For the first time in forever, Kaede felt like she finally got the things she has always wanted. A life without her mother and a life with the man that she loves, back for herself.

Looking back to the skating season, things have been so rough like always especially now that she's back in Japan and that means dealing with all the media, the fandom, as well as setting her goals to podium.

Kaede doesn't care about all of the toxicity though as long as she's finally with Ojiro. Every time that she trains side by side with him, watching him by the rink while he skates to his routine for Worlds, she couldn't help but sigh in contentment.

She would hand him his towel and drink while she gives her him some insights about the status of his performance. He then would nod and say 'wakatta' understood, but his eyes are distant.

She's like talking to a stone.

She already had noticed this drastic change in him since he had broken up with that gaijin but when it comes with Ojiro, she strongly believes that it would definitely pass.

But it didn't.

He's always late in his daily trainings, his jumps are out of control, he missed his doctor appointments and he was often scolded by Minoru-san, which are things that an Ojiro Korishima wouldn't do in the past. He had lost his focus.

One morning, as she waited for him in front of the rink's building, she saw the gaijin going out of the rink. Her face automatically crumpled in annoyance. Just as she thought that she had already gotten rid of her.

She walks into the path way that leads to the outside just in time Ojiro arrives. Kaede saw it when they cross paths without acknowledging each other and that's how she knew everything in them have ended. A wicked smile curves into her pretty face.

She waves at Ojiro in the entrance, getting his attention, when he comes up to her, she couldn't make of the reaction of his face, as if it was numb of emotions. Everyone has always known Ojiro since his junior years to be the one who lacks of emotion, but she believed they'd only labeled him as such because they couldn't read his next move.

But right now, even with the blank expression, Kaede perfectly knows what is running in his mind at the moment, making her feel like a knife has stabbed her heart open.

He stops there for a second and then he moves quickly, turning to the pathway. Kaede's hand grabs his arm, stopping him.

"Ojiro..." she muttered.

It was a scene just exactly like when her mom stopped her from jumping out of the car they're riding to the airport while Ojiro chased them.

She felt him hesitating for a moment but he pulls his arm away and runs as fast as he could toward where the gaijin have walked out. Her eyes fall to the luggage that he left.

A tear rolls down her eye. Years might have passed and a lot have changed in him but she came to a realization: That when it comes to love he's always been like that. Brave and true. He is ready to fight for it whatever it might cost him.

A river of tears came along with the heavy feeling of regret. If I jumped off that car, am I going to be the one you're chasing instead of that gaijin? She doesn't want to spend all eternity wondering about that.

Of course, Ojiro has failed his attempt to get the gaijin back and she noticed how it greatly affected his performance. Just like how he used to, he's brave to show up every day in his training but as someone who can easily see through him, she's just utterly impressed on how he put on a masked in front of everyone.

"You must be really happy now huh?" she heard Nissho saying one training day while he put his skates on. "...that you already get what you want."

Kaede stopped doing stretching and turned to Nissho.

Ah, yes. How did I forget about this dumb ass?

When Nissho stands with his skates on, she knows she needs to face him head on.

Kaede glances at Ojiro who were on the ice, doing the third run through of his SP and then turns back to Nissho. "What do you want?" she turns her chin up to him.

"What do I want?" he chortled. "Kaede, you ruined my friend's life." He pressed.

"Oh, you might want to say, changed. I just helped him out from getting more further damage, and for fuck's sake, he's not going to die Nissho. He's just broken hearted. It's just a phase. He will eventually get pass that like all of the setbacks in his career."

"Help him?" he narrowed his eyes to her. "By harming Louise?"

"I don't know what you're saying."

"Come, on." He throws his head back. "Don't fucking try to play with me Kaede, I know what you did."

"So? What are you going to do about that?" she crossed her arms.

Nissho closed his eyes, letting out a heavy sigh while he runs his hand through his hair.

"The three of us have been together for so long. How could you? How could you do this?!" he spat.

"You don't know anything." A tear rolls down her eye. "You don't know what I have gone through just to get myself to where I am at right now Nissho. You and I aren't that different, don't you dare play the good guy here." She glared at him. "I will take him back no matter what it would cost me."

"What are you guys doing? Aren't you going on ice already?" Ojiro approaches them, breaking their conversation. The two of them looks way immediately, going back to what they are doing.

"I'm about to put on my skates." She smiles to him. "Here, wipe all those sweats off." she hands him his towel.

"Thanks." Ojiro takes it from her. They sit together on the bench and she pulled him into a conversation about his SP while Nissho quietly walks toward the rink, shaking his head.

If you will let Ojiro know about what happen to that gaijin, I'll make sure you will regret it. She left Nissho a message along with some proofs about his previous scandals that can damage his reputation and career.

They have always known Nissho to be a notorious womanizer. When it comes to woman, this poor guy doesn't have much of control. Among all of the person she wanted to destroy, Nissho is the easiest target.

Kaede have kept an eye on him since and didn't leave Ojiro's side making sure Nissho won't be anywhere near him. It was just she wouldn't have thought Nissho will get a spot for the world's men individual event.

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