The northern air had felt different.
It had carried a quiet chill, one that settled into the skin without biting, wrapping the team in a strange sense of calm that none of them had expected. The moment they had stepped off the bus, the noise of the city had vanished, replaced by rustling trees, distant mountain winds, and the soft rising steam of the hot springs nearby.
It should have felt like a battlefield.
Instead, it felt like a retreat.
And that was exactly the danger.
"They'll get too relaxed if I don't control this," May had thought as she watched them take in the scenery.
But even she could not deny it. The place had been perfect. The first night had unfolded exactly as Renji had predicted.
The team had trained just enough to loosen their bodies after the long trip—light dribbling, shooting, simple passing drills on the outdoor court. Nothing intense. Just enough to remind them why they had come.
But their focus had not lasted long.
Because the moment training ended, something else took over.
"Food's ready!" someone shouted.
That had been the true start of the camp.
The dining hall had been warm, filled with the rich aroma of freshly prepared meals. Plates had been set across long wooden tables. grilled meats, steaming rice, vegetables, and soup that seemed to carry the essence of the mountains themselves.
For a moment, the team simply stared.
Then...
"WE'RE EATING GOOD TONIGHT!"
The room had erupted into life.
Chairs scraped, laughter burst out, and the players quickly gathered around the tables, their earlier fatigue completely forgotten.
"This is insane…"
"Way better than cafeteria food!"
"Renji, you're a genius for suggesting this!"
Renji had sat quietly among them, eating at a steady pace, though even he could not deny the satisfaction in the meal. His eyes scanned the team.
They were relaxed. Too relaxed, maybe. But that had been part of the plan.
Recovery was not just physical...it had been mental as well.
Across from him, May had observed everything. She did not interrupt their enjoyment. Not tonight.
"Let them have this," she had decided.
Because starting tomorrow she would not hold back. After dinner came the hot springs.
That had been the moment the team truly lost all restraint.
Steam rose gently into the night air, illuminated by soft lantern light. The water shimmered, inviting, almost unreal.
"…This is heaven," one of the players muttered as he stepped in.
A chorus of agreement followed.
The tension that had built over weeks of training melted almost instantly as they sank into the warmth. Muscles loosened, fatigue dissolved, and even the most serious among them could not hide their relief.
"I could stay here forever…"
"Forget basketball, this is the real training."
"You say that now," another replied. "Wait until May hears you."
As if on cue, May's voice echoed from the side.
"I already did."
The team froze, then laughed. Even May allowed a faint smile this time. Renji leaned back slightly, letting the heat seep into his shoulders. His eyes closed briefly, but his mind remained active.
He could feel the difference. This place was resetting them. Their bodies would recover faster. Their minds would sharpen. And once that happened....Their growth would accelerate.
The night ended in a rare kind of peace. No one stayed up too late and also no one wasted energy.
Because deep down, they all understood, tomorrow would not be the same.
Morning came cold and sharp. Before the sun had fully risen, a whistle pierced through the stillness.
"Up!" May's voice followed immediately after.
"Five minutes! Outside!"
Groans filled the rooms.
"…Already?"
"My body just recovered…"
"Coach, mercy…"
"There is no mercy," May replied flatly. That ended the complaints.
Moments later, the team gathered outside.
The air bit against their skin, a stark contrast to the warmth of the hot springs the night before. Breath fogged in front of them as they stretched, their bodies still adjusting.
Renji stood among them, already composed.
He had woken earlier prepared and focused. His eyes scanned the terrain.
"Perfect for endurance," he thought. May stepped forward.
"We start with a jog," she said. "Around the area. No slacking. No shortcuts."
She pointed toward a trail that curved around the camp and into the surrounding woods.
"Pace yourselves. This is not a sprint."
A pause.
"But don't fall behind."
That was all she needed to say. They began with their jog. The sound of footsteps filled the quiet morning as the team moved together, their pace steady but controlled. The path was uneven, shifting between dirt, stone, and slight inclines that tested their balance and stamina.
At first, it felt easy, until the terrain changed.
Inclines grew steeper. The air felt thinner.
And the weight of their bodies became more noticeable.
"…Okay, this is tougher than it looks…"
"No kidding…"
Renji maintained his rhythm near the front.
His breathing stayed controlled.
Step after step, he adjusted instinctively, shortening his stride uphill, conserving energy on the flats, pushing slightly on descents.
Behind him, the others struggled to match that efficiency.
"Don't waste movement," Renji called back. "Control your breathing."
May, running alongside the group, noticed it immediately.
"He's guiding them mid-run…"
She did not interfere. "This is valuable. Very valuable."
By the time they returned, sweat clung to their bodies despite the cold air.
Some bent forward, catching their breath.
Others dropped to the ground entirely.
"I… take it back…" one gasped. "This is definitely training…"
Renji exhaled slowly, steadying his breathing.
"This is just the start," he said.
That alone silenced the remaining complaints.
Breakfast followed soon after.
And just like the night before, energy returned instantly.
"Okay, this makes up for the run."
"I can eat three bowls of this."
"You probably will."
The balance had become clear now.
Hard training, great food, recovery, repeat.
Later that morning, they gathered at the court.
The sun had risen fully now, casting light across the worn surface. It was not perfect but it was enough.
May stood at center court. "Basics," she said.
A collective groan followed.
"Yes, basics," she repeated firmly. "Passing. Dribbling. Footwork. Defense."
One of the players raised a hand weakly. "Coach… we came all the way here for basics?"
May's gaze sharpened.
"You came here to win." it was a moment of silence then she continued.
"If your basics break under pressure, everything else collapses."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"Aoi's team won't lose because of flashy plays."
She pointed to the ground.
"They'll win because they don't make mistakes."
"That hit hard." Renji stepped forward slightly.
"She's right," he said. "This is where we close the gap."
The team straightened. Motivation reignited.
And so.... The real training began.
Shoes squeaked against the court.
Balls echoed in a steady rhythm. Footwork drills pushed their balance. Passing drills sharpened precision. Defense drills burned their legs. Under the peaceful skies of the northern camp...
They trained harder than ever before.
Yet even as exhaustion was built. There was something different, between drills, they laughed. During breaks, they talked.
At meals, they bonded at night..... The hot springs waited.
It was not just a training camp. And as a fact, they would not be the same team that had arrived.