In which Yuuri returns home
…o…
"Aw, Yuuuuuuri! Detroit will be so boring without you!"
The man in question simply laughed before reaching in for one last hug from his best friend. Phichit obliged, albeit grumbling about how he hadn't known Yuuri was leaving until two days ago.
The Thai skater was really the only foreign skater that Yuuri considered a friend, but the main reason for that was because they had been together for nearly three years, working under the same coach. Besides, it was hard not to get along with Phichit. He was a positive person and a true extrovert, but also a talented skater.
"I'll miss you," Yuuri said with a smile.
"Keep in touch, my dear love. I will hold you close in my heart," Phichit said, wiping away a fake tear and placing a hand on his heart. Yuuri laughed before finally heading into the security line.
…o…
Home, sweet home…
Things had started going down for Yuuri after Nationals. He had lost big time to a skater much younger than him in Nationals, having lost all his motivation after Sochi. He hadn't even qualified for Four Continents or the World Championship. So, he concentrated on college and finished his last semester so that he could return to Hasestsu after five years.
He had cut off things with Celestino before booking a flight back in March. He had gotten off it an hour ago, and then gotten on a train to Hasestsu's train station. He was just stepping off the escalator when he looked up and was met with a not-so-pleasant sight.
"EEEHHHH? WHY ARE THERE SO MANY POSTERS OF ME? IT'S BEEN LIKE HALF A YEAR!"
Sure enough, there were at least a dozen posters from the first Grand Prix final plastered across one of the walls in the station. They had advertised a public viewing that had occurred during the live showing on television, but now the words were faded from weather-abuse, the corners peeling, threatening to fall off at any moment.
"Yuu-ri!"
Yuuri jumped and turned around, looking for the person that had called for him. Almost immediately, his focus landed on a tall woman standing at the front of the crowd, a huge smile on her face. "Minako-sensei?!"
"Welcome back!" she cheered, before spinning around, her brown hair whipping across her face. She unfurled a banner with his name printed on it in a vibrant pink. He had no doubt made it to cheer him on during the public viewing of the Grand Prix Final and Nationals.
Minako was a ballet instructor and the owner of the only ballet studio in Hasestsu. She had taught Yuuri when he was younger, and when he wasn't on the rink, he was usually in her studio. Without her help, Yuuri doubted he could've gotten as far as he did. He wasn't particularly talented like Victor Nikiforov, but he had gotten the blessing of a place to practice and people who supported him every day.
"How are you?" she asked, hugging him. After his surprise disappeared, he hugged her back.
"What are you doing here? Don't you have a ballet class?"
"Not today," Minako said as she pulled away, a frown on her face. "Besides, I don't get much business here in Hasetsu anyway."
Yuuri thought back to when he was younger as Minako pulled him along through the station. Not many people had attended Minako's ballet classes in the first place. Even though she had been a world-famous ballerina, that title didn't do much in Hasetsu. The town was too small.
"You have to greet everyone in town!" she said excitedly, looking back at Yuuri. Immediately, he froze.
"Nononononononono," he said, stopping and waving his hands in front of his face. "I'm…um, really tired. Besides, I want to see my family first."
Minako shrugged, before grabbing his sleeve once again and beginning the walk to Yu-topia. Yuuri breathed a sigh of relief, glad that she hadn't suspected anything.
The truth was that Yuuri wasn't very tired. He had slept on both the plane and the train, in hopes to match the time zone differences. He just didn't want to face the townspeople who had held so much faith that he would win, or at least place on the podium, in competition, and bring tourists back to Hasetsu.
Hasetsu hadn't always been so small. It was quite a popular attraction, due to its many hot springs and famous castle. But the hot springs were shut down, leaving Yu-topia as the last one standing. Then, word got out that the Hasetsu Castle wasn't infested by ninjas, but rather, rats.
He was still rather ashamed of having to face his parents like this. They had always supported him, helping pay for his fees even when it was hard. He remembered that after every season, his mom would ask him to come back, saying that she would make him a pork cutlet bowl for every victory.
He hadn't come back.
A petal from a sakura tree landed on Yuuri's nose, and he blinked rapidly before looking up at the tree from which it came. He had been too preoccupied with his thoughts to realize that they had already crossed through the gate into the pathway leading to Yu-topia, lined by sakura trees.
"Hirokooooo! Yuuri's home!" Minako called, as she bounded up the small wooden steps leading to the porch. She burst through the doors, and it took Yuuri a moment to process that she had let go of him. He shook his head. Since when had he become so absent-minded?
He slowly walked up the stairs while taking off his backpack. He set it down once he got through the doors, just in time for his mother to ambush him in a hug.
"Oh, Yuuri! I'm so glad you're back! How are you? Are you tired? Are you hungry? I made a pork cutlet bowl for you!"
Yuuri laughed, used to the bombardment of questions. It was how Hiroko started every phone call. He didn't really mind. In fact, he found it to be one of her most endearing qualities. She always cared for the well-being of her family.
"Oi, Yuuri, I just realized…"
Yuuri looked at Minako, who was already seated in front of the TV. Her eyes narrowed, and she suddenly stood up and marched over to him. Before he could respond, she whipped off his jacket and scarf.
She screamed in horror.
Yuuri winced. "It's not that bad…"
"Well, Yuuri always did gain weight easily," Hiroko laughed. She had stepped to the side and had now returned with a pork cutlet bowl in her hands. "I'm sure a few more of these won't do anything, then!"
"Hiroko! This is not the weight a figure skater should be in!" Minako screeched, waving her arms frantically. As she continued to panic, something caught Yuuri's eye.
He left the two women to themselves, and opened a door off to the side. It used to be a storage room, but Hiroko had converted it into a place for prayers. Sometime over the past few months, she had set a picture of a younger Yuuri holding Vicchan in his arms. Newly burned incense sat in front of the altar, smoke wafting into the air.
Yuuri kneeled down, and it suddenly felt like the Grand Prix Final all over again. He head fell, and it felt as though his heart had gained a thousand pounds. His head began to pound, and it was as if a million sirens had gone off in his mind.
He had lost so much that night. His figure skating career, his family's faith in him, Vicchan, and most importantly…
…his first, and now his last, opportunity to meet his soulmate.
…o…
QOTD: How are you coping with the end of the first season?
AOTD: FDAOISJFJOIWAJFOIEWJFPOEWJFOAKNV;SADF A *sobs*
This chapter was supposed to be in which Yuuri skates for Victor but because it's been like two weeks since I updated I decided to cut it short. I actually have an excuse for once - it had a minor surgery on my ears last week (when I was supposed to update) but the injections that came along with it made me really sick so I couldn't bring myself to read anything. Still, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have waited so long.
Thank you to all the people who offered to beta read. I've finally decided on one after reading through your stories for ages. XD Their username is far2addicted, please check them out. Thank you for helping me, Addi!
Also, thank you all so much for the crazy support on this fic. I can't even keep track of it all. We're one of the top 10 most followed fics in the YOI category, and that's just mind-blowing to me. I never imagined FFN would ever affect my life so much in the past year like it has.
Milestones: 150 favorites, 250 follows, and 4500 views! Whoooooo!
Happy (belated) New Year! I hope you have a wonderful day!
…o…