire took a step forward and stopped, a nervous smile on her face. As she hesitated for a split second, she felt both Ren's hand and the hand of a young woman push her forward. She spun around and only saw Ren, who put a hand on her shoulder.

"It's showtime."

As Sumire made her way out to the floor, Ren used the last of his Phantom Thief agility to make his way up to sit with his friends on the bleachers, taking a seat next to Hiraguchi, who had followed his instructions. Each one of his friends gave him a nod as he walked by, and Ryuji and Yusuke put their banner away while Haru and Makoto lifted theirs. Ren wished Hanako could have been there, but she was in the Warm-Up Hall with Sakiya, acting as the reserve and watching Sumire. Futaba, Yusuke, Ann, Shiho, Morgana, Makoto and Haru were all there, and that meant the world to him. Hiraguchi joined them, much to his surprise. After Sumire's last performance, both of them knew they needed to rush back down to the floor. She needed to be there with Sumire as she received her score, and Ren had something incredibly important to do.

Sumire took a deep breath as she looked over her ribbon, crafted specifically for this performance. Carved into the long, red wooden handle were three names: "Sumire," "Kasumi," and "Ren." Tears formed in her eyes as she looked over the design and began her final performance. Everyone in the arena was struck silent by her flawless combination of boldness and grace as she showcased her perfected routine.

For her starting pose, Sumire raised the baton above her head with her right hand, outstretching the ribbon with her left. The flower pattern immediately encapsulated the eyes of everyone in the stadium. She held her left foot outstretched in front of her right, waiting for the music to begin.

Only just by calling out to me by name

As the song began, Arigatou, Daisuki by Minori Chihara, Sumire gracefully spun around twice before moving into a forward somersault, tossing the ribbon into the air as she rolled forward. While it flew, she twirled around four times, once in the air as she jumped mid-twirl, catching the ribbon as she landed. With the flick of her wrist, she began rapidly twirling the ribbon as she rotated backward on her right leg, a bold maneuver taught to her by Sakiya. Never letting the ribbon stop, she pushed herself up on the toes of her right foot while bending her left leg above her head, her left hand holding the baton of the ribbon in place against her leg as she spun around, with the ribbon encompassing her form.

One pivot. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Sumire made a new record in the span of three seconds, but she didn't stop her performance. That act alone skyrocketed her difficulty score.

I can feel my heart begin to race

Without missing a beat, Sumire performed a series of leaps, spinning the ribbon around her as her legs split with each jump, her arms flowing with the ribbon, which matched the gracefulness of the song. After the third leap, she did a cartwheel and tossed the ribbon into the air again behind her back before twirling several more times, catching the ribbon mid-twirl with her right hand. As she caught it, she moved her body and spun around to lie on the floor, spinning the ribbon around her as her legs touched the mat. While sitting, she rolled backward with her right arm outstretched, keeping the ribbon moving the entire time. Standing herself up, she did another series of six pivots with the baton held upside down in her hand and her left leg held above her head again.

There's a joy whenever you're by my side

Ah, I hope it never fades

Once she finished the pivots, she moved on to do a flip backward, supporting herself with her left hand as she held her legs in the air, spinning the ribbon around her with her right hand. While she stood on one hand, she spun the ribbon in front of her, forming a spiral that formed the illusion of flowers flowing in the wind. Slowly, she completed her flip and planted her feet on the mat before spinning around once and kicking her left foot high into the air, spinning the ribbon around her leg as she passed it between her hands between her legs. As she completed the pass, she bundled the ribbon up in her hand for a split second before tossing it into the air and letting the baton fly. In a bold move, Sumire did a somersault forward and pulled the apparatus out of the air by the ribbon, flawlessly catching the baton as she completed the flip. Ren watched in complete awe as she put on the fierce look in her life, and despite all that, while dancing nonstop and constantly moving, she managed to find him in the crowd and smile.

In the wind

There's a love that blows so gently

I can't show

Taking me towards a dream of tomorrow

Continuing her performance, she tossed the ribbon into the air again and flourished herself, skipping forward and incorporating several moves that echoed Hanako's style. It might have been her worst apparatus, but Hanako's flair added a layer of style that couldn't quite be matched. When the ribbon began to fly downward, Sumire did a cartwheel and caught it behind her back before moving into another series of leaps and twirls, spinning the ribbon around her arm before letting the baton slide down her back for a second and lifting her leg, catching it behind her back with her left arm and pulling off her third and final series of pivots.

Maybe I can say, how I felt that day

And how I've changed

Before I've known

Sumire completed her pivots and held her right leg up, bending her knee and spinning the ribbon around her, pointing it down so it spun around her left foot. In a rapid movement, she lifted the baton up and rotated her body before continuing to spin around and doing another somersault. Once she stood up, she held her right foot to the back of her head, letting her feet touch her knotted hair. Balancing on her left leg, she let the ribbon spin briefly before standing herself up, jutting one leg outward, and spinning the ribbon around her leg.

Though I'm not the best at speaking loud and clear

One day I hope you will come to hear

Upon hearing the lyrics, Sumire knew she was in the final leg of the performance. She proceeded to do another flip forward, kicking the ribbon high into the air from her leg mid-flip, and as it soared flew the air, Sumire skipped forward, looked directly at Ren, and gave him a loving smile and making the symbol of a heart with her hands as she skipped side-to-side.

Thanks for all you do

I love you

Sumire bent herself backward to catch the ribbon, flourishing it around herself as she completed her flip and landed in a split, spinning the ribbon above her head.

I'll stay like this

Just a little more in sweetened bliss

As the music winded down, Sumire rolled herself over and threw the ribbon around the knot in her hair, which caused the ribbon to form the shape of a heart on the mat around her as she took one last deep breath and exhaled, completing her final rhythmic gymnastics performance.

A few seconds after the music stopped, Sumire stood up and waved at the audience, including all her friends. Ren was nowhere in sight, though. Hiraguchi had made her way back down to the couch and was waiting. Sumire didn't notice a thing.

She couldn't stop to look for him, so she walked over to Hiraguchi, who waited for her on a couch. Wordlessly, they enveloped each other in a hug as Sumire sat down, waiting for her score to be announced.

"With that final performance, the All-Around Finals for the Rhythmic Gymnastics Competitions of the 2024 Paris Olympics is completed. Now we must wait for the judges to tally the final scores!"

Sumire felt no panic, fear or anxiety within her heart. She knew she had done her best.

"I have you all I had, Kasumi… We did it."

Sumire Yoshizawa's ribbon performance score totaled to 40 points even, a new record for Olympic performances. Her total score was 141.600 points. While the final scores hadn't quite been announced yet, everyone in the stadium knew one thing.

Sumire Yoshizawa had won the gold.

Once Sumire and Hiraguchi exited the stage, she looked around for Ren, but still couldn't find him anywhere. She was given no spare time to think, as the victory ceremony began straight after. The final scores were once again announced, first with Sumire's, and then Sakiya's, which totaled 128.850 points. After that, they announced the rest of the finalists and their scores. The top three stepped out and lined up, with Linoy Ashram's name being called first.

"Bronze medalist, representing Israel! Linoy Ashram!"

Linoy stepped up on the rightmost podium, and one of the official Olympic representatives presented her with the bronze medal. After that, another official presented her with a small statue, meant to represent the Paris Olympics games.

"Silver medalist, representing Japan! Sakiya Archambeau!"

Dignified and with grace in each step, Sakiya walked around the podium and shook hands with Linoy before stepping onto the leftmost podium and waving directly at Ryuji. As the Olympic official stepped up and presented her with the silver medal, she bent forward and let him place it around her neck with a smile.

At that moment, she was happy.

She got to perform for Ryuji, and she was content with that.

Sakiya kissed her silver medal and held it up in the air, and a few seconds later, another FIG official gave her the same statue.

...

"Gold medalist, and Olympic Champion, representing Japan! Sumire Yoshizawa!"

Sumire flourished her arms and waved to the crowd, the cameras, to everyone in the world. She stepped around the podium and shook Linoy's hand before walking over to Sakiya.

With a smile, Sakiya outstretched her hand, and Sumire firmly grasped it, returning an even brighter smile. Wordlessly, they let each other go, and Sumire walked around to step onto the central, tallest podium. She ecstatically waved to the crowd once more, rotating in a circle as she looked to Futaba, Makoto, Haru, Yusuke, Hanako, Ann, Shiho, and Hanako, who had made her way back to the bleachers. After rotating around, the current FIG President himself, acting as an Olympic Representative, presented her with the gold medal. She gracefully bent forward and let him place the medal around her neck. The smooth texture of the strap around her neck and the weight of the medal as it hit her lower chest confirmed to her that it was real.

Just to make sure, she lifted it up with her right hand and kissed it.

The cold texture confirmed to her that it was very real, and split into four, smaller medals upon closer examination. The top medal had the current Olympic number engraved above the Olympic symbol and an angelic Olympic athlete. The three smaller medals had the symbol of Paris, along with PARIS written under it, the current Olympic number, and the symbol. Sumire waved to the crowd for a few more seconds before being presented with the same, small statue. She gently picked it up, a radiant smile on her face.

"For the first time, Japan has risen to the international level and dominated the rhythmic gymnastics scene. This must have been a monumental undertaking, but Sakiya Archambeau and Sumire Yoshizawa were willing to face that challenge, and it paid off wonderfully." One announcer stated. "Now, for the Japanese national anthem."

Sumire and Sakiya sang the Japanese national anthem while Linoy mouthed along, with three flags lifted by several poles rising up for everyone to see. Two of them were Japanese flags, and one was the Israeli flag. Upon finishing the anthem, Sakiya and Linoy stepped up to the central podium, and the three presented their medals together.

While they did, one of the staff members spotted a raven-haired man stepping out of the shadows and walking up to the mat.

The cameras flashed, and several of them recorded every second of the event.

Ren stepped out of the shadows and some of the cameras panned over to him.

"It appears we have an unexpected guest!" One announcer exclaimed. "What's this?" Another panned to Sumire, who excitedly stepped down from the podium. In a mad dash, the two ran up to each other, and Sumire jumped into Ren's arms. With a wide smile on his face, Ren lifted her up, and the two shared a tender hug.

"Keep rolling keep rolling!" Yelled another announcer.

Wordlessly, Ren put Sumire down and slid out of his jacket, throwing it around her. As he did, he used what was left of his Phantom Thief skills to reach into the jacket pocket and pull out a small, black box.

Holding the box in his hand out of Sumire's view, Ren smiled and took a step back.

"Sumire. I've waited a long time for this moment. I know I'm interrupting the victory ceremony, but I seriously couldn't wait to congratulate you. You've been training for years, and now, we've finally taken the crown of the gymnastics world. I know that you said one day, you wanted to take care of me as I do for you. Is that still true?"

Sumire's eyes went wide as her heart exploded in her chest.

"Yes! Ren... I..."

"Kasumi's been watching over us this whole time, too. She must be pretty happy right now, huh? We finally got to honor her, and now that we have, I wanted to ask you something."

"Ask away."

Delicately, Ren bent down onto one knee, pulled out the black box, opening it and revealing a beautiful, perfectly carved diamond ring.

"Sumire Yoshizawa. Will you marry me?"

The announcers found themselves crowding on top of one another behind the two as they waited for an answer.

"Of course!"