Chapter Text
“Really? So Victor’s really going back?”
“Shhh! It’s still a secret. It’s only insider information for now.”
“Looks like we’ll be in for a treat soon, huh.”
“Yeah! I’m so excited to watch him perform again. It’s been so long since I last saw him skate. He’s one of my favorites, you know?”
“I’m pretty sure you’re not alone in that sentiment.”
Victor’s return to the competitive ice skating ring has not been publicly announced yet, but some people inside the community have been informed. After all, Victor Nikiforov is a famous individual in the figure skating industry—even people outside the sport know his name.
In preparation for Victor’s comeback to the spotlight, he and Yuuri had been practicing in secret, just like today. They’re currently in a filmed practice session together, rehearsing their program for their upcoming performance. The announcement will be done right after, which is what they’re looking forward to the most.
“Alright. Let’s take a short break,” Victor says as he wipes his sweat with a clean towel. “What do you want to eat?”
Yuuri grins at his coach’s question, and it was clear from his expression that he was excited about something.
“I want to thank you! So, will you let me treat you this time?”
Well, Victor wouldn’t say no to something like that. Yuuri hurriedly left their practice hall and made his way to the cafe he’s been frequenting recently. It’s not too famous, so he can still maintain privacy even though he’s considered a celebrity in the figure skating world. Plus, their food and drinks are to his taste. Moreover, he’s become acquainted with one of their staff members who was also a fan of figure skating, and regularly watches their performances.
Some people even think she’s Yuuri’s fan, since she’s always present whenever Yuuri performs. That could be true, of course, but perhaps there’s another reason…
“Looks like you’ve been rehearsing a lot,” she comments as she takes his order. “Will you be competing soon?”
Yuuri, being his usual cheerful self, happily nods at the question.
“Yeah! I want to keep aiming for a gold medal! I want to make my coach proud.”
Victor had always been his goal, ever since he watched his coach’s performance while he was still a child.
He was turned into an avid fan from watching a single performance. It wouldn’t be far from the truth to even say that Yuuri was starstruck by the spectacle.
Of course, this is true for many of Victor’s fans.
The veteran skater just has that kind of effect on people.
Hearing him talk about Victor made her fingers flinch a little, but she was able to keep her composure. She punches his order, before she glances back at the skater.
“...How about Victor?” She asks casually. “Does he have any plans to go back to the skating ring?”
Yuuri taps his fingers on the counter as he shakes his head slightly.
“I think… Victor said so himself… he wants to focus on coaching, as well as pair performances,” he answered her confidently, lying through his teeth, since his coach’s return was still being kept under wraps. He didn’t want to reveal this information until Victor gave the go signal. After all, it was supposed to be a huge surprise to everybody. He then gives her his payment, which the staff receives.
“Ah, I see…” She trails off as she gives Yuuri his receipt. “But you recently just got LASIK surgery for your eyes, right? You’re allowed to rehearse that much despite that?”
“It’s alright. I’ve rested enough. But thank you for worrying.” He answers with a smile. “Don’t worry. Victor wouldn’t let me overexert myself, anyway.”
“Oh, that’s good.” She says as she relays his order towards the other staff, who began preparing them immediately. “Do you ever get dry eyes? Were you prescribed any medicine?” She asks curiously.
“Ah, yes, actually.” He says as he grabs the eyedrop bottle inside his pocket. “They told me to use this whenever my eyes are irritated.”
“Can I see it?” She asks, before Yuuri hands it to her.
“Oh, this is similar to the one I use,” she says as she leans on the counter, but then…
“Ah—!” She let out a squeal when she dropped the bottle on the floor. “I’m so sorry! I’ll get it right away!” She bows apologetically, before crouching on the floor. But instead of picking up the bottle she dropped… She grabs a different bottle. A bottle she uses.
It’s not fair.
IT’S NOT FAIR.
Why do you get to skate while Victor stays on the sidelines?
Why did he choose someone as talentless as you?
You were never on Victor’s level, and you never will be.
I can’t understand why someone as talented as Victor would cast himself aside for someone like you.
I can’t understand it, and I don’t want to.
Victor belongs on the ice, no matter what!
Fueled by her hatred for Yuuri, who was the “cause” of Victor abandoning the competitive ice, she switches the bottle she got from the skater into a bottle of Mydiatrics, which she uses for her retina checkups.
“I’m really sorry for dropping it! If you want, I could just pay for it..!” The staff says as she hands him the small bottle back.
But Yuuri just shakes his head with a smile.
“It’s alright, really! Just be more careful next time.” He responds as he pockets the bottle without even bothering to check it.
“Thank you so much, Katsuki-san! I hope your next performance goes well!” She says while grinning at Yuuri, the thoughts inside her head and the angelic smile on her face completely opposing each other.
If you won’t realize on your own that you’re not meant to skate, then I will force you to understand the truth.
Victor is meant to skate beautifully on the ice, not stay sitting on the bench like some idiot wasting his talent to coach someone like you.
His ethereal form—something she has never seen with any other figure skater in the whole world—deserves to be put on the spotlight, a masterpiece for anyone watching. He’s not supposed to stay back and watch someone as unsightly as this Yuuri Katsuki, who is just your random wannabe skater.
You need to be put in your place.
And with this bottle… hopefully, your delusions that you’re worthy of Victor’s attention will end.
“Will you be watching again?” He asks as he picks up his order from the claiming area of the cafe next to the cashier.
“Of course! I can’t wait to watch your next performance! I’ll be cheering you on, Katsuki-san.” She says while grinning. “See you there~”
Yuuri grabs everything, before he bows at the staff.
“Thank you very much! Then, I’ll take my leave.” He says with a smile, before he leaves the establishment.
This is your fault.
It’s all your fault for being a hindrance to Victor.
If you disappeared, Victor would come back to the ice.
He won’t need to coach someone as useless as you.
The world needs Victor’s talents—which is something you will never be able to reach.
Just get into a skating accident and die already.