They had moved to a different section of the mountain, meant for stunts rather than racing. A slope with various different obstacles, ramps and rails teased Tristan's imagination. On the one hand he was curious to find out what Hibiki could do, yet a part of him was also concerned about the near-infinite ways he could get hurt.

Whilst Hibiki made his way up so he could get enough speed for his stunts, Tristan and David made their way up along the side to watch. Sometimes David's wheelchair had trouble traversing the terrain, and it was quite jarring to see this man who had tore through the snow at high speeds only a little while ago now struggle with a few small obstacles. In an attempt to help, he went and dragged a stray branch aside that had fallen onto the side of the slope.

"Zhis should be alright." David said, as he turned the wheelchair towards the course. With a wave and a thumbs up at Hibiki he let him know he could start. Immediately Hibiki hopped sideways and picked up speed.

Tristan watched intently, unable to tear his gaze away from Hibiki as he rapidly slid towards the ramps. He shot up, and for just a moment he felt his heart jump up into his throat with him – only to see Hibiki grab the board and whirl in the air once, before landing on the other side with ease.

Tristan gulped to get his heart back in place, and couldn't help but smile as he saw Hibiki celebrate triumphantly. Before he could do anything, David gave him an encouraging shout and pointed at one of the bigger ramps.

"Show me a backflip!"

Somehow he simultaneously felt the blood drain from his face from fear, yet his heart pounded loudly in excitement. The side of him that had always tried his best to take care of everything and not take any risks, simply because they could be disastrous told him he should put a stop to it: that it wasn't worth it. Yet another part was excited by the prospect of seeing what Hibiki could do.

He held down his anxiety, and tried to wrestle it into control.

"He has come very far, you know?" David said beside him, perhaps catching on to his trepidation.

"I can imagine." Tristan nodded back, glancing at Hibiki who was excitedly running back up the slope. It didn't seem like something you'd just pick up and learn easily: but his curiosity was piqued about more than just the effort he put in.

"What was he like? When he was younger?" He asked, looking back at David.

"Shy. Fatter too." The man said with a decisive nod. "Same energy, but his parents would not allow him to do anything. If zhey had their way he would be locked away."

The words caused Tristan to chuckle. That did seem very typical.

"As if they could." He scoffed, well aware that Hibiki wouldn't ever let them hold him back. After all, he'd already seen an escape attempt.

"Zhey certainly tried, and I understood zheir fears so I tried not to let him do anything too difficult. I did not understand him, until I became like zhis. You see, when you are not entirely whole, like both of us, people only see what you cannot do. Zhey will think: he cannot do something, so he cannot do anything. But a bird without a song can still fly." David tapped the side of his arm and pointed at Hibiki.

He turned around, only to see Hibiki had picked up speed, plummeting towards the ramps. Even from a distance he could see the determination and focus. The words resonated with him, and for a moment he let himself be excited for Hibiki. He wanted him to succeed, to see him pull off something nobody believed he could do.

It all seemed to click: he understood why he did it. Why he raced, and snowboarded and constantly searched for danger. To prove he could do it. To believe in himself. So he had some way to show that he wasn't helpless, or meek. I shouldn't be afraid. If I'm scared, I'll only keep him down.

Hibiki rapidly ascended the large ramp, and launched himself up into the air. For a split second he hung there, before throwing his entire body backwards. With nothing to hold him down, the momentum lifted him into a backflip. He seemed so free, as if he found a tiny bit of peace in that untethered moment.

With a heavy slam, Hibiki's board hit the ramp again. The elegance wavered as he lost his balance for just a second, but then managed to recover. David immediately erupted into loud cheering, and despite it startling him, he joined in by clapping enthusiastically and letting out a more muted but equally well-meant shout.

Hibiki lifted his arms, and hopped up and down in sheer joy the moment he came to a standstill. The sight made him beam, feeling nothing but pride for him. In a spur of excitedness he went up to him so he wouldn't have to celebrate alone.

The moment he got close enough, Hibiki hopped into his arms and clung to him. Without hesitating he caught him and swung him around. When he put him down, he was met with a wide, excited grin and victorious bounces.

He put his hands under Hibiki's jaw and kissed him. Maybe the rush of the moment got to him,- or maybe it was just because Hibiki had put so much effort in that he had earned it: either way it felt right to do so. And before he could question it, two gloved hands wrapped around the back of his head and pulled him in.

A moment later he was let go of, and although he broke the kiss, he held on to Hibiki's shoulders.

"That was brilliant." He said, unable to stop smiling. Hibiki grinned and nodded entirely too pleased with himself, before pulling him in by his waist just to prove that he could. Despite being flustered by the gesture, he still smiled.

Hibiki let go of him again so he could undo the bindings of his snowboard. Tristan waited patiently, but tried to avoid looking in the direction of David – or Kazuo, or anyone else nearby for that matter.

It didn't appear like Hibiki minded it though, and when he put his snowboard under one arm he reached out with the other and made a grabby gesture for him. The one thing worse than being seen, would be disappointing Hibiki because he was afraid to be seen. So he grabbed his hand, and allowed himself to be dragged back to a widely smiling David, undoubtedly to be introduced properly as his boyfriend.