Annie had been gone for several days now while Reiner had stayed with Berthold and their trainer: Mr. Leonhart. The two men spoke of a discussion that had been trotting for several weeks in their minds. Annie knew very well that Berthold and Reiner had a secret relationship, hidden from the general public. They had already thought about pairing up and running a pairing program, even if it was not going to please some people who were not open-minded, it could open a new category in figure skating. Annie had agreed that Berthold had a duet with Reiner, Historia had decided to get on with Ymir. If that went well, the blonde will decide to continue solo, her artistic career.

- Do you think Armin will succeed to follow Annie's training? Berthold asked as he sat on the couch while putting his injured ankle on the coffee table. She is tough when she wants to succeed.
- I don't know him very well, but I think he can. How is your ankle?
-I'm fine, I do not feel pain anymore," smiled Berthold, putting his hand on it.
- I'll get you ice cream.
- No, I told you I'm fine, you worry too much smirked the tall brown, destabilizing Reiner. Why are you blushing ?

Armin had already arrived at the gym, he found full of thick gym mats scattered on the floor. What had she still prepared for training? The blonde imagined all that she could offer when she arrived:

- Well, today we will train to the different litters. The worn "Twisted", it is an assisted jump launched over the head of the partner. You have to throw me in the air where I have to make several turns before joining your arms to be rested on the ground. During my rotations, you must place your arms as far as possible from me. Then, "thrown up over the head", Lifted couple where you have to extend completely one or two arms while you hold me over your head. You must not let go during the lift, except momentarily when I change position when I go down. Ascending, rotating and descending movements must be precise. The last is a worn that I invented, you'll get up in the air, your arms will be stretched, placed on my ribs, and I'll do as a kind of spinning top on your back before you rest me On the ground. It's okay ?
- Uh yeah, it seems hard all the same.
- You'll succeed, we start with the quilted lift, it will be easier for a start.

Both skaters warmed up quickly before starting the litters. Armin managed to lift the blonde above him, their hands tied, arms outstretched as when the gymnasts were standing square to the bars, parallel. Armin could not make the blonde fall, despite her trembling arms. Annie stepped back to slip into her back, head down. His legs bent over his shoulders so as not to fall, while his partner had to stay without moving, without helping him to stay. Annie straightened and descended from the blond's shoulders.

- You see that you managed, despite your tremors, you will need a little training on this figure and it will go.
-Thank you," said Armin, running his hand through his hair.
- We go to Twisted, so more complicated and there, you'll have to catch me. But first you have to get into the air with sufficient height.

Armin dreaded this launch, if he could not catch up with Annie? But the blonde seemed to be co-financing him. He lifted his partner but not enough to take off, he lost his balance by quickly catching the blonde in his arms before they crashed on the carpet. Fortunately he was there ... Armin excused himself several times but the blonde reassured him that it was just a start. They retried a second time and was again a failure for Armin, the two blondes fell several times but after several long minutes, Armin finally manages to throw the blonde to a height sufficient for her to do his tricks, but now. .. was the landing that was missed. Annie crashed on Armin.

- Arg ... Well, it's not bad, but you should catch me instead of looking at me, right? Annie moaned, massaging her neck.
- Excuse me worried the blonde awoke awkwardly.

They continued the carried with several falls, if it continued, they would come out with a good number of bruises on the body. But Armin refused for once, to give up, which surprisingly surprised the blonde, seeing the determination of his partner to succeed this worn. The hours went on and Armin had managed only twice to do this Twist, but he will continue to train the following days.
Days went by and obviously the press had been made aware of the situation of Annie who found herself without a partner, but who had found his. She had been interviewed, answering questions in the ice rink where Armin was practicing. By the way, the blond was watching it live on television at his home. The journalists asked several questions that seemed to annoy the blonde, in any case it was due to its cold expression.

- "Do you think that Armin Arlert is up to you, who is a legend of skating?" one of them asked, handing the microphone to Annie who raised an eyebrow.
- "You insinuate that Armin Arlert isn't a good skater?"
- "Not at all, but you know that he has had bad results in his last competitions and had even decided to stop the competition."
- "The results do not define a skater's talent, you should know, I put all my trust in him and I chose him as a partner for the championships. is for good reasons. "

Armin listened without a word to the interview of his partner who was defending him all along. He was a bad skater in the eyes of others ...? Armin felt weak, Annie had to defend him.
The same evening, Armin had come back to open the rink to train, he was trying to redo the movements of Berthold on the video, but it was quite complicated to follow his rapid movement. He slipped several times on the ice but did not give up, the hours passed and he continued to repeat each movement of the skater. He turned on one foot, swinging his arms and body while doing solo jumps. He was also thinking about his program that he was going to present for the solo championship.

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Here is the Chapter, the next will be in a week.