This was supposed to be the last chapter but I couldn't finish the story here!

The next chapter will definitely be the last in my Kuroko series.

It will be my Christmas present to you all.

[Kuroko No Basket belongs to Tadatoshi Fujimaki]

[English isn't my first language, so please be kind]


Extra Chapter 5

Training Camp – Part Three

Sana P.O.V.

The boys went to play basketball on the court near the camp. It was Kise who found the place where we could spend three nights at the "semi nature" so I think he made sure to find a place that had a basketball court.

Although there were other campers nearby, the court was empty, and as our group was large, no one approached to compete for it.

The boys had divided themselves into two groups: Takao, Midorima, Akashi, Kise; and Kuroko, Kagami, Aomine, Murasakibara.

Botan was the only one of us who was brave enough to play a match with the Generation of Miracles replacing Murasakibara, who preferred to sleep on Suki's shoulder. She was good at three-point shots which seemed to make Midorima proud, but after a few games it was easy to predict who would win because of Akashi's presence, so they mixed the groups.

Aimi and Momoi were responsible for the cheering, of course, while I stayed away from the Suki and Hayami duo and tried not to stare at Kagami too much every five seconds.

But every five seconds I failed.

- Are you feeling good? - Aimi approached me to ask, I was so focused on the match that I didn't even see her coming.

I had brought my camera and was taking some photos of the boys during the game that would be part of my next club project, so I needed to be close to them at times.

- I feel great - I lied, I was sweating - why?

Aimi shrugged.

- Botan wants to play volleyball with the girls, why don't you come?

Wow, she's more athletic than I thought.

- I'll be there in a minute, I promise - I focused on my camera again. I had bought it from a photographer who worked with Kise, so I had gotten a good discount for it.

One moment we were talking near the court, the next one the ball was very close to our heads and would have hit Aimi if someone hadn't arrived just in time.

For a moment I thought Aomine had saved her, but it was the other guy, Kagami.

"No way," I thought, as I swore I had taken a photo of him on the other side of the court a few moments ago.

He was panting, but had enough strength to run and hold the heavy ball with just one hand.

I couldn't say anything, just stare as Aimi casually thanked him as if Kagami had done some favor and not a romantic Korean drama scene where the main actor helps the girl he likes.

From what Kise said, Kagami was only interested in basketball, but he seemed interested in something else from the way he looked at Aimi. She and Momoi had similar body types so it was normal for them to be the center of attention wherever they went.

Aimi had parted her hair in half and made two low ponytails, and despite wearing a simple white top and track pants, I noticed when Kagami formed the word "cute" with his lips.

It wasn't even directed at me, but I felt my face turn red again.

As we stood close for a moment I realized he wore a shiny metal necklace with a ring on it around his neck. It seemed like a promise, was it with a girl?

Aomine was approaching, so Kagami stepped back and returned to the center of the court. Aimi didn't seem shaken, so Aomine returned to the game after making sure she wasn't hurt. This impromptu training camp was only possible because the boys promised their respective schools that they would train with the Generation of Miracles, and that was better than any other exercise.

Aimi called me again, she was already heading towards the other girls. When I looked at the court one last time I noticed that Kise was staring at me, and he didn't look happy.

- Wait - I stopped the match after a few rounds. My team was losing - does that mean you all already knew Kagami?

- Daiki trains with him sometimes - Aimi said. She knew how to jump really high, so she and Botan were crushing my team's pride.

- He's a friend of Himuro - said Suki, despite being tall she didn't know anything about volleyball, so she cut some high balls, but didn't know how to defend her side of the court. I think I made a mistake choosing her for my team - who studies with Atsushi and me at Yōsen, the two met in the United States.

I looked at Hayami, waiting for her to say something.

- I don't know who he is - she replied. She had changed her clothes and chosen a more sporty outfit.

"Of course she didn't," I thought. Hayami and Momoi were the only ones who didn't want to play, but while Momoi stayed with the boys to watch Kuroko, Hayami decided to come with us.

- What does it matter now? - Botan replied. She looked stressed despite winning the game. She and Midorima really were a good match - He's a Leo, and according to Shintarō he is a troublemaker.

- I don't think the horoscope should be decisive in determining whether a person is good or bad - Suki whispered.

But she was too tall and the wind carried her words easily, reaching Botan's ears.

- And who should decide this? - Botan tilted her head to the side - Someone like Murasakibara?

I didn't see Suki's reaction, because I was focused on that specific and unfair fact, I just heard her exclamation of surprise.

- What do you mean by that?

- That's it - Aimi clapped her hands - let's end the game, I have to review a choreography and in a little while it will be dinner time, it was a draw.

- It wasn't a draw - Botan grumbled - we won.

Suki turned to me, probably looking for Hayami who must have been sitting on one of the benches, but she wasn't there anymore, so Suki came back alone first.

Aimi lay down on the volleyball court, it wouldn't be long before she started stretching for her choreography. Sometimes I forgot that she was as much an athlete as Aomine and they should both spend these days resting, but also focusing on sport.

Botan left shortly after Suki, keeping a safe distance from the Danish girl.

- Why are you so interested in Kagami all of a sudden? - Aimi asked, she had her phone in her hand watching a noisy video, probably of the choreography she had to review for today.

- I'm not interested in him... - I sighed, dropped the ball and sat down next to Aimi - Just surprised that I was the only one who didn't know him.

- Maybe Kise has a good reason for that - Aimi replied.

- Ryōta? - I snorted - And why would he do that?

Aimi kicked me lightly.

She didn't want to talk anymore and I couldn't blame her. Spending so much time with Botan drained our energy.

- At least tell me my hair still looks good.

Aimi smiled as she sat down on the court again.

- You look beautiful, you don't look fake blond at all.

- Great! - I said.

Americans liked blondes, didn't they?

Hayami P.O.V.

I didn't know what I was doing in that place.

The girls were kind enough to invite me, but it was obvious that only Suki wanted me there. Running calmed me down, so that's what I did, there was nothing risky about it. When I ran my mind calmed down and I focused on the road, but even that wasn't enough.

"If I disappeared now..."

I had to interrupt the thought before I even finished. I was going into a bad spiral again, I could identify it now. And that was bad. I stopped running, I needed to catch my breath. The sun was slowly disappearing and I was already very far away.

Of course the girls still weren't comfortable with me, I barely said a word.

At least Akashi had the decency to choose separate seats for us on the plane. I couldn't stand being around him anymore after I spent a few days at his house.

I tried to be friends with him again, tried to do something nice, nothing more than that. I wasn't accepting his family's marriage proposal or anything…

Something was hurting my hand. It was the round mirror that Botan had given me earlier. My lucky item.

I threw the mirror away and watched it land in the soft grass. It did not break.

- Be careful with that!

A yellow figure ran past me, knelt down and picked up the mirror I had thrown. Despite the scare he gave me, I recognized him right away. He was Midorima and Botan's friend, the other Scorpio.

- Shouldn't you be playing basketball right now?

- Shouldn't you be playing volleyball with the girls?

He walked towards me and I automatically took a step back. This made Takao stop. He held out the mirror to me.

- So you care about lucky items too?

- I shouldn't, right? - Takao smiled and I didn't like the effect his carefree smile had on me. I wasn't used to being around people like that - But spending so much time with superstitious people made me a little superstitious too.

The sky was pink and orange, in a way that's only possible near sunset, and the light turned Takao's narrow eyes in a very delicate shade of amber.

I think I took another step back when I noticed Takao was sweating.

- You were running too fast and I had to come at the same pace to catch up to you - he scratched his own neck and put the mirror in his pocket when he realized I wasn't going to get it back - but now I'm hungry.

Takao took a look around. The exit to the trail I was following was just ahead. I could also hear the sound of some people talking and a pleasant smell of food being prepared.

- There must be a convenience store there - he said - it must be the only one near the camp, let's go.

- What? - I asked, planting my feet on the ground - Do what?

- Eat ramen - Takao held my wrist, leading me in the direction of the noise - it will be on me.

I didn't let people touch me, especially boys, but Takao was so spontaneous and random that I didn't know what to do at the time, and just followed him.

The convenience store was full of happy families camping for the holiday. Children ran through the corridors looking for sweets and soft drinks.

- Spicy? - Takao asked. He was still holding my wrist as he pointed to packets of noodles.

I shook my head. I actually didn't know what to choose since I didn't eat ramen often.

Takao chose a medium flavor, the packaging was huge, but he said we could share it. He also chose two cans of soda and paid for them himself, which made me feel bad, but I didn't have any money with me now.

I thought it would take us hours to find a place to sit, but as soon as we left the store an elderly couple stood up and offered us a table.

- Thanks! - Takao replied with a smile.

He was still holding my wrist when we sat down, only then did he let me go, as if I might have run away. So he got up and went back to the store to add hot water.

I should have run away then, but I hesitated, and when I thought about it again Takao was already back.

- There's no need to be so tense, it's just ramen - he said, as if he had seen my internal struggle - I don't think Akashi will be mad.

- And why would he be angry? - my words came out full of feelings.

Takao blinked.

- Shin-chan told me that you and Akashi were just friends, but I didn't believe it at first, I mean, you came from Kyoto with him, and you're a pretty girl, so I thought...

- Pretty girl? - I repeated his words, but I did it looking into Takao's eyes.

Big mistake. Because Takao smiled, and I don't know if he smiled out of malice or innocence, but I liked his smile.

Takao opened the cans, the ramen was already ready, but he mixed the noodles a little more with the seasonings.

- Anyway - Takao continued, he didn't seem shaken, or to notice my red face full with embarrassment - I bet Akashi never took you on a date at a convenience store.

He pushed the packaging a little toward me, indicating that I should eat first and that he wouldn't touch the ramen until I did.

- Seijūrō and I have never been on a date - I said - not a real date, in fact I don't think I've ever been on a real date before.

- So I'm your first? - Takao said, looking genuinely shocked.

The ramen smelled good and tasted even better. Only after eating something hot I realize that I was getting cold due to the arrival of night. I must have shivered a little, because Takao took off the yellow jacket he was wearing and placed it over my shoulders.

- I don't care much about the cold - he said, returning to eat soon after as if he hadn't done anything special - but pretty girls should stay warm.

This time he did it on purpose, I realized, because Takao smiled became even wider when he finally made me smile back.

- I know the girls probably made better food than this - Takao said, from the way he was eating, he must have really been hungry - but if we wait a little longer we'll be able to see fireflies.

- Really?

Takao nodded, his mouth was full. It was obvious he said we could split the ramen just to be polite, so I only ate a few more mouthfuls and let the rest for him.

When the sun finally set the common area was lit only by the lights coming from the convenience store, but the paths between the trees were dark, so this time Takao held my hand as we walked back to the campsite.

There were actually fireflies in the forest, so I walked slowly because I wanted to admire them. Takao then released me and carefully approached a group of fireflies that were near one of the larger trees. His hands were quick enough for him to grab one and run back to me.

- Look - Takao said, leaning towards me, making his hair come forward - your private light, miss.

- How incredible... - I tried to bring my hand closer, but I didn't have the courage. The light had become even brighter in Takao's hands - And what do we do with them?

- We'll release him later, of course, can I?

I nodded, then Takao held out his hands and the firefly flew back into the trees. He continued to shine.

- I wanted to be like that - I said, thinking too loudly.

"What nonsense," I sighed, "maybe the girls in the group would want to trade places with me if they could, but here I am complaining".

- When you looked at the firefly in my hand your face lit up, did you know that? It's dark, but I saw you smile and your gaze light up. You don't look so pretty when you're sad and contemplative. - Takao avoided looking at me this time, but he was nervous, I could tell - So if Akashi can't make you smile, I'll make you smile in the next few days, Hayami.

Takao reached out his hand again and I took it.

After all, we needed to return to camp.

Sana P.O.V.

- What do you mean Hayami is missing? - I asked Suki after we finished dinner.

Curry wasn't too difficult to make and it served a large number of people so it was perfect. Aimi said she would try to roast corn later, but I hadn't seen her yet.

I planned to eat well and take a relaxing bath before collapsing in my tent, until Suki pulled me away from the fire with this unexpected news. I wanted to tell her that Hayami must have just been wandering around, but Suki looked really worried. I mean, when a person almost two meters tall comes to you with teary eyes you have to answer them, right?

- She left before we finished the game and after what that terrible girl said! -Suki continued-I thought she would be in the tent, but she wasn't, so I went to the court, but she wasn't there either! She also doesn't answer her cell phone!

- Calm down - I replied the worst thing to say in a moment of crisis - why don't we talk to Akashi?

- What? No! - Suki took me even further away from the fire - If Akashi finds out that I lost her he will make me kneel, cast a spell, something like that!

- Yes, you are right! - I replied. That was a valid concern, after all I didn't want to have to deal with Akashi either. Why did Suki have to involve me in this?

Of everyone who was at the fire, only a few were missing besides Hayami of course, Takao, Aimi, Aomine and Kagami.

Couldn't she be with one of them?

- What's going on, Su-chin?

Great, the other giant found us.

I had barely had time to eat while Murasakibara had already devoured half the curry and he was holding another plate as he approached.

- Is nothing! - Suki shook her head.

- It's something, Su-chin is crying.

Suki shook her head again, but this time holding back her tears better.

Murasakibara gently wiped her face. I thought the two were cute together and recognized that Botan had been mean for saying that.

Suddenly the giant looked at me as if I were some kind of prey.

- What are you doing here little one?

- Sana is helping me with something - Suki said - let's go back to the bonfire later, okay?

- And you will give me sweets?

- Yes, Atsushi, all the sweets you want!

Murasakibara finally smiled.

- Alright, come back soon!

Suki clung to my arm, which made us walk awkwardly because I was too short for her, but we decided to start looking for the last place we saw Hayami: the volleyball court.

- Will it be so bad if we tell Akashi? - I started to wonder - I mean, it's not our fault...

- If you tell him, hide the sharp objects - Suki replied.

Yeah, it would be bad.

I was hoping not to find a crime scene that night, but what we saw was just Aimi sitting on the court while the new guy, Kagami, was walking on his hands to make her laugh.

They weren't alone of course, Aomine was there with a basketball in his hand, running alone.

Didn't he see that Kagami was hitting on his girlfriend?

Suki finally let go of me to ask the trio if they had seen Hayami around, but suddenly a cold hand touched my back, making me scream instantly.

I didn't believe in ghosts, at least not all the time, but enough to be afraid.

- Oh, sorry, Sana-san.

- KUROKO! - I shouted again, but this time with relief - You can't approach people like that!

Kuroko looked embarrassed, but he deserved, after all he really looked like a ghost and sneaking up on people only made things worse.

Kise was with him, of course he wouldn't let Kuroko walk around alone, but he didn't approach me, not even to hug or kiss me, which I found strange.

- I just wanted to say that Hayami-san is back, she was looking for Suki-san and we need her to come back before Murasakibara-kun eats everything.

- Oh, really? - I breathed in relief - I'm not going to be murdered today.

Kuroko didn't understand and went to the court to tell Suki the news.

Everyone quickly rushed back to the fire, but I waited for Kise to move. Aomine carried Aimi on his back while Kagami followed behind. He quickly looked at me and smiled.

I gave my face two quick taps after he left. I was still having shivers when he looked at me. How embarrassing.

- What does he have that I don't have? - Kise said after we were finally alone.

- Who?

- Kagamicchi - Kise said - you've been acting strange since you saw him this morning.

- It's your imagination! - was the first thing I said, but I soon regretted it. I would quickly get defensive when arguing with Kise, but perhaps because we had known each other for a long time, our relationship varied between a couple and friends who were very close. It was difficult to figure out how to act differently.

Kise crossed his arms, I've never seen him so serious, not when it came to relationships.

- Is he seducing you or something?

- What? Kise, that's not it! He's clearly into Aimi but that's not the point now... I just found him attractive, that's all.

That was the most sincere I could be, I didn't want to hurt him or hide anything, but I don't know if I had done the right thing.

- I've never felt this before - Kise rubbed his face, looking agitated - jealousy. And I don't like the feeling.

- Ryōta...

- I don't care about your Kpop idols because they are far away, but Kagami... It's a real possibility that you'll leave me because you found someone better.

Kise gave a tight-lipped smile, and then pointed at me.

- I will win your heart again, Sanacchi, wait and see.