"No pain, no gain. Shut up and train."

One Week Ago

The morning light flowed into the empty basketball gymnasium. What were left in the place are the vacuum of the whole area, the idle scoreboard, and the dusty fiberglass backboard of the two rings.

Any personal belongings of those who once used this gymnasium were in a cardboard box that is awaiting relocation in the entrance.

In a way, he was erasing any trace of him in the basketball gymnasium which he had ruled as the captain for three straight years. Hyuuga Junpei smiled with a puff. "Like a bird leaving its nest," The glasses-wearing captain naturally thought in satisfaction as he looks at the basketball gymnasium with a hint of nostalgia.

It'd be troublesome for the next person coming in if anything was left as a sign of the previous players' presence. When he comes back to this place after the ceremony is over, Hyuuga will no longer be a high school basketball player or a student of Seirin High School.

Today, he will graduate, along with the pioneers of the Seirin High School basketball team.

After exiting the gymnasium's entrance, he saw a familiar person standing there.

Looking up at the cherry blossom tree in front of the main entrance was Izuki Shun who was in the same grade as him and served as their primary point guard and vice-captain of the basketball team. The pun-loving guard seemed to have the same sentiments as him.

"What's up, Izuki?" Hyuuga called out to him. The Eagle Eye point guard turned his gaze towards their graduating captain.

"I was just thinking that this would be also the final year for Kuroko and Kagami to play together. They have blossomed as far as those light pink bud bloomed," he answered.

Hyuuga copied Izuki and looked up at the cherry blossom tree. He could see light pink buds on the firm branches stretching out, but it looked like it'd still be awhile until they bloomed.

"Yeah you're right." The shooting guard can't help but agree, "These cherry blossoms seem to bloom earlier with each passing year huh?"

"This year wasn't really bad at all, was it?" Izuki probably realized his voice sounded like there was more regret lingering in his voice than he thought, as if he was self-mocking himself. For the young but highly praised basketball club, the painful memory of losing Kiyoshi Teppei in their first year of operating the team due to injury to getting crushed by the three Kings of Tokyo still lingered in their minds.

But then, things started to change for the better with the arrival of Teiko's Phantom Sixth Man and the unpolished gem from America. Their second year was the most memorable for them as they finally were able to capture a title and made a fitting send of for Kiyoshi, who was the creator of the club, before undergoing under the knife in America. This year's almost a repeat of the last year except for a few changes. For instance, Seirin finally managed to crack into the Interhigh events and even reached into the finals but they fell short of the crown as a heavily-inspired Rakuzan High School narrowly retained their crown via a score of 105 – 103. Kaijo ended up third place after Kise finally managed to removed his limits in his Perfect Copy ability as he added some elements of his own and he was able to defeat Aomine and Touou which had just lost guys like Imayoshi Shoichi and Yoshinori Susa.

The Winter Cup, though, was something that the Seirin seniors would be truly proud off. It was in their final tournament that Kiyoshi was able to rejoin them after some months of rehabilitating his fully-repaired knee, which means that he can finally go all out. Their first match was against an unnamed school and just as expected, they had won this one. It was like a walk in the park for the team in black and white until they have reached the final four and joining them are Kaijo, Rakuzan, and Shutoku. Kagami and Kuroko were able to lead the whole team against Midorima, who became more frightening as a shooter after learning how to shoot with his right hand. They had won by a slight margin of 99 – 96. Meanwhile, Kise and Akashi went head-on against each other. But despite the Blue Elites' valiant efforts and Kise managing to pass Akashi, Rakuzan simply was too much as they won 102 – 89.

In the end, Seirin managed to avenge their Interhigh loss by the combined efforts of a healthy Kiyoshi, the sophomore duo of Kuroko and Kagami, and the rising star in Asahina Daigo, who was top-billed as their super rookie. They handed Akashi another loss in this tournament in addition to last year. In the match for the third place, Kise and Midorima finally went head-to-head for the first time and while the green haired shooter was relentless in shooting threes, the blonde was more than bloodthirsty to get a win and Kaijo evened their record with Shutoku last year by winning 96 – 90.

In other words, this year has gone more insane and this is something that Hyuuga and Izuki can attest to as they finally walk outside of the gymnasium.

There was still some time before the bell rings to signal the start of the ceremony. The two of them slowly walked towards the school building. Along the way, they passed by the front of the gym, and from inside they heard a sound.

"With all of this noise, I doubt we can graduate peacefully especially since there are a lot of people today." Izuki pointed out. Hyuuga gulped at his words. Calming down and looking at his surroundings, it was true that there were some people looking at them wondering what the basketball club was doing. Just as Izuki said, today the school gate was crowded so the degree of noise is high.

There was a reason for the increase amount of people.

At Seirin High School, there is was a tradition that the student council had obviously derived from other schools. On the morning of graduation, there is a custom of the graduating students wearing a white rose on their chest as proof as an enrolled student. Putting the flowers on the graduating students was mainly the job of the student council members, but they have also allowed members of the clubs to put them on the seniors as a way of thanking them for being their mentor and younger brother-figures.

At that moment, Izuki was wearing a corsage, a type of small bouquet that uses white roses.

"Hyuuga, why don't you go receive a corsage?"

"Yeah you're right," Taking Izuki's advice, the Clutch Captain looked around. He thought that there'd be someone in the basketball club to give him a corsage, but unfortunately there was no one else around. He can't even found their fellow graduating coach in Aida Riko as she was busy being with her borderline-scary father, who seemed to be in tears of joy at seeing her beloved daughter graduate. Kiyoshi was also nowhere to be found as he's still at their house helping his grandparents attend his graduation. But then…

"Captain."

Hearing a small and familiar voice of uncertainty from somewhere, the shooting guard looked around the area.

"Ah, Kuroko." The megane finally spotted their normally invisible player, who is already donning the number four jersey as the sign of becoming the new captain after all the seniors and Kagami supported (and probably coaxed) him into accepting it. "I'm surprised you are here. Where is that Bakagami? Isn't he supposed to be with you?"

Hyuuga looked down at his kouhai, Kuroko Tetsuya, with a face of confusion.

"He'll be here in the moment," Kuroko replied as he was rubbing his hands, "I asked him to gather all the remaining regulars so that we can have our practice in the afternoon. By the way, captain, are you sure with having me as the new captain?" There was still uncertainty in his voice.

Hyuuga smiled, "If I don't believe on you, then who am I supposed to trust the leadership? Bakagami? He's our ace but he's an idiot as well so I entrusted you the leadership of the club. Oh and besides, today is supposed to be a day off. Why are you already gathering them for a practice?"

"We can't just sit around." Kuroko said with a hint of seriousness as he looks at his senpai straight in the eye. "It's a given that we can't let our guard down for a moment, captain. Even Furihata-kun and company is going to be here soon," The tealnette said with a strong look in his eyes. Now he carries the responsibility of leading the club members with determination.

I like the look in his face. Hyuuga thought, smiling at the fact that he didn't need to worry about the future of the club. There will be always those who will inherit the mantle.

"Another thing, captain…" Kuroko suddenly interrupted his thoughts as all of the sudden, he brought out a small white rose from his duffel bag. "Since you're the one who had recommended me for captainship, I might as well return back the favour by being the first one to lay the rose in your chest as the sight that you'll graduate."

Hearing Kuroko's words, Hyuuga's eyes widened. Next to their captain who showed no sign of doubt in his eyes, Izuki simply sighed as he smiles with warmth. Hyuuga, don't be such a tsun-tsun towards our kouhai. Just accept it!

Kuroko hung his head and bowed, and then suddenly raised his head back up. On his face, was a small but sincere smile.

"Hyuuga-senpai! On behalf of our team, thank you very much for guiding us throughout our first and second year of being your underclassmen."

"Yeah."

And then, the newly-appointed captain decorated the former captain's chest with the white rose.

Seirin High School's graduation ceremony was quite solemn.

Inside the auditorium which can fit the whole school, was a piano. It played along as the graduating students made their entrance, sang their school song, and even when they received their diplomas. As the calm atmosphere continued, there was finally a break for the student representative of the graduating class to make their speech.

All of the students had their eyes on him as he walked onto the podium. The microphone was adjusted to the principal's height, so the student adjusted it to his own height. He was tall. No, rather than tall it was more fitting to say he had a big frame. After all, the one who was standing on the podium was Seirin High School's basketball club founder and also the tallest student in the graduating class with a height of around 190cm, Kiyoshi Teppei.

"To think that Kiyoshi-senpai would be the one giving the speech," muttered the current ace of the basketball, Kagami Taiga, with no surprise in his voice to the person next to him, Kuroko. Besides those two, the three cowardly trio in Furihata Kouki, Kawahara Koichi, and Fukuda Hiroshi also joined the Light-Shadow duo in the ceremony.

"Do schools choose the person in charge of the speech by order of their height?" Furihata suddenly asked in curiosity.

"Of course not. They're chosen through a proper reviewing…well…probably," Kuroko answered with slight hesitation. He respects Kiyoshi as a senpai, but knowing at how weird and air-headed their Iron Heart center is, he somehow had a bad feeling about him speaking in front of the whole school.

Being covered by the eyes of the whole school, Kiyoshi showed no sign of stage fright or nervous breakdown, and his back was straight as he continued to read his speech. Even his contents weren't sentences he copied from somewhere. He talked about his personal experiences and used his own words. Having no mistakes, it was a dignified speech that he prepared so well.

"It has a majestic feeling doesn't it?" Kawahara softly whispered in admiration.

It was speech that left a deep impression on a lot of the students.

Then suddenly, his appearance changed.

The words that Kiyoshi spoke so clearly had reached their limits.

It was in the middle of when he spoke about his club activities which made up of most of his three, albeit injury-plagued, years in high school. With the doubtful gazes focused on him, the brunette center closed his eyes as if he was swallowing something, then opened them and started talking again.

"During these three years, my goal was to conquer the Nationals, Interhigh, and the Winter Cup. Being the founder of the club, I devoted myself into accomplishing this goal." Kiyoshi said with crisp and proud words from his heart. "The results of that were: 2nd place in the summer Interhigh for this year and the national championship at the Winter Cup. Despite the fact that we results looked mixed and we didn't somehow manage to get all the championships we want, we were at least able to feel the height of the wall of national conquest." As Kiyoshi finished, he took a deep breath. "For everything that we did, I have no regrets."

Those distinct words struck Kuroko straight to his heart. He could grasp that even though Kiyoshi was on the podium, those feelings were not one of a public orator or a valedictorian, but his own. While feeling that even Kagami's gaze has turned serious, Kuroko opened his ears to listen what the Iron Heart had to say next.

"The result of the club members fighting together was not the defeat that means it's the end of your road but the moment where everything has just began. It taught us that this is where the door to the world opens. I think the value alone of devoting everything into these three years and meeting everyone is a blessing. However…" Kiyoshi suddenly stopped as he then inhaled, "My one and only regret is throughout my entire career, I haven't seen our dear and beloved old captain Hyuuga Junpei confess his love to our beloved and strong-willed coach Aida Riko!"

"Eh?!"

Kuroko suddenly let out his voice and quickly closed his mouth upon hearing a topic he didn't expect to hear while listening so intensely. While the seriousness in Kagami's eyes started to fade away, the tealnette watched the serious face of Kiyoshi turn into one that is goofy and clumsy.

"Even though I heard that Hyuuga has been always hinting out his feelings for Riko, he was always bottling it all up into his heart and even smacking away our aces in Kuroko and Kagami whether they inquire about the two of them." Kiyoshi unashamedly narrated while Hyuga, who was sitting on the first row, was beginning to fidget in nervousness at every second that the Iron Mouth opens his mouth, "Come on, Hyuuga. This is your last chance to finally confess your love to Riko!"

As his rough voice resounded through the microphone, graduating students from here and there started yelling, "Eeeeehhhhh?!"

"Oi, Hyuuga. Do it now!"

"Dammit, Hyuuga. We didn't know you had a secret crush. Confess now!"

"Go for it! Hyuga-san, Riko-chan!"

The solemn atmosphere was quickly blown away as cries of passionate graduating students filled the auditorium and the other students turned speechless. In the midst of this chaos, Riko can only shrink at the unexpected attention that she was receiving right now while Hyuuga was swearing he could kill Kiyoshi right now.

Meanwhile, Kagami yawned as he watched all of this unfold before their eyes.

"Well, that's how our school is…"

After the fiasco at the auditorium, Kuroko and Kagami went back to the gymnasium immediately to formally start the day as the Seirin basketball team's new captain. Since it wasn't yet club recruitment day as it would only happen some weeks from now when they all get promoted for the next grade, they'll have to do with the members that they have. Aside from the original batch of sophomores and incoming third years that included Kuroko, Kagami, and their three fellow batchmates, they only have Yagi Yuta and Asahina Daigo as the only incoming second years. Their rookie batch included a center as tall as former Shutoku High captain Ootsubo Taisuke at 198 cm, a shooting guard with decent three point shooting touch, and a small forward with the same height and build with Kise.

"Everyone! Ten laps!" Kuroko shouted with the best he could and everyone complied by gathering at one end of the gym and began to jog around the court. Despite being one of the gentlest players in the team, the tealnette knows when to be strict as shown when he ordered Kagami to repeat the process after fumbling in the middle of the laps.

"Hey, cut me some slack here, cappy!" The red headed ace whined as he repeats the whole process.

"Just because we're best friends doesn't mean I'll treat you any differently." Kuroko deadpanned.

"Aw man!"

The training continued until everyone else is already starting to slow down and cough hard. Kuroko took this cue to blow the whistle to finally end the training regimen. "At last," Asahina whispered to himself as he drags his body on the nearby bleachers to get his water bottle from his duffel bag.

As everyone was busy taking a breather, Kuroko was simply watching everyone as his mind began to float off somewhere else. So this is how it looks like to run a team. Akashi-kun and Hyuuga-senpai must have their hands full everytime. At this point he had become fully acquainted with his captain's duties despite the short time and now it was also time for him to follow up on his duties for the team. Seirin was coming together and forming their strategy for the Winter Cup as defending champions. Of course Kuroko was going to play a key role again. It was more of his wish than a duty really and realizing that made him feel more at ease. At least, we won't have to suffer the same kind of thing back in middle school and the first year ofhigh school. He was close to even smiling out of character.

Until suddenly, Asahina and Yagi came to where he was seated and they snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Uhm…senpai…"

Kuroko heard the voice of the smaller Yagi suddenly calling him out and he quickly asked, "Yes? Do you have a problem?"

"Uh…nothing really…it's just that…" Asahina was obviously stuttering as he then held out a dusty photo, "When me and Yagi were busy changing in the locker room, we suddenly found this old photo lying on the floor and we deduced that it's yours because it's a photo and you and your middle school team."

Kuroko simply nodded as he was about to get it from them when Yagi continued it, "When we examined it closely, we just noticed that you are not six members at all but are actually seven. Isn't the Generation of Miracles composed of you captain and the five real prodigies? Who is the number 3 guy?"

Suddenly, they noticed the tealnette suddenly began to stiffen as he bows his head while trying to avoid his gazes. Asahina and Yagi shudders at this. Uhm…did we ask something we shouldn't have?

"Eh?! Is that true, Kuroko?" Unfortunately for the tealnette, Kagami also heard the conversation and he simply cannot believe it. The heck?! There's actually one more member of those fucking Generation of Miracles aside from Kuroko?! Wait, how come we didn't get to play him?!

Seeing that he cannot anymore hide the fact that he actually tried to conceal for almost three years since they were in second year in middle high school, Kuroko calmed down and face his teammates as bravely as possible, "What you're thinking is right, Kagami-kun. There is actually one more member of the Generation of Miracles—or probably more in theory since he left even before Aomine-kun's talent has bloomed."

Kagami's mouth dropped in surprise as he didn't know this fact at all, "Eh?! Then how come we didn't play him in the past tournaments?! Wait, scratch that, what is his name?!"

Kuroko looked at him with a slight emotion of irritation as Kagami suddenly shivered at this and shut his mouth, thinking he must have talked too much that it put his partner off.

"His name is Hikigaya Hachiman," Kuroko nevertheless replied as he bows his head again, seemingly sad to actually remember someone who seemed to have disappeared from trace.

"Hikigaya?" Kagami muttered.

"Yes. It's Hikigaya Kachiman," Kuroko replied as he then breaks off from the group and looks at the window, "Originally, I didn't thought of telling you guys about our former teammate but since Asahina-kun and Yagi-kun found out, I guess it would be unfair not to tell you about it." He then inhales as he is preparing himself mentally while the three simply wait for him patiently. Soon, the four people found themselves sitting on the bleachers.

"Hikigaya Hachiman-kun…" Kuroko started, "He used to be one of Teiko's primary guards and he's really good at basketball. If I remember correctly, he started playing in the streets at the same time as Aomine-kun which gave him the strength and skill needed to play the sport. In fact, he's so skilled that he was once selected to compete for the Japan All-Star Cup earlier in our second year."

"Seriously?" Asahina cannot believe it.

"Then…what is this Hikigaya's playing style and what happened to him?" Kagami pressed further.

"He had no specific skills but he's a pretty capable player, almost at the level of Akashi-kun," Kuroko explains specifically, "He can pass smoothly, can shoot quick-release shots, perform high-level dribbling, and has good footwork. But if there is anything I remember most of him, he's capable of air walking and aerial battle."

Kagami, Asahina, and Yagi listened intently.

"But…" Kuroko then continued, "He left in the latter part of our second year middle school time because he didn't like what he was witnessing and that's the gradual transformation of the once-happy basketball team. Because Aomine-kun and the others began to get bored from winning a lot of matches, they began to toy around our opponents and that's one thing Hikigaya-kun didn't like at all. He loves basketball at that time. Perhaps, he loved it more than I do."

Kagami then remembered that this was the year where the GoM was finally born.

"When we faced Shoei which happened to be Kiyoshi-senpai's team at that time, the other five simply crushed and further humiliated them, especially Kiyoshi-senpai. That's what finally snapped Hikigaya-kun," Kuroko went on, "He tried to tell his frustrations to our teammates but he was just simply brushed off and that's what hurt him the most. After that, he returned to his hometown in Chiba. Since then, we never heard from him again."

Kuroko then remained silent as he was just finished telling his story. Just remembering it is already giving him painful nostalgia. Kagami and the other two also kept quiet as they didn't know what to think of the story. Man, that simply sucks! The Seirin power forward said to himself as he knew Kuroko himself has underwent a similar experience.

Suddenly, Kuroko switched from one expression to another expression as he raises up his head and then gives an order to Kagami, "Kagami-kun, tell everyone that we would have an emergency meeting at the middle center. Now."

The phone buzzed incessantly in Akashi's pocket. Who was it? He was in the middle of practice so his father would know not to call him. Just so everyone knows, Akashi is also the student council president which is why he was sighing as he thinks at first that it's coming from none other than the officers under his control.

He flipped up his smartphone and sat stock-still. Did someone just text him? Ever since the Teiko basketball team had graduated into different schools, Akashi-kun had only texted his teammates rarely, which was that time before the Winter Cup to the match against Jabberwocks last year. But when he checked the sender, he was quite confused. It's coming from the Ministry of Sports. What do they want now?

Opening the inbox, he then read it and doing so, he was quite shocked at the contents of the message. ""Dear Akashi Seijurō, Captain of Rakuzan High's basketball club," the message greeted, "We are pleased to invite you to be a national player in the Olympic Games that are to be held in Japan this coming summer vacation on August. You may invite any players you deem fit to be on your team to play. As we understand that you are a high school student, we will allow you access to the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium used for InterHigh at any time. We will notify you when the gymnasium is in use. Please fill in the compulsory form and send it to the Ministry of Sports. Thank you. Regards, the Ministry of Sports, Japan."

The red headed point guard stood in shock as he didn't expect this kind of invitation. The Olympics Basketball tournament? Since it would be held in Japan, the country would be compelled to send a representative in all of the games that would be held. Then it hit him. If the minister said that I had the free hand to choose any players that I want, then that means one thing. For the knowledge of all, this is the Akashi that has been freed of his alter-ego known as Bokushi as he had acquired the Complete Emperor Eye though it didn't mean he would be evil to those who deserves it. But for this reason alone, he went back to his original self and that starts with how he calls his former Teiko teammates by their surnames as a sign of respect.

To: Kuroko/Midorima/Murasakibara/Kise/Aomine

From: Akashi

Subject: Emergency Meeting

I'm summoning you all to an emergency meeting this coming second week on April. It'll be on Maji Burger and you are all required to be there by 10 am. This especially goes for you Aomine or expect that your stash of pornographic magazines would be as good as gone. And Kuroko, I expect that you don't bring that phony of a light in Kagami even though he'll be considered soon.

After a while…

1 Message Received

From: Midorima

Subject: Okay

Yes Akashi. I would be there as long as our team isn't doing anything.

1 Message Received

From: Murasakibara

Subject: Okay

Okay, Aka-chin.

1 Message Received

From: Kise

Subject: Akashicchi messaged me

Yay! Akashicchi just sent me a text message! This is rare Akaschicchi. Of course, I would be there. This is Kise Ryouta at your—

Deleted

1 Message Received

From: Kuroko

Subject: Okay?

I'll just go there. See you Akashi-kun. But , what's the reason for the meeting?

1 Message Received

From: Aomine

Subject: Hell no!

I'll be there, Akashi, sheesh. Just don't even dare to touch Mai-Chan's magazines, you shorty!

Heh? Akashi smirked as he sends another message.

To: Kuroko/Midorima/Murasakibara/Kise/Aomine

From: Akashi

Subject: Olympics Basketball Tournament

Good question, Kuroko. The subject says all. Since I've been tasked to form the national squad, we'll be discussing in our meeting how the former Teiko regulars would form the core of the team as well as adding some other veterans. That's all and have a nice day. Oh and Aomine, I didn't know you wanted to die early. You'll regret what you just said.

Somewhere in Tokyo, a certain tanned man was shivering at the thought of being cut down by his captain's scissors.

"Whaaaaat?!"

The voice of Kagami roared on the bus as right now, the Seirin basketball team is on their way to Chiba City via a bus. After securing a permit from their principal as well as letters of permit from their parents, all the regulars were now talking excitedly about being able to conduct their training outside of Tokyo City and in this case, beside the sea.

"Oi, Kagami!" The voice of Aida Kagetora, the father of Riko, shouted at the red haired power forward as he was close to pulling out his pistol, "Keep your babbling mouth shut or I'll personally stitch it close."

"Sorry!" The ace shivered at hearing the threat of their new head coach as he then squirms and then scoots closer to Kuroko, who was reading his test message. "Oi, Kuroko. Why the hell does that Akashi bastard excluding me from the meeting if it concerns the Olympics Basketball? We beat his ass the second time already and—"

"First and foremost, we got beaten in the Interhigh so we need to avenge that," Kuroko cut him off, "Second, he's got the free rein so there's nothing we can do if he doesn't want you there for now. Third, please keep your voice down, Kagami-kun. You don't want us to all suffer from our new coach's wrath, right?"

Kagami snorted as he realized Kuroko got a point. While they had swept the Winter Cup for a two peat and they're gunning for a three peat, they haven't conquered the Interhigh yet and the best place they got was second place. He was also groaning at the fact that it was Kagetora of all people who decided to take over the coaching duties of the basketball club after her daughter pleaded with her puppy eyes to take care of the Seirin boys. Not wanting to deny her beloved Riko, Kagetora sighed as he accepted it in the end but on the condition that these team won't give him a headache or they know what's in store for them the next time Kagetora sees them.

"By the way, cappy," Kagami called Kuroko with his captain moniker, "I heard that you and coach Kagetora-san had talked about the place that we would go and stay until the first week of April. Why Chiba of all places? Does it have to do with this Hikigaya guy?"

Kuroko didn't respond at first, preferring to continue reading the remaining paragraphs in his light novel. After a while, he closed his book as he finally spoke, "The truth is, I didn't have that much thought about Hikigaya-kun when me and Kagetora-san talked about where we would have our training camp but then, I just thought that if we go to Chiba, there might be a good chance I could ran to him and tell him everything that has happened while he was gone."

"Well…that seems logical but…" Kagami scratched his head, "Chiba's quite a large city. I don't think you can find this Hikigaya guy in just two weeks. But oh well, if we did find him, I'll immediately challenge him to a basketball match, even if it's just for a few minutes."

"I expected such an answer from a basketball baka," Kuroko sighed at his partner's childish behaviour, "But if that's going to happen, don't underestimate him. As I said, he was almost as good as Akashi-kun."

At last, after almost an hour or more of travel time, the whole team finally reached the inn where they would stay for two weeks. The boys were assembled in front of the courtyard, a seemingly joyful and excited atmosphere hanging over them. All that was on their minds was the fact that they would be spending a two weeks in a basketball training camp far away from the boisterous city life in Tokyo while being able to rest and recreate in beside the sea. The cold winds blew pass the group as Yagi was already shaking in total excitement at the adventures lying ahead of them.

"So what shall we do first here, Kagami-kun?" Kuroko suddenly asked out of nowhere as Kagetora is busy speaking with the old caretaker of the inn.

"You decide. You're the one appointed as captain by Hyuuga-senpai, Kuroko." Kagami replied as he was busy enjoying the fresh wind blowing in his face.

"Hmmmm…I can't think of any activities, though." Kuroko put his hand in his chin as he made a deep thought. "Well, we can just…"

"Oi, Kuroko, Bakagami!" Kagetora suddenly shouted, "Get you asses over here before you can even think of doing something perverted, brats. We must get inside first the session hall before you can all unwind of them. I have couple of things to say about our activities. Boys, inside!"

"Yes, sir!" The players answered in unison as they all immediately rushed inside the entrance like floodwaters in the dam making a crashing escape. Instantly, they all sat in the rows and columns of desks found in the surprisingly roomy session hall as everyone makes themselves comfortable, with Kuroko being in front as the captain and Kagami in his side as the ace and, for some reason—or rather, surprisingly—the de facto vice-captain of the team since despite his lack of intellectual skills, his large frame, deep voice, and being the only reliable mouthpiece of Kuroko was his way of compensating for whatever thing he lacked as a normal second-on-command to the current leader of the whole squad.

"Okay, boys!" Kagetora cleared his throat as he began to speak, "First and foremost, our two weeks of stay here would be nothing short of merciless. We'll train you like how international teams train their rosters. Everyone must wake up tomorrow at 4 am!"

Everyone shivered at this as this isn't normal for them but nevertheless, they answered, "Yes!"

"Second, the moment you all wake up, you have to run some laps outside the inn and besides the shore," Kagetora said as he crosses his arms, "We'll do the daily routine here but three times the effort along with some additional modifications in the training regime. Lastly, tomorrow in the afternoon, we'll have our very first tune-up game with a school here."

"A game?!" Kagami exclaimed rather excitedly as his ears perked up.

"Kagami-kun, please keep down your excitement, okay?" Kuroko calmly reminded him as he then asks, "Coach, what's the name of the school we would verse tomorrow?"

Kagetora smirks before he answers, "Sobu High School."