Chapter 103 Birthday and Gift
The second hand ticked slowly from 11:11 to 12 minutes.
This was the fourth time she'd watched this scene from the console, and it was the first time her heartbeat resonated with it. The electric guitar ripped through her quiet anticipation, sending goosebumps all over her body. The "secret" she'd kept inside was about to be revealed, and excitement and nervousness mingled. Even watching Yuzuru Hanyu's laughter and tears as he walked around the stage, she remained unmoved by his emotions.
From her angle, she couldn't see what was written on the banners in the audience. The bracelets and lights were shining. She could only see the figure on the ice covering his face from time to time, quietly wiping away the tears gathered in the corners of his eyes, and then continuing to smile and wave to everyone.
The music stopped, and Yuzuru Hanyu shouted his thanks, as if straining his vocal cords to muffle his trembling voice. He surveyed the audience, the gratitude and thanks he wanted to convey no longer suppressed in his chest. He clutched the microphone, his words pouring out like a machine gun.
Finally, after a round of applause, he took a deep breath and suddenly made a quotation mark-like gesture with his hands behind his back. The broadcast captured it, and Le saw it clearly. She unconsciously held her breath and sat up straight, listening to his final "introduction."
【The beginning is also the beginning of the end, and the end is also the beginning of the beginning. 】
He finally uttered the words he had been brooding on for months. Looking toward the control panel, where a hand seemed to be raised high, Hanyu curled his lips, lowered his head, and slowly turned around on the ice, letting out a quiet breath.
"Then let the prologue end."
After saying that, he also raised his fist high.
Mikiko couldn't help but feel a pity that no camera captured this moment. She watched Le, completely absorbed in the performance at the console, their childish exchange across the rink. No matter how many times she watched it, it always gave her goosebumps.
"It's good to be young." She couldn't help but sigh, and looked at Le who put down his arms and scratched his head embarrassedly.
In the fully lit venue, everyone left one after another. Le felt a little embarrassed by Mikiko's teasing, and he couldn't help but pack up faster.
"Are you in a hurry to go back and celebrate Hanyu-kun's birthday?" Teacher Mikiko still didn't intend to let her go, but she didn't expect this sentence to make Le shrink her neck. "What's wrong?"
"Actually, I completely forgot," she reluctantly clicked on her phone and glanced at the calendar. The color-coded December 7th was right next to today, and nothing would change just because she clicked on it. "I just remembered it today when I saw the cake the staff prepared..."
Then she turned around and got busy again, forgetting about it. It wasn't until just now, when she heard him express gratitude to the crowd of birthday wishes, that she remembered it again. The headphones she'd put in the shopping cart to grab for him were already sold out. It would be best if no one mentioned birthdays now.
"Eh? That's going to make Hanyu-kun sad..." Mikiko-sensei wouldn't let that slip. Even though she didn't really think so.
Everyone knew Suginohara Raku was probably feeling a bit stressed during her time in Hachinohe. After all, the usually serene beauty, who rarely engaged in lively conversation and laughter, was even quieter this time. During breaks in discussions about the ice performance, she'd pull out her headphones, presumably quickly switching to another task. But her concentration made her seem even more unapproachable. Within a two-meter radius, no one dared to disturb her.
Every time, Hanyu would come over and pat her shoulder. The ice around the icy beauty would melt, and she would smile and ask him if his break was over.
[I'll take care of it from now on. Don't you trust me, Le?]
This is what Yuzuru Hanyu has said most to Suginohara Raku these past few days. Every time he says it, he pouts his lips, acting like a spoiled child, and Mikiko senses a deep affection in his words.
Still, work is work, and forgetting your birthday might still upset you. After all, seeing Yuzuru Hanyu and Raku Suginohara peeking out of the car window and waving goodbye to everyone, their faces were as innocent and cute as little kids. Kids, I guess, still care about birthdays.
I hope God will be kinder to these two young people. It is hard not to like and feel sorry for these two self-disciplined and stubborn children who work so hard for their dreams and don't even have a bite of birthday cake.
The wish was beautiful, but unfortunately, December 5th was neither Mikiko's birthday nor the birthday of Yuzuru Hanyu, who was photographed holding a birthday cake. This beautiful wish was ultimately shattered by a report.
"This story is getting more and more outrageous..." Lio frowned as she scrolled through her phone in the dance studio. She had blocked all the entries and, following Suginohara's example, avoided these messy rumors to avoid affecting her mood. But Big Data wasn't going to let her go.
Ever since Yuzuru Hanyu and Suginohara-san's relationship became public, rumors have been flying around for over a month now, but they've all been fabricated and the hype has died down. I thought the rumors had died down, but the day after Hanyu's Tokyo Dome performance was announced, the rumors started to pick up again.
Even the recent SD performances by the dance troupe have seen a surge of tabloid and weekly media outlets swarming the stage. Many times, Lio couldn't help but wonder, who told the tabloids and weekly publications that SD was a platform for them to film and fabricate rumors?
In short, a new discussion trend has emerged.
#Hanyu Yuzuru's scheming to steal love#
Lio glanced at Tohara and Kyu, who were warming up nearby, and sighed silently. Although she also thought the weekly magazine was outrageous and disgusting, she had to admit that she had once been deeply attracted by the chemistry between childhood friends, the daily playfulness, and the sense of trust, and she had never really enjoyed it.
"Why are you looking at me?" He Jiu felt a little uncomfortable with her gaze. He raised his right eyebrow and looked at Li Xu who was sitting on the ground sewing shoes in confusion.
Since he asked, Li Xu simply brought out the idea that had been lingering in her mind for a long time. She mysteriously recruited Kazuki to squat in front of her and move closer.
"Tohara-senpai, I recently thought of two best ways to deal with your rumors."
Tohara and Jiu didn't say anything, but encouraged her to continue with their eyes.
"Since you and Hanyu are taking turns as the third, why don't you three just live a good life together?" After saying this, she received a perfect glare. Rio shrank her neck but smiled without fear of being hit. "However, you two can just make it official... Hey, senior, don't leave..."
"what happens?"
When Le Jin entered the practice room, he saw someone with a look of disdain in the corner, and he curiously sat down next to Li Xu. After asking about the whole situation, he also laughed and fell over. The cheerful atmosphere in this corner seemed to have infected the dull atmosphere of the practice room rehearsal. At least, those who didn't know what they were talking about looked over.
"Look again, what's so good about it..." Li Xu was not very happy. She was patted on the head by Le, and she sighed and changed the subject, "Senior, are you still going to SD today? There are more people in SD recently."
"I'm not going to SD, I just have a show scheduled today."
"That's right... Anyway, no one has told you whether you will go to the theater or not, so it shouldn't be a big problem... Besides, today is Hanyu's birthday, so everyone must have thought you would be resting at home." She deliberately said it ambiguously, but Le smiled generously and admitted that she planned to go home early after the theater and accompany Hanyu to training today.
I guessed some of the information correctly and some I didn't, and it felt like I had eaten a big mouthful of dog food. It was such a complicated feeling.
The plan was always good, until the crowd backstage after the theater was over was reluctant to leave.
"Why are these people so persistent today? Who are they waiting for?" The security guard glanced at the time and looked at the people who were still stubbornly guarding the door with some surprise.
Normally, the main characters would have emerged one after another, and the fans waiting at the door would have already gathered around them. But now, they remained fixed on the gate, not letting up even a bit. Their faces were mostly hidden by masks, and even their exposed eyes were hidden behind the camera, making it difficult to distinguish them clearly in the night.
He Jiu, surrounded by fans begging for autographs not far away, also vaguely sensed something was amiss. He lowered his head as he signed autographs, his eyes constantly glancing at the group of "fans" who were waiting patiently. From a side angle, he finally noticed the casual attire of several of them, and alarm bells immediately went off.
Even if the audience attending the theater is not dressed up, they are usually well-dressed. These people are probably...
He quickly pulled out his phone, but his partner for today's performance, Matsuno-senpai, grabbed his arm. She approached him with a businesslike smile.
"Tohara, smile~" She faced the camera, her facial muscles still firmly pulling the corners of her mouth. The reminder squeezed out of her throat made He Jiu have no choice but to follow her gaze and smile politely at the camera.
The crowd behind him suddenly became noisy, and amidst the chatter, He Jiu seemed to hear the key word "Hanyu." He quickly shook off the hand that was holding him and turned to head towards the sound.
Le, who had just come out of the gate, obviously hadn't expected the situation at the door. She stood on the steps, feeling a little overwhelmed and at a loss as to what to do. This shouldn't be the case. Why are there so many people who are obviously waiting for her?
Backstage SDs are an opportunity for tacit interaction between fans and performers. Niche communities are usually small, so dividing the audience based on their preferences isn't a major issue. The two security guards were simply there for emergencies. This was clearly their first encounter with such a situation. Even with a modest number of people, the hyena-like attack was a bit overwhelming. Hats fell to the ground, getting trampled underfoot. Two hands stretched out to block the camera approaching the door.
"Ms. Suginohara, I heard you took a long break a few days ago and didn't attend rehearsals. Are you overconfident about your return to the stage, or does Hanyu not support your performance?"
One person was the first to ask his question loudly, and then others rushed to ask their own questions.
"Is Hanyu too controlling to allow you to be in the spotlight?"
"Today is his birthday, yet you returned to the dance troupe. Is this a sign of resistance to his hegemony?"
"Excuse me, Mr. Hanyu, is this the third party that came between you and Mr. Tohara?"
The questions were all irrelevant, and Le had no intention of answering anyone. However, once the cacophony of voices erupted, the approaching momentum became even more intimidating. She instinctively stepped back, and the moment her heel touched the edge of the stairs, she saw Tohara and Jiu struggling to push through the crowd and rush towards her.
Yuzuru Hanyu glanced at his phone, but still had no message.
This shouldn't be the case...
He frowned, a sense of unease rising. After the Gift announcement, the rumors, which had been largely quieted, reignited, as if they were premeditated, making him somewhat uneasy. It was out of this concern that he arranged for Hasegawa to pick Le up from work, and it was definitely not entirely because of the so-called "mistress" rumors.
Before the call to Hasegawa was connected, there was a knock on the door. Hasegawa, holding his phone, stood at the door and spoke before Yuzuru Hanyu could utter his question.
"Yuzuru-san, put on your coat, let's go to the hospital."
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