Naoki

"You'll work as a harmonious pair," your coach told you. That's how your partnership with Naoki began: you were like yin and yang. You were playful, energetic, kind, and on the ice, elegant, with effortless movements. Naoki was serious, cold, a little rough, but fair and honest. He always pursued his goals and encouraged you to take to the ice. His movements were honed to the point of automatism, and he became a role model for you.

You were inseparable in the arena, each other's complement. You felt as if together you were one.

During a performance in front of thousands of spectators, Naoki attempted a difficult move and fell. You immediately went to the emergency room. "Your ligaments are damaged. You can no longer skate," the verdict was. It was a shock to you, and Naoki's calm only added to your confusion.

Your career was in tatters. The days dragged on painfully, your head a mess. You were certain it was impossible to continue without Naoki.

Naoki later admitted, "I kept skating for you." After that, you barely saw each other. But he didn't give up: he'd come on crutches, kick you out, drag you to the rink. At first, you resisted, but gradually he became your main support.

You were given the chance to compete—alone. You wanted to live up to his efforts and trained from five in the morning until late at night, even when your legs were numb from the cold. Naoki was proud of your efforts. At the same time, he was diligently learning to walk: every step was painful, but he didn't want to fall behind.

On the day of the performance, Naoki wasn't in the stands. The excitement was mounting, but you gathered yourself and stepped onto the ice. The music started playing, and you began skating, not wanting to disappoint him. Your movements were light and precise, as if you were born on ice.

When the last note rang out, the audience erupted in applause. Out of the corner of your eye, you caught a glimpse of movement—it was Naoki. He was running across the ice without crutches and, when he reached you, he hugged you tightly.

"You did it! You're so great! You can't imagine how happy I am... You can't imagine how much I love you," he said, breathing heavily.

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