The plane landed.
No one came to pick him up this time.
Haizaki Shogo walked alone out of the airport terminal, looking ordinary and relaxed, as if nothing in the world was pressing on him. Yet beneath that calm exterior, his body felt unusually alive. Every cell seemed to be in motion—awake, active, almost eager.
He smiled.
A bright, satisfied smile.
Changing environments always brings strange emotions.
Returning to this "manga-like" Japan, even my breathing feels lighter.
Overseas felt like being underwater… but here, I can breathe on land.
Stepping onto shore again, everything feels strangely comfortable.
He adjusted his travel bag and took the train home. After more than two weeks away, the first to react at his villa gate was the sharpest-nosed little dog. It rushed out, wagging its tail furiously and circling him in excitement.
Haizaki immediately crouched down. The dog flopped onto its back, exposing its round belly. Haizaki chuckled softly as he lifted it up, rubbed its belly, and scratched its head. That familiar warmth lingered deeply in his chest.
At the villa entrance, his mother stood watching quietly. Her expression was gentle, full of affection.
"Mother, I'm home."
"Welcome back, Shogo. Did you enjoy your trip?"
"Yes. I gained a lot, Mother."
"That's good. Go take a bath. I'll prepare something to eat."
"Alright. Thank you."
Haizaki carried his bag into the house, then went straight to the bathroom with the overly excited dog still following him around. Fifteen minutes later, he changed into clean clothes, looking completely refreshed.
In the dining room, his mother had already prepared a simple meal—fried rice with a fried egg placed neatly beside it. After sitting down, Haizaki placed a gift on the table.
It was a bottle of perfume: Chanel No. 5.
"Mother, this is for you. I hope you like it."
"I love it."
She accepted it with a warm smile, her eyes full of pride as she looked at her son. He had grown more mature... and more handsome. As a mother, she felt nothing but joy.
"Then I'll eat now."
"Eat as much as you want. I can make more if it's not enough."
"Heh… thanks, Mother."
That quiet warmth lingered for two full days until boredom finally pushed Haizaki to pick up the phone.
"Hello, Auntie. Is May there?"
"Oh, May? She's not here. The basketball team went to training camp. They've been gone a week already, and they'll be back in another week."
"…Training camp?"
He frowned slightly.
Something in his memory clicked.
Was there such an arc in this summer schedule?
He felt a faint sense of unease, as if the world's plot had shifted again. He called another number—Fukuda Sasaki's home.
The answer was the same.
Training camp.
Tōō… together?
A suspicion formed in his mind, so he made another call. This time, it was to a mobile phone, and the voice that answered belonged to Midorima Shintaro.
"Yes, it's a training camp," Midorima confirmed.
"Who's involved?"
"Shutoku, your Fukuda Sogo, Tōō led by Aomine, and Seirin led by Kuroko—four schools in a joint training camp."
"Hey, hey—this is something that big, and I didn't even hear about it?"
"How would I know? Ask your coach."
Haizaki fell silent.
I really hadn't heard a single word about it.
So they deliberately kept it from me? How troublesome.
He immediately called his coach, Ichiro Kudo. They spoke for a long time, and by noon, the call finally ended.
Haizaki smiled.
He turned and began packing his things.
He would head to the training camp.
Without him, Fukuda Sogo had already been "beaten down" for a full week, but that pressure was exactly what Coach Kudo wanted. A harsh environment built strength.
Now that I've returned…
It's time to shake things up again.
=======
Kyushu — Joint Training Camp Facility
A privately rented sports hall for four schools.
The sealed doors slowly opened, and a figure stepped in from the blazing sunlight outside. Wrapped in light, he walked straight into the darkness of the gym.
All eyes turned toward him.
"Captain!!"
"Captain!!"
"Captain!!"
Then another voice followed.
"Shogo-kun!!"
Kuroko Tetsuya called out softly from the sidelines.
Aomine Daiki leaned back in his seat, watching him with half-lidded eyes.
"…Tch. That guy really shows up wherever he wants."
On the court, Midorima Shintaro had just finished shooting a three-pointer when he turned slightly.
He's here.
Across from him, Kagami Taiga was still absent, training in America. Because of that, Seirin was currently being overwhelmed. Only Fukuda Sogo could match them.
Everyone else was being crushed.
But being crushed… meant growth.
Haizaki smiled faintly as he greeted his coach and teammates one by one. Then he walked toward the Tōō group.
"Hey, Momoi."
He casually hugged Satsuki Momoi.
Her face instantly turned red.
Behind her, Aomine and Imayoshi Shoichi looked far less pleased.
Haizaki didn't care.
It was just a greeting.
But the atmosphere in the gym had already changed the moment he arrived.