argoflower

The Ultimate Program

After I thoroughly did stretching exercises to work on my flexibility, I went to the edge of the rink to rehydrate and saw my phone light up.

When I checked my notifications, I saw that the group chat with my TCG friends was active.

[Did you guys see that article in Weekly Card Gamers?]

[Of course! "Mister Malice, the Guardian's Gatekeeper, Finally Releases Countless Rare Cards?!" If this is true, then it is a matter of great importance. It is a big chance for us as well.]

[Do you think they'll also release the 'Legacy 8'? Maybe Kazeyuki-san's target [Icicle Palace] will also appear?!]

I couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm as they relayed information in the group chat.

I was happy that they still cared for me.

[Thank you for letting me know...if it's released, then I want to do everything I can to get it]

I went back to practicing for the new program I created this year. I skated each part of the program one by one. After I finished checking the technical elements, I played the music and continued to practice over and over again- until I would be satisfied. It was simple, steady, and sometimes even tedious work.

But I believed that the answer was somewhere along this path.

To become just like the me from that dream.

To be more fluid, to dance more, to move more naturally on ice than on land. In order to pursue that feeling, I practiced countless times.

No matter how many times I experienced the skating from my dreams, I still couldn't reach that level yet. My dream self is looking down at me from a higher place.

I want to get there faster.

Why was I born and what was the meaning of my existence now?

There is no correct answer for that, but sometimes I think...

My purpose in life is to skate what I think is the best program possible in that scenery, under that sky. And it was important for him to see it with his own eyes.

"Kaede..."

After softly saying his name, I took a step forward on the ice and jumped. I landed perfectly and in that moment, the image of [Icicle Palace] and my cousin's smiling face came to mind.

Technology and cards, when you put those two together...

"Take me...to the place of my dreams."

I whispered softly to the person who was precious to me, even though he wasn't even here right now.

As the music echoed across the ice, I closed my eyes and skated to my heart's content. Because after all this time, there was still something higher I could aim for.

That's right, something I wish for with all my heart.