Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!
...
1st year – Teiko – continued from last time
"Wha-what?"
"Mac-chin plays?"
"…"
Mac would have found the reaction from Shintaro, Atsushi and Tetsuya amusing if not for her mind spinning and pulse rising as she watched them warily.
Seijuro looked calm and collected as he spoke up to answer Daiki's question.
"We came for an extra practice," Seijuro said calmly finally removing his eyes from Mac and glanced over at Daiki. "I did call your house, Aomine, and your mum said you and Mac would be here playing basketball."
Mac forced herself to relax as she told herself that the team knowing wasn't a big deal, they wouldn't make her quit. It was unreasonable but for some reason, she had in her mind only allowed Daiki to see her play. Well, besides the ones they played on the street court.
"I see," Daiki said and Mac heard the unhappy note in his voice, she knew he had wanted for them to spend time together only the two of them. They didn't have much time for it anymore, the basketball and schoolwork took up so much of their free time and she had to be home to do her chores as well.
"You never said you could play, Mac," Seijuro commented his calculating eyes finding Mac again and she noticed the other three also, or more like still, was staring at her.
"Kenzie never said she couldn't play either," Daiki defended his best friend as he crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Seijuro.
"No one said she had," Shintaro finally spoke up stoically as he got over his shock at seeing Mac play. "Akashi was only stating that she hadn't let on that she played as well as analysing like she normally does."
Mac glanced at Daiki and when she met his eyes she smiled a little and shrugged, letting him know it was alright. She looked back at the others and sighed.
"There's no reason for me to say anything," Mac said, "I only play with Daiki."
"You're good," Tetsuya spoke up softly. "Why don't you play for a team?"
"What team?" Mac asked shrugging, "I thought there would be a girls' team here, and decided against trying out even before I started Teiko. Though, coming here I found there was no team for girls anyway."
"And why did you decide that?" Shintaro asked his green eyes narrowing behind his glasses as he looked at her.
No one missed how her eyes glanced at Daiki but she shrugged and didn't say anything. She saw Atsushi start eating his chips again, and Seijuro was looking like he was plotting something, setting her nerves off again, as he watched her before he smiled and picked up the ball.
"Play with us today," he said or more like ordered.
Mac sighed but didn't see a reason to deny his request slash order, so she nodded.
...
"You ok?" Daiki asked looking at her worriedly. "You can say no."
Mac glanced over at the other four first-year students and players, a pensive look on her face as she watched them. They hadn't mocked her or tried to belittle her, could they be ok with her playing? With her being good? Sighing she looked back at Daiki who's navy blue eyes were clouded with worry.
"It's alright," Mac said. "Should have known they would find out sometimes."
Daiki looked at her for a moment.
"It's not a bad thing, you know," he said, "them finding out. They're not your cousin."
Mac nodded with a tight look on her face, but she didn't say anything.
...
Mac caught the ball and dribbled her way past Shintaro who frowned as he tried to catch up, she turned on her heel and twisted around slightly so she was free from Seijuro before passing the ball to Daiki who was free and scored.
"Interesting," she heard Seijuro mutter and she felt wary, he was plotting something.
Mac got in the defending position and soon Seijuro was in front of her with the ball in hand, she knew he was purposely going up against her, to test her. She narrowed her eyes in concentration and noticed the small movement he made to the left, but he was watching her and she knew he liked to fake and play games, so she stayed where she was and he remained standing still. He smirked before he abruptly moved to her right, taking her slightly by surprise, but by the use of her reflexes, she managed to reach out and barely touch the ball with her fingers making him lose control of the ball and his drive, as Daiki was there to block him at the next move.
Mac frowned when Seijuro managed to pass the ball to Shintaro who scored using his growing ability to score from long distances.
Mac caught the pass seemingly appearing out of nowhere and smirked when she saw the way it caught Atsushi by surprise, she jumped and threw the ball and watched pleased how it went through the hoop before Atsushi managed to react.
...
"You're good," Seijuro stated when they finished, Seijuro and his team won by one goal but it had been close.
Daiki and Tetsuya both were standing next to her and smiled as they breathed a little harder after their match, both drinking water from their bottles with greedy gulps.
"Thank you," Mac said quietly not really meeting his eyes making him frown a little worried, something Daiki noticed but Mac obviously missed.
"You should play for us."
Mac's wide grass green eyes snapped up to stare at him and her hands fisted against her thighs.
"What?" she whispered.
"You should play for us," Seijuro repeated calmly. "You'll be an asset to the team."
Mac felt a little pang of hope in her chest, but it soon vanished as she thought about her relatives and the reaction she would get from them. Her face clouded and she looked away, momentarily stunning the watching teammates as they saw the pained look on her face.
"No," Mac said. "I can't."
Seijuro arched a brow. "Why?"
"I can't," Mac repeated and glanced at the clock making her eyes widen. "Shit. I have to go. I'm late."
Daiki looked at her worried, "I'll come with you."
"No, it'll only be worse," Mac said, "I'll see you on Monday."
Daiki frowned and fisted his hands as she watched her grab her bag and run out of the gym.
...
"What was that?" Seijuro asked his voice low as he stared at Daiki.
Daiki glanced at him and sighed; he looked away again and wondered what to say. The others were watching him as well. He walked to the bench and grabbed his bag and threw it over his shoulders before he looked back at Seijuro who was watching him with narrowed eyes.
"It's not up to me to say," Daiki finally said still feeling conflicted.
"Something's wrong," Shintaro said stoically and pushed his glasses up.
Daiki almost snorted. Something was wrong. Yes, that was true.
"It's not any of your business," Daiki said crossly.
"What is she late to?" Seijuro asked.
"None of your business," Daiki said boldly not caring that the other narrowed his eyes, "I will not break her confidence."
Seijuro stared at him for a long time before he turned around and walked out of the gym without a word. The others followed and Daiki sighed and pulled a hand tiredly over his face.
...
Mac winced as she listened to her uncle shout at her, he was not happy that he had to wait for dinner when he was ready for it. She worked to keep her face blank as she stared at the man who was supposed to care about her. Wasn't it normal to care about your family? Even if it was your wife's blood?
"You spend too much time with that ruddy boy!" Vernon snapped at her. "Dudley has told us about him. Unnatural, the way you two are. You're turning out just like your mother… a attention seeking brat who does anything for a boys attention…"
Mac bit the inside of her cheek to remain blank faced and continue listening without saying anything. She knew what he was trying to do, and she knew it would be worse if she responded. Yet, her temper was rising and she didn't want to listen to him insulting Daiki or her mother.
"I will not have it, you hear me?! As long as you're living in this house you will behave properly and with the decency, we raised you with!" Vernon spat. "Go to your room. I don't want to see you for the rest of the night!"
Mac glared at him before turning around and walking out of the room refusing to show the hurt in her eyes as she was once again pushed aside by her so-called family. She could hear Dudley laughing, and caught sight of Petunia's sneer as she passed her aunt.
"Watch it, bitch," Dudley said and bumped into her hard making her stumble slightly.
...
Was it really only hours before she had been playing basketball with Daiki and the others? She lay down on the bed and stared unseeingly up at the ceiling. Her mind was blank or she tried to keep it blank but her uncle's words kept finding their way back into her mind.
Just like your mother….
Turning out just like your mother…
Just like your mother…an attention seeking brat…
Finally, she punched the mattress in frustration and gritted her teeth trying to keep her temper under control. Vernon knew she longed for information about her parents…parents she didn't even know the name off. What kid didn't know who their parents were? Would they have loved her? Would they have been like Daiki's parents? Warm, caring and there for her always?
Turning to her side she pushed the thoughts out of her mind and tried to focus on Daiki, which always worked. His happy smile and open friendship. She smiled slightly at the thought of the look on his face earlier when they played basketball; he had looked so happy and content.
Getting up she grabbed her bag and pulled out her sketchpad, she glanced at the door to make sure it was closed and kept an ear out just in case someone would make their way to her room. She didn't want to lose this sketchpad as well.
She grabbed a pencil and started to sketch and soon another picture of Daiki playing basketball gradually became visible on the page, the happy and content look perfectly captured on his face as he was about to shoot the ball into the hoop. Her mind was blessedly blank as she drew and fingers working effortlessly as she cemented the memory to the page.
...
Mac sighed as she rested her chin on her hand as it was popped up on her elbow as she stared out of the window in proper Daiki manner. Her green eyes clouded with shadows making Daiki who was watching her worriedly frown in concern, he knew something was wrong but she wouldn't tell him. Only gave a vague excuse.
"Kenzie," Daiki said and she blinked and looked at him. "The class is over."
"Oh," Mac said and frowned, she had missed the entire class. It was so unlike her.
She followed Daiki and he noticed she seemed to close more of the closer they got to the gym and the rest of the team. He glanced at her but didn't say anything just nudged her shoulder making her smile slightly and her shoulders relaxed minutely.
Mac took comfort in knowing Daiki was there, and she wasn't alone. She would deal with whatever Seijuro and the others said or did. It would be ok.
"Aomine, Mac," Seijuro greeted them and Mac glanced at him and nodded politely before walking over to the bench and grab the notebook she used during practices disappearing behind the pages. She missed the narrowed eyes and the calculating look in said eyes as she did so.
The practice went well, and Mac managed to focus on the training and data she was writing. She frowned when she saw Haizaki Shogo. He was the same age as her and Daiki and had joined the team a week after school started. He was good, but his attitude… he set her on edge and she didn't like it. She wrote down something and moved along to the next player.
As the practice was finishing up Mac had almost relaxed completely as no one had mentioned her playing basketball or the way she had left on Saturday. What also helped was that they treated her normally.
...
Weeks later…
"…Mac."
Mac stilled just as she was making her way through the kitchen and toward her room just as she heard her name mentioned from her aunt.
"How long do we have to stay here, Vernon?" Petunia asked sounding displeased. "I want to go home."
"You know we can't, Pet," Vernon said, "they will find Mac if we do and we swore we'd keep her away from that freak-school."
Mac frowned. Who would find her? What school?
"But she's 13 now and she was 11 when she started that place," Petunia said. "They might not even be looking for her anymore."
"Do you want to take that risk?" Vernon asked, "just hang in there a little longer. We'll figure something out."
"Fine, but I'm really tired of this place," Petunia said, "no one here has any class and they look down on me. Dudley's not happy either, dear. He misses his little friends in Surrey."
Mac almost scoffed, of course, he did. His friends here actually had brains and wouldn't let him control everything, though they seem happy enough to play Mac-hunting. So, it didn't make much of a difference to her.
"Just trust me, Pet," Vernon said and Mac knew the conversation was over and hurriedly walked to her room and closed the door behind her before leaning against it her mind going crazy with what she had heard.
..
"So, you say your aunt and uncle moved to Japan to keep you away from a school?" Daiki asked with a raised brow looking confused. "Why?"
"I have no idea," Mac sighed frustrated. She had tried to work it out ever since she had overheard the conversation, but no matter what she couldn't figure it out. She bounced the basketball a couple of times and listened as the echo through the gym. It was after school and she didn't have to hurry home for once since her relatives were out on something with Vernon's work.
"It sounds very strange to me," Daiki huffed, "who would move to another country just to keep someone away from a school?"
"They talked about some people too," Mac said, "but I don't know who."
"Strange," Daiki muttered.
"I am curious about the she aunt Petunia mentioned," Mac admitted glancing over at Daiki, "she said; 'she was 11 when she started that place'. I wonder who she meant?"
"Your mum, perhaps?" Daiki asked and Mac frowned, but she nodded. She had thought about that as well.
Just then the door opened and Mac looked at the door and saw Seijuro, Shintaro, Atsushi and Tetsuya enter the gym. It wasn't that unusual anymore, and she stopped tensing everything they decided to join her and Daiki in playing basketball after school hours. She actually liked playing with them.
"You're not playing already?" Seijuro asked slightly surprised.
"Not yet," Daiki shrugged looking away from Mac and turned to the others. "Let's play."
...
"Here," Mac glanced up and saw Atsushi holding out a small bag of chips making her blink. "You look sad."
Mac couldn't help the small smile that crossed her face as she accepted the chips, she glanced down at it and saw it was salted chips, her favourite. A warm feeling spread and she swallowed before looking up at the tall centre.
"Thank you," Mac said.
Atsushi only nodded, already focused on his own snack making Mac gingerly opening her own bag and start eating the chips.
...
"Haizaki has a cold," Nijimura grumbled as he hung up the phone looking pissed. Mac refrained from rolling her eyes. Mac didn't believe that and neither did the Captain, by the look of it.
"Hm," Sanada said, "then… Kuroko you're in."
Mac smiled, it would be the first time he would be playing in an official match, and in a tournament like this one, it would be great practice. She turned to look at the teal head and frowned slightly when she saw how nervous he was.
"Calm down, Tetsu," Mac said quietly and he looked at her. "You can do it."
He nodded and she saw how he inhaled deeply. She walked back and pulled out her notes.
Mac frowned, this was…not going as planned. They had only played a minute and already Tetsuya had missed two passes and was now nursing a nosebleed. According to her notes and analysis, this should be a good match for Tetsuya to play in…
She watched as Nijimura was subbed into the game and knew he would be calm and lead the way like the good Captain he was. She kept watching the other team and gave Sanada updates on their strategy as she noticed it, he nodded calmly at her as she pointed out how they were trying to shut down Nijimura.
Through the match, she kept an eye on Tetsuya who looked depressed and in deep thought. She turned her eyes back to the game and decided she would think about Tetsuya later.
..
"I'm going to the convenience store," Daiki said getting up having already finished the bento his mum had made him. Mac glanced over at him and got up.
"I'll come with you," Mac said and he grinned at her and nodded.
She glanced over at Tetsuya and saw he was distracted and wasn't paying attention to what they were saying, she frowned.
"Get back soon, the next match is coming up," Seijuro said and Mac nodded at him.
"I know," she said and he allowed a small smile and nod in acknowledgement.
Mac followed Daiki and they walked in companionable silence until they heard Sanada's voice and Nijimura.
"…It's disappointing, but Kuroko-kun isn't good enough," Sanada said.
"But…" Nijimura said but Daiki was already walking forward leaving Mac to follow behind him with a small frown on her face.
"You're demoting Tetsu?!" Daiki demanded angrily. "We still have a game this afternoon! Can't he play one more game?"
"No. He's not worth observing anymore," Sanada said.
Mac scowled from where she was standing behind Daiki who was barely containing his anger as he glared at the coach. Nijimura stood silently beside the coach and watched them.
"If he fails again, you can demote me, too!" Daiki said looking slightly away from Sanada and missed the slight widening of eyes, but Mac noticed it. "Put him in one more time! I know he'll save us someday. I'm not sure why, but I know he will!"
Mac reached out and grabbed his arm to calm him down, she looked at Sanada who hadn't said anything at Daiki's outburst but she could tell he was impressed by his declaration.
"I know he missed this match," Mac said, "but I believe it's because he's messing up his timing. He's not expecting the strength behind the passes, therefore he's missing the passes. I'll talk to him and have him adjust. Give him one more chance, Sanada-sensei."
...
Mac watched with a blank expression as Nijimura entered the gym with a bruised Haizaki being dragged by the collar.
"Look who decided to show up," Nijimura said with a smile like there was nothing wrong making most sweat-drop at his calmness. "A second string player found him in an arcade. He seemed pretty healthy, so I brought him here."
Mac turned away from them and walked over to where Tetsuya was sitting by himself on the bench looking forlorn and dejected, she paused in front of him before she sat down on the seat next to him.
Sanada called attention to himself before he listed up the starting members before he turned to Tetsuya with a calculating look.
"Kuroko-kun, you'll play in the second half," Sanada said. "Got it?"
Tetsuya seemed to gather all his determination and nodded.
"I know you're good enough for this team;" Mac said quietly. "Push away your nerves, focus on keeping your emotions in check. Also, the passes are harder here than what you're used to. It's your timing that's the problem, I'm sure Akashi-kun also figured it out. Didn't you, Akashi-kun?" Mac glanced over and saw Seijuro having joined them and Tetsuya looked at him.
"Yes," Seijuro nodded, "fix your speed on the passes and you should be fine. First string players are quick, I know you know this from our practices. Remember, we're quicker than second or third string players. And like Mac said, you're misdirection is most powerful when you control your lack of presence. Don't wear your emotions on your sleeve."
Mac nodded when Tetsuya looked at her.
Mac tapped her pen against her lip and smiled when she saw how the pass curved in a way where the only explanation was Tetsuya's interference and changing the path of the pass. She noticed Haizaki's shock on the bench close to her, but she ignored it. She grinned. He had made it.
...
AN: Thank you for reading! :)