The Vanishing Surface (Japanese: 消える銀盤 Kieru Ginban) is the twenty-eighth chapter of the Medalist manga.
Characters[]
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Story[]
Kakeru bids farewell to Tsukasa, Inori, Kohei, and Miku. With Inori having successfully landed the Quadruple Axel, Tsukasa contemplates how to incorporate it into her routine. Kohei, whom Tsukasa introduces to Inori as a former clubmate, invites them to a meal. Afterwards, Miku helps Inori with her homework and introduces her to her clubmates.
Suddenly, a person wearing a goose costume appears and chomps on Tsukasa's head. When forced to remove his mask, he is revealed to be Juna Shiratori, a TV celebrity they recognize from commercials. Kohei introduces him as another former clubmate, who is currently in charge of Miku's choreography. Tsukasa on the other hand, has his hair all messed up and isn't thrilled about the reunion. Miku apologizes to Inori on his behalf, explaining Juna has a habit of picking on people.
Inori notes that Kohei, Juna, and Miku interact more like clubmates than as teacher and student. She wonders aloud how Hikaru and her coach work together, prompting Miku's curiosity. Inori clarifies that she looks up to Hikaru and sees her as a rival. Miku expresses admiration for Inori's goal and shares her own: to perform well at the All-Japan Novice to earn an automatic entry into the All-Japan Junior, just so she gets to skate for another month. She then explains that she plans to quit afterward, because the rink is closing down after this year.
As they observe Miku practice, Kohei shares with Tsukasa that, ironically, the rink's decline has allowed them to have it to themselves, enabling Miku's significant growth. They then discuss Inori's program, with Tsukasa uncertain whether they can achieve a consistent success rate for the Quad Salchow to include it in her routine.
Kohei shares his method for determining whether a jump is ready: having the skater complete a lap around the rink and successfully execute the jump three times in a row without stopping. Juna steps in to share his own opinion, arguing that three consecutive successes are unnecessary and that a skater's readiness can be judged by the third jump alone. However, Kohei immediately shoots down the idea, and the two begin arguing. Ultimately, Tsukasa decides to include the quad, resolving to make it work.
Back in Nagoya, Inori lands a Quad Salchow at the Ohsu rink, drawing attention from coaches and parents, though she has already anticipated this reaction and refuses to be distracted. Shinichiro Sonidori learns of this development and informs Jun, but he has already predicted that Inori would attempt a quad, since it is her only chance for beating Hikaru.
One week later, Hikaru meets Inori at the All-Japan Novice opening ceremony.