Rating:

Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

M/M

Fandoms:

Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid

Relationships:

Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, David Hollander & Shane Hollander & Yuna Hollander & Ilya Rozanov, David Hollander/Yuna Hollander, Yuna Hollander & Original Character(s)

Characters:

Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander, Yuna Hollander, David Hollander, Original Characters, Ottawa Centaurs Team Ensemble (Game Changers), Harris Drover, Troy Barrett, Zane Boodram, Svetlana Vetrova, Rose Landry

Additional Tags:

POV Outsider, POV Shane Hollander, POV Ilya Rozanov, POV Yuna Hollander, Summer Vacation, Hollanov in japan, Paparazzi, Social Media, smau, Twitter, Instagram, Texting, Texting Fic, Fluff, flirty banter, Soft Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Angst, Racism, Japanese Culture, animal death (mentioned), Married Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Post-Book 6: The Long Game (Game Changers), Vacation

Language:

English

Series:

Part 3 of Group Chat Verse

Stats:

Published: 2026-10-13 Completed: 2026-10-15 Words: 10,668 Chapters: 2/2

Ichi-go ichi-e

Summary

The Hollander-Rozanov family visit Japan.

Surely the media will be normal and let them enjoy their vacation, right?

---

Told through a series of group chats, Twitter threads, tabloid articles, and more

---

A spin-off from the first work in this series but can be read as a standalone.

Notes

You do not have to read "BREAKING: NHL PLAYER GROUP CHATS LEAKED" to understand what's going on here, but if you want the wider context of this universe, or if you like the style in which this work is written, then you should check it out.

This fic is fully written and I'll post the second chapter sometime in the next few days.

I've been wanting to do a Hollanov go to Japan fic for a while and it felt right at home in this particular series.

I fear that writing the paparazzi articles for this fic made me lose brain cells 🫠. I apologize in advance.

Keep in mind that any timestamps for text threads will be for the time zone the POV character is in (whoever’s messages are on the right). Ottawa is 13 hours behind Tokyo. So, as an example, 8:00am in Tokyo is 7:00pm the day before in Ottawa.

The 'Animal Death (Mentioned)' tag is NOT for Anya.

Chapter 1: Tokyo

TMZ

SHANE HOLLANDER AND ILYA ROZANOV
HOCKEY’S HOTTEST COUPLE SPOTTED IN ENEMY TERRITORY!!

By TMZ STAFF

Published August 7, 2023 9:12 AM EDT

[Image #1: Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov walking through Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. They are both dressed unassumingly in shorts, t-shirts, hats, and sunglasses and each have a carry-on suitcase in tow.]

[Image #2: Zoomed out shot from the same angle as the first that shows Hollander’s parents walking next to the couple. Hollander’s head is turned, the photo catching him mid-conversation with his mother.]

[Image #3: A photo taken from behind of Hollander and Rozanov waiting in line at an airport coffee shop. Rozanov has an arm wrapped around Hollander’s waist.]

The Hollander-Rozanov family was spotted preparing to board a flight near Hollander’s old Montreal stomping grounds.

Dressed in comfortable, understated, and airplane-ready clothes, most people would have blended in perfectly, but there’s only so undercover you can be when you’re two of the NHL’s hottest stars!

Judging by the pics, neither Shane Hollander nor Ilya Rozanov seem to be bothered by the ongoing legal battle against Hollander’s ex team… the Montreal Metros. Taking the fight from the ice rink to courtroom was a shocking move for Canada’s golden boy, but definitely feels on-brand for Rozanov the Moscow menace.

The couple got a little handsy while waiting for their morning pick-me-up. But when your hubby looks like that, we can understand why Rozanov would want to stake a claim. With romance in the air, Hollander might just regret bringing his parents along!

The gentle hum of the airplane is the first thing Ilya notices as he blinks his eyes open.

The second is the warm body pressed against his side.

And the third, when he lifts his head, is the face of his husband smiling down at him.

“Did you have a nice nap?” Shane asks.

“Mm, yes.” Ilya murmurs.

“We land in a little over an hour. Beverage service came by again while you were sleeping, so I grabbed you a coke.” Shane says, pointing towards the mini red can shoved in the seat pocket in front of him.

Ilya sits up a little straighter. He uses his right hand to gingerly open the plastic window shade a few centimeters.

As expected, nothing but a sea of blue sky is there to greet him.

He shuts the covering again and turns to look at the man next to him.

Shane is wearing his reading glasses and holding a book he bought at the airport—some sort of basketball biography.

Ilya is doing his very best to not be too horny about it while he’s 30,000 feet in the air and surrounded by strangers, but it is no easy task.

Shane Hollander just has that effect on him.

He distracts himself by bending one knee and then the other, stretching out his legs to keep them from cramping. His body isn’t used to sitting in place for almost 14 hours, though being in premium economy certainly helps ease some of the discomfort.

They’d booked this trip last minute, which meant that all but two seats in signature class were already taken, and Shane had insisted on giving those to his parents.

Ilya doesn’t mind so much.

The seats in signature are homophobic anyway—everything angled so it’s impossible for him to rest his head on Shane’s shoulder.

“Are you hungry?” Shane asks.

Ilya shakes his head, but he does reach for the can of coke, opening it and taking a few sips.

Shane closes his book and (tragically) takes off his glasses. He flips up his tray table and leans forward to stow his belongings in the backpack he has lodged under the seat.

Ilya taps the screen in front of him, navigating to the flight progress map.

He has flown over the ocean many times, just not this ocean.

It’s a bit poetic, how he’d spent years travelling one way for the family he lost, to now be going the complete opposite direction with the one he’s gained.

When Shane sits back up, Ilya’s empty hand finds his on the armrest. He laces their fingers together, and Shane gives his hand a squeeze.

Ilya is excited to be going on this trip, to learn a little bit more about Shane and where he comes from.

But at the end of the day, the destination doesn’t really matter.

As long as they’re together, Ilya is right where he wants to be.

Private Messages

Today 2:04pm

Harris
Hey Shane, glad to hear everyone made it safely.
I’ll do my best not to bother you with any work stuff while you’re on vacation, but I did just want to let you know that you guys got papped in the airport.
[Link: TMZ - SHANE HOLLANDER AND ILYA ROZANOV: HOCKEY’S HOTTEST COUPLE SPOTTED IN ENEMY TERRITORY!!]

Shane
Fuck.
I knew that was going to happen.

Harris
I’m sorry.

Shane
It’s okay.
We should have flown out of Ottawa, I just really didn’t want to have to deal with a layover and Montreal was the closest airport with a direct flight.

Harris
It’s not fair that you and Ilya have to worry about that kind of stuff in the first place.

Shane
Probably not, but I can’t do anything about it.

Harris
☹️

Shane
I think we’ll be ok now that we’re here. Japan is more of a baseball country.

Harris
I hope so.
Anyway, don’t want to take up more of your time.
Have fun, take lots of pictures!

Shane
Will do.
Thanks Harris.
And get some sleep, I know it’s 1am over there.

Harris
😅

Yuna Hollander has always been what others would describe as a confident person.

But that doesn’t mean she never second-guesses herself.

Every time she watched her son come home battered and bruised from hockey practice, every time she was given a harsh reminder of how hockey culture treated those that didn’t fall within the straight-white-male box, and every time she had to grit her teeth to get through another meeting with a brand marketing team that couldn’t tell a puck from a stick, Yuna questioned if she was truly on the right path.

This impulsive trip should be another example.

They all had so much going on in their lives, the timing wasn’t perfect, it was far from what tourists would consider the ‘idyllic’ time of year. But when the siren song called Yuna home it was hard to resist.

She misses her family and the food and old friends.

So, all it took was one innocent text from her cousin Kahori asking: ‘when are you coming back to Japan?’ For Yuna to reply with ‘next week.’

Never mind that she had no plane tickets or hotels booked.

She’s made crazier plans in less time before.

And now that she’s been welcomed to Narita International Airport and successfully cleared customs, she feels like she can finally let out the breath she’s been holding.

She watches her son fidget with his wedding ring as they all wait for the shuttle to take them to the hotel.

She had originally thought this visit would just be her and David—and in some ways it still would be, with each couple having their own itinerary that occasionally overlapped. But as soon as she’d mentioned the trip to Shane his face had lit up in the way it only did when he was thinking about a certain special someone.

“I’d like to take Ilya someday.” He says.

And so, Yuna hardly thinks twice when she buys four plane tickets instead of two.

Private Messages

Today 4:38am

Ilya
barrett
hello
troy
troyyyyy
BARRETT
are you awake
i am dying

Troy
Fuck you.
I am now.

Ilya
hollanders have taken me here to kill me 😭😭😭

Troy
Whatever happened, you probably deserved it.

Ilya
[Image: Screenshot of the weather app showing the forecast in Tokyo, Japan for the next 10 days. High temperatures are in the mid-90s, and humidity is sitting at 80%.]

Troy
That’s basically Florida.

Ilya
NO
WORSE
in florida i am at beach pool or ice rink
NOT TRAIN FULL OF PEOPLE

Troy
Harris says to drink lots of water and buy a fan.

Ilya
hi harris
DID TROY TELL YOU IM DYING

Troy
Just think if this as payback for every time you’ve told someone it wasn’t that cold outside. ❤️

Ilya
😭😭😭😭😭

Proud Dad (Captain) to a Few Dumbass Kids

Today 6:45am

Captain
[Image: Shane Hollander standing in front of a wall of Snoopy merch.]
internet says shane looks like snoopy
he does not agree
thoughts?

Troy
What answer is going to get me in the least amount of trouble?

Young
🤣 🤣 🤣

Bood
Milo loves Snoopy. :)

Haasy
I think he does!

LaPointe
Eh, not really…

Haasy
[Link: tumblr - https://www.tumblr.com/eastofshane/804911031100047360/supporting-the-shane-as-snoopy-agenda-ilya-as?source=share ]

Captain
photo proof shane!

Hollander
😡

Bergy
[Image: Snoopy pouting]

LaPointe
Ok I see the vision now.

Hollander
I hate you all.

Dykstra
What did I do???

Twitter

TMZ ✓@TMZ ∙ 2h
Where could they be off to????? 👀👀👀✈️
[Link: TMZ - SHANE HOLLANDER AND ILYA ROZANOV: HOCKEY’S HOTTEST COUPLE SPOTTED IN ENEMY TERRITORY!!]

Hollanov Truther @hollanov5ever ∙ 2h
Well, time to use my flight tracker knowledge for evil…

Katya 🌸 @shanes_eyelash ∙ 2h
Hey @TMZ how about we don’t stalk people at the airport and encourage people to dox their location?

chloe @harrystylesplsmarryme ∙ 2h
the way roz has his arm around shane like that’s MY man lmaoooo

Metro-sexual @metrosdaily_ ∙ 2h
I can’t believe they’re doing this around children. Families should be able to go to the airport without having all this gay shit shoved down their throats.

:) @hereandqueer ∙ 2h
Don’t love the invasion of privacy, but I’ll take any off-season crumbs I can get T.T

Brianna @Bri_in_Tennessee ∙ 2h
Delete this!

Truthfully, Shane would rather avoid Shibuya.

But this trip isn’t just about him. And if he is going to play tour guide then he has to give Ilya the full experience. Which for some reason includes going to the most confusing and crowded part of the city.

But Shane has a plan.

They are going to get lunch at a highly-rated tonkatsu place, take whatever pictures Ilya wants in Shibuya crossing, and then either walk or take a quick train ride to Meji Jingu where they can enjoy the shade that the trees provide. Shane really liked it there when he was younger, the gardens surrounding the shrine are so large that it almost doesn’t feel like you’re in the city anymore.

Shane looks down at the map on his phone.

He frowns, steps faltering.

“Ilya, hold on a second.” He says as he stops.

Shane looks up at the building to his right, squinting against the glare of the sun as it bounces off the large windows.

He looks back at his phone and uses his fingers to zoom further into their location.

With so many huge buildings it was sometimes hard to tell what exactly was inside them, or if you were at the right entrance or not.

He’s pretty sure that they need to keep walking forward for a bit longer…

“SHANE!” He hears Ilya cry.

And it is not a happy sound.

Shane’s head snaps up, he shoves his phone in his pocket and takes off in the direction of his husband’s voice, eyes darting around, searching for any sign of him.

“ILYA!”

His heart thunders in his chest as his mind frantically races through every worst-case scenario.

Ilya has physicality on his side, but he’s also very much a foreigner here.

There are so many people, and Ilya doesn’t speak a lick of Japanese.

Oh god, oh fuck.

And then suddenly, miraculously, Ilya appears—clutching onto Shane like a lifeline, eyes red and puffy from the tears streaming down his face.

“Ilya! Oh my god, what happened!” Shane looks the man up and down searching for signs of blood or some other trauma.

“Shane!” He chokes out. “Did you know about this?”

“Know about what? What is it? What’s wrong!?”

Ilya points and Shane’s gaze follows the direction of his finger.

“Ilya, what? That’s a statute, I don’t—”

…It’s a statue of an akita dog.

Oh.

Oh no.

“Ten years, Shane! He waited ten years for someone who never came back for him!”

Shane looks over at the forlorn face of Hachikō, the loyal dog who went to Shibuya station every day to wait for an owner who had died long ago, enduring the elements and mistreatment by the public for a hope that would never be realized.

Fuck.

“They made a movie about it.” Shane says weakly.

“No! We are NOT watching that!”

Shane just sighs as he pulls Ilya in for a hug, doing his best to ignore the stares of people around them.

“I do not want Anya to ever be that sad.” Ilya sniffs.

“She won’t be.” Shane assurs him. “It’s late at home right now but I can try texting Harris for pictures, okay?”

“Okay.” Ilya agrees, his breathing starting to even out.

“You scared me you know. I thought you were being kidnapped or something.”

Ilya gives a wet scoff and pulls back slightly. “Would not happen.”

“You don’t know that. You’re just one person Ilya.”

“If I am being kidnapped, I will scream really loud that that is what’s happening so you can come rescue me like knight in shining armor.”

Shane can feel his own heartbeat begin to return to normal.

“I’m sorry for not giving you a heads up about Hachikō.”

“You know I cannot do a sad dog story Shane.”

It’s true. Ilya is positively militant about looking up every movie on ‘doesthedogdie.com’ before he watches it after being blindsided by John Wick.

And Laika is forever a forbidden topic in their household.  

“His life was hard.” Shane agrees. “But there were still a lot of people who loved and took care of him, gave him food and shelter when he got old. People all across the world mourned when he died.”

“He is remembered.”

“He is.”

Ilya finally releases his hold on Shane and takes a tentative step towards the direction of the statue.

Shane glances between his husband and the dog.

“…Do you want a picture with him?”

“Please.”

Private Messages

Today 11:07pm

Shane
Hey Harris, could I request some pictures of Anya?

Harris
Of course!
[Image #1: Anya sprawled out on Troy and Harris’ kitchen floor.]
[Image #2: Anya and Troy playing tug-o-war with a rope toy.]
[Image #3: Anya and Chiron curled up together in a dog bed.]

Shane
You’re a lifesaver!

The Hollanders

Today 12:45pm

Shane
[Image: Ilya standing next to the Hachikō statue near Shibuya Station.]

Yuna
Cute!

David
I remember reading about that dog, sad story…

Ilya
SO sad 😭😭😭

Yuna
Ilya, are you crying in the picture?

Ilya
yes :(

Yuna
Oh, honey.
Maybe don’t use this one for Instagram…

Twitter

Cath (Japan ver.) @catherine_solo_travel ∙ 1h
Trying not to freak out right now… but I definitely just saw Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov in TOKYO!

⭐ Addy ⭐ @adddy99 ∙ 1h
Omg girl, for real????

Cath (Japan ver.) @catherine_solo_travel ∙ 1h
YES TRYING TO BE SOOOO NORMAL ABOUT IT

sigh. @dusty_w19 ∙ 1h
People saw them in the airport a few days ago so they definitely went somewhere.

Hollanov Truther @hollanov5ever ∙ 1h
Tokyo IS one of the international flights that fits within the correct timeframe…

:) @hereandqueer ∙ 1h
I hope they get to enjoy their vacation without people bothering them.

Hope @suga_n_spice7 ∙ 1h
Where in Tokyo???

Cath (Japan ver.) @catherine_solo_travel ∙ 1h
SHIBUYA!

Vi @viennawaits4you ∙ 1h
Hollander is Japanese, so I feel like it’s not that crazy that they’d be there.

Christopher @emptynet79 ∙ 1h
Pics or it didn’t happen.

TMZ

SHANE HOLLANDER AND ILYA ROZANOV
ARGUMENT ABROAD? SO NOT KAWAII!!

By TMZ STAFF

Published August 9, 2023 7:13 AM EDT

[Image: Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov standing on a busy sidewalk in Shibuya, Tokyo. Hollander’s back is to the camera, Rozanov’s face can be seen, and he is clearly upset.]

An eagle-eyed fan spotted hockey’s most famous couple near the world’s largest pedestrian crossing.

Hollander and Rozanov flew out of Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport on Monday to an unknown destination, but thanks to Twitter user @catherine_solo_travel, that mystery has been solved!

But a new problem seems to loom on the horizon as the pic appears to catch the couple mid-argument. It is unclear what Hollander said, but Rozanov is clearly quite distraught. We are sorry to report that the honeymoon phase is almost certainly over.

Are we about to say sayonara to the Hollanov dynasty? Are we about to witness the NHL’s first gay divorce? Follow along for more updates.

Now that morning has broken back in Ottawa, Shane’s phone is blowing up.

Harris, true to his word, has really done his best to not inundate them with work and PR related issues, but Shane understands why this one is a bit hard to ignore.

He’d like to extend a heartfelt fuck you to the person who had taken their picture in Shibuya.

He sends a quick text to Harris telling him to handle it however he sees fit and sends a second message to the team chat assuring them that he and Ilya are fine and that the article was nothing but baseless speculation. Shane sees a few relieved messages come flooding in from his teammates before he powers off his phone and sticks it in his pocket.

That’s enough of that for one night.

Japanese society largely frowns upon public displays of affection, even between straight couples, but this bar is so cramped and so dimly lit that it makes the way Shane’s hand rests on Ilya’s thigh virtually unnoticeable.

All the bars in Golden Gai are like this—the buildings practically stacked on top of each other with only enough seating for a handful of people apiece.

The one they were in currently had space for maybe eight, the ceiling completely wallpapered with bills from every currency imaginable, while all the remaining blank space is covered with posters and stickers advertising punk rock bands that Shane doesn’t know anything about.

He places two ¥1,000 bills in the money tray—per the handwritten ‘cash only’ sign on the door. The bartender takes the tray, setting a tall shot glass in front of each of them in exchange.

“Where are you from?” She asks in thickly accented English as she pours sake into the glasses until they overflow and begin to fill up the square wooden cups stacked underneath.

“Canada.” Shane says. “But my mother is from Japan.” He adds in Japanese.

“Arigato gozaimasu.” Ilya offers in thanks once their drinks have been poured.

“Family visit then?” The bartender switches to Japanese.

Shane nods and leans down to take a sip of his drink so it doesn’t spill before he lifts the glass out of the masu.

He catches Ilya watching intently before he follows Shane’s lead.

Where are you from?

Shane had gotten that question more on this trip than any other.

Usually, he looked enough like his mother than no one seemed to bat an eye, especially if they were stood next to each other. But the illusion was always shattered when he opened his mouth and his mediocre grasp of the Japanese language betrayed him.

This time he is certain it must have something to do with the blond Russian he’s been lugging around with him.

Despite gay marriage not being legal here, Shane wasn’t scared to bring his husband for a visit, not in the same way he’s terrified at the prospect of Ilya ever setting foot on Russian soil again. Japan is mostly tolerant, and they were foreigners sticking to the big cities. They would be fine.

“What do you think?” Shane asks his husband as the bartender moves to help the people sitting next to them.

“Is nice, refreshing.” Ilya says. “Not as good as vodka, of course.”

“Of course.” Shane echoes with a smile.

Ilya takes another drink and then digs his phone out of his pocket. He looks down at it, scowls, and sends off a few texts before putting it away again.

“I turned mine off.” Shane says. “I know it’s mostly our friends checking in on us, but I didn’t want to think about it right now.”

“Probably good idea.” Ilya says, staring down at the table.

And Shane can tell that Ilya Rozanov—his confident, trash talking husband who terrorizes half the league—is currently experiencing an emotion that he’s rarely, if ever, felt.

Embarrassment.

“Hey, you know I love you, right?” Shane gives Ilya’s thigh a gentle squeeze, and Ilya places a hand on top of Shane’s in response.

“Да.”

“And you know I’d still love you even if you decided to run naked through Parliament Hill, right?”

That manages to coax a bit of smile out of Ilya and he raises his eyebrows. “Oh really?”

“Well, I’d be pissed.” Shane amends. “And I might wait a while to bail you out of jail, but I’d still love you. And I don’t want you to… feel bad for reacting to things that way you do.”

“Even if it’s over a dog that died a hundred years ago and now internet thinks you’re getting divorced?”

“Even then.”

“Sorry, didn’t mean to eavesdrop.” The woman seated next to Shane says in a distinctly Australian accent. “But are you two famous or something?”

“No” Shane says.

“Yes.” Ilya says at the same time.

Shane just rolls his eyes as he knocks back his sake.

Proud Dad (Captain) to a Few Dumbass Kids

Today 9:41am

Haasy
Okay, I know TMZ is like, not a reputable news source, but I still need someone to tell me the divorce allegations aren’t real. 😭

LaPointe
Hello, what?
Hold on, I gotta google something…
WHAT THE FUCK

Hayes
Hollzy, Roz, some proof of life would be really appreciated right now.

Troy
I’m sure they’re fine.

Bood
What do you know that we don’t Barrett?

Troy
Nothing?
I’ve just, you know, met them.
Like you guys aren’t seriously falling for some tabloid shit are you?

Young
THIS IS JUST LIKE WHEN MY MOM LEFT MY DAD. 😭😭😭

Bergy
Woah, take it easy there buddy.

LaPointe
It’s probably fine.
Like we all would have seen signs of this if true.
We wouldn’t be that oblivious, right?

Bood
…

LaPointe
Fuck.

Hollander
Fucking hell.
Ilya and I are fine.
That photo was taken wildly out of context. He was upset about something, and I was trying to make him feel better, if you can believe it.
There was no argument.
We’re not getting divorced.

Haasy
Thank god.

Young
Yay!!!

Hayes
Good. I don’t want to be picking up the slack for the massive hole that would be left in our offense if one of you left.

Troy
Told you guys.
Also they argue in the locker room like every day, why would that suddenly become a concern?

LaPointe
Great, because I was not prepared to have to choose sides.

Bergy
…Okay but theoretically if you did?

Bood
No.

Hayes
Absolutely not.

Bergy
Yup, okay, got it.

Dykstra
If anyone ever needs a divorce playlist, hit me up.

Private Messages

Today 9:58am

Translated from Russian

Sveta
Is it true?

Ilya
NO!
I would never divorce Shane.

Sveta
Good, that man is the best thing that’s ever happened to you.

Ilya
???
Are you saying you would take his side?

Sveta
In the hypothetical divorce? Yes.

Ilya
Traitor.
But you are correct.

“These things are a scam.” Shane says as they stand in the middle of an arcade surrounded by nothing but claw machines.

They’d been wandering around Shinjuku and Shane had just managed to drag his husband away from an overcrowded dog café by citing the likelihood of unethical practices when Ilya suddenly zeroed in on this place like a bee to honey.

“I am very good at these Shane.” Ilya says as he approaches one filled with Pokémon toys and begins fiddling with the joystick.

“You literally can’t be good at them; they are rigged so that people lose most of the time.”

“Maybe you lose because you are second best, but I will win.”

“Oh fuck you!”

“I will win you something even though you are being very mean to me. What do you want?” Ilya says, gesturing down the row of games.

“I want you to stop wasting all our money.”

“We are millionaires Shane! Where is your sense of whimsy?”

“Who the fuck taught you that word?”

“Hazy. He said goal I scored first time we played Vegas last season was very ‘whimsical.’”

If it’s the goal Shane is thinking of then there really was no other way to describe it. The opposing team’s goalie had ended up sprawled out on the ice and Ilya did a wraparound the back of the net, slipping the puck into it at an almost leisurely pace, a smile plastered on his face for the entire maneuver.

“I have a proposal.” Ilya says.

“Am I allowed to say no?”

“Ah, no.” Ilya says, pulling two ¥5,000 notes out of his wallet.

“Figures.”

“We each get this much.” Ilya says giving one of the bills to Shane. “Whoever gets the most prizes wins.”

God damn it.

“You’re going to lose.” Shane says because now Ilya has gone and made it a competition and Shane can’t resist.

“We’ll see about that Hollander.”

45 minutes and ¥10,000 yen later, they reconvene in one of the arcade’s quieter corners to share their spoils.

“You cheated.” Ilya accuses when he sees the armful of loot that Shane has amassed in comparison to his own.

“How on earth could I have possibly done that?”

“Got employees to help you.” Ilya pouts.

Shane stares at him. “You think I what, batted my eyelashes at some guy so he would unlock the machine? This is ridiculous, you’re ridiculous. I told you it’s just dumb luck.”

“Would have worked.”

“What?”

“If I was employee and Shane Hollander came to me with his big, beautiful eyes I would do anything he asked.”

Shane has to work really, really hard to not completely melt at that.

“Face it, Rozanov, you just can’t admit you’re second best.”

“No, no, no, who was first overall draft pick: me.” He holds something towards Shane. “A sympathy gift for the loser.”

Shane takes it. It’s a hockey puck with the texture of one of those stress balls. The rim has a smiley face printed on it, the simplistic kind that people type out with a colon and parenthesis.

“Wasted half my money.” Ilya laments. “Stupid crane kept picking up the baseball instead.”

As the puck stares up at Shane, he starts to feel a little guilty.

He’d been focused on strategy, going for whatever items he thought would be the easiest to pick up. He didn’t even want any of it and had already made up his mind to give it to their friends’ kids. Meanwhile, Ilya was out here demonstrating just how much he was the better person.

And maybe it’s the way his relationship had been scrutinized by half the internet yesterday, but Shane suddenly feels like he’s failed a very important test.

“I—I didn’t get you anything.”

“Shane, is okay.”

“No, I—”

“Will it help if I take one of yours to make it even?”

“Please.” Shane practically begs.

Ilya makes a big show of examining each of the snacks, toys, and action figures Shane has managed to acquire before selecting a black and orange Pokémon plushie.

“This will be my reward.” Ilya says and holds the creature up to the side of his face. “We look a little alike I think.”

“I guess so.”

God, I am such an asshole.

“Shane.” Ilya says in the tone of voice he uses whenever he catches Shane thinking too hard.

“Yeah?”

“Competitions are very fun, but this—us.” He gestures between them. “Is not a competition or a brand deal, or an IOU. If I get you something it is because I want to, not because I think I need something in return.”

Right.

Shane knew that, in theory.

“You give me so much, all the time, so much you don’t even remember because it is just who you are as a person.” Ilya continues, crowding Shane up against a row of gachapon. “My very pretty husband who is upset with himself because he did not get me toy from machine that cheats.”

“You make it sound silly.”

“Because it is, Shane.”

And Shane feels the tightness in his chest start to dissipate.

Inhale.

Exhale.

“My котик is cute when he gets competitive.” Ilya adds.

Shane resists the knee-jerk urge to protest, because he truly does love the myriad of ways Ilya makes his attraction to him known. It is only the social conditioning Shane is just beginning to understand that has him balking and the idea of being considered cute.

“Yeah?” He says instead.

Ilya laughs. “Yes, Hollander, you know this.”

“Still nice to be reminded that you like me after all.”

“Will never let you forget.” Ilya assures him. “Now, we should go, or we will be late to meet your parents for dinner.”

Instagram

ottawacentaursofficial✓

[Image #1: Zane and Cassie Boodram in a backyard pool, lounging on innertubes. Their son Milo sits in Cassie’s lap, holding a rubber duck.]

[Image #2: Troy Barrett seated at what is clearly a fancy restaurant, holding a glass of red wine. Harris Drover has been tagged for photography credit.]

[Image #3: Wyatt and Lisa Hayes standing in front of a movie poster advertising a Barbie and Oppenheimer double-feature, a massive bucket of popcorn held between them.]

[Image #4: Luca Haas, Theo Young, Tommy LaPointe, and Alex Holmberg at a pottery studio in downtown Ottawa. They are each seated behind a pottery wheel. Luca is working on a bowl; it is unclear what items the other three men are attempting to make.]  

[Image #5: Selfie of Evan and Caitlin Dykstra, a tent and campsite set up in the woods behind them.]

[Image #6: A toy puck with a smiley face on it and a Growlithe plushie sitting side-by-side on a windowsill. The image is tagged with Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander’s accounts.]

Time to check in on how the Centaurs are spending the off-season! ☀️🌊🎬🏕️🍷🎨

Liked by ilyarozanov81 and 7,693 others

View all 1,202 comments

sunnisideupp
Sooo no one gonna address the elephant in the room…?

CentsFan1998
That article was complete bullshit

sunnisideupp
And yet we haven’t seen their faces posted in weeks.

shanes_eyelash
Shane and Ilya don’t owe you anything.

sunnisideupp
Considering I pay for season tickets, I feel like they do.

LesbiansforLucaHaas
Luca and co. doing arts and crafts is so dear to me.

kaylaforreal
More shirtless pics of Bood please! For science.

zamboni_rights_lawyer
Okay I need to know which movie Hazy preferred.

Rozanov5ever
According to his letterboxd, the answer is Barbie.

zamboni_rights_lawyer
Taste 🤌

1 hour ago

Private Messages

Today 7:20am

Shane
[Image #1: Plate of soba noodles with cold dashi broth.]
[Image #2: Tuna sashimi carefully arranged around a small dish of soy sauce and a ball of wasabi.]
[Image #3: Ilya holding up a baked Japanese sweet potato covered in butter.]
[Image #4: Skewers of perfectly charred yakitori.]

Zane
Shit man!
If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were flirting with me.
You know the way to my heart is through my stomach.

Shane
Easy there Boodram.

Zane
😂 😂 😂
Don’t worry, I know that white boy has got you down bad.

Shane
Guilty as charged.

Zane
But seriously, I’m gonna need you to send me a list of the names of everything you’re eating so that I know what to look for the next time I’m at the grocery store.
This year’s back-to-hockey-season barbeque is getting an upgrade.

Shane
Will do!

Ilya wakes up feeling like shit.

As he stares up at the ceiling, he can’t shake the sensation of the walls closing in on him.

He needs to move, needs to escape.

Careful not to wake his sleeping husband, Ilya slips out of the covers, pulls on some clothes, and swipes a keycard off the table before he leaves the room.

His feet carry him down the deserted hotel hallway, into the elevator, and eventually out onto the street.

The sky is just starting to brighten in the twilight and a group of men dressed in suits walk in the direction of the train station.

Ilya glances to the left, pulls up short, and lets out a sharp bark of laughter.

Right there on the sidewalk is a vending machine. But unlike the ones full of drinks that he usually sees, this one is loaded with packs of cigarettes.

He almost considers buying a pack as he stares at the colorful labels—just for the novelty of it, especially since the price in yen comes out to less than $6 and he has never in his life seen them that cheap in Canada.

But he’d rather not smell like smoke when he does return to Shane.

So instead, Ilya crosses the street and ducks into a FamilyMart, picking up two of the fruit and whipped cream sandwiches that he’s had at least once a day since he’s landed in Tokyo.

He finds a set of concrete steps to sit on, unwrapping the first sandwich and watching as the horizon gradually turns orange. It’s no cigarette, but having something in his mouth does help to lessen the craving.

Often when he feels bad, there isn’t a clear reason for it.

Just his brain playing cruel tricks on him.

But this morning his negative thoughts definitely have a specific origin.

Shane was born in Canada, and Yuna moved there when she was fairly young, but Japan is still a piece of them that they are now able to share with him.

He is never going to be able to do the same with Russia.

Not unless a lot of things change.

The worst part is that Shane has been to Russia, but the 2014 Sochi Olympics version of Ilya had been too much of a coward, too much under his father’s thumb, and so Ilya squandered his one and only chance to show Shane the place he had called home.

And he won’t get another.

He tries to pretend it doesn’t bother him—and there are certainly parts of Russia he’d rather forget. But there are many things he’d loved too. There is food he wants Shane to try and people he wants Shane to meet.

However, that has been prevented by a government who thinks anyone like him is better dead than in love.

Ilya starts in on sandwich number two.

The terrifying truth he must contend with is the fact that he would give up far more than just a country for Shane Hollander.

When it came down to choosing between a future with Shane and being able to visit his mother’s grave, it was the easiest and most painful decision he’s ever had to make.

And he would continue to make the same choice, every time.

He is certain of it.

And someday, when he sees his mother again, he hopes she can forgive him for it.

Ilya stuffs the sandwich wrappers into his pocket as he stands and begins the short walk back to the hotel.

They don’t sleep well apart—not since the summer they got married. And it’s likely Shane’s subconscious will soon realize something is amiss, will soon notice the Ilya-shaped hole in the universe that is their hotel room.

Ilya retraces his steps, his body shivering slightly when it moves from the warm, humid outside to the cool, air-conditioned hotel lobby.

A quick elevator ride later, and he’s wincing at how loud the door seems to be as re-enters their room.

He toes off his shoes, pulls off his clothes and tosses them into the still open suitcase, and gets himself situated between the sheets.

It’s almost as if he never left in the first place.

“…’lya?” Shane murmurs, beginning to stir.

Ilya gently runs the back of a hand across the freckles on Shane’s cheek.

His eyelashes flutter open as he looks up. “Mmm… hi baby.”

Ilya leans down to press a gentle kiss to his husband’s lips.

When he pulls back, Shane’s eyes have widened slightly. “You taste like strawberries.”

Ilya thinks his heart might burst.

“Can I fuck you?” He breathes. Nearly overwhelmed by the wave of sudden need that crashes over him.

Shane nods.

And so, Ilya does.

Slowly, tenderly.

Like they exist in a space outside of time.

Until Shane is gasping softly, the brilliance of the sunrise spilling over his face.

Chapter 2: Kyoto

Chapter Notes

EXご利用票（座席のご案内
Seat Information

Aug. 11, 2023
¥13,450

Shinagawa > Kyoto
12:40Dep.          15:12Arr.
HIKARI 643Car 14Seat 14-E

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Private Messages

Today 8:11am

Shane
[Image #1: Plate of fried gyoza with multiple different dipping sauces and pickled vegetable surrounding it.]
[Image #2: Various pieces of tempura meat and vegetables on styrofoam trays.]

Zane
Thought you might forget your daily pictures of food for Bood text.
Looks amazing!

Shane
Never.
The gyoza were Ilya’s favorite that he’s had so far.
He bought like three bottles of the restaurant’s hot sauce to take home.

Zane
I hope that means he plans to share!

Shane
I’m sure you could talk him into it…

“The temple is built halfway up a mountain.” Shane explains as he, his dad, and Ilya are directed towards the men’s changing room at the kimono rental place. “There’s a really nice view of the city once you get up past the main hall.”

His mom wants to get family photos while they explore Kiyomizu-dera, the kind she can hang up on the wall or use for the Christmas cards.

Shane is just thankful they’re doing this first thing in the morning, when the crowds will be smaller and the sun not so oppressive. He knows he’s been giving Ilya shit for his heat intolerance, but as a born and raised Canadian, Shane isn’t doing much better himself.

An employee gives the Hollander men a once over before motioning them towards the rack of clothes in their size.

Shane always hates this part.

Making any sort of fashion decisions has historically not been his strong suit—no pun intended.

“We should choose for each other.” Ilya says as he sorts through the garments, pausing occasionally when something interesting catches his eye.

“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”

“Why not?”

Shane looks at him. “You’d really trust me with that?”

Ilya meets his eyes. “Of course.”

Shane has to look away to keep from blushing as he falls a little bit more in love with the man he married. “Okay.”

If Shane were choosing for himself, he would probably have gone with a safe black or grey. But it’s important to him that Ilya has something brighter.

Shane begins to look closer at some of the color options. There’s a green set with floral patterns that’s… fine, a garish orange one that makes him cringe, a purple one that doesn’t feel quite right.

And then he finds something that gives him pause.

The set is a monochrome dusty blue-grey. It’s elegant, simple—maybe too simple, but Shane is drawn to the way he thinks it will bring out the color of Ilya’s eyes.

He pulls the hanger off the rack, holding up the kimono as he turns towards Ilya. “What do you think of this?”

Ilya looks over, his lips curling into a smile.

“Not bad Hollander… This one is yours.” He says as he hands over his selection.

The robe and jacket are a deep red, while the pleated pants have a brilliant black and gold hexagonal pattern.

It’s much flashier than anything Shane would have normally gone for, but he finds he doesn’t hate it at all.

“Good?” Ilya asks.

“Yeah.” Shane smiles. “It’s good.”

David’s Camera Roll

Recents

[Image #1: A selfie of David and Yuna. David’s kimono is solid navy, and Yuna’s is red with a white floral print. Her hair has been pulled back into a low bun and there are white flowers in her hair.]

[Image #2: A selfie of all four human members of the Hollander-Rozanov family. Ilya is the one holding the camera. He and Shane are in the middle, and David and Yuna are on either side.]

[Image #3: David and Yuna standing in front of the steps to Nio-mon, the main entrance of Kiyomizu-dera.]

[Image #4: The same as #3 except half of Ilya’s head is now peaking into the right side of the frame.]

[Image #5: Shane and Ilya in front of Nio-mon.]

[Image #6: All four of them standing in front of Nio-mon, taken by a helpful stranger.]

[Image #7: Candid photo taken from behind of Shane, Ilya, and David as they make their way up the hill towards the temple’s main hall.]

[Image #8: Ilya pointing to the words on the sign that designate Kiyomizu-dera as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.]

[Video #1:  Shane attempting the Benkei Challenge. Replicas of three iron weapons that once belonged to the legendary Musashibō Benkei sit on a wooden platform in front of him. He lifts the first two easily, the large 200+ pound spear in the middle requires more effort on his part but he still accomplishes it with grace—earning cheers and applause from nearby temple-goers.  ‘My strong, sexy husband.’ Ilya says wistfully from behind the camera.]

[Image #9: Yuna placing a stick of incense upright in a large, cauldron-like incense burner in front of one of the many sub-temples.]

[Video #2: Ilya gives ¥100 to a temple worker before he picks up and shakes a hexagonal wooden box. A stick falls out of a hole in the bottom, which he then gives to the worker in exchange for a slip of paper. He steps away from the counter, taking a moment to read the omikuji he received before looking up at the camera and exclaiming: ‘Shane it says I have excellent fortune!’]

[Video #3: Shane and Ilya using the provided ladles to drink out of the middle stream of Otowa Waterfall. They take turns, first Shane gathers a cupful of the water before carefully depositing it into Ilya’s waiting palms. Ilya brings his hands to his mouth and drinks. He then does the same for Shane. They share a smile before moving to make room for the next guest.]

[Image #10: Shane and Ilya standing together in front of a railing. In the background is the Kyoto city skyline. In the middleground, on the right side of the photo is Kiyomizu-dera’s main hall.]

[Image #11: Same as #10 but this time it’s all four of them.]

[Image #12: Candid of Shane and Ilya from behind. They’re leaning against the railing, and their heads are turned to look at one another. Shane is mid-laugh.]

Twitter

Ava Travels the World 🌴 @ava_travels_97∙ 2h
[Video: An Asian man in a red, black, and gold kimono lifting the spear of Musashibō Benkei like it’s almost nothing, the wide sleeves of his kimono sliding down to reveal his muscular forearms.]
Went to Kiyomizu for the great views, just didn’t think this would be one of them… 👀

Sofia @sofiatorresgarcia99 ∙ 2h
brb booking a flight rn

Bucky Barnes Apologist @katiekitkatsnack ∙ 2h
And in full kimono too, goddamn 🥵 🥵 🥵

M.I.A. @mia_in_action13 ∙ 2h
Omg, anyone know who this is???

just a sad cowgirl @user5031 ∙ 2h
I remember my husband trying to lift that when we visited last year. It’s a bit misleading because even if you can deadlift that much normally, the angle of the spear and lack of a good spot to grip it makes lifting it harder than it looks!

On Stand-Bi @baby_bi_bi_bi∙ 1h
I need him cast in a historical J-Drama STAT!!!

はな @theoneandonlyhana ∙ 1h
I need you white people to stop glazing Japanese men like yesterday, I’m so serious.

🦑 DEFEND THE DEEP 🦑 @krakenfan222∙ 1h
Um, is that Shane Hollander?

Shay 💚 @shaylesss2002∙ 1h
I don’t care who he is, he can manhandle my spear any day… 😉

Ava Travels the World 🌴 @ava_travels_97∙ 1h
Who???

Hollanov Truther @hollanov5ever ∙ 1h
Yeah, that’s definitely him, and you can see Ilya Rozanov filming in the background!

M.I.A. @mia_in_action13 ∙ 1h
I knew having hockey moots would be useful one day.

Bucky Barnes Apologist @katiekitkatsnack ∙ 50m
I opened his Wikipedia page, saw that he’s already married, and exited out immediately. I’m about to start my period, I can’t deal with this right now. 😭

Private Messages

Today 10:43am

Ilya
harris
sos!

Harris
I’m almost afraid to ask…

Ilya
[Link: Twitter – “Went to Kiyomizu for the great views, just didn’t think this would be one of them… 👀”]

Harris
Shit, sorry someone found you guys again.
Are people bothering you there, right now?

Ilya
no look at the COMMENTS!!!

Harris
???
You mean the thirst Tweets?

Ilya
YES

Harris
…are you forgetting you’ve both posed for magazines in nothing but your underwear?

Ilya
yes but is different
we sign contract and agree that people will see those pictures
this was supposed to just be for us :(

Harris
Damn, yeah. Fair enough.
I’ll see what I can do about getting it contained, but I make no promises, the internet tends to run with these things.

Ilya
thank you harris
best dogsitter ever 🥰

Ilya did not need to travel thousands of miles to see deer. Ottawa had them in droves, Russia too, for that matter.

He told Shane as much when they boarded the train that would take them 45 minutes out of Kyoto to a different city entirely.

“These aren’t like the deer at the cottage.” Shane assured him. “You’ll see.”

So, Ilya drops the issue.

Shane obviously knows something that he doesn’t.

Before they even step foot in Nara Park, Ilya can see that it’s overrun with deer of all shapes and sizes, the same way a European city square teams with pigeons.

He didn’t even realize Shane had left his side when he suddenly returns and presses something into Ilya’s hand.

He looks down at the small stack of crackers.

“For the deer.” Shane clarifies.

And the deer must sense this somehow, because the next thing Ilya knows, half a dozen of them are closing in on his position.

He takes a step back.

“Are you scared of them?” Shane asks.

“No.”

“Oh my god, you are!” Shane laughs.

“Am not!”

“My mom was right; you are a city slicker.”

“Like you’re much better, Mr. my-lake-house-is-a-custom-built-mansion!”

“I don’t hear you ever complain about spending the summers there.”

“Блять!” Ilya curses when a two-point buck grows bolder, sniffing at the hand concealing the food.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Shane says, coming up behind him. He gently pries the biscuits out of Ilya’s death grip.

Ilya watches in awe as Shane bows towards two does, who for some reason bow back. He breaks a cracker in half, giving a piece to each of them.

Other deer—including the buck that had been harassing Ilya, begin to surround Shane, eating out of the palm of his hand.

“This is witchcraft.” Ilya declares.

“Not witchcraft.” Shane counters.

“Why are they not afraid of people?”

It’s a bit unnerving when Ilya considers how most deer would rather fling themselves across a busy highway then be approached by a human being.

“They’ve been protected here for over a thousand years, I guess that was long enough for them to decide we aren’t a threat.” Shane explains.

Ilya watches, his eyes darting between Shane and his entourage of woodland creatures.

Slowly, Ilya’s shoulders drop as the tension seeps out of them.

He looks around, spotting the vendor where Shane must have purchased the crackers in the first place.

“Hold on.” Ilya tells his husband. “I’ll be right back.”

Private Messages

Today 9:37pm

Ilya
what is the princess movie your kids like where the girl talks to forest animals?

Jackie
Sleeping Beauty.

Ilya
no other one
with deer and squirrels

Jackie
Snow White?

Ilya
YES!
thank you jackie

Jackie
You know what, I’m not even going to ask.

Private Messages

Today 9:51pm

Ilya
hazy i require your photoshop skills

Wyatt
Sure thing cap, what are you looking for?

Ilya
[Image #1: Shane surrounded by a crowd of deer.]
[Image #2: Movie still of Snow White and her animal friends.]
can you put these together somehow?

Wyatt
Definitely. I can totally see the vision.

Ilya
thank you hazy
will send you some $$$
put in group chat what you are done 😘

Wyatt
You got it!

Proud Dad (Captain) to a Few Dumbass Kids

Today 8:37am

Hayes
[Image: Shane Hollander surrounded by deer who are eating crackers out of his hands. Snow White’s dress has been photoshopped onto him.]

LaPointe
Hello???

Bood
🤣 🤣 🤣

Troy
Oh that’s good.

Young
LMAOOOO

Hollander
Hayes, what the hell is this?

Bergy
👀

Hayes
Hey! Don’t shoot the messenger!

Captain
very good hazy i will give you a nice tip

LaPointe
Oh shit.

Hollander
Ilya.

Captain
shane

Hollander
Where did Hazy get that photo?

Captain
i am commissioning an artist shane!
do you have a problem with this?
or should i ask haasy next time?

Haasy
Please don’t.

Hollander
Why am I wearing a dress?

Captain
SNOW WHITE SHANE
she talks to animals just like you did with the deer!

Hollander
Oh.
I get it now.
That’s pretty funny.

LaPointe
Oh my god.

Young
💀 💀 💀

Bergy
Gang, I can’t keep doing this.

Dykstra
You look great in that outfit Hollzy!

There had been several years after Shane was born that Yuna did not go to Japan at all.

If someone asked, she’d wave them off with an excuse about how difficult traveling with an infant would be.

In reality, anyone who met Shane remarked at how little he fussed. Her son was an easy baby; the only difficult part about him had been the birth itself. She knew it wasn’t fair to pin the blame for her reluctance on him.

No, the truth was, Yuna was afraid.

Her own grandmother had never approved of her relationship with David, treating the whole affair like a personal betrayal, which Yuna found ridiculous. She was living in Canada—sure there were other Japanese people here, but there were a whole lot more men like him.

Statistically, this was probably always how things were going to turn out.

And Yuna was deeply offended at the idea that any hypothetical man could somehow give her something her sweet, handsome, hockey player of a husband couldn’t.

So, when Shane came along, she felt she had to protect him from the same kind of scrutiny.

Obaachan had called once when Yuna was still in the hospital to ask after her health. But she hadn’t asked about Shane, hadn’t even bothered to inquire what his name was. It was clear that her grandmother hoped to ignore the ‘problem’ of Shane’s existence the same way she tried to ignore Yuna’s marriage.

Yuna was polite over the phone, but the second she hung up she’d burst into tears. Hot, angry ones that had been simmering beneath the surface like magma in a volcano. Her mother had been in the room then, and Yuna knows the outburst must have scared her half to death—especially since Yuna had never been much of a crier.

In her defense, there had been extenuating circumstances.

With obaachan, Yuna tries not to hold it against her. Kyoto was spared the bombings that leveled most major Japanese cities during the war, but Yuna knows living through that era certainly influenced the way her grandmother saw the world, and there was nothing Yuna or anybody else could do to change that.

But Yuna is stubborn in her own way, so despite the frequent and seemingly innocuous invitations to visit, Yuna refuses to grant her grandmother the chance to reject Shane in-person.

Obaachan dies when Shane is eight, and that winter is the first time Yuna brings her son and husband to her hometown.

She mourns her grandmother, but more than that she mourns the relationship they lost, and the relationship obaachan never got to have with Shane—even if it was a situation of her own making.

The rest of Yuna’s family loves her son from the moment they meet him.

Because really, she thinks. Who wouldn’t?

Now, over 30 years later, she sits in her aunt’s Kyoto townhouse as her cousin Kahori pours tea.

Aunt Sumiko is approaching her 90s, and much like Yuna’s own mother, she’s having difficulty getting around on her own, so Kahori spends much of her time here, taking care of the cooking, cleaning, and yard work.

“…I try to watch his games, but it can be hard when they are on so early in the morning.” Kahori says in English, mostly for David’s benefit, even though in the past he’s insisted he doesn’t need special treatment and is just happy to be along for the ride.

“But he did well this season, yes?” She continues, setting down the teapot.

“The best.” David says with a smile. “Couldn’t have done better if he’d tried.”

“Good, I am excited to meet his husband.”

“You’ll like Ilya, he’s a real charmer.” David says.

And then the conversation shifts to other topics—something about an Italian restaurant her cousin likes and when David plans to retire.

But Yuna is only half paying attention.

That strange fear she hasn’t felt since Shane was born begins to creep back in.

She knows it’s probably irrational. Knows that her aunt and cousin are not like that, not the kind of people to be quick to judge.

Yuna isn’t quite sure at what point her son-and-law because part of the group of people she felt the need to protect. She thinks it might have been the first time her brain acknowledged him, not as Ilya Rozanov: rival hockey player, but as Ilya—Shane’s Ilya.

“Yuna, are you all right?” Sumiko asks in Japanese, her English not as polished as her daughter’s.

The doorbell rings and Kahori gets up to answer it. A moment passes, and Yuna can hear the sound of Ilya’s booming laughter drift over from the entryway.

“I will be.” She says, and knows it to be true.

TMZ

SHANE HOLLANDER AND ILYA ROZANOV
HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE ICE!!

By TMZ STAFF

Published August 14, 2023 9:03 AM EDT

[Video: Shane Hollander dressed in a kimono and lifting a large iron spear without even breaking a sweat. Ilya Rozanov can be seen filming with his phone in the background.]

Shane Hollander may be Canada’s prince of ice hockey, but he proves he can more than handle the Japanese summer heat!

Hollander stepped out in a traditional kimono at Japan’s Kiyomizu Temple, accompanied by his parents and husband—Russia’s own Ilya Rozanov!

The lucky crowd in attendance witnessed an impressive show of strength from Hollander—a player who is normally praised for his speed and skill—all while his man cheered him on from the sidelines. It seems like some people really do have it all!

Twitter

TMZ ✓@TMZ ∙ 2h
Flexin’ on ‘em. 💪 💪 💪
[Link: TMZ - SHANE HOLLANDER AND ILYA ROZANOV: HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE ICE!!]

Katya 🌸 @shanes_eyelash ∙ 2h
And not one word about how y’all insinuated their divorce was imminent last week despite ZERO proof…

:) @hereandqueer ∙ 2h
Dude if Hollanov weren’t already suing the Metros I know they would be on your ass.

chloe @harrystylesplsmarryme ∙ 2h
🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵

Shayden Supremacy @pikesprincess ∙ 2h
Not Rozanov appropriating Japanese culture. 🙄

Ottawaaaaa @puckslutera ∙ 2h
@pikesprincess You can’t be serious.

Jess 🌻 @jessicaj777 ∙ 1h
Anyone know if muscles here has a girlfriend? 😍

Hollanov Truther @hollanov5ever ∙ 1h
@jessicaj777 HE’S MARRIED. FAMOUSLY. TO A MAN. WHO’S ALSO IN THE ARTICLE!!!!!

Centaurs (Ilya’s Version) @sagesstuff ∙ 1h
I cannot fucking handle you bitches today.

Sofia @sofiatorresgarcia99 ∙ 1h
Yummmmmy 😋

Brianna @Bri_in_Tennessee ∙ 1h
This whole thread is so rancid, get a life you weirdos.

Private Messages

Today 9:33pm

Shane
[Image: Candid of Ilya. He’s looking to the left of the camera, clearly unaware the photo is being taken. His face is relaxed with a soft smile and bright eyes. The image has a slightly red hue from the light reflecting off of the many torii at Fushimi Inari-taisha.]

Rose
Oh Shaney… that’s the kind of picture they put in a dead wife montage.

Shane
What??

Rose
Never mind, I just mean it’s disgustingly romantic.

Shane
I don’t know how I ever thought I could pretend to not love him.

Rose
SHANE!
I’m getting ready to film, I can’t cry all my makeup off!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭

Shane
Sorry!

Rose
Don’t apologize!
I’m glad you guys are having fun, I had a great time filming there a few years ago but I wish I’d had more time to sightsee.

Shane
Maybe next time Ilya and I go you could tag along.

Rose
Only if I can get a hotel room that isn’t right next door to yours. 🤪

Shane
Gross!

Rose
😂 😘

“You’re going to have to buy another suitcase.” Shane says.

Ilya sits shirtless on the tatami mat floor of their hotel room, the evidence of his over-shopping spread out before him while Shane watches from atop the bed with no small amount of amusement.

“It will fit.”

“It absolutely will not.”

“Is that a challenge, Hollander?”

“It’s a fact, asshole. You cleared out half of the Nintendo store.”

“Gifts for the Pikelings!”

“And the four pairs of jeans?”

“Japanese denim is very high-quality Shane, you should know this.”

“And those?” Shane says, pointing towards a pile of gachapon capsules.

“…you have room in your bag, yes?”

“Fuck you, I’m not carrying all your crap.” Shane laughs.

Ilya lets his head fall backwards with an exaggerated sigh.  “You used to be so nice to me, used to carry my bags… what has changed мой дорогой? Do you not love me anymore? You promised for better or for worse, for rich or poor, and in sickness and health. Well, now I am very poor, and I have no space in my bag, and you will not share.”

“You should go into acting, I almost felt bad for you.”

“Shane my heart is breaking.”

“At least you can take comfort in your three bottles of hot sauce, fifteen fridge magnets, and giant box of yatsuhashi.”

Ilya is up in an instant, tackling Shane into the mattress.

“Hey!” Shane half-yelps, half-giggles.

They wrestle around for a minute before Shane ends up on his stomach, Ilya sprawled limply over the top of him like weighted blanket.

“Maybe I will just hide things in your bag where you can’t find them.” Ilya says, his mouth so close to Shane’s ear that it tickles.

“I’d find them.”

“Mm, confidence. I like that in a man.”

“Oh, do you?” It’s impossible for Shane to wipe the smile off his face.

“Yes. I also like men who are generous and like to share—”

“Fuck off.”

Ilya lifts his head and begins to pull away. “Okay, if this is what you want…”

Shane regrets it immediately.

“Wait.” He reaches a hand back to stop his husband.

Ilya halts in his movement. “…I’m waiting Hollander.”

“You can put some stuff in my bag—but no food or liquids.”

“Thank you солнышко.” Ilya says and lowers himself back on top of Shane, planting a kiss on his shoulder as he goes.

“—And you still have to get another suitcase.” Shane adds. “There really is too much Ilya.”

“Fine, fine. Will do it tomorrow.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

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Seat Information

Aug. 20, 2023
¥13,970

Kyoto > Shinagawa
14:30Dep.          16:38Arr.
NOZOMI 236Car 4Seat 3-C

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Private Messages

Today 6:21pm

Translated from Japanese

Kahori
Yuna, thank you again for visiting! It was so nice to see you and the family.

Yuna
It was great to see you and Aunt Sumiko too! We had a lovely time.

Kahori
I know I have said this before, but you should be very proud of Shane, he is a wonderful young man.
I will admit that when you first told me he married another hockey player and I looked up Ilya’s name I was a bit worried, but he is much nicer in person than he is on TV.

Yuna
David and I had a similar reaction at first, but now that we’ve gotten to know Ilya, I don’t think we could have found a better person for Shane if we tried. Ilya really is a sweetheart, and he makes our little family feel complete.

Kahori
I am so happy for you Yuna. ❤️
Please text me when you land, wishing you all safe travels.

Yuna
❤️

Ilya sits at their departure gate in Haneda Airport, scrolling through the shared ‘Hollander Family Vacation’ album on his phone while his husband is slumped in the neighboring seat, resting his eyes.

Between the four of them, there’s thousands of photos and videos in here.

And there’s a few pictures in Ilya’s camera roll that he didn’t include—private ones of Shane in various states of undress in both their Tokyo and Kyoto hotels that Ilya adds to a different album entirely.

He has tried not to let it cloud his feelings around the trip as a whole, but there had been far more media attention on them than he would have liked.

He absentmindedly fidgets with the plush Akita dog keychain currently hanging from one of his belt loops—a gift from Shane after the great Hachikō-induced meltdown.

Ilya had originally planned to spend the weeks after his return to Canada posting pictures to his Instagram, a carefully curated photo carousel for each day of the vacation.

But he’s feeling much less charitable now.

So instead, he chooses just four photos.

This first is of all of them in kimonos at Kiyomizu-dera—the ‘Christmas card’ shot as Yuna had called it.

Next is a photo of the ramen they had for dinner the first night in Tokyo. All the food had been great, and he feels safe highlighting that.

For variety’s sake, his third choice is a short video of the deer in Nara Park trying to take a bite out of him. It’s fun and harmless, and he likes the sound of Shane’s laugh behind the camera.

The final photo is a nighttime one that David had taken of Shane and Ilya at the rooftop hotel bar in Tokyo. Their faces aren’t even visible, just their silhouettes against the light of the city.

Ilya uploads the pictures, writes a quick caption, and hits post before putting his phone away.

Since people felt so entitled to their lives, that’s all they were going to get.

Shane opens his eyes, glancing over at Ilya.

“Hi” Ilya says.

“Hey.” Shane sits up. “Do you want to go for a quick walk before it’s time to board?”

Ilya smiles and nods.

He would follow Shane anywhere.

Ilya’s Notes App

Ichi-go, ichi-e (Japanese: 一期一会)

Japanese proverb translated as ‘one time, one meeting.’ It serves as a reminder to cherish every single moment, for each is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Chapter End Notes

Not shown: Shane waiting outside a Don Quijote while Ilya buys a new suitcase because there’s no way in hell he’s stepping foot in there.

Shane’s kimono inspo:
https://anotherdatenight.com/cdn/shop/files/il_fullxfull.7425503968_sc94.jpg?v=1770063835
https://kimurakami.com/cdn/shop/files/traditional-male-kimono-front-1.webp?v=1783154987&width=1000

Ilya’s kimono inspo:
https://i.etsystatic.com/37783392/r/il/6ca3fc/8270549456/il_1588xN.8270549456_lxgx.jpg
https://item-shopping.c.yimg.jp/i/n/kimonomachi_045354_19_d_20240315160222

And now some brief hockey rambling: I'm a Seattle Kraken fan and I'm just utterly delighted with how our season is going so far. Everyone is pulling their weight, it's not just a handful of people getting points. Our goalies Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer have been outstanding--watching Gru throw hands with Trevor Zegras on Tuesday was sooooo good (sorry to any Flyers fans, but we had to win that game, Seattle could NOT be the team you broke your generational losing streak with, we would have never heard the end of it). Just the fact that the Kraken won three road games in a row is crazy to me. I'm so used to Seattle being the butt of the joke within the NHL that I'm like damn, what is this feeling? Are we like, a legit hockey team right now? Anyway... playoffs for my squids this year? Pretty please?? My little beer league NHL team deserves it.

And I'm manifesting playoffs for the Torrent too, once the PWHL season starts. The league being split into conferences now might actually work in our favor. They better at least win all six of the home games I already have tickets for.

Hope you all enjoyed this installment. Your comments and kudos are what keeps me writing! <3