Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!
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...
3rd year – Teiko
Seijuro narrowed his eyes as he took in the frozen form of Tetsuya standing in front of him. He could tell that the other boy had hoped to sneak in without being spotted and he had to wonder what he really hoped to do.
"A-Akashi-kun," Tetsuya stuttered slightly as he turned around. Wide, light blue eyes stared at him making Seijuro narrow his eyes even further. The words from Momoi about why Mac was upset with them rang in his ears and all Seijuro could think was that the shadow in front of him was the reason.
"What are you doing here, Tetsuya?" Seijuro asked coldly. "I was under the impression that you..." He paused a moment before continuing, "quit."
He didn't take well to anyone quitting, leaving and especially when it hurt someone, the only one, Seijuro cared about and wished to keep happy. The boy in front of him was responsible for that and Seijuro was not going to let it go. His harsher side longed to rip into him and he had to hold himself back as he glared at Tetsuya.
"I-I, um, I did," Tetsuya admitted. He looked away and Seijuro glared deeper.
"Follow me," Seijuro ordered before walking past the other boy and enter the gym. He knew Tetsuya followed him; no one dared to defy a direct order from him. Not given like that. He saw the second strings already practising and could see Ryota and Atsushi lazily playing in a corner of the gym while Daiki was asleep on a bench. Only Mac and Shintaro were missing.
Seijuro made his way to where the rest of the Generation of Miracles were and noticed when they spotted him. Ryota caught the ball and made to wave until a look of surprise crossed his face before he beamed happily. Atsushi just looked lazy and grabbed his snack when it was clear he didn't have to play anymore.
"Daiki," Seijuro said coldly as he nudged the tall Ace roughly, "wake up."
Daiki startled awake and glared at Seijuro as he rubbed his eyes until he spotted the shadow behind Seijuro and a scowl settled on his face.
"Kuroko-cchi!" Ryota exclaimed. "You're finally back!"
He lunged for the other boy and attached himself to the shadow's neck while the shadow remained unmoving and didn't let any kind of expression cross his face. Tetsuya was all too aware of the glares from both Daiki and Seijuro.
"Ryota," Seijuro said a clear warning in his voice and Ryota stepped back looking between Seijuro and Tetsuya.
"Um, so…" Ryota said a little unsurely, "where have you been, Kuroko-cchi?"
Tetsuya didn't answer, and the silence stretched around them. It felt like someone could cut it with a knife so thick was the tension between the friends.
"Where's Mido-chin?" Atsushi broke the silence.
"I think someone's here to talk to him," Ryota answered. "Momoi-cchi came and got him from the library earlier."
"Oh, another school is here?" Atsushi asked.
Ryota nodded.
"Why are you here, Tetsu?" Daiki interrupted the conversation going around and brought them to silence. "Come to blame Kenzie for more of your problems?"
Tetsuya flinched slightly.
"I was looking for Mac," Tetsuya said quietly.
Seijuro held up a hand to stop Daiki from saying anything and the taller boy fell silent with a deep scowl on his face as he glared at Tetsuya.
"And why would you want to talk to Mac?" Seijuro asked. "Why should you be allowed to see her?"
Tetsuya swallowed, and he couldn't deny the fear he felt as those heterochromatic eyes were glaring at him. While his tone of voice was somewhat polite, he still had a note of steel underneath that was not lost on Tetsuya.
Tetsuya felt a spark of indignation and defiance.
"Then why should you be able to talk to her?" he shot back. "You hurt her too!"
Seijuro stared at him in silence for a long moment and Tetsuya felt a little worried when the eyes in front of him flashed.
"Kuroko-cchi," Ryota said sounding worried. "What are you…?"
"Kenzie won't talk to us because of you," Daiki said.
"Mac-chin is upset," Atsushi frowned. "I don't like Mac-chin upset."
Tetsuya clenched his fist hard and wished he had decided to look for Mac another place, but he had gotten here late and knew that this was the place she would most likely be. At least he had thought so…
"We hurt her, yes," Daiki said his voice had silenced and he stared at Tetsuya, "and I know that I can't make it up to her. We, however, didn't place blame on her when we all know that she already blames herself for what we do. It's not right and not fair. It's what her so-called family" he spat the word out with disgust before continuing, "always did and I have worked hard to get her to quit doing it!"
Tetsuya winced at the mention of Mac's relatives.
"Mac-cchi didn't know," Ryota spoke up quietly and for once a serious look on his face as he stared at Tetsuya. "It was my idea, so if you're going to be mad then blame me and not her. We didn't tell her."
"I didn't mean to…" Tetsuya started.
"It doesn't matter," Seijuro spoke up again in his cold voice. It allowed no defiance or any mercy for the one it was directed at. "Mac is blaming herself for what we did and that's on you. I'm not going to allow you to place more blame on her. She's not responsible for our actions."
Tetsuya swallowed as he looked around on his friends, (where they even his friends anymore?), and took in their serious looks and the way they seemed to glare at him. He winced, he had messed up. He knew he had and he knew that it was bad. He deserved their anger, and he wondered if he really was any better than them.
"I messed up and I will apologize to Mac," Tetsuya said.
Seijuro stared at him with a blank look on his face and Tetsuya had no idea what he was thinking. He didn't know what to say or do to make the other boy see that he was sorry and that he just wanted to make it right with Mac. He had to make it right with her, she had always been there for him and he had been too stupid, too blinded to see it.
"Make sure you do," Seijuro finally said. "If you don't…"
The unfinished threat was left hanging, but there was no need to finish it. Tetsuya knew very well what he meant and he didn't need it to do what he was intending to do. He just hoped that she would forgive him. The nagging worry in his stomach was enough to make him feel sick.
...
Mac sighed as she entered the gym next to Shintaro; they had talked a little about Shutoku on their way toward the gym. Mac could tell that he was inclined to accept their offer, but she didn't think that she would. She didn't want to be just their manager; she wanted to go to a school that would allow her to play basketball as well. Even if she didn't care all that much about the sport right now, she knew that she would regret giving it up. So she was going to play and show her friends that it was possible to play and have fun.
"Wonder what's going on…"
"…they have been over there for a long time…"
"…Akashi seems mad…"
Mac blinked as she picked up on the whispers from the teammates around her and glanced around and first now noticed that her friends were gathered in the corner. Only Shintaro was missing from the group and in the middle was…Tetsuya. She inhaled sharply as she finally spotted the teal haired shadow.
"What's going on?" Mac asked and Kuroki Dai who was standing closest to her jumped.
"Um," he looked a little unsure and glanced at her and then over at her friends. "I'm not really sure… They just gathered at the start of practice and then Akashi-san came in with Kuroko-san and… well…"
Mac frowned slightly as she looked over at her friends. She didn't like to see the distance between them or the angry looks on their faces, she couldn't hear what they were saying but it was clear that it wasn't anything that seemed to be mending their friendship.
"Mac?" Shintaro asked.
"Nothing," she said turning away. "Kuroki-san, I wanted to have a word with you today about the new technique you've been working on. I think I have an idea on how you could develop it further."
Kuroki blinked before he smiled at her and she walked to the bench and pulled out her notebook and sat down. She ignored Shintaro's eyes on her as she focused on her task at hand, she was not going to give in and march over to ask what they were doing. She didn't want to listen to them argue.
...
"Mac?"
The voice was quiet and unsure making Mac look to her side and blink surprised when she realized that Tetsuya was standing right there. She noticed that his eyes were sad and had that look in them that had her wanting to reach out and sooth all of his hurt. She didn't though.
"Ah, Tetsu," she finally found her voice and pushed her nerves and unsettled feelings away. "Are you ok?"
A pained look crossed his face before he managed to push it away. How could she ask him if he was okay when he had treated her like that? He felt even worse as he saw the sincere concern in her eyes as she watched him.
"I'm struggling," he admitted feeling that he owed her the truth.
She looked at him for a moment before glancing at the clock, a small frown settled on her brows and she seemed to be trying to make a decision. Tetsuya was about to say something when she looked back at him.
"Come on," she said and started to walk again. He was left with no choice but to follow her, so follow her he did. They walked for a while and he was starting to wonder where they were going, but he didn't ask. Finally, she entered a small Maji Burger he hadn't really noticed before; it wasn't the one they used to go to with their team.
"Find a seat," she said and left to stand in line before he could answer. He looked around and found a free table by the windows and sat down. He looked at the line and saw that she was now ordering looking serious as she told the employee what she wanted. He could see her pointing at something and shrugged before leaning back a little to wait.
He wondered why she brought him here, he had just wanted to apologize and hopefully gain her forgiveness for the way he had blamed her. He hadn't expected her to do this, but it had to mean that she wasn't too mad at him? Right? He tried to reassure himself as she got a tray of food and came toward him. She didn't hesitate or look around trying to spot him; it was like she knew exactly where he was.
"Here," she said and placed a milkshake in front of him. "It's vanilla; it's your favourite, right?"
"Y-yeah," Tetsuya nodded feeling stunned. He took a deep sip of the delicious beverage and felt the taste of vanilla hit his tongue.
"Eat this as well," Mac said and pushed a burger over to him. "You can't live on vanilla milkshakes."
Tetsuya frowned at the burger before looking up at her to see her arch a brow at him and almost daring him to defy her. He wisely put the milkshake down and reached for the burger.
Mac looked down at her own food and started to work on her own burger. They both ate in silence and Tetsuya was wondering how to start the conversation.
"I…I talked to Mochida-san," Tetsuya said and looked up to see Mac blink and put her drink down.
"Oh," she said.
Tetsuya frowned, he wasn't sure but for some reason, she looked nervous. Like she had been caught doing something wrong.
"Thank you," Tetsuya said and almost smiled when she looked at him shocked and blinked at him.
"Huh?"
"I owe you an apology, Mac," Tetsuya said. "I'm sorry for what I said and I didn't mean it. I know it's not your fault. You're not to blame for the way they acted during the game and I should never have blamed you."
He had to say it, but he couldn't meet her eyes. He was too ashamed of how he had acted, he had thought he was better than the others and that he wouldn't hurt her. Yet, he knew that he had hurt her the worst way possible. Daiki had been right. He had acted like her relatives and that hurt.
"I should have stopped them, though," Mac said.
"No!" Tetsuya looked up and saw the dark look in her eyes. "You can't blame yourself, Mac. It's not your fault and you can't make the decisions for them. They chose to do what they did and someday they will realize what they did."
Mac frowned and looked away from him.
"I know that I don't make the decisions for them," she said. "I just… I should have seen their plan earlier; I would have been able to stop them if I had. Then you wouldn't have been hurt and neither would your friend."
Tetsuya knew that he wouldn't be able to convince her that she wasn't to blame for just this, but he was not sure how to do it.
"I'm sorry," he ended up saying not sure what to say or how to make it right.
"I'm not angry at you, Tetsu," Mac said.
"You should be," Tetsuya said.
"Why?" she asked.
"Well, because…" he started and paused. "Because I blamed you when it wasn't your fault, I talked to you so… hurtfully. And you're my friend and I know you always try to look out for everyone. I was hurt and angry, but I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
Mac smiled a little and he felt a little trace of hope fill him.
"Well," she said, "you're forgiven."
Tetsuya smiled relieved. He felt lighter than he had since the final and it felt like he could finally breathe again.
...
"How are you? You said you were struggling," Mac asked concerned.
Tetsuya shrugged a little not looking at her and focused on the new vanilla milkshake in front of him. He thought about those long weeks with little to no sleep and aimless wandering he had done, on how much he missed basketball as well as hated it. How he had missed Mac and his friends, how confused he had been with the anger inside of him. All of it was on his mind now and he was not sure how or if he wanted to tell her.
Mac waited patiently as he struggled to figure out what to say. She knew better than to press him and decided to just wait him out. She could see the conflicting emotions in his normally composed eyes. It was clear to her that he wasn't doing well, and she wanted to help him.
Finally, his mind seemed set and he started to talk. Mac listened quietly as he described his days since the final and how he had coped and avoiding everyone around him. Even his parents. Mac didn't say anything as he talked about how he felt about basketball or the almost panic attacks he'd had just thinking about it.
Finally, he stopped talking and he seemed completely empty, Mac wondered if had ever really opened up to someone like this. She knew that he was not ready to give up basketball, it was clear in the way he was talking but… he needed something. She furrowed her brows as she stared at him, she could easily see the deep tiredness in him and she was aware that he was barely keeping his head above water.
"So…um, that's what's been going on," he muttered.
"That's a lot to be handling on your own," Mac commented.
He shrugged.
Mac glanced at the clock and saw that it was getting pretty late, but it wasn't too late yet. She was starting to get an idea and it wasn't the first time she'd had it. Even before all this started she had been thinking about it and now she was sure.
"Come on," she said getting back up on her feet and grabbed the tray to cast away the trash before placing it on the stack of other trays.
"Where are we going now?" Tetsuya asked looking confused, but he got up.
"We're going to go and see Teppei," Mac said making Tetsuya blink.
"EH?"
She didn't answer.
...
"Ah, Mac!" Kiyoshi beamed when she entered the room. "I thought you said you weren't coming today since you had to talk to your friend?"
Mac smiled back and stepped closer to the chair where he was seated, a school book was on his lap showing that he had been working on some of his homework.
"Well, we decided to come and say hi," Mac said.
"We?" Kiyoshi blinked before his eyes widened as he spotted an unsure looking Tetsuya standing just inside the door. "Oh."
"You remember Tetsu, right?" Mac asked before looking over at the shadow. "Tetsu, come inside! You remember Teppei?"
"Yes," Tetsuya nodded. "Hello, Kiyoshi-san."
"Hi, Kuroko!" Kiyoshi smiled and waved. "I guess you really are a shadow. I didn't see you there."
Mac rolled her eyes as she sat down and gave Tetsuya a look that had him sitting down in the empty seat. Kiyoshi just smiled happily.
"Did you do anything fun today at school?" Kiyoshi asked.
"No, not really," Mac shrugged. "Another school came today, though; Shutoku High School was the name."
"Oh, we've played them;" Kiyoshi nodded. "They're good."
Mac nodded looking thoughtfully at him.
"They wanted me to come to their school," she said.
"Really?" Kiyoshi asked. "I'm not surprised, though. You would be a catch to any school, Mac. I've told you that before."
"Well, I don't think I'll join them," Mac shrugged. "They're more interested in my managing skills than my playing abilities. I want to do both."
Kiyoshi nodded. "You should do both."
Mac nodded and glanced over at Tetsuya who was watching curiously but also looking a little confused.
"Did Riko-san and Hyuga-san decide if they were going to go out headhunting players?" Mac asked looking back at Kiyoshi who laughed.
"They decided against it," Kiyoshi said. "We don't want that kind of team."
"I thought they wanted to keep up with the other schools," Mac said.
"We want to play basketball because we love the game and anyone who feels the same is welcome in Seirin," Kiyoshi said. "It doesn't matter if you're especially talented or not, hard work and a love for the game will get us where we want to go. Talent and strength will come when it's time."
Mac had to hide her smile as she spotted the surprised and almost awed look on Tetsuya's face as he stared at Kiyoshi.
"I see," Mac nodded. "I like that."
Kiyoshi shrugged, "it's not to say that we don't want the talented on our team but we don't only see the talent."
Mac nodded and leaned back in her seat, she watched as Kiyoshi turned his attention to Tetsuya and managed to lure him into a discussion about basketball. Mac smiled as Tetsuya seemed to relax slightly and actually contribute to the discussion.
...
"Thank you," Mac smiled at Kiyoshi when it was time for them to leave. Tetsuya had already said goodbye and was waiting just outside the room.
"For what?" Kiyoshi blinked confusedly.
"For being you," Mac said and leaned in to kiss him softly. "You helped even more than you know."
Kiyoshi still looked confused but smiled goofily at her anyway as he pulled her closer and pressed another kiss to her lips. This one was a little longer than the last one and she sighed into it as she felt his arms around her.
"I have to go," she said reluctantly as she pulled back.
"I wish I could walk you home," he sighed and pushed a strand of hair out of her face. "I miss it."
"You miss walking me home?" Mac arched a brow.
"Yeah," he shrugged. "I do."
Mac shook her head, "well, you can walk me to the door."
He laughed and she leaned up to kiss his cheek before pulling back. He grabbed his crutches and started to walk toward the door making her laugh.
"I was joking," she said.
"Well, I'll take what I can get," he said with a smile.
Tetsuya looked over at the door when it opened again and smile a little when he spotted the smile on Mac's face as she looked at Kiyoshi. He was smiling as well and they looked happy together.
...
Mac watched as Daiki stayed behind in the classroom with the teacher, and she hesitated, making someone to knock into her. She was not sure what the teacher wanted with Daiki, but it couldn't be good. The look on Daiki's face wasn't promising either, and Mac was worried.
She leaned against the wall outside the classroom unable to keep moving and waited. A little while later she saw the teacher leaving the room, and walking straight past her without noticing her, but Daiki didn't come out. Mac frowned and walked over to the door.
Peeking in, she saw Daiki standing in the middle of the room with his hands fisted together and looking upset. Not only upset, he looked worried and angry all at once. He wasn't paying attention as he stared at the floor in front of him clearly not seeing it.
She kept standing just outside the door, hidden from view, watching him as he struggled. She almost went over to him to ask (more like demand) what was wrong, but she couldn't move. She hesitated and then he suddenly moved and she backed up remaining hidden as he ran out of the room and down the hallway without seeing her.
What was wrong? Why was he so upset? What had the teacher said to him? She was curious and worried about her best friend, and suddenly she felt horrible. Why hadn't she walked over to him to ask if he was okay? Why had she just stood there watching him like an idiot?
...
Mac frowned as she walked through the streets not really paying attention to where she was going or her surroundings. She had let Nao out of her bag and he was running around her legs as he enjoyed the fresh air. Her mind was on Daiki and the way he had looked, she wasn't able to get his look of frustration and pain out of her mind. It was a time he would have sought her out when he was upset, but now… when was the last time he had done that? Had she really pushed him away from her with her anger?
I'm Aomine Daiki!
What's your name?
I'll call you Kenzie.
With those three lines, he had integrated himself into her life and she was forever grateful that he had stopped that day and reached out to her. His hand of friendship had been her greatest treasure for so long and she knew that it still was, even if she was frustrated over his choices lately. Who knew what her life would have been like if she hadn't met Daiki? Without Daiki she wouldn't have basketball or her friends, she might still be stuck with the Dursley's or perhaps she would be living on the streets. Yet, she let her anger and hurt take over and she avoided the very ones that she knew was always there for her… Was it right for her to put the entire blame on him or any of the others when they were basically just kids themselves? Shouldn't the school go in and do something to help them?
The questions swirled in her mind over and over again until she was so sick and tired of them and just wanted to scream. She blinked when Nao nudged her leg, having been walking beside her on the pathway. She sighed and inhaled trying to calm down a little.
"Mac-nee!"
Shiro came running over to her and she smiled as the younger boy stopped in front of her a wide smile on his face. He reminded her so much of Daiki when he was that age, the only (or biggest) difference was the football under his arm instead of a basketball.
"Hi Shiro," Mac greeted, "what are you doing here?"
"I'm just finishing football practice with my friends," Shiro said. "Where have you been, Mac-nee? You never come over anymore."
He turned wide blue eyes to her and she felt guilty, she hadn't meant to neglect the younger boy. She smiled sadly at him.
"I'm sorry, Shiro," Mac murmured. "I've…been busy."
"You're angry at Daiki-nii," he said a frown on his face. "Daiki-nii is always sulking and brooding now. He doesn't want to play with me anymore."
He looked so sad that Mac couldn't resist the urge to reach out and ruffle his hair like she used to do. He smiled at her as he swatted her hand away.
"I'm not angry at him," Mac said.
"Really?"
Mac nodded and she realized that it was true, her anger had faded away and she just felt…empty and lonely. She worked to keep her smile on her face as she felt his searching eyes on her.
"Come and meet my friends!" Shiro said and grabbed her hand to pull her with him. Only now did she realize that there was a group of boys watching them from a few meters away. They looked to be the same age as Shiro and wore the same team jerseys.
"Mac-nee this is Kita Kouki, Kato Jiro and Minami Ryou," Shiro introduced the three boys. "This is my nee-san, Potter Mackenzie."
"Nice to meet you," Mac smiled at them and ignored the blushes on their faces as they stared at her.
"H-hi," Kita said shyly. "You're really Shiro-san's sister?"
"Yes," Mac said glancing down at the happy smile on Shiro's face. "I am."
"I told you I had a big sister!" Shiro said. "She plays basketball like Daiki-nii."
"Football is better," Minami mumbled but blushed when Mac turned her eyes to him. He tried to give her a defiant look though.
"I like football as well," Mac said. "I've played with Shiro a few times."
"Then why do you play basketball?" Minami asked.
"I love basketball," Mac shrugged. "It's not wrong to like more than one sport, you know."
"Mac-nee is really good at teaching me about football," Shiro bragged. "She helps me train sometime to get better."
Mac smiled a little feeling warm hearing Shiro brag about her, she didn't like the attention but at the same time, it felt good to have him show how… proud he was of her. It was really humbling.
"Come home with me!" Shiro begged when they had said goodbye to his friends.
Mac hesitated for a moment and then made the mistake of looking down at Shiro and saw the wide eyes looking pleadingly at her and she sighed. Who was she to say no to that look?
"Alright," she agreed and smiled when he cheered.
...
"Shiro, is that you?" Ayano called when she heard the door open and then she heard her son talk a mile a minute not taking a pause to answer her. Curious she left the kitchen and dinner preparations to see just who Shiro was talking to seeing as she couldn't hear anyone answering.
"…and then we had to play in the rain and we got so wet that mum didn't even know what to do with me," Shiro was saying just as Ayano entered the hallway. She blinked surprised when she spotted Mac standing there looking down at Shiro with a fond smile on her lips.
"I see," Mac murmured. "Looks like you've had a lot of fun."
"Mm-mm!" Shiro nodded so hard that Ayano almost thought he was going to topple over.
"Mac," Ayano said smiling as she walked over to the younger girl and pulled her into a warm hug. She could feel a tension in her making Ayano frown a little worried. "Daiki didn't say you were coming."
"I wasn't planning to," Mac said. "I met Shiro and he asked me to come."
"I see," Ayano said smiling at her son. "He has missed you."
Ayano saw the almost guilty look that crossed Mac's face, but it was gone as soon as it had come.
"I missed him too," Mac said causing Shiro to grin at her and pull her hand. She let him drag her to the living room and onto the couch and Ayano smiled amused and felt hopeful that her being her meant that she and Daiki were doing better.
...
"Daiki's not coming down?" Takehiro asked when the dinner was almost ready and he glanced toward the stairs.
"He said he wasn't hungry," Sayuri said as she came down. "Hi, Mac."
"Hi," Mac smiled at her before she looked worriedly toward the stairs.
"Again?" Ayano sighed.
Mac saw the worry in her eyes and knew that Daiki must have done this often if it was something they worried about yet seemed to expect. She felt a tinge of guilt, but also worry about her best friend. She stood up and ignored the looks she got as she made her way to the stairs and then started to ascend them.
She paused outside his room and knocked, there was no answer. She knocked again before she tried the door and noticed that it was open so she pushed it open. Like the last time she had gone in here she found Daiki lying on the bed and reading (she ignored the fact that he didn't like to read) a magazine. The frown on his face was still there even as he stared at the magazine.
"Get up," Mac ordered as she made her way into the room and grimaced at the heavy air inside. "Honestly, Daiki, how can you even breathe in here? Ugh! At least open a window if you're going to barricade yourself in your room! And clean! How can you even stand to be in here?"
She looked around at the dirty clothes and mess that covered the floors, she grimaced again. She then looked to see Daiki having sat up on the bed and staring at her with his mouth popped open in shock.
"Kenzie?" he asked almost as if he was worried he was dreaming.
"Daiki," Mac said.
"You're here," he said awed.
"Well, yeah," Mac said glancing around the room again. "Seriously, Daiki, how can you allow your room to get this messy? Your mum must be upset at the mess."
"It's not that bad," he mumbled.
Mac arched one brow at him in disbelief.
"Get up," she said again. "Dinner's ready and everyone is waiting for you."
"But…"
"No buts," Mac said and turned to walk out of the room. "You're going to eat dinner with your family, and I won't accept any excuses. You got it?"
"Yes, Kenzie," Daiki sighed but he sounded almost pleased even as he pretended to pout.
"Good," she said.
Mac didn't notice the relieved and yet knowing look on Daiki's parents faces when she entered the kitchen with Daiki moments later.
...
"What are you doing here?" Daiki asked later when they were back in his room and she cast a few cleaning charms around them. She was glad she had learned some of them in her latest classes with Professor Sato. Daiki watched awed as his room got a little cleaner and the mess seemed to organize itself. "Wow…magic is cool."
Mac smiled a little before she sat down in the office chair next to the desk.
"Well? What are you doing here, Kenzie?" Daiki asked again remembering what he originally had asked before he got side-tracked by the magic.
"Shiro dragged me here," Mac shrugged.
"Oh," Daiki looked disappointed as he looked away from her.
Mac sighed and pulled a hand over her face. She felt exhausted and she didn't like the tense silence that was between them. She looked at Daiki and really looked at him. He was taller than he had been a few months ago and had a few more muscles but he had the same dark blue hair and eyes. He was still Daiki, the boy who had claimed her as his best friend back when they were kids.
"I miss you," Mac whispered.
Daiki snapped his head up and stared at her. Had he heard her right? She wasn't looking at him, but down at Nao who had climbed up in her lap. But he knew that she hadn't been talking to Nao, he just knew.
"I miss you too," Daiki said.
"How did everything get so messed up?" Mac asked.
Daiki sighed and wished he knew. He wished he could say why everything changed and how to fix it. He wished he was older and wiser; he wished he could reach out and take her hand. He wished…
"Do you remember when we used to just spend all day just playing basketball or just exploring the different parks?" Mac asked.
"Yeah," Daiki nodded. "That was fun."
Mac nodded and smiled a little. "I miss how simple life was then."
...
"Kenzie," Daiki spoke up and she looked over at him. Her green eyes a little lighter than before and he shifted nervously on his feet. He was not sure how to say it or if she would even help him anymore. Yet, she was there and she had talked to him.
"Yeah?" she said when he didn't continue.
"Could you help me with something?" Daiki looked so nervous that Mac frowned.
"What's wrong?" Mac asked wondering if this had something to do with what the teacher had wanted after class that day.
"I need help with my homework and the exam," Daiki admitted. "I was told that my work has to be better if I'm going to be able to pass my literature class. I tried, I really did and…"
Mac saw that it took a lot for Daiki to admit this and ask for help. So without commenting she just nodded and pulled out her own books and gestured for Daiki to sit down. He blinked at her and then he smiled so relieved and openly at her that she couldn't help but see the young boy he had been once.
...
Mac smiled a little when Daiki joined her in the classroom. A nervous smile on his face as he sat down, and he seemed relieved when she smiled back at him.
"Hi," Daiki grinned at her. "You're ready for math?"
"Hi Daiki, and yes," Mac nodded. "You?"
"I like math," Daiki said, "it's the one subject I feel I can master."
"You're good at math," Mac smiled at him.
"Can we look at the literature work during lunch?" Daiki asked.
Mac nodded and he smiled. It wasn't quite as it used to be, but Mac knew that it wouldn't be like that in a while. There was still hurt feelings and differences between them that was not completely worked through, but she wasn't prepared to lose him completely. Shirogane had been right when he said that they were still her friends, so she just had to make a decision about what was more important; her friends or her anger.
They had gotten halfway through the class when there was a knock on the door. The teacher stopped what he was doing and looked at the door just as it opened. A tall, middle-aged man with slightly curly black hair that reached his lower neck and was parted on the left side entered the classroom. He was dressed formally standing out even in Teiko.
"May I help you?" the teacher asked.
"I was told that I could find a Potter Mackenzie and Aomine Daiki here," the man said. "I would like to talk to them."
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AN: Thank you as always for reading! Hope you liked it :)