Chapter Seventeen

As the interview camera focused, the spotlight made Yukimura's silhouette even clearer.

When a reporter asked, "What are your thoughts right now?" he smiled, his tone sincere, "Thank you to my team, thank you to my family for their support, thank you to all my supporters, and finally, thank you to my wife. I love you all."

As soon as the words were spoken, a slight commotion broke out at the scene. Reporters keenly seized on the key information and bombarded the audience with questions: "Are you married?" "Is your spouse also Japanese?" "When did you get married?" "What does your spouse do?" The barrage of questions instantly ignited the atmosphere, and this unexpected "official announcement" quickly caused a sensation across the internet.

This was followed by an explosive growth in his commercial value. Endorsement offers poured in like snowflakes, and Yukimura's worth soared, making him one of the most watched figures at the moment.

Inside the photography studio, Yukimura, wearing a limited-edition watch from the client's brand, lightly raised his wrist, showcasing the product's exquisite texture under the soft light.

"Good, perfect!" "Raise your chin slightly, yes, that's it." "Turn to the side, fantastic!" The photographer's praises continued as he changed poses according to the instructions, each angle just right.

In a corner out of the camera's view, Yuzuru Hanyu, wearing a black baseball cap and mask, a black hoodie and black jeans, and white sneakers, was completely "hidden" among the staff.

She carried Yukimura's coat in her hand, held a water bottle under her arm, and kept her eyes following the person in front of the camera, silently playing the role of an assistant.

After the shoot, everyone gathered around the computer to check the finished product. The photographer flipped through the photos and couldn't help but exclaim, "Yukimura, it's such a pity you're not in the entertainment industry. These photos hardly need any editing; you're naturally photogenic!" Yukimura smiled and thanked him, his gaze inadvertently meeting Yuzuru's. The two exchanged a knowing glance.

After thanking the staff on site, Yukimura and Yuzuru hurriedly left with the team to head to their next work location.

As night deepened, Yukimura finally finished all his activities for the day around midnight.

Yuzuru stood to the side, so sleepy that he could barely keep his eyes open, his long eyelashes trembling incessantly. He hadn't even adjusted to the time difference yet and was already working non-stop.

Back in the hotel room, Yukimura looked at his exhausted appearance with concern: "I'll be working hard on my schedule for a while, but once it's over, we'll go back to Japan together. Why don't you stay at the hotel and rest instead of running around with me from now on?"

Yuzuru slowly shook his head, his voice tinged with a hint of hoarse weariness: "It's rare to be able to stay together like this. Even if I'm just keeping you company from afar, I feel at ease."

The busy schedule finally came to an end, and the two boarded a flight back to Japan. After the plane landed, the airport was already packed with media who had come to hear the news.

Escorted by security personnel, Yukimura instinctively pulled Hanyu into his arms, shielding his face with his arm, and struggled to clear a path through the crowd.

After a great deal of effort, the two finally managed to shake off their pursuers and get on the bus home.

Inside the car, Yuzuru took off his mask, rubbed his stiff cheeks, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart, "The old saying is really true, people are afraid of becoming famous, just like pigs are afraid of getting fat!"

After returning to Japan, he received numerous interview requests. After careful screening, his agent finalized several professional tennis segments for Yukimura.

In front of the camera, he wore a simple white shirt with the cuffs casually rolled up to his forearms, sitting upright and calmly answering the reporter's questions.

After the pleasantries, the interview officially got down to business. The host started by asking, "When did you start playing tennis?"

Yukimura looked up, a warm feeling of reminiscence flashing in his eyes: "It started in elementary school. At first, I went to the court with my father and watched the ball go through the net. Suddenly, I became interested and have been sticking with it for so many years."

"Looking back on your career, every stage has been exceptional," the host continued, "Are there any indispensable opponents or teammates along this long tennis journey?"

“Of course.” Yukimura nodded, his tone filled with genuine gratitude. “I used to study at Rikkai University in Kanagawa Prefecture, a school with a very strict academic atmosphere. Every member of the tennis club was a partner I trusted very much. We trained and prepared for matches together, giving our all for the goal of ‘three consecutive national championships.’ Those days of sweating together are my most precious memories.”

When talking about his opponents, his eyes sharpened with the glint of a worthy adversary: ​​"My opponent was Tezuka Kunimitsu, who was very famous in elementary school and is now active in the world tennis arena. I have always looked forward to playing against him, but unfortunately I didn't have that opportunity in junior high school. Echizen Ryoma, whom I met in my third year of junior high school, was also a very good opponent. His explosiveness and ability to adapt to the situation were very strong, and every game against him was full of challenges."

"It's true that outstanding people always appreciate each other." The reporter continued, "We've interviewed Tezuka Kunimitsu and Echizen Ryoma before, and they both gave you high praise. However, they were active in the tennis world much earlier than you. Have you ever felt a little regretful?"

Upon hearing this, Yukimura smiled frankly: "No. Everyone grows at a different pace. During my studies, I focused on self-improvement and honed my skills with my partners. At the right time, I chose to focus on my own path. I believe that standing here now is the best time."

"After playing so many games, is there any shot that left a particularly deep impression on you?" the reporter pressed.

“Many.” Yukimura recalled carefully, his tone firm. “For example, Atobe Keigo’s Ice World serve has extremely strong spin, requiring extra concentration when receiving it; there’s also Fuji Syusuke’s Swallow Return, which lands in tricky spots and always scores from unexpected angles; in addition, Sanada Genichiro’s Laser Beam Intercept is incredibly fast, requiring full concentration to respond to each time. Those highly individualistic shots left a deep impression on me.”

The reporter continued the conversation, asking, "In professional competitions, it's inevitable to encounter slumps or unfavorable situations. How do you usually adjust your mindset?"

“First and foremost, it’s about mindset,” Yukimura said slowly after a moment of contemplation. “Tennis is a sport that tests mental fortitude. When you’re going against the wind, the more panicked you are, the more likely you are to make mistakes. I try to take deep breaths and bring my focus back to each point, instead of dwelling on the points I’ve already lost. Also, the support of the team is very important. The coach’s tactical guidance and my teammates’ encouragement help me quickly regain my form.”

"As a currently popular tennis player, do you have any advice for young tennis enthusiasts?"

"Persistence and passion." Yukimura's gaze hardened. "Tennis training is tedious and you'll encounter many setbacks. Only with true passion can you find joy in the long journey of perseverance. Don't be afraid of failure; every mistake is an opportunity for growth. As long as you don't give up, you'll definitely see progress."

The interview lasted for a long time in a relaxed atmosphere, ranging from daily training to interesting anecdotes from matches, from career planning to the spirit of tennis. Yukimura's answers were clear and well-organized, yet warm and thoughtful.

"This interview is almost over, and there's one last question that everyone's been curious about." The reporter's eyes were filled with curiosity, and her tone was light. "You mentioned your wife in the previous interview, and everyone's eager to know how you and your wife met. Could you share that with us?"

Upon hearing Yuzuru's name, Yukimura's tense expression softened instantly, his eyes filled with tenderness, and even the curve of his lips softened: "Our families are old friends, and we were betrothed as children. She is very outstanding, independent, kind, and exceptionally considerate. Actually, I liked her for a long time, and it took a lot of effort to finally win her over."

"Everyone says you got married young; good men are indeed hard to find on the market," the reporter joked with a smile. "Do you have any secrets to your marriage that you'd like to share?"

After a moment's thought, Yukimura gave the most sincere answer: "There's no complicated secret, just love her well. If you give sincerely, she will definitely feel it."

The interview immediately caused a huge uproar. This was not only because Yukimura is currently very popular, but also because it was his first time publicly discussing marriage, and the tenderness in his words moved countless netizens.

The comments section was filled with both teasing and well wishes:

"'If you love her well, you can win her over.' It seems the world still values ​​looks! But who can blame him when he's both handsome and devoted!"

"What an amazing love story! He's a top tennis player, yet he's so gentle when talking about his wife. It's so sweet!"

"A childhood betrothal plus unrequited love coming true—this story is sweeter than a novel! Yukimura's love life is truly perfect!"

"Now I suddenly understand why he's so successful. He's devoted to his partner and focused on his career. How could someone like that not shine!"

"Help! 'It took a lot of effort to win him over'? Who would believe that! He's got god-like looks and a god-like personality. Ms. Yuzuru must have been smitten by his good looks to have agreed to date him!"

"The Rikkai University tennis club's DNA is stirring! It turns out that back then, Captain Yukimura was secretly in love with his future wife, in addition to practicing tennis. What a mutually reciprocated youth drama!"

"I suggest that 'love her well' be etched into your DNA! All the celebrities nowadays should learn from this. Stop with the empty talk; sincerity is the real killer move!"

"So the childhood betrothal is real! I declare this couple to be the epitome of 'destined' love. No wonder Yukimura's eyes were shining when he talked about it, it's so sweet it's making me swoon!"

"I'm suddenly curious about who Ms. Yuzuru is! To be so highly regarded by Yukimura, she must be a beautiful and capable woman. I hope to run into her!"

"I thought he was so aloof when I watched him compete, but he's so gentle when he talks about his wife. The contrast is so cute! Is this the kind of gentleness that only married men can have?"

"The saying 'good men don't come easily' is so true! It's a good thing Yukimura acted quickly, otherwise so many people would be heartbroken. But seeing how happy he is, I'll bow down to him first!"

"Is it possible that one of Yukimura's motivations for playing tennis was 'to become better so that he could be worthy of Ms. Hanyu's'? What an inspiring love story!"

Meanwhile, Yuzuru was engrossed in his work that he had fallen behind on, organizing documents and replying to emails, so busy that he had no time to pay attention to the noise and heated discussions on the Internet.