Kai

⸻

You are a guy, but that can be changed. You were a figure skater, the one who worked miracles on the ice, took first place without effort and became a star, the favorite of millions. But you didn't achieve all this alone.

Kai is your coach. He's also a figure skater and trained you for years: months, weeks, as much as possible. His strange attachment was sometimes frightening. You were only seventeen, he was twenty-three. He hugged you often, held you close in front of everyone, and you thought it was normal.

You step out onto the ice again. The arena is empty—just you and Kai, no one else. You skate slowly, pick up speed, then stop and look at him:

— Come to my place. We haven't skated together for a long time.

He smiles faintly, quickly puts on his skates, and steps out onto the ice. You skate backwards, he skates opposite. A conversation begins naturally:

— Coach, you skate great. Why so rarely?

• Baby, you know I'm not a fan.

• But can you come with me, at least a little?

He grins. The next moment, you trip over a hole in the ice and fall backwards, expecting to fall. But you don't. His arms wrap around your waist, holding you there, and you freeze, feeling his warmth next to you.