Chapter 36: Spring Comes in the Notes
Cuddled on the sofa in his hotel room, Yuzuru Hanyu boredly fiddled with the joystick of his game console. One of the two little figures on the screen followed his instructions, circling the other. The Switch, which Le had left on the sofa, was about to turn off. He reached over and pressed it, and the screen stubbornly lit up again. He peeked out to the balcony again; Le hadn't finished her call yet.
She was just enjoying Animal Crossing when a work call came in. She dropped the game and went to answer it. She spoke Chinese intently, and Yuzuru Hanyu couldn't understand her, so he just kept playing his own game. Suddenly, a cool breeze blew in, and he turned around to find Le had wandered off to the balcony, still on the phone.
She was holding the phone to her ear with one hand and folding her other arm under her armpit, looking like she was curled up. She must be cold.
Yuzuru Hanyu looked around, pushed himself forward and pulled the coat that was draped over the other end of the sofa. Just as he was about to get up, the balcony door opened again.
"Wow...it's so cold..."
She huddled up and stamped her feet. Hanyu Yuzuru unfolded the clothes in his hands. She understood and moved over, still feeling the chill that had not yet dissipated from her body, she threw herself into his arms. Hanyu Yuzuru tightened his arms, wrapped her in his coat, and lowered his head to rub his chin against the top of her head.
"Isn't it cold? Who would run around the house talking on the phone and even go out to the balcony without putting on a coat? Are you warmer now?"
"Yeah!" She nodded vigorously, raised her head and kissed him on the cheek, "Thank you, Yuzuru, I'm going to work overtime, you play first~" After saying that, she broke free from his arms, went straight to the desk, took out her laptop and various documents, her movements were skillful and fast, leaving Yuzuru Hanyu looking at his suddenly empty arms and blinking.
"Hey, it's so late and you're still working overtime? We have rehearsal tomorrow..." He shuffled over to her side and leaned over to look at her computer screen, which was full of English, which made him frown.
"Well, it's because we have a rehearsal tomorrow so there are some things that need to be prepared. You can just play by yourself first~" Although Le coaxed her with his mouth, his eyes were on the screen and his hands did not stop typing on the keyboard.
She pouted and prepared to leave, but when she glanced across the table, she found several of Le's portable notebooks. They looked very familiar.
"Isn't this your inspiration note? Can I take a look?"
"Well, you see."
With permission, Yuzuru Hanyu dragged a stool over, sat down beside her, and began flipping through the pages. Ever since she'd told him she was planning a career as a choreographer, she'd been keeping a journal of inspiration, much like his figure skating notebooks, filling up book after book. He'd often seen her sitting on the floor in various places, her head bent, intently writing and drawing in a small notebook. Sometimes, she'd straighten herself, raise her arm, twist her wrist slightly, or shake her head, as if she were thinking about some movement.
It's rare to see her bring so many books at a time. Is she planning something this time?
He pulled out a book, flicked it with his thumb, and the papers flew in his hand, and the notebook naturally stopped on the page that had been opened the most recently.
【2018.05.23 - 春よ来い】
Beneath the title lies her understanding of the music, the mood she aims to convey within each verse, and the sketches of the movements she intends to accompany it. Le's sketches are always sloppy, and those simple lines initially drew mockery from the mischievous Yuzuru Hanyu. But after watching a few of the choreography demo videos Le sent him, he no longer dared to mock these seemingly ambiguous drawings. Her dance moves are always captivating.
The day with this title was probably the first time he excitedly played Kiyotsuka-san's arrangement of "Spring Comes" for her.
He thought, continuing to flip through the pages at random, and the page he stopped on again was still the one that read "Spring Arrives," October 2018. He raised an eyebrow and continued flipping.
2019.03-春よ来い
2019.07-春よ来い
2019.11-春よ来い
…
The paper quietly leaves behind the memory of being constantly flipped through, allowing its owner to find the page he wants to flip through at the first possible moment.
She loved the song, and he knew it, so he offered to lend it to her for choreography. She was constantly revising it, and he knew it, because he often received choreography demos from her. But…
"Did you guess that I was going to skate this?"
"Hmm?" Le turned her head and glanced at the notebook page in his hand, "Ah~ You are talking about this~ Yes~ I am awesome~~" She shook her head proudly, turned back to her work, adjusting the document format while talking casually.
"The lighting director and I have a good relationship this time. I think if you skate Chunlai, maybe some of the inspirations I prepared can be made more beautiful through lighting. However, after all, the overall style of exhibition skating is already set, and there are various restrictions, so the effect may be greatly reduced. But I still chose a good picture for you. Take a look."
As she spoke, she clicked through several folders on her computer, and a picture opened. It was a blossoming cherry blossom, painted in the simple style of an ink painting, neither overwhelming nor losing its color against the white ice.
"It looks good, right? Fortunately, you really chose Chunlai, and my plan was not in vain~"
"I think this is more suitable for the version of Spring Coming that you sent me before." He reached out and gently stroked the cherry blossoms on the screen.
He couldn't recall exactly when he received the version, but he always remembered the astonishment he felt upon opening the demo. Le sat on the barre, her eyes rising as the piano played. Her movements were languid and casual, the music akin to the springtime flowing around her, a touch she'd inadvertently touch with her fingertips and toes. She was wearing only basic black training clothes and a long white gauze skirt, and the backdrop wasn't a grand stage, just an empty dance studio. Yet, she felt like a pure, serene flower spirit, residing in the cherry blossoms, awakening alone after a harsh winter.
"Hmm... I also think your Chunlai has more vitality..." Le touched his chin and said, "But there's nothing I can do. The creative space this time is limited. Please bear with me, Mr. Hanyu~"
“It won’t be wasted.”
"Um?"
"None of your inspirations will be wasted. I promise!" Yuzuru Hanyu promised seriously, pointing to the notebook on the table.
His scorching gaze made Le dazed for a moment, but he quickly understood what he meant and nodded in agreement with a smile.
"Yeah, I think so."
The room soon returned to silence, with only the sound of Le working on the keyboard and Yuzuru Hanyu turning the pages of his book.
Elsewhere, the lights were still on in the hotel where the journalists were staying. Alice's room was one of them. She was sorting through the photos she had taken over the past few days when she stumbled upon that familiar figure.
At the entrance of the souvenir shop, a girl, a shopping bag dangling from her wrist, tilted her head back to drink water. A mask dangled from one ear, obscuring half her face, leaving only a glimpse of her profile. Her bangs had been lifted considerably, revealing her full forehead through the strands of hair. Although it was a profile, it was much more recognizable as someone she'd seen before compared to the back view she'd taken the other time. She'd only photographed a handful of Asian faces; she'd definitely find them if she looked through her profile.
The ringing of the phone interrupted her work. After she answered it, she pressed the speakerphone button, without stopping her hands from rummaging through the computer folders.
"Alice, I've taken care of the filming for tomorrow's figure skating exhibition rehearsal. Remember to take lots of pictures of Yuzuru Hanyu; he's a huge hit right now."
"Okay, got it." He said a little impatiently. He really couldn't get the feeling when photographing figure skaters. They moved too fast.
"Also, the second season of F&B has aired two episodes already, and it's quite popular. If you look for some old material, you might be able to catch some of it."
"All the gossip that could be dug up about that matter was already dug up five years ago, and it got the crew in trouble at the time. If I continue to do so blatantly, I'm afraid I'll be in big trouble. Let me see."
"Okay, then you think about it yourself."
The call ended, but it gave Alice an idea. She opened the 2012 folder, looked through a few photos, and found a side profile photo of a 17-year-old Asian ballet dancer.
Image Name-Sukinohara-17-2012.01
The woman at the desk narrowed her eyes, as if she had discovered something interesting.
---
At 2:00 PM on February 19th, Jin Boyang sat in the preparation area, packing his things. He'd been notified that the performance skating rehearsal would begin at 2:30 PM, but perhaps because his family was hosting, he couldn't help but get excited and expected to arrive early. Unexpectedly, he arrived 30 minutes early.
Holding the ice skates, they pushed open the heavy door and curtains. The sound of music and the voices on the microphone instantly enveloped the people who came in.
"Thank you for your hard work, kids. You can exit through the side door now~"
A gentle, childlike female voice echoed from the venue. Her accent didn't sound Chinese at all. Looking around, he couldn't spot any foreigners among the staff. There were so many people holding microphones that it was hard to tell who they were. However, as he looked around, he spotted Yuzuru Hanyu and his mother sitting in the corner of the audience.
"Hanyu!!" He made a megaphone of his hand and shouted in his direction. This shout was quite conspicuous in the venue with the music turned off, and many people looked in his direction.
Yuzuru Hanyu quickly made a silence gesture in the direction of Jin Boyang and quickly slipped away from the audience.
"Why are you here so early?"
I don't know how to respond appropriately. A quick smile is all I need. I can't tell him I came here secretly to watch my girlfriend work, can I?
He really wanted to say it, but Le didn't seem willing.
"During rehearsal tomorrow, please don't look for me. It's best to pretend I don't exist, okay?" Last night, Le closed his work computer and solemnly told Yuzuru Hanyu repeatedly. No matter how he protested, it was useless. He remained firm.
"Why?" with an aggrieved face.
"Because wherever you are, there are cameras. Don't let me get filmed."
Thinking about what Le said yesterday, Hanyu glanced resentfully at Le who was counting the children at the other end of the ice rink.
Perhaps sensing his gaze, Le glanced back at him before returning to her work. Hanyu Yuzuru, however, felt a hint of murderous intent in her eyes, and couldn't help but flinch.
Jin Boyang's question received no direct response, but he watched the two exchange glances across the rink. He rubbed his chin and looked at Hanyu with a sly look. If he asked again, he'd surely be brushed off by a Level 1 competitor. He'd have to rely on himself; there would be plenty of opportunities to observe during rehearsals.
Every exhibition skating competition is like a big get-together for the invited athletes. Without the pressure of competition, everyone can have a friendly exchange. After rehearsals for individual programs, everyone returns to the rink for a joyful chat, photo ops, and fun time.
The final lighting and music were still being tweaked. Le stood on the steps, watching the panda-headed figure wander around the rink. Sometimes he'd take a photo with someone, sometimes walk arm-in-arm with another panda-headed figure, sometimes spin around in the arms of Princess Da Liu, seemingly completely blissful. He never glanced at her again.
Pretty good~
Sometimes, squatting on the side and looking at the ice surface makes people feel a little bit reluctant.
The lights in the venue were dim, and the projections on the ice reflected a little colorful light and shadow on Yuzuru Hanyu who was squatting in the corner. He had his hands in his pockets, and his curved eyes behind the mask seemed to be smiling, but he was staring in a daze at the person skating in the middle of the ice rink.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I took it out and looked at it.
[Raku: Did you give away your Bing Dwen Dwen hat?]
Yuzu: Lend it to Xinyue for a try.
Yuzu: What's the fun? I didn't even see you.
【Raku: The stands. I'll be right over to line up.】
Yuzu: Okay, I'll be the first to cooperate with you.
【Raku: Just stay away from me. 】
Yuzu: ┭┮﹏┭┮ So cold.
"Are you chatting with your girlfriend?" Jin Boyang squatted down next to Hanyu, startling him as he was typing. "Is that the one I asked for help last time?"
"Is she there? I see you're looking around."
"Is that the girl over there?" He asked, pointing at the girl who was skating with Bing Dwen Dwen not far away.
I don't know if Jin Boyang learned his lesson after the failure of the Four Continents Gossip in 2020 and studied English well. Now he can gossip without pause. He asked a series of questions that even confused the first-level player Yuzuru Hanyu. Not only that, he also pointed out people very well.
Accurate.
Yuzuru Hanyu smiled again, but this time, his narrow eyes behind the mask were filled with a pleading look. He raised his index finger to the front of the mask and whispered, "Please, keep it a secret."
Hum, after two years of eating this melon, I finally got to enjoy it. Jin Boyang was satisfied.
"Players, please assemble in the middle of the rink."
The lights on the ice rink were adjusted to the Final setting when the skaters were called, and the figure skaters' competition and training postures were projected onto the white ice surface.
Yuzuru Hanyu put his hands in his pockets, looking around for the photos he had selected on Le's computer the night before, and casually strolled towards the crowd. Finally finding his own photo, he shook his head in satisfaction and applauded himself, completely unaware that someone was calling him.
"Hanyu, please come this way."
“Hanyu…”
"Yuzuru Hanyu."
He was startled when he heard the full name, and when he came to his senses, Le had already turned and walked away, ignoring him.
"Hanyu, she asked you to stand here~" Jin Boyang, who had just made a big splash, came over to watch the fun and added.
It’s so interesting to eat melon~
I wanted to tease Hanyu when I got the chance, but I didn't expect to see any interaction between the two during the entire performance skating. Jin Boyang regretted missing the opportunity.
Every time Yuzuru Hanyu tried to carefully get close to Le, she would dodge him very nimbly, or he would be caught by other staff members for leaving the team without permission.
Le is really cautious around the camera... Oh... athlete Hanyu thought helplessly.
Even with such caution, Le never expected to be stopped by a reporter after her performance skating rehearsal. The reason for stopping her was completely unrelated to Yuzuru Hanyu.
"Hello, are you a former soloist with the American Ballet Company B?"
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