Chapter Text
Teitan Academy of Sports and Performing Arts is Japan's most famous professional academy for sports and music. Numerous famous athletes and musicians graduated from there. The academy offers education from elementary to college; starting from middle school, students will select a major they wish to study. Figure skating and instrumental majors are the most famous in the academy. Every year, each twelve-grade figure skating student will be assigned to a twelve-grade instrumental major student and work as a group to create a figure skating performance of the skater skating to the music the instrumental major student performs as their final exam before graduating high school. All students will be gathered in the common area and wait for the teachers to reveal their partners.
In the common area, the students from the music major are excited to see the grouping results.
"Hey, who do you think will be Ran-chan's partner, our angel of the piano?" Kazuha, a flautist asked.
"Must be a lucky person, same with the one that got the King of the Rink!" Asami, a keyboard player, replied.
"Lucky!? By any standard, you can't consider partnering up with the king as lucky. Instead, I feel pity for whoever that is! Hopefully not me!" Shiho, a classical guitarist, replied.
"Now, to think about it, I feel like only Ran-chan could satisfy him," Kazuha said.
"True that, one note off, and you'll be murdered. Why is someone with a perfect pitch in figure skating major? He should have attended the music major!" Sonoko, a cellist, said.
"I guess he can't help it; his parents are the first Japanese pair skater to win a medal in a major international competition. The moment he's born on Earth, he has already been viewed as the star skater of our generation," Kazuha replied.
"Takahiro told me that he could play the violin; he even skated to the violin pieces performed by himself in the past," Shiho said.
"Oh, yeah, I heard of that before too. It was 'Ballade no. 1 in G minor, op. 23,' and 'Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso,' wasn't it?" Asami replied.
"Yes!"
"Ballade in violin? That's something new," suddenly, a voice came from behind.
"Ran! You are here!" Sonoko shouted with a big smile.
"Sorry, the last class was extended."
"You are just in time," Shiho replied.
"What have you guys been talking about?" Ran asked.
"About who will be the lucky skater to be paired with you, and about Shinichi Kudo, the King of the Rink!"
'Oh, that's too much praise; I'm not that good."
"Once again, so humble; that's why we love you, Ran!" Sonoko said.
Meanwhile, the singles figure skaters also wonder who will be paired with their King of the Rink.
"I wonder who will be paired with our king," said Heiji.
"Do not let them cry if it's a girl!" Takahiro said while putting his arm around Shinichi.
"I won't!" Shinichi replied with an annoyed face.
"I'm pretty sure the furthest he'll go is just being picky about everything, to the point where they will wish for another partner," Sera added.
"If it's Mouri-san, she'll probably be able to satisfy him," said Makoto.
"You are right, but I still feel bad for the person to be paired with him!" Higo said from behind.
"Oh, come on, Higo. He wasn't that bad. On the other hand, Shinichi-kun can skate to any music, making it easier for his partner," Sera defended.
Before Higo could reply, the bell rang; Kobayashi-sensei, the piano teacher, and Jodie-sensei, the women's figure skating coach, got on the stage.
"Greetings, students; this will be your last assignment in high school. Every figure skater will be paired with a partner in the music department to create a figure skating routine. Of course, pair skaters and ice dancers will be put into the same group, but with two music major students," Jodie-sensei explained.
"The group in each discipline that finishes with the highest mark will be allowed to train with an overseas figure skating club and given recommendations to any music university of their choice," Kobayashi-sensei added.
"Now we'll announce the groups!" Jodie-sensei and Kobayashi-sensei said together with a joyful tone.
"Group 1, Takahiro Sanada and Shiho Miyano. Group 2, Heiji Hattori and Kazuha Tooyama."
"haha, even the school knows you guys are a couple!" Sonoko joked at Shiho and Kazuha.
"Group 6, Makoto Kyougoku and Sonoko Suzuki."
"Back to you!" Kazuha and Shiho replied.
"Group 9, Masumi Sera and Asami Tsuburaya."
"Yay!" Sera gave Asami a peace sign from a distance.
"Group 35, Rusuke Higo and Eisuke Hondou."
"Wow!" As the teachers announced the penultimate group, the room was filled with gasps out of surprise because everyone realized who would be in the last group.
"Finally, group 36, Shinichi Kudo and Ran Mouri!" Announced Jodie-sensei and Kobayashi-sensei joyfully.
"It can't be..." Shinichi thought.
Soon, the whole room is filled with chatters.
"I can't believe the king and the angel are put in the same group!"
"To think the two geniuses are put together."
"Thinking about it, Mouri is probably the only one on Kudo's level."
"Okay, now you have your groups. Here's what you'll be doing for your project. The topic for this year is a short program. Any music is allowed if you follow all the requirements and rules from the International Skating Union. After your group completes your program, you will submit your routine to us. The performance will be done in two days: the first day will be the pairs and ice dance, while the second will be single skating. Please note that you and your partner will be graded separately, but a major part of your grade is how well you work together," Jodie-sensei explained.
"Now, you may start working; please remember to grab the handout as you leave; more precise instructions and rubrics are provided there," Kobayashi-sensei said as she dismissed everyone.
As the students walk out of the common area, Ran approaches Shinichi.
"Kudo-kun! Hello, I'm Ran Mouri, your partner. Would you like to exchange phone numbers so we can contact each other quickly?"
"Sure."
After they exchanged their phone number, Ran went to the cafeteria for lunch with her friends.
"Ran-chan, I can't believe you are paired with the king!" Asami said.
"I heard he is very troublesome from Hidaka and Tashiro. Maybe you should ask for another partner," Sonoko said.
"But he's only troublesome if his partner isn't good enough; that's what Heiji told me," Kazuha replied.
"Maybe our angel would be his ideal partner, just like what Takahiro thinks," Shiho added.
"Yeah, Kudo wasn't that bad. He is just a perfectionist when it comes to skating, but overall, he's a nice guy," Takahiro said while walking into the cafeteria.
"Why are you here, Bakahiro!" Shiho replied.
"Hey, how could you treat your partner like that? I'm so sad!" Takahiro replied while wiping fake tears from his face.
"Then how about Ahohiro? Or do you prefer Bokehiro?"
"I'll take Bokehiro then."
"Oh, another quarrel between husband and wife," Sonoko teased.
"We are not husband and wife!" Shiho and Takahiro replied together.
"I still want to work with Kudo-kun. The teachers must think it will work to put us together, and I want to believe in them!" Ran said.
"Not to mention, I feel familiar with him," Ran thought.
"Good luck, Ran; tell us if that guy did anything to you!" Sonoko said.
"Okay, thanks."
After Shinichi got home from school, he sent a text to Ran.
Shinichi: Mouri-san, good evening. Would you like to meet tomorrow to discuss our project?"
Ran: Kudo-kun, good evening. Yes, I'll be glad to meet after school.
Shinichi: Is there a place you prefer?
Ran: How about Cafe Poirot at 2 pm?
Shinichi: Sounds nice. I'll see you tomorrow in Cafe Poirot at 2 pm.
"If it was her... Is it destiny, or is it a miracle?" Shinichi thought as he put down his phone.
On Saturday afternoon, Shinichi arrived at the cafe 10 minutes before 2 pm the next day, and Ran came 5 minutes later.
"Good evening, Kudo-kun. Sorry for making you wait."
"I also just arrived," Shinichi replied as he opened the cafe's door.
"Welcome!" Azusa, the waitress at the Café Poirot, said.
"Azusa-san, good evening. Could we take the table to discuss our school project?" Ran said as she walked into the cafe.
"Of course, please take your seat. What would you like for today?"
"Ice coffee, please," Shinichi said.
"Me too."
"Two iced coffee. Could I get you anything else? I would recommend the new half-baked cake by Amuro-san."
"I'll take one, how about you, Kudo-kun?"
"I'm good."
"So, two iced coffees and one half-baked cake."
"Yes, thank you, Azusa-san," Ran replied.
"My pleasure," Azusa said as she walked away.
"Kudo-kun, is there a certain type of music you wish to skate to?" Ran asked.
"I can skate to anything, so you can choose the best piece you can interpret," Shinichi replied.
"What an arrogant guy..." Ran thought, "Well, here are a few of my favorite pieces; you can take a look at them," Ran said as she pulled out a list of piano pieces she liked.
"Otonal, Rondo Capriccioso, Swan Lake, Hope and Legacy... You are a Fanyu, aren't you?" Shinichi asked while reading the list.
"Yeah, I am. Wait, you know the term Fanyu?"
"Of course, Fanyu, a fan of Yuzuru Hanyu, it's common sense in figure skating. Oh, Ballade no. 1 in G minor, op. 23! This one!" Shinichi said.
"Oh, that's my number one favorite of all time! It's a life-changing piece for me!"
"I know..." Shinichi said with an expression softer than anyone Ran had seen.
"Eh?"
"Now, we should work on how to cut and arrange the ballade to fit it as a short program."
"I have recorded my performance for Ballade," Ran said as she handed Shinichi her phone.
"May I hear it now?" Shinichi asked as he pulled out his headphones.
"Go ahead."
After Shinichi finished hearing the piece, he imported it into his laptop and began to edit the audio.
"Done, this is how I wish it would be," Shinichi said as he passed the laptop to Ran.
"Perfect, 2 minutes and 50 seconds. I love the fix!" Ran said after she finished listening.
"I will come up with the choreography as soon as possible. After I finish it, let's meet at the school ice rink for rehearsal. I'll send you a text," Shinichi said as he finished the coffee.
The next day, Ran visited Cafe Poirot for a girls' meeting.
"Ran-chan, how's Kudo-kun?" Kazuha asked.
"Is he being overly picky on everything and super arrogant?" Asami asked.
"Did he give you any trouble?" Shiho added.
"If he did, I'll give him a lesson!" Sonoko replied.
"No, no, no. Kudo-kun is rather nice. At first, he gave me an arrogant vibe, but as I talked to him more, he was a pretty easy person to get along with. Sanada-kun and Hattori-kun were right; he wasn't as bad as people said," Ran replied.
"That's good because I'm getting ready to test the new drug I created on him..." Shiho said, pretending to be a mad scientist.
"Huh!?" Everyone in the room gasped.
"Shiho, your science-addicted personality hasn't changed since preschool," Sonoko said.
"Yeah, I remember you once said you'd create a de-age drug when we were in elementary. The enthusiasm sure didn't change at all," Ran added.
"But you didn't create those drugs, right?" Kazuha asked.
"Of course, she didn't create it, Kazuha. It was a joke!" Asami replied with a laugh.
"Or maybe I did!" Shiho said with an evil smile.
"..." Soon, the room breaks into silence.
"Ran-chan, have you decided what music to perform for the project?" Asami asked to change the topic.
"Yes, a short program on Ballade no. 1 in G minor, op. 23 by Chopin, we have already finished the edit. How about everyone else?"
"A short program on Imaginations by Spyair," Asami replied with a satisfying face.
"A short program on Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid," Kazuha said excitedly.
"A short program on Always with Me by Yumi Kimura," Sonoko said dreamily.
"A short program on Tenkyuu," Shiho said with a smirk.
"The Japanese Koto piece?" Everyone asked.
"Yes, I'll do a guitar cover of it!"
"Well, I can't imagine Sanada-kun skating to it," Sonoko joked.
"Neither does Bokehiro himself. He wanted rock music, but I forced him," Shiho replied while remembering the moment.
"How about Fly High by BURNOUT SYNDROMES?" Takahiro suggested.
"Asami and Sera-san chose a Haikyuu opening, so no!" Shiho replied.
"Why, you love it? You have the whole manga collection!"
"I just don't want to be the same as others!"
"Why do I feel like you already have a song in mind, but instead of recommending it, you just want me to accept it no matter what after being rejected countless times?"
"For once, you are smart,"
"Hey! Well, what song was it?"
"Tenkyuu!"
"From Kono oto tomare?"
"Yes!"
"You know my style is usually rock music,"
"How mean! All I wanted to do was for you to try something and be an all-rounded skater," Shiho said while fake-crying.
"You know this doesn't work on me! Well, at least not anymore," Takahiro said with the second part in a quiet voice.
"What!?" Shiho said with a death glare.
"Alright, Tenkyuu, it is!"
"Thanks. Here's the recording of the edited version. There are three different versions. You can choose which version you would like to use when doing the choreography," Shiho said while walking away after sending him three audio files through her phone.
"So you already know I'll accept it! Huh, cute!" Takahiro said after Shiho left and was nowhere to be found, not realizing Shiho had heard everything he said, including the last line he said quietly.
"I have no clue what happened, but I feel bad for Sanada-kun," Everyone thought.
After going home, Ran received a text from Shinichi that he had completed the choreography, asking her to meet him at the school ice rink the next day after class.
"Ice rink... I guess I'll bring it too..." Ran thought after she replied to Shinichi's text.
On Monday, Ran headed to the ice rink after class. There, she heard the sound of Shinichi practicing. She walked toward the rink and saw Shinichi performing a one-handed hydroblade as the entrance of a delayed single axle with a twizzle and counter exit.
"Oh, Mouri-san, you're here! Good afternoon!"
"Good afternoon, Kudo-kun. That delayed single axel was amazing!"
"You saw that? Thanks, I still couldn't do it beautifully like Hanyu-senshu."
"Eh?" Ran gasped.
"hmm"
"Oh, no, I'm just surprised that a genius like Kudo-kun would say something like that. I never thought you would think there's something you didn't do well enough and compare yourself to someone."
"I'm nowhere a genius, and compared to Hanyu-senshu, I still have a lot of improvement. Hanyu-senshu was already a level above me when he was my age. He has always been my inspiration and will continue to be."
"Then it's the same for us; Hanyu-senshu is also an inspiration to me. My parents sent me to figure skating classes when I was 5, but I saw his Ballade No. 1 short program when I was eight. Then I thought how happy the pianist would be when he saw his performance was being skated that beautifully. So I asked my parents to let me learn piano. But even now, I would still go to the ice rink to skate for some time," Ran said as she put on her skates and stepped on the ice.
"Want to skate together for a while?" Shinichi asked while doing a spread eagle.
"Yes!"
"How long has it been since I felt this happy while skating? Just like..." Shinichi thought after skating with Ran.
"Mouri-san, do you happen to..."
"Isn't this the king and the angel?" Before Shinichi could finish his question, Higo appeared on the ice rink.
"Higo!" Shinichi said.
"The two of you look like a couple; why not pair up and try the pair skating discipline?" Higo said.
"Sorry, Mouri-san, but that's it for today. We'll rehearse tomorrow," Shinichi said to Ran.
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, bye!" Ran said while leaving the ice rink after nodding to Shinichi and Higo.
"What do you want?" Shinichi asked after Ran left.
'Nothing, just thinking the Great King has finally fallen in love. After breaking so many girls' hearts!"
"We are not a couple!"
"Not a couple... yeah, not yet! Anyway, you guys better get the highest grade to go overseas. I know you want to do your best to impress your famous figure-skater parents, but none of us wanted to compete with you! I had enough of parents comparing me to you! So hurry and leave me alone!"
"Why don't you do your best to get first place and go overseas?"
"And then compete with other talented skaters from around the world? That'll be even worse than staying in the same college as you!"
"It's not like I want to be born like this either..." Shinichi said without looking up; suddenly, all the memories of the pressure given by his parents came to his mind.
"If you are going to compete, you must take first place!"
"Your jump isn't clean enough! Your posture is off!"
"Do you want to shame me and your father!"
"I never wanted to be the child of the famous pair skater. I hate the pressure of needing to do things perfectly because of who my parents are! Why do the gods need to give me the talent for figure skating out of anything?" Shinichi thought while clenching his teeth.
"Higo-san, I may not know you as a person or how close you are to Kudo-kun, but that's not something good to say. Could you apologize to Kudo-kun?" Ran said as she suddenly appeared between the middle of the two.
"Huh, how can another genius understand our feelings? There's no reason for me to apologize; see you!" Higo said as he pushed Ran aside and walked away.
"Higo-san!" After Higo walks about, he finds Shiho standing while leaning on the wall.
"You are Sanada's girlfriend and Mouri-san's childhood friend!"
"Yes, and I saw you pushed Ran aside, too," Shiho said with a charming smile.
"How about this? I'll mess up on the final project and ensure Ran's group got first place," Shiho suggested.
"Perfect! I can find a way to make other skaters perform poorly to get a good ranking after Kudo. No worries, I will make sure you still get a good grade," Higo replied.
"You jerk!" Shiho said and slapped Higo.
"Huh!?"
"You want a good ranking but don't want to compete with talented skaters while using tricks to make yourself the only one performing well. What a coward! I won't expose you to the school this time, but remember, we'll crush you in the finals!" Shiho said while facing Higo with her back, but turned around to give him a death glare while saying the last line.
After Higo left, Shiho looked inside the rink and saw Shinichi crouched on the floor while Ran watched him.
"Guess I should leave them alone for some time," Shiho thought while leaning on the wall.
"I want to show her the cool side of me, but why do I let her see the lame side of me? So uncool!" Shinichi thought.
"I never thought Kudo-kun would have a weak side like this. Even the genius skater called to be the emotionless king is still a human, not a robot." Ran thought.
"Higo was right; I shouldn't have become a figure skater," Shinichi said.
"I may know nothing about what happened between you and Higo, but I can't agree that he only can't win against you because you are a genius. Talent is something you need to blossom. Even if one is born with a mess of talent, nothing will be rewarded without hard work. Rather than a genius that doesn't work hard, I choose a have-nots that would work hard. So there's nothing to worry about, Kudo-kun. The important thing is that you skated happily for yourself," Ran said, turning her head back to look at him with a soft smile.
"I guess you are right," Shinichi said, standing up with a confident smile.
At the moment, Ran's words are like a ray of sunlight warming up a world of ice and snow to Shinichi.