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The gradual dampness seeping into the skates after hours of training, the cold air spilling into his lungs. By now, his muscles were already accustomed to the cold, all warmed up despite the constant gush of iciness when he takes off from the ice, performing a triple axel. He lands, grace in his posture as Toge resists a satisfied smile from creeping up to his face.
He glances at the huge digital clock in the middle of the rink.
9:45pm.
Fifteen minutes left.
He finished pretty early today, surprisingly. The last few sessions had him tumbling across the ice multiple times, causing him to feel tired out not even an hour into the training. He had been training his turns, combining it with the choreography steps for the upcoming Grand Prix NHK competition.
Today was better. Toge had lesser falls, balance in his weight in the air, he didn’t prepare too early for his jumps. He thinks he has finally gotten a hang of the new choreography.
He does the piece one more time, before practicing his turns as the last section of his training for today. He pushes off from the edge of the rink, blades beneath his skates slicing across the ice deftly. Readjusting his balance, he takes a deep breath before he goes into a preparation stance.
He jumps into a quadruple salchow, landing neatly before executing a quadruple toe loop and a double toe loop following after.
Toge breathes, taking in harsh gasps of the crisp air. He steadies his breathing, gliding round the rink.
Last one .
The figure skater takes off, once again nailing the triple axel. He relaxes then, before doing a double axel and a single to finish his training for the night.
This time, he lets out a small smile to himself as he skates for a while more, body going through a cool down.
While his manager and friends had told him to take it easy this year, Toge thinks otherwise. Winning doesn’t come naturally, and he’d hate to lose. Compared to how others thought he had done extremely well last year, it was merely a fluke to Toge.
He wasn’t particularly aiming for the gold medal then, only training tirelessly daily and putting all the effort just to see how far he could go, how much he could become of as a figure skater.
It came to him as a shock, when he had placed first both in the short and free programme of the Men’s singles. This was labeled as his breakthrough in his professional figure skating career last year, where he had emerged as the champion for Men’s singles in Skate Canada.
Seeing what he was capable of with the gold medal in his hands from sheer hard work, it dawned on Toge that in the next season, he doesn’t want to train without a specific goal.
He wants the gold medal this time before he actually attains it. The burning desire to triumph past others blooms in his chest.
Before he gets off the ice, Toge figures to practice his new step he had incorporated in his choreography.
It was a hydroblade, a move where the skater glides across the ice in a low stance, almost but not touching the surface.
During the first few times Toge had tried it, most of them ended with his face eating the ice.
Now, he balances his weight right, and he sweeps across the surface smoothly before he gets up. He knocks the ice off his blades before exiting the rink.
The night private sessions at the rink were often shared by professional figure skaters and ice hockey teams and Toge belatedly registered that he had overran his session by 5 minutes.
He curses under his breath. He had never made them wait before and it was unspoken that every second of their training sessions were important to athletes.
Toge looked up to find them already at the spectators benches, some joking with one another while others were warming up. He makes a mental note to go over and give them a quick apology.
The figure skater notices one of them staring at him though. Dark haired, rather built like most hockey players are. His facial features are rather sharp, causing him to look intimidating if not for his soft expressions and the small curve of his lips. Toge doesn’t deny that he is one hell of a looker. His type, specifically.
It seemed like he had been staring for some time because the moment their eyes met from afar, the male turned away quickly, towards his teammate right beside him.
Toge stifles a laugh, because it was obvious how he had started a small talk with the guy just so he could feign innocence that he totally wasn’t watching Toge the whole time at all. The redness at the tip of his ears easily confirms the former.
-
“Hey Megumi, um what time is it now?”
Megumi gives Yuuta a dead stare. He looks at the clock right opposite the area they were sitting at, pointing to it.
“No- why are you pointing at it, don’t-” Yuuta hastily puts his hand down, head turning to make sure the pretty figure skater did not just see that.
Toge Inumaki. A rising star in the figure skating world ever since he clinched the gold medal out of nowhere in the last season. It was the first time Yuuta had seen him in real life, probably due to sheer luck that their coach had switched venues and chosen this rink for their training sessions.
It started out as curiosity, having heard their local figure skating team had brought home medals with glory and Yuuta had simply wanted to check them out more.
He didn’t expect himself to be mesmerized by the free programme Toge Inumaki had performed, receiving the highest score in that category as well as his personal best that season. It led him towards placing first in the overall Men’s singles.
Oddly enough, seeing Toge perform assured Yuuta in some type of way. That he wasn’t alone in pursuing this professional career where there will be times the amount of blood, sweat or tears shed doesn’t equate to a good placing on the boards.
More than that, it was the artistry which exudes from the skater. Yuuta isn’t all about the music, art kind of guy but damn, when Toge skates, it feels like he’s watching a museum owned art piece come to life.
It’d truly be an honor if he could watch Toge perform, in front of his very eyes.
-
Yuuta turns to realize the said figure skater had come closer, now standing before the spectator seats. He’s staring at Yuuta now, and he chuckles, looking away briefly.
Oh fuck, he totally heard that.
He’s attempting to save Yuuta from some embarrassment by pretending he doesn’t know anything but in fact he knows. He knows Yuuta had been staring at him and that he tried pretending he wasn’t and he was acting all cool-
Yeah, this is fine, Yuuta thinks. He straightens up, mustering the most natural smile on his face. (It’s far from natural and Megumi is confused why Yuuta is acting rather weirdly.)
Toge doesn’t know whether to be impressed or flattered with how the hockey boy is doing his best to put up a cool front for him or that he’s failing miserably but Toge finds him somewhat adorable. He settles on both.
He approaches the hockey team who had stood up, ready to enter the rink and begin their training.
Toge feels seemingly small all of a sudden. The whole ice hockey team looks at Toge, genuine surprised and puzzled looks on their faces. Most of them were a good head taller than Toge, frame even broader than usual due to their stuffed and padded hockey gear.
“Oh um, I just wanted to say sorry for eating into your session time. It won’t happen again. All the best for the season!” He says in a rush, feeling flustered. The boys didn’t seem to have an ounce of annoyance written on their faces but Toge just wanted to make things clear.
He walks off after, not waiting for a response from the team.
While the hockey team trains hard during their sessions, they were never really that stringent about timings or what not. It was more of the quality during the time they trained anyway.
All heads of the team turned, immediately looking at their captain to say something.
Yuuta blinked, all eyes on him.
He clears his throat, standing up.
“Um… yeah. I’ll clear it up with him later. Let’s practice now, shall we?”
The team breaks into laughter, clapping on each other’s backs as they enter the rink, doing shot practices.
It wasn’t until the end of their practice, when Yuuta’s mind wasn’t thinking about the upcoming season that his mind drifted back to the figure skater and something clicked.
Oh, I get a chance to talk to him.
-
Yuuta doesn’t see Toge Inumaki for the next few days.
Seems like he hasn’t overrun his sessions after that one time, Yuuta thinks. He’s on the couch, duffle bag already packed with his training gear seated next to him. There’s an hour left before his regular training starts with the team at the rink.
He guesses he could be there early to catch him training. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t nervous.
After changing and dumping his bag in the lockers, Yuuta strides out just in time to see Toge on the ice, leaping into what seemed like a difficult jump (no but our bodies can turn like that in the air?) before landing perfectly.
It leaves him in awe, and his eyes just can’t seem to take off of him.
The hockey captain watches quietly from the sides, not wanting to interrupt the session. Towards the end, Toge starts cooling down and it was then he saw Yuuta. He skates towards him, stopping right at the edge of the rink.
“Not hiding anymore, aren’t we?” Toge takes a quick glance at Yuuta from head to toe, playful smile on his face. The figure skater leans against the sides of the rink, elbow propping against the barrier.
Seeing Toge Inumaki up close, he’s prettier and petite compared to what Yuuta had thought.
Dusty blonde hair almost touching his eyes (Yuuta notes he has long lashes), small face , pink curved lips and god that waist-
Toge’s waist looked even smaller with his black training top hugging his body snuggly but Yuuta knows he definitely has an insane amount of core strength coming from it, looking at the rotations he’s capable of.
He wonders if he could hold him by his waist with an arm.
Even with skates on, Toge’s height barely reaches the dark haired’s nose. Cute, was all that came into his mind.
Yuuta fights the blush rising up to his cheeks, laughing it off.
“Might as well. You were looking at me too though, after you noticed,” The hockey captain pointed out, turning the tables on Toge.
He cocks an eyebrow unabashedly, giving the man the look. The smile he flashes towards the media news outlet during live matches.
“Who wouldn’t, when a handsome guy like yourself is staring?” Toge replies smoothly, and he’s leaning closer, chin resting on the back of his hands. A hint of mirth twinkles in his violet eyes and with the way he’s looking at Yuuta, he knows he has already lost this time.
“ Anyways, I just came to tell you that we were actually cool about it. You didn’t really have to apologize, but thank you.” He steers the conversation away, making a mental note to get back to it next time.
Two can play a game, after all.
“It’s nothing, I know how much we athletes value time, especially preparing for the season. I’m Toge, Toge Inumaki by the way. Pretty late but you know,”
The skater shrugs, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.
“Introducing yourself? I’m pretty sure almost everyone knows about you by now. I should introduce myself,”
Yuuta laughs with him, he could get used to hearing his voice.
“I’m Yuuta Okkotsu. The ice hockey’s team captain.”
Toge’s lip quirks up in interest, tilting his head.
“Team captain? That’s cool. Teach me some of your skills on ice sometime, hockey boy.”
If Yuuta wasn’t falling for Toge right there and then.
His heart stumbles, mind swirling because is he actually flirting with me??
Yeah, he has completely lost his heart to Toge Inumaki.
The dark haired male opens his mouth but words fail to deliver.
The timing was just right, because his team mates started streaming into the arena, calling him over.
“Looks like it’s time for your session. I’ll be going, so go ahead and join your-”
Yuuta grabs Toge’s hand, it’s icy cold but his warmth bleeds into the other’s palm.
“Y-yeah. I’ll teach you. I mean, if you would like to try ice hockey for fun of course when both of us aren’t training-” He answers belatedly and Toge looks at him in pure surprise, not expecting much of a reaction.
At this point, Yuuta is beyond flustered, pink coloring his cheeks.
The skater bursts into giggles then, and he smiles fondly.
“Sure. See you around, hockey boy.”
He squeezes Yuuta’s hand in assurance, and Toge takes his leave, disappearing into the hallway connecting to the lockers room.
The hockey captain barely hears his team mates coming over, nudging him. It breaks him out of his trance and the boys were already teasing him.
“What’s wrong, Okkotsu? Pretty boy got you stunned?”
“Cap, it’s game time!”
Yuuta shakes his head, reorganizing his thoughts. Yeah, practice first. They have a season to win.
“Oh shut up you guys. I better see good plays today or we’re back to drills,” He grins. They were seemingly harsh words but anyone could tell in that light endeared tone the trust Yuuta Okkotsu has in his own team.
“I guess the talk went well with Inumaki, Yuuta senpai?” Yuuji asks as they enter the rink, securing their helmets on.
“Yeah, it went well. Too well,” He murmurs the last bit to himself, keeping what Toge had said previously in his heart as he sets his eyes on the puck in the referee’s hand.
The whistle blows off, the puck drops in the middle of the rink and Yuuta gets his head in the game.
-
The month gets busy as the season draws closer. More meetings with officials crawled their way into the weeks, on top of the updated training schedule. While Yuuta and Toge haven’t been able to talk since then, the hockey captain manages to bump into Toge in the lockers room one day.
Yuuta makes sure to make a mental note to get his number.
Their quick catch up mostly consisted of their increased amount of training, how Yuuta would fall asleep the moment his head hits the pillow these days. Mixed feelings of nervousness and excitement for the upcoming season.
Truth to be told, Toge tries to seem calmer than how he is really feeling about the upcoming NHK qualifiers. He wants to do well again this time, but with the aim of placing first.
He doesn’t know if Yuuta could tell the clamminess of his palms when he subconsciously clenches his hands but the hockey captain gives him a reassuring smile.
“I believe you’ll be able to. Whatever that is, you’re aiming for.”
Hearing those words slip out of the other’s lips, someone who is or works harder than he does, the tenseness Toge had felt before seemed to go away.
It’s a dog fight out there on the podiums but right now, he feels he would win.
Yuuta had forgotten when he first met Toge and he hadn’t had the chance to say it after, because of how brief their meetings were. So before the figure skater could go this time, he blurted out earnestly.
“The way you skate…I really like it. Your… skating.”
He swears it turned out way more sophisticated than that in his head.
The figure skater blinks, still unsure what that meant.
Before Toge could reply, Yuuta attempted to say it again.
“I mean- I’m not one who can really appreciate the arts or whatnot but I’ve seen your programmes, your skating and… it’s beautiful. Yeah, I think that was what I was trying to say,”
He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly, unsure if his message had gotten across to the other. Toge hadn’t really reacted, only listening and absorbing his words.
What Yuuta isn’t aware of was the internal crisis Toge was going through because what?
What?
The captain of the national ice hockey team, standing right infront of him, all tall, handsome, amazing in his craft and did Toge mention handsome getting all shy while complimenting him?
Suddenly the room feels hot, Toge’s face is hot and when he looks up at Yuuta, he’s met with a soft gaze but he witnesses the slight realization in his eyes ( that he got Toge all flushed) and redness creeps up the other’s neck.
“Oh God.”
“Why are you blushing, silly.”
Toge laughs, and Yuuta can’t take it anymore.
He slowly slides down the wall, crouching down.
Toge Inumaki is prettier when he flushes.
“Because of you!”
“But you’re the one who complimented me!”
“Because you’re really… pretty,” He mumbles the last word, face still in his hands.
Toge pries them away anyway, and he lets out another soft chuckle.
“Silly. We’re gonna be late for our meetings. Here, I’ll text you later when I’m done with my schedule,” He hands his phone into Yuuta’s hands, keypad lighting up on the screen.
He was thinking the exact same thing as Yuuta and oh- he’s right. It was 2 minutes to their scheduled meetings so he quickly saves his number into Toge’s phone, handing it back to him.
“Right, okay then I’ll just wait for your text so just-”
“Do your best today! Later, captain.” Toge gives Yuuta a casual hug, throwing a playful wink.
He leaves but he peeks back into the room a second later, to find Yuuta still staring at the door.
“Oh and. Thank you for saying that.”
Yuuta forgot when was the last time he was this tongue tied around someone. He had never really yearned for anyone, it so happened he often had most of what he wanted already in his grasp while growing up.
Toge Inumaki comes along, and Yuuta is insatiable.
While they hadn’t had many opportunities to catch one another after that encounter, the encouragement Toge sends in their text conversations is what gives Yuuta the extra strength to go through the longer hours of training. It falls into a routine where they check up on each other daily, and Yuuta’s mornings usually start with a text from the figure skater.
Good morning!! Got an early session today :( good luck with yours at night!
-
Oh god guess what I spilled my tea help
At least it was on the carpet not on myself
Don’t spill your coffee!!
-
Morning I hope you’re awake hockey boy
-
We have morning sessions today, don’t be late!
-
He does the same back too.
Yuuta gets home from practice one late afternoon, and he immediately melts into the couch.
Thank god they would be given a small break tomorrow to rest before the opening of the season. Perhaps he could spend some time with Toge then.
He shuts his eyes, aching muscles finally getting a deserved rest.
As his mind starts to drift off, Yuuta feels a faint vibration from the phone in his hand.
He struggles to open his eyes, taking a look at the notification which came in. Upon catching sight of Toge’s contact name, the dark haired male sits straight up, heartbeat drumming in his ears.
Yuuta had left a gift in Toge’s locker before heading home, since he finished before him today. It was a small bouquet of flowers- the ones that Toge had mentioned he liked. He wonders if Toge liked the gift, he must have seen it already.
He opens the notification to see Toge had sent a photo of himself holding the bouquet with a message attached:
What’s this for?
He grins to himself, typing rapidly before sending a reply.
Pretty flower for someone pretty like you :)
A reply from Toge only comes 10 minutes later.
Idiot…
Thank god Yuuta wasn’t there to see the blush forming on Toge’s cheeks. It’s been a while since someone had given him flowers, with the exception of the congratulatory ones from competitions. This feels very much like the protagonist of a romance novel wooing after the love of their life.
Wait, wooing after someone?
After practice the next day, Yuuta finds a bottle of sports drink placed in his locker, with a note attached to it. He chuckles upon reading the note.
Goodluck on today’s training! You got this, hockey boy <3
-Toge!!
P.S I’m free tonight if you’re still up for the personal lesson ;)
Ah, right. They’ll be having a break tomorrow so no one will probably be using the rink tonight. They could have fun together later, when everyone is gone from the rink. Just from the thought of it, anticipation swirls in his heart and Yuuta couldn't wait for his schedule for the day to end.
“Yuuta senpai, coach’s calling for ya!” Yuuji pops his head into the locker hallway, looking for the captain only for him to catch the male smiling stupidly at his phone.
Yuuta has always been someone well respected within the team, a captain who is capable of channeling the team’s energy into one. More often than not, Yuuta puts more than his heart into the sport. Yuuji knows, he has been his role model after all ever since he learnt from Megumi who told him he knows of someone who is crazier for ice hockey, more than he does (and Yuuji already thought Megumi was amazing).
The discipline Yuuta had was something Yuuji wished he had, and so to see his captain right now, probably texting someone with a huge smile on his face, well that’s a sight to behold.
“Senpai?”
“Ah-” Yuuta does a quick look up at Yuuji, before looking back down again, thumb tapping across the keyboard. He stuffs his phone into his bag, shutting the locker door.
Meet me at the rink after my practice!!
“Alright, let’s go,” He says in a light hearted tone, arm slinging over the other’s shoulder.
-
The session started off with a practice match, followed by techniques drilling, ensuring they have them mastered to tackle their opponents. The coach points out some areas to improve on in terms of skills, and Yuuta runs it by the team a few more times before they play a match again.
He’s got the puck now, and he skates half the rink in a flash, blades cutting the ice. Yuuta’s one of their fastest players, and no one manages to catch up to him as he gets close to the goal post.
With a swing of the hockey stick, the puck flies straight into the goal post and the whistle goes off, signaling an emerged victory. His teammates cheered and they skated to where Yuuta was standing, skidding and spraying the ice accumulated on their blades on him in a playful manner.
As the session comes to an end, they gather around and Yuuta takes off his helmet. “Good plays, boys! Keep this up and I think we’ll nail it this season.” he says, wrapping up the practice.
“Wait no-” A few confused expressions morphs on their faces.
“We will, go out there and nail it. I believe in you guys,” Yuuta corrects himself.
He had never once doubted the fiery passion his team had, for this sport, for each other.
The coach dismissed them, and it was only then Yuuta took notice of the outer surroundings, spotting a familiar figure at the bleachers.
Everyone gradually emptied the rink, until it was only Toge and himself. It gets quiet, the thud from the blades hitting against the ice echoing throughout the arena.
“You’re here,” Yuuta grins, pushing his weight off the railings as he skates towards Toge.
“I was watching you,” Toge meets him halfway, feet pushing the ice in slow gentle strides.
“You were? How did I do?” The hockey captain slips out a cheeky smile, cocking his head towards the side. He grasps onto Toge as they meet in the middle of the rink, just to make sure he reaches him safely.
They were indeed pro skaters, but Yuuta got cautious with the holes in the ice made during the previous sessions. Their blades digging into one of them could result in a horrible fall which he doesn’t want either of them to experience. Yeah, it wasn’t because he had wanted to pull Toge closer to him.
“You did well! Care to teach me how you scored that last goal?” Toge replies, amusement evident in his tone of voice.
It was a push and pull, one where Yuuta thought he had the upper hand but it ends with him resisting the want to have Toge in his embrace. He teaches Toge how to hold the hockey stick, coming up behind him with his hand over his.
“Here… you have to grip it like this,” Yuuta whispers, lips accidentally grazing against the figure skater’s ear.
“...Like this?”
Yuuta’s gaze travels from their hands on the stick handle to Toge’s face and he purses his lips, not wanting to comment on how flustered he looked but he couldn’t help himself.
“Are you staying focused?”
A pause.
“Yeah, um yeah I am,” Toge turns his head slightly just to look at Yuuta, and they’re so close. Toge feels the heat from Yuuta’s large hands over his, from his breath over his nape and oh their eyes met and it’s too close-
He feels his hand swinging the stick and the puck goes into the goal.
It would be a lie if Toge hadn’t wanted to lean just a little more to kiss the hell out of Yuuta.
“That was a good shot! Some amazing teaching skills I have, huh?”
An awkward dry laugh comes after and Toge could tell the dark haired was embarrassed again, because he’s putting some distance between them now, eyes darting but he doesn’t want to stall this any longer.
Ever since they met, it's been a push and pull, never crossing lines even though all they ever wanted were each other to begin with.
Toge makes up his mind, and he goes up to Yuuta, tugging down the collar of his jersey because god he’s so tall. It catches Yuuta off guard and he stumbles but Toge is already wrapping his arm around his neck, lips capturing his.
It took Yuuta a second or so to figure out if Toge Inumaki was really kissing him before he starts kissing back, and it’s rough, intense, so much so Toge squeaks in surprise. It’s rough too, his calloused palms that were already embracing him, hand pushing into and under his top.
Only when Toge yelped from the coldness of Yuuta’s hand over the lower center of his back that he broke the kiss reluctantly, seeming to regain his senses.
“God, you have no idea how much I’ve been wanting to do that.” He lets out a sigh of tension relief, melting into Toge’s arms. Yuuta nestles his head in the crook of the other’s neck, unable to let go of the warmth he had.
“And yet I kissed you first, silly.”
The hockey captain peeks up at the figure skater, and he asks,
“How about another kiss and a date tomorrow?”
This time, Yuuta cups Toge’s face and as he leans in, he’s smiling. They savor a sweet kiss, one which got them pulling apart only when they had to catch their breath. Chuckling, Toge presses their foreheads together and murmurs.
“I’m yours, hockey boy.”