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Despite his reputation in their middle school days, Nijimura Shuzo himself had his own list of people to fear and respect although as time passes, he got used to it eventually. His list of people to not upset ranged from his own mother, who really is a monster if she found out that he neglected his father's needs, to his own Teiko coach who had no qualms punishing his players through increased training menu. Don't forget Himuro Tatsuya whom the raven met back in America. The pretty-faced former shooting guard of Yosen wouldn't hesitate to use tricks and deceit in order to obtain what he needed. Okay, the last part made him sound like he was some kind of a villain but that wasn't the point.

If anyone would ask about his list of people he likes to scare off, it won't be a surprise if he puts Haizaki or Aomine in the top of the list. The former was especially noted because of his tendency to slack off during practice sessions just for the sake of playing in the arcades.

His list of scary people wasn't ranked but he was already sure that his mother and their demonic coach is on the top if he even bothered. Right now, that list just had another addition in the name Yukinoshita Haruno, who is currently smiling like nothing life-threatening is happening but judging the glare Hikigaya Hachiman is showing and the worried expression of Ogiwara Shigehiro, he knew from the start that this woman is someone he shouldn't mess with despite only meeting her a few hours ago.

At this point, they were in a restaurant that serves Kobe beef steak and similar beef dishes as the whole atmosphere was getting more awkward as time passes. On one table is the clique of Hayama Hayato and Miura Yumiko as well as one-half of the Service Club. On the other table is the elder Yukinoshita, Hikigaya, Ogiwara, and Nijimura. The latter two weren't even expecting that they would be invited to this impromptu lunch although they accepted it in the end out of respect and courtesy especially that they were aware that they are talking to a Yukinoshita.

"It's so quiet that honestly, it's so creepy Yukinon." Yuigahama whispered in silence as the younger Yukinoshita can only nod in agreement to her.

"Knowing Hikki, I'm pretty sure he would want to laze around at home by this time." Yuigahama tried to lighten up the mood but she failed since Miura kept stealing glances on the other side of the table.

After a few minutes, the heavy Kobe steak was served to the two table and as Yukinoshita Haruno tried to cut the meat for Hikigaya, the latter simply barked at her. "Yukinoshita-san, I can cut my own food."

"Ah…so meanie, Hikigaya-kun!" Haruno pretended to cry, which only served to irritate Nijimura, who is beginning to question the real motive of Haruno. "I'm being kind to you today, you know…"

"Let him go, Yukinoshita-san." Nijimura stepped in to back up his kouhai. "He can decide for himself so don't cut his food for him. Besides, you're not the one who's going to eat it."

For a while, Haruno only looked at Nijimura with emotionless eyes but sooner, she smiled at him with a cold and dark grin that Ogiwara noticed and almost made him spit the water in his mouth. Scary! The Jinsei Auxiliary standout couldn't have used a far better compliment. He then accidentally moved his eyes on the other table and to his adding fear, he saw Yukinoshita Yukino looking at their table with an equally cold and icy blue orbs which Ogiwara can describe is steely. God bless me! What did I do to deserve being here?! Hikigaya, can we hurry up and leave this place now?!

Unperturbed, Nijimura simply said a small "tsk" and began to cut his Kobe beef. Hikigaya did the same thing although he was still glaring at the elder Yukinoshita, who began to chew her food while acting cuddly to the boy with rotten eyes. Ogiwara did the same thing although his hands are shaking from the momentary fright that he experienced.

As they were all eating peacefully, Hikigaya had only one theory as to why she specifically called the two of his basketball teammates to eat with them. Yukinoshita-san simply wants to know more about me. Scary but at the same time, cunning if she managed to coax the two to agree with it. That's why I don't like out-of-courtesy dates.

"Neh, Ogiwara-san…" Haruno called out to the shocked brunette using her sickly sweet voice. "Why did Kuroko-san denied my invitation?"

"Well…he needed to go to with the rest of the Miracles for a separate lunch." Ogiwara calmly replied although internally, he was screaming as to why he was the one being asked. "Besides, it's not like he can defy Akashi that casually outside of basketball matters."

"Oh? So he defied me instead?" Those six words that she let out sounded like she was just kidding but in a way that it caused the three males in her table to look at her with a stunned yet disgusted reaction. "Oh? Hahaha, I'm just joking here. Let's all enjoy the lunch."

As peace once again descended, Hikigaya can't help but look at the other table and strangely, they were all quiet as well that it sounds like the world is about to end. A rare sight to see Yuigahama electing to keep her mouth shut. But knowing the situation we're currently in, I'd probably choose to see her go off rather to see myself in an unusual environment. Wait, isn't that supposed to be one of my 108 skills—to be able to remain unaffected by anything?

"Guys, I'm going to the washroom." Hikigaya suddenly said as he felt like wanting to go and answer the call of nature. As the three people watch the boy stand up and leave their sight, Haruno simply smiled as Nijimura didn't know what to say of the cold silence. Good grief, was it because of the fact that the air-conditioning unit is too cold or because we're the only ones eating in this expensive place? Now that I think of it, she even paid our meals.

The raven shook off those thoughts and continued eating his meal while Ogiwara did the same. But suddenly, Haruno began to talk again. "Ogiwara-kun, Nijimura-kun, tell me a funny story."

"Hah?" Nijimura felt a bit offended as the beef in his teeth fell back to the plate. "What do you mean abou—"

"I mean, please share me a good story about Hikigaya-kun in his Teiko days." Haruno requested in her sickly-sweet voice that Ogiwara found it a bit hard not to say no to her request. But even before the former Meiko ace can say a thing, Nijimura had beaten him to it.

"Actually, there are some stories about him and Kuroko." Nijimura replied so as to not anymore prolong the suffering that is the cold atmosphere that was choking them. "It may not be much but I do hope you enjoy it."

"You have my attention!" Haruno gave the raven a thumbs-up as Yukino, despite being in the other table, heard it as well as evident with her two ears shaking like a feline creature.

"Well…you see, back when Kise was still a newbie…"

"Which part of 'no' that you don't understand Kise-kun?" Kuroko asked irritably, a rare display of emotion on his voice, "You're not ready and I am not going to give permission to challenge Haizaki-kun." Kise pouted at that one. "Not yet..." Kuroko added, hopefully Kise would be more patient with him.

By this time, Kise had just barely been able to get himself accustomed to the team although this was already a week after he had played a practice match with Kuroko and the second string. As Kise was pleading his case with Kuroko, Hikigaya was just nearby as he was practicing his jump shots while Aomine and Murasakibara were having a one-on-one session in an attempt for the tanned ace to try (but failed) to get past the giant purple head. Midorima was simply overseeing the whole practice as both Nijimura and Akashi were out for some paper works of the team that they needed to sort out.

Kise whined and now kneeled in the floor. "But Kurokocchi! If I never try, I'd never know when I'll be ready! Please, just this once!"

"You're not ready at this state." Kuroko stated with a tone of finality as seen in his clam baby blue eyes. "Akashi-kun most likely will allow it when you've finally accustomed yourself to the training here. However it would be me who Akashi-kun questioned his decision if you challenged Haizaki-kun in public." He pointed out a dangerous fact.

"But…"

"Oi, Kise…" At this point, Hikigaya decided to intervene on Kuroko's behalf. "Listen to your trainer for once! Besides, you don't even know yet how Haizaki plays and frankly speaking, it would end up badly for you at your current state."

"Eh?! Hikigayacchi! But still…"

"No buts! I will let you once you're ready and until then please, don't be reckless, Kise-kun." Kuroko ordered sternly, giving no room for argument. "That's it for today."

However, in the end, Kise ended up challenging Haizaki the next day and without Kuroko's consent. As Hikigaya predicted, Kise was mercilessly crushed by the silverette teen and the Phantom Sixth Man, with the help of Hikigaya, was forced to lie to Akashi that Kise had his consent and he let the blonde to do it so he could have first-hand experience of Haizaki's ability.

Kise apologized profusely to him and Hikigaya after that incident and promised he won't let the two of them down ever again.

"Just remembering that incident makes my head ache so much…" Nijimura leaned his forehead in his right hand. "But somehow, it still ended up in a better situation for the three of them, with Haizaki's demotion and the subsequent eviction from the club."

Haruno said nothing but her face was red in her attempt to stop laughing at the story that she just heard from the former captain of Teiko. "Wow, didn't know that blonde used to be that hard-headed." Ogiwara replied. "But then again, it's Teiko and those guys, with the exception of Kuroko and Hikigaya, were left on their own. I wouldn't be surprised if I hear them doing outrageous things such as slacking off."

"You wouldn't want to know, then." Nijimura sighed as all of the sudden, Hikigaya is already coming out of the washroom ad quietly sat back to his chair as he began to eat his meal again. Once again, the four of them began to eat.

Quickly, the two tables had already finished their meals as Nijimura sipped his drink after chewing the last bits of his beef steak. "By the, I'll be leaving now. I needed to attend to some matters. Ogiwara, you coming or not?"

"Ah….yes! I'll come!" The brunette didn't want to stay any longer Yukinoshita Haruno, who already finished her meal as well. "I wanted to play some basketball a bit longer." Ogiwara then took out a basketball as a sign that he indeed is playing. "By the way, thanks for the meal, Yukinoshita-san. We appreciate it."

More like you were forced into it. Hikigaya sighed as he checks his phone for the time.

"Neh, Hikigaya, you wanna play some hoops?" Ogiwara offered.

"Well, I don't see why I shouldn't at this point." Hikigaya then glanced at Yuigahama and Yukino on the other side of the table. "I'll see you tomorrow, Yukinoshita. Yuigahama."

As the three males then go outside of the restaurant, Yukinoshita can only blankly watch him leave the premises as Yuigahama then taps her shoulders in a show of sympathy. "Neh, Yukinon, why don't you come with us? We'll go to a nearby mall to try out the newly-released sneakers in their fashion department."

"Yuigahama-san, Hikigaya-kun isn't coming so I'm not coming…" The Service Club president whispered but Yuigahama heard her anyway.

"Eh? Yukinon?"

"Ehem…" Yukino coughed to clear her throat. "What I mean is I still had some things to do so I cannot come with you."

Akashi sighed as he was now coming home to the Akashi Family's summer house in Tokyo after a day in lunch with the former members of the Generation of Miracles. In fact, he enjoyed it as he watch Aomine and Murasakibara kick out Kagami, who tried to join them for the reason that he wanted to be with Kuroko but Akashi didn't approve it and ordered the two players in his former Teiko team to throw out the other redhead from the restaurant that he even ordered to close down for the day so that they can have peace. The Red Emperoro watched amusedly as Kagami was seen from the window hurling invectives at him before he went away.

If only Hikigaya stayed a bit longer, he would have gone with us as well.

The Emperor Eye user thought deeply as he knew Yukinoshita Haruno had beat him to it first, no matter how he wanted to deny it. On the other hand, he was highly sceptical of the elder Yukinoshita's intentions. I doubt it's anything good, if there's any intention at all.

And right now, he was faced with another crisis on hand.

The coach asked me to set a training camp but where? And how?

Suddenly, he had an idea so he quickly pulled out his phone and began to type furiously.

To: Kuroko/Midorima/Murasakibara/Kise/Aomine/Hikigaya

From: Akashi

Subject: Emergency Meeting at Sobu High School

We'll have an early meeting at Hikigaya's school in two days so don't be late, especially you Aomine or else, expect that you would be banned from even buying those lewd magazines you are craving off every day. Kuroko, inform the others to be present as well. Hikigaya, tell that demon beauty in Yukinoshita and that loudmouth to clear the whole Service Club room so that we can use it as a meeting room or else, Yuigahama will lose her tongue. P.S. Murasakibara, I will be the one who'll pay your plane tickets so don't dare to come late.

After a few minutes, replied began to flow in, with some spewing some counterblasts.

1 Message Received

From: Midorima

Subject: Akashi…

I'll be there but next time, stop deciding so easily. You know that my coach gets irritated with the timing that you always give. I'm lucky enough that Otsubo-senpai had graduated already.

1 Message Received

From: Murasakibara

Subject: Okay.

Yay! Thanks for the free tickets, Aka-chin.

1 Message Received

From: Kise

Subject: Seriously?!

Akashicchi, I'll be there but please, be more considerate of my workload. I'm scheduled to have a photoshoot with one of Japan's best models in Kanakocchi…

Deleted

1 Message Received

From: Kuroko

Subject: Okay

Me and Kagami-kun will be there. I'll also inform the others.

1 Message Received

From: Aomine

Subject: I'll be there, Mother Hen!

Just don't deprive me of my magazines, you dickhead!

1 Message Received

From: Hikigaya

Subject: Fine.

Keep out Yuigahama with this one, though. She isn't even doing anything to you at all.

"My, my, there are really people who loved going against me?"

To: Kuroko/Midorima/Murasakibara/Kise/Aomine/Hikigaya

From: Akashi

Subject: Emergency Meeting at Maji Burger

Midorima, are you doubting me? You are already perfectly excused from your practices with Shutoku so don't be too much worried on your training schedule. Murasakibara, for once, I can say "Welcome" to you for your gratefulness. Kise, you can choose: meeting or the fact that you can lose your pretty face when you skip the meeting since I'll have it forcefully scraped off. Kuroko, as expected from my dependable teammate. Aomine, did I just read you disrespecting me? For starters, you can choose between not reading your gravure magazines for a month or for the first day of the upcoming training camp, your training menu is would be increased eightfold at maximum or sextupled at minimum, depending on my mood. Hikigaya, I'll let this slide for once but tell the two to clean it up as fast as they can.

A brown-eyed girl with a bob cut, full lips, and thin nose watched the two males from the other side of the road playing in a nearby street-basketball court as she was comfortable sitting in a coffee shop. She narrowed her eyelids to focus her vision and confirm the hypothesis that was forming into her mind.

Yeah, it was exactly what she thought.

That's Hikigaya alright, and he's playing basketball?

Not only that but he seemed to be enjoying himself as he and the boy with brunette hair were busy going against each other in the court. If anything, it was just all plain weird as the girl watch Hikigaya overwhelm the taller opponent by dribbling and dashing his way before entering into a smooth layup. Although they had only talked a few times in the several months since they were meta each other again last years, Orimoto Kaori still couldn't shake Hikigaya Hachiman from her thoughts. Whether it was guilt for that incident in middle school, intrigue at his new Service Club that he joined or just plain morbid curiosity at those rotten orbs, he often seemed to be a topic of her intrigue.

And right now, she can't help but admire Hikigaya's shooting form.

As she laid her eyes on the scene in the street court, she noticed that he looked a little different since the last time she'd seen him. He was brawnier, stood up straight instead of slouching and damn, his eyes were still ugly but it looked like the eyes of a predator who didn't want to give up a challenge or lose a fight like his life depended on it. He was looking healthy or rather, he was radiating an energy that she can't explain what it is. Frankly, she couldn't believe it was the same person but the vibe the guy had shown is enough for her to confirm his identity.

She watched the two of them suddenly stop playing as it looked like a phone was rang. Surprisingly for her, it seemed to belong to Hikigaya as he's the one who opened it and in a few seconds, Orimoto noticed his face being crunched up as though he didn't like the message he read. After he scribbles a few letters, he put the phone back in his duffel bag. It was at this point where he heard the boy faintly say something on the lines of "Was that Akashi or Kuroko?" To which Hikigaya replied. "Akashi. Seems like we're having a meeting in two days at my school about the training camp that Coach Shirogane mentioned."

Kuroko? Akashi? Shirogane? Training Camp? Interesting. Orimoto thought, I'll have to keep those things in mind.

It now became apparent to her that Hikigaya is engaged in some kind of workout or training.

She leaned back and took a bite of her coffee bread. It was clear that Hikigaya had been involved with a basketball team although that alone contradicted everything she knew about him. She then felt the urge to know what happened to him. However, she couldn't just up and ask the guy to hang out. That would be too out of character, both for her to ask and for him to agree without a good reason.

Thus, Orimoto Kaori pushed back the thought into her mind and made a note to find an excuse to interact with the boy within the coming days.

Sneak Peak: The Akatsuki Five met together at Sobu High School to discuss about the upcoming training camp. Thus, hilarity ensues as all the former Teiko players threw up suggestions, leading Komachi to comments that they're the craziest team that she had seen. Meanwhile, Hiratsuka is planning a separate event for the one-fourth of the Service Club and Hayama's clique and she was up to something evil. Even Yukinoshita Yukino won't see it coming.

Games to Expect:

- Japan versus the Philippines (practice match)

- Teiko alumni versus Kaihin Sougou High school (practice match)