Ayyy! My exams are over and I can write again!
Important to note: When I mention 'Sochi' in this chapter, and probably just generally in this story, I am referring to the Sochi Olympics and not the Sochi Finals, which hasn't taken place yet.
Btw, just as a reminder, this chapter takes place in the summer of 2014, so right after the Olympics :)
It was not uncommon for skaters to not follow the sport closely or to not watch every single performance of every competition. Some skaters only kept up with their rivals, rinkmates or countrymen, and others focused solely on themselves. Yuuri didn't understand that at all. Yuuri had fallen in love with skating after being touched by the beauty, grace and elegance of it. The emotional interpretations of piano music easily moved him to tears, and the exciting performance of music from pop culture could make his heart race as if he was the one skating, and those were not feelings he could obtain by watching himself stumbling through yet another combination. But he could watch and enjoy others.
The summer between seasons was always a living hell for skating fans who could only look forward to the season's beginning in early autumn. And as a proud skating fan himself, Yuuri spent much of his free time watching some of his favorite performances. Stephane Lambiel's winning free skate at his last world championship that had won him the gold. Chris' magnificent short program at the Sochi Olympics, which had marked him as the second man to reach the one hundred point barrier, and, of course, Viktor.
It was hard for Yuuri to pick a favorite of Viktor's programs, because what would he even choose? Viktor got better as the years passed, but some performances were so deeply etched into Yuuri's heart that they could be seen as nothing but sheer masterpieces. Viktor's junior world winning free skate, which had set a high score forever remembered in skating history, and had been the first program Yuuri had ever seen from his idol. His Olympic programs, from both Vancouver and Sochi, which had marked him as one of the rare individuals to repeat as the Olympic champion. His exhibitions which were like an artistic expression of himself, so special and unique, he ascended all skaters who came before him and those who would come after. And, of course…
"Is that Viktor's swan program from Euros?" Phichit asked as he stepped through the door, coming home from practice, "Haven't you seen that a million times?"
"Probably," Yuuri answered, never once taking his eyes off of the screen, enchanted by Viktor's skating.
"I always knew you were a skating fan," Phichit said, and sat down to watch the rest of the program with him, "But I'm starting to think that you're just a fan of Viktor."
"Just because he's my favorite doesn't mean I can't like others," Yuuri said as the program ended.
"And yet, it's always Viktor's programs you seem to watch," Phichit pointed out. Yuuri only now picking up on the teasing tone in his voice.
"Well, he is my favorite," Yuuri said again, not becoming another one of Phichit's victims, and his best friend seemingly gave up on the whole thing, "How was practice?" Yuuri asked as the video ended after screen-Viktor had gotten his scores.
"It was fine, except Ciao-Ciao remains unconvinced that my short program is any good. I mean, the man chose the music, and I'm trying my best here," Phichit ranted on. Yuuri had had first row seats to the dramatic event that was Phichit and his short program this season. Obviously, Celestino only had the best of intentions, since his most talented junior was now moving up to the senior ranks. A magnificent senior debut could do wonders for Phichit, if it was done right, and Celestino was trying his very best to do it right, but sometimes he and Phichit weren't quite on the same page.
"I'm sure it will be great when the season starts," Yuuri assured him, because Phichit had the ability to make absolutely everything work and really, this was hardly the worst thing he had had to overcome.
"Are you going to stay up tonight?" Phichit asked him suddenly, and Yuuri thought about it for a second, only to realize that, no, he had no clue what Phichit was talking about.
"Why?"
"'Why?', you ask," Phichit shook his head in disappointment, "For the assignments of course! They'll be out around midnight! Maybe you'll share assignments with Viktor!"
"I never do though," Yuuri said plainly, because that was the harsh reality, "My only hope of seeing him during the grand prix would be at the Finals, but I'd have to make it there first."
"You'll get two assignments though, and you're so good-" "Don't exaggerate." "-You could totally make it to the Finals."
"I'm lucky that I'm even getting two assignments considering how my season went," Yuuri sighed, forcing Sochi out of his mind, but then looked up at Phichit who was both pouting and looking at him like he was about to scold him.
"Don't call your own skill luck!" Phichit exclaimed, "You finished sixth at worlds, guaranteeing yourself two assignments. And! Before you say some self-deprecating shit! You were over ten points ahead of seventh place and less than a point from fifth. Hell, six more points and you would have gotten a medal, so you take that negative attitude and shove it right up Viktor's ass," Phichit finished dramatically, but Yuuri could only shake his head, remaining majorly unconvinced by Phichit's speech.
"America is rubbing off on you."
In the end, Yuuri didn't have a say in the matter, because Phichit wanted to stay up for the assignments, and in the process he convinced Yuuri to watch anime with him ("How did you go through life without watching Fullmetal Alchemist?", Phichit had questioned him last week, and since then movie night had turned into Brotherhood night).
The assignments did indeed come out at midnight, and Phichit dramatically revealed them to Yuuri who was only mildly interested. He had a good idea of where he would be competing anyway.
"First up is..." "Skate America." "Skate America! Thank you, my lovely audience," Phichit said dramatically, his phone in one hand and a comb in the other, pretending that the latter was a microphone as he paced back and forth in front of Yuuri who was sat on the bed, "In this competition we will see the amazingly talented Katsuki Yuuri!" Yuuri clapped, and cheered a little just to entertain Phichit, and his roommate kept going, "and! The equally enticing Phichit Chulanont will make his senior grand prix debut alongside his rinkmate and best friend." Yuuri cheered a little harder for that. He was happy to have been assigned the same competition as Phichit.
"Moving on to Skate Canada, where Olympic Champion Viktor Nikiforov will make his season debut, probably, assuming that he won't do a challenger series or anything else like he usually doesn't," Phichit spoke in one breath, rushing the last part as he was running out of breath, which made Yuuri smile gleely.
Phichit, unsurprisingly, continued his little show until he had gone through all of the assignments, proving Yuuri right that he didn't share a single event with Viktor. Of course, that dream had been dead since Phichit had said that Viktor was going to Canada. Top skaters usually got assigned to their home country (even if Yuuri absolutely hated it), which meant that Viktor's second assignment was in Russia, while Yuuri's was in Japan. Phichit only had one assignment, and would have to rely on withdrawals from other skaters if he wanted another one.
"You could totally make it to Finals, Yuuri!" Phichit beamed, as they sat down to properly examine the assignments.
It was… not impossible, Yuuri would give Phichit that, but neither of his assignments looked like they'd be a walk in the park. Right off the bat, he was facing Cao Bin, the two-time and defending Four Continents Champion, and currently the best Asian skater as far as results went. There was also the junior world silver medalist, Leo de la Iglesia, whom Yuuri had had the pleasure of training with quite a few times, but was a real threat to the podium as well. And to top it off, Russia's Georgi Popovich, who had finished in the top six at the Olympics. It was a tough field, but Yuuri didn't need a win to get to the Finals. Just a medal or two, depending on the color of the first one.
Yuuri's second assignment was the very last competition of the series, not counting the Finals, which meant that pressure was imminent. If he wanted to qualify, he had to do well in America, because when had he last taken an international medal in Japan? Yuuri would have to go all the way back to his senior debut for that. NHK Trophy saw a deadly combination of world junior champion Jean-Jacques Leroy (JJ people called him?), European bronze medalist Michele Crispino, and a handful of talented Japanese skaters, two of whom had joined Yuuri on the podium at last season's national championship. So, yeah, not impossible, but certainly not easy.
"Well," Yuuri said slowly still looking at the assignments, "Let's see what happens."
The grand prix series was soon forgotten as Yuuri jumped on the first plane to Japan for a two week trip, where he would do some work with the media and, more importantly, take part in one of Japan's infamous ice shows. He had had to turn down Fantasy on Ice due to exams, but as a figure skater who didn't win every competition he attended, he couldn't quite live without shows. And Yuuri liked them too. It was a chance to skate with little to no pressure on him, while getting to do some run throughs of his programs.
Your fans are so quick! Phichit wrote two days after Yuuri had arrived in Japan. He was getting ready to sleep, but couldn't quite interpret Phichit's message.
What do you mean? He asked in a straightforward manner, sitting in the hotel bed with the duvet covering his legs, and a pillow propped up to support his back. It wasn't all that comfortable.
What do I mean? Yuuri, yuuri, yuuri. Phichit wrote each 'Yuuri' as a new message, because he was completely incapable of having a text be longer than five words. Translating! He then explained. Your interview only aired just four hours ago and there already plenty of English, Chinese and Russian translations! No one translates my interviews that quickly :/
Maybe you're just not noticing? Yuuri said to move the conversation from himself to Phichit. He didn't really like the idea of having a dedicated fanbase. In fact, he found it hard to imagine. He knew there were some fans. No skater had no fans, but when you compared to the horde of fans following Viktor Nikiforov, well, it all fell slightly flat.
Yuuri, yuuri, yuuri, Phichit wrote again, social media is my entire existence. I would notice.
You'd think that a skater of your level would cite skating as your entire existence, Yuuri teased slightly, and just as he had said that, Phichit deleted his previous message before sending a new one.
You have no proof.
Yuuri laughed lightly at that and decided to go to bed.
The ice show became the first showing of Yuuri's new short program set to Moonlight Sonata and, according to Phichit, it was well received. During the last three shows, Phichit was invited to join them, along with a couple of other skaters, one of which, was Viktor Nikiforov.
"You could just talk to him, you know," Phichit whispered as they were all changing into their costumes for the opening performance during their very last show. Phichit hadn't understood why Yuuri didn't just talk to Viktor, but he didn't force his hand.
"And say what? 'I really like your skating?' That makes me seem like a crazy fan," Yuuri rambled. He had already promised himself that he would show Viktor who he was when he was good enough to stand on the same ice as him. Perhaps, this year's Finals…
"I think liking his skating just makes you a regular person," Phichit reasoned, but Yuuri had no time to argue back, before one of the organizers of the event informed them that the show would be starting soon.
In the line up of skaters performing, Yuuri and Viktor were the last two, with Viktor being the finishing performance. It was something about popularity, which meant that the national champion - that was Yuuri - was placed towards the end, but since Viktor was… well, Viktor, he got to close the show. Not that Yuuri minded, it took away some of the attention from him, as he had been the finishing act up until now.
Yuuri skated his program better than he had all week. Landed his quad toe, and his triple lutz-triple toe combination perfectly, and topped it off with a triple axel. It was the first time since he had gotten the program that he had skated it cleanly, and at an ice show no less! It was quite the confidence boost for Yuuri and, though he might have imagined it, the applause felt louder this time than during the previous shows.
As Yuuri existed the rink, he passed Viktor who was to take the ice after him, and though he was trying his hardest not to look (which was hard because Viktor was wearing a new beautiful costume which Yuuri hadn't seen before), Viktor grabbed his attention by tucking slightly at his wrist.
"Your program was really good," Viktor smiled at him before he was gone again, and left Yuuri, wide-eyed, to wonder if that had just happened. Some organizers pushed him towards the exit, but Yuuri peeked through the curtains separating the rink and the waiting room to look at Viktor's performance as Phichit helped him change into his last outfit.
"Is this Viktor's new exhibition?" Phichit asked in awe as Viktor performed a completely new program right in front of their eyes, "He really is amazing… Wait, Yuuri! Are you crying?"
"No," Yuuri said and wiped away a stray tear, not looking away from Viktor once even as he struggled with the costume.
Viktor's new exhibition was a rendition of his famous swan program from seven years ago. His costume was pure white, the gemstones covering it seemingly forming wings and feathers as they reflected the lights shining on them, the tight form complementing his figure perfectly. Though the program had lost none of its charm, it was more mature and distinctly different, as if showcasing how much Viktor had grown over the years. It was stunning.
"Do you always cry when you watch Viktor skate live?" Phichit asked teasingly, and Yuuri pouted.
"No," he lied as Viktor finished his program, and Yuuri tucked the costume into place.
"Is that so..." Phichit said, completely unconvinced as they got ready for the closing performance.
Needless to say, not long after the two of them had gotten home from Japan, Phichit gifted Yuuri a poster of Viktor in his new exhibition costume. It was signed and framed, and Yuuri may or may not have shed another tear when Phichit had given it to him.
1) Notte Stellata is a version of The Swan by Il Volo, quite famously performed by Yuzuru hanyu in the 16-17 season and in the Olympic season. I just thought it was perfect for Viktor :)
2) Moonlight Sonata is performed by a lot of skaters, but one of my faves is Kaori Sakamoto's version of it (Kaori who is now national champ!)
3) It's quite a win for Yuuri to skate cleanly at an Ice Show, because their rinks are smaller and skating in spotlight is much harder :)
4) I'm assuming that Yuuri and Phichit use line to communicate, and line allows you to delete messages