Chapter Text
The younger children stuck to the wall and the youngest even hid behind it as they stared in apprehension at the figure standing in the middle of the rink. The older skaters, aware and in awe of whom the intruder was, looked around for an adult to step on but no one came to their aid.
With only a sigh, golden eyes locked on to one of the older girls, Yuki Uyama, like a wild animal locking onto a defenseless prey. The poor girl's body seized, and her shoulder became stiff, yet she was shackled in place, too scared to even cry or ask for help.
The stranger skated to the right, his movements slow and deliberate, as he leaped into a beautiful double axel - double loop. "You aren't giving yourself enough momentum. You slow down before the jump because you're nervous. Do it again."
"Uh.. Uhm.. Yes! Mr. Yodaka!"
Yuki skated to the center of the ice as Jun skated to the side. The little children who had been using their senior as a shield scattered to the wall.
She traced the path and jumped, scattering ice as she landed. Perfect execution. A wide formed on her face as she looked up. She did it, the jump she fell on in the last event, the one that plagued her for weeks, was perfect.
With rosy cheeks and heaving breath, she turned towards the man and bowed. "Thank you very much, Mr. Yodaka!"
"Hm. Go practice."
Before he turned his sight onto his next victim. "You."
Poor Sota stood straight. "Yes, sir."
"Perform your triple toe-loop for me."
"Yes sir!" Fear evident in his voice and the way his legs shook.
"Skate properly. Are you a baby deer learning to walk for the first time?"
"Yes, sir! No, sir!"
"Uhm, what exactly am I watching?" Tsukasa stared. The rink had the tension of a hostage negotiation with the students lined up against the side, some even hiding by Takamine, as the terrified victims were called forth, their mistakes pointed out and forced to perform until it was executed perfectly. Then came the next one, and then the next one.
"Coach!"
"Coach Akeuraji!"
Inori shouted, moving as quickly as he would to the side, with Rioh approaching just as swiftly. Inori's eyes darted between Jun Yodaka, who had stopped his instructions at their outburst, and Tsukasa, who was trying his best to make sense of the situation. Rioh, in comparison, looked as furious as that night in the parking lot. In fact, he seemed to be shaking with anger like a chihuahua.
"Please get that bastard out. How did he even get in here?" Rioh seethed.
"Coach, Mr. Jun Yodaka said he's going to be coaching here now. Is that true?"
"He's going to what?" Tsukasa stared at the two before looking up at Jun who was making Yuna Yagi perform the jump again. Poor girl.
"Ah, Coach Akeuraji," a figure appeared right behind him, so close he could even feel his body heat.
"Ahhh!" Tsukasa jumped back. "Coach — Coach Sonidori!"
The stoic man offered a deep bow, making Tsukasa kneel even lower. "Please, please sir! There's no need for this!"
"No, I must offer my sincerest thanks to you and the staff here for allowing Meikoh Wind to practice here while our rink is being fixed."
"Oh, of course! I mean, of course we'd help! There is no reason to thank us, really!"
"Also, I must thank you for taking on Jun Yodaka as your student. I know it was a big thing."
Jun Yodaka?
Student?
"Huh! Wait, is that old man returning to skating?" Rioh shouted.
"No way! Coach Tsukasa, you're coaching Jun Yodaka?" Inori stared at the stoic coach who was tormenting poor Yuna Yagi by having her jump her triple lutz combo for the fourth time before silently performing it again and making her copy it. No words were exchanged between coach and student.
Tsukasa stared at Coach Sonidori but his face before he quietly remembered the exchange from a month ago. It was after the All-Japans, where Inori got second place, the coaches had gone out to drink and eat yakiniku. Coach Sonidori has pulled in aside, and after a very emphatic thank you for helping Rioh, asked if Tsukasa would be able to help teach a new coach.
"I understand I am asking a lot, but I believe he would benefit greatly under your instruction. His skating skills are one of the best. However, his coaching skills need improvement. He doesn't know how to communicate with children and younger skaters, and he ends up being harsh with them. I know you have already taken over coaching Rioh for the next six months, and it has been a tremendous help as I am unable to give both him and the club the attention it needs, but please, if you could take on another student as well."
"Of course, I'll help! Just send him over whenever you can!"
"Wait! You mean Jun Yodaka was the person I'm teaching?" Tsukasa stared. This was a complete reversal of his middle school dream. He, who had always dreamed of being taught by Jun Yodaka, was now going to be the one doing the teaching.
"Yes. I believe our conversation last time made it clear."
Top-tier skating skill
Poor communicator
Harsh with children
Yeah, that was on Tsukasa for not realizing it.
"Are you stupid?" A gasp was heard across the rink as Tsukasa whipped his head around. There, a cold, unfeeling coach stood over a young girl who looked on the verge of tears. "It's a double axel."
"JUN YODAKA!" Anxiety cast towards the wind, Tsukasa pulled his skateguards off and rushed onto the ice. The students moved out of the way as their usually cheerful coach was coming at the olympian like a bird of prey. Even Jun Yodaka, himself, looked quite shocked as Tsukasa grabbed his wrist and dragged him off the ice.
He dragged them both into the locker room and while the door was closed, the argument could be heard from outside. Yotsuha and Yuna had gone to comfort the poor girl, pulling her over to Coach Sonidori and Coach Kijita for comfort. As for the others, they all stood still, listening to the argument happening.
"YOU DO NOT AND I MEAN DO NOT INSULT A STUDENT!"
"But-!"
"I DON'T CARE! I DON'T CARE THAT YOUR AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST!"
In that moment, for both Meikoh Wind and Lux Higashiyama, Tsukasa Akeuraji had become a hero in the eyes of those young skaters. Already renowned through Japan's coaching scene as a caring coach and a potential genius, this only cemented his fan club amongst the Nagoya skaters. Rioh, in particular, was now seeing Tsukasa as the second coming of Christ, while Inori looked like a cat that caught the canary.
Coach Akeuraji is amazing!
That's my Tsukasa!
The door clicked open and Tsukasa stepped out, eyes blazing as he glared at the person coming out behind him. Jun's body language did not change, his aura still as overwhelming and dominating as it has always been since his days competing seeped through over part of his being. Whenhe walked over to the little girl he had yelled at, the one clutching onto her coaches' jacket, and bowed deeply.
"I apologize for my behavior. It was not proper or befitting of a coach and has no place on the ice. Please do not be discouraged. The reason you were unable to perform your jump was due to my poor instruction and manners. I ask for your forgiveness."
WHAT? WHAT DID COACH TSUKASA SAY?
Those present at the rink thought simultaneously. Even Shinichiro Sonidori, who considered Jun Yodaka his closest friend if not family, was left awestruck by the display. Never once has the skater apologized with such sincerity and the idea of Jun Yodaka bowing, lowering himself to a little girl, he must be having a stroke.
Coach Tsukasa is amazing! A genius! An angel sent from heaven to strike down Jun Yodaka! I will always be loyal to you, Coach Tsukasa. I will leave Meikoh Wind to study under you. Rioh seemed to sparkle as he gazed at Inori's coach, unable to take his eyes off the dazzling coach who had struck down his enemy.
Inori, however, was seething. "Hey! Coach Tsukasa is mine! I was here first! Just because you're here now doesn't make you his favorite."
Before the two could continue their fight, the sound of deep blades cutting into the ice came up from behind them. "I apologized. She forgave me. What would you like me to do now?"
Inori shrunk back like a rabbit trying to hide from a hawk while Rioh bristled like a porcupine. Jun paid no attention to them though, his golden gaze focused solely on Tsukasa, the man who had somehow struck down his pride and forced him to bow his head to a little girl.
"You'll be training Inori and Rioh with me."
For the first time in their brief lives, did both young skaters understand the feeling of being stabbed in the back.