amond dust. Pyo welcomed me with a smile at the metro station, his breath obscuring the air. In stark contrast to the butterflies i

est grew stronger as we approached. The air around the stadium had a distinct bite, a cold that wasn't simply caused by the w

nt sway in my gait. His eyes were searching me for weakne

d hard. "I think so. Just... s

red from mine, he nodded knowingly. "You'll

as a skater, a person who previously felt unstoppable when gliding across a surface that now mad

faint sound of blades cutting into ice mixed with the occasional coach's yelled commands. I shuddered because of the need that awoke withi

ays. When we got to Coach Kim's office, the walls were covered in glossy pictures of the team's biggest triumphs, with players raising trophies, celebrating wins, an

in every way-the type of man whose presence dominated a room even when he wasn't ta

tone. "You're here to learn about Sa

st. "We're looking for insight into San's journey as a player-how he's deve

he joined, he was all raw talent, unpolished but relentless. Over time, he's turned into one of the most dynamic players I've eve

the coach talked, I began to visualize San: a guy who transformed the rink's

ff it-it's magnetic. He's got a knack for making the impossible look easy, and the fans eat it up. But what I respect most about

is he with his teammates? Does that confide

s to win, and he knows that means making the team stronger. He pushes everyone around him to step up their game

htening. "And off the ice? What's he lik

one lightening the mood in the locker room. But there's also a seriousness to him. He knows when to have fu

ing off the boards, the scrape of skates, and the crisp, sharp voices of players calling moves. A peculiar mix of

im. "Would you like to see him in action? Practi

tunity. "That'd be g

the ice once more. However, Pyo was already up and gest

ed across it with ease. My gaze instantly landed on San. He stood out even in the midst of the drill mayhem. His presence was imposing, and his motions were p

d. I had previously danced on this stage, felt alive in a manner I hadn't since, and this was th

oughts and brought me back to the h

ed San rule the rink, I couldn't help but think, "He's... incredible." I

ers complete their drills, he added nonchalantly, "W

catch and me to freeze. With my heart thumping in my chest like the

ed by the distant noises of sticks hitting

sual, as if it were a natural part of the conversation, and he wasn't being invasive. However, it seemed a

ded to be interested in the rink by crossing his arms. Pyo said, "San's quick on his feet today," in a purposeful

tening in my chest and swallowed hard. I stumbled, search

"Most skaters I've known who left the ice still keep close to it, in one way or another.

I was being examined closely. I tried to deflect by forcing a feeble grin.

ve seen skaters like you-ones who leave but still carry the ice

eturned to San, whose confident and authoritative motions stood in sharp contrast to the chaos screaming withi