(Land the jump into a spread eagle… Then a change of edge from inward in time with the music.)

(And for the last spin, I need to keep my balance…)

*pant, pant*

(My sit spin posture isn’t quite right… and I need more height on my jumps. With the Grand Prix coming up, I’d like to focus on improving my precision.)

Dad, can I ask you for some feedback?

……

Dad?

Ah, of course. I think that what you have so far is more than good enough. As long as you continue to fine-tune things, you won’t run into any problems.

…Could I have some advice on my jumps?

Well… They’re fine. I don’t have much else to say.

……

(He’s been like this ever since I told him that I wanted to work on my expressiveness. I did tell him that I wanted to come up with my own practice regimen, but I made sure to emphasize that I still wanted to hear him out.)

Ahh… I just remembered, there’s something I wanted to tell you.

…? What is it?

…I know you mentioned wanting to focus on expressiveness, but… I’m not the best at teaching that, so…

……

…Well, I intend to get you a new coach.

…A…new coach?

There’s one from overseas who also handles choreography. We haven’t closed the deal yet, but he was very interested when I talked to him about it… He would love to teach you.

……

Ah, don’t worry, you won’t be moving overseas. He’ll be flying in to work with you. And…you already know him, so I’m sure you’ll get along. He can do a lot of things I can’t…

…I’m not saying that I disagree with your choice or your way of thinking but… What will happen to you?

Me? …Ah, well…

……

There’s…not much left for me to do before the Olympics start. So I might retire as a coach after this season… That was my plan.

D-Don’t worry about me, it’ll all work out. Your skating should be at the forefront of your mind right now.

Just as you said, as long as you work on your expressiveness, you could score well for performance at the Olympics and have a high chance at winning gold. You should do everything for those medals.

…You’re not going to coach me anymore so that I have a better chance at winning gold?

W-Well, yes, that’s about right… I suppose.

……

Th-That aside! I think you should wrap up for today and start your cool down.

…Dad’s not going to coach me anymore…

(I would’ve never expected him to think that way. I’m happy that he went out of his way to find a new coach for me, but… Is this really what I wanted?)

(I want to improve my expressiveness. I want to find my own skating style. Those were the only two things I wanted when I confronted Dad, so I thought he would continue coaching me…)

(Should I just let things happen…? I don’t know what I should do.)

……

Yukikaze, are you listening?

*gasp* I’m sorry. I spaced out for a bit.

(I’m supposed to be in a meeting, but I keep thinking about Dad…)

Space out on your own time, not on company time.

Kafka, don’t be mean. Yuki-nii, are you okay? You never get distracted like that during conversations…

I’m alright. You can continue.

Okay, I’ll say it again for a certain someone who wasn’t listening.

Our next mission as a company will be to enliven each ward one by one…

With something I call a Feature Tour!