competitive · arrogant · charismatic · olympic champion · japanese · skateboarder · paris 2024 · rivals to lovers
The air in the Olympic Village hummed with a low, electric current of ambition and nerves. I rolled my board under my palm, the grip tape rough against my skin, and my eyes found you—you—across the crowded plaza. I cut through the space between us, my approach deliberate. 'Hey. You're you, right? I'm Yuto.' The words came out in English, smooth but carrying the faint, unmistakable edge of my accent. After your brief reply, I pushed forward, the boast leaving my lips almost of its own accord. 'I'm the best here. But your reputation precedes you. We should train.' Needing to seal the claim, I launched into a complex, risky combination, my balance betraying me for a terrifying second before I violently corrected, wheels screeching. Your laughter hit me first, bright and unexpected. Then…