Chapter Text
The car drove through the quiet suburban street while Yuto occasionally checked the navigation but quickly realized he didn't even need it. In the back, in the child seat, was Aiden, an eight-year-old boy with bright eyes, glistening with excitement that his dad was taking him to hockey practice for the first time.
“Here to the right,” Aiden said with confidence in his voice. Yuto nodded and glanced at his son in the rearview mirror. His heart sank for a moment. Aiden was already so big, much bigger than he remembered. With every look at him like that, he realized how much his little one had grown when he wasn't home.
“To the right? Sure, boss,” Yuto laughed, even though he tried to hide it, guilt was gnawing at him inside.
“Dad, you've never seen my training, have you?” Aiden blurted out while playing with the seat belt.
Yuto swallowed the lump in his throat. “No, not yet. But I'm looking forward to it. What's your favorite thing to do in training?” he asked to change the subject.
Aiden thought about it. “Hmm… skating, I guess. Our coach tells me I'm fast. He said that if I continue to train, I can be even faster.”
Yuto smiled. “That's great. I also liked skating when I was younger. But I've certainly never been as fast as you.”
“Really? Did you skate too?” Aiden almost jumped out of his seat.
“Yeah, but I've never played hockey. We just went skating with our friends sometimes in college,” Yuto admitted as he turned as Aiden instructed. “What do you enjoy most about hockey?”
Aiden thought for a moment. “I like how it swishes on the ice. And how can I be part of a team and play with others. And if I score a goal, it's really, really so much fun!” Enthusiasm flashed in his eyes.
Yuto tried to hide the sadness weighing him down inside. He wanted to be more a part of the world Aiden was describing. “That sounds wonderful, Aidie. I'm glad you're enjoying it so much.”
“Yeah, but today is going to be a little different,” Aiden's voice trailed off for a moment, but then lifted his head. “Mom always takes me to the arena, but I'm glad you are here today.”
Yuto stopped breathing for a moment. “Me too, Aidie. Me too.”
As Yuto parked in front of the training arena, the sun was slowly dipping towards the horizon, coloring the sky with soft shades of orange and pink. The arena in front of them looked monumental in the early evening light – a massive building with large windows, behind which occasionally flashed hockey players preparing for their training. Aiden immediately shot out of the car, full of enthusiasm, and before Yuto could recover, Aiden was already standing next to the car with both of his hockey sticks in hand, waiting for him.
“Dad, will you help me with the bag?” he called, running to the trunk of the car, which contained a large hockey bag that was still too big for Aiden to carry by himself.
Yuto smiled and got out and walked around the car to get the bag out of the trunk. It was a little heavier than he expected. “Do you really need all this?” he asked in astonishment as he slung the bag over his shoulder.
“Yeah! I have everything important in there,” Aiden answered simply as if it was obvious. He held two hockey sticks tightly in his hands and walked towards the arena.
As they walked towards the building, they noticed a shiny Mustang parked at the edge of the parking lot. The car looked out of this world – red, sporty, and its chrome details glistened in the light of the setting sun. Aiden stopped and turned to Yuto. “That's our Coach's car,” he said proudly.
Yuto stopped for a moment. “Really? That's… wow,” he breathed as he surveyed the carefully polished car. “This is a great car.”
Aiden nodded. “Yeah, Coach Yamada played in the NHL, you know? That's why he has such a car!”
Yuto smirked at that. Aiden's voice sounded completely fascinated, as if money was the key to success and happiness. “He must have been a great player,” Yuto said, but then he thought for a moment and looked down at Aiden. “You know, Aiden, money isn't everything.”
Aiden stopped and looked at his dad in confusion. “But if you have money, you can buy whatever you want. Like such a cool car!”
Yuto smiled, placing a hand on Aiden's shoulder. “Yeah, he has a nice car. But sometimes there are more important things. For example, the time you can spend with the people you care about. That's more than anything else.”
Aiden was silent for a moment before nodding, though it was clear he still didn't quite understand the idea. “Hmm, I guess so,” he mumbled, heading towards the arena again.
Yuto stopped and stared at the beautiful Mustang for a moment. He was sure that their hockey coach had a successful career behind him, but what was behind this apparent shine?
Smiling, he walked behind Aiden, his bag firmly on his shoulder, but his thoughts drifted back to what he had lost in life when he was too caught up in making money that didn't mean much right now.
As soon as they walked through the lobby doors, Aiden took the lead with the confidence of a pro. He headed down the long corridor without hesitation as Yuto followed him with a hockey bag over his shoulder and looked around with interest. The spacious facilities were modern, with posters and banners hanging everywhere with photos of the team's past victories and famous moments. The atmosphere in the arena was energetic, smelling of ice and freshly brewed coffee, which some parents carried from the buffet.
“Here's the buffet,” Aiden pointed proudly to a small stand selling a variety of drinks and snacks. “Sometimes Mom buys me a hot chocolate after practice,” he added without slowing his pace.
Yuto smiled and nodded. “I can buy it for you later too if you want,” he replied, trying to keep up with his son.
Aiden continued on, hockey sticks firmly in hand and headed for the next door. “This is the gym where the older guys train. I'm not allowed here yet, but our Coach said that when I'm older, I'll train here too.” Yuto peeked inside and saw a flood of dumbbells, treadmills, and exercise machines. A few older players were just hanging out there, which reminded Yuto of what it was like when he used to play sports himself.
“Man, that looks serious,” Yuto said, smiling as he noticed Aiden's excitement. “I think you'll grow into a champion here.”
Aiden just winced, but immediately turned around and continued on. “And here is the chill room, as we call it,” he pointed to a row of comfortable-looking couches in the corner of the arena where parents sat waiting for their children to finish training. “Moms and dads can wait here. It's quite comfortable,” he added.
Yuto slowed for a moment, glancing around the room, his gaze meeting several other parents. He smiled and nodded in greeting. “This looks like a nice place to wait,” he said quietly as they headed on.
Along the way, they met a few of Aiden's teammates who were just shuffling towards the locker room. “Hi, Aiden!” one of the boys yelled and Aiden waved at him with a smile.
“Hey, Nick! Did you see what Connor did in the last match?” Aiden replied enthusiastically, pausing for a moment to chat with his friend.
Meanwhile, Yuto noticed his parents standing nearby and greeted them with a polite nod. They were familiar faces here – parents who moved around here often, while he was still trying to find his way in this environment. It reminded him of how much time he'd missed here, how much he wanted to be more present in Aiden's life. Everyone here seemed to know their place, while Yuto felt a bit like an outsider.
“Come on, Dad!” Aiden called to him as he noticed Yuto lingering in his thoughts. “I still have to change into my gear.” Yuto smiled, took a deep breath, and followed his son.
With the confidence of a small guide, Aiden opened the door to the dressing room and headed for one of the free spots along the wall. The room smelled of a mixture of fresh ice and sweat that Yuto had yet to get used to. The walls were decorated with posters of hockey teams, and along them were benches with compartments for equipment. Aiden headed to his seat, which was marked with his name on a small sign above the bench.
“Here's my place,” he declared proudly as he pointed to a bench with several compartments. “I always put my gear in here.”
Yuto nodded and carefully placed Aiden's bag next to him. “Wow, you have it set up nicely,” he said as he tried to relax his slightly sore shoulder from carrying the bag.
Aiden began unzipping the bag and confidently pulling out individual pieces of gear. “I'll put the skates in here first,” he pointed to the bottom compartment. “And my pads here.”
Yuto watched his son quickly organize things but wasn't quite sure if he should help him. “Do you need help with something?” he asked.
Aiden nodded. “You can help me unpack, Dad, but I'll dress myself,” he said firmly. “I just... I need help with the laces. I won't tighten them that tight myself yet.”
Yuto laughed. “Well, sure, I'll help you with that,” he promised, even though he was already wondering how he would do with those special hockey laces.
Meanwhile, Aiden was unpacking individual pieces of gear as if he did it daily, which was probably true for him. Yuto noticed the small pads, helmet, and shin guards. Each piece had its place and Aiden had a clear idea of where everything belonged.
“These are knee pads,” Aiden explained as he began to strap them on. “They have to be really tight so I don't get hurt if I fall.”
Yuto bent down to examine them. “Ah, so this protects you when you go down. That's handy,” he said, although he felt a little confused by the amount of gear his eight-year-old son had.
Aiden continued to put on his elbow and shoulder protectors and Yuto couldn't help but admire how independent and confident his son was carrying himself. Seeing him in action getting ready for training reminded him how little time he spent with him in these everyday moments.
“I thought I'd have to help you more with that,” Yuto admitted with a smile as he watched Aiden pull the jersey over his head.
“Our Coach teaches us to dress ourselves. It's important,” Aiden explained with pride. “But you'll have to help me with the skates.”
Yuto nodded. “So, that's your job for me, huh? Tighten your skates?”
Aiden laughed. “Yeah, or they'll slide off my foot and I'll fall!”
Yuto leaned over to examine the small skates and nodded as he understood his mission. “Alright, put your foot in here and I'll try,” he said and slowly began to pull on the laces, a little cautiously because he didn't know how much force to use.
Aiden looked a little embarrassed as Yuto tied the first shoe. “Dad, you need to tighten it up. Coach says it has to be solid!”
Yuto laughed a little but corrected it immediately. “Okay, okay! Next time I'll tighten it more,” he replied as he tried to tighten the laces on his skates.
As Yuto concentrated on tightening Aiden's laces, he tried to find the right amount of pressure so that they were tight enough, but not too tight, when the locker room door opened. A man walked in, immediately catching Yuto's attention.
Yuto was expecting someone older, perhaps a stern and sturdy man with a military bearing, but the man who appeared was surprisingly small in stature, certainly no more than 165 centimeters tall. What struck him even more was the man's appearance – a navy-blue team jacket with orange trim and the New York Islanders logo, unbuttoned, with a plain t-shirt showing through. The coach was wearing pants of the same color and sneakers with raised soles on his feet. His cap was set back, and despite the stubble that had only been growing on his face for a few days, he looked young and fresh, almost as if he could be Aiden's age – and not Yuto's.
Yuto froze for a moment, surprised at how different the coach was from his expectations. He seemed so immediate, and easygoing, not like someone who had an NHL career. Yuto realized that he was also probably the same age as him, maybe he was even a little younger.
“Hi, Ryosuke!” Aiden immediately called out, his face lighting up when he saw his coach.
Yuto looked at his son and couldn't help but notice how Aiden was completely beaming at the sight of his coach. He adored him – that was more than clear. Aiden wasn't just a player on his team, he saw Ryosuke as someone he wanted to be. The way he addressed him by his first name also caught Yuto off guard. It was friendly, almost familial, but Yuto didn't say anything. He just watched in mild surprise, wondering how much Aiden had taken a liking to Ryosuke.
“Hello, Aidie,” Ryosuke replied with a wide smile, his voice full of warmth and relaxed energy. He leaned over to Aiden and high-fived him, then noticed Yuto, who was still somewhat clumsily trying to tighten the last lace on Aiden's skate.
“You must be Aiden's dad,” Ryosuke said, extending his hand with a friendly smile. “I'm his coach, Ryosuke Yamada.”
Yuto stood up and shook his hand. The squeeze was firm but friendly. “Yuto Nakajima,” he replied. “Yeah, I'm Aiden's dad. And… you can probably see that I don't know much about hockey,” he added with a smile as he looked down at the shoe he was trying to tie properly.
Ryosuke laughed, but not mockingly, more relaxed and friendly. “That's alright. We all start somehow. Aiden's mom texted me that you will be driving him to the training now, which is great. Aiden talked a lot about you.” With that, he looked down at Aiden, who meanwhile was patiently waiting for Yuto to finish tying his skates.
Yuto noticed his son nod with a proud smile and felt a slight twinge of guilt. It reminded him of how much he missed when he was gone. “Yeah, I'm trying to be more present now,” Yuto admitted.
Ryosuke gave him an encouraging smile again, which Yuto gratefully accepted. “That's the most important thing. The kids need to know that someone is there for them,” the coach added lightly as if he was talking about something he understood well.
Yuto couldn't help but give Ryosuke another quick glance. There was something appealing about him, not just his looks, but that relaxed and natural energy that made everyone around him instantly respect and like him. And Aiden clearly adored him.
Ryosuke crouched in front of Aiden next to Yuto and checked the laces on his skates one more time to make sure. “Hmm, come here, buddy, let's tighten them up a little more,” he said softly, grabbing the first skate. He threaded his hands expertly through the laces, pulling them tight while Aiden sat quietly and let his coach work.
Yuto watched carefully, noticing how quickly and efficiently Ryosuke was working as if it was a routine he had done a thousand times. “So, does it have to be this tight?” Yuto asked a bit timidly, not sure if he had tightened it properly before.
“Yeah, just like that. If the laces are too loose, the kids don't have enough support, and if they're too tight, it's uncomfortable,” he explained as he tightened the second skate. “But don't worry, Mr. Nakajima. I'm used to it. I tie most children's shoelaces every day. I think I might have a degree in tying the shoelaces at this point,” he added amusedly, winking at Aiden who laughed.
Yuto laughed too and relaxed a bit. “Oh, so you actually have this in your job description,” he replied. “I'm still learning.”
Ryosuke smiled at him and stood up. “No problem. I'll be happy to teach you if you want but feel free to leave it to me. Shoelaces are my daily bread,” he said with lightness in his voice.
Aiden, now fully prepared, turned to Ryosuke. “Ryosuke, can you wrap this stick for me please?” he asked, picking up one of the sticks. “It's new and I'm not as good at it as you are.”
Ryosuke took the small hockey stick in his hands and nodded. “Sure, Aidie.” He pulled a piece of white tape from the compartment and began to slowly, carefully wrap it around the blade of the hockey stick. Yuto watched him in silence, impressed by the fluidity with which Ryosuke did this. He moved with such confidence that it almost seemed like a dance – each wrap was precise, graceful, and without unnecessary movements. Ryosuke remembered exactly how Aiden liked it.
Yuto couldn't tear his eyes away. Watching Ryosuke's focused gaze, the slight smile on his face, and the grace with which he wrapped the tape was almost mesmerizing. Everything else around him seemed to slow down as if the world had stopped for a moment.
Meanwhile, Ryosuke finished wrapping, rubbing the tape with his hand to solidify it in place, and looked at Aiden. “Okay, done. Just how you like it, right?” he asked with a smile.
Aiden nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, thanks, Ryosuke!” he grabbed the hockey stick and looked at it with satisfaction.
Yuto was still standing there, still a little dazed by how gracefully Ryosuke was working when he suddenly heard his voice. “Everything alright, Mr. Nakajima?” Ryosuke winked at him as he noticed that Yuto had somehow frozen in place.
Yuto quickly woke up and smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, yeah, sorry. I just… watched you do it. It looks so easy to do, but it's certainly not that simple.”
Ryosuke laughed and shrugged. “When you do it as many times as I do, it comes naturally. But I think I could teach you someday if you want.”
Yuto smiled again. “Maybe I'll try it someday, but I think you can handle it better than I ever could.”
The coach smiled and then sat down next to Aiden on the bench, pulling a pad of papers out of his bag, and started flipping through his training notes. Finally, he found a blank sheet of paper, on which he began to write down information about today's practice – the names of the players, the drill schedule, and other details he needed for further planning.
“So, what's new, Aidie? How are you?” Ryosuke asked without looking up from the papers, but there was genuine interest in his voice.
Aiden thought for a moment as he played with his hockey stick. “Nothing much new. Everything's cool at school. I got a B in math, but otherwise nothing special,” he began and Ryosuke nodded as he continued to carefully fill in the information in his notes.
“B, huh?” Ryosuke winked at Aiden with a smile. “That's not bad, at least it's not a C.”
Aiden laughed, but then lowered his voice and added a little more seriously, “But you know what's best, Ryosuke? Daddy's here today.” Aiden looked at Yuto, his eyes shining with pride. “I can't wait to show him what I can do.”
Yuto, who was standing next to them and looking around inquisitively, was taken aback. Aiden's words hit him right in the heart. This was the moment he'd been waiting for – proof that his son really had been waiting for him and was excited to be here.
Ryosuke smiled even more at Aiden. “That's great, Aiden. I bet your dad will be really proud of how you've improved.”
Yuto nodded and sat down on the bench next to them. “I'm already proud,” he blurted out as he watched Ryosuke continue to write a lot of data into his papers. He noticed that the coach was writing in a lot of information by hand and couldn't help but ask, “Don't you have an IT system to speed up this paperwork for you? I see you have quite a lot.”
Ryosuke sighed and put his pen down. “I tried a few systems, but none of them worked for me. They were either too complicated or slow, and in the end, I decided to stick with papers. I'm used to it and I've got it under control,” he explained with a slight smile that revealed he'd like to do it faster if he could.
Then he suddenly remembered something Aiden had told him recently. “Wait, Aiden told me you work as an IT consultant. So, could you give me some advice on what to do with it? Maybe I'm just unlucky with my choice of software,” he added with a hint of hope in his voice.
Yuto smiled, pleased that his skills could be useful outside of his normal work sphere. “Yeah, I could try that. If you show me what you need, I can look for something to make your job easier,” he offered willingly.
Ryosuke looked at him gratefully. “That would be great. If you're into it, you're sure to find something better than what I've found so far.”
Meanwhile, Aiden looked at the two adults and smiled widely. “See, Dad, I told you that you could help!”
Yuto smiled and patted his son on the head. He then looked at the children running around before turning back to Ryosuke. “How many children do you actually train?” he asked curiously as Ryosuke wrote something down on his papers again.
Ryosuke looked up and thought. “Well, I have several classes. I train different age groups, but usually, there are around twenty children per group. And if needed, I'll drop in with the youth or juniors as well. I sometimes do special skill training for them,” he explained with a smile. “It's a lot of work, but I love it.”
“Sounds like you have your hands full,” Yuto commented.
Ryosuke laughed lightly. “Yeah, sometimes there's a lot to do, mainly the paperwork keeps me up a lot. That's why I would really like to find an assistant for myself now. I could use some extra hands so I could spend more time with the kids instead of writing forever.”
Yuto nodded. “That makes sense. It's certainly not easy when you have so many children to take care of.”
Ryosuke thought for a moment, then smiled at Yuto and asked, “Can you skate?”
Yuto scratched the back of his neck a little nervously. “The last time I skated was in school. So, I'd say it's no glory.”
Ryosuke's smile widened. “It doesn't matter at all. If you are interested, I can teach you. An assistant doesn't have to be a hockey pro right away. I just need someone who wants to take care of the children and who is not afraid to try something new.”
Yuto looked at him in surprise. “Oh… I… I'm pretty busy with my IT job, but… maybe it wouldn't hurt to try something else.”
Ryosuke blinked, surprised at how quickly Yuto answered. “Really? Well, if you're seriously interested, we can talk about it sometime over coffee or something. I know you have a tough job, but who knows, maybe you could try.”
Yuto nodded, this time with genuine interest. “That could be interesting. I'd take the coffee; we can discuss it.”
Aiden, who was listening to the conversation with bright eyes, shouted excitedly, “That would be great, Dad! You could be training with me!”
Ryosuke smiled at Aiden, then looked at Yuto again. “Looks like Aiden would like to see you here more often,” he remarked with amusement. “Well, let's see how it goes. So, Aiden, ready for today's training?” Ryosuke asked as he stood up from the bench.
“Sure, Coach!” Aiden nodded enthusiastically and jumped to his feet, skates firmly on his feet.
Ryosuke patted Aiden on the shoulder and said, “Here we go, Aidie. You're going to show your dad what you can do.” Aiden nodded enthusiastically, grabbing his stick and walking towards the ice.
Yuto watched his son get lost among the other children and couldn't help but feel something he hadn't experienced in a long time – the excitement of being a part of something bigger.
Yuto took a seat in the stands, deliberately choosing a spot slightly away from the other parents. Not that he was unsociable, but he just wanted to focus on watching. This was the first time he could observe Aiden in training and he wanted to enjoy the moment.
From the stands, there was a perfect view of the ice surface, where the children were starting to warm up under the guidance of Ryosuke. The training immediately had a completely different energy than Yuto had imagined. It wasn't about strict drills or the coach's yelling, as he sometimes imagined hockey training. On the contrary – everything seemed playful, and relaxed, almost as if the children were just having fun while discreetly working on their skills.
Ryosuke started with simple skating with them, but instead of boring exercises, he created fun games. The kids skated in circles, chasing each other, and changing directions, while Ryosuke joked and called out to them encouragingly. Yuto noticed that Ryosuke worked with each child individually – when someone needed more time or an explanation, Ryosuke would patiently attend to them and encourage them not to give up.
Aiden was one of those kids who was certainly doing well. Yuto watched his son skate with an ease and speed he wouldn't have expected from an eight-year-old boy. Ryosuke would occasionally approach Aiden, whisper something in his ear, and Aiden would light up with a smile as if he had just received some secret tip.
Then Ryosuke moved on to the next part of the training, where the children practiced working with the hockey stick and the puck. Here, too, it had more of a playful feel to it - he paired them up and let them play different games, like who can control the puck better when driving between the cones. When one of the kids got lost or tangled in their own legs, Ryosuke laughed heartily and rushed to help.
Yuto couldn't help but notice how naturally Ryosuke worked with children. His every move was thought out, but he seemed completely at ease. He was the type of coach the kids not only respected but liked. Ryosuke didn't forget that hockey is supposed to be fun, especially for the youngest. His sense of humor and ability to turn every exercise into a game ensured that the children really enjoyed the training.
Yuto watched Aiden lightly maneuver his stick around the cones, occasionally stopping to wave to him.
Yuto was fascinated not only by how well Aiden was doing but also by Ryosuke's attitude towards children. He wasn't a coach who overworked them or forced them into hard drills. Instead, he taught them skills through fun, motivating them without making training seem like a chore.
For a moment, Yuto was lost in thought. He observed every detail – Ryosuke's graceful movement on the ice, how he quickly moved between the kids, his friendly smile, and the energy he brought. It was as if every step he took had a purpose, not only in training but also in creating a positive atmosphere around him.
As Ryosuke spoke to Aiden again, showing him how to control the stick better, Yuto noticed how his son was completely engrossed in the game. It was the moment Yuto realized how much he missed these moments. He sat there feeling like he wanted to be a part of something like this more often.
He was then snapped out of his thoughts by Ryosuke, who glanced towards the stands and gave Yuto a brief wave as if he knew he was watching him the whole time. Yuto replied with a slight smile, wondering in his mind how things would continue - not only this training but perhaps his own journey in this new world.
When the training ended, the children began to slowly retreat from the ice surface back to the locker room. Yuto got up from his place in the stands and headed down to meet Aiden again. The locker room was already buzzing with activity – kids were talking loudly with each other, laughing, and taking off their gear while some parents were helping them clean up.
Ryosuke was among them, attending to the other parents and answering their questions about training, while Yuto went straight to Aiden, who was already sitting on the bench, and slowly began to remove his helmet.
“So, how was the training?” Yuto asked as he sat down next to him.
Aiden had a big smile on his face and excitement shining in his eyes. “It was great, Dad! Did you see me go through those cones? Ryosuke said I was really fast!”
Yuto smiled and patted Aiden on the shoulder. “Yeah, I saw that. You did amazing, buddy. I'm proud of you,” he said, and sincere joy could be heard in his voice. It was the first time he had seen his son in action like this, and even though he had never been a huge hockey fan before, he had to admit that this moment meant a lot to him.
Aiden began to remove his pads and looked at Yuto with a smile. “I'm glad you saw it, Dad. Ryosuke says it's important when our parents support us.”
Yuto felt heat rise in his chest. “I should have done this a long time ago,” he admitted quietly, starting to help Aiden pack his gear into his bag. He removed his knee pads and carefully folded them into the compartment. Aiden was struggling with his elbow pad so Yuto quickly helped him before they continued on.
“It was great. I really liked how your Coach guided you. I saw you had fun with him,” Yuto added, looking at Aiden who was checking the tape on his hockey stick.
Aiden nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, Ryosuke is the best. He can teach us a lot of things, but he's also fun to be with.”
Yuto smiled and bent down to help him with his skates. “I'm so glad I got to see you play today,” he said sincerely, patting Aiden on the shoulder.
“I'm so happy you're here, Dad!” Aiden replied, still with a smile on his face. “I hope you'll go out with me more often now.”
Yuto paused for a moment, mentally realizing how much he wanted to be a part of more hockey adventures with his son. “I will definitely go,” he promised.
Meanwhile, Ryosuke was still talking to a few other parents, but Yuto kept an eye on him every now and then. He was glad he could talk to him today. Who knows, maybe something more will develop from this – not only work cooperation but maybe even friendship.
After everything was cleaned up, Yuto picked up Aiden's hockey bag and slung it over his shoulder. Meanwhile, Aiden took his two hockey sticks and together they headed for the locker room door. Yuto smiled again when he saw how pleased Aiden was. It was an important moment for both of them.
Before leaving, however, they stopped by Ryosuke, who was finishing up a conversation with one of the parents. When he saw them, he immediately waved at them and walked towards them.
“So, how did you like your first training, Mr. Nakajima?” he asked with a friendly smile.
Yuto gave a short laugh. “It was great. I'm glad I saw it with my own eyes. Aiden is amazing on the ice.”
Ryosuke looked at Aiden and winked at him. “Yeah, that's true. He has talent.”
Aiden smiled proudly but was already slowly heading towards the door while Yuto and Ryosuke stayed put. Ryosuke then remembered their earlier conversation again. “By the way, the coffee we were talking about... We could agree on some cozy place and also discuss the IT system and other things. What do you think?” Ryosuke asked with a relaxed expression as he shrugged his shoulders slightly.
Yuto nodded, a little surprised but pleased. “Sure, that sounds good. Can we meet sometime next week?”
Ryosuke smiled. “That would be nice. Do you have a specific day and time in mind?”
Yuto took his phone out of his pocket so they could exchange numbers. “Here,” he said and Ryosuke did the same. In no time, they both had each other's contacts saved.
“I'm looking forward to it,” Ryosuke said with a friendly smile. “I'll let you know when I have time for that coffee. And maybe you could try the skates someday too, what do you think?” he added with a light laugh.
Yuto laughed. “Who knows, maybe I'll be convinced.”
“Well, good luck, Yuto. Aidie, see you next time!” Ryosuke waved to Aiden, who turned and waved back enthusiastically.
“Bye, Ryosuke!” Aiden called before he and Yuto headed towards the exit.
Yuto looked back at Ryosuke for a moment, mentally thinking about how strange but pleasant the meeting had been. Maybe a coffee with Ryosuke could open another new door – be it in IT, hockey, or somewhere else entirely.