Hana Ni Nare ( A Yuzuru Hanyu/Javier Fernandez Story )

Realization

Yuzuru was playing a game on his cell phone, waiting for the practice time which was in two hours. He came too early to the club because his mother got some stuff to do and had to go early, so he half-heartedly agreed to go with her. He wasn't in the mood for taking a cab that day.

Sitting alone on the bench inside the locker room, he groaned in boredom. Javier wasn't going to show up at any time soon. He knew the Spaniard always came on time, of course on time here doesn't mean too early.

He put on his earphones and listening some of his favorite Japanese songs. Four songs had passed, he didn't notice someone entered the locker room until the person opened his locker near where Yuzuru sat. Recognizing him, Yuzuru put down his cell and earphone on the bench and walked to him.

"Javi!" he called.

"Hey," Javier chuckled when Yuzuru hugged him. He hugged him back casually, putting his hands on the Japanese's tiny waist. He noticed that their height was almost the same, though he was still the taller one.

When they pulled back, Yuzuru noticed he was wearing glasses.

"Why you wear glasses?" he asked, wondering.

"My sight is slightly blurry now, so I have to wear it to see around me much clearer. Why? Do I look like an old man?" Javier's tone was serious but laced with joke.

"You are old man," Yuzuru laughed. He took off the glasses, being dorky as he usually was, he put on it on his eyes. He suddenly felt dizzy watching around from the glasses, so he took it off and rubbing his eyes. This time Javier laughed.

"That's because you took it off without my permission."

"Why you wear this thing? It is bad. And you look old."

"It's not bad. It helps me."

Yuzuru returned the glasses. Staring at the older man, he started rubbing Javier's undereye childlike-ly. Javier closed his eyes at the touch.

"You have dark circle, must be tired," Yuzuru frowned.

"A little, but it will be gone in no time."

"I worry. Don't too tired."

"I won't. Don't worry. And thank you," Javier smiled at him. He ruffled the younger's hair affectionately. Yuzuru bowed his head down to hide a light blush that started to spread across his cheeks.

Javier put his glasses inside his locker along with his former casual outfit. He changed into his training outfit. Yuzuru was changing his outfit too. Then together they went to the rink to do some warm-ups. As Brian wasn't there yet, they used their spare time to refresh their latest lesson and evaluate each other progress. Occasionally, Javier would throw any not so funny jokes and made Yuzuru laugh.

Those were a small example of what they had done together as training mates after two years of training together. Even though they were technically rivals, they never showed their rivalry. People out there never saw Yuzuru and Javier as rivals, they saw the two as best friends who always support each other. And that was exactly what they were. Brian alone was happy with the interaction between his two skaters, as it brought positive energies not only for them but also people around them and people around the world who was a fan of figure skating too.

Two years of becoming training mates certainly brought them closer towards each other. Just like what had just happened in the locker room. The hug they always did to start the training day, the way Yuzuru rubbed Javier's eyes and Javier ruffled his hair, those were casual, at least for one of them. The admiration that once Yuzuru had held for Javier slowly grew into something deeper without him realizing it.