A/N:

HELLO!

I miss y'all! I really apologize for not being able to update for some time T-T

To Petaclaw's PatriceBethPorter, thanks and again, I'm so happy you're liking this fic! I'm sorry for the late update tho :(

To the guest who reviewed, Hiiii! Thank you, and here's the update you've been waiting for!

To those who follow this fic and have this fic on their faves, I appreciate you all so much! :)

Well, I hope you like this summer training camp chapter!


The sun had just risen, leaving a bit of color at the sky. The only sounds heard are the slight bustle of the green leaves of trees, the chirping of the birds, and the whir of the engine of the bus.

A perfect summer morning.

"Haizaki!"

"You little piece of shit!"

"Good to see you're still fucking alive after hanging up on our fucking calls and being fucking late."

Ah, a perfect summer morning.

It was just the first morning of the training camp, yet the captain was already ticked off – courtesy of his already-short temper and to a certain first-year brat, who had the nerve to curse at him first thing in the morning when the brat had finally answered his calls, then hang up on him, then eventually make them wait and show up late.

The subject of a certain captain's curses covered his ears, then spat the best option to say. They were the exact words he, still half-asleep, had uttered just earlier when someone – the same captain – called him and interrupted his precious sleep during the summer break.

"Fuck you."

Ah, just so perfect.

Coach Shirogane extended an arm to stop the second-year from lunging at the first-year. He didn't say anything anymore, since the captain had already spouted everything – a bit too much, in his opinion. Thus, he placed a hand on the captain's shoulder to stop him from raging even more and calmly told his students to go inside the bus. Everyone except the head coach, the captain, the vice-captain, the new coach, and the latecomer, was already boarded in the bus.


The location of the camp was in the mountains of Nagano. There was a large traditional Japanese villa on the foot of a hill. Next to the villa were a gymnasium and a covered pool. Apparently, there were also outdoor baths and sauna. The trees surrounding the area were tall, providing a coolness in the air and a lot of shade. The place was simply beautiful, making anyone staying here experience being with nature.

"Woah, this is cool!", Aomine exclaimed, while dropping both his and Momoi's bags on the ground, "I wonder why we didn't come here before the nationals."

Tsumiko, who was next to Momoi, watched as the latter picked her bag up from the ground and dusted it off, while narrowing her eyes at her childhood friend, "Aomine-kun, don't you remember? Coach Sanada said that there has been a problem in reserving this place, so this is the available date now."

"He said that? Well, whatever."

As soon as he said that, the two girls glanced at each other and sighed. It was a good thing that the two adult coaches were already inside the villa dealing with their arrangements.

The navy-blue-haired boy, who was obviously excited, turned towards the second-years behind him and asked, "Do you guys come here every year?"

The one nearest to him, Kubota, answered, "Nope, last year was in Okinawa."

"Eh? That's even more awesome!"

"Ah, this could've been Hawaii, though", Sekiguchi casually remarked, only to realize what he had just said when the first-year ace and first-year manager both stared at him wide-eyed, "Hawaii?!"

Now, it was Nijimura's time to sigh, "Sekiguchi, you moron."

Though the newly appointed coach was informed about the original plans for Hawaii only just recently, she was aware that only the starters and the coaches knew about these plans. Hence, she mentally giggled at the sight of a frustrated captain, who didn't really like explaining stuff, but would still do so anyway – as proven by his next words.

"It was just a proposal the coaches had made to the school's officials. But, the officials sure did take their damn time to review the proposal, only to reject it. Kinda bullshit, but yeah, by the time that they'd made a decision, it was already too late to reserve this place before the nationals."

"In short, we didn't deserve Hawaii since we didn't win last year", the dark-haired shooting guard bluntly stated, causing the equally dark-haired power forward slash captain to shoot a look at the former.

Now that last bit was something that Tsumiko didn't realize when she first heard about the Hawaii plans. What the second-year shooting guard just said dropped down to her hard, now that she was officially a coach. Teikou valued victory more than anything else. Therefore, they must always win, and as a coach she must do her best to lead this team to victory. Believing this, she was determined to take this training camp seriously. She vowed not to give in to the comfy vibe of this place and relax.

"Then, next year we can go to Hawaii, right?"

After hearing those words, she faced the source, and saw Aomine with his usual carefree grin. Unlike her, he was just so unnerved, and it somehow made her a bit jealous. It always amazed her how free-spirited the tan boy was. In basketball, in his studies or just in his life in general, he just doesn't let things affect him, and just does what he can. Because of this, she really enjoyed his company and was thankful at him unknowingly making her feel more at ease.

Taking in what he just said, she convinced herself that okay, maybe, she could take things a little easier.

"Tsk, hell yeah. Bet those officials are choking on their spit now that we won. Next year, I swear I'll be seeing hot chicks in Hawaii."

Another free-spirited one – in a rather different way from Aomine – suddenly spoke up, after probably pretending not to listen to the conversation.

Haizaki might be labeled as the typical rebellious kid at first, but after interacting with him more, she got to know him as not just being rough on the edges and being good at basketball. To her surprise, despite his I-don't-give-a-damn attitude, she learned that he actually has decent grades – better than Aomine. Moreover, what he muttered during the finals still struck her. However, before she could even replay the words in her mind, one more reason as to why she saw him as something more than a rebel, was presented in front of her.

It was his dynamics with the team captain.

Noting this last reason, the white-haired first-year let her lips curve up when she saw the still-pissed second-year glare at the ash-haired first-year.

"Go and choke on your own spit, you brat."

Normally, as a coach, she should get worried at the situation, but strangely, this scene she was currently witnessing brought such relief to her.

Indeed, they did win.

There was nothing major to fret about now.

With two free spirits and a tough captain, there is some sort of balance in the team and nothing could go wrong.


Everything's gone wrong.

Tsumiko believed.

She's out of breath, her legs hurt, and she's alone in a trail that leads somewhere on top of the hill.

Yes, this is a training camp, and she's not really supposed to chill, but she also recalled that she made a resolve – which includes allowing herself to take things a little easier. Well, this was not taking it easy either.

Now, how did this happen?

The answer was Coach Shirogane had simply decided that it would be fitting for her to try jogging up to the view deck just to know the feel of it, and to further improve in making training regimes for the team.

It did make sense. It was true.

But it was also making her feel tired and sad...but mostly tired.

Deflated, she thought, 'Most of them are probably at the view deck now', then in a snap, she tried to pump herself to jog once again.

It was already late afternoon, and if she doesn't hurry, the sun might set before she could even arrive at her destination.


"Oi, where's the coach?"

Among with the pants, groans and boisterous laughs and chatters of the first string members, who were currently resting at the view deck, a commanding tone of a certain captain could be heard, as he questioned the couple of second-years that arrived last.

After drinking water, one of the boys responded, "Coach? Ah not sure but, I think she was following behind us."

The other one just shrugged before moving on to his own problems, "Damn, I need to work on my cardio bro."

"You idiots! Why did you leave her behind?"

At the agitated voice of their fellow sophomore, who happened to be their captain as well, the two gulped a bit before talking, "Eh? It's not like we did it on purpose. But, d-dude, we're burned out, and isn't this a race? We don't wanna be part of the last three people to go back y'know."

"Y-yeah, I don't wanna help with the chores. Cut us some slack, Nijimura."

With a deep breath, Nijimura crossed his arms, "Fine. But we're all gonna wait. Since we're going down using a different trail, we're not gonna meet her on the way back. Okay?"

In return, he received reluctant nods, and one awesome statement from a random member.

"Um, captain, Haizaki and Aomine have already left...like 10 minutes ago."

The dark-haired teen was still in the middle of scrunching his face even more when a series of "Oh shit really?" ,"Crap, I didn't see them." ,"Fuck it. Let's go too." ,"Hell no, I ain't gonna be last.", were heard as a group of middle-schoolers dashed down the hill, muting out a certain captain's curses.

"You fuckers!"

With clenched fists, he turned around, muttering more curses under his breath, when he was greeted with a sight of red.

It almost seemed romantic – if not for the fact that the atmosphere was not complete with the sun still not setting; the fact that he was so mad, tired and just done for such a stressful day; and the fact that it was Akashi Seijuurou, the smart, talented and responsible kouhai he respected enough that he would have no problems if he becomes his adoptive brother.

"Captain, I'll wait as well."

See, he's so reliable.

"I am certain I can catch up with the others."

And confident.

"Or would you prefer it if you go ahead and I stay here instead?

And considera – wait.

Did he just offer to wait here?

For her?

Alone?

The kid was indeed reliable, confident and considerate, but why would he be willing to – just...

Why?

And just like that his mind re-winded back to what he just witnessed this morning, and he came up with a possible answer to his own question.

...

By the time Nijimura arrived at the gym, the two elder coaches were already present, along with few second-years and Midorima, who was preoccupied with a rather bizarre hat. A few minutes later, their new young coach entered the gym, greeted everyone, then headed towards him.

"Hey senpai!"

"Yo."

Being a great senpai, he pointed at one corner and told her, "You can put your things there", before reaching out to the paper bag on her hands, "Here let me help you", only for him to miss, courtesy of her taking a step back.

Shaking her head, she assured him, "No, thank you. I'm fine."

With that reaction, he could only wordlessly nod. He then watch her place her bag down. Afterwards, her dark eyes wandered around the room, while her hands were still holding the paper bag. When she seemingly didn't find what –or was it who?– she was looking for, she approached her green-haired classmate for a chat.

Catching his prying correction, observant behavior, he reminded himself to mind his own business. So, he busied himself by talking to the other first-string members.

Next to arrive was Murasakibara, who instantly joined his fellow first-years in their own bubble. Shortly after the purple giant's arrival, more second-years arrived, and Coach Sanada announced that the bus was already ready. Thus, they gathered their things then walked to the gates, where the bus was waiting. All members present, except the coaches and the captain, then boarded the bus.

During the wait, he couldn't help but notice that the person next to him still has the mysterious paper bag in her hands, while she was busy with her phone. Bored and damn curious, he decided to ask her about it but before he could even do so, he saw her eyes dart from her phone's screen to the front, then she beamed. Following her gaze, his eyes caught sight of red.

Akashi was walking towards them and greeting them, with his red phone on his hand. The raven-head watched the redhead face the silver-head in anticipation.

"Good morning, Akashi-san. Sorry for returning it just now, but here is your jacket. Again, thanks for lending it to me during the finals."

'Jacket? Finals?'

Nijimura internally 'ooohh-ed' as he finally put two and two together. Immediately after, he internally scolded himself for being nosy.

Taking the paper bag from her hands, the owner of the jacket returned her smile with a smaller one, "No problem, Irosuzuka. I thank you as well."

She briefly shook her head then gestured to the bus while saying, "Ah, go ahead and place your things inside first."

"Please, excuse me then."

Nijimura didn't even have a moment to absorb the probably-private exchange he had just seen, when he heard Sekiguchi's cheery voice from a distance. His blond-haired classmate jogged towards them, with Kubota strolling behind him.

Seriously, those two almost showed up later than the designated meet-up time. Thinking about the late-comers, which consisted of their manager, her best friend, and that ash-haired kid, he decided to call them.

"Shall I text Momoi-san?", he heard the girl on his right spoke.

Just as he was about to reply, though, someone beat him to it, "Yes."

Ah, so the vice-captain's back. He could ask him to call the others.

"Although it's a given that we'll have more progress with Momoi, I'll contact Aomine, just to be more sure."

What.

The playful tone in Akashi's voice sort of caught Nijimura off-guard, he could only unblinkingly stare as Tsumiko giggled and agreed, all the while glancing at the boy on her right while typing on her phone.

Feeling dumb and weird at watching the two – heck, he wasn't like this when she was talking to Midorima earlier – he finally blinked and mentally slapped himself. Irritated and left with no choice, he proceeded to find 'Haizaki' in his contacts. Gripping his phone tight and with more force than usual, he pressed the call button.


Tsumiko was feeling great.

No, really, she was.

With one final step upwards and a gulp of water, she felt so refreshed. Despite her erratic breaths, she somehow felt energized. Maybe it was because of the adrenaline, or the feeling of accomplishment, or just the feeling of being fit. Whatever it was, she knew that after a few minutes of rest, she could manage to go back to the villa, as a changed person – a stronger person.

Chuckling at her own dramatic thoughts, she blamed them on the wonderful scenery she could now see at the view deck. As soon as she realized she was seeing a back of a person standing before the railings, however, she pursed her lips.

Looking around, she confirmed that it was just the two of them up here.

As if in slow motion, the said figure turned around slowly.

The view from the top of the hill was lovely. Sundown just began, so the sun was still present, but a little amounts of orange and yellow hues were already starting to blend with the blue color of the almost-cloudless sky. The only sound she could hear, as of the moment, was the beating of her own heart.

A perfect summer sunset.

It almost seemed romantic.

Or.

Maybe, it was romantic.


A/N:

Ahh! Who could it be? Nijimura? Akashi? o.O

Let me know if you want it to be Nijimura or Akashi! ;) Or maybe a completely random first-string member, if you want (lol)