Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!
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Note: Long author note at the end that will explain the choice of school if you are interested in knowing my thought process for it.
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3rd year – Teiko
Mac walked silently beside Daiki as they followed the man through the hallway of Teiko. She would guess he was a coach at some school, but she was a little surprised that he showed up during class. The others had come when classes were over and they had free time for activities and such things.
"Your coach said we could use this room," the man said and Mac saw it was the room she had been in several times talking to coaches.
Daiki grunted making Mac roll her eyes at her best friend.
"Alright," Mac said and stepped into the room. Daiki right behind her before the man followed and closed the door. Mac blinked when she saw that a teen sat at the table already. He had straight yet messy dark hair, and his grey eyes were practically closed as he gazed at her from behind a simple pair of glasses. Overall she got a feeling that he was…creepy.
"Ah…you found them," he said with a smile.
Mac glanced at Daiki who frowned at the older teen before taking a step closer to Mac as to protect her. The teen noticed and his smile widened even more.
"Yes," the man said walking so he was on the same side of the table as the teen. He looked at them for a moment before he smiled politely. "Hello, my name is Harasawa Katsunori and I'm the coach of Too Academy here in Tokyo. This is the Captain of my team, Imayoshi Shoichi."
"Nice to meet you!" the teen, no Imayoshi, waved.
"Nice to meet you," Mac managed to say even as her nerves were back. She nudged Daiki who nodded at them but didn't say anything.
"Well, why don't you sit down," Harasawa said pointing to the chairs.
Both Mac and Daiki sat down; Daiki immediately slouched in his seat, looking bored. Mac noticed that the coach eyes lingered on Daiki, so she nudged him again and when she arched a brow at him he sat up straighter.
"I see it's true," Imayoshi grinned looking amused yet Mac could tell he was analyzing them behind his amused look.
"What is true?" Daiki grunted.
"That Potter-san is the only one that can control you," Imayoshi said.
Daiki glared at him but didn't say anything which only made Imayoshi smile and eyes flash with something that resembled victory. Mac frowned and glanced over at Harasawa who cleared his throat.
"I think you have an idea of why I have asked to talk to you," he said. "I want to offer you both a place with us at Too Academy and our basketball team."
Mac was not surprised and glanced over at Daiki who had a bored look on his face yet again. She thought for a moment before looking back at Harasawa.
"You don't have a history of being a strong school for basketball," Mac said knowing that Daiki needed to go to a strong school for basketball even if he was bored with the sport. If he was not even remotely challenged or playing with someone who had some skills at least then he was not going to be able to continue to play at all. She didn't want to watch him lose all interest and quit.
Imayoshi arched a brow at her but didn't say anything.
"That's right," Harasawa nodded. "We don't have a history for being a strong basketball team, but we have worked hard for the last couple of years and now have national-level players that have the necessary skills to make us a strong school and a good challenger to the titles in Inter-High and Winter Cup. I believe that next year we will be good enough to take a title or two, especially if the two of you join us."
Mac watched him for a moment as she considered what he told her.
"Why should we join you?" Mac asked.
Harasawa arched a brow as he looked at her as he leaned back in his seat. She had a feeling that he hadn't really been expecting her to ask that. Imayoshi was looking calculating at her and more interested as time went on making her feel uncomfortable.
"We value talent," Harasawa finally answered, "and both of you have talent, more talent than any of my other players. We want Aomine-san as our Ace, we need a strong Ace that the team can rely on and our players can play around. We also need someone who can analyze our opponents and tell us how to best use our players' talent to win. We would be a place where you both could develop and play basketball."
Mac glanced at Daiki to see him still look rather bored, but she knew him well enough to see the small spark of interest in his eyes as he watched Harasawa.
"You want me to play?" Mac asked turning back to Harasawa.
"Yes," Harasawa nodded. "We see your talent as a player as well as a manager. I would like for you to have a similar role as the one you have here, Potter-san."
They talked a little more and Harasawa told them a little more about the team until he glanced at the clock and stood up.
"I will need to go now," he said, "but please think about what we've told you, Aomine-san, Potter-san. We would very much like it if the two of you come to Too Academy."
Mac nodded, "we'll think about it."
Imayoshi lingered in the room after his coach had given them a polite nod and left the room. His half-lidded eyes lingered on Mac making Daiki shift beside her as he glared at the older teen.
"You're interesting," Imayoshi said before grinning. "I think I would like it very much if you came to Too, Potter-san."
Mac wasn't sure what to say but she was saved from having to say anything as Imayoshi walked out of the room before she could find her voice.
...
Mac was still thinking about her meeting with Too when she got home from school. She greeted her uncle who was actually home before going to her room and turned on the computer. She freed Nao from her bag and patted him fondly as he yapped at her making her smile.
Sitting down in front of the computer she quickly searched for Too Academy on the internet and did a search on the school. She already knew that this would be the school that was best suited for Daiki right now with how he viewed basketball, he would be allowed more freedom here than anywhere else. Also… Imayoshi reminded her a little of Seijuro, but without the warm part that Seijuro had around her.
Mac lost track of time as she read about Too and jumped when there was a knock on the door before it opened.
"Mac, dinner is ready in five minutes," Tarou said.
"Oh, okay," Mac said watching her uncle smile before pulling back and closing the door again. She heard him knock on Taiga's door next as she turned back to the screen. A picture of a prestigious looking school was on the screen and she wondered if she really could see herself going there.
Sighing she got up and looked to find Nao chasing his own tail in the middle of the room. She really needed to go out so he could get some space to run and explore. She opened the door and smiled as Nao followed her with a happy bark-like sound.
"Hungry, Nao?" Mac asked amused.
Another bark sounded and Mac took that as a 'yes'. She went to the kitchen and found food for Nao and placed it on a plate on the floor before she took her own seat. Taiga entered the room and glanced at Nao before sitting down as well.
"You looked to be focused when I came to get you for dinner," Tarou commented after they all had food on their plates. Mac glanced up to find her uncle watching her with a curious look in his eyes.
"Um, yeah," Mac said after she'd swallowed. "I was reading about a High School."
Tarou arched a brow in surprise. "Which school?"
"Too Academy," Mac said quietly. "Their coach was at our school today and he asked both Daiki and me to join their team."
"I haven't really heard about that school before," Tarou said after a moment.
"They're a good school both academically and now also within basketball," Mac said. "Up until recently they were mostly known within the academic community, but since they hired Harasawa Katsunori as their basketball coach they have also climbed to become a strong school also in regards to basketball. They have high hopes for the next season."
Tarou nodded looking thoughtful.
"That's right," he said. "I had almost forgotten that it would be time for you both to decide which school to go to next year. Have you thought about other schools?"
Mac shrugged, "Shutoku also asked me to join, but I don't think I'll go there. Teppei asked me to join Seirin as well, but I don't know."
Tarou looked at her before he nodded, "there's still time. If you need to talk I'm here."
Mac smiled at him before looking back at her food.
"What about you, Taiga?" Tarou asked his son who froze and looked like a deer caught in the limelight.
"Huh?" Taiga blinked.
"Have you thought about what school you want to go to?" Tarou asked.
"Oh, well, no," Taiga said. "I just want to go to a school with a decent basketball team."
Mac snorted but smiled a little before she got a pensive look in her eyes as she watched her cousin. She ignored the reprimanding tone her uncle got as he tried to get Taiga to think about something other than basketball as well when he picked his school. She knew that Taiga was a good player and had potential to become great. She knew one school that would be a good match…
...
Mac caught the ball as Taiga tried to get past her on her right and she could hear the curse leaving his mouth as he lost the ball once more. She turned and used her speed to get away from him before she threw the ball watching as it flew into the hoop making the net swish sharply.
"Again!" Taiga demanded, looking at Mac determinedly.
Mac smiled a little as she nodded. She picked up the ball and threw it to Taiga who immediately got into position and started to dribble the ball. He waited and took his time and for once didn't head straight at her in attack mode, she smiled as he watched her with a considering look in his eyes. She was content just waiting for him to decide, she was curious to see what he was planning.
When he suddenly moved to attack, she was ready having read his body language right and got a hand on the ball causing him to lose control over it and she used her speed and agility to pass him and get the ball before he got control over it again. He was right behind her as she moved to the hoop.
"I will stop you!" Taiga yelled determinedly.
Mac let Taiga catch up to her and he got in defending position, she wanted to see how he would defend against her. She noted that he had gotten better at keeping an eye on her and trying to predict what she was going to do.
"You're getting better, Taiga," she grinned and he allowed a moment to grin at her before he focused again. "But I'll still pass you…"
Mac twisted and turned before she found herself past him and shot the ball through the hoop once more.
It continued like this for quite some time while Nao ran happily around the court stretching his legs as they played. Once they were done Mac sat down on the court and breathed harder drying the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand.
"Where did you get that scar?" Taiga asked with a curious look.
Mac touched the scar almost absentmindedly as she felt her heart speed up a little. She looked away from Taiga and saw Nao coming running to her like he sensed that she needed him. She waited until the fox was on her lap and licked her cheek before she answered.
"I got it when my parents died," she said quietly. "The dark wizard who killed them gave it to me…"
Taiga's eyes were slightly wider as he gaped at her.
"Oh," he mumbled. "I…I didn't know…I'm sorry."
Mac nodded and tried to smile at him, but even to her it felt forced.
"So," she was about to say when her phone interrupted her. She pulled it out of her bag and frowned slightly when she saw the text on the screen.
Meet me at school in 30 minutes. –S.
Mac sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. She knew she could ignore it or tell him, no, but she knew it was time to talk to him. She had avoided him long enough and she had kind of made up with the rest of the team. So Seijuro should get a chance as well.
"I'm sorry, Taiga," Mac said getting up. "I have to go."
"Go? Where?" Taiga asked.
"My Captain asked me to meet him," Mac said with a small smile. "I need to see what he wants."
"Can't you just call him?" Taiga frowned confused. "Why would he ask you to meet him now?"
Mac shrugged, "who knows? I'll be back before it gets too late. Tell uncle Tarou for me, ok?"
"Ok," Taiga nodded.
...
Mac entered the empty schoolyard and immediately spotted Seijuro seated on a bench by the basketball hoop that was in the yard. He was looking at his phone and hadn't noticed her yet, and something about him being there on his own made him seem so lonely. Like she had seen him before, and she wondered if he took the time to talk to anyone anymore or if he was just about school and his father's work.
"Mac," he interrupted her thoughts when she got closer revealing that he had been aware that she had arrived. He looked up from his phone and she met his heterochromatic eyes. She saw the loneliness in them as well as the carefully neutral look. "You made it."
"Hi Seijuro," Mac said as she sat down on the bench beside him. She allowed Nao back down and he gave Seijuro a wary look as if trying to decide if it was safe to let Mac be alone with him or not. Mac pushed Nao a little and he reluctantly went to explore the empty schoolyard.
"I wasn't sure you would come," Seijuro said.
"I know," was all Mac said.
They sat in silence for a little while and Mac was thinking it shouldn't be that hard to talk to him. He was her friend and other than Daiki she would say he was her best friend.
"Are you still upset?" Seijuro asked.
Mac glanced at him; he was not looking at her. He kept his eyes on Nao but she had heard the underlying emotions in his question. While sounding like a simple question with a simple yes or no answer, she knew it would define their relationship in the future.
"Not like you think," she said quietly.
He glanced at her and she saw the flash hope in his eyes before it was pushed down again. She wondered about all those who claimed that Seijuro's eyes were so cold and hard to read, she normally didn't have any problem with reading him.
"What?"
"I'm…more disappointed," she said, "but at the same time…I get it, Seijuro. I understand why you all did what you did, but… it doesn't make it right."
He seemed to relax slightly. His usual confidence seemed to fill him again and she shook her head lightly.
"But you aren't mad at me anymore," he clarified.
"No," she said.
He nodded and smiled before he blinked.
"You've been playing?" he asked surprised.
Mac glanced down at herself knowing she was still wearing her training clothes from when she had been practising with Taiga.
"Yeah, I was practising with Taiga when you texted," Mac said.
Seijuro nodded looking thoughtfully at her. She had mentioned her cousin before of course, but it was only now that Seijuro realized that he hadn't met him yet. He wasn't aware that she was playing basketball with him either, and a possessive part of him wanted her to stop.
...
"You've been talking with a lot of schools lately," Seijuro said.
Mac glanced at him and made a sound of agreement but didn't comment, she knew he was up to something so she decided to wait.
"I want you to come to Rakuzan with me," Seijuro said.
"Rakuzan?" Mac frowned. "That's in Kyoto, isn't it?"
"Yes," Seijuro confirmed. "It's a good school with a good basketball team, the strongest."
Mac looked at him for a moment and she felt torn. He looked back at her calmly and surely like he was so sure about his request and what her answer should be, but she wasn't sure.
"But…it's…so far," Mac stammered.
"It's a very good school," Seijuro said. "Come with me, Mac. We would do great there. We would win and have the best team."
Mac got up from the bench and took a few steps as she tried to gather her thoughts, she should have known that Seijuro would want her to go to the same school he was. She shouldn't be feeling this surprised by his demand, really.
"I'm sure we would do great there," Mac said, "but…"
Seijuro stood and walked over so he was standing in front of her, his mismatched eyes watching her closely.
"But what?" he pressed.
"I don't know," Mac sighed. "I don't think I want to leave Tokyo…"
"You don't want to leave Daiki or Teppei," Seijuro said coldly and she saw the hurt underneath the cold look. She felt a stab of pain go through her at the look, she didn't want to leave him either.
"I…I don't want to leave any of you," Mac whispered. "I want…"
"You want us all too still be together," Seijuro summed up. "That's not going to happen, Mac. You should know that."
She couldn't help the wince that went through her at the bluntness of his statement. She knew he was right and she had realized that, but she still struggled with accepting it. She was not ready to let go. Why did she have to?
...
Seijuro could see the struggle in Mac's eyes and he wanted to put it away, but he knew he couldn't. She was on another path than him and it hurt. She was his. His friend, his teammate, his. Just his. It didn't matter that Daiki or even Teppei had a claim to her, she was the only one he would allow talking back at him, she was the only one who saw him. That's why he wanted her, no needed her, to come to Rakuzan with him.
"Seijuro," Mac looked at him. "Why do you want to go to Rakuzan?"
"It's the best," Seijuro said simply. "They have the best courses and the best team. It will be the best place for me to prepare to take over father's company. I will get into the best University by attending Rakuzan."
Mac nodded as she looked at him, but he could tell she was still thinking.
"My uncle and cousin live in Tokyo," Mac said.
"Rakuzan has dorms for students out of town," Seijuro said, "or you could stay with me. Father has a house down there and I'm staying there."
Mac arched a brow and bit down on her lower lip. She was not sure about what she wanted to do. She sighed as she pulled a hand over her face tiredly.
"I could take care of you in Kyoto," Seijuro said.
He knew she was overworking herself with her magic training and regular school, he never mentioned it but he saw how tired she was sometimes. He could tell she was not always taking care of her own needs and if she was going with him then he could make sure she would be.
"I…" Mac frowned again. "I need to think."
Seijuro nodded allowing that, but he would press for her to come with him. He needed her there; she was the only one he needed.
...
Mac fell back on her bed feeling exhausted. She was not sure what to do. It seemed like every time she figured something out a new problem arose. She had just made up with her friends, and now she had to decide on which school she was going to attend. Basically which friend she was going to choose.
Daiki or Seijuro?
Her mind was spinning as the two names repeated itself in her mind.
Daiki or Seijuro?
She turned to her side and rested her head on her arm, as she stared at the picture that stood on her nightstand. It was a picture of the team before they drifted apart. She was standing in the middle with Daiki and Seijuro on each side of her, Ryota was on the other side of Daiki with Tetsuya slightly in front of him. Shintaro and Atsushi stood on the other side of Seijuro, Shintaro was pushing his glasses up and Atsushi had a hand deep in a bag of chips.
She loved that photo; it really captured the personalities of her friends. She didn't want to leave anyone of them; she still wanted to be with them. They were her family, they had remained on her side when she felt so alone and lost. They proved that they cared about her, even now when everything was going wrong they proved that they wanted her.
She had trouble trusting that her uncle Tarou wanted her; she had trouble trusting that Taiga wanted her; she even had trouble trusting that Teppei wouldn't get tired of her… but she trusted that her friends, her team, wanted her. And now…they would split up and everything would change.
Daiki or Seijuro?
A deep sigh left her as she flopped over on her back again making the mattress bounce slightly by the force of it. Nao gave a disgruntled bark as he was disturbed in his rest.
"Sorry, Nao," she muttered.
She sat up unable to get her mind to stop thinking and fall asleep. She threw her legs over the edge of the bed and glanced out of the crack between the curtains and saw that it was dark out. She walked over to the window and looked outside. She loved looking out of the window, being so high up gave the perfect overview of the street below and the park at the end of the street. Now it was lit by street lights and the occasional car that drove past.
...
"Hi Mac," Kiyoshi smiled when Mac slipped into the hospital room. She smiled back and felt some of the stress leave her as she saw his smiling face. "You've been gone a few days."
Mac blinked and realized that it was a few days since she was there last, she had been busy with Daiki and then school and not to forget magic lessons.
"I'm sorry, Teppei," Mac apologized. "I got distracted."
"It happens," was all he said with a smile.
She sat down in the free seat and looked down at the book he had put down when she entered the room.
"Homework?" she asked.
"Yeah," he sighed. "I really don't like this way of studying. I never thought I would say that I miss going to class."
Mac nodded in understanding, she could see him missing going to class. He was a social person and would miss the interaction with the others in his class.
"I didn't mean to interrupt your studying," Mac said.
"It's okay," he waved it off. "Do you have homework?"
Mac nodded.
"Why don't we study together?" Kiyoshi asked. "It's more fun."
Mac chuckled at the way his face lit up. She nodded and pulled out her homework and settled on her side of the table. She smiled back at Kiyoshi when he grinned at her before looking back at his own work.
They sat in silence studying for a while only interrupted by the occasional comment from Kiyoshi about a boring part of his own work. Mac chuckled amusedly when he did. He glanced at her from time to time and would smile without saying anything.
"I need to use the bathroom," Mac said getting up and he nodded.
Kiyoshi smiled a little as she walked to the bathroom and looked over at her books, she was working on Japanese history and it looked like she was writing a paper or something. He was about to focus on his own work when he noticed a loose paper sticking out from her book. Curiously he pulled at it and it came free.
Too Academy or Rakuzan?
He frowned as he saw the question written on the otherwise blank page. He remembered that they had played against Too earlier in the season and they were a good team, but still lacked some strength. Was Mac considering attending Too Academy?
Also, he knew that Rakuzan had a very strong team and they had won the Inter-High this year. They had three of the Crownless Kings, or whatever they were called (purposely forgetting that he was counted as one of them), on their team. Would Mac really go all the way to Kyoto?
He had a sinking feeling as he stared at the names of the two schools on the paper, Seirin wasn't mentioned at all and he felt a stab of disappointment go through him. He had hoped that she would come to Seirin. That way they would be together… he couldn't help but feel like she was drifting away from him if she went to another school.
He wondered which friend of hers was going to Too or Rakuzan. Was it Daiki or Seijuro perhaps? Or maybe one of the others, but those two seemed the more likely.
He quickly placed the page back where he found it and went back to his own homework just in time before she entered the room again. She sat down and continued working like he hadn't had his mind completely distracted by what he had just read. Of course, she didn't know that.
He glanced at her and saw the way she focused and eyes moved over the pages about Japan and the colonies. He sighed.
"Teppei?" her green eyes snapped up to look at him having heard the sigh. "You ok?"
He wondered if he should bring it up or not, but if he did… no, it was best to pretend he hadn't seen anything. He smiled at her goofily, like normal.
"I'm fine," he grinned. "Just tired of homework."
Mac nodded but still looked slightly concerned. He just kept smiling but closed his book, he wouldn't be able to concentrate anymore now anyway.
"I think we need a break," he said.
"Alright," she said and closed her own book. "What have you been up to since last time I saw you?"
"Hyuga and Riko were here yesterday," Kiyoshi said and told her about the latest visit and antics of his friends. Mac smiled amused as she listened and he almost hoped that he could draw her to Seirin with these kinds of stories.
"Sounds like they had fun," Mac said.
"Mm…" Kiyoshi nodded. "What about you?"
"I talked to Daiki and we spent a day together just hanging out," Mac said with a happy smile unaware of the troubling thoughts that caused with her boyfriend. "Shiro dragged me to their house and all but demanded that I stayed for dinner. Daiki was being sulky like normal, but we talked."
Kiyoshi nodded.
"I know he and the others hurt you," Kiyoshi said. "Are you…sure you've forgiven them?"
Mac shrugged and leaned back slightly.
"I guess I have," she said. "I can't be mad at them forever. They're my friends."
Kiyoshi nodded even if he didn't really understand just what she saw in them, but he knew they were important to her.
"I'm glad to hear that," he said.
She smiled at him and he felt good seeing her smile like that again, this one reached her eyes and wasn't those almost fake or polite smiles she had been smiling lately. He just wished… No, he wasn't going to think about it.
"So, how long do you have to stay here?" Mac asked.
"A while yet," Kiyoshi sighed, "but I can go home for visits now at least. I'm going home this weekend."
"Really?" Mac grinned. "I bet your grandparents are looking forward to that."
Kiyoshi nodded.
"Do you want to come over for dinner? Grandma asked me to ask you," Kiyoshi said.
"You sure? I don't want to intrude on your time with them," Mac said.
"You won't be," Kiyoshi laughed. "They, we, want you to come."
"Then, ok," Mac smiled.
They chatted about all and nothing, but the subject of schools didn't come up. Kiyoshi was both grateful and worried that it wasn't mentioned at all.
...
Mac was in the library when Shintaro came and sat down beside her. She glanced at him and gave him a small smile. He nodded back and pulled out his book without saying anything. An onion was put down between them but she didn't comment on it. She turned her attention back to her own work as he settled over his own books.
She wasn't sure how much time past with the two of them just studying side by side, but eventually, Mac was done and she leaned back as she stretched her arms into the air and let out a big yawn. She felt tired and she knew that she still had homework for her magic lessons tomorrow to do when she got back home.
"You're tired," Shintaro commented.
"A little," Mac shrugged. "Nothing to worry about."
"I wasn't worried," he mumbled but she smiled all the same and ignored the small flush in his cheeks. "Are you going to quit basketball now?"
"I was thinking of retiring," Mac nodded, "I need to focus on my school work and exams are getting closer. I don't have much time for basketball anymore. Besides, the school year is almost over and Nijimura and the others didn't attend practices for as long as we have last year."
Shintaro nodded, "I think I will do the same. Dad said it's important to focus on schoolwork as well."
Mac nodded, "how is your dad?"
Shintaro gave her a strange look, "good. Why?"
"Just asking," Mac said with a small smile. "He's a kind man."
Shintaro blinked and actually looked surprised. "You've met him?"
Mac arched a brow, "he didn't tell you?"
Shintaro shook his head and pushed up his glasses.
"Well, he drove me home once after Teppei had his surgery," Mac explained. "Your dad was his surgeon."
Shintaro's eyes widened and Mac felt a spark of amusement seeing this reaction from the stoic teen.
"Oh, I didn't know…" Shintaro said making Mac shrug. "Your boyfriend had a surgery?"
"Yeah, his knee was badly hurt in his Inter High preliminary match," Mac said a dark look in her eyes. "He's in a rehabilitation centre right now."
Shintaro just stared at her and she looked away. She started to gather her things and after a moment she heard he do the same. They didn't say anything else until they were outside in the fresh and cold air.
"Have you decided if you're going to accept Shutoku's offer?" Mac asked breaking the silence.
Shintaro startled slightly and gripped the onion tighter to keep it from falling from his hand. He glanced at Mac and saw the curious expression on her face.
"I think so," Shintaro nodded. "It seems like the best school for me."
Mac nodded, "I think so too. They will be a good match for you."
He pushed his glasses up again and looked at her.
"What about you? Have you decided what school you want to go to?"
Mac sighed; her shoulders slumped slightly as she was faced with the question yet again.
"I don't know," she admitted. "I have a few options, but…"
They walked in silence for a little while neither of them saying anything. Mac glanced up as the snow started to fall around them. She pulled her jacket closer to her seeking the warmth.
Shintaro had a pretty good idea of what her dilemma was and knew it would be difficult for her to make a choice. While he wanted her to come to Shutoku with him, he knew it wasn't going to happen. If anyone would have her on their team it would either be Daiki or Seijuro, both stubborn and wanted her to be with them, both important to her in their own way.
...
Ayano was grateful for Mac, without her she wasn't sure how Daiki would pull through. She was glad she didn't have to force her son to sit down and do his homework because that would only bring frustration for all parts involved.
"No," Mac said shaking her head and pointed at something. "This isn't what the author wanted to say… look, Daiki, read…"
Ayano smiled amused as Daiki frowned and got a frustrated look on his face, but Mac just gave him a look as she continued to explain. Daiki nodded and started to write again. Mac nodded and smiled slightly. Ayano didn't miss the way Daiki's eyes lit up when he spotted the smile on Mac's face.
She shook her head before leaving to get dinner ready and content to let the two work in peace. She knew that Shiro and Sayuri would be back soon and her husband was in his study writing like normal.
...
Mac inhaled deeply as she saw Seijuro sitting in the empty classroom. He was playing shogi against himself, once again. She stepped into the room and immediately the mismatched eyes snapped over to her.
"Mac," he said.
"Seijuro," she answered. "You're playing yourself?"
"Yeah," he nodded.
She hummed and walked over to the board and looked down at the pieces. She sat down and she was not sure how to start the conversation or how to tell him her answer. She had thought and thought, and she wished she could split herself in two. If only she could have solved it with a time-turner again, but she couldn't.
"Mac," he said bringing her out of her thoughts and she looked up to find him watching her. He had a serious look on his face and she knew. She knew he understood what she was there to say and she felt…horrible. Her heart broke at the pain she saw in his eyes.
"You chose Daiki," Seijuro said.
"I…" Mac felt like a terrible person. "I think Too Academy would be the right place for me."
He frowned.
"I think you're making a mistake," he said. "Rakuzan with me will be the best choice for you."
Mac sighed again.
"Rakuzan is a good school," Mac said, "I know that. I also know that I would like attending school with you, Seijuro. I wish I could split myself in two, but I can't. I just… I think that right now I need to be in Tokyo. I can't move to Kyoto. My magic lessons are here, my uncle and cousin… Daiki…"
Seijuro stood up and walked to the window, his back turned to her. She watched him pained as she knew he was struggling.
"You choose them over me," he said.
"Seijuro," Mac said getting up and walking over so she was standing right behind him. "I will always be your friend. I will always be on your side, and if you need me you can call and I'll come and see you. I want you in my life, and it's not about choosing anyone over anyone."
She saw him stiffen slightly before his shoulders relaxed. She could understand the feeling of abandonment he must feel and she wanted to make sure he knew it wasn't about her leaving him. She wasn't leaving him, she just… couldn't go with him.
"You'd come and see me?" Seijuro asked so silently that she almost missed it.
"Of course," Mac said.
He sighed and turned to look at her. She could see the vulnerable feelings underneath his mask. He looked very much like a little boy who thought he was lost. She couldn't help it, she reached out and hugged him. He stiffened for a moment before he hugged her back. It was only the second time she'd ever hugged him, but she was hit with the thought that hugs were just as rare for him as it was for her.
"You're like my brother, Seijuro," Mac said.
"Good," he murmured against her shoulder. "Because you're my sister."
...
...
AN: Thank you for reading and sorry for the slight delay. I had planned on posting this yesterday, but something happened and I couldn't.
So, Mac has decided on which school she will attend. I posted an explanation of my choice over at AO3 so I'll post it here as well. Honestly, though, it was a very difficult decision to make.
So, from the start of the story, I had decided that Mac was going to attend Too Academy with Daiki. I was so sure and I had these ideas about what I wanted. Though, as the story progressed some parts of my original ideas changed and I started to see other aspects of where the story could go. Also from comments from all of you, I saw the logic of having Mac attend another school as well.
I started to think, what if she did attend Seirin with Tetsuya? What if she went with Taiga and Tetsuya and helped them win the Winter Cup? I could see her there, especially after having paired her with Teppei. But I decided against it. Mostly because I wanted to have Mac interact with another team, and play with other characters. (Edit: I now am happy I didn't place her at Seirin because I think it would have taken the story on the wrong path).
Then I really, and I mean REALLY, wanted to have her attend Rakuzan with Seijuro. It would have been great and so much fun, but... I just couldn't see how to keep the story on the path I wanted if I did that. I started to get other ideas and it would change so much. In fact, I got an idea for a new story that I might start when I'm finished with this one. So, something good came of it, I guess :)
So, the choice fell back to my original idea. Perhaps it's the boring one, perhaps I should have gone with one of the other ideas... I liked the ideas I got from the reviews I got, but I need Mac at Too with Daiki. In this story, Mac is "Momoi" or have her place from canon, and let's face it: Daiki needs someone there to push him. If he doesn't have someone, I can't see him continue playing basketball. WIthout Mac to push and pull at him, he will lose all motivation for the game and quit.
I did consider the comment that pointed out that distance would be a good way to make Mac and Daiki realize their feelings for each other, and that was what almost had me place her at another school. But I think that distance can be more than just physical distance. It can be distance emotionally and I think that's what they have been and still are going through now. Even as they have started to work through it. She is with Teppei and Daiki is forced to watch her with another.
I guess that's basically the reason why I chose to have her attend Too with Daiki. I'm sorry if some of you got very disappointed, I really wish I could have placed her at another school as well. I promise that even if she's not with Seijuro at Rakuzan it doesn't mean that she won't be interacting with him at all. She will still be the one he cares about the most, and he will still be someone important to her.
Hope you'll keep give my story a chance and keep reading! Thank you for all of your support! I wouldn't be able to keep writing without your response and support for my story! (Ok, very long author note... I will end it now...) Bye for now and hopefully see you next time!