The Closeness Between Childhood Friends (2)

Kamina Ice Arena

Ice arena

Kaede

Okay… Phew…

(I’m still pretty stiff, but it’s starting to come back to me. I just need to shift my center of gravity…)

Focus on your upper body
Kaede

(Keep my center of gravity on my upper body and keep my legs relaxed…)

Wah, aaahhh!

Yukikaze

Are you okay, Chief? You can hold onto me.

Kaede

I-I’m alright…!

(I guess I got it wrong… Geez, I’m pretty rusty.)

Focus on your lower body
Kaede

(I think I’m supposed to keep my center of gravity in my lower legs…)

(I remember that he told me to imagine that I’m a curling stone.)

Yukikaze

Looks like you have the basics down. I knew you could do it. I think you should be fine letting go of my hand for now.

Kaede

Th-Thank god!

Yukikaze

Alright, just follow me.

Kaede

Okay…!

(But wow, I guess I still kinda remember how to skate.)

Yukikaze

Nice going. Your center of gravity’s placed really well.

Kaede

Sheesh, flattery isn’t gonna get me anywhere…!

(It’s so fun to skate around with Yuki-nii like this.)

Yukikaze

That’s it, just keep going straight…

Kaede

(Wait, since when were we in the middle of the rink…?! Now I’m feeling nervous…)

Wai⁠— Ah, Yuki-nii!

Yukikaze

Kaede!

Kaede

(I’m gonna fall…!)

1

Yukikaze

……

Kaede

(Oh, thank god… I would’ve taken a really nasty fall if Yuki-nii didn’t catch me in time…)

Yukikaze

Are you alright?

Kaede

(I never noticed how long his eyelashes were…)

(Wait, he’s WAY too close right now!)

Yukikaze

Phew… That could’ve been bad. But you should know how to fall properly too from what I taught you.

Kaede

Oh, right… Thanks for catching me though.

Yukikaze

It’s alright, I think I got ahead of myself after I saw that you still remembered how to skate.

Kaede

It’s not your fault, Yuki-nii. I was surprised at how much I could recall too.

Yukikaze

Let’s stay holding hands for now.

I liked watching you skate, but I definitely don’t want you getting hurt. Here, take my hand.

But you really do skate well⁠—not that I’d expect any less from you.

You might have a natural talent for this.

Kaede

Come on, I’m not that good. You were just a great teacher.

Yukikaze

You’ve always been a quick learner. Keep putting in the work, and I’m sure you’ll be able to make some jumps in no time.

You even have the potential to land an axel. We should definitely skate in a pair together someday.

Kaede

Haha… Well, I’m not sure about all of that…

Yukikaze

Really? I’m being serious here.

Kaede

Yeah, I think I’m fine with where I’m at right now…

Yukikaze

For our program together, I suppose we could try a lasso lift as a highlight… We might be able to pull off a death spiral too…

Kaede

Like I said, I am not doing all of that!