SO SORRY THIS IS LATE. I've just had a lot of projects to work on lately bear with me please. I'm just a disaster of a human being trying to do his best.

But anyway here's some nice OtaYuri for the soul.

…

Well, my diary, today I made a friend.

And Georgi said such a thing would never happen until I learnt some manners; well to that I say rubbish! Otabek is swell, really grown up and interesting. He thinks of me as a grown up man too, unlike my so-called siblings who act like I am the baby of the family. In a way, I am, but that is no excuse to treat me like I have not grown since I was five. Yakov treats me like an adult, but that comes with more responsibilities than rights. Viktor always goes on about how he will always have faith that I will do my best, make the right decisions and become a lovely young man. He thinks that makes me feel mature, but it is like getting a lecture off a parent and in no way the same thing!

Otabek is different. He sees me as a friend, an equal.

And we have only known each other for an afternoon.

It seems almost too perfect, like someone specially created him with the sole purpose of being my best friend in mind. We think so alike it is incredible, and he is so strong too, stronger than I even dream I could be, with a masculine edge that is so beautiful- maybe even, he is invincible.

He looked invincible when he lifted the edge of the lifeboat I was trapped under to save me- maybe even saving my life. Or at least a limb.

I was trying to hide from some young girls, about my age. I did not know what they were saying but they had taken some alarming- and rather chilling- liking to me and kept following me around. Since yesterday. I was starting to think I would never get away from them when I had the great idea to hide behind one of the lifeboats. Perfect. Oh Yuri you are so clever, as I said to myself.

Well, it worked, somewhat.

Yes, I lost them; they got bored and left me alone. I waited, just to be certain they were gone, then tried to climb out. Unfortunately, that was harder than I had anticipated. Because I was stuck. I had wriggled so deep my ankle was stuck under the lifeboat and no matter what I did, I couldn't unstick it.

Swell job, Plisetsky. There I was, half behind the lifeboat, half poking out from it yowling like a scared kitten. Two options seemed to present themselves before me: either no one would find me, or those strange girls would. It did not matter because I was damned.

But instead, I found myself a hero.

There he was before me, in a thick coat that billowed in the wind; dark, piercing eyes that glared down at me; a strong jaw that could slice through flesh. If I had to draw myself a hero of my own, nothing would come close to this magnificent man before me. I can still see him in my mind, with those thick eyebrows and the thin lips pulled into a line. Dark hair, neat under a hat.

He is so strong too: as I said, after politely introducing himself as Otabek Altin, he lifted up the lifeboat like it was nothing, long enough for me to wriggle out. He freed me. He heard my cries and saved me, for no reason other than kindness.

I would not leave his side after that. I wanted to know more about him, this mysterious but incredible human being- for once in my life interested in another person's life. Well, there is Grandpa too, of course... So, I asked and he told.

Otabek hails from the Russian Empire too: a Kazakh from Almaty. He has a large family, so he was saying, with four younger sisters, grandparents, uncles and aunties. Honestly, I cannot imagine being around so many people, so it was fun to hear him talk about his sisters' antics, and how he would take care of them all.

This was also how he was taking care of them, he explained. He was travelling alone in order to settle down in America, get a well-paying job and save up to bring his family over. All of them. It did not matter what or how long it would take, Otabek was going to be with them all again.

I told him about Grandpa. His eyes seemed to light up at how alike we were, and we wished each other the best in our endeavours. Endeavours… Beshka uses a lot of smart words like that. I, on the other hand, just focused on trying not to sound uncouth in front of him.

Beshka...

He is so intelligent, and brave and strong- and I really wish the best for him in the future.

Maybe we could live in big houses side by side in New York. One house for him and his big family, and one for me and Grandpa. Well, I suppose I can make room in a corner somewhere for Yakov to sit and grow old. And Mila can have a room too.

And of course, guest rooms for Georgi and Viktor when they visit and get on my nerves. I would like a guest room for Beshka too.

Maybe we could have a tunnel between the two houses. Yes, it would be easier to use each other's front doors, but a tunnel would be fun too. Immature, I know, so I have opted not to mention it to Beshka.

Oh, diary, I have almost forgotten another particular detail about Mr Otabek Altin: he owns a motorbike. Supposedly. But he says he will take me down to the hull where his hildebrand and wolfmuller is stored and show it to me sometime, and let me ride it when we get to New York. I can imagine it now, the wind in my hair, arms around Beshka's waist as we tear down the streets of Manhattan. Oh, a right pair of hooligans we will look!

…

Minami's notes:

I was never able to confirm if Mr Altin ever owned a hildebrand and wolfmuller; if it exists, it now lies at the bottom of the Atlantic.