Chapter 153 - The Shadow in the Hallway

​The air in the underground corridors of Shibuya's Capital Indoor Arena had grown dense, thick with a metallic chill emanating from the stadium's refrigeration system. Following the morning's official practice session, the hustle of technicians, photographers, and volunteers began to scatter toward the press area and broadcast booths. With only a few hours remaining before the first competition group of the free skate, the main locker rooms had fallen into a deathly silence—the quiet typical of the lull before a major athletic storm.