Training Camp preparation began early on Friday morning. Although Taiga and his charges all had responsibilities during the day, including classes to attend and or teach, they were all reminded during practice, via text, email and an early morning voicemail that they had to come to school with their duffle bags and clothes for Monday's lessons ready for the weekend away. They would arrive back in time for school on Monday, an extra uniform would be stashed in Taiga's office over the weekend, the exact place all their belongings were being dumped until the bus came for them after class.
Ryota had been at the Aigawa house drumming on their door at 6 am, covered in a fresh sheen of sweat. He'd played with the firemen that morning after their shift change and then done the short run to Kaho's for a protein shake. Not that Taiga was expecting him.
Mrs Aigawa answered the door, a toothbrush in her mouth and her fringe still in rollers. She grunted a hello and beckoned them inside. The house was full of noise already, Naoki and Daichi were eating their breakfast with Himiko. All three kids were shovelling scrambled eggs with chives and green pepper into their mouths like it was going out of style. Ryota snorted. Ichigo flipped him off from behind the stove. She pointed a spatula at him.
"Oi, Iwai do you want eggs?"
He shook his head, "I'm here for a shake."
"Give me a few more minutes."
"Don't worry Ichigo, I've got time."
She rolled her eyes, "If you're expecting a ride to school, you're in for a shock. You might just need to put on some roller skates and hold onto a chord at the back of the car like a jet ski."
"You can do that?" Ryota exclaimed, "I thought that was only in that movie. That American movie!"
Ichigo rolled her eyes, "Keeks! Kaho! Your idiot is here!"
"Morning Ryota!" the older girls shouted.
"We're just making sure Kaho has everything a girl might need at basketball boot camp."
Ryota had shed his shoes in the doorway and unceremoniously charged up the stairs, taking them two at a time and putting his hands on his hips. Mrs Aigawa's bedroom door was firmly closed, but the doors to Kikiyo's room and Kaho's rooms were open. The girls were huddled around Kaho's bed, surrounded by discarded vests and shorts. Her duffle bag was brimming with toiletries, from liquid talc to shea butter. She had four different types of moisturiser to keep her skin bright and hydrated, and to prevent ingrown hairs. Underwear and socks were crammed into one side, and tiny travel-sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body wash were in a small clear pouch. Sanitary towels and tampons were sticking out of another pouch. A brand-new toothbrush and a half-used squeezy toothpaste were on the top of the bag under her hairbrush.
"Really?" Ryota said, "You're packing like you're going to a beach vacation, not Hell on Earth."
Kaho sneered at him, "It's only Hell on Earth if you're playing ball. Fumiko and I are only there because Taiga said we had to be. I'm sure she's dressing for the weather, not the game."
Ryota laughed and picked up one of the discarded vests and waved it in Kaho's face, "And what weather are you expecting wearing this?"
"Nice weather," Kaho bit back "It's nearly June."
He rolled his eyes, "Taiga is going to combust."
"Taiga has no right," Kaho said, snatching the vest back, "He is the one who suggested I try and seduce Matsuoka to join the team."
"And how did that go? Who had to swoop in and save the day, eh?" Ryota said, flicking her forehead.
He laughed and crossed the room, flipping through the items hung up in Kaho's wardrobe. He threw her a white crop top with a green alien on it. Kaho caught it in one hand and rolled her eyes, stuffing it in her bag. He threw a black top covered in constellations at her.
"Now wait a sec!" Kaho said, "That has a whole outfit to go with it!"
Kikiyo shoved him out of the way and produced a denim jacket. Kaho grasped at the air, an invitation for the coat. Kikiyo tossed it on the bed. Ryota, reluctantly put the starry shirt back and pulled out an oversized NBA jersey, that looked like more of a dress than a shirt. Kaho sighed and held her hand out for it. Ryota threw it over. Her bag was getting fuller and fuller.
"And trousers? Or am I just walking through the mountains in my underwear?"
Kikiyo laughed, "Leggings. Comfy ones. Maybe some cute shorts! Those little denim ones would be really cute with that jersey!"
Kaho nodded, digging through her drawers.
"Oi! Ryota!" Taiga hollered from downstairs, "Don't think I don't know whose duffle that is! Get your ass down here or you're not getting a shake."
Ryota saluted the girls and bolted out of the bedroom, nearly tripping over both Rana and Tama on the way down. Kaho wasn't far behind them, having decided to pack what Ryota suggested as well as what she'd picked out, making sure she unplugged her phone charger before she left her room. A microfibre towel was hanging up on her door, and her swimsuit was stuffed under her skincare. She didn't have time to research this lodge, all she knew was that there was a lot of walking, and she refused to let her thighs chafing ruin a trip to somewhere so pretty.
After school, Ichigo and Kikiyo headed home while the team got changed in the locker room and the girls got changed one at a time in the staff bathrooms while Taiga kept watch. Fumiko went first. Kaho was flabbergasted by her. She was so pretty and glamorous, wearing a denim romper, white socks and red trainers, with matching, almost identical red lipstick, her hair pulled back in a bandana. She'd brought a bag from home, a little backpack in the Hanagawa Colours, an iron on patch, bearing Naoru's number was stitched onto the back. She held the door open with her foot and Kaho stepped inside. Fumiko nodded and turned to her compact mirror, adding a swooping cat's eye to each lid as Kaho went to get changed.
While Fumiko was wearing something incredibly fashionable, Kaho found herself glaring at the clothes she'd chosen to pack. She wriggled into a pair of leggings and threw on one of the shirts she'd put on her bed. It was a black, boxy tee, with the full moon on the back. She'd stolen it from Taiga years ago, but in the wake of Fumiko and her aesthetic, she felt unremarkable. Kaho sighed and put her clothes away, heading out of the bathroom. Most of the boys had changed into sweatpants, tank tops, hoodies and t-shirts. Taiga had also shrugged off his work jacket and had changed into clothes more befitting of someone his age. He looked like he could still be on a college team. He looked like he should still be playing, not coaching. It made a knot form in Kaho's stomach.
The team were almost finished loading the bus up with their bags when one last person came walking over. He was wearing a black hoodie and a pair of matching black tracksuit bottoms. A duffle bag was on his shoulder. He hurled it into the body of the bus and climbed onto the bus.
"Matsuoka!" Taiga exclaimed, "Glad you could make it! I didn't think you'd be coming."
Ryota rolled his eyes from beside Yamada. Eiji and Yuta waved from their spot in the row behind them. Kaho's head snapped up as Naseru shuffled down the centre aisle and slumped into one of the empty chairs. Taiga cleared his throat, silencing any chatter.
"Okay. Before we get going. Does anyone need the bathroom? No? Good. Next. Is anyone missing? Not that you can see? Good. But I will be checking. Lastly. Are you ready for the worst weekend of your lives?"
Taiga pointedly locked the bus, a grin splitting his face in two. He cackled, "Prepare to suffer for victory, boys!"