Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!
...
2nd year – Teiko – April
Daiki grunted annoyed when the ball rolled out of the gym and he had to run after it, Mac rolled her eyes at him on the bench where she was writing in her ever-present notebook. Shintaro and Seijuro looked exasperated making him grumbled annoyed.
He easily spotted the ball and saw the blond boy holding it with a curious look on his face, Daiki knew he had seen him around but didn't remember his name.
"Can you pass the ball?" Daiki asked and the blond did making Daiki smiled quickly at him.
"Thanks!" Daiki said before turning around and running back into the gym.
Mac arched a brow when she noticed the blond boy, Kise Ryota, she believed his name was. She thought he was the model most of the girls in school were mooning over. Mac tilted her head slightly to the side as she saw how he watched Daiki who was now jumping up and dunked the ball into the net with a delighted grin.
"Yeah!" Daiki cheered.
Mac turned her attention back to her observation of the team again just as Ryota disappeared from the door, though he would be back. Mac was sure of that.
...
"How was your spring break?" Seijuro asked making Mac glance at him to see him watching her with a searching look in his red eyes. She shrugged.
"Boring," Mac said emotionlessly.
It had been, she had spent most of the week doing the spring cleaning at the house under Petunia's careful watch, when she finished with the cleaning she had been set to do the garden work and Mac still felt sore from the work. Daiki had been away visiting his grandparents for most of the vacation between their first and second year of Middle School, so she hadn't seen much of him.
"Just boring?" Seijuro pressed.
"Yeah, nothing big happening," Mac said. "What about you, Akashi-kun?"
"It was fine," Seijuro said, "I went with father to work and learned more about the business."
Mac hid her frown as she nodded, she thought it was a little early to be learning about the business when he still was 13, but then again…maybe it was something they did to bond? What did she know of proper relationships between parent and child? The thought was bitter and it stunned her so much she froze where she walked beside Seijuro who noticed and stopped watching her.
"Mac?" he asked when she didn't say anything.
"Huh?" Mac blinked before spotting the arched brow, "what?"
She sounded distracted, she knew, but her mind was still occupied with the bitterness she suddenly was hit with. She didn't want to be bitter, she had Daiki and now also the basketball team… something she never had before. So why was she bitter?
"Are you ok?" Seijuro asked sounding concerned.
"I'm fine," Mac said with a tight smile. "Let's get going. We're almost late for practice."
Seijuro let her end the conversation, but Mac knew he wouldn't forget it and would be watching her. Somehow that warmed her, because if he watched her like that he must care for her, right? A little, at least?
...
"Potter-san," Sanada called when she stepped into the gym with Seijuro right behind her. She walked away from the Vice-Captain and toward the assistant coach who was looking like his normal stern self.
"Yes, Sanada-sensei?" Mac asked when she reached him.
"We have a new player and I want you to observe him and make your regular file on him," Sanada said, "tell us if he's good enough for our team."
Mac nodded and listened to Sanada talk more about what he wanted her to look for before she walked to where the second strings were already practising. She didn't call attention to herself as she leaned against the wall already having pulled out her notebook. Her sharp green eyes easily spotted the blond who was grinning excitedly as he dribbled his way past the opposing second-string players with ease.
Writing in her notebook she quickly made up a form with his physical ability, technique, and stamina and how she would predict he would develop. She would need more time to really observe him and watch him play to make sure, but she would get a rough estimate of his skill. As she wrote she arched a brow as she realised that he was good. Like really good, he was fast and agile as he moved across the court.
What had her still was the fact that he suddenly used a move she was very familiar with. It was Daiki's move. Her pen stopped writing as she stared at Ryota who just jumped and dunked the ball just like he had seen Daiki do a few days ago. Was that possible? Her eyes narrowed as she studied him closer now. She had seen that kind of ability before, Haizaki had something that was similar, but… it was slightly different as well. She started to write again, in deeper thought than before.
Special talent: the ability to copy the ability of others around him.
Now that she had noticed it she could see how he used the tricks and moves the others used against him, and how he turned and used it against them again. She smirked a little. This could be interesting.
...
"I would recommend promoting him to the first strings," Mac told the two coaches who were watching her. Shirogane sat behind his desk, his fingers intertwined on top of his desk as he looked at her. Sanada stood to the right from the desk looking serious and stern like he normally did.
"Why?" the simple question came from Shirogane and Mac noticed he seemed curious, but not like he doubted her recommendation.
"He's strong and has the speed our team need," Mac said, "he also seems to have the ability to copy a move after only seeing it once. I know he only saw Daiki use a move once before, but he used it now. The only fault was that it wasn't as powerful as Daiki's."
Mac paused and saw both coaches watching her with interest, especially Shirogane who was smiling a little.
"While he's new to the sport and hasn't been playing long, he still plays like he has," Mac said, "with the proper training and introduction to the team I believe he can come up to the level Daiki, Midorima, Murasakibara and Akashi-kun is."
The coaches exchanged looks before Shirogane nodded slightly and turned his attention back to the young girl in front of him. Her glasses pushed up and her messy hair pulled back in a messy bun, but her eyes showed determination and sincere belief in what she had just told them. He glanced down at the notes she had given him and from them could tell that Kise Ryota could be a good player. He had already decided before he asked Sanada to get her to observe the new player, but he had been curious about how her observation and analysing skills had developed and how she would judge the new player with only seeing him once.
Shirogane knew he was cold at times and ruthless when it came to his demands, and he would always be like that. He valued talent and the young girl standing in his office had talent, more talent than he had seen in someone so young before. He was curious how far she would go if only given the chance.
"Thank you, Potter-san," Shirogane said, "I would like you to handle his transition over to the first string and get him familiar with the way we play. Also, I would like you to tell him he's been promoted."
Mac arched a brow in surprise at the request but didn't comment on it.
"Yes, sir," Mac said.
...
"Why did you ask her to do that?" Sanada asked when Mac had left the office and the two coaches were the only two left. Shirogane didn't answer right away as he read through her notes one more time. He glanced up at his assistant coach.
"She's got talent," Shirogane said, "I would like for her to get even more involved with our first strings, with their training menus and strategies for the games. As it is now she only really interacts with Aomine Daiki, but she has started to open up more to Akashi Seijuro, Midorima Shintaro, Murasakibara Atsushi and Kuroko Tetsuya. So, right now I want to give her a push to open up more and get more involved with the team."
Sanada nodded looking thoughtful while Shirogane went back to thinking about how he could get Mac to take a larger role within the team.
...
Mac walked into the gym and felt nervous about having to approach Kise Ryota by herself, she briefly considered getting Daiki but pushed it away. She could do it herself, and the coach had asked her to do it. She squared her shoulders and walked up to where Ryota was laughing and hanging back with three other second string players.
"Potter-san," Kuroki Dai asked when he spotted her, the surprise in his voice was clear.
Yago Maso turned and stared at her with wide eyes before he glanced at Tanaka Jun who only watched her without really betraying any surprise at her appearance.
"Eh? Who are you?" Ryota asked looking at her.
"Idiot," Kuroki Dai said, "she's the manager for the first strings, Potter Mackenzie."
"Mac," she corrected quietly when Ryota looked at her and he smiled charmingly at her. She just arched a brow unimpressed.
"Can we help you, Potter-san?" Ryota asked.
"Coach sent me to talk to you," Mac said pushing her uncertainty away as she watched the blond who arched a brow.
"Oh? Does he want to talk to me?" Ryota asked.
"No," Mac frowned, "I am to tell you that you've been promoted to first string and from tomorrow on you're to show up to the first string practice. Congratulations."
She turned to go, but she saw the stunned look on his face and the resigned look on the other three. She knew they must be disappointed that they were skipped over again, but that was sport.
"Wait!" Mac yanked her arm away when Ryota tried to grab it and turned to look at him with a scowl on her face. He looked at her apologetically. "Sorry."
"What is it?" Mac asked when he didn't say anything.
"I'm really been promoted to the first string?" Ryota asked and Mac nodded. "Awesome! I knew I would make it! Easy!"
Mac hid her frowned as she watched him with a blank expression on her face, it was clear he had been expecting this but she wasn't sure she liked the attitude he showed. Without another word she turned and left the gym.
...
Mac arrived at the gym early the next day for the afternoon practice and found Nijimura standing in the middle of the gym holding a basketball. He was on his own, but that wasn't what had Mac look at him twice. It was the sad look on his face, pained almost and like he was about to give something up that he didn't want to. His gaze was fixed on the ball in his hands and his grey eyes shimmered with emotions.
Mac was unsure of what to do, should she sneak out or should she make herself known? She felt like she was interrupting something. She was spared the decision though when he suddenly looked up and saw her. He gave her a polite and sincere smile like he always did.
"Nijimura-captain," Mac greeted.
"Mac," he nodded back, "you're early today."
Mac nodded and walked to the bench and placed her bag down and gathered her notebook, she looked up and saw the Captain watch her.
"I wanted to be here when the new player arrived," Mac said quietly, "I want to see how he handles the promotion."
"You worried?" Nijimura asked walking over to her tossing the ball lightly between his hands as he did.
Mac shrugged and didn't answer, she wasn't sure if worried was the right word. She was a little apprehensive after seeing his reaction the day before, but maybe it only was the instant joy of being promoted that had made him react without thinking.
Nijumura saw that she seemed to fall into deep thoughts, so he didn't press for an answer. He smiled slightly as he watched the younger girl, she normally kept to herself and Nijimura hadn't really talked to her that much. Only about basketball stuff and normally only when she was with either Daiki or the rest of the team was present.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out," Nijimura said and Mac looked at him now with more focus in her eyes.
"Are you okay, Nijimura-captain?" Mac asked and he smiled softly like he was reminiscing about something.
"I'm fine, Mac," he said, "I just… I'm not Captain anymore."
"Eh?" Mac blinked honestly shocked. "Why?"
He didn't answer right away only glanced out over the court with a faraway look in his eyes. He sighed and sat down beside Mac who remained silent as she waited for him to say something.
"My father is sick," Nijimura finally said, "he's been at the hospital since last spring. Right now he's stable, but the doctors don't know how he'll be by the time Nationals are here and I won't be able to focus on the team the way I should. If something happens to him, I would abandon the team and go to him."
Mac sat still beside the now former Captain, but her mind was spinning with this new information. She could tell that Nijimura was really affected by his father being in the hospital and knew that he told the truth when he said he would abandon the team, he loved his father so of course, he would. She wondered if it was her uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia who were sick, would she do the same? Mac almost scoffed out loud, not likely… and that was sad.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Nijimura-Captain," Mac finally said softly and he snorted a laugh beside her.
"Hey, didn't I tell you that I am not the Captain anymore?" he asked, "but thanks, Mac."
"You're still Captain until coach says otherwise," Mac said, "I'm assuming Akashi-kun will take over?"
Nijimura smiled thinking that there wasn't much that slipped past Mac.
"Yes," he said. "From today on, Akashi will be Captain."
Mac nodded not feeling surprised, she knew he would be the best alternative when Nijimura wasn't there anymore.
"You won't quit?" Mac asked realising he hadn't said anything about that.
"I'm not quitting," Nijimura smiled and Mac nodded and allowed a small smile to cross her lips and saw the way his smile widened when he spotted it.
...
"Kenzie!" Daiki's voice sounded and Mac looked up from the book she had been reading while Nijimura had gone back to practising, she saw her best friend coming inside and arched a brow.
"What?" Mac asked.
"You disappeared!" Daiki whined.
"I left when the class was over, I didn't need to watch Yasu-san's magazine," Mac said dryly and he frowned. Mac had left when she saw Daiki and some of the other boys in their class looking at a certain magazine that Yukimura Yasu had brought to school.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Daiki asked.
"I did, you just didn't hear me," Mac shrugged, "forget it, Daiki. It's no big deal. Are you ready for the practice?"
"Of course," Daiki said and grinned the earlier complaint forgotten.
The others filled the gym one by one and Mac remained on the bench waiting for Ryota to show up, soon he barged into the gym with a large grin on his face and looked around eagerly. He paused just inside and Mac saw the excitement almost buzzing in him.
"Eh?" Ryota blinked when he collided with someone and looked down to see Kuroko Tetsuya staring up at him with a blank expression on his face. "Oh, I didn't see you there. What are you doing here? Are you lost?"
Mac who had gotten up and walked over to him to greet him and introduce him to the team heard what he said. The feeling was back again and she narrowed her eyes slightly as she watched him.
The gym had gone silent and Daiki was frowning as he looked at the new player, he didn't like the way this newcomer talked to Tetsuya. He could see that Mac didn't like it either and her eyes were narrowed, but he was sure he was the only one who saw how worried she was.
"He's a player here just like you," Mac spoke up bringing the attention over to her. "Kuroko Tetsuya."
"Eh? Really?" Ryota asked wide-eyed as he looked at Tetsuya who stared blankly back before he politely bowed.
"I'm Kuroko Tetsuya, nice to meet you," he greeted.
"Kise Ryota, n-nice to meet you too," Ryota said.
"Good, he's going to be your mentor in the team," Mac said and felt several eyes on her, but she ignored it and looked at Ryota. "He'll be your personal instructor."
"Eh?" Ryota stared at her.
"You didn't hear me?" Mac arched a brow as she stared at Ryota.
"I…" Ryota looked around but didn't find any support among the others so he swallowed and nodded.
...
"You sure about this?" Daiki asked quietly as he sat down beside her as the practice went on.
"He needs to learn that effort and passion for the sport also matter," Mac said, "he sees this as something he is good at and is easy, overlooking those who have to work hard to get to get to where they are. He needs to see the different aspects of the sport. He's still new to the sport, and Tetsu will be the best one to show him what he is missing."
Daiki looked at her and a smile broke out on his face as he got a proud look on his face. He was sure he was the only one who had seen the nerves she had felt as she talked to Ryota, but he had decided against going to her side to support her or take over knowing she needed to prove to herself and also to the team that she could take care of herself.
...
Mac stood with Sanada and Nijimura at the end of the practice, she knew what was coming and felt sad about it. Her eyes found Seijuro who looked carefully blank, but she could tell he also knew what their assistant coach and Captain wanted.
"I will from today on step back as your Captain," Nijimura spoke up breaking the silence in the room.
Mac heard the surprised gasps from the others and the frowns on their faces, only Haizaki looked uncaring and bored. She hid her frown as she turned her attention back to Nijimura. "I apologize for the inconvenience, but private reasons make it impossible for me to continue as your Captain with the responsibility that follows."
"Who'll be the Captain now, then?" Kubota asked.
"Are you quitting?" Sekiguchi asked at the same time.
"I'm not quitting," Nijimura said, "and I've recommended Akashi as the new Captain and the coaches agreed."
Daiki raised a brow as he looked over at Seijuro who nodded at Nijimura with a small smile on his face.
...
Daiki grabbed his bag after he had changed and moved to leave the locker room but was stopped by Ryota who was about to leave as well. Daiki rolled his eyes as he paused to let the newest player through the door before him.
"Aomine-cchi," Ryota said and Daiki felt a twitch of annoyance at the suffix attached to his name.
"What?" Daiki grunted.
"Why is Kuroko on this team?" Ryota asked.
Daiki paused and frowned at the blond who was watching him with curious eyes.
"I mean, he's not as strong as any of you and weak," Ryota complained. "I don't see why Potter-san made him my personal instructor! And why the coach let her! I'm good enough to…"
"That's why;" Daiki interrupted him his eyes narrowed at the mention of Mac and Ryota took a step back when he saw the frown and glare directed at him from the player he looked up to the most. "Stop complaining and work hard. Tetsu is powerful, but in a different way than us. You've only been here for a week, so don't talk about what you don't understand."
"But…" Ryota started but Daiki interrupted him again.
"Also, don't talk about Kenzie like that in front of me," Daiki warned before he noticed Mac standing by the door to the gym clearly waiting for him. Leaving Ryota behind he sped up and grinned at Mac who smiled softly back at him, her green eyes snapping behind him taking in Ryota who was watching them before looking back at Daiki.
"Ready?" Mac asked, "your mother will be upset if we're late for dinner."
"I'm ready," Daiki grinned but knew Mac was right. He was pleased Mac was going home with him today, her relatives were going out with something with her cousin's school so Mac could delay her return home.
...
"Mac-nee-chan!" Shiro cheered when he spotted Mac slightly behind Daiki who rolled his eyes at being ignored by his little brother. "You're here!"
"Hi Shiro-chan," Mac smiled at the now seven-year-old boy who threw his arms around her waist. "How are you?"
"I'm good," Shiro beamed, "I won in the spelling contest today and our teacher said I was good!"
Mac smiled and ruffled his hair, "that's great. Perhaps you can teach your big brother how to study."
Shiro giggled and Daiki grumbled at them but Mac only met his eyes innocently.
"Mac-nee-chan's here," Sayuri said from her position by the door. "Did you finally come home today, nee-chan?"
"I did," Mac smiled at the little girl, her brown hair tied in two ponytails on either side of her face.
Shiro dragged her by the hand into the living room where Ayano and Takehiro was both smiling welcoming at her and she felt the fluttering in her stomach as she did everytime she entered the Aomine household. It was the first and only place she really felt welcome and it filled her with a warm and good feeling.
"You think they would be happy to see me coming home as well, but no," Daiki grumbled as he followed them into the room. He was smiling, however, so Mac knew he wasn't serious. "Everyone only cares about Kenzie…"
"Nee-chan is nicer," Shiro said sticking out his tongue, "and she helps me with my homework."
"She helps me too," Daiki said.
"Seems like she helps all my kids with their homework," Ayano said breaking into the brothers bickering. Mac only smiled.
The afternoon went much too quick for Mac, eating dinner that Ayano had cooked and answered questions about school and basketball before helping Shiro with his homework much to the little boy's pleasure. Daiki grumbled a little at them though, but Mac ignored him. She did notice that Daiki's parents seemed to watch her closely and with a look in their eyes she couldn't read even with the best of analysis skills.
...
Leaving the Aomine household and reluctantly entered the house she was forced to call home, the silence and coldness was a bright contrast to the home she had just left. She heard the car pulling up in the driveway and made her way to her room before she had to talk to or be talked down to by her relatives.
"You were so good, Dudders," Petunia's simpering voice drifted through the house and into her room. "You won!"
"Of course he won," Vernon boomed proudly, "he's the best! The other guy never had a chance!"
Dudley laughed sounding happy and smug. Mac knew he had begun with wrestling and had been at a competition today and from the sound of it, he had won. The proud tone in his parents' voices seemed to linger in her room and mock her.
"Is the girl back yet?" Petunia suddenly asked.
"She better," Vernon snapped, "if she knows what's best for her she'll stay in her room. I don't want her to ruin Dudley's big day!"
Mac rolled her eyes ignoring the loneliness that settled in her stomach as she fell down on her bed and stared up at the ceiling.
...
"I want to put Kise-kun and Tetsu in a match with the second strings," Mac told Sanada who arched a brow at her.
"Why?" Sanada asked slightly surprised.
"Kise-kun needs to see Tetsu's worth and its best done in a match," Mac said calmly, "I've talked with Akashi-kun about it and he agrees."
Sanada nodded looking thoughtful and thought about what Shirogane had told him about her back when he gave her the responsibility to get Ryota situated with the team. So far she had done a good job.
"Fine," Sanada agreed, "they'll join the second strings for tomorrows match."
...
Mac sat on the sidelines with her ever-present notebook and smiled slightly to herself as she saw how Tetsuya passed to Ryota who looked shocked at first and unsure about where the passes came from. She saw the moment he realised who was sending him the passes and a smirk crossed his face.
They won and Mac was pleased to see the way Ryota looked at Tetsuya now, there was a new respect in his eyes and Mac knew he now understood what she and Daiki had talked about.
"Wow, that was amazing!" Ryota gushed as they made their way back from the school they had played the match in and toward Teiko. The other second strings following behind them, talking and laughing in excitement over the victory. "Kuroko-cchi, you were great! I can't wait till we play a match together again!"
Mac rolled her eyes slightly at the complete turnover, but this was what she wanted and had hoped would happen if she arranged the match giving them a chance to play together. She glanced at Tetsuya and saw the small pleased smile on his face.
...
AN: Thank you for the reviews I've gotten so far! :) Thanks for reading.