Epilogue

Four Years Later

Los Angeles, United States

The roar of the crowd hit differently here. Louder than Japan Championships, broader somehow, like it came from every corner of the world instead of one place. I stood among a sea of red jerseys trimmed in white, aware that I was running for more than just myself now.

We moved through the tunnel together, the white flag with its red emblem held high as it rippled above us. Behind us came a mix of languages I couldn’t make sense of, all blending into one restless hum.

As we stepped out into the stadium, my breath caught. The seats were packed, not a single gap in sight. Cameras flashed. People cheered. We waved as we walked, the pressure of the track humming beneath my feet.

“Looking for your girlfriend?” Nina asked, amused.

I shot her a look. “Shut up. So what if I am?”

She laughed as my ears betrayed me, warming instantly.

Ever since Natsuki and I had gone public, teasing had become a full-time sport. Teammates, reporters, strangers online. Everyone had something to say.

It still amazed me how fast it had happened. Two years of keeping things quiet, carefully tucked away, only for Benio to let it slip after one too many drinks. Pictures, headlines, speculation, everything exploded in under an hour.

I pressed two fingers to my temple.

“She said she’d be here, right? Don’t worry so much,” my teammate said, giving me an encouraging bump with her shoulder.

I let out a breath, my face easing just a little.

Natsuki had flown in late last night, but between team briefings and last-minute meetings, I hadn’t been able to see her at all. My family had picked her up for me, which I was grateful for, even if it left me restless. As badly as I wanted to run straight to her, I knew she was exhausted.

She’d been bouncing between her tour and modeling work nonstop. Even thinking about her schedule made me tired.

Still, my shoulders sagged, my gaze drifting toward the stands again.

“I mean, I wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t show up,” I said, trying and failing to sound casual. “It’s just the opening ceremony anyway. Our races don’t even start until tomorrow.”

Nina squinted at me like she’d just solved a math problem. “When was the last time you actually saw her in person?”

“Twenty-four days,” I answered instantly.

She blinked. “You didn’t even hesitate.”

“This is the longest we’ve gone without seeing each other,” I added, suddenly very aware of how unhinged that sounded.

Nina stared at me for a beat, then rested a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll see her soon.”

“Says you,” I shot back, pointing at Tatsumi, who was busy waving dramatically at the crowd like he was running for office. “You two are always together. Practice, competitions, being disgustingly affectionate in public—”

“We hold hands,” she corrected.

“Exactly,” I said. “Unforgivable.”

Nina reached over and pinched my cheeks, her own face betraying her as a blush crept up beneath her tan. “Now is not the time to get jealous,” she hissed. “We’re on global television. You know that, right?”

I didn’t care if we were on TV, they could watch me be moody all day. I just wanted to see my girlfriend.

I really didn’t care. They could broadcast me sulking in high definition if they wanted. I just wanted to see my girlfriend.

With the stadium packed to the brim, spotting anyone familiar was impossible. My family, Natsuki—lost somewhere in the sea of faces, if she was even here. No matter how hard I tried to tune out the noise, to catch my name or anything that might be hers, it all blurred together into one overwhelming roar.

Eventually, we were herded back toward the locker rooms for another briefing. I stared straight through it, words going in one ear and out the other, until Tatsumi casually stepped in front of me and blocked the coach’s line of sight before I could get scolded.

It had been like this since the second week away from Natsuki. Distracted. Restless. Like someone had taken away something essential and expected me to function normally without it.

Coach said he’d keep me on the team, but only on one condition. If I ran anything slower than two minutes, I was out. No negotiations. I definitely didn’t want that, especially when I’d clocked a 1:59 during time trials right after arriving.

The moment the meeting wrapped up, my phone buzzed in my pocket. My heart jumped as I pulled it out, then sank when I saw the name on the screen.

“I can already picture your face,” Chiaki laughed the second I answered. “Especially after that little parade you did around the track.”

“Can you blame me?”

“No, but I thought she was going to be there.”

“She flew in last night,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “I didn’t want to bother her right away.”

Chiaki sighed softly on the other end. “She really does have a lot on her plate.”

“You could say that again,” I muttered. “So what’s up? You didn’t call just to tease me, did you?”

“Haha, no. I’ve got a message from the head honcho. He says, ‘Good luck—and don’t forget to show off the new clothing line for overseas exposure.’ He wanted to call you himself, but things are kind of hectic right now.”

I glanced around the locker room at the team jerseys, all of them sporting that sleek embroidered S logo for “Sterling”. “I think the gear is getting plenty of exposure already. Also, aren’t you the designer? Why is he telling you to pass that along?”

“Because you wouldn’t have answered if some random person called," she shot back.

“…Fair.”

“Anyway,” she continued, lighter now, “I’ll call you later. And don’t worry, I’ll be watching. So don’t embarrass yourself, okay?”

“Yeah,” I said, smiling into the phone. “Thanks.”

The call ended just as Tatsumi called my name. Time to head back to the hotel. Rest. Sleep. Do whatever we needed to be ready for tomorrow.

I looked down at my phone once more, thumb hovering over her name.

Then I slipped it back into my pocket.

She was probably still jet-lagged.

I told myself that was why I hadn’t called. That her rest mattered more than my impatience.

The team funneled toward the exit, the wide pathway lined with tall poles and rows of flags snapping sharply in the wind. I lagged behind, shoulders heavy, eyes drifting up to the open sky. The chatter around me blurred together, words losing their meaning as I tuned it all out.

Then voices cut through the haze.

“Well, look who finally showed up.”

“Go cheer her up. She’s going to need it for tomorrow.”

“Whatever magic you’ve got, do it. Please.”

Snickers followed. My steps slowed.

One of them sounded like my coach. What in the world were they talking about—

I lowered my gaze.

My teammates’ laughter faded as they moved ahead, leaving a single figure standing in my path.

Her blonde curls swayed in the breeze, a little longer than the last time I’d seen them. She wore a loose dark green button-up over a darker shirt, tucked neatly into high-waisted khaki pants that fit her like they were made for her. Sunlight caught in her emerald eyes as she looked at me, her smile growing wider with each second. The silver earrings I’d given her on her last birthday glinted softly against her skin.

My heart slammed so hard I thought it might burst.

I took one step toward her. Then another.

Then we both ran.

I closed the distance in seconds, arms wrapping around her as I lifted her off the ground a mere few inches, spinning her before either of us could lose our balance.

We pulled back just enough to look at each other, breathless, eyes searching. Without thinking, we leaned in—

A pointed cough cut through the moment.

We froze and quickly stepped apart.

“S-Sorry,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. “I just… got a little carried away.”

Natsuki laughed, bright and unbothered, her smile doing absolutely nothing to calm my racing heart.

Off to the side, Nina and Tatsumi stood watching the whole thing, thoroughly entertained.

“Aww, and here I thought you’d manage it this time,” Natsuki teased lightly. “Then this will have to do.”

Before I could react, she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek. My face burned as she laughed and tugged me along as she greeted the others, already slipping into easy conversation with Nina and Tatsumi as they caught up after being apart for so long.

“Yukina over here turns into a total child whenever you’re gone,” Tatsumi said, bursting into laughter.

I shot him a look, but it took more effort than I had to actually be annoyed. Instead, I leaned forward and rested my head against Natsuki’s chest. She didn’t comment on it, just smiled and ran her fingers gently through my hair as she kept talking.

Her warmth, her voice, the steady rhythm of her breathing. I soaked it all in, quietly memorizing everything I’d missed while we were apart.

“Well then, you two take care,” Nina said as she and Tatsumi merged back into the moving crowd. “I’m sure you’ve got plenty of catching up to do.” She glanced over her shoulder at me, eyes sharp with amusement. “And Yukina, don’t give Natsuki any trouble. Don’t forget we have a race tomorrow.”

The emphasis made it sound like I might actually forget. I felt a grin tug at my lips anyway.

Natsuki must have noticed, because she laughed softly. “I’ll make sure she shows up with the rest of you tomorrow.”

I didn’t bother lifting my head to wave them off. I would see them again soon enough. Instead, I stayed where I was, tucked against her, until her hands gently framed my face and guided my attention back to her.

“You’re being really clingy today,” she said, studying me with fond amusement.

“Well… it’s been a while,” I admitted, shifting just a little closer. “I wanted to indulge.”

Her smile softened. “Was twenty-four days really that long?”

I nodded slowly, still cradled by her hands.

She let out a quiet laugh and slipped her fingers into mine, weaving them together with an easy familiarity. The simple gesture sent a small jolt through my chest, my heartbeat skipping as if it had been waiting for this exact moment.

We began to walk side by side, people passing by without a second glance. It felt nice to be unrecognized in public, without having people bombarding you at every corner. Here we didn’t have to worry about that at all. Granted it was another country, but it made the experience now just feel like it was just us.

I spotted a nearby couple, the guy still in racing gear like he’d just climbed out of a cockpit, the woman beside him leaning close as they laughed together. The scene felt oddly familiar, quietly reminding me of Natsuki and me.

She caught me staring and lightly tapped my cheek with her finger, drawing my attention back to her.

I could only chuckle.

Our conversation drifted easily, starting with playful complaints about her flight. She admitted the jet lag was finally catching up to her, but said the urge to see me outweighed any exhaustion. Hearing that made something warm bloom in my chest. I felt impossibly lucky, almost undeserving, to have someone care for me so deeply.

“I only got to see your family for a little while before they dropped me off at the hotel,” she said. “They seem like they’re doing well.”

“Yeah,” I replied. “Hana’s glad to be here. She says it’s nice being away from her athletes for once. They wouldn’t stop asking her for autographs from the both of us.” I laughed softly. “She complains, but I think she actually enjoys the assistant coach thing.”

Natsuki hummed, thoughtful, then tilted her head toward me. “Do you think you’d ever coach the eight hundred? Maybe after you retire.”

The question caught me off guard. I blinked. “Me? I don’t know. I feel like I still have a few more years in me..and coaching high schoolers feels… hard to picture.”

“It doesn’t have to be high school,” she said lightly. “Benio’s training college athletes. They can’t be that much worse.” She nudged my side with her shoulder.

“I guess,” I murmured, rubbing my cheek. The image that came to mind made me wince.

She smiled knowingly. “You just imagined yourself when you were still in college, didn’t you?”

I looked away. “…Maybe.” I wasn’t exactly the most well-behaved.

She laughed under her breath, not teasing, just warm. “I’ve been helping the younger members in my troupe lately. They’re a little exhausting, but when I see them really trying, it makes me want to help them more.”

There was something soft in her expression then, patient and fond, that made my chest tighten.

“I might think about it,” I said quietly. “After all this.”

My fingers curled around hers. “It’s strange how things that feel so far away are actually closer than you think.”

She squeezed my hand back. “Then there’s no need to rush. We’ve got time.” Her eyes met mine, bright with confidence. “And who knows. Maybe you’ll end up winning the whole thing.”

When she said it like that, I believed her. With her beside me, the future didn’t feel heavy. It felt possible.

I slowed to a stop and gently pulled her closer, resting my forehead against hers. “I just might.”

She smiled, and I did too. Our breaths mingled, and before I could overthink it, I leaned in and kissed her right there on the sidewalk.

“Oh, now you want to kiss,” she laughed softly.

“I couldn’t resist,” I said, grinning as I leaned in again.