"Yuuri.. Are you sure about this? I can't just-"

"Viktor, you're going back to Japan. I will be fine, but you need to be with Maccachin." The reply from the black-haired man was firm, a 'won't take no' tone in his concerned voice. Viktor scanned Yuuri's face, searching for any signs of hesitation. There were none.

"Yuuri.. Are you sure you'll be okay? I don't feel good about just leaving you the day before your Free Skate.." Viktor replied carefully, still studying his serious face. Yuuri simply nodded.

In a sudden movement, Viktor tightly hugged Yuuri, literally burying his face into the younger man's shoulder. "I have faith in you. I swear I'll be cheering for you from Japan- Maccachin will too." Viktor whispered to him. Yuuri nodded again, hugging him back equally as tightly.

"Just stand by me! Have more faith than I do in myself that I'll win!" Viktor thought back to Yuuri's words during his panic attack. He felt terrible for making him cry.

"I'll stand by you, and I'll have faith in you, I swear." He repeated, still whispering. "You're going to look beautiful- your Free Skate will be beautiful and Maccachin and I will greet you at home with a celebration party. I promise." Viktor told him in the most serious voice he could muster.

       "Good luck with Maccachin, Viktor." Yuuri replied, pulling away from the hug to stare at him. He nodded in response, watching the expression on the other's face. There was no way Viktor would be okay with leaving Yuuri here alone, and he really prayed that Yakov would be nice to him. Please let Yuuri be okay without me. He needs to be confident on his own.

       "Well, I guess this is 'goodbye for now'. See you when I get back, okay?" Yuuri told him, a concerned look spreading across his previously stoic face. Viktor found it unusual how calm he was, but he was at least glad that Yuuri wasn't panicking now.

       Viktor brushed some of Yuuri's hair out of his eyes, a worried looked etched onto his face. Yuuri still had an expression of pure seriousness, showing how much he was insistent that Viktor go back to Japan to be with Maccachin.

       "You before me." Yuuri said after a moment. "I can do this. Please have faith in me for tomorrow, but for right now I am not the focus. Maccachin is sick. You need to be there. Forget about me for a minute and get back."

       God, Yuuri's acting so different... This must be important to him. "Okay, okay, I'm going. But you better do your damn best without me, little piggy."

       The younger man nodded, a small smile growing on his face. "Got it." And with that, Yuuri rolled Viktor's suitcase towards him. Viktor still felt wrong about leaving, but there was no changing Yuuri's mind. Taking his suitcase in hand, he began to walk away. But...

       Before Viktor headed to his terminal, he turned one last time to face Yuuri. "Win a gold for me, okay?"