SONIDORI
Oh!
Coach Akeuraji.
Eva F. Rodrigues.
Sorry for bothering you late at night.
I'm afraid Rioh's already gone to bed.
Ah, that's okay.
Thank you.
He'll go bananas tomorrow when he finds out you were here.
Make yourself at home.
You're very kind, Coach Akeuraji.
Kind?
You trust that I have no intention of taking credit for Jun's achievements.
I received a remarkably courteous letter.
He wants me to support Hikaru in her daily life,
while keeping his involvement in her coaching totally confidential.
It's my intention to keep his existence hidden.
To shield Jun and Hikaru.
By "shield," do you mean from the media?
No.
Well, that too, but...
You're talking too much, Shinichiro.
Hey, what are you saying and to whom?
BEACON
I first longed to be on the ice when I was in middle school.
I was captivated by what I saw.
Yes.
Now I can dance without falling down.
I feel like I'm able to do a pretty decent imitation of Jun Yodaka.
But who can check if I'm doing it right?
Yes! That was better than last time!
I want someone to tell me...
Do I have talent or not?
If I just knew that, it would give me a reason to chase my dreams like an idiot!
Will I look back on these days with regret when I'm older?
Even though no one wants to see me out there skating on the ice...
Why is he here so late?
It's the dead of night.
It's kind of inconvenient for Coach Sonidori.
I was waiting for you.
How's the jet lag?
This is Coach Akeuraji.
He's the coach who trained Rioh during summer vacation.
His skater won the championship today.
- Right? - Y...
Yeah.
Coach Sonidori's forcing us to interact without knowing the situation.
He smokes.
Even though the Jun Yodaka I've heard of is known for his rigorous self-discipline.
I wonder if he's stopped skating.
I should go home.
Coach Sonidori, thank you so much for today, but it's getting late, so...
- Can we go somewhere else? - Huh?
I've actually booked a slot after this for Jun and I to skate together.
They opened it specially for us even though there's a championship on.
A slot...
You mean at an ice rink?
Yes. If I lend you some skates, do you want to join us?
Skate with Jun Yodaka and Coach Sonidori?
If Coach Sonidori and Jun Yodaka are close enough friends
to skate together at nighttime,
Jun Yodaka probably doesn't want me to come,
but he doesn't want to upset Coach Sonidori by saying so.
WILL YOU GO? A. GO - B. DON'T GO
But Coach Sonidori hasn't realized...
I knew it would be more exciting in the dark,
because it reminds me of skating at exhibitions.
Yeah, maybe.
Where's Coach Akeuraji?
Hmm?
Coach!
Yes.
Even if the skates for ice dancing and regular skating are different...
I wish the ground would swallow me up.
Sorry, are the skates no good?
I used them up until quite recently.
Ah, no, the shoes aren't bad or anything.
But why did you invite me along?
There's got to be a reason you brought me here, right?
I wanted you to see.
See?
This is...
Jun Yodaka.
It's the first time...
I've seen him skate in real life...
and it's, it's...
I know.
He's even better than when he was still competing.
I wanted you to see Jun in action.
After he retired, Jun couldn't get used to a life that wasn't on the ice.
For people like us, who have devoted our lives to the ice since we were kids,
living in a world unrelated to skating is extremely painful.
It's not just Hikaru, but Jun Yodaka's skating that I want to protect.
The reason Jun was interested in being Hikaru's private coach was also because
it came with the condition of securing a private practice slot.
Someone who tried to live outside the world of ice, but got thrown back in.
The total opposite of me.
Thank you.
I was a huge fan of Jun Yodaka,
so just hearing that story makes me happy.
Ow...
The impact is so much worse when you haven't fallen in a long time.
After trying something out, I get to see the perfect example in 3D.
So Hikaru Kamisaki gets to practice while watching this up close?
Right in front of me is the Jun Yodaka I've always admired but must now defeat.
A genius athlete who is still polishing his skills, even now.
I can't waste a single minute or second.
I have to do everything I can for Miss Inori!
I'll try the takeoff for the Lutz, which can only be done on the ice.
Coach Akeuraji is amazing.
He's getting better and better.
I wonder what's going on inside that head of his.
Shinichiro.
How long did he compete for?
Until he was 24, I think, according to Coach Takamine.
As an athlete, he only competed for two seasons, at age 23 and 24.
After that, he wanted to be cast in an ice show.
Apparently, he only started skating seriously when he was 20.
Twenty...
I think many fans are still hoping to see your performance.
Is your decision to retire final?
Rioh's told me a lot about him.
Yes, I see an incredible talent...
I wouldn't say that.
Hmm?
If you can't prove it in the limited time you're given,
it's the same as having no talent.
Gimme your phone.
I just wanna borrow it to take a video.
Where's yours?
It's broken.
Ow...
Oh? Huh?
Can you...
do a backflip?
Hmm?
A backflip?
Now you.
He'll get an injury, attempting that out of the blue.
I did a jump like that just because I was told to.
You should take this video and start auditioning for ice shows again.
He's right.
A skater who can do a backflip is an asset to any ice show.
With Shinichiro's help, you'll be fine.
You'll definitely land a job.
I don't have that kind of leverage.
I'll ask him to send it to your phone right now.
- No. - Hmm.
Thank you.
But I stepped off that path long ago.
You...
You're aware that you have an extremely rare talent, aren't you?
The way you practiced that jump earlier.
Even though you kept falling at the start,
once you watched me do it, you nailed it in no time.
Even so, you didn't seem that impressed with how quickly you improved.
That suggests you're aware of your own abilities.
That's just...
It's not exactly praise.
The people I competed against, were those who knew the value
of their own abilities and how to use them.
I cannot praise you for giving up your potential at that age.
I remember you, you know.
You're the coach who set reckless goals for his student
last year after the Meikoh Cup.
Reckless...
You must still be able to skate.
Is there really any need to serve the dreams
of a kid who doesn't understand anything?
Jun...
You don't remember, do you?
"I will spend the rest of my life leading this girl to victory!"
That's what I said to you that day.
To you, that kid's big dream might have sounded like nonsense.
But I know how much courage is packed between those words.
Right now, my dream is to put everything into coaching Inori Yuitsuka,
who's aiming to become a gold medalist.
That's how I'm using my potential.
You might become a good coach.
But that girl's dreams won't come true.
I'll make Hikaru follow the same path as me.
I agreed to that because of her talent.
"The same path"?
Just like me...
she will become a gold medalist in every championship throughout her career.
As an athlete, I showed it could be done.
With genuine, undeniable skill, even on the Olympic stage,
where luck and misfortune intertwine, I never lost a single time.
All of my choices were correct.
I know what it takes to become the best in the world.
You do not.
Therefore, your dreams won't come true.
He's right.
Jun Yodaka has been the best in the world multiple times,
and Hikaru Kamisaki has never actually lost either.
But...
You never know.
Nothing is ever certain on the ice!
It is, actually.
Certain.
But fine, I'll take it back.
If you prove it.
Hmm?
Next month, at All-Japans.
There's only one month left.
Too soon for the boss battle.
She still hasn't landed the triple Lutz or triple flip.
But, but...
We already made one miracle happen.
I'll prove it. Just you watch!
I haven't been to Nagakute skating rink in so long!
It's huge.
So we're doing intensive practice here today, huh?
Booking a private session at Nagakute's rink is done by lottery, you know?
It's so lucky we got a slot!
Also, we get to practice at the best time of day.
We smashed it! We totally smashed it!
Coach...
In just a few months, you passed the badge test, learned the triple loop,
and on top of that, won the Chubu Block championship!
These are sparkling, lifelong achievements!
You accomplished something so difficult. Smashed it!
I'm giving you a Tsukasa medal too!
- Coach Tsukasa... - Yeah?
Why do you mention that every time we meet?
It's already been a week.
The hole in my heart
from not being able to praise your first ever gold medal at the perfect moment
still hasn't healed.
Let me say it for just three more days.
In three days, huh?
SIZZLE!
I wanted to celebrate the joy of a GOE plus five with you
while you were still sizzling in that "fresh off the win" phase,
before you got to the "sick of hearing about it" phase.
I'm reheating my joy for you!
It's okay, I'm fine.
Thank you.
Today's private practice is amazing.
Not only do we get the rink to ourselves with a small group,
but we can also get advice from the judges who officiated the Block championship.
And only skaters from the prefecture who qualified for the All-Japans Novice A
get to practice here.
So she must be...
To become stronger, I have to prove my strength.
Coach Tsukasa said that over and over during practice.
Because I became stronger, I was able to enter the world of athletes,
the world of figure skaters.
Ah, Inori.
Hey!
Sota...
and Rioh...
I'm so happy to see skaters from the same club here.
Right?
- Well, I'm sad. - Huh?
There are so few male skaters that just showing up
at the Chubu Block competition means you get to join this intensive training.
NOT ENOUGH BOYS - NO PARTICIPANT
Oh, really?
Why are there so few boys?
Rioh.
Rioh!
What?
Is Hikaru coming today?
Hikaru?
Yeah.
If you tell me where Coach Akeuraji is right now, I'll tell you.
Where is he?
He's probably talking to Coach Hitomi.
Why?
I'm going to ask Coach Akeuraji to come and stay at my place.
Coach Tsukasa isn't your coach anymore!
Just because you're in the same club, you think you're
the only one who has a special student-teacher bond with him?
Go ahead and be happy with that weak bond of yours
for the rest of your life, you ugly shrimp!
I'm not an ugly shrimp!
Shut it, you two!
Did you two come here to mess around, or what?
Don't go making a ruckus...
little brats.
It's huge.
It's Yuna Yagi from Meikoh Wind.
And that's Rinna Sarukawa.
That's Main Kobuta from Meijo Crown.
Manaka Roba from Aisei Ride.
And then there's...
Why's... Iruka...
Hmm?
Listen to this, she didn't come to junior practice yesterday,
because she had a fight with her mom.
Oh, really?
Skipping practice because of a fight with your mom
is way worse than making a ruckus.
And yet you were such a scaredy-cat a moment ago.
But the kids from Kankyo University High usually practice on the school rink,
so there are hardly any chances to watch them.
I wanna go watch them carefully.
She jumped as high as a male skater.
And her choreography looks really sophisticated and cool.
The layback spread eagle!
Getting back up from that position is insane.
Her abs are rock-solid.
Good job.
You managed to pull off the part you usually mess up.
So? How did it feel to you?
It's so distracting with all those little brats skating left, right, and center.
You shouldn't say things like that!
It's true, though.
Make sure you don't go picking fights with kids from other countries
when you get to Italy.
So annoying.
Italy...
The Junior Grand Prix series...
Representing Japan in a world championship...
so cool.
When I'm a junior skater, maybe I can...
Wait, isn't that next year?
Once I'm a junior next year,
I'll have to compete against people at this level.
The juniors are...
so scary.
Hikaru...
Right now, I'm somewhere only special people get to go,
and I'm here with Hikaru.
Finally,
finally...
I made it this far.
Translated by: Daisy Savage