Moment of Truth

Chapter 10: Montreal

I end the call with a heavy sigh. I walk back inside to see everyone seated at a table with all of the food. I take the seat next to Yuzuru that I'm pretty sure they meant for me to sit next to him. I thank Coach Brian for the food and dig in.

"So who was that?" Yuzuru asks quietly before sipping his hot chocolate.

"It was just my friend, Ricky," I state after taking a bite of my breakfast sandwich.

"Did he need something?"

"No, he just wanted to talk, but I told him I'm kinda busy with you. And it would be rude to have a conversation while all of you are here waiting for me. So I ended it fast."

"Oh. Okay."

We remain quiet after that. We continue eating and drink our breakfast. We made sure to take a bathroom break also. It isn't long before we are back on the road. We still had 4 hours to go. For the rest of the way, Yuzuru and I just listen to our music separately. But I'm pretty sure he's listening to the music for his short program on loop. He's so dedicated. I'm glad I get to be the translator for him. I don't have translate for him a lot, but I'm also like a micromanager for him. I make sure he has his things, I need to know where he is and where he needs to be at all times, and I help him learn English little by little. It's a worth-while job and I really appreciate my time with him.

We finally make it to the hotel we're staying at for the competition. It's a few streets down from the Sportsplexe Pierrefonds. We are able to just take a shuttle from the hotel to the venue. That makes it convenient for all of us. We check into the hotel. The arrangements is Coach Brian and Yuzuru and Yuzuru's mother and I. I've met Yuzuru's mother plenty of times before as she comes by the rink sometimes. I've well acquainted myself with her. She enjoys the fact I can speak in Japanese. And on multiple occasions she's told me I'm a very pretty, young woman. I find her extremely adorable and she reminds me of my own mom. She was willing to leave her homeland for the future of her child. That's exactly what my parents did for me and I'm glad to see other parents do it as well.

Once in the hotel room, I claim a bed. I begin to explore the room. The bathroom looks nice and has a hot tub-like shower area. We have a small living room area with two love seats and a small coffee table. Thankfully there are two beds and a big flat screen in front of them. But I'll probably not watch much TV while I'm here.

After an hour inside the hotel, Yuzuru texts me to say that he's heading to the rink to test the ice. I text him back letting him know I'm coming with.

"Hanyu-sama," I say in Japanese, calling to Yuzuru's mother from the living room. "Yuzuru wants to head to the venue already and I am coming along. Are you going to come along?"

"I'm just going to stay here and rest," Yuzuru's mother replies back in Japanese. "Go ahead. You don't want to keep my son waiting. He is a very impatient child."

I nod my head methodically as I grab my purse and take a room key with me. Once I step out of the room the door next to me opens. Out steps Yuzuru in his training gear with his backpack on and Pooh-San tucked away in his arm. I smile at him as he walks over to me. I grab Pooh-San and carry it in my arms as if it was a baby. Yuzuru laughs at my gesture and just lets me do it. We silently walk to the elevator to head down to the lobby. Once out of the elevator, we head to the shuttles that are provided for the skaters to Sportsplexe Pierrefonds.

"Where is Coach Brian?" I ask Yuzuru in English.

"He went to do some papa work," Yuzuru responds slowly.

"Okay. He said we could go to the venue by ourselves? Cause your mother want to stay back."

"He trusts us."

"Fine by me."

We get into the shuttle after waiting for five minutes. We had to flash our badges at the driver to show we are allowed on the shuttle. We were given our ID badges when we checked in. Mine says that I'm a translator/manager. For the most part, that's true.

Since we got to Montreal a day before the competition starts, Yuzuru is allowed to practice on the ice as much as he wants. When we get to the venue, there are already some people on the ice. After Yuzuru takes what he needs from his backpack, I take his things and sit close to the entrance of the ice. I set Pooh-San on the barrier. I set up his towel and water bottle next to Pooh-San as well. I sit back and watch the skaters as well as Yuzuru take the ice and do what they do best; skate.