“Go Ami! Go! WOO… HOOO!”
Whistles, loud stamping on the floor, and clapping was heard from above as Ami pushed off from the side of the rink, away from Asuka and her coach, to warm up before her turn. From the audience, people turned around to stare down the three girls who were making the racket. Two blondes held small Japanese fans, cheering; dancing and yelling encouragement, but causing more embarrassment. While the brunette next to them cupped her hands over her mouth to yell. Beside the three wayward girls, sat two people. A young dark haired man, and a raven haired girl. The two sat beside them silently, turning away and shielding their faces as if to disavowal their acquaintances.
Below them, the judges turned towards them disapprovingly as a solemn voice filled the hall. “Silence. Silence please!”
Along the aisle, security guards rushed towards their row, and reached towards them, quickly hushing them, threatening of removal if they kept on yelling.
While Ami, calm as ice, as always, slid across towards the middle of the
rink like a swan on a lake. She raised her chin slightly, and pulled back
her shoulders as she remembered the professional skating posture. Underneath,
her insides quivered, but as she took a deep breath, her composure returned.
Smiling, she skated past her coach and Asuka, then scanned the audience,
it didn’t take her long to find the source of commotion, her friends. She
closed her eyes again, bent her knees, and prepared herself for a double
axle. A cool breeze rushed across her face as she sped up, and she erupted
high into the air, gracefully spinning, then landing just as smoothly as
she took off. The force which she left the ice, yet the gradual drop that
had not caused a sudden bump.
“Ladies, time please.” A small phrase that meant the beginning of the competition, the competition for a place in the All-Japan Figure Skating Competition. A wave of anticipation swept over the audience, who were all here to support their friends, members of the family.
All was silent except for the rolling of the cameras along the side of the rink. Tonight was the night. Although tonight was only the trials for the All-Japan, but it was the most distinguished competitions in Japan. It occurred every four years, and the top 3 were automatically given a spot in the Winter Olympics, while the others spots were separately competed for. The significance that the Genius Girl Ami Mizuno had chosen this competition to debut in figure skating was not lost on the media. With the landing which she had just flawlessly performed, she had just announced to the previous year’s champion, Akiko Watanebe, that she had a challenger, a challenger for the top spot. Ami Mizuno was here to add yet another honor to her name.
“Number 119.”
Once again, silence swept across the stadium as a young competitor slid quickly to the middle of the rink. The music started, the girl raised her arms, her left leg pushed off as she circled the middle, preparing for a jump. She spun her body quickly, too quickly, as she tumbled onto the ice.
It was going to be a long night. 30 girls had already given their best shot, 119 girls to go until the Japanese Champion. Ami had been placed as 111 according to her name in the list of unknown competitors.
When Number 119 finished her routine without many other mistakes, polite applause sounded in the stadium. A few people cheered wildly, possibly her family. Chatter resumed, as the family and Number 119 anxiously awaited the results.
“3.0, 3.2, 3.6, 3.5, 3.2, 3.1, 2.9.”
Mamoru looked at the results and whistled through his teeth. “Not too bad for a starter.”
“Ami’s bound to do better!”
He turned and shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not. We shouldn’t give her to much stress. Usa-chan, she needs an average of something in the 5.6’s to get into the final of the trials, an average of 3.3 isn’t bad for a starter.”
“Well, no matter what happens, we have to congratulate her for her hard work.”
“Number 118.” The group dipped into silence once again. The mundane routine started and ended without excitement. The girl stuttered and fell, tripped without grace. That was expected from starters, judges leaned back and rubbed their eyes. It was not the most fascinating performance they had ever seen.
“2.7, 2.9, 3.3, 3.2, 3.0, 3.1, 2.8.”
“Number 117.” ...
“Number 116.” ...
“Number 115.” ...
“Number 114.” ...
“Number 113.” ...
“Number 112.” “1.1, 1.5, 2.1, 2.3, 1.6, 1.8, 1.0.”
A nudge pushed two girls from their seats. Rei sighed and turned
away, while Usagi and Minako loudly fell as they woke up. The people
in front turned around and stared at them, they were not pleased.
“Huh? What’s happening?”
“She’s on! She’s on!”
“What? WOO…HOO! Go AMI!”
Down below, Ami blushed as she left the coaching area. She reached up and took the bowl-shaped medal from her neck from her neck, handing it to Asuka for safekeeping. She stepped out onto the ice delicately, hesitating slightly before she pushed off from the side. The crepe that was attached from the end of her sleeves to her shoulder blades fluttered and floated behind her. Two pieces of crepe (one ice blue and the other white) were tied onto each of her white skating boots, long enough to catch attention, yet short enough to dismiss the problem of tripping. In that brief moment, she had caught the judges’ attention. This competitor had wings.
Once she reached the middle, she smiled confidently, and raised her right arm to shoulder height in preparation for her routine. Her chest raised lightly as she took a deep breath, she nodded to the music technician, she was ready.