Author's notes: Based on SorchaRossin's suggestion for ice skating, thank you for your support as well~
6.
Ice Skating ranks fourth in GoGo Tomago's list of "Top 5 sports to never try." (The other four are basketball, ice hockey, shot put and line dancing, though the last activity's title as a sport is questionable to GoGo).
Which is why when Honey Lemon (somehow it's always Honey that's indirectly responsible for her scrapes and such) succeeds in securing tickets to go ice skating, GoGo's initial response is a flat-out no. It's only after 48 hours of badgering, bantering, begging and pleading that GoGo finally relents (she gives up when she sees the disappointed tears in Honey's eyes. GoGo swears her soft spot for her only female best friend will be the death of her in the future). Honey's reply is to beam brightly and tell GoGo she'll see her at the San Fransyoko Ice Rink at 2 pm in the afternoon, on the next day, along with Fred, Wasabi and Tadashi. She adds, with a hopeful grin, that if GoGo didn't know how to skate, she could always ask Tadashi, who's certain to be kind enough to teach he and hold her hand- Here, GoGo cuts Honey Lemon off by hurling a pillow at her and telling her not to push it.
But even then, GoGo's spent the first twenty minutes in the ice rink gripping the sidelines- she's pretty sure her knuckles are a pasty white under the thick black gloves she's forced to adopt in favor of her original fingerless ones. She hasn't moved an inch since everyone's set out- Honey Lemon and Tadashi prove to be amazing skaters, while Wasabi's too careful and going too slowly. Fred proves himself to be a straight-out klutz on ice.
GoGo took a deep breath. Woman up, she chided herself fiercely; if her four friends could do it, why not her? The memorably painful fall she had as a child of seven was ages ago (ten years, to be exact), and GoGo tries to tell herself that it's different this time round. She's not an enthusiastic child brimming full of eagerness to dominate the ice rink with untold speed anymore (she had a need-for-speed back then even when she was young), she's an adrenaline-junkie who's lost her naive persona, and who's interested only (maybe the word 'only' was an exaggeration, but GoGo believes that extremities were required in quelling her childhood trauma) in speed.
So she steps her right foot out tentatively, and hears it make a small metallic click against the thick wall of ice. Excruciatingly slowly (slow considering it's GoGo, anyway), GoGo releases her death grip on the sidelines- which basically proves to be her lifeline. It's alright, she tells herself. It'll be fine. She won't suddenly lose her balance, suddenly feel her feet spread out farther than she intends, suddenly just slip and land backwards on her head and black out-
GoGo steps her left foot out hastily when she realises that her train of supposedly encouraging thoughts are backfiring. It was a mistake; she feels her feet sliding across the ice unintentionally, beyond her control, and her mouth almost peels open to unleash a shriek-
"GoGo!" Tadashi calls out as he reaches forward to grab her arm, pulling GoGo back before she can catapult forward onto the ice. GoGo tries to steady her breathing and heart beat, but her eyes are opened wide and tinged with trauma, and she struggles to calm herself down. Finally, when it seems like the rate of her heartbeat has more or less resembled something normal, GoGo takes one look at the position she's in with Tadashi- leaning into his arms while he stares at her in concern- and it speeds up again. GoGo groans.
"What's wrong?" Tadashi asks, GoGo shoots him an irritable look and wonders how he can dismiss physical contact with such ease, but he did save her from falling, so GoGo ends up mumbling a 'thank you' and resumes her death grip on the metal bar beside her. With her eyes closed, this time round.
"GoGo…?" Tadashi enquires, bending down to seal the height difference between them (which GoGo absolutely despises). "Could it be… You don't know how to skate…?"
Tadashi's words comes as an aggressive reminder to GoGo; her eyelids flicker open so quickly that he flinches. She turns to face him, never letting go of the sidelines even once, and shoots him a glare.
"No," GoGo mutters, which isn't exactly a lie, "I do know how to skate. I just… don't want to."
She's met with raised eyebrows. This, coming from a guy who can't quite lie his way out of a paper bag (he blames it on his conscience).
"Unbelievable."
"Believe it or not, Hamada." GoGo snaps back. She's tired, even though they're supposed to be here for two hours (the thought almost makes her want to cry), and GoGo's not interested in explaining herself, even though of all people, Tadashi Hamada should be the one who understands her best. But something deep inside GoGo seems to warn her of the impending judgement 'coward', should she reveal the truth, and the idea of eliciting that word from any of her friends, especially Tadashi, is enough to strengthen her secretive resolve,
"C'mon, GoGo. Something's bothering you, and you know you can tell me." Tadashi insists. GoGo takes one look at his concerned and warm brown eyes. She's ashamed to admit it, but her resolve breaks.
"Fine. When I was seven years old, my mum and dad took me ice skating. It was one of the best times of my life. Wanted to be the fastest kid on ice," GoGo begins (she thinks she hears Tadashi chuckle lightly when she mentions her craving for speed even at a young age, but GoGo chooses to ignore it.)
"But I got too reckless. I skated too fast. One moment I was tearing against the wind, almost like I was flying. Next, my feet give way beneath me and I'm falling backwards. And it's not fun to fall on ice. Particularly at that speed." GoGo winces.
"I almost broke my skull." She ends hollowly, and even though GoGo's determined to mask all her weakness, the childhood trauma of blacking out after her fall and waking up in the sheer and cold hospital room is far too haunting for her to hide.
Tadashi's quiet for a while, and when GoGo steals a glance at him, she sees that he's speechless.
"Wow, GoGo… Never knew you were that traumatised," Tadashi mumbles, still looking stunned. "But then, why did you come here today, if you were that afraid?"
"I thought I could get over it, and besides, Honey went through a lot to get the tickets. She just wants us to have a good time. I can't disappoint her," GoGo answers matter-of-factly. She's vaguely aware of Tadashi's smile softening when she implies the strong bond she has with her only female companion, and rolls her eyes to make up for it.
"You haven't skated ever since that day?" He asks. GoGo manages a wry smile.
"I haven't set foot on ice ever since then," she confirms. "Even if I did know how to skate, I'd probably have forgotten it by now."
"Perfect!" Tadashi beams. GoGo's reply is to stare at him pointedly.
"What?"
"I said perfect, I can teach you then," Tadashi repeats, his eyes alight with excitement. GoGo hesitates at his suggestion. Sure, out of her four friends, Tadashi would probably be the best choice for her to learn from (Honey would be too enthusiastic- which would lead to considerable amount of accidents, GoGo thinks. Wasabi might be a pedantic teacher, too overly consumed by minute details. And Fred was a natural klutz. GoGo doesn't think she needs to learn from him to know how to fall). But it's Tadashi, which would mean twice the self-consciousness, and twice the embarrassment.
But the idea of being freed from her childhood trauma proved too tempting for GoGo. And besides, if there was anyone she trusted would never let her fall (intentionally, anyway), it's Tadashi Hamada.
"Fine." GoGo quips, wishing she has her bubblegum with her now. She'd left it the locker, along with most of her belongings, given how she'd be busy enough trying not to fall, and could much less be chewing at the same time.
"Great! Let's start," Tadashi steps away from GoGo and points in the direction she's facing. "Always try walking first, it'd be rocky for a while, but it helps you get used to the friction of the ice, and get a better sense of balance. Hold on to the wall as you do so, and if it helps-" (GoGo thinks she almost hears Tadashi sniggering, but ignores it in favor of focusing on her current task) "- pretend you are a graceful animal moving through its natural habitat, or a bird flying above the sky (1)."
Now GoGo knows he was sniggering for sure. She snaps her head to her left and glares at Tadashi.
"Hiro liked to think he was a flying robot with wings," Tadashi supplies helpfully.
"You taught Hiro how to skate before?"
"Yea, back in Japan, we'd skate on the surface of the frozen lakes in Winter." Tadashi's smile becomes more affectionate now. "Hiro always fell- he lost his seventh baby tooth that way."
GoGo doesn't want to admit it, but she thinks the way Tadashi cares so much about his little brother is just the slightest bit endearing. But before her mind can wander off to ramble on the list of "Things she found charming about Tadashi Hamada" (not that she really made a list such as that), GoGo hastily remembers to keep her knees bent slightly and leans forward, mumbling the mantra Tadashi has equipped her with. Well, it's not that much of a mantra as it is on which foot to move and when to move it ("Right. Left. Right. Left.") (2) while she's 'gliding' on ice. GoGo doesn't really find it like gliding, despite the name. She thinks she just looks awkward and clumsy, and she's still trying her best not to fall. Tadashi's taught her on what to do when she falls, which included clenching her fingers into a fist so she doesn't risk losing any fingers to a passing skater (GoGo's pretty sure she looked as horrified as she felt at that news, since it prompts Tadashi to hurriedly assure her that on no accounts would he allow her to fall), but GoGo would rather avoid the falling business altogether.
"I think you got the hang of it," Tadashi remarks. "Now it's time to go faster."
For the first time, the word 'Faster' brings an unpleasant lurch to GoGo's stomach.
"Faster?" GoGo repeats, immediately against the idea. She's barely learnt to glide (a word far too smooth to describe her actions, she thinks) and is still on the verge of clutching at the wall if Tadashi hadn't so insistingly placed himself between her and the railings. This time, GoGo's not all that inclined on speed, and the vulnerability of the situation, that even her speed has deserted her, makes her feel just the slightest bit inadequate (out of her peripheral vision, she already sees Honey, Wasabi and Fred chasing each other around).
"Don't worry, I'll be right by your side," Tadashi's saying in a soothing voice. GoGo's about to suggest that he join Fred and the gang instead, but Tadashi's hand is outstretched, and there's a patient look in his warm brown eyes. GoGo hesitates visibly for a while, turning her body slightly to face him, but when her feet start slipping as she breaks in concentration, GoGo swiftly latches onto Tadashi's outstretched palm, panicking (she thinks Tadashi might have laughed at how panicked she's been ever since the start of this ice skating session, but GoGo's glad to have kept most of her outbursts internal, meaning it only transferred to the biting of lips or tugging of her gloves whenever she's nervous or worried (3) ).
"Let's go," Tadashi glides across the ice fluidly, pulling GoGo along slowly. GoGo tries to calm her breathing when the distance between her and the wall widens, but the feeling of Tadashi's hand in hers is comforting, to say the least. As both of them pick up speed, GoGo feels the pressure on her shoulders lighten slowly, until they're skating rings around the ice rink at a moderately fast pace.
She's skating fast, albeit not at the dangerously quick speeds she's used to, and she's not on the verge of falling. GoGo feels a sense of exhilaration overcome her, and she turns to smile at Tadashi-
But Tadashi's letting go of her hand, and despite her black gloves, she thinks her hand feels surprisingly cold now. Then it hits GoGo. She's skating. On her own.
Her first thought is to panic.
But that'd get her into bigger trouble. GoGo runs through all the instructions Tadashi has given her in a hurry, checking her posture and her position. She's fine for a while, but her feet start sliding apart and GoGo flails about for something to hold onto.
"I'm here, I'm here." Her hand is grabbed by Tadashi Hamada again, and he whispers another set of instructions- this time, to get her to stop. GoGo obediently bends her knees slightly inward and pushes off with both of her feet, even though she feels numb and her feet are just the slightest bit damp now. They come to a complete halt as they reach the railings by the edge of the ice rink again.
"Are you alright, GoGo? I'm sorry, I wanted you to try it on your own or you'd become too dependent-" GoGo socks him in the arm. Hard.
"Ow!"
"Woman up! And don't you ever try that again, without warning!" GoGo snarls.
"And I thought you were an adrenaline-junkie…" Tadashi mutters
"Sometimes there's a difference between adrenaline rush and thinking you're going to die." GoGo pauses for a few minutes, trying to regulate her breathing again and process her thoughts. Tadashi stands by her side, taking a breather, and feeling just the slightest bit guilty about the act he's pulled.
"… How'd Hiro do when you tried that on him?"
"Freaked out completely. He nearly rammed into a tree if I hadn't pulled him back."
"Say 'Ice skating'!" Honey Lemon chirps as she pulls out her phone and snaps a picture of the five of them. They're huddled near the entrance of the ice rink, minutes before their time runs out, and Honey Lemon has called upon the decision to end their day with a photo. GoGo rolls her eyes and inches forward slowly, but Tadashi grabs her hand and pulls her in at the last minute, so that her face in the picture is mildly surprised, yet with a hint of a smile on her face. She socks him in the arm again, but he grins it off and says it's worth it.
In the photo, the five of them are smiling, despite their numb legs and fatigue. But when Honey Lemon zooms in on it a little, she tells GoGo that she swears she sees Tadashi and her with their hands held together. GoGo gives an indifferent grunt to the news.
Honey giggles at GoGo's change in reaction when she flicks to the next photo and sees a vaguely blurry photo of her skating with Tadashi, hand in hand. They have a mini scuffle over the phone, either to delete the photo (GoGo) or save it (Honey). GoGo wins after three minutes, but she's too exhausted to do much and ends up giving Honey Lemon her phone back after a victorious punch into the air. (4)
Honey Lemon scrolls through her gallery in dismay, mourning slightly over the missing photo. GoGo decides not to tell Honey that she had sent it to her own phone before hitting the delete button.
(In the photo, she realises they're smiling at each other. And she decides Ice Skating isn't that bad after all.)
(1) and (2)- I got most of the ice skating tutorial info from wikihow. I've only been to ice skating once, and it's been around two months ago so I can't quite remember how my friends taught me, except for the "Right. Left. Right. Left." 'mantra', which really helped, for my case anyway.
(3)- Since GoGo's quite scarred by nearly dying because of her fall when she was young, I wrote her to be notably traumatised and panicky in this scenario. But since GoGo really panicking and being worried is quite OOC for her, it's shown that she's kept most of her outbursts internal, meaning that if she's surprised or so, she usually just widens her eyes and such. It's slightly hinted, or can be interpreted that she chooses to do so because she doesn't want to be deemed a coward for being scared.
(4)- I tend to trail off to a bit of humor when I end my chapters, influenced by some books I've read before. What do you guys think? If it's decidedly not humorous, I'll do my best to lessen it.
I tried incorporating most of my experience as a beginner when I first ice skated (it was 70% panicking, when I think about it), so the story would be understandable and well-written (because writing with emotions and experiences makes the story more realistic in my eyes). Hiro and Tadashi skating together when they were young came as a cool addition to me, since the brothers are really close. I ended my Ice skating trip with a photo, so it seemed appropriate Honey Lemon would do so too (though the GoGo and Tadashi photo was a sudden spark). Thank you for the wonderful reviews, readers, and for the impressive suggestions as well. It gave me a lot of inspiration and I'll do my best to continue. This chapter took a lot more work than I originally perceived but it was worth it in the end. Hope readers enjoyed!