Backstage

The rest of the rehearsal went by quickly, at least the part that Yuzuru was needed for because a few minutes after, he was going in their direction.

He said something to his mom that she didn't understand and the woman just smiled in reaction, nodding and shifting her gaze to Mia.

"Are you talking about me in Japanese so I don't understand you?" She whined to the skater.

"I just asked if she took good care of you."

"You could have warned me, by the way." She whispered in his ear as he came to hug her in greeting.

"You survived... I knew you were panicking about meeting her."

"You did it on purpose?" She asked with wide eyes a bit louder than she wanted to.

His smirk in reaction was the only confirmation she needed.

Alex had the time of his life as Yuzuru dragged him across the halls and introduced him as a "student of cricket" to every single skater he encountered.

Everyone was genuinely nice and Mia lost count of how many pictures and autographs he had collected by the time they reached Yuzuru's dressing room.

Mia saw the hideous costumes in person for the first time and the infamous one that made her blush too hard to be healthy.

She didn't expect him to just start taking off the costume he was wearing in front of her and Alex, but he didn't seem to have any shame as he did it.

"Should we wait outside?" She asked, worried that he forgot he wasn't alone.

"You can stay..." Was all he answered as Alex was already taking a plushie Pooh bear in his hands.

"Pooh-san!" He exclaimed making Yuzuru chuckle. "He's so cute."

"I will get you one so you can take it to your competitions."

"You will?"

"Yeah, sure. You need your tissue box! It's an essential"

It was now Mia's time to laugh as she sat down on the small couch present in the room.

Yuzuru just continued to take off his clothes as if no one else was in the room.

In seconds, the skater was just in his boxers and she had to admit that she stared a bit harder than what she was proud to admit.

Not that he minded her looks.

He certainly didn't given how he bit her lip as she did so.

His luck was that Alex was otherwise distracted because if she had to explain this to her son, Yuzuru would be a dead man.

Mia had to admit that every single time she had a glimpse of Yuzuru's toned torso it shook something in her, but the sight of his legs was something that caught her completely unprepared.

She knew he was strong after seeing him skate, but seeing all of that muscle in his pale skin was something that she was nowhere near ready to see, especially not when she had to go in public right after.

Mia closed her eyes and tried to focus on other images, forcing her focus away from the sin of the man in front of her.

"You know, the last thing I expected was you closing your eyes to avoid seeing me." She heard being whispered in her ear. Close, too close.

"You do understand that I have to go out and watch your show. I can't do that if all I can think is that..."

The damn smirk was back on his face, Mia knew it just from the tone of his voice and she felt one hand in her thigh.

"I'm dressed, gorgeous. You can look now."

"It's not the see-through one, is it?"

"That's for the finale..."

Mia opened her eyes and saw the hideous multicolored sleeveless hoodie on his body and sighed audibly.

It didn't look that bad in him but it still wasn't the best look on him.

Well, now she figured that his best look was naked, but that was a piece of information she would keep to herself.

"Do I really affect you that much?" He asked innocently and she just rolled her eyes.

"I just haven't been with anyone since Nyck so..."

"No one? Not even for... You know?"

"No. And I never felt the need either. Until now, I guess."

"I'm honored" he joked and she just punched his chest in complaint.

"Shut up..."

"I like you a lot, Mia. You know that right?"

"I like you too, silly man."

He hugged her with a big smile and kissed one of her exposed shoulders.

"You should wear a jacket. It's usually cold in the venue."

"I'm fine."

"At least take one in case you feel cold."

"I'm not going back to the hotel just to get a jacket. Alex has his, I'm sure I can handle the cold for a while."

Wordlessly, Yuzuru pulled a white and blue fluffy jacket from his bag and handed it to her.

"Take it with you."

"But..."

"Mia, just take it."

"Gift?" She asked as she noticed what was written.

"It's from my merch, my Ice show."

"Oh. It's nice."

"Keep it, I have more."

Mia was about to fight it but his expression told her everything she needed to know.

Don't complain, I won't change my mind. That was exactly what she took from that and the girl just went along with it.

Eventually, as they left the room, Yuzu called out for someone and quickly said some words in Japanese.

"This lady is from my team and she will guide you to your seats. The show will start soon ok?"

"Sure. Thank you."

And just as she thought he would just let them go, he grabbed her arm and pulled her close. 

"For good luck." He said, confusing Mia that didn't understand what he meant.

It didn't take too long though, because in mere seconds his lips were on hers.