Two days after the JGP Czech Republic stop ended, Xi Ming arrived in Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya, Japan. In two days, the fourth stop of the JGP would be held here.
This time, the Japan stop did not feature a pairs competition, but both the domestic ladies’ singles and ice dance teams had chosen this stop, so Xi Ming’s group was actually larger than at the Slovenia stop. After checking into the hotel designated by the organizers, Xi Ming and Zhao Zhengchang agreed to go explore the competition venue and the surrounding area. After quickly unpacking their luggage, the two of them headed downstairs.
Then, in the hotel lobby, they encountered quite a spectacular group of people.
Calling it spectacular was because the group consisted mostly of reporters, and surrounded by several reporters and cameramen in the middle was a Japanese skater slightly shorter than Xi Ming, with black hair and black eyes and a beautiful appearance. At that moment, he was speaking to the reporters with a polite smile.
Xi Ming and Zhao Zhengchang passed by from the side. Xi Ming instinctively glanced over again, and for a moment, it seemed like he made eye contact with the person in the middle. But this feeling seemed to be just Xi Ming’s illusion, because that person quickly lowered his gaze and smiled at the reporter who was speaking.
“That’s Takahashi Shohei.”
Only after they walked out of the hotel door did Zhao Zhengchang speak up. “As expected of Japan’s number one in the junior division, the home crowd definitely brings a lot of attention.”
Yes, Xi Ming and Zhao Zhengchang certainly knew who that person was. They might not be able to recognize every skater in a competition, but at least Takahashi Shohei at the Japan stop the Grand Prix champion from two seasons ago was someone they could still recognize.
Zhao Zhengchang’s gaze turned to Xi Ming, and he inexplicably felt that Xi Ming’s luck in choosing stops wasn’t all that great. In the two major junior events the Junior Grand Prix and the World Junior Championships there were at most four champions combined across to seasons, and Xi Ming had directly run into three of them across two stops.
Although athletes don’t avoid formidable opponents, how should one put it… it just felt a bit subtle.
Because Zhao Zhengchang’s expression was oddly strange, Xi Ming looked back at him, puzzled. “What’s wrong? Something you want to say to me?”
“Nothing, just reflecting that Japanese skaters really do have quite a lot of media coverage, huh.” Zhao Zhengchang casually changed the subject.
“Because Takahashi Shohei is the most-watched Japanese skater at this stop, right? And I think he won a stop championship when he was thirteen.”
Xi Ming figured that not all Japanese junior skaters would be as prominent as Takahashi Shohei. As the host country this time, besides the one stop spot earned from last season’s World Junior Championships, Japan also had three host-country spots, meaning there were four Japanese junior skaters at this stop.
But the most attention was on Takahashi Shohei.
Because Takahashi Shohei was currently Japan’s number one in the junior division if compared domestically, he was another Yu Jinghui. Moreover, Takahashi Shohei’s competitive path had been steadily rising: he earned a JGP selection spot at thirteen, entered the Junior Grand Prix Final at fourteen and took bronze, and won the Junior Grand Prix Final championship at fifteen.
Last season, his results weren’t particularly outstanding, also due to a foot injury.
According to Japanese media reports, this season Takahashi Shohei was returning in full force as a king, vowing to win the championship at the first stop.
Well, that first stop was the Japan stop.
“What a pity.” Xi Ming suddenly sighed, and when Zhao Zhengchang looked at him strangely, he delivered the second half of his sentence: “My goal for this stop is also the championship, so I’m afraid there’s no way to let this king Takahashi make a perfect comeback.”
After saying this, Xi Ming showed Zhao Zhengchang the same innocent and well-behaved smile as always except that, considering what he had just said, the innocence of that smile was somewhat diminished.
And in response to his disciple’s championship declaration, Zhao Zhengchang said, “Just do your best.”
Zhao Zhengchang didn’t say anything supporting Xi Ming or encouraging him to fight hard for the championship. It wasn’t that he had no expectations for Xi Ming winning the championship again, but rather because others’ expectations for Xi Ming at this stop were too high, and he was somewhat worried that Xi Ming would put too much pressure on himself.
Xi Ming knew what Zhao Zhengchang was thinking. Before departing for this Japan stop, his coach and he had received too many expectant looks. Or rather, to keep Xi Ming from feeling too much pressure, Zhao Zhengchang had likely blocked even more expectant looks.
Yu Jinghui’s failure at his stop wasn’t simply a matter of affecting Yu Jinghui’s competitive mindset.
After Yu Jinghui had narrowly missed the JGP Final last year and became the most outstanding junior skater since Qi Yuxia, he hadn’t just earned the title of number one he had also taken on the responsibility of producing results and bringing Chinese figure skating to the world.
One could say that Yu Jinghui’s failure had also dashed everyone’s expectations to the ground. Of course, no one blamed Yu Jinghui, but after the Chinese junior men’s singles had finally shown signs of rising after so many years, everyone had been quietly hoping and now that hope had been shattered.
Or rather, it had only half fallen through, because Xi Ming was still there.
This year, Xi Ming was one of only two skaters who had registered for two JGP events and taken home a bronze medal at one of them. Now, that expectation had settled on Xi Ming’s shoulders more subdued than before, yet heavier.
After the Czech stop, Xi Ming had gone to see Yu Jinghui, and when they parted, Yu Jinghui had looked like he wanted to say something but held back, his eyes carrying a hint of guilt this was exactly why. Even before Xi Ming departed for the Japan stop, Coach Feng, the national team’s head coach, had come to watch Xi Ming’s training.
In the end, he hadn’t said anything to Xi Ming, only smiled and praised his performance at the Slovenia stop, telling him to skate well at the Japan stop and not feel pressured. Once the Grand Prix was over, he would be waiting for Xi Ming back at the national team.
On the flight to Japan, Xi Ming had even run into a fan who recognized him. As they got off the plane, the fan couldn’t help but quietly say to him, “Do your best.”
Zhao Zhengchang had a gentle personality and cared deeply about his skaters’ physical and mental well-being, so he always worried that Xi Ming might be anxious under the pressure. Xi Ming wouldn’t say much to put Zhao Zhengchang at ease, because as long as he saw Xi Ming’s performance on the ice, Zhao Zhengchang would understand his state.
Moreover, Xi Ming didn’t really see this expectation as pressure, because he was willing to fight for the hopes everyone placed on him.
So, although he didn’t often say such things, this time, he was going to skate to win the championship.
“Thud” The sound of a solid fall onto the ice made anyone who heard it wince, not wanting to imagine the pain the source of that sound was enduring.
And the source of that sound was Xi Ming the very person who had just declared before the competition that he was going to win the championship.
Xi Ming got up from the ice with a helpless look. Fortunately, aside from the sting of the fall, he wasn’t injured. Perhaps it was his body’s way of reminding him that he wasn’t yet qualified to treat the championship as his own trophy, because during the six-minute pre-competition practice, Xi Ming had taken an unexpected fall while attempting the 3A he’d been growing increasingly familiar with.
Ah well, he really couldn’t let his guard down about his occasional tendency to act up just because his last bout with Lancik and Chris had been so smooth and exhilarating.
Xi Ming continued skating across the ice, then tried the jump again. “Thud ”
Another solid fall. Xi Ming scrambled up, looking a bit disheveled, then flashed a smile at the camera that happened to be on him, running a hand through his curls that had been mussed by the falls.
Once the camera moved away, Xi Ming felt a distinct gaze land on him. When he looked over, he met eyes with someone on the rink.
Blond hair, green eyes, fair skin every time Xi Ming saw him, he couldn’t help but think how beautiful he was. It was the Russian skater from this stop, Mikhail Smirnov. But unlike his beautiful appearance, this fourteen-year-old young skater was a true ice queen.
Even now that he’d locked eyes with Xi Ming, he didn’t offer a polite smile, as if he hadn’t been the one staring at Xi Ming with such obvious attention in the first place. After Xi Ming gave him a nod, Mikhail looked away.
Xi Ming never figured out why Mikhail had been watching him, because the two of them didn’t know each other at all Mikhail, like Xi Ming, was a new face on the JGP circuit this season.
Probably he was just curious because Xi Ming had fallen on two 3As in a row. Xi Ming made a little joke to himself as practice time ended and he stepped off the ice.
Back at his coach’s side, Xi Ming met Zhao Zhengchang’s worried gaze and smiled to indicate it was no big deal. Even though he’d fallen twice in practice, Xi Ming genuinely felt fine.
And after the six-minute warm-up ended, the final group of the men’s short program at the Japan stop began.
This time, Xi Ming had drawn third in the pre-competition lottery a decent enough starting position, neither good nor bad.
For the record, Mikhail was the first skater in this group.
Out on the center of the ice, Mikhail began his performance. A young man in flowing white, the crystals on his costume sparkling, white fabric fluttering as he glided swiftly across the ice, set to the music of Ave Maria. In that moment, Mikhail evoked images of a pristine church, a choir, and a holy angel.
Watching Mikhail on the ice, Xi Ming marveled at what a beautiful performance it was. And also that triple Axel, so high, so far, so clean.
Xi Ming smiled. Though Mikhail’s program was a serene, sacred piece, beneath its beautiful presentation lay not peace, but a surging fighting spirit.
Mikhail’s performance seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, but with nearly flawless technique, he made it clear he was not an opponent to be underestimated.
In the end, Mikhail took first place in the short program with a total score of 70.74.
The next competitor scored only 66.52 points, failing to surpass Mikhail’s score. Or rather, Mikhail’s total score, even at the Slovenia stop, was higher than what Xi Ming and Chris had earned at the time.
“Indeed, this is going to be a tough battle,” Xi Ming thought. He had never underestimated his opponents, nor did he pin his hopes on their mistakes to secure his own success. But it seemed that every competition after his rebirth presented him with spectacular performances that left him in awe.
Amid the arena’s announcements, Xi Ming glided to the center of the ice. After coming to a stop, he glanced at Mikhail, who stood at the boards. The look in his eyes now seemed the same as it had been during the pre-competition practice earlier.
Forgive Xi Ming, for he truly could not decipher the emotions beneath Mikhail’s stoic expression. But regardless, he had no intention of conceding this stop’s championship.
The melody of the Waltz of the Flowers flowed out, yet this time Xi Ming’s opening seemed less subdued than usual. It was as if he brought the joy of the celebration to everyone from the very start each person could feel the intense emotion radiating from him.
Come, come this celebration for victory, let everyone dance freely within it, and he would be the one to bring this ball to its very climax!
Amid the swelling melody and the pounding emotions in his chest, Xi Ming transitioned into a spread-eagle with an outside edge, then turned, and jumped.
3A a smooth landing. The jump that had kept failing during practice success!