The rainy November season is slowly coming to its end. Also, the freezing weather is finally worth it, as the weather forecast predicts heavy snow in the closest days.
The first snow of the year is always exciting, and I and Yuki have been patiently looking out for the first snowflake to fall, so we can admire this special moment together. But today Yuki had errands to run and so we couldn't temporize with each other. I went to the volleyball club and God knows what she is doing.
Lately, the early sunset surprisingly hasn't been making me sleepy. I gained new energy realizing that making friends isn't about being attached, but it's about exploring the variety of people around me, and surrounding myself with people who make me happy. Therefore I decided to go to the volleyball club alone, without my very best friend Yuki. Because I figured I am confident enough to socialize on my own, even when Yuki cannot currently be around.
It feels nervous to go somewhere alone after a long time, yet the moment Aito welcomes me, a honest smile forms on my face and energy starts pulsing through my body. I'm ready for the game!
These were my thoughts at the beginning of the night, and now, at the end, I am dead. Dead in the best way possible. I have given all of my excessive energy into it.
As I begin to shower all the sweat off of me, I realize that I shouldn't have wet my hair. The hairdryers aren't currently working, and going out with a wet head would only make me sick. Because of that, I do have to stay a bit longer, so my hair is fully dry. But I don't mind it. The owner, Lady Chiyo, is really nice and I kind of love talking to her.
Our small talks are always the same. Lady Chiyo is very lovely and open-minded and so I figured it's completely safe to tell her that I am attracted to boys. Since then, she always asks me,"So do you have a boyfriend already?"
And I always answer the same, "No, not yet" except for today.
"But, there is someone I think I really like," I say. Lady Chiyo's face brightens with interest. "Oh really, who is it?" she asks with visible excitement. She's always up to talk about relationships. I think of how to describe him, so I don't leave out a single pretty detail of his body, but then I remember: "You may actually know him!" I exclaim.
Lady Chiyo is now urging me with a need to know who the perfect crush of mine is.
"He's got black long hair-" I can't even finish when she almost screams: "Hoshi?!" She readily covers her mouth. "I love that sweet guy" she says, still shocked. "You have a good taste and you know what?" Lady Chiyo invites me to come closer and she whispers: "He is now training on the ice rink. Go visit him"
As she shares this little information with me, my cheeks immediately turn rosey when I realise. I have the opportunity to watch Hoshi train. Train… something. Something that he hasn't told me about and I want to find out what it is. My heart starts beating faster than ever, from slight nervousness and curiosity. I haven't seen Hoshi for some time now and so I'm not sure if attacking him in a place he wouldn't expect me at is ideal.
"I keep the rink opened an hour after we close, just for him. That means he may be there alone" Lady Chiyo jots down.
"Is my hair dry already?" I ask and without further overthinking make my way to the ice rink.
I cautiously open the heavy door. The auditorium is empty, there's no one, except one older lady right behind the guardrails. She looks old enough to be his mom, maybe a coach… Ice skating coach.
Hoshi doesn't notice me, as I'm standing in the door, watching the huge rink from a distance. They both are silent, the only thing to be heard are Hoshi's skates passionately sliding on the ice, making a sharp, tense noise when he jumps. Everything is so fast, I almost don't know where to watch. On his skilled legs, that master the art of ice skating, on his slim, yet toned chest, that is embraced by a tight fabric or on his soft expressions that I can see beautifully, because his wild hair is tied back, only short strands flying around as he moves. Every piece of him is indescribably incredible, his every move so sensitive, accurate. When the show begins to calm down, he continues with simple moves, sliding, doing simple spirals, but ending his performance with his gentle cheek lightly pressed on the freezing ice, his slim fingers lingering behind. The way he tenderly strokes the fragile ice, embracing its pure shine, his face neutral, but affectionate. It evokes a feeling so strong, a situation so vulnerable.
I just wonder, isn't the coldness pinching his cheek?