The train was leaving in 10 minutes, Reiner, Berthold, Annie and Armin were all four sitting in a corner of the train on benches, separated by a table. Armin's head was glued to the window just like Berthold while Reiner was asking questions to Annie, who was right in front of him. They were discussing upcoming events, the couple program was in two days, according to Reiner, duos who won many prizes were going to participate and were very talented. Ymir and Historia would surely upset the events as they would show up together for the couple program, which was normally mixed, but with the idea of ​​Reiner and Berthold, they wanted to open a new unmixed category. Armin was not really listening, he was in his thoughts, stressed, wondering how it was going to be. The country landscape paraded before his eyes, it was raining heavily and the train had slowed down in case of danger. He was supposed to arrive in only 2 hours now, so Mr. Leonhart had reserved a hotel room for them to sleep. Besides, he must have been on the train to Nantes, but his journey was much longer because he came from the south with Ymir and Historia.
They all arrived and headed quickly to the hotel indicated by Leonhart, suitcase in hand Reiner helped Berthold to climb the stairs because the elevator was down. Armin was carrying the bag of the blonde who smiled at him in response before following him. Room 104 and 105, more room with separate beds but only double. Armin put the bags on the bed and then sat down, while Annie approached the window to see the view of ... the road, great.

The group then wandered around the city to discover it and go to see the rink that was being prepared to welcome all the champions from around the world. They visited the shopping arcade: The passage Pommeraye was a shopping mall in downtown Nantes, France. Built from the end of 1840, it was a historical monument. There were lots of designer shops, all the tourists went there because it was beautiful. Berthold struggled a little with his crutches but with the help of his dear companion, he was doing well. Armin was looking around silently, following the group before his eyes went to the blonde's hand. He wanted to take it, but he did not find the courage.
The evening arrived and tomorrow was the first day of rehearsal for all the skaters, a list showed the order of passage. Both blondes were lying in bed, imposing a distance between them. There was a silence, Armin nervously rubbed her fingers as she stared at the ceiling, Annie could not find her sleep and that annoyed her more than anything else.

- Are you stressed? Armin asked, turning his head towards her.
- Like you to what I see answered the blonde looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
- I wonder what Reiner and Berthold do when they're stressed.
- Or there.
- What?

Annie raised her eyebrows with a smirk before turning off the light and stood on the side, back to Armin who was in misunderstanding. But he understood quickly.

- Are you serious ?!

- What you asked me, I told you sneered Annie hitting him with a pillow. Go sleep, we have work tomorrow.

Around 8 am, skaters were already training, Armin and Annie were going for 10:30, they had 30 minutes of training. Ymir and Historia: 11 hours, just after them. The duo could already see the performance of their rivals, the Americans: Rico and Ian. They had won the Olympics, you see the level then. Armin had been stressed since he got up this morning, and it was even worse, seeing the talent of each couple. Annie watched in silence their passages, scrutinizing their slightest skating movements, their jumps, how they moved ... Their turn came and the two blondes did their choreography, Annie could see that his partner was destabilized by the eyes of others, but he had to face it. He reproduces the litters trying to keep a normal expression, Annie did what she had to do. After their passage, they left the rink to go downtown, Mr. Leonhart was waiting there to discuss their training, because he had not seen them during these 2 months. Arrived at a small cafe where there were already people on the terrace, they all discussed before Annie left to order other drinks.

- How did it go training? asked Mr. Leonhart. She wasn't too hard?
- A little, but thanks to that, I could progress Armin smiles while sitting up in his chair.
- And if not outside training, between you?
- Uh ... what do you mean?
- You get along well, it's important in a skating couple.
- Yes, yes we get on well.
- I'm sorry for your parents, I hope you're better now ...?
- Yes, thank you for your support.
- Well, I put all my hopes on your success for the championships.

Annie had quickly fallen asleep on his side, while Armin was struggling to find that damn sleep. Tomorrow was the start of the championships, he was so stressful. He could not help thinking if he was going to make a mistake during his performance as a couple or solo, the eyes of others, the whispers ...

The day arrived and the duo were waiting nicely for their passage, their rivals were really talented ... They had high scores, perfect movements accompanied by high jumps. The judges were speechless. Armin looked up when the presenters called out their names, darting on the ice, the music started and they began their choreography. Everything was going well, before the Twist arrived, that famous jump where Armin threw Annie in the air and caught her. The sound of the rubbing of the skates against the ice, was repeated, the blonde threw the blonde in the air where she performed perfectly his tricks, but he did not catch it. Holding out his arm to try to catch it, he missed, Annie fell to the ground as his head hit the ice violently before it collapsed to the ground. The judges rose as the spectators shrieked in panic, she did not move. Armin knelt quickly in tears, as he grabbed the empty face of the blonde, who with his eyes open, expressionless. He called her again and again, but no answer. In the distance, the helpers had just arrived.


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