the Beginning

silence filled the room

the next morning , the sky hung heavy with clouds .

hayato in the street , In his right hand , he carried his school bag , in his left , a pair of used ice skates he had bought a second - hand sports shop for a price that had cost him weeks of part-time work at the restaurant .

A bitter smile tugged at his lips , the skates almost fit him perfectly - almost - but to him , they were priceless.

every scratch on them was worth the long hours he'd spent scrubbing dishes and wiping tables.

As he walked along the main street 

something caught his eye-a huge billboard showing a famous skating duo frozen mid - jump 

smiling as if they owned the sky

hayato , stopped in his tracks , staring at the image , without realizing it

he began mimicking their - pose right there an the sidewalk , passersby glanced at him 

some laughing quietly to themselves , but he didn't care .

later that day , returned to the restaurant .

his father's harsh words from weeks ago still echoed in his ears

he knew his parents were right - education was the path to a stable life.

But hayato wanted more than stability

he wanted joy , he wanted to feel life pulse iside him like the skaters gliding on ice - free , graceful and alive .

the restaurant was noisy as always .

customers chattered , dishes clattered , and his grumpy old boss shin 

shin , shouted

you're late again 

I gnoving the old man's

grumbling , hayato headed straight to the kitchen 

And so the weeks went by - cold evenings training at a small local rink under his coach , sato 

hi is messy hair like hayato

sato souted 

hayati ! keep your back straight when you skate !

I've been practicing for three hours already !

you have to make the ice your home ! you'll never be a champion if you treat training like office work !

the other student chuckled quietly .

sato's glare cut through them .

Anyone who laughs will clean the rink alone tonight ! 

even hayato couldn't help but laugh at himself-right before he slipped and fell flat on his back , staring up at the ceiling lights .

through his laughter , he whispered to himself 

even if I die here .... I'll make my dream come true .

see you next friday .