Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no basket!
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2nd year – Too Academy
...
Riko woke up with a smile on Sunday still in a good mood from the day before. The first day of their mini training camp had been so much fun and it had taught her a lot and it made her eager to keep going and learning more about basketball.
"Morning, Riko," Kagetora smiled at his daughter.
"Morning, dad," Riko smiled.
He watched her over his newspaper as she moved around the kitchen getting her breakfast ready.
"Did you sleep well," Kagetora asked.
"Yeah, I think I fell asleep the moment my head met the pillow," Riko admitted with a smile. "I was pretty tired."
Kagetora nodded before sipping his coffee.
"You worked hard," he said. "Did you enjoy it?"
"Mm," Riko said. "I did, and I think that today will be just as fun."
"Good," Kagetora said. "You and Potter have put a lot of work into this."
Riko nodded.
"I still don't understand how she manages to do all of this," Riko said. "I've seen some of her notes and they're so detailed and filled with things I never would think about. But she is always willing to explain how she thinks and show me how to see things differently."
Kagetora hummed, "I see. She is talented, but remember that what works for her doesn't necessarily work for you. But learn from her and see how you can translate it into something that works for you and your team."
Riko nodded, "I know. She already said that."
Kagetora smiled as he watched Riko. The eagerness in her eyes was something he enjoyed seeing, and he looked forward to seeing how she would keep growing. Riko was really growing by working together with Mac, she was learning to see outside of the box (as so many would call it) and trust herself more as she observed the players and game.
Yet, Kagetora was sure that Mac was also learning from Riko. It wasn't only Riko and Seirin who would grow from this because Mac and the rest of Too Academy did as well.
...
"Hey, Riko!" Mac smiled as she entered the gym and found Riko already there. "Sorry, I'm a little late."
"It's fine," Riko smiled. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah," Mac laughed, "I can't remember the last time I fell asleep as quickly as I did yesterday."
"Me too," Riko said. "So, you ready for today?"
"Of course," Mac said. "You think they will complain?"
"Probably," Riko grinned.
"Oh, look at that smile," Mac said amused. "Seems like they will find no sympathy from you."
Riko gave her a look, "and they will from you?"
"Nah," Mac said with a laugh. "It will be fun, though."
They had cleared the area outside the day before because they didn't want to do the same thing two days in a row. While it had been fun with the obstacle course both Mac and Riko knew that they would not enjoy it as much today as well.
So, they had a more basketball focused plan for the day.
Mac had allowed Nao to run around the gym while it was empty and heard the happy noises he was making but kept her focus on Riko. She blinked when she suddenly felt Nao against her leg and looked down at him, and soon she heard the footsteps signalling that the others were coming. She gently picked him up and scratched his ear.
...
"I wonder what we will do today," Misawa said looking over at Mac who was talking with Riko. They looked to be in deep conversation.
"Probably something that will make me wish that I could sleep for the next week," Kuroki said dryly. "I feel like that already, actually."
Kashimura looked at him amusedly, "talking from experience? You have trained with her before, right?"
"Mm," Kuroki said. "She is always tough, but she had a purpose with everything she made us do. I remember seeing her play for the first time. It was amazing and even the third years looked stunned when they realised that she actually played as well."
"They didn't know?" Misawa frowned.
"No, she didn't start playing until her second year," Kuroki said. "I was a first-year then, and on the second string. But I saw the first time she played in front of the coaches and third years."
"Huh," Kashimura said. "She looks like she's been playing forever."
"Oh, she has," a voice said behind them and they all jumped before turning to see Tetsuya behind them. They looked sheepish being caught talking about one of his friends. He just smiled, though. "She has played since she was 8 years old together with Aomine. It just wasn't until our second year at Teiko that she started to play in our organised matches. The first year she was a manager and helped coach Shirogane with the team."
"I see," Misawa said. "That's amazing."
Tetsuya smiled and nodded.
...
Mac looked away from Riko when she heard the door to the gym open again and blinked when she saw a girl with short straight black hair entering the gym looking around shyly. She looked at Riko and she looked just as confused as she felt so not someone she knew. Then Harasawa came in and put a hand on the girl's shoulder making her look up at him and smile a little.
Okay, now Mac felt even more confused, and she heard the whispers from the others who also had noticed the girl and Harasawa.
"Hey, Potter," Harasawa said. "This is my niece, Harasawa Niko. My brother asked me to look after her today not having any other option."
Mac nodded and smiled down at the girl who was hiding behind her uncle.
"Hey, Niko-chan," Mac smiled. "I'm Potter Mackenzie, but you can call me Mac if you want."
"Is that a fox?" Niko whispered and Mac realised that she had Nao on her shoulder.
"Yes," Mac said, "his name is Nao."
Mac lifted Nao so he was in her arms instead and saw Nao's searching eyes as he studied Niko who was watching Nao curiously from her spot behind her uncle's legs. Harasawa was standing patiently waiting to see if Niko would respond to Mac.
"He won't hurt you," Mac said, "he is a little shy around anyone who isn't me, but he is curious and likes to watch others. So, he often likes to rest on my shoulders."
Nao barked a little and tilted his head as he looked at Niko. Niko slowly moved out from behind Harasawa's legs and stepped closer to Mac and Nao. Mac watched closely as the little girl came closer and stopped right in front of them. Nao didn't react or made any of the signs that he would do if he were uncomfortable, so Mac kept him as he was. She even crunched down a little, so he was on the same level as her.
"Is he nice?" Niko asked.
"Yeah," Mac said, "I think so. He doesn't often like to be close to anyone who's not me because he was hurt when he was little. But he seems to like you."
"Really?" Niko asked looking up at Mac.
"Yes," Mac said, but Nao had become much more confident around other people despite not seeking them out or anything like that. But he wasn't so scared as he used to be. Besides, he had always been better around kids and used to having Shiro and Sayuri close.
"Can I pet him?" Niko asked.
Mac watched her for a moment before looking at Nao who was still calm and not reacted to have Niko so close.
"Give me your hand," Mac said. "Be careful not to move fast or pull at his fur, okay?"
Niko nodded as she put her hand in Mac's. Mac guided her to Nao's head and while Nao followed their movements he didn't try to move away and allowed them to touch him. Mac watched as Niko smiled when she felt the soft fur. Mac took away her own hand and paid close attention to how Niko gently petted Nao's head and Nao closed his eyes as he enjoyed it.
"Thank you," Harasawa said making Mac glance up at him. She just smiled and nodded.
Niko pulled away and Mac got back to her feet and helped Nao settle on her shoulders again.
...
"Okay, everyone!" Mac called out to get their attention. "Gather around. Looks like everyone is here. We will be having a visitor today. Her name is Harasawa Niko, so be careful not to be too rough or she will think you are all crazy animals who should be in a zoo and not at a training camp, got it?"
"Meany!" several called out making Mac laugh. She was sure she heard Niko giggle too but didn't look over at her.
"Some of you might have noticed that we have removed the obstacle course outside," Riko said changing the subject back to what they were supposed to be talking about.
"Why? It was fun," Izuki asked.
"Yes! It was!" Abe agreed. "We wanted to do it again!"
"Really," Mac smiled. "I will remember that for later."
Abe looked a little apprehensive but still smiled.
"How are you all holding up from yesterday?" Mac asked.
"Sore!"
"That is expected," Mac said dismissively.
"Harsh!" Kiyoshi pouted.
"You can take it," Mac rolled her eyes. "Now, you will notice that the gym is already marked up."
"Are we playing on a half-court today?" Wakamatsu frowned.
"Not exactly," Mac said.
"Mac had an idea and I like it," Riko said. "We will be playing cops and robbers."
"Eh? We did that last year," Hyuga said.
"Not this version of it," Riko said. "This is cops and robber's basketball style."
"What?"
Mac smiled a little as she took in the confused looks. She started to explain the concept. The cops would have a ball each while the robbers would not have a ball. The robbers would try to steal the ball from one of the cops and when they had stolen a ball, they would try to get the ball through the hoop while the cop would try to stop them. If they succeeded to get the ball through the hoop the robber became a cop and got to keep the ball.
"Sounds simple enough," Kasahara said.
Mac nodded, "it is. Just because we need to have it a little more challenging… when the robbers have stolen the ball they have five dribbles to use before they have to try to get the ball through the hoop. You can just become a cop and dribble the ball indefinitely like a normal cop, okay? And the one to try to stop you has to be the one you stole the ball from."
"Sounds fun," Kuroki said.
"I will be helping Riko keeping control," Mac said, "so for now I won't join."
They mixed up the teams when they split them first up into two groups before they split the two groups into cops and robbers where the robbers would be fewer than the cops. The first group had the robbers wearing blue vests and the second group had the robbers wearing yellow vests. When the cops became robbers the robbers would give the cop the west.
Mac would oversee one group while Riko would do the same for the other.
It was a way to have fun while learning more about control and balance. Balance between defending and attacking while keeping control over the ball and the others on the court because they didn't want to collide with the others as they did this.
Harasawa and Kagetora was there watching of course while Niko was standing with her uncle watching Mac rather than the game. Harasawa glanced down at his niece who had not really wanted to come today and had been a little clingy since she had become a big sister. But she seemed to be interested in Mac.
"Looks fun," Kagetora said.
"Basketball can be fun and game too," Harasawa pointed out. "I will admit that it is Potter who has reminded me of that. Sometimes even games like this can have lessons and help them develop as they have fun at the same time."
Mac, of course, didn't hear her coach and Kagetora talk as she watched her group run around and have fun. She smiled as she heard the laughter as they either tried to shield the ball or steal the ball.
Mac had her notebook out as she scribbled down observations as she watched and had time to calmly observe the others. It was always fun to just sit back and observe like this, and it wasn't always she had the chance to do that anymore.
It wasn't particularly hard, and the cops and robbers changed frequently but that was the point. Even Daiki would change between the two a couple of times when Taiga was the one going after him. That was one reason for keeping them in the same group.
...
Eventually Mac called it off and they looked a little upset that they had to stop playing.
"Mac! We want to play more!" Koganei whined.
"Yeah!" Sekai agreed. "This was fun!"
"We still need to get more done today," Mac said with a small smile. "Before lunch, we will have a basketball match between Seirin and Too Academy."
"Yes! Finally!" Taiga cheered.
"We'll win," Daiki smirked.
"Not this time!" Taiga yelled. "I'll beat you!"
"Your light is still too dim!" Daiki mocked.
"Silence," Mac sighed. "You two… maybe you should go for a run instead, eh?"
They looked at her horrified.
"No way!"
"Kenzie!"
"Then behave," Mac said with a light glare.
They pouted but did as she said much to the others amusement. Riko hid a smile behind her hand amused at how well Mac was handling the two.
"Now," Riko said pushing the amusement away, "it will be a normal game. Coach Harasawa will be the coach for Too Academy since Mac will be playing. I am, of course, the coach for Seirin. Dad will be the referee."
"I will?" Kagetora asked.
"Yes," Riko said without looking at him.
"Fine," Kagetora sighed. "But it's boring!"
"Stop whining," Riko said.
...
"Okay," Harasawa said. "The line up will be as follows: Potter, Aomine, Kasahara, Sekai and Inoue."
Mac nodded and shared a grin with Daiki who looked eager. Kasahara looked determined but Mac noticed that he glanced over at her with a searching look but looked away when he saw her returning his look.
"Remember that this is a training camp, but you should still go out and do your best," Harasawa said.
"Yes, coach," they said.
Mac jogged onto the court with Daiki pushing his hand away when he reached out to ruffle her hair. She mock glared at him making him laugh.
"Looks like we're playing, Mac," Kiyoshi smiled making Mac look away from Daiki.
"Yes!" Mac grinned. "It's been forever."
"It has," Kiyoshi agreed with a laugh.
Daiki rolled his eyes, but he found Taiga and smirked.
"Ready?" he asked with a challenging smirk.
"Always," Taiga said with a shark-like smirk back.
...
Kasahara frowned as he missed another pass and Izuki stole it from him making him run after the Seirin player. Mac was there then and stopped Izuki and passed the ball back to Kasahara who pushed back a frown as he continued forward and was met with Kiyoshi.
"Come on, Kasahara!" Inoue yelled. "Pass the ball!"
Kasahara scowled because he didn't want to pass the ball to Daiki who would score. He would prove that he could do it too! He pushed forward and twisted around but Kiyoshi followed and when he jumped Kiyoshi was already there and blocked his shot.
Tetsuya was there to catch the ball and Kasahara frowned as he watched how Seirin charged forward. He felt… embarrassed and annoyed that he had been stopped and tried not to notice the annoyed look from the others.
"Come on," Mac called out. "Snap out of it, Kasahara!"
He looked at her and saw that the look in her eyes wasn't judging but rather understanding but also challenging. It was like she was asking if he was going to let this stop him.
She looked away and rushed after the others to help stop Seirin, but they were too late and Taiga dunked the ball through the net.
Mac had the ball and she passed it to Inoue who was immediately covered by Izuki. It seemed like Seirin decided to keep standing up and defending rather than running home. Inoue just grinned and dribbled the ball quickly before he passed the ball to Mac again who was marked by Kiyoshi. She caught the ball and moved quickly and twisted around getting free from Kiyoshi before she rushed forward.
...
It was even between the two teams and Harasawa made sure that everyone got a chance to play, and Seirin did the same with their team.
Mac had only played for the first ten minutes before she had taken her place on the bench in order to get the chance to observe them in a game-like setting that was against another team. It was a good opportunity to see how the team worked now since it had been a while since they had actually played in a match, and it was the first time for the first years to play a game with this team.
She also took notice of Seirin and saw how they had grown already, and the first years seemed to add more variety to their team. She wasn't surprised, though. From what she had seen from them this far it was just what she expected.
The results wouldn't matter as much this time. It wasn't what Mac was looking for and she knew Harasawa didn't either. While winning was great, they needed to see how they worked as a team when it was a game that wasn't an internal practice match. So, she was more concerned with the teamwork at this point.
"A little better than expected," Harasawa commented when the game neared the end.
"But still need a little work," Mac said. "But yeah, they are working together better than before."
It was not perfect, but she was pleased to see that Kasahara had started to pass and use the others as well and not only trying to prove himself better. It was progress…
Kagetora ended the match at the forty-minute mark and Mac smiled as she saw the smiles yet tired expressions on their faces.
...
"Sakurai, Wakamatsu," Mac called out. "You're with me to prepare lunch. The rest of you will do a light run around the court outside under Riko's watch"
"Oh, come on! We're tired!" Abe and Koganei complained.
Mac arched a brow, "I can change places with Riko and oversee the run if you want?"
Both teams looked horrified and shook their heads (probably for different reasons).
"If you don't want that then you better stop complaining," Mac said dryly.
Riko smirked as she met Mac's eyes. Mac really had them handled…
...
Niko stayed beside her uncle but kept watching the girl who had said she could call her Mac. She was playing basketball with the others and seemed to make them listen to her. It was amazing. She liked how she smiled and scared the boys and they acted like they really were scared of her.
"Why do they look scared?" Niko asked her uncle.
Harasawa looked down at her.
"They're not exactly scared," he said slowly. "But they know that if Potter overlooks the running, she will push them harder and make them even more tired."
"Oh," Niko said.
"Do you want your book?" Harasawa asked. "It might be a little boring to just sit here."
Niko hesitated for a moment before she nodded because Mac left the gym with the two boys she had called for and she couldn't watch her now. And it was boring to just sit there.
She was reading Narnia because her mum had bought her the book. It was funny how a closet could hide a different world…
"Hey, Niko-chan," a voice said, and Niko looked up to see Mac smiling down at her. "Fun book?"
"Yes," Niko said shyly putting the book down.
"Ah, Narnia, eh?" Mac smiled sitting down beside her. "I like that book."
Niko blinked, "have you read it?"
"Together with my little sister," Mac said. "Sayuri really likes to read, and I have read a few of her books."
"Oh," Niko said.
"It must be boring to just sit here and watch," Mac said. "Do you want to come and play a little with me before we eat?"
Niko stared at her.
"But…I can't play," Niko said.
"Oh? I can teach you if you want," Mac offered.
Niko blinked and then she nodded. "Okay."
...
Harasawa watched as Mac picked up a basketball and handed it to Niko who held it carefully. Mac was smiling as she said something Harasawa couldn't hear, and Niko nodded. She started to dribble the ball and frowned when it rolled away from her and Mac jogged after it and picked it up again.
He expected Niko to grow frustrated and refuse to play anymore because that was what normally happened, and it looked like it was about to happen again. Harasawa moved a little closer hoping to prevent his niece from lashing out at Mac.
"…. I can't do it!" Niko was saying.
"Do you know how many times I did the same when I started to learn how to play basketball?" Mac asked making Niko look at her.
"But you are good! I saw you!" Niko said. "I want to be good too. Like uncle Katsu!"
Mac nodded, "I know but everyone has to start somewhere. How old are you, Niko-chan?"
"Seven," Niko said.
"I was eight when I started to play," Mac said. "And I wasn't good at it at first. Daiki helped me and he said that you just had to keep trying until you got it right. I've been trying to do that ever since."
Niko frowned and Harasawa arched a brow when she accepted the ball back from Mac and tried again. This time she managed to dribble the ball a little longer before she lost control again and it rolled off.
"Good job," Mac praised. "See? You did it a little longer this time."
"I did," Niko smiled happily and Harasawa felt his own smile as he watched his niece smile for real again. "Thanks, Mac!"
Harasawa walked away and sat down beside Kagetora who offered him coffee. He glanced over at Mac and Niko one more time before turning his attention away again.
...
Kasahara couldn't understand Mac.
He just couldn't get the image of her in his head to fit with the girl he saw on the court playing with Harasawa's niece. She looked like she had fun, she was smiling and laughing together with the young girl who was looking at her with awe in her eyes.
Just who was she really? How come she worked so hard when she didn't need to? He could tell she did work hard now, and she seemed to really try to help the rest of them without judging them or looking down at them for not being at her or her friends level.
She had helped him when he knew he had messed up earlier and not scolded him because of his selfishness. She'd just kept pushing him and giving him the opportunity to change, and along with her, the team had done the same.
He looked over at Kiyoshi and Hyuga who was talking with each other as they had started to eat their lunch. He frowned a little because he couldn't get over how close they seemed to Mac. Hyuga especially. How had he gotten over the loss that made him quit? How did they keep going even when they were behind? Again, in the match earlier they hadn't given up and had kept coming back and closing in on the score.
How did they do it?
He swallowed as he watched them for a long moment trying to understand but frustration kept building up inside of him.
"Why don't you go and talk to them?" Yugi asked from beside him.
"What?" Kasahara frowned.
Yugi gave him a look, "you look like you need to talk to someone and I'm sure they would be the best ones to talk to. Maybe they can help you understand."
Kasahara stared at Yugi for a moment wondering how he seemed to know what was going through his mind. Yugi had already looked away from him and was talking with Kuroki.
A minute later Kasahara got up and walked over to where Kiyoshi and Hyuga were sitting. He felt tense and stiff but forced himself to keep walking. He paused in front of them and waited for them to notice him.
"Ah, Kasahara, right?" Kiyoshi smiled when he saw him.
"Yes," Kasahara said.
"What do you want?" Hyuga asked gruffly.
"How do you do it?" the question slipped out before Kasahara could decide how to ask.
"Do what?" They looked confused.
"Be friends with Mac and… keep playing like that," Kasahara said.
Kiyoshi's expression blanked as he stared at Kasahara while Hyuga scowled a little but there was some understanding in his eyes as well as he looked at Kasahara.
"You're from Kamizaki middle school, right?" Hyuga asked.
"Yes," Kasahara said.
"I heard you lost against Teiko when Mac and the others were in second year," Hyuga said. "It was rough, right?"
Kasahara flinched a little but nodded, "yes… they all quit. I had to watch them give up and start to hate basketball when they always had fun with it. I had looked forward to joining the team since my brother was on it. He had graduated when I started, but still…"
Hyuga nodded, "I used to blame Mac too. I thought it was her fault and the others. How could they be that strong? How could they treat us like that? Didn't they care? It was like we were nothing to them. How was it allowed?"
Kasahara felt his eyes widen as he took in the words. It was like hearing his own thoughts after that game.
"But you don't anymore?" Kasahara asked. "Why?"
Hyuga glanced over at Kiyoshi who was still watching Kasahara with an unreadable expression on his face making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
"I got to know her," Hyuga said simply. "I saw past the front and saw the girl behind the mask. I also realised that it was unfair to blame her and the others as I did."
Kasahara frowned a little.
"You don't know Mac," Kiyoshi said speaking up for the first time.
"Eh?" Kasahara blinked.
"I see how you look at her and how you seem to refuse to listen," Kiyoshi said. "Though, you did seem to start listening a little earlier."
Kasahara scowled, "she's…"
"She is strong," Kiyoshi interrupted. "She is a strong player; a strong manager and she has the ability to help others getting stronger as well. Do you know how much time she has put into her basketball? How long she has trained, researched, studied? How much they all have? Yes, they are talented, and they have gifts in the game, but do you know how they have worked for their skills?"
Kasahara shook his head.
"I'm sure you've had it rough," Kiyoshi said. "Basketball isn't always fair, and it can suck. Yet, how is fair to blame someone who has a talent for being strong? Someone who has worked hard to get to where they are? Do you want them to hold back and just allow others to win? Don't you think that would be worse? If you knew that you only won because they didn't give it their all?"
"I still think it's wrong how they made others quit," Kasahara said stubbornly though he had to admit that there was some truth to what Kiyoshi was saying. What would he think if they held back and didn't face them with their best? It would be like they looked down on them even more if they did that. But he wasn't ready to admit it out loud yet.
Hyuga frowned a little as he watched Kasahara.
"The only reason they became so feared was that others stopped playing," Kiyoshi said. "I won't pretend that I understand them completely, or even that they're blameless in everything, but I did see how Mac was affected by the fact that others stopped playing. When she heard Hyuga had stopped playing she got upset and instantly blamed herself."
Kasahara blinked and looked over at Mac who had stopped playing with Niko and was now sitting with the younger girl to eat their lunch. Daiki had also gone over to the mand joined the two.
"Look, Kasahara," Hyuga said. "It hurts. To lose always hurts, but losing against someone who's so much stronger than you? It's painful. Yet, when I look back at it… I realise that they didn't make me quit playing."
"But…" Kasahara tried to interrupt but Hyuga talked over him.
"I did," he said. "I decided to quit. I gave them the power over me to influence my decision to quit. They never told me to quit, they never suggested that I wasn't worthy of playing basketball. It was all me. I can blame them, and I can be angry at them, but at the end of the day it would only hurt myself."
Kasahara frowned again thinking about what Hyuga was saying. He felt something inside himself soften and give in. It was making sense…
"As long as we continue playing no one knows what will happen," Kiyoshi added with a soft smile as he looked at Kasahara. "You are a good player, and you have much to give. Mac sees something in you, so she knows you have talent. Allow her to help you and you'll find your own place in the game we all love. Try to see them as normal teenagers who just loves basketball. Because that's what they all are…well, hidden behind their quirks and distant behaviour."
Kasahara stared at them and felt like someone had punched the air out of him. Their words swirled in his head and he knew he had a lot to think about. He never had considered the things they brought up, but he could see that they did have a point.
"You're asking this now because you are having doubts, right?" Kiyoshi asked making Kasahara looked at him in surprise. The older boy smiled a little, "I can tell. So, I suggest you trust your instincts. You need to make up your own mind. Ask yourself if you are willing to let old wounds stop you from growing and having fun with the game you love? At the end of the day… it's up to you and nothing we will say will change that."
Hyuga was nodding, "you'll figure it out."
Kasahara knew the conversation was over. He needed to think, but he knew that he had to get through the rest of the training camp before he could really do so. But he knew that he had to make some changes because if he continued like this he would lose and that was not something he wanted.
Besides… Kiyoshi was right. He didn't really know Mac.
...
"Well, for the last part of our mini-training camp we will have four different workstations set up," Mac said when everyone had finished their lunch and had gathered around again. "Two of them will focus on defence while the other two will focusing on offence."
"We will split you up in groups with others who has similar strengths and weaknesses as you," Riko said. "You will go through two of the stations before the end of the day."
"So, here you are," Mac grinned when the others joined her. They had deliberately placed the first years from both teams in the same group while the other groups were a mix from both second and third years as well as teams.
"You have offence?" Kuroki asked curiously.
"Yes," Mac smiled. "I do… and so does coach Harasawa, but you will not be at his station this time. Next, you will be with Aida."
She noticed Kasahara watching her but pretended that she didn't.
"Okay, so you've noticed that your group is only first years, of course," Mac started.
"Why?" Sekai asked curiously.
"Look," Mac said looking around as she took them all in. "You have worked hard yesterday and today, and I'm impressed with how well you've managed to keep up. Know that I am not looking down at you, okay? The difference between basketball at middle school and high school is significant, the pressure is more, and the training is harder. It will take more of you to get to be playing regularly on the team at this level than when you were in middle school. You have to put in the work to be able to do that."
She saw the thoughtful looks.
"I don't know how Riko runs everything at Seirin, but I know enough," Mac said. "And I do know how we run things at Too Academy. Basketball is a team sport, true. But it also a competitive sport. Everyone wants to play, and everyone needs to fight to prove that they are good enough for a starting position. Sometimes you will start, while other times you will sit on the bench."
She paused again letting her words sink in.
"But everyone is important on a team," Mac said. "Seirin is very strong at that part of the game, they are a true team where everyone is important and has a role. Too Academy is as well but in a different way. We value different things, but it doesn't mean that the team is less important for either team, got it?"
"Yes," they nodded.
"So, you are the newcomers to a team that has worked hard together for a year," Mac said. "Both Seirin and Too Academy worked a lot to get to where we are last year, we grew and became stronger. So, it is only natural that you need a little time to catch up. To get used to our styles. I know that I have been hard on you who are on my team at Too Academy, but it is to push you, so you are ready for our team faster. You were picked as regulars for a reason, but you are still behind when it comes to certain things. Things we worked on last year."
Kasahara was frowning and seemed to be thinking hard about something, but Mac didn't pause to ask him.
"So, that's why we thought it was a good idea to have you in a group by yourself for the last part," Mac said. "Questions?"
They shook their heads and she nodded.
"Okay, then let's get started," Mac grinned. "It's going to be fun!"
They started with the drills and Mac took the time to explain and demonstrate what she wanted them to do before she let them take over and go through the drills with her helping and pushing them when they needed it.
It went on like that until they had to change, and she took over a new group and did it all over again. Before she knew it the end of the day was there, and she waved goodbye to her friends and teammates as they all left looking tired but content. She shared a quick kiss with Daiki before he too left.
"Bye, Mac!" Niko waved. "I will learn more basketball soon!"
"Good, Niko-chan," Mac smiled and waved back. "It was fun playing with you!"
"Thank you," Harasawa said from behind her, and she turned to look at her coach. "She has been upset lately, but you've managed to cheer her up."
"Oh, I didn't do much," Mac said.
"You took the time to talk to her and play with her," Harasawa said. "She usually gives up when she can't get it right, but you showed her that she had to keep trying. She listened to you."
Mac smiled, "she's sweet."
Harasawa nodded and said goodbye before following his niece out of the gym.
...
Mac sighed deeply as she slumped down in the chair by the desk and stared at the notebook in front of her.
"Tired?" Riko asked.
"Mm," Mac said. "I never thought I would get so tired from just a small training camp like this."
"It was a lot of work;" Riko agreed with a yawn. "We've been filing notes for the last two hours now."
"I don't think I can get much more done tonight," Mac admitted yawning.
"Me neither," Riko said. "We can keep watching the footage from yesterday another day."
"Yeah," Mac agreed. "That would be best, I think."
Riko looked at Mac and smiled a little. She had learned a lot over the days they had planned this training camp and during the camp. It had been very interesting to see how Mac worked.
"Thank you," Riko said making Mac look over at her.
"Eh? For what?" Mac asked confused.
"Just thank you," Riko smiled.
Mac blinked before she smiled back and shrugged. "You're welcome, then, I guess."
Riko almost snorted at Mac not understanding why she was being thanked. She really didn't see it as something special, but Riko knew that not everyone would have taken the time and energy to help out another team.
Riko really felt like she had gotten a friend for a long time now. While they had always been friendly and talked before, it wasn't until recently that they had actually connected and seemed to have bonded over something they had in common.
...
...
AN: What do you think? XD
I hope you like it! Thank you for reading and for your support! XD