The day for the start of the training camp finally arrived.

Thanks to Riko's efforts, the officials and coaches were filled in on the situation from Riko's father and gave their approval to have Gwen accompany him.

This would have been a different story had Kagami intentionally slept with Gwen but he was a victim and was now taking responsibility.

It was only one extra person and a baby so the accommodation for them wasn't a problem.

At Kagami's apartment, Gwen was busily packing hers and Shion's things. It was arranged for Kagami to go first with the rest of Seirin and she would arrive in the evening with Riko's father who offered to take her.

Kagami was fine with that - so long as she came.

It was currently 2 p.m and the Seirin bus had just departed from the school. Inside, the boys conversed and joked loudly only to be shushed by Riko for disturbing the driver.

Kagami was showing photos of Shion to his seniors who gushed over him.

"You make me want to have a baby," Koganei sighed.

"I feel the same way," Izuki muttered.

Hyuga snorted, "Sure, if you can find a girl who'll tolerate your terrible puns."

Izuki gasped and nearly fumed, "My puns are awesome!"

"They're really not,"

Izuki pouted and sulked in his seat. These people know nothing about good humor.

"Alright guys, we're here," Riko announced from her seat. The bus pulled up into the compound where the training camp was being held.

The lodgings were dorm rooms and there were four different courts available to use. All were paid for by the Japanese Basketball Association.

The bus parked in one of the spare slots and the team grabbed their luggage from the overhead compartments and filed out.

They took a breath in and sighed.

The air here felt fresh and warm. The group stretched their bodies and started walking to the entrance where they were met by a middle-aged man.

"Welcome Seirin. It seems you guys are the first to arrive," the man spoke. "I'm one of the camp managers - Masaki Subaru. Any questions or inquiries you have can be answered by me. For now, I'll take you to your rooms."

"Thank you, sir," Riko replied and turned to the boys, "Make sure you guys haven't forgotten anything from the bus. The driver will leave soon."

The team double-checked their belongings and only one of the freshmen ran back to grab his earphones.

"Let's go," said Riko once everyone was ready.

Masaki showed them to their dorms and narrated a few rules to be followed while at the camp before allowing them to explore on their own.

The bus that arrived next was Shutoku and they went through the same procedure with their dorms being next to Seirin's.

Takao dragged the annoyed Midorima to go looking around before they bumped into Kagami and Kuroko.

"Urgh," Kagami grimaced. Just what he needed - NOT.

"Nice to see you too," Takao greeted. "Shin-chan and I were about to explore the place, wanna come?"

Midorima and Kagami glared at each other and said, "NO!"

"I would love to," Kuroko ignored them.

"Haha, great," Takao swung an arm around the smaller boy and tugged him away leaving Midorima and Kagami to tag along at the back.

There was no sound explanation as to why the two boys disliked each other. They just do. Both were complete opposites and were easily irritated when put together. They had nothing in common aside from basketball.

"KUROKOCCHIIII!"

Ah, and their mutual dislike for a certain annoying blond.

Midorima and Kagami's faces twitched at the sight of Kise running towards them. Or rather, towards Kuroko who showed an impassive face.

Great, another annoyance has arrived.

Kise hugged Kuroko tightly, "I missed you Kurokocchi! When coach said we'd be having a training camp with you, I started packing the very same day."

Good grief.

Kagami rubbed his temple and sighed. Surely this could not get worse.

"TETSU!" A pink blur tackled Kuroko to the ground and a tan boy appeared after her.

Of course it got worse.

"Tsk, why's bakagami here?"

"Shut up ahomine,"

Forget Midorima, Aomine was far more irritating.

"Guys, I found one of the courts on the way here. How about a game?" Kise asked.

Aomine smirked, "Sure. Wouldn't mind beating this idiot's ass one more time?"

"As if! You're gonna lose this time you tanned bastard," Kagami sneered.

"Now look at what you've done," Midorima clicked his tongue at Kise.

"Mou, don't be such a downer Midorimacchi,"

"I don't think it's wise to have a match. The coaches will scold you," a smooth voice said. The group turned to see Himuro and Murasakibara arriving.

"Tatsuya!" Kagami happily greeted.

"Been a while Taiga," the pretty boy replied.

"So you guys are here too," Murasakibara drawled taking a bite of his maibo.

*Crunch*

"Only one person left to arrive," Aomine mused.

Just then, the group turned their head to see Akashi walking towards them with Mibuchi behind him. Akashi wore his usual poker face with his lips tilted in a small smirk.

"Glad to see everyone here," he stated. "It's been a while,"

"Is Junpei around?" Mibuchi directed his question to Kagami.

Kagami's lips twitched and pointed to the dorms, "He should be there."

"Thank you, I'll see you later Sei-chan," Mibuchi giggled and quickly went over to the dorms.

"Captain's going to kill you," Kuroko murmured.

Kagami flinched but said, "A small revenge for last week."

"You mean when he called you a bastard and wrongfully accused you?"

"You did the same you know,"

The duo stared at each other challengingly.

"I already apologized for that didn't I?" Kuroko asked.

"Did I accept the apology?" Kagami bit back.

Kuroko froze and looked at him with puppy dog eyes, "You don't forgive me?"

"Heuk!" A lethal blow.

Kagami stepped back - Kuroko's eyes too powerful. It wasn't long before he succumbed to it.

"Dammit fine! I forgive you for wrongly accusing me for-uh-'that',"

"What are you guys talking about?" Kise butt in.

"Nothing you need to worry about," Kagami glared and stalked off.

The miracles looked in the direction the redhead left and turned to Kuroko.

"What's up with him?" Takao asked.

"He's just anxious," Kuroko replied.

Aomine snorted, "Anxious? Him? What, is he afraid of playing us now?"

"Not at all. It's got nothing to do with basketball," Kuroko paused and gave a small smile, "You guys will find out at dinner. It'll be an interesting surprise."

"Heh. As if anything about Kagami could surprise me," Aomine muttered.

"We'll see,"

-Evening-

""Itadakimasu!""

It was dinner time at the training camp. In the cafeteria, many long tables were set out for the players to eat at.

There was no rule to prevent teams from sitting with other schools so the boys were able to mingle as they pleased. There was, however, one table that stood out from the rest.

It was filled with colorful heads.

It all started when Kagami and Kuroko took a seat there. Then came Kise and Momoi who wanted to sit with Kuroko and Aomine tagged along. Then Takao thought it'd be fun to sit together and dragged Midorima along - much to the greenhead's indignation.

Himuro arrived at the table with Murasakibara not too far behind and Akashi came with Mibuchi.

It was chaotic.

Murasakibara reached over the table to snag a pickle from Aomine's plate but the latter swatted his hand away and glared.

Kise and Takao were chatting non-stop and formed a friendship. Midorima was not pleased.

They were both a headache separately and now that they are friends, the headaches became a lengthy migraine.

Momoi and Kise were busy pestering Kuroko to eat more by shoving more food on his plate.

Kagami ate and talked with his brother trying to tune out the madness next to him.

Suddenly, the door to the cafeteria opened and the noise quietened down when everyone's attention landed on the girl who walked through...holding a baby.