Stepping Outside

Time passed in a blink of an eye, and the summer vacations began.

And, today was the day when Shun was going to board the flight to America for the FIBA summer camp.

Los Angeles was the host city for training camp.

Shun was going to board the plane from Tokyo International Airport, commonly known as Haneda Airport, to the Los Angeles International Airport, commonly known as LAX.

The flight was a direct flight from Tokyo to Los Angeles, with no connecting stops in between.

Shun was in his room with his mom and had just finished the last check of his things.

Mom: "Shun, did you pack everything in the first-aid kit?"

He spoke while zipping up his carry-on.

Shun: "Yes, dad triple-checked the contents, so we are fine there."

Mom: "What about chargers and the socket adapter? Did you pack all of the chargers?"

He pointed at his backpack and replied.

Shun: "My phone's, laptop's, and camera's charger, with a socket adapter, are all in my backpack with all my electronics."

Mom: "What about documents?"

Shun looked at his mom and smiled.

Shun: "They are downstairs on the living room table."

Shun's mom came close to her son and asked.

Mom: "Now, what did I teach you?"

Shun smiled wryly and repeated the line he had heard a lot from mother.

Shun: "Keep a lookout for your surroundings, don't follow strangers, stay with the group, listen to the one in charge, and immediately call if there is a problem."

Shun's mother hugged her son and said with a sad smile on her face.

Mom: "Oh, Shun. I am going to miss you. Please, call every day. And, return home safely."

Shun hugged her back and said.

Shun: "Don't worry. I will be back before you know it."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Shun and his mom got down to the first floor with his luggage. They entered the living room where his father was with another man sitting with him.

Shun smiled and greeted the person.

Shun: "Hattori-san, are we ready to go?"

Hattori Akira was the chaperone from FIBA, who was going to accompany Shun to the summer camp in Los Angeles and was going to be with him every time Shun decided to explore Los Angeles.

In short, from the moment Shun boarded the flight to the moment he returned home after camp, Hattori Akira was going to be responsible for Shun.

Hattori smiled and said.

Hattori: "Ah, Shun-kun. Yes, we are ready to go. Actually, we should leave soon if we want to stay on schedule."

With that, they headed outside.

Shun's dad put an arm around Shun and said.

Dad: "Be sure to go to a lot of sightseeing. Make sure to click a lot of photos and record a lot of videos.

Take care of your body out there.

If you are eating thing that is high in fat or carbohydrates or sugar, make sure not to click photos, or else you mom would make your life difficult when she sees them.

I know Koetsuji-san said there being different levels of coaching, but please don't push yourself out there."

Shun patted his dad on the back and said.

Shun: "I will take care of myself. I don't want to waste this opportunity by getting injured."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Shun was putting the luggage in the trunk when he heard someone call out from behind him.

???: "Shun-kun."

Shun recognized the voice and turned to the person, and saw Satsuki and Mrs. Momoi standing together.

He smiled and greeted them.

Shun: "Ah, Satsuki-chan, and Mrs. Momoi. Good Morning."

Mrs. Momoi put her hand on her cheek and greeted Shun.

Mrs. Momoi: "Fufu~, Ara, Shun-chan, you are so polite, and good morning to you as well, are you ready for your trip?"

Shun grinned and replied.

Shun: "Yeah! I am really excited. I am going to meet a lot of new people."

That was when Satsuki stepped and forward and extended her hand towards Shun.

Shun looked down at her hand and saw a talisman charm with safe travel written on it.

He looked up at her, and Satsuki said.

Satsuki: "This is a safe travel charm that I bought from the nearby shrine."

Shun smiled softly and received the charm form her, and said.

Shun: "Thank you. I will keep it with me all the time.

Now, my turn. Do you want something that you want from Los Angeles? I will bring it back as a souvenir."

Satsuki smiled brightly at the idea of a souvenir and put one finger on her chin as she thought for a moment and said.

Satsuki: "Surprise me."

Shun did a bow and said.

Shun: "As my lady commands."

Satsuki giggled at Shun's behavior.

Not noticed by the pair, both of their mothers were shaking hands as they looked at their children.

The time to depart came, and Hattori called for Shun.

Hattori: "Shun-kun, it is time to leave."

Shun turned to Hattori and then turned back to Satsuki and said.

Shun: "Well, I guess I have to leave now. Let's go out and have some fun after I come back home.

Bye, see you soon."

Satsuki nodded and replied.

Satsuki: "Yeah. Bye, see you soon."

Shun turned away from and walked to the car door, and as he opened the door of the car, he looked at Satsuki and waved.

Satsuki smiled as she waved back.

Satsuki looked as the car drove, and the analytic scout in her couldn't help but think.

Satsuki: 'I wonder how would he change when he returns.'

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

At the airport, Shun, and Hattori completed all of their formalities. The time to say goodbye to the parents had come.

Shun turned to his parents and said his goodbye.

Shun: "Don't worry, I will be fine, and I am not alone. Hattori-san will be with me every time I step out of the training facility."

Shun's dad nodded and said.

Dad: "Remember, if you have any problem, we are just one call away."

Shun's mom nodded and added.

Mom: "Please call us every day, alright?"

Shun hugged his parents and then walked towards the boarding entrance.

He waved them one last goodbye and then disappeared from their sight.

Shun's mom, who had kept her composure till now, couldn't keep it any further and hugged her husband and teared up.

Shun's dad hugged her wife back and comforted her.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

On the plane, Shun looked outside the window and thought.

Shun: 'The talent from all around the world, huh. I wonder what I could get from all the players that I will meet there.

I wonder if there will be any Generation Of Miracles talents there.

Older high school players. That means that some of them would be stronger than the canon Generation Of Miracles.'

Kageyama Shun was leaving Japan to experience what the best of the world had to offer.