Watch Skate-leading☆stars Episode 7: For Free On...

With a deep breath, Ren pushed off. The ice caught the light as he entered his first triple axel, the world of the internet café a million miles away, replaced by the cold, beautiful reality of the stars.

Ren spun around. His cubicle was gone. He was standing in the center of the Ion Arena, the spotlight blindingly white against the frozen floor. Across from him stood a figure whose silhouette was unmistakable—the icy, perfectionist aura of Shinozaki. Watch Skate-Leading☆Stars Episode 7 for free on...

"Looking for the lead?" a voice whispered. It didn't come from his headset; it came from the air behind him. With a deep breath, Ren pushed off

The link was a jagged string of code, a digital rabbit hole that promised the latest clash between Maeshima and his rivals. In the world of high-stakes competitive figure skating, spoilers were as sharp as skate blades, and Ren couldn’t wait another hour for the official broadcast. He clicked. His cubicle was gone

Ren looked down. He wasn't wearing his beat-up sneakers anymore. Laced tight to his feet were professional skates, the blades gleaming with a predatory edge. The music—the sweeping, dramatic score of the "Stargazer" routine—began to swell from the rafters.