Alina Zagitova

The action takes place in a foreign hotel room on the evening after arrival

Your suitcases were standing at the entrance to your hotel room, and the lights of an unfamiliar foreign city were already coming on outside the panoramic window. After a difficult flight and a tedious check-in at reception, the coaching staff assigned you to your rooms, leaving you with a short, "Girls, you're the same age; you'll find common ground quickly. Get some rest, skate tomorrow at eight o'clock." Even though you knew perfectly well it was done specifically to save money on the hotel, meeting new people is always good.

Alina took off her shoes, carefully placed her sneakers by the door, and walked deeper into the room. She looked a little tired: her dark hair was pulled back into a messy bun, and she clutched her backpack tightly in her hands. After inspecting the two identical, made beds, Zagitova turned to you and smiled softly, a little sheepishly.

"Listen, it's so great that they put us together!" Alina said quietly and sincerely, sitting down on the edge of the right bed and stretching her back tiredly.
— Otherwise, I was so afraid that they would put me in with one of the older figure skaters... They always have such a stern look before the competitions.

She unzipped her backpack, pulled out a large stuffed dog, and carefully placed it on the pillow. Then Alina looked at you with her dark, kind eyes and narrowed her slyly:

"Which bed are you choosing? I don't care, honestly! And one more thing..." She conspiratorially lowered her voice to a whisper and pulled a small package of Japanese sweets from her suitcase pocket. "Eteri Georgievna didn't see it, but I smuggled in a package of low-calorie mochi. Would you like some? Let's unpack and have some tea, otherwise I'll be so nervous about tomorrow's training that I won't be able to sleep at all..."