YURI!!! ON ICE 3

Victor demonstrate the choreography for the arrangements himself; Yurio manages to memorize the routine after seeing Victor perform it only once, and Yuuri is a bit nervous about being able to pull off his own–especially since, after seeing Victor skate it, he admits with a husky shudder: “His skating is so sexy I feel like it could make even a man like me pregnant…“

Victor vows, though, to put Yuuri on the medal stand–complete with a gentle caress of his thumb over Yuuri’s lips.

Over the course of their training, Yurio and Yuuri start to bond a bit, and Yuuri even works up the nerve to ask Yurio to teach him a few difficult moves he’s been trying to master that Yurio excels at.

But they both struggle with the core of their songs: Yuuri cannot understand what it means to be sexy, and Yurio just wants to be the best and can’t grasp this concept of an unconditional, all-encompassing love.

They eventually manage it, though–Yuuri channels his love for katsudon, indulgent and languid and sensual, when he performs eros; and Yurio recalls an old memory of him and his grandfather, someone he loved and misses very much.

The Onsen on Ice is upon them, and they realize they have no costumes yet, but never fear: Victor has brought all of his old costumes with him and allows them to pick any one they want to wear. Yuuri winds up choosing the very first costume he ever saw Victor wear:

image
They’ve decided that if Yurio wins, Victor will return to Russia and focus on him alone, helping him through his Senior Debut. Victor asks Yuuri what he wants if he wins, and Yuuri responds, “…I want you to stay, and I want us to eat katsudon together.” Victor agrees with a smile.

Yurio is first up, and he skates magnificently, but even as he finishes his routine, he knows that he hasn’t grasped agape completely–which means his routine wasn’t perfect, and Victor will see that.

Yuuri is about to step out onto the ice, and Victor asks him why, if he has the talent, can’t he ever manage to show it when he needs to? Yuuri thinks it’s because he lacks self-confidence. But he then announces to Victor:

Yuuri: “I’m going to go out there and be the best katsudon!”
Victor: “I’m certain you will. I love katsudon.”

Yes, you read right: Victor essentially just confessed his love for Yuuri. In episode fucking THREE. Sure, it was a little weird and quirky–but that’s what Victor is.

Yuuri skates well–he flubs the routine a little bit, but he is beautiful and enthralling and captures the audience completely, which is what eros should be. Victor clearly agrees with them, for he wolf-whistles at Yuuri with a wide grin.

After Yuuri’s skate, before the results have even been announced, Yurio is already dragging his suitcase out of the rink. He doesn’t need to hear the results to know that Victor has made his choice–and out on the ice, VIctor announces that he’ll be coaching Yuuri.