Crowned at Last

“Judges under fire after Fujimoto’s historic quad axel still nets silver.” 

“Point three‑six: the margin that stunned the skating world.” 

“Fans demand scoring transparency after Fujimoto’s performance of a lifetime.”

“Ayaka‑chan, I watched your performance with Kaito’s Otousan. We are both so proud of you,” Tomie said warmly.

Ayaka already considered his family hers, and they loved her as if she was. She had integrated seamlessly into their lives.

“Tomie obaachan, I could feel your support on the ice.” Ayaka smiled at Kaito across the room. “Has Otousan been visiting often lately?”

Kaito paused his conversation with Yui, clearly listening for the answer.

“Oh yes, it has been lovely,” Tomie replied with a gentle laugh. “He has been here almost every day recently.”

“Every day?” Ayaka repeated, acting surprised, but mostly making sure Kaito heard.

The relief on Kaito’s face was unmistakable; he enjoyed having a new ally in the family.

A door opened on Tomie’s end. She paused. “Oh, he’s just arrived.”

“Otousan!” Ayaka called playfully, as if he could hear her through the phone.

“Ayaka is on the phone,” Tomie announced in the background.

Kenji’s heavy steps thumped over the line. “Our Ayaka is back in Japan?”

“Ayaka‑chan, congratulations on your medal,” he said quickly, excitement spilling into every word. “Our whole family is so proud of you.”

“Thank you, Otousan,” Ayaka replied, her voice softening.

Tomie’s laughter returned. “He has been so excited since that day. I think he might brag about you more than Kaito.”

“Balance has been restored,” Ayaka said with a grin. “I feel like my Okaasan only talks about Kaito these days.”

She winked at Kaito, who was staring at her from across the room. He felt at ease slipping into the role of favorite son‑in‑law. His integration into her family was just as complete.

Yui and Kaito were still arguing over whose gift mattered more, Yui proudly pointing to her teddy bear, Kaito insisting his flowers were clearly superior. The scene felt like a peacefulness Ayaka had not known since childhood, a warmth she welcomed.

As she hung up the phone, she glanced once more at the fan comments.

“I rewatched her past Olympics. I think they’re biased against her.” 

“Where are all her haters now?” 

“Still waiting for them to realize their mistake and give Fujimoto‑san her gold.” 

“Hayasaka‑Fujimoto for best couple of the year.” 

“I swear I saw a crown appear on her after that performance. Queen.” 

“They are so adorable together.”

The fan art, the captured moments of her skate, the flood of support, the internet no longer felt like something to fear. It felt, for the first time in a long while, like a place she belonged. She lingered on a drawing of her skating across a pool into Kaito’s loving arms.

She finally looked up at him and Yui, both obviously waiting for her to end their debate. She stood and walked over to Kaito, wrapping her arms around him as she glanced at both gifts.

“I think my best gift was having you both here with me,” she said softly.

The argument stopped instantly. Yui took one side of her, Kaito took the other, both claiming her like children caught misbehaving.

“But if I had to choose…” Ayaka added, eyes sparkling, “I get to keep the teddy bear forever, so…”

Her last‑second declaration sent Yui leaping into the air in triumph while Kaito dropped his head in theatrical defeat.

A pristine sheet of ice stretched endlessly into darkness. With a flash of light, Fujimoto Ayaka burst out of the shadows, sprinting toward the camera with a fierce, unshakable expression. She snapped into a grinding stop, her blades carving the ice and spraying shards across the screen.

The ice fragments slid down in slow motion, revealing Ayaka staring straight at the viewer, eyes blazing.

A sharp crack echoed beneath her. She turned, startled. The camera dropped to the ice at her feet as glowing fissures began to spread.

With a thunderous impact, Kaito erupted from the ice, dressed as a merman with shimmering blue scales. His tail slammed onto the surface with a powerful thump. He extended a chilled bottle toward her.

Kaito proclaimed, “Champions don’t wait for limits.”

Ayaka took the bottle without hesitation.

“They break them,” she finished the line.

The camera closed in on her face as she twisted open the frosted bottle. Cold vapor spilled into the air. She lifted it toward the lens, the AquaRise label gleaming.

A smooth, inspirational voiceover began.

“Strength. Focus. Heart.”

The camera pushed in until the bottle filled the frame.

“Champions choose AquaRise.”

The screen cut to Kaito offering Ayaka the same drink at a real rink. The camera pulled back to reveal the Ajinomoto National Training Center sign outside the building.

The audience clapped as the camera pulled back from the screen, revealing Ayaka and Kaito sitting together. Kaito looked far more comfortable than during his first appearance on Sports Danshi Itadakimasu!. Ayaka seemed to lean in close to him, as if some natural pull drew her there.

“Oh my, another great commercial,” Masato said as the show resumed. “Man, having a pretty girl really does make all the difference, doesn’t it, Ryohei?”

The camera panned to Ryohei, who was gripping his chair as if Ayaka might snatch it out from under him at any moment. His eyes were wide, ready to defend his territory from all angles.

Ayaka’s laughter filled the studio before the show could even begin.

The End.