Summary [chapter 10]: 'It feels like vacation, mused Miyuki. The sun, the beach, the sand in her toes.' Except Riko's cooking and training is going to kill the entire team, including her, as well. It was okay, though, because she was sure it was going to be amusing. Shutoku might even make the training camp even more fun.
A/N: The beginning of this chapter has some references about 'Fragments' first side-story, 'Ob(li)vious' with Hyuuga and Riko as a romantic pairing (plus Izuki and Masuko's friendship). You don't have to read it to understand though that one is quite amusing.
Following the canon chronology with some additions for the purpose of the story. Main pairing of the story: Midorima x OC.
Written in the third person. The words in italic are characters' thoughts and the words written like this are said in another language (French or English). No harem x OC.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my OCs
[SUMMER TRAINING CAMP ARC]
FRAGMENTS
~.~
Chapter 10: a trip to hell
To Shun's relief, classes were finally over, meaning they were one day closer to summer holidays. Now, all he wanted to do was going to practice although the weather in Tokyo was horribly hot and humid.
Of course the fact he and Masuko-chan overheard Hyuuga and Coach talking about the summer training camp yesterday only amplified his impatience although he also had in mind Coach's cooking.
Talking about her...
The familiar voice of Coach cut his thoughts.
"Hey Hyuuga-kun, Masuko-chan, how about the beach?"
"Yeah, sounds good too."
Why did it look like a scene from a shoujo every time he looked at them interacting alone?
Like yesterday, when Masuko-chan and he escaped from the tactical meeting and spied on them. Well, he was sure Koganei and the other who were watching them as well would agree.
"Beach sure is amazing!"
... Maybe it didn't totally look like a shoujo scene with the manager's presence. Masuko-chan was looking forward to going to training camp and now, it just looked like two parents with their excited child.
"Or perhaps the mountains?"
Hyuuga shruged. "Yeah, sounds good too."
"Mountains are also amazing!"
"Hyuuga-kun, are you even listening to me?"
"Mh? Yeah. Rather... Wherever is fine. The main thing is we get hold our training camp."
DON'T PLAN OUR TRIP TO HELL IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF A COUPLE.
After the end of term test, summer vacation was finally beginning, meaning they could spend all their day training.
Shun didn't know if he should feel happy or not about it (but he was sure he would puke... and sweat... and puke again).
"This year, we'll hold two training camps, one at the beginning and end of summer vacation. One at the beach and one in the mountain."
Now he knew what to think.
I'm going to die! Everyone is going to die because they went with both!
"The goal this time is to prepare for the qualifications and to overcome our weaknesses, which we've been made aware of in the last game. And since we're lacking members, stamina is important for us. So we'll increase the amount of jogging in our normal training. Masuko-chan here will help us with this since good stamina is required to play an entire football game."
"I will do my best to make it not too painful for you."
He wasn't sure if he should feel either reassured or worried by Masuko-chan's words...
"Once the holidays are over, the qualifications for the Winter Cup are around the corner. We have to make full use of the vacation so let's get into the mood! Over and out! Dismissed!"
"Thank you!"
He remembered Takeda-sensei wanted to see Coach to talk about the training camp's budget. After she left, he observed one of Kagami and Kuroko's usual bickerings.
"They're speaking like usual but they're still not making passes to each other."
It was true.
It wasn't like they were cold towards each other and they we still hanging out together after classes (although not as much as they used to) but it was like... they were avoiding each other on the court, during a match.
"Will they be fine...?"
"Yeah, I guess," said cooly Kiyoshi.
Of course, he would say something like that. Kiyoshi was always the optimistic one.
"Kiyoshi... But Kagami didn't even throw one pass today."
"Don't worry about it. Miyuki is training Kagami very hard. In winter he'll be back."
Masuko-chan told him more about how Kiyoshi fooled her by not telling who he really was and how she was not sure if him being airheaded was real or not. Himself could not answer that question after being his teammate for a year.
"Well... that's good."
Masuko-chan told him about these special training for Kagami. It was good to see that Kagami had someone that could make him a better ace because that was what he was looking for.
"EVERYONE! ASSEMBLE AGAIN!"
"What's going on?"
"Wasn't training over?"
Oh, he knew where it was going...
Hyuuga was right about panicking. Shun was also panicking inside at the simple thought of her "cooking".
"Listen... You all heard about the training camp just now bu... Right now, we're... facing a great crisis."
He could read the confusion on the first years' faces.
Poor innocent kouhai...
"Since we're holding two camps this year, we reserved cheap inns since last year we only hod one. And we'll have to cook for ourselves. That's where the problem starts."
Problem?
More like imminent death.
"Our Coach will do the cooking!"
Silence.
His fellow second years knew they were doomed while the first years just stared at them, even more confused than before.
Poor innocent kouhai, really.
"...Eh? She... shouldn't?"
"Of course not! You saw her sweet lemons before right."
"I did not," Masuko-chan replied.
Right, she was not there for the semi-final... Masuko-chan had been lucky.
"Basically..."
"We're doomed!"
They finally understood they were all going to die.
"Her cooking already passes the boundaries of eatable. "
Yep, they couldn't even talk about food anymore.
"Then we just have to cook it ourselves...?"
"I would like to do it... But the training schedule is so hellish, no one will be able to move after! Don't underestimate it."
And now he did not know what was the worst: dying from exhaustion or dying from Coach's food...
In fact, he knew: the worst was a combination of both.
"I might be able cook since my practice schedule will be lighter than yours."
"Do you know how to cook?"
"Miyuki-san makes the best hot chocolate."
Was Shun dreaming or did Kuroko just smiled while talking about the hot chocolate Masuko-chan apparently made for him? His kouhai were so cute, Shun was moved.
"As long as it's not Japanese cooking, it will be fine."
Uh?
Why not Japanese cooking?
"Masuko-chan, you're our savior!"
Masuko-chan might be strange and confusing sometimes but they were quite lucky to have her as their manager.
"Okay, Coach. Are you ready?"
"Leave it to me!"
Riko-san looked really confident... While everybody else did not.
Did these sweet lemons that Riko-san make when Miyuki couldn't be there were that bad?
She was still at the hospital at the time so she didn't really know to what extent Riko-san's cooking was horrible.
"Tasting meeting?"
"Just a cover-up. We can't tell her 'you suck at cooking, practice more!' We'll taste it and give her advice after, so she can improve."
Hyuuga-senpai's crush on Riko-san probably had to do something like that since he was easily angered recently (the fact he knew Izuki-senpai since middle school or even before must have done that she thought to herself).
"By the way, can you cook?"
"As long as it's not Japanese."
"A bit."
"Not really."
"No!"
"The best one is probably Mitobe. How about you, Kuroko?"
"I won't lose at boiling eggs."
"Taiga can–"
"What are you talking about? The first dish is done... It's curry!"
Uh?
"What's that!"
Definitely NOT curry... Or eatable food.
"Eh... They're all uncut?! What was that cutting earlier then?"
"Eh, isn't this a bit difficult to eat?"
"Rather why curry? It's curry, right?"
At least she wasn't the only one who was unsure about what was the... dish in front of them.
"A classic."
"Ignore the presentation, it tastes good. It's simply curry."
She truly hoped the presentation didn't mean anything... After all, Tatsuya's cooking was very messy but turned out to taste so good.
"Then... Time to dig in."
She met Taiga's eyes and she knew he too was praying in his head like they did every time maman made food for them.
And God, she was right to be afraid.
It tasted awful.
She turned her head to watch the rest of the team and their faces all screamed the same thing.
'Genocide to our gustative nerves.'
"Wow, it ltastes like my mother's cooking," was the only thing she could find.
"Really?"
She didn't mean it as a compliment AT ALL but seeing Eiko-san's warm smile made her think about her mom. She was still in France, along with the rest of her family but she missed her so much... She even missed her atrocious cooking.
That might be why she continued to eat. Because Riko-san somehow reminded her about maman. The smile, the cooking...
"Just say if you want seconds."
Riko-san's smile was worth it so she continued to eat more or less normally, getting used to the strange mix of tastes.
But of course, Riko-san noticed the everyone else's expressions and her smile faded, hesitation now dominating her.
"I guess it doesn't... taste that good?"
Miyuki decided she really hated seeing strong, determined Riko-san sad, so she continued to eat her dish like she was doing thirty seconds ago. She was glad to see Hyuuga-senpai also saw Riko-san's bruised hand and decided to eat and finish as soon as possible.
Riko-san saw Hyuuga-senpai's will to eat her dish and Miyuki could not help but see the soft look she had sometimes while watching Hyuuga-senpai playing. Maybe Izuki-senpai and she wouldn't have to do anything.
"Thank you for the meal, Riko-san," she said before leaving with crutches in her hands and going to drink water somewhere else.
It might be odd to say but she tasted worst and she was sure Taiga would agree with her.
She came back five minutes later only to find Hyuuga-senpai had fainted after closing the door, Teppei was sweating bullets and Mitobe-senpai wasn't responding. It might be time to ask Taiga for help...
Today was finally the start of their first training camp and Taiga was all fired up. Captain said they would arrive in thirty minutes so now, they were still in the train...
He watched Emilie sleeping on his shoulder. She looked so peaceful he didn't know if he should get reassured or worried.
He talked with uncle last night and he knew she could feel down, especially considering how it happened a year ago. He was already concerned by the fact she didn't say anything after she read Tina's letter the other time but... He found her sudden lack of sleep weird.
Every morning, she looked so tired during breakfast and she almost slept during math classes once.
Okay, it was math but Masuko Miyuki Emilie never slept in class.
Never.
He thought during the first three days that the reeducation was rough and it really was the case... but after the fifth day, she got used to it and seeing how lively she was even after her reeducation session at coach's father's gym only confirmed what he thought (plus Emilie survived the whole year training in these guys' training conditions).
But apart from that, she looked normal. Maybe he should not worry so much... But it was Emilie, so he would wait if she wanted to say anything to him and she knew he knew it too probably.
"Kagami-kun."
He jumped in surprise and Emilie's head moved slightly, but not enough to wake her up yet and he whispered in return to Kuroko, "Why the hell are you scaring me in the morning?"
"Why does Kagami-kun look worried? Is it about Miyuki-san?" Kuroko asked
Still blunt as ever. He briefly looked at Emilie again before answering, "It's nothing."
Of course, he wasn't convinced. It was Kuroko after all, the one who was almost as observant as Emilie.
"Okay..." He watched around him. Everyone was still sleeping or talking quietly between them. "I just think... I'm worried about her."
Maybe he was a worry wort too. But he had the right to be a worry wort for her.
"Kagami-kun is a good friend, so Miyuki-san will be okay."
Taiga had some doubt about that. "If you say so." Kuroko was probably worried too (he was beginning to differentiate his facial expressions) and wanted to know about Emilie. "You know..."
Should he continue? Well, he trusted him enough now.
So did Emilie.
"She's been through hell during her last year in middle school and it's been a year since the accident... I'm not the one who should tell you about this but the accident was a big part why she's been through a trial."
Her former Coach. He hated that piece of shit.
"Is it about... the emotional abuse when she was in middle school?"
"Not really..."
It's not 'just' that, he completed in his mind.
"Everyone, we've finally arrived!"
Captain's voice cut their discussion and he slightly shook Emilie to wake her up. She rubbed her eyes, still looking sleepy.
"Time for the summer training camp, sleeping beauty."
"Already?"
He wished he could let her sleep again but...
"... Yeah."
He handed her the crutches before leaving the train.
"Ah, we're here."
"The smell of the beach is... Ah! We have to–"
"Where's Coach?"
Thank God, someone had interrupted Izuki-senpai's pun. Taiga wasn't in the mood for that.
"There are a lot of things to carry so she took the car. Also, shut up Izuki."
"This is a pretty nice place..."
It did look nice, and almost as great as Los Angeles' beach.
"It'll become hell in an instant, though."
"It's the sea, let's swim!"
"This is a training camp, idiots!"
They proceed to walk to the hotel where they would sleep for the two next weeks. He chatted quietly with Emilie about the additional training and things he would do to improve his game sense because he knew acting instinctively was not enough to become number one in Japan. He even began to watch old games with Emilie, Kuroko and Coach to improve his sense of observation (and got teased for 'Bakagami being finally clever').
"Hmmm... This looks questionable."
The hotel was pretty close to the beach but yeah, it looked like one of these cheap hotels.
"It's pretty run-down."
"Excuse me, but where's the restroom?"
"Shut up, all of you!" screamed Captain.
Emilie looked happy though.
"It looks pretty good."
She was saying that because she brought her own team to some shady places. He remembered the guys telling how Emilie got them into the 'murder hotel' for their first training camp a few months ago. Needless to say, they managed to collect lots of money not to go through that again (something was wrong with her...).
"Yeah, Miyuki is right... It's not bad. They might be there you know. Makkuro Kurosuke will –"
"That's too fictional, Kiyoshi! Don't underestimate high school students!"
He asked Emilie, whispering (because Captain would probably murder him), "Who's that guy?"
"I have no idea Taiga, you spent more time in Japan than I."
The car coming closer stopped Captain's scolding on Kiyoshi-senpai.
"It's Coach!"
"Right on time. Everyone's here, right?"
They all nodded in response.
"So, Riko, it's okay if I leave this over there, right?"
"Yeah, thanks papa."
"Miyuki-tan!"
Coach's dad energetically waved his hand to Emilie and she greeted him back. Right, he also helped her with her re-ducation when she went to Aida's gym among other things.
"Do your best, brats. Good work! Ah... but... If you lay a hand on my daughter... I'll kill you."
"Hai."
That man was scary.
"Don't just stand there! Let's go!"
"Hai."
"Where are you going?"
"Huh? Well, to the gym."
"We won't be able to use it until evening."
Wait what?
"Eh? So what about this afternoon?"
"We're going to the beach!"
"Coach, don't tell me..."
No...
"That's right. We're playing here. I've already told you this, but for this training camp is to overcome your weaknesses."
"Weaknesses?"
That was the weaknesses he was trying to erase with Emilie's additional training to become a better player and a better ace.
"The thing that Seirin needs right now is... the improvement of all the individual players abilities."
"Coach is right."
He looked at his best friend and knew she was going to make one of these speeches.
"I know what you're thinking... 'What about teamwork?'. You're right, teamwork is important but you have to understand that to become a better team, everyone needs to evolve their own individual skills. Everyone has their own purpose in the team, meaning each of you has something different you're good at. And to make the team stronger, you need to get stronger at what you're good at. I've been through that a few months ago and it worked well."
'It worked well.'
She won Departmentals, Nationals AND got the best captain of the competition award. It worked more than enough.
"Masuko-chan is right. Don't misunderstand, we don't want to have a single strength as a team. So we have to handle our individual strengths together to become a stronger team. For the sake of winning, we need to be united."
United.
Taiga knew that he needed to become a better ace so the team could be united.
"Riko-san and I will help you to improve the basic skills one by one: shots, passes and dribbles and to accomplish all of this, the very important foundation we need to focus on are your legs."
"That's why we're practicing on this sandy beach. You're going to do the regular program here three times."
He was so going die with Coach and Emilie's training, he was not even kidding.
In fact, 'dying' was an understatement.
"Masuko-chan cannot run yet and she'll make knee and for arms exercices to strengthen them but she will help you all with passing whenever you need it. Of course, you'll be playing games between you."
"Masuko-chan..."
"... helping us with basketball?"
Oh no.
They did not say that. Ugh, she was already making that smug smile that annoyed him (to be honest, he was not totally annoyed because it was way better than seeing her sad, but still). She might be modest most of the times, but she could get pretty cocky to tease people.
His best friend could be a real pain in the ass.
"Know that you have in front of you one of the people who taught Taiga basketball."
He was going to suffer 'til the end of time for this (and yet, she did not make him call her 'sensei' or 'senpai'... Just the thought of it was a nightmare. In fact, he actually made that nightmare once but that was another story he would never tell anyone).
"Does it mean you're good at basketball too?"
"Do you still play?"
"Well..." It looks like she was looking for an answer. "I still play basketball though I've played less for the past two years, with the championships and other stuff but... I think I'm still doing pretty good, though I'm nowhere near Taiga's level since I'm mostly devoted to football."
Hahahahahahahahaha...
"What's your position?"
"I don't really have a precise position, I just can't play center."
"Too tiny for that," he whispered mockingly.
"I heard you Taiga."
Shit.
"Emilie's pretty good at making passes and shooting three-pointers," he continued.
Maybe he wouldn't get killed if he praised her?!
"Basketball is quite enjoyable," she said, smiling.
Taiga knew she loved basketball for different reasons than he did. She loved basketball because it brought he and Tatsuya closer. It was why he liked Emilie's sport, football... because it made his best friend happy.
And he couldn't wait to play basketball with her (or against her if she would finally accept his damn challenges). He would convince her to play against him... somehow. Plus she was not telling everything but just like her football style, her basketball style must have changed.
"Hopefully, I'll be able to do so before the Winter Cup. But for now, let's begin the training camp!"
"Seirin, fight!"
"Fight!"
It feels like vacation, mused Miyuki.
The sun, the beach, the sand in her toes...
Except she just made exercises for her knee and arms for three hours.
Riko-san's 'Alright, that's enough for you today!' was heaven to her. And she was now sitting on the sand, watching the guys play and taking notes. Of course, they were struggling at playing on the sand, but she could see some progress.
"Is 'dunk' the only word in your dictionary, you idiot!"
Although the sight of Taiga practically eating sand was highly entertaining, seeing Taiga and Tetsuya's every attempt to use their techniques failing reminded her of herself playing in the rain during the semi-final three months ago.
She still didn't know whether that game was a good memory or not.
Perhaps it was because all her attempts miserably failed during the entire first half-time since her very last match in middle school and that final in Regionals, or maybe because she had to play against him of all people.
But at the end, all these struggles were worth it since she could finally use her new style and make her team win.
So it was probably good for them to fail now and evolve for the Winter Cup.
"Kuroko, DON'T SLEEP!"
How could he even sleep on the sand in the middle of training?
That's kind of amazing in its own way.
She found herself being midly impressed before Riko-san's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Are you okay, Teppei? If you've got no strength left, then..."
"No... I'm fine. To fix this rusty body of mine, this is nothing."
Despite the fact Riko-san was still worried, she let it go. Miyuki didn't say a word during their brief exchange, understanding how he felt after months of rehab because it would be her turn in winter. Still
She's too soft with him.
Unlike boys, Miyuki wasn't a fool when it came to that kind of thing: she noticed Riko only called Teppei with his first name and she knew that in Japan, using someone's first name wasn't a frequent occurrence, it would either be between children, family, very close friends or... people in a romantic relationship.
Riko-san and Teppei's dynamic reminded of her dynamic between Jean and herself sometimes.
"Neh, Masuko-chan?"
Perhaps they were friendly exes as well.
"What is it, Coach?"
"How do you think they're doing?"
She could see Teppei on the corner of her eye and she knew he was listening and wanted her to be honest
"This is only the beginning... Of course, they're still laking of stamina and sometimes they're also lacking of confidence in their moves and in taking the right decision quickly, but since the defeat against Touou is recent, it's understandable. Taiga and Tetsuya must improve as athletes to make the team stronger but everyone has potential. However, I think they could all evolve to make the new Seirin."
Better, stronger Seirin.
She didn't get an answer back but Riko-san looked less insecure. It probably was about the training camp itself. She had been through that when she was captain, but their efforts weren't fruitless and it gave her more confidence for Inter High.
Fifteen minutes later, Riko-san whistled to stop the game and assemble the team.
"Good work! We're relocating to the gym this evening!"
"Y... Yeah... Bffff... I'm gonna puke."
"Alright, who's gonna carry Masuko?"
The perks of walking with crutches and not being able to use them nor walk on the sand...
"Not me!"
"Taiga, you'll pay for that."
As she predicted, the gym training session went smoothly, everyone's movements even slightly improved even causing Taiga to jump too high (fortunately, Teppei had been kind enough to carry her by piggyback, unlike someone else). Two hours later, they went back to the hotel where the first years and the senpai had separate rooms.
Miyuki went to her senpai's room to wait for Riko who had to give her a massage on her knee.
"Masuko-chan!" She looked at the new comer. It was Izuki-senpai. "What are you doing here?" he asked, sliding the door.
"I'm waiting for Riko-san so she could give me the massage for my knee."
"I see."
She threw a questioning look and he was still silent. It was highly unusual for him not to talk (and not to make puns). So she decided to ask him directly,
"Is there something in your mind, Izuki-senpai?"
He closed and opened his mouth twice before finally talking. "Say, Masuko-chan... How did you do to manage to play two positions in your team and still know your purpose to make your team better?"
"How–"
"The picture on your locker. You were wearing number eleven and though I don't know everything about football, I know this number isn't usually worn by back wingers."
So he noticed.
Not really surprising knowing he had these eyes. He must have seen it when she put her stuff in the locker Coach gave her (since she had to change her clothes for her re-education). Still, the fact he deduced that with so little clue proved he was more clever than most people thought.
"Maybe being Captain as well helped me but I had a goal." She could guess what really was on his mind.
"How did you find your goal?"
Her eyes slightly widened, knowing where it was going.
"Win the Nationals... By my own way. By being the cleverest defense and finding a creative attack..." she paused, not knowing if she could say the other part. Part of her was reluctant but seeing how he needed please made her say it.
I already avoided one subject, I can't do it again to him.
"It became my goal three months after we've officially started playing together. Before that, I was just trying to find my old self again... I did, thanks to them and they also helped me to discover my potential for attack. That's how I now play two posts and also why I wanted to win with them. Obviously, the situation is not the same for you but you need to try to find why do you want to win and how can you help with that."
"Will I find it? My purpose..."
He was now sitting on the floor with her, watching an imaginary point.
"Of course, Izuki-senpai. I can't tell you how because you're the only one who can find the answer but I can help you and the team will help you."
"I wonder if I can be strong enough..." She knew he was thinking for himself and didn't intend to say it out loud. "I mean..."
Izuki-senpai probably knew well his own limits. He wasn't a prodigy. Among the starting team, he was the one with less natural talent. But it didn't mean he coudn't get to their level.
"Of course you're strong enough, Izuki-senpai, never doubt it. And I'm sure you'll become even stronger." Izuki-senpai was now watching her strangely. "Did I say something wrong, Izuki-senpai?"
"Are you sure you're really a first-year, Masuko-chan?"
She chuckled softly, "If I was still living in France, I would be a second-year in September and..." Riko-san finally arrived, interrupting their discussion. "I was waiting for you, Riko-san."
"I'm sorry," she said an apologetic look on her face.
Twenty minutes later, Riko-san finished her massage and warned her about keeping a pillow on her leg while sleeping. Riko-san asked her again if she really was okay with sleeping with the other first years in which she replied that she had been in a male team so it did not bother her. She ended up being helped by Izuki-senpai to go back to her room.
"Thank you, Izuki-senpai."
"I should be the one to say that."
He left a peck on her cheeks before walking back to his own room. Izuki-senpai was someone good to talk to despite his 'shady' puns like Hyuuga-senpai would say –she had to admit she laughed once or twice because of Izuki-senpai's puns, resulting a slap on her head by Hyuuga-senpai screaming 'DON'T ENCOURAGE HIM!'–
"Masuko-chan!"
She looked at the room and saw they would sleep on typical Japanese bed (it was the first time for her but she did not say a word seeing how Taiga and she got shocked expressions from everyone). She insisted on the fact that she was fine about sleeping with the other first years.
"Have you chosen your couch yet?"
"No, we–"
"Then I'm sleeping between Tetsuya and Furihata-kun!"
"Wha– but Kagami's your best friend."
"Of course he is but that doesn't mean I'm an idiot."
The boys looked at her questionably but didn't say anything, probably not eager to know what she meant.
Anyway, they would discover it next morning.
Taiga sounded unfazed by her remark.
"By the way, isn't it the first time you're sleeping on a tatami?"
She sighed. Of course, Taiga would say something about it.
"It is."
"HUH?"
"I only lived in France and the U.S so I've always slept on occidental beds," she quickly replied, with a tint of shame in her voice.
"Still not used to Japanese things, uh?" asked Fukuda-kun.
"Kinda. Maman... My mother helped with learning Japanese traditions and how to behave, the only thing I don't really know about is food. That makes me think I have to wake up sooner to make us food."
"That's right. What are you planning to do?"
"You'll see..."
Eating well was very important for an athlete, especially during training camp.
"Need help?"
"It's fine Taiga, just rest. Riko-san will help me." Their eyes widened before she quickly added, "I'll be there to watch and tutor her, don't worry. She'll mainly be there to help me with my moves since I still have these crutches. Please be in the dining hall at 7 A.M!"
"7 A.M, ugh..."
"I know but Riko-san planned the beach training at 9 A.M and you need to take your breakfast at least one or two hours ago so you won't throw up."
"Now that you're saying that, I think you have a point."
She saw everyone's eyes closing a bit and her own eyes felt heavy as well.
"I think it's time to sleep."
"Yeah."
"Totally."
"Good night, guys."
"'night, Emilie."
"Goodnight, Masuko-chan."
"Goodnight, Miyuki-san," was the last sentence she heard before falling into sleep.
6 A.M.
Miyuki woke up slowly, rubbing her still sleepy eyes and taking her crutches to go to her luggage and take a few things in her bag for breakfast (she would change her clothes after breakfast).
She wanted to go and brush her teeth as well but last night's experience proved it was impossible to do it alone since there was no possibility to sit while brushing her teeth (and seeing how she still needed to have her hands on the crutches while using the toothpaste...).
She would wait for Taiga or Tetsuya to wake up.
She went to the kitchen where Riko-san was already gathering the necessary ingredients she told her last night.
"Domo, Riko-san."
"Domo, Masuko-chan. How is your leg?"
"Good, it's not too sore." It was probably because she felt really tired last night but she had not woken up once. "Are you ready?"
"Of course!" Riko-san looked over the bags hanged on her crutches. "What did you bring with you?"
"Things I made a few days ago. Confiture– I mean jam and biscottes. I think they're called toasted bread as well?"
Riko-san nodded.
"What do you want me to do?"
"I told you I wanted to make a breakfast everyone will love so I'll make salty and sweet food. You'll make the salty food and I'll make the sweet food and you'll help me to watch the baking of food."
It might sound stupid but food helped with the team's mood.
"Do you know what to make for everyone?"
"Hai. I already know what to make for Taiga since we're eating breakfast every day together and Tetsuya as well... Teppei too since we ate sometimes together at the hospital. And... for everyone else, I can take a guess."
"Is that so?" she asked, genuinely curious.
"You'll see," she said her half-smile plastered on her face. "Papa said I could be a cook if I wanted to because I always find people's tastes though I'm not as versatile as Taiga for cooking."
"Can you tell what I want for breakfast?"
"Of course. Your favorite dish is rice mixed with supplements, but I think you prefer eating sweet food for breakfast though you don't do it very often. You would rather eat strawberry than chocolate so I think you could eat toasted bread with strawberry jam and perhaps croissants as well with some tea."
"Wait, how did you know– what's croa... Whatever you jut said in French."
"It's an iconic French thing and since France is probably one of the only countries to eat sweet food every day for breakfast, croissants are the best! You can even eat it with jam or hot chocolate!" Truth to be told, she preferred chocolatines but chocolatines obviously had chocolate and the only thing with chocolate allowed during training camps and competitions was the one in the milk.
She showed her the dough she prepared and received a 'You made a lot' from Riko-san. If it was Riko-san using the words 'a lot', it meant she made much more than 'a lot'.
"If they're not finished, I can still eat them tomorrow."
Okay, maybe she did it on purpose. She rolled the dough she divided in triangles to shape them like croissants looked like before brushing them with egg yolk and letting Riko-san putting them in the oven.
"How long before it's ready?"
"Thirty minutes."
"Got it!"
6:26 A.M
"Could you make scrambled eggs with bacon for three persons, please."
"Hai, Masuko-chan."
Fortunately, Riko-san remembered how to do basics things, like Taiga and her spent hours to show and teach her (they truly thought the were going to die during that afternoon). She cut le pain she made before going to training camp (because she knew she wasn't going to find it here... bread or pain like that couldn't be found everywhere in Japan) before beginning to prepare the banana-vanilla smoothie she planned for Tetsuya (for obvious reason, giving him a vanilla milkshake for breakfast wasn't an option although he wouldn't have complained).
She knew France was one of the only countries in the world that ate sweet food for breakfast but she liked it.
"Do you think I can add pepper?"
"For Hyuuga-senpai and Taiga, yes."
"I think some of them will be awake to help us with bringing all of this to the table."
"Hyuuga-senpai told me he would and Teppei who overhear us promised to do the same as well."
"It means you could go and brush your teeth before breakfast. Should I make boil the water for coffee and tea now?"
"Do so, Riko-san," she answered.
"You know, cooking is way more fun than I thought!"
She looked at Riko-san's content smile and nodded. "I've always been fond cooking, especially with my friends and it's entertaining for me to guess what people love eating and see the joy and surprise on their face. And I also think being an athlete doesn't mean eating things you don't like... It might seem foolish saying like that but it's truly important to keep a player's spirit."
"Having you as manager truly opens my eyes to things I never thought about..."
"What do you mean?"
"Not only you're able to help me as Coach with things such as tactics and you also can give me a player's point of view and see things differently."
She laughed, not knowing exactly what to answer.
"It's nothing."
"I think the guys will beg to differ, especially after eating this breakfast you prepared for them."
Miyuki blushed. "If you say so, Riko-san."
"Come on, Masuko-chan! You know what they say... Get to a man's heart through his stomach. In our case, it would get to more stamina for the team through their stomach."
It made her think about the guys there... They were probably enjoying their rest after they got qualified for next year's Euro's highschool competition... Or they were playing again instead of properly resting. Probably, yes.
"You're right."
6:45 A.M
She asked to Riko-san to putthe croissants out of the oven before telling her she would leave to ask –or more like require– Taiga's assistance for helping her to brush her teeth and wash her face (saying it this way was probably strange but the fact she couldn't sit meant she would need someone to help her even for such trivial task).
"Sure Masuko-chan, join us in the dining hall after that."
"Hai,."
She took her toiletry bag and went to where Taiga and Tetsuya (and his messy hair) were already standing, brushing lazily their teeth and still half asleep.
"Domo, Tetsuya. Hello, Taiga."
"Yo."
"Domo."
"KUROKO! YOU'RE DOING THAT ON PURPOSE, AREN'T YOU?" So Taiga didn't notice Tetsuya's presence... again?! "AND LOOK AT YOUR HAIR!"
"Taiga... Tetsuya's hair looks this messy every morning. Also, please don't speak so loudly."
Yes, she was still referring to him sleeping during classes thing. And also morning practice... Was her best friend so oblivious to everything?
"Shut up."
"Now, can you help me?"
"Just gimme your stuff, I'm doing your ponytail and Kuroko's holding you."
"Okay," she replied, putting her crutches on the wall and putting one of her arms around Tetsuya's shoulder.
"I hope you don't mind, Tetsuya."
She knew how he was uneasy with close physical contact.
"Of course not," he said sincerely, to her relief.
It was kind of humiliating for her, to be so dependent on such trivial things such as brushing her teeth.
"Could you also... put toothpaste on the toothbrush, please?"
"Hai."
He handed her the toothbrush with an expression she could identify as a half-smile and she smiled him back. Everyone on the team knew how much it bothered not to be on her full physical capacity with her leg and had been really thoughtful towards her, something she was grateful for.
"How does someone like Kagami-kun know how to tie Miyuki-san's hair?"
"Oi Kuroko, what are you trying to say?"
"Taiga is always the one to style and comb my hair when I need to, since I don't know how to make a proper high ponytail," she said smoothly, interrupting the beginning of another spat.
"More like you don't know how to style your hair at all."
"Shut up, Kagami Taiga," she said grumpily through her teeth with a dark look.
It was not her fault if styling her hair wasn't her forte. It was his fault if she was being vulgar, since he dared insulting her before she could drink her hot cocoa and eat her croissants.
"How–"
"Hey, bring the stuff here."
That voice sounded oddly familiar... And apprently, she was right since Taiga stopped talking (or teasing her).
"Hai."
That other voice was even more familiar. It was Takao-kun... with Midorima.
It was a good thing Taiga wasn't the one to hold her because he looked so surprised he would have made her fall.
"Eh?"
"Huh?"
"Domo."
Tetsuya's unfazed expression was a great contrast to all these outraged and 'why the hell are you here?' faces.
"WHY ARE YOU HERE?"
These two are impossible...
"THAT'S WHAT I SHOULD ASK!"
Taiga and Midorima only saw each other's face ten seconds and they were already arguing.
"It's always been a tradition of ours to come here for a training camp. Long time no see ~" Takao-kun said casually.
"Seems you're enjoying your vacation here!" He pointed out accusingly Taiga, "what's with that sunburn!?"
"IT'S NOT VACATION!"
"Taiga please, could you give me the crutch on the wall?"
The two Shutoku players seemed to finally notice she was there as well.
"Masuko-san?"
"Domo, Midorima, Takao-kun. I hope you're both well and–"
"Hey! Everyone is already in the dining hall. What are you doing here?"
Oh my God.
She only left her ten minutes.
Ten minutes and Riko-san already had a knife with a suspicious red substance on it. Horror could be seen on everyone's face –even Tetsuya showed discomfort–
"Riko-san, I told you not to use that knife!"
"What the hell is your school, Kuroko?"
"Seirin High School."
"NOT THAT!"
She softly chuckled, amused by Tetsuya's deadpan answer.
"My!? Shutoku-san?"
Not understanding their bewildered looks, she glanced at Riko-san questionnally and she made a move with her head to show the... red thing all over her.
Please don't let it be blood.
"Oh! This? It's ketchup."
Dieu merci.
"Riko-san, I hope you weren't trying to put it on Taiga's scrambled eggs."
"Ummm..."
"Coach... You didn't..."
"Well..."
"MY SCRAMBLED EGGS! Where did you put 'em... Ma'am?"
"In the dining room."
"I gotta go!"
Taiga ran to save his food screaming insults in English such as 'fuck'. At least, Miyuki knew he was in good shape.
"Riko-san, could you watch him for me, please?"
"Of course. Do you want me to prepare some tea?"
"Yes, please. Tetsuya and I will join you in a few minutes."
"Okay," she replied, leaving with the knife still in her hands.
"Scary..."
"Usually, Coach isn't that frightening," she assured to Takao-kun who was understandably still shaken by Riko-san's... bloody appearence.
"The whole team is thankful for Miyuki-san's sacrifice."
She threw a half smile to Tetsuya and didn't mind to correct the word 'sacrifice'.
"That's no problem, it was fun. It actually reminded me of the training camp I had with the guys a few months ago and... I wouldn't let the team nor myself die of starvation during morning session because of Riko-san's food."
"Wait, you're part of the training too?"
She turned her head to watch Takao-kun's surprised expression and shrugged.
"Not really. I'm just doing my reeducation at the same time four or five hours per day."
"That's a lot."
"I don't mind, doing barely nothing for almost three months lessened my stamina. But what about you? How long will you stay here?"
"Two weeks of hell neh, Shin-chan."
"Hm."
"I'm sure it will be amusing."
"Miyuki-san, please stop using the word 'amusing' while talking about training."
"It's the third training I have this year and until now, it always has been fun." Maybe it was because she had been Captain but training camps was so fun to organize, especially because there was nothing else to prevent them from training almost ten hours per days.
"Well, I'm sure we'll have many opportunities to talk together but we should leave you know for breakfast."
"Yeah, see you!"
"We'll talk later."
Tetsuya and she bowed before leaving. She felt Tetsuya's eyes on her and she asked what was bothering him with a slight move of her neck.
"Did Miyuki-san make a hot cocoa for me?"
Of course, he would ask that...
"Absolutely!"
Nakatani Masaaki was a keep and sharp Coach but most of all, a man of patience. That was what he kept telling to himself but he had to recognize that this year was particularly draining. The team might be at its strongest now but it was also it its most tiresome state.
Between Midorima's quirks, Miyaji's permanent anger over nothing and Takao's incessant laugh, he was starting to feel his patience reducing over the past weeks. He overheard Kimura and Takao's discussion and something was telling him that training wouldn't exactly be what he had planned to be.
"Eh? Seirin is staying at the same place?"
"Yep ~ So funny ~"
Kimura expressed the confusion himself was feeling. "Funny? What was?"
"I mean they will be pissed the whole time."
How could Takao laugh like that at 8 A.M...
"Sorry, I don't get you."
"You're wrong, Takao." At least, it explained Midorima's foul mood. "We're cursed."
He allowed to himself a sigh as Takao's laugh increased.
"Coach... A guest... or two actually." He took his eyes off of his rather energic first-year duo, looking at the player who just said that.
"Mhm?"
"Seirin's coach and manager have to discuss something."
He wondered what the two of them wanted to talk about.
"Fine. Tell the other to make ten laps while I'm talking to them."
The teenager stiffened up, as expected but he accepted anyway.
"Hai, Coach."
Once he went outside, he saw the two young women chatting. He recognized Seirin's Coach, who was also Tora's daughter, Aida Riko. She fulfilled her part as Coach more than correctly, especially given her young age. He did not know much about the taller girl apart the part she was a first-year and she was Seirin's Manager. He also remembered how she was on a wheelchair during the game instead of the crutches she currently had.
"Domo, Masaaki-san."
...
How in the hell that young woman know his first name?
It was highly inconsiderate from a teenager to use an adult's first name in front of them but the way she said it was full of respect and something like amusement?
"I'm almost offended you don't recognize me," she continued, with a chuckle.
She raised her head and he saw those deep blue eyes and with that, something clicked. From the raven hair to the blue eyes and more generally the mix of Japanese and occidental features, he recognized her.
"Mi– Miyuki?"
"That's a relief, I was scared my God Father wouldn't know who I am."
He pulled her in his arms, as if he had to be sure she was sure, that she was real. He wasn't the kind of man who made public display of affection but he didn't see her for more than five years.
He let her go and he saw the surprised look on Seirin Coach's face but he could not care less.
"How is that possible? Why are you here?"
"I came here at the end of April and I'll be staying permanently... I think it would be more appropriate to talk about it later since I... We came to ask you something."
'We'?
"What is it?"
"We would like to share our gym training with your team during afternoon sessions."
Seirin was definitely full of surprise.
"You want to have combined training with Shutoku?"
"Hai."
It wasn't that grotesque, after all. He could see how it could help both of their teams and he was not going to say it was not a tempting offer. Seirin was the team he and the team wanted to take revenge on, though both young women probably had something in their minds because knowing how she was when she was younger and knowing Miyuki's parents, she grew up as a smart and cunning young woman.
"Very well. We'll begin at 3 P.M."
The two females look at each other with satisfaction.
"Thank you," they said before bowing and walking back to the hotel, probably.
He didn't know how he should feel about it yet, but he knew this training camp would be more dreadful than he thought.
A/N: I will now be answering to comments with PMs (except for the guests of course). I am thinking about publishing every story taking place in Fragments universe without being directly linked to its plot (like Ob(li)vious) separately (like a group of one-shot). It would mostly be about Seirin's friendship and bonds (with later more elements).
I changed the cover image of the story with a portrait of Masuko made by a lovely artist, to give you the way I picture her features. Tell me what you think about it!
I would like to thank the people who have favorited is following this story after I published the previous chapter: lek99, SpareTheInsane, KageHinaYachi, CarmesiQuill24452,Shiranai Atsune, Amymikaelson, rheascarlet.
Once again, thank you for the fav/following! Do not hesitate to post comments, I will make sure to answer them on next chapter's A/N or on PM :)