CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE
The heartbeat of the audience could be felt in the air almost as clearly as Viktor had felt it through his partner's skin, and the energy in the room changed when the final skater took to the ice. It wasn't pity or anticipation of the worst, or even expectation that Yuri would once again surprise the world with a performance that would completely eclipse his prior shows, as he had at the previous year's Grand Prix Final. It was a reserved nervousness, as though every person in the arena had the same stage fright that the performer did, and each one of them was ready to jump out into the rink in case he fell.
"Skater Yuri has had something of a rough go so far this season." Newscaster Morooka was saying, sitting just off of rink-side with his co-host, Oda, as they broadcasted for the JSF, "At his first qualifying competition in Canada, he got sick in the middle of the event and lost his voice, barely managing to snag Gold there for his efforts. At the second, in China, he misjudged his distance from the rink wall during the last jump of his Short Program and collided with it. He starts the Final with a handicap already, as many will already be aware that he'd suffered an unfortunate accident late yesterday night."
"It seems the hopes and prayers of the world are reaching out to him tonight though." Oda added, the pair watching as Yuri looked on in awe at the crowd, and all the support it was showing, "Skater Yuri has decided he's going to compete in spite of the head injury he sustained yesterday. All the other competitors are close to rink-side to show their support."
The skater took note of all the familiar faces surrounding him. Viktor, Chris, and Phichit at the edge of the rink, Celestino and Yakov nearby as well. He could barely see the familiar flag that Minako held up to cheer him on, as well as his sister sitting next to her, holding up her own sign to show support. It wasn't hard to spot the silver-haired extended family flanking them both. Yurio and Otabek were in the stands just above the doorway to the Players' Club...and to his surprise, Celeste was standing there within it.
How long has she been there...? I must've walked right by her and never noticed.
The medic seemed to realize she'd been spotted, and perked up a bit to stand straighter than before. She raised one hand, and tapped the spot on her forehead where Yuri's had been split open the night before, but then moved her hand down, curling her fingers so only the index and pinky were still extended...pointed them at her eyes, and then turned her hand to point them at the skater in turn.
...She's watching out for me...
She lifted both hands to give him a quick thumbs up for good luck before Yuri nodded in gratitude and finally turned his attention to the ice.
Time seemed to stand still for everyone once the figure kissed his ring and took position, silvery vestments shimmering under the lights from high above.
Viktor had finally let go of Chris' head, but his hands were clasped on top of one another just under his chin, protective of his own ring. You can do this, Yuri...just take it easy and focus on the things we talked about...I'm out there on the ice with you. We'll do this together, like always.
Chris himself had folded his arms across his chest loosely, lime-green eyes watching the ice intently. You were always known for your footwork and spins. Remind everyone that you can shine even without the toughest jumps.
Phichit had his fingers woven together, one resting against the edge of his upper lip, eyes fixated on his friend. You've always hated being the center of attention, but you've always been really competitive...the only thing you hate more than that is losing. Do your best, but be careful...!
Even Celestino was captivated, though from a coach's perspective, it was different. He looked on cautiously, pursing his lips as he drew an anxious breath, remembering his former student's worst habits. When you're on the precipice of losing it all, but haven't yet given up...you take reckless risks. For once, listen to your coach. He has more reason than anyone to want you to come off the ice under your own power, rather than someone else's. Don't do anything if you aren't absolutely sure you can pull off.
Otabek had retaken his seat, and crossed one leg over the other in relaxed curiosity. I saw that collision first-hand, and was probably more surprised than anyone that Viktor let you skate anyway. I can't tell if you actually feel fine or not...but whatever you do, don't be stupid out there. Survive this and come back stronger at Four Continents.
Yurio was still standing though, leaning against the railing and clutching one hand to it tightly. I know I've been an asshole to you. I don't know why I'm worse to you, someone who's been nothing but kind to me, than I am to total strangers. I'm sorry for that. If you make it through this thing...I swear never to blow up at you again. Do you hear that, Katsudon? Show me that you can...skate with no mistakes... Even if you come in last, do so perfectly...
The arena seemed to go deathly quiet as everyone waited for the music to start. The seconds ticked on like hours. People could hear their hearts beating in their heads, and the uncomfortable sound of their own nervous swallows. But then time went back to normal, and the stadium filled with sound.
Oh oh oh oh ohhhhh
Yuri's extended right hand lifted higher, and he dipped his face low as the left skate twisted in an arc behind him, pulling him through a slow rotation as both hands came into mutual position at his sides.
Oh oh oh oh ohhhhh
He slid backward, both arms rising up from waist-level until they were parallel with his shoulders, then swept down again as he curved in-line with the rink wall.
Oh oh oh oh ohhhhh
Speed increased, and Yuri moved out from the corner of the rink, kicking his left leg out behind himself and using the momentum to spin through two backwards twizzles.
Oh oh oh oh ohhhhh
Setting the left blade down as he came out of the last of the double-sliding-spins, Yuri leaned slightly forward, glided for a second, and then vaulted into his first jump.
Hands gripped tightly to the edges of seats and sections of the rink wall, and all eyes were open.
Sssskah! Three and a half rotations... SKO-Shhhhhh...
Wild applause, and Yuri maneuvered on in reverse, the only thing hobbling him being the shock of pain in his head as his foot hit the ice. But he carried on...15 seconds down, 130 or so to go. Clapping and cheering told Yuri all he needed to know about how his jump looked to others, rather than how it felt to himself.
I messed up tonight, I lost another fight, I still mess up but I'll just start again.
Twisting and gliding across the white stage, hips and legs singing through the pseudo-step-sequence easily, the skater let his head calm from the drum-beat of that unfortunate headache. Blades cuffed the ice on every other beat of the song, but in spite of the pain, Yuri tried to let himself start to have fun with the program.
I keep falling down, I keep on hitting the ground, I always get up now to see what's next.
He swiveled and paused close to the short end of the rink, far on the opposite side from where the coaches were watching. His hands went above himself as he twisted and turned, slowly moving down towards his hips and settling there as his hips turned. On the last beat, his hands went out to side-clap against one another, left hand bouncing down and away as the right moved up instead before he took off again.
The most intense of the required spins was coming up, and Yuri gained the first level of difficulty for thrusting himself into its first position from a backwards entry, rotating head behind foot in the camel spin.
I won't give up, no I won't give in, 'til I reach the end and then I'll start again
He lowered down into the broken-leg sit spin, level 2, holding his core into it tightly to rotate faster. As he brought the extended leg in under himself to switch feet, gaining level 3, he rose up into the scratch spin, and attained the highest rank for spins possible, level 4, before breaking out of the blur and reorienting himself to the ice in preparation for his second jump.
No, I won't leave, I wanna try everything, I wanna try even though I could fail.
His skates lined up with one another, left in front of right as he flew backwards. Arms were stretched out for balance, but then lowered a bit...
"Skater Yuri's second jump of the program, and the required combination-jump...here he goes..." Morooka was saying, leaning forward in anticipation.
The figure's body dipped a little, and the left skate left the ice, knee and both hands rising up as he spun thrice, landed, glided for half a second as the blade touched down again, and he launched a second time. Three rotations and both hands in the air, and Yuri came back down again.
"Double-tano on both jumps! That'll help get him extra points to make-up for that first jump being a triple instead of a quad!"
I won't give up, no I won't give in, 'til I reach the end and then I'll start again
.
"You weren't kidding about this song being like the spiritual successor to your 'Yuri on Ice' program." Viktor laughed, clicking the 'pause' button on his little hand-held controller. He glanced over to where Yuri was braking on the ice, "It really does speak to the definition of your journey."
"So you think it'll work?" The younger figure wondered, pushing forward on a toe-pick to get closer, hands settling loosely on his hips as he glided in, "Ketty has already agreed to pare it down. I told her which bits I thought would be fine to remove. She should have it done in a day or two."
"It'll be perfect." Viktor nodded, then looking up to all the banners that were still hanging from the rafters, "We'll have to change a few of those out once we're done with the Grand Prix."
Yuri crossed his arms loosely, but lifted his head and looked around, seeing the various images from the previous year. He looked back when he felt an arm come around him, and he returned the gesture, settling a hand on the Russian's hip before looking up again, "It's still half a year away, but it seems like it's right around the corner, too. I can feel the butterflies in my stomach already."
"Really?" Viktor huffed a laugh, "Why?"
"Other than it being your come-back season?" Yuri wondered idly, "There'll be a lot more pressure, I think. After winning Gold at Worlds...I won't have any excuse to score under 100 in the Short Program, or under 200 in the Free Skate. Gone are the days of hard-fought 90s and 170s. It feels...weird."
"It's a different tier, that's for sure." The silver legend agreed, "Once you're in that bracket, it's hard to be satisfied with any performance less than that. The audience expects so much more from you, too."
"That's half of what I'm nervous about."
"You've never really cared what the audience thought before." Viktor said, turning his head to look at his partner, "Why do you care now?"
Yuri lowered his gaze in thought, "It's like I told you in China...my performance doesn't just reflect on me anymore. It reflects on you, too. If I do well or badly...no matter what..."
"We rise together and fall together." The Russian finished, "Just like the Mayor said for us in Barcelona." He saw those brown eyes turning up towards him, and Viktor reached his free hand up to stroke the side of his fingers against the man's cheek, "So let's get on the podium together, too, for as long as we can."
.
No, I won't leave, I wanna try everything, I wanna try even though I could fail
Viktor didn't just teach me how to skate like a Champion...he said I had it in me somewhere all along. Yuri thought, He just gave me the confidence in myself to bring that skill out into the open. He made me trust myself, even like myself...
He leaned forward, dipped down slightly, and then vaulted into the flying camel-spin, hands clasped behind his back as he rotated.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhhh
Try everything
...He showed me the value of being able to learn from my mistakes and grow from them, rather than regretting them, and letting them hold me down like weights. This song is as much a reflection of my growth as it is the story of how Viktor got me to think differently, too. I'm not in this thing alone.
He came out of the T-shaped spin, descended slightly on a bent knee, and hopped to switch feet and change edges, continuing the spin as he leaned to the side for the next component, reaching back for the blade of one skate as he went. As his rotating leg lifted him up and straightened out again, he pulled on his free leg until that boot was nearly behind his head.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhhh
Try everything
.
"Your flexibility is still something that begs attention." Viktor pointed out, watching as his husband slouched through the end of the spin he'd been working on, "You could get a lot more out of those moves if you could bend more."
"...Bend...more? How so...?"
"Well, you can do a split at this point, but only if you've got something propping your legs apart." The Russian mused idly, skating a wide circle around the younger figure, a finger on his lip in thought, "But there's a whole new world of moves that you could do if you could bend more without that kind of help. Split jumps, connecting elements like the Charlotte spiral, or even Biellmann spins."
"...Those are mostly moves that the Ladies use though."
"Pssht." Viktor scoffed, pulling his hand down and building up speed before twisting tightly into a circle and demonstrating his own Biellmann. He only spun a few times before letting the blade go and returning to slide normally, "It's fun when the guys do it, too. People often think the women do those moves mostly because the men can't. So...surprise everyone. Yurio can't be the only competitor on our circuit who attempts these."
"Surprising the audience is your thing." Yuri gave him a look, "But...I guess so."
.
The full Biellmann spin still made him a bit dizzier than he'd like, but the skater did his best, keeping his eyes open to watch the horizon as he felt the burn in his stretched legs.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhhh
He let go of his foot, and the rotation gave him the momentum to move out of the maneuver, his head spinning somewhat, though only as much as he'd expected. The headache made it a bit worse than he'd liked, but it faded slightly when he started moving forward normally again...and entered into his step sequence.
Look how far you've come, you filled your heart with love,
Baby, you've done enough, take a deep breath.
A bevy of intricate turns and moves; choctaws, brackets, cross-overs, unlisted half-jumps, 3-turns, mohawks, twizzles, and an assortment of arm movements to follow through. The skater made use of the entire rink, moving forward at times and backward in others, constantly changing edges, feet, and direction, always careful never to forget where his blades were and ensuring he never tripped over himself.
Don't beat yourself up, don't need to run so fast, sometimes we come last, but we did our best.
He suddenly came to a stop, frost flying from his blades. He stomped the ice three times with the last three beats of the stanza, then forward-inside twizzled to start moving ahead again, heading towards the closest side of the rink-wall as the step sequence continued.
I won't give up, no I won't give in, 'til I reach the end and then I'll start again
No, I won't leave, I wanna try everything, I wanna try even though I could fail
The final move also brought Yuri to the final jump of his Short Program, and everyone knew it. Viktor had both hands clutching to the upper lip of the wall, his fingers all but digging into the fiberglass as he watched.
Yuri slid directly down the center of the rink length-wise, and spread his arms out wide before starting to lean down. His left leg went straight into the air above himself, both hands reaching down to grab the ankle on the right.
.
"I don't know if the Charlotte Spiral is such a good idea..." Yuri half-whined, barely able to get his free leg higher than 125* as compared to the leg holding him up at rink-side.
"Your legs have to be at 180 or it won't count." Viktor pointed out, "Try again."
"...Can't I just do a 3-turn like normal...?" The younger figure wondered as he reluctantly started the lean his shoulder forward again, the free leg sticking out at barely a 45* angle behind him.
"Concentrate." The Russian instructed, patting one hand on the top of the wall and ignoring that last comment, "Lift your free leg as high as it can go."
Doing as such, said leg went up to around 165*...and Viktor used a finger against the toe of that sock to push it the last little bit of the way before Yuri was in a complete split...but that just made the skater grunt.
"...Hm, you're still not able to complete the split without help." The Russian huffed, letting the leg down so Yuri could stand normally again. He tilted slightly to the left and leaned against the wall casually, "You need to be more flexible."
"I know!" Yuri whined, all but going down onto his knees.
"You need some kind of motivation. Oh! I know...I can do it. I'll show you."
"I know you can do it!"
The silver Russian was already putting the move on display though and looked rather proud of it as he turned his head to look at his partner, "Chris can do it, too!"
"I know! He's got bones like greenstick branches!"
"Yurio used to do these just while standing around with his phone in St. Petersburg." Viktor offered, though still standing in that split position, curling his arms over the top of the wall and leaning the side of one cheek against them, "Doing a standing split should be nothing to a skater, especially the front-split variety."
"Not everyone's as flexible as you guys!"
"...JJ can do it."
Those brown eyes just went small as Yuri blanched, but the idea of being outdone by the Canadian (on top of everyone else) drove him to try again. He held there with his leg up at 170*, but was getting flustered at the fact that he couldn't get the last few centimeters to get the full 180*. Just as he was about to let it go though, he could see Viktor turning his head out the corner of his eye, and half a second later, felt something being tied around his up-turned ankle. When he glanced behind himself, he could see Yuuko there tightening a resistance band around his foot, and then ponied it over his back and head, handing the opposite end to him.
"Pull until it's tight." She said, "You need to feel like your muscles are loose in this position, if you ever want to be able to hold the split in the air without help." She stepped off a couple feet further down, but then joined in with the split as well, smirking at her childhood friend and resting her chin on her crossed arms like Viktor was doing on his other side, "So you'll need to pull your leg until you can easily go to 190* or so."
"...That's so far...!" Yuri whined, barely pulling any tension yet on the band.
"You can do it, Yuri." Yuuko winked at him.
.
That golden left blade was straight up above him, and he glided gracefully in that backwards line, watching dozens of scratches in the ice flying by just under his nose. Just as he lifted up though and readied himself for the toe-pick launch, he let himself drift into muscle-memory. The left leg came down right next to the right for half a heartbeat, and leaned his frame just enough to put his left blade on its outside edge. The right leg stuck out behind himself, the right arm with it...and he picked that golden blade down as hard as he could.
Viktor had clasped his hands together over his mouth and nose, eyes wide as he watched. He was practically on his own toes as the jump carried out in slow motion before him. He could hardly believe watching the four rotations, and dreaded the fall that would no-doubt come.
To his shock though, and likely the shock of many others, Yuri didn't fall. His right blade caught the ice, and he started the backwards outside-edge glide...leaning forward for balance...and even more forward...and more forward. His nose was practically scraping the ice again, left leg bending inward and arms flailing out to the side.
Don't fall don't fall DON'T FALL...! UP, DAMNIT!
Yuri forced his way back to standing though, pulling himself up from the near-fall in absolute desperation to keep on his feet. When he felt the world upright again, he breathed a sigh of half-relief.
...I didn't fall, but I might as well have with that landing...chikusho! Wait...how many times did I spin...? Oh no...
I'll keep on making those new mistakes, I'll keep on making them every day...
Viktor was practically a puddle, melting over the edge of the rink-wall where he slouched over it, "...He's going to be the end of me..."
"...I don't think he meant to do that." Chris offered, patting the Russian's back reassuringly, "The quad-part, I mean."
"I know. That's why he flubbed the landing." Viktor pushed up on his hands, though still held to the wall anxiously, "Damnit, Yuri..."
The flustered skater pushed through the wide outside spread-Eagle, twizzling a bit at the end before digging a toe-pick down to stop himself in the center of the ISU logo.
Those new mistakes
Shoulder waggle.
He moved backward with a few cross-overs, picking up a bit of speed before backing up into the last required element and final spin of the Short Program. The end was finally in sight. If he fell now, there was little risk of him banging his head on the ice, so the worst of it was finally behind him. Yuri lowered down for the backward-entry into the standard sit-spin, one leg extended out for the shoot-the-duck maneuver.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhhh
Try everything
That variant quickly evolved into a twist, right leg moving out from being held straight and directly forward, out to the side instead, with his left arm bent behind his back and the right curved up over his head. Both legs quickly switched position, and Yuri changed feet beneath himself, moving to fold his left leg under the right and take that ankle in-hand, the left arm staying up high and curving slightly back.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhhh
Try everything
He rose back up to both feet, and slowly twisted away, free leg swinging outward as he headed back towards the center of the rink. His hands slowly traverse the upper length of his frame as he moved.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhhh
Try everything
Yuri rotated and twisted, swiftly moving across the frosty white stage, left arm up in the back as the right went down low in front, bowing himself slightly forward as he scratched his way through.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhhh
One last twist, and he stood upright, planting a toe-pick into the ice as he finally made it back to his starting place above the ISU logo. He glanced up over his left shoulder, that arm coming up as well, curling in to gently swipe the back of his hand and fingers close to his cheek, then extending out to the limits of its range, and finally dragging the skater into a low bow before finally ending up on his hip again.
Try everything.
The music cut out, and for a few micro-seconds, all Yuri could hear was the sound of his own ragged breaths. His head pounded, and the lights all around him made his eyes hurt. He squinted a little, closing his eyes for a brief moment as he let his frame relax, letting his slouching posture turn him on his blades until he was facing the short end of the rink just behind himself. He couldn't bring himself to look at his coach, even as the excited cheers of the crowd started washing in like tidal waves crashing in on the rocks of his shores...instead, just dipping his head down as he lowered onto his right knee, then the left. Both hands went palms-down on the ice, all fingers together, the sides of his index fingers touching where they came together in a point. Back straight, Yuri leaned forward.
"...A great effort by Skater Yuri...but he seems to be putting himself into 'za rei' position...? I wonder who he feels the need to apologize to...? Ah, his coach...?" Morooka pondered.
"More importantly...why? He did amazingly well, all things considered." Oda added.
Viktor was still rubbing his temples with his fingers in frustration, but soon turned towards the exit. He didn't look up as he moved.
"Don't be so hard on him, Viktor." Chris recommended, "He tried his best."
The Russian paused only long enough to pull the Team Japan jacket off of where it had been slung across his shoulder, and then started walking again.
The audience was still cheering, save the handful of Japanese people in attendance (or those cultured therein) who could read into what was going on. Minako and Mari were anxious especially. They watched in cautious silence as Yuri slowly pulled up from the bow, pulling both hands to his lap before finally rising up on his toe-picks. He still kept his eyes on the ice as he stood there, unmoving, unsure what was to come.
...I didn't fall, but it won't matter...I still did the quad, even if I didn't mean to. All that Charlotte spiral connecting-element training...I did it that way so often that I couldn't make myself do it any differently, even with my head hurting so bad...
One hand came up to cover his right eye, the pounding directly behind it making the skater feel like the thing would pop out of his skull at any moment. Reluctantly, he started making his way for the rink exit, seeing the shadows of the rink attendants moving out past him to collect the assorted gifts that had been thrown out. The crowd's cheering and applause seemed miles away by the time Yuri made it to the edge of the ice and spotted the toes of his partner's own dark-colored, golden-bladed boots there waiting for him. Even if someone else had those exact same boots as Viktor, no one else but him had the little Russian flag insignias on the inside heel. It was definitely him.
"...I went through the Charlotte spiral too fast..." He tried to explain, hand sliding up against his face a little, feeling the edge of his gelled hair at his fingertips, "...I think I went into auto-pilot halfway through... I didn't...mean to do the quad Lutz..."
"You did what you could." The Russian answered quietly, "If you'd tried to do anything to change it at the last second, you'd have fallen for sure. Your body knew how to control the speed even if your head was arguing about it." He held out his left hand, and the blade guards therein, "Here."
Each guard went on one at a time, and Yuri hesitantly stepped off the ice, feeling his jacket being slipped over his shoulders soon after. The Russian kept his hands there on his shoulders though and started guiding him over towards the kiss and cry.
"Why are you holding your face like that?" Viktor wondered as they sat on the bench, "You okay, or do you just not want to look at me?"
"I had a headache starting up right before I went out. Now it's a full-on migraine, right behind my eye..." The younger skater explained, "I think that's part of what messed me up out there... I thought I'd have to put everything I had into that last jump just to make it through a triple at all..."
"We'll get you something as soon as we're done out here."
Chris suddenly appeared behind them where they sat, surprising them both with a hand on each shoulder, but looking down on his younger friend with a smile, "He's not giving you the gears, is he? Yuri." He asked sweetly.
"Ch-Chris...!"
Phichit came up next, but he slid in onto the bench at the skater's left side, "You did pretty well for a guy who was in the hospital for 5 hours last night." He teased.
"Ph-Phichito-kun...!"
"Ah, his accent is slipping again. How adorable." Chris laughed.
"What are you guys-"
"The score for Yuri Nikiforov..."
All eyes lifted, and protestations immediately ceased. The score-board was the focus of everyone's attention. The competitor in question pulled his hand down from his eye, though it was still squinted by comparison to the other.
"...96.57."
The audience went wild with cheers.
"...I...I scored in the 90s?" The skater was in stunned disbelief; as were the others, it seemed, "...A...Arienaihodo..."
"Skater Yuri pulls through! He may be in 6th place, but he's still within a point of the next 2 competitors!"
Back in Hasetsu, Hiroko was holding tight to Makkachin as the score flashed across the screen. The kiss and cry scene was split horizontally down the middle to show a replay of her son's last jump...as well as his brush with that face-first crash into the ice. She heaved a breath, and leaned back to holler towards the main entrance area, "TOSHIYO...HE MADE IT."
The others who had gathered for the Grand Prix Final Cheering Party were relieved as well, with the triplets and Minami collapsing to the floor in tense exhaustion. Yuuko fared little better, splayed out on top of the table in front of herself, arms hanging off the edge of it where she sat, all but frothing at the mouth.
Chris and Phichit had quickly leaned in to bury their friend in congratulatory hugs, practically shoving Viktor out of the way in the process. Yuri just flailed desperately, arms waggling about where they were pinned in awkward directions
The Russian recollected himself and twisted where he sat, crossing his arms and giving something of a death-glare to both the skaters smothering his husband. Phichit noticed first, eyes going wide as he maintained that nervous smile...and unlatched his hands before squeaking back a few inches on the shared bench. The blonde, however, needed a proverbial gun at his head to make him notice, feeling a particular fingertip press up against his cheek. Those lime-green eyes turned to the side and spotted the cantankerous Russian getting uncomfortably close, his hand in a gun-shape with the three last fingers curled over, the index pointing out, and the thumb up.
"...Bang..."
Chris instantly let the young Asian go with a nervous smile, and Yuri collapsed back to his prior position in a heap.
The young figure reached up to adjust where his jacket was still barely clinging to his shoulders, but soon felt a different set of hands brushing up against him to do the same thing. He nervously looked aside to whom he knew was doing it, and finally caught sight of those blue eyes, only to look down and away again anyway.
"You did a good job." Viktor finally said, rubbing his partner's back with his left hand as he pulled back, "Let's go find you some headache relief."
The crowd was still cheering as the two finally rose to stand, and began making their way over to the Players' Club with an arm each behind the others' back.
Yurio and Otabek were still clapping as well as they watched the group getting closer.
Yuri had half-expected to see Tess there by the doorway waiting for him, but realized she was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he looked up at the Russian Punk, and paused where he stood. He smiled nervously, "...I didn't think you'd stay to watch."
"I had to be sure you walked off the ice yourself." The teen answered, hesitating a moment before leaning forward and reaching down over the curved grey barrier post, "You weren't half bad out there either."
Hazel eyes blinked up at him, looking carefully at the outstretched hand, and glancing aside to the silver Russian standing just next to him. Viktor gave no sign of objection though, and Yuri took the step or two closer and reached up to grasp at the hand, "Thanks. We'll see you at the outdoor arena then in a bit, right?"
Yurio was a bit surprised to hear the invitation, but then nodded, giving his own anxious smile in response, "Yeah. I'll be there."
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MEN, SHORT PROGRAM
1 RUS Victor NIKIFOROV - - - 111.46
2 KAZ Otabek ALTIN - - - 108.37
3 RUS Yuri PLISETSKY - - - 101.42
4 CHE Christophe GIACOMETTI - - - 97.81
5 THA Phichit CHULANONT - - - 96.98
6 JPN Yuri NIKIFOROV - - - 96.57
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Arienaihodo = Unbelievable