Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!
...
...
2nd year – Teiko – continued from last time…
Mac felt shaken as she noticed how Seijuro's eyes get an almost unearthly look and a ring around his pupils shone in bright red. The aura around him changed and Mac felt a shiver go down her spine as she watched stunned and fearful as Seijuro seemingly reacted out of nowhere and stopped Atsushi on his way forward.
"!"
"What?"
"…"
Everyone was staring shocked at what was happening on the court and Mac could tell that even Atsushi had noticed and was now looking as shocked at the rest of them.
"What just happened?" Ryota asked confused and fearful.
"I don't know," Shintaro answered without taking his eyes off the court.
"He pushed him too far," Mac whispered. "He pushed too far!"
Her eyes studied Seijuro and she knew. Something was different, that wasn't the normal Akashi Seijuro. She was sure. It had happened, he had lost the inner battle and this was the result. She felt her shoulders slump in defeat and she wanted to look away, but she couldn't.
"You're pushing your luck, Atsushi," Seijuro spoke and everyone noticed the change to his first name. "Don't make me so angry! I'll never forgive those who defy me."
Atsushi watched with fearful wide eyes as Seijuro past him making him fall back and land on his bum.
Mac was not surprised when Seijuro won, nor was she surprised when everyone was stunned silent. She inhaled sharply when she noticed that his eyes had changed, he now had heterochromatic eyes, one red and one orange.
Atsushi kicked the water bottles in frustration over having lost.
"From today on there will be a change!" Seijuro said his voice cold but demanded to be listened to. Mac could tell that the rest of the first strings were scared and was backing up slightly as the darkening aura around their Captain was stretching out. "Everyone must be at practice at least 3 times a week. I won't tolerate absences more than that, nor any excuses. You'll be here and you'll participate in the practice like before. I don't care how good you think you are, or how lazy. You'll do it."
Mac stared at him for a moment before looking away. What was this? While he did allow for absences, but not as much as they wanted. She could tell it was an effort to keep them together, but by ordering them to do something and just expect them to follow and not resent him for it. She had a feeling that he did this because of her.
"You may quit," Seijuro said making Mac look at him again, "I won't stop you. If you stay, then you accept how things are."
...
Seijuro was standing by the door when Mac exited the locker room she normally used to change and found him waiting for her. She hid her sigh as she had hoped he would have left by the time she came out. She felt like a coward but she needed to think about all this and she wasn't sure how to react to this new Seijuro. Was he still her Seijuro or was he completely gone? The pain hit her heart at the thought of her best friend being lost completely.
"Mac," Seijuro greeted and she saw a spark of the old one in his eyes. "Are you avoiding me?"
She arched a brow at him, "perhaps."
He frowned and she swallowed trying to keep calm. He looked away from her and sighed.
"I will keep the team together."
Mac blinked before frowning slightly. "How?"
"No one will disobey me," Seijuro said surly, "I will tell them to come to practice and we'll be together."
Mac studied him for a moment and could see that he really meant it; she wasn't sure what to say to that though. In a way she understood him, and she wished the solution would be that simple. Yet…a small voice in her head whispered that it wasn't the solution they were looking for.
She sighed and started to walk, he fell into step beside her and she could tell he was waiting for her to say something.
"I'm not sure that will work, Seijuro," Mac finally said quietly.
"It will," he said surely.
She looked at him and felt a loss; he was not the same anymore. The softness she always could detect underneath his mask was gone. A twist of pain hit her heart and she felt helpless. Again. She forced her emotions back and looked away from him.
...
Nao barked sadly nudging her chin and licked her softly making her smile sadly and hug the cub closer to her. He burrowed into her heath and made soft soothing noises like he was trying to comfort her. She sighed and closed her eyes but every time she did the heterochromatic eyes flashed in her mind and she opened her eyes again.
Nao looked up at her with wide brown eyes looking at her worriedly making her smile a little but it didn't reach her eyes. Her mind busy with what had happened earlier. Again, she couldn't do anything but stand and watch as one more of her friends lost to the sudden growth in abilities. A stab of guilt hit her as she remembered all those hours she had spent researching, analysing and observing all in the hopes of making Daiki and later her friends stronger. Was this her fault? Had she made it possible for them to grow so much that they lost their joy for the game?
If all she did was ruining the sport for them then why did she even play? She couldn't be the reason why they lost their love for the game, she just couldn't. Should she continue to do her analyses for them, make them even stronger? For what reason should she continue to play with them? Would she even be able to keep up?
Her mind spun with dark thoughts and questions, questions she wasn't sure she would be able to answer with a satisfying result. Why was she playing when all she did was laying the foundation for their growth and their growth was the reason they didn't love the game anymore?
...
Daiki walked into the kitchen in search of food and wondered if Mac had come home yet, she had been late coming home lately and he worried. He glanced up at the ceiling wondering if he should stop by her room and check if she was home.
"Ah, Daiki," Ayano said breaking her son out of his thoughts.
Daiki looked to see Ayano and Shiro coming into the kitchen and Daiki blinked when his little brother glared at him with his arms crossed over his chest. Daiki looked over at his mum and saw the almost amused look on her face but also the worry in her eyes as she looked at her son.
"Hi," Daiki said almost questioningly again looking down at Shiro who was still glaring at him.
"Did you and Mac have a fight again, Daiki?" Ayano asked making Daiki still staring at her.
"No," Daiki said thinking back, they didn't fight now, did they?
"You always fight," Shiro accused. "You always hurt Mac-nee!"
Daiki frowned at his brother, "no, I don't!"
"You do!" Shiro said stubbornly, "she's always sad because of you. You have to stop hurting Mac-nee! She's meant to be smiling."
Daiki felt angry at the accusation and at the small voice in his mind that said that Shiro was right, but he pushed it back. They were doing better now!
"You don't know what you're talking about, Shiro!" Daiki snapped at the little boy who glared harder.
"Enough," Ayano interrupted the fighting between the two siblings. "If you didn't fight, did something happen at school today?"
Daiki gave one more glare at Shiro before looking up at his mum with a confused look.
"Not that I'm aware," he said, "why?"
"Mac was silent when she came home and barely had anything to eat," Ayano said looking concerned. "She looked upset but refused to talk about it. I thought you two might have had another fight."
Daiki frowned concernedly.
"I still think it's your fault," Shiro mumbled.
Daiki glared at him but ignored him.
...
Pausing outside of Mac's room Daiki balanced the tray with food Ayano had helped him prepare and knocked on the door. A momentary pause before a soft "come in" sounded and Daiki somehow managed to open the door and enter the room. He wasn't even surprised to find her on the floor this time with Nao curled together in her arms or the soft growling that sounded when the fox spotted him.
"I thought you might be hungry," Daiki said awkwardly, "I was about to eat and mum said you hadn't eaten. You have to eat something, Kenzie."
Mac blinked at him and then looked at the tray before she smiled a little, "you made it?"
"I can make some food, you know!" Daiki huffed but smiled when she chuckled and some of the shadows that had been in her eyes lifted. She leaned back a little and he put the tray down on the floor before sitting down himself making sure he wasn't to close given the new guard dog, or fox, she had.
"Looks good," Mac commented and Daiki smiled surprisingly pleased by the compliment.
They ate in silence and Daiki let her decided when to start talking, he knew her well enough to know not to press her to talk. She would start talking if he waited. Or at least she always had, and he hoped that it hadn't changed even as their relationship had changed slightly. He watched as she fed a few pieces of food to Nao who bark happily and ate from her palm making her smile softly and scratch the fox behind his ear.
"Seijuro changed today," Mac finally spoke up making Daiki blink.
"What?" he asked.
"He changed," Mac repeated, "and…he was playing Murasakibara one on one and he was going to lose."
"Akashi was going to lose?" Daiki asked shocked he just couldn't see it.
"Yes, but then… he changed," Mac whispered. "Murasakibara pushed him too far, the whole team did. He's not…not the same Seijuro anymore."
Daiki frowned trying to make sense of what she was saying. He wasn't the same Seijuro anymore? How? Looking at Mac he could see the depressed air around her and how defeated she looked, a lump formed in his stomach at the look. Did she really care so much about him? About Seijuro? A frown crossed his face as his temper flared and his fisted his hands against his thighs.
"So what?" he grunted and Mac frowned at him.
"He has ordered that everyone will be at practice at least 3 times a week," Mac told him, "he won't allow anyone to skip practices any more than that and he's expected to be obeyed."
Daiki frowned but he had to admit that he was…leery about disobeying Seijuro. Even as he knew him he would think twice about disobeying an order from him.
"He said you had to be there at least three times a week," Mac said glancing at him. "I don't know how he will react to be ignored."
"Hmph," Daiki scoffed. "Who does he think he is?"
Mac sighed and held Nao closer making him nuzzle into her throat, she wasn't sure how to answer. Daiki was lost in his own thoughts and didn't notice the dark look returning to her eyes again. He startled when she suddenly spoke again.
"I thought you should have a warning before meeting him," Mac said, "so you're aware that he'll be different than before."
Daiki was still confused about what she meant by different, but it was clear that she wasn't about to say anything about it. Looking at her he spotted the look in her eyes.
"Are you ok?" he asked concerned again, even if he didn't like it he knew she was close to Seijuro. She would take his change badly like she took his own.
"Fine," Mac said but then she sighed and looked at Daiki.
...
Mac couldn't help it when she looked at her best friend she could feel something inside of her loose and just like so many times before she couldn't help but to talk.
"Is it my fault, Daiki?" she whispered and she knew he had trouble hearing it but he had if the widening of eyes was any indication.
"Your fault?" he asked, "how is it your fault?"
"I have thought and thought," Mac said not looking at him, "and while I know you all have had potential and the ability to become as strong as you have even without me…but did I make it possible too soon? Before you're ready for it? Did I make it possible with my analyses and training menus for all of you?"
Daiki stared at her shocked, but she couldn't help but think that she was right. She had helped them develop before they were ready.
"No way!" Daiki scowled. "Do not blame yourself for this, Kenzie! It's not your fault!"
Mac didn't say anything and soon Daiki left but he was worried she still believed she was to blame and he wasn't sure how to make her see it wasn't so.
...
Mac sat down in the free seat next to where Shintaro already was seated, one look showed that the green haired player was lost in thoughts and hadn't noticed her joining him. She wondered what he was thinking about everything, knowing he was very observant. She made a note of the cd of classical music lying next to him on the table.
"Hello."
Shintaro startled before blanking his face and pushing his glasses up further on his nose as he noticed Mac sitting next to him with an amused look in her green eyes, but it vanished quickly. He huffed and looked away fighting the small blush at being caught unaware.
"Hi," he grumped.
"You looked to be lost in thoughts," Mac commented, "sorry for startling you."
"You didn't startle me," Shintaro denied making her smile slightly but otherwise didn't correct him. "Are you ready for math?"
"As ready as I can be at this time," Mac said.
"Well, then let's get started;" Shintaro said and she nodded and pulled out her math books. They worked through the problems and Shintaro explained the aspects she didn't understand. Mac followed easily and nodded along as he explained, but her mind was also slightly distracted by the happenings in their team.
Shintaro glanced over at Mac who was working on a problem looking focused but he could see the underlying worry and weariness in her eyes as well. He might not know her as well as Daiki or Seijuro, but he believed he knew her well enough to spot it when something bothered her. They did study together often enough and she was the only one on the team that he found calm enough to be around for any length of time.
It wasn't hard to guess what was on her mind, though. Shintaro knew she must be thinking about Seijuro and how he changed the day before. Shintaro would admit, grudgingly, that he was worried about her. She was barely hanging on from Daiki's change in attitude toward basketball and now this… he worried it might be too much for her.
Pushing the glasses up again he frowned as his mind was again led back to Seijuro and how he had changed, it was like there was two of him and that scared him more than he wanted to admit. He had seen flashes of this one before, but he had always turned back to the polite yet caring teen he had met during his first days at Teiko. Now he was…colder and had a menacing streak he wasn't sure he ever wanted to see. He was polite still, but it was like he was balancing on the edge of something and a little push would have him lash out.
Though, he was a little surprised by the order to have everyone at practice at least three days. He had noticed how he had looked at Mac when he said it like he was looking for something. What was that about? Shintaro was completely lost.
"Thank you for your help, Midorima-san," Mac spoke up breaking into his thoughts and he looked at her to see her small smile.
"Don't mention it," he said gruffly, "um, are you ok? I'm only asking as a teammate, of course."
He fiddled with the cd he had picked up and missed the amused smile on Mac's face as he did so.
"I'll be fine, Midorima-san," she said and he was a little surprised that she didn't dismiss him with an 'I'm fine' like she normally did. "Thank you for asking. It's hard, you know."
Shintaro nodded swallowing as he thought about what to say. "Yes."
"Well, I guess we just have to be there when he finds his way back."
Shintaro blinked surprised and looked at her, she really believed that Seijuro would come back? The real one?
With a last smile, Mac got up and waved bye before leaving the library and a pensive Shintaro behind.
...
"Hi Tetsu," Mac smiled at the shadow who was sitting on his own outside of the school.
"Hi Mac," Tetsuya smiled back before blinking, "is that a fox?"
"Yes, his name is Nao," Mac said looking down at Nao in her arms, she had brought him out of her bag when practice ended and he yapped happily at the fresh air.
"Um, ok," Tetsuya said a little unsurely and Mac could see he had more questions so she gave the cliff-notes on how she got him and Tetsuya nodded. Luckily he didn't ask where he had been the entire day at school.
"So, how are you doing, Tetsu?" Mac asked giving her friend a closer look. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Tetsuya said.
"Really?" Mac arched a brow. "Seijuro's change must be a shock for you too. Are you handling it ok?"
Tetsuya looked at her for a moment before sighing and giving a sad smile, "it was a shock. He…scares me a little. I don't really know how to handle him."
Mac nodded and she could understand what he meant, she knew that Tetsuya would be the one who would struggle the most with handling the new Seijuro. Tetsuya was sweet and gentle, but this new part of Seijuro wouldn't handle gentle to well. She worried a little about how they would be able to get along.
"Talk to me if it gets too hard, Tetsu," Mac said, "you're not alone in this."
Tetsuya nodded and smiled at her. Nao made a sound like he agreed with his owner and Mac smiled down at him noting that he hadn't growled at Tetsuya once since their meeting.
"Nao likes you," Mac grinned.
"Oh?"
"He growls at everyone else," Mac explained. "I'm glad he likes you."
...
Two weeks later
The next match they had was against Shoei Middle School, an elite school as well and located in Tokyo. Mac sat between Seijuro and a sulking Daiki listening to the coach talk about the match coming up the next day.
"Potter-san," he said and Mac straightened a little. "Please, tell us about Shoei and what to expect from them."
"Well, they're ranked as number four in the country so they're good," Mac said, "their best player is Kiyoshi Teppei, a third year. Even as a third year he has decided to continue to play basketball, he loves the sport and is one of the Uncrown Kings. He would be the best Centre if not for Murasakibara, and a good Ace as well."
Mac noticed the look Sanada threw at Daiki before he ended the meeting and she frowned in thought, which was the second time she had seen the guilty look on the coach's face when looking at Daiki. Just what was that about?
...
"Daiki!" Mac called after her friend and caught up to him when he paused. "What's the deal between you and the coach?"
Daiki shrugged but Mac stared at him.
"Daiki…" she arched a brow, "tell me."
"It's nothing," Daiki said looking away from her but she grabbed his arm and held on so he stopped again and frowned at her. "Kenzie."
"Daiki, something is going on between you and coach," Mac said, "you've got the look in your eyes when you try to find something to say that will make me forget what I'm thinking. Coach is looking guilty every time he sees you."
Daiki frowned and sighed knowing he couldn't avoid it anymore and told her about the conversation he'd had with Sanada.
"He said that I didn't have to come to practices anymore," Daiki said trying to sound like he didn't care that the coach allowed him to skip practices, even he was scared of the power Daiki had. Even he didn't think he should get stronger, so Daiki skipped.
"He what?" Mac asked incredulously.
Daiki shrugged, "I suppose even he saw the monster I was becoming."
Mac glared at Daiki, "you're not a monster! Stop calling yourself that, Daiki. You know, that even if he said you could skip doesn't mean you have to."
Daiki gave a bitter laugh, "can't anymore now, can I? Akashi made sure of that."
Mac frowned and wondered just how she was supposed to handle this.
"I'll show," Daiki said turning away from Mac making her realise she was still holding his arm and she let go blushing slightly and hoping he hadn't noticed. "Don't worry, Kenzie."
Mac scowled and turned toward the gym and walked a few steps before a hand was on her shoulder and she turned to see Daiki having followed her.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"I have to tell him what I think!" Mac growled. "Telling you…no, it's not right!"
"Kenzie, leave it," Daiki said almost pleaded, "don't start anything with him because of me!"
"He…" Mac started but Daiki shook his head.
"He told me what he thought," Daiki said, "it's between him and me. Don't make a big deal out of it."
Mac felt her shoulders slump but she was still feeling angry. She calmed down slightly and her temper cooled slightly and the thought of the confrontation was now making her pale slightly, she hated confronting anyone but she would if it was for Daiki.
...
The next day and the match came bringing Mac to walk into the gym of Shoei Middle School next to Seijuro with Daiki behind her looking bored. Mac tried to ignore the look and focus on the present and look around the school. It was a smaller school than Teiko, but it looked to be a good school out of first impressions.
"Hello!" A cheerful teen greeted them with a large grin.
"Hi," Seijuro said and the teen looked at him before looking at them all, his brown eyes paused on her before looking to Seijuro.
"I'm Kiyoshi Teppei," Kiyoshi said still grinning, "I look forward to playing you."
"Hm," was all Seijuro said his face blank and walked past Kiyoshi without another word, the rest of the team followed but Mac remained behind and she saw the puzzled yet calculating look on Kiyoshi's face as he looked after them.
"Sorry about them," Mac said quietly and he turned toward her.
"No worries," he grinned again. "I'll show them what I got."
He waved at her and ran off to where his team was standing in the black jersey's ready for the match, she saw them immediately ask Kiyoshi something but she couldn't tell what.
"Mac!"
"Kenzie!"
Mac turned to her team and walked over to them but didn't say anything as they got ready for their match; she kept glancing over at the cheerful grin on Kiyoshi's face and thought he reminded her of Daiki, of how he was before.
...
Mac passed the ball to Seijuro who easily dribbled past the defender from Shoei who looked like he was barely trying by this point, and Mac frowned. She ran to her position and was instantly guarded by Kiyoshi who was watching her with a thoughtful look on his face but grinned when she met his eyes.
"I'll stop you," he promised.
Mac arched a brow and smiled a little, "we'll see."
He nodded and she caught the ball that Seijuro threw back to her and she started to dribble it and had to admit that getting past Kiyoshi was proving to be difficult. She paused and eyed him with a speculative look in her eyes and saw the sweat on his forehead, yet he was staring at her focused and determined.
She passed the ball to Daiki and felt like she just lost something in that duel with Kiyoshi who was now working toward Daiki, she couldn't help but notice that he was the only one on his team that seemed to give it his all. The others seem resigned and accepting that they had lost. She hated that attitude.
"Isn't basketball fun for you?"
Mac's head snapped around and saw Kiyoshi standing behind Atsushi and pushing him, in an attempt to guard him. The question rang in her mind but she knew that it would only annoy Atsushi and true enough she saw the familiar tick of anger on Atsushi's face.
"Huh?" The taller Centre growled. "Fun? Basketball isn't fun."
"That's too bad," Kiyoshi said just as Atsushi got the ball, he turned but Kiyoshi refused to let go but Atsushi was stronger and managed to make the hoop with an annoyed glare at the other Centre.
"Annoying…" Mac heard Atsushi mutter as he ran back ignoring Kiyoshi who was leaned forward breathing hard.
Kiyoshi had the ball and was charging forward and Mac ran to catch up with him when Atsushi was there and easily blocked him making the tall Centre/Ace from Shoei fall to the ground. He was breathing hard now. Atsushi was looking down at him with disdain.
"It's so displeasing that I could puke," Atsushi sneered, "I'll show you just how cruel this sport is."
Mac could see how Kiyoshi's eyes were wide and he was breathing harshly, he was losing and Mac could tell it was beginning to become too much for him. She was surprised and even impressed that he had lasted this long without showing signs of breaking. She looked to the side when she heard the familiar signal that signalled a change and saw her number up and Ryota standing ready to enter the court.
She sat down taking the towel from Tetsuya and the bottle of water as she continued to watch Kiyoshi play. He got back up even as she was sure he was done, but he refused to give up. The rest of his team had given up long ago but he still fought.
"He's something," Mac whispered almost to herself but she knew Tetsuya heard her.
"Yeah," he agreed. "He's not giving up."
Mac nodded and looked at her own team who looked like they always did, arrogant and sure of their win. Atsushi especially looked annoyed as the match neared its end.
...
Mac sighed sadly and glanced at the other team who looked like so many other teams they had played before, broken and defeated. Even Kiyoshi looked broken, his grin was gone and that was just wrong. It was like Daiki losing his grin, and Mac didn't want to see anyone else lose theirs because of them. She wanted to say something to him but knew that as a member of the opposing team she had very little she could say.
"We won!" Ryota cheered the most excitable on their team and he was smiling like he normally did, but it did seem a little more strained than before.
"It's not like it's a surprise," Daiki yawned and stretched as he walked past her and stopped just in front of her.
"It's easy," Atsushi added, "I want a snack. Can we stop by a grocery store?"
Mac tuned them out with a displeased scowl and fell behind, she didn't feel like listening to them and knew that there was very little she could say right now. She paused outside of the gym they had been playing in and just stared at it.
The question she had heard Kiyoshi ask rang in her mind again.
Isn't basketball fun for you?
Fun, it was a long time since basketball had just been fun for her. Fun. Fun. Fun. She wanted to have fun again and to play with her friends with smiles on their faces, but that seemed almost impossible now. Even with Seijuro's order, there was a distance between them when they played.
She was still barely holding on, but she saw that the gap between them was growing. She knew that if she wanted to continue she had to get better, but would she lose herself if she did? Like they did? Could she risk losing all joy in the game as well? But…if she didn't would she lose her friends instead?
...
Mac snapped out of her thoughts when she felt someone walk straight into her and then strong arms caught her before she fell. She blinked and stared up into hazel brown eyes that were a little red around the edges.
"Oh." He said and let go of her. "Sorry."
"It's…it's alright," she said quietly feeling out of her debt and shifted nervously on her feet. Suddenly feeling shy and realising that her friends had walked further down the street from here so she was alone.
He looked at her before looking away, she noticed that he had fisted his hands and was looking a little flushed. She looked away before she was caught staring. She wanted to ask how he kept coming back like he did; how he kept going when everyone around him was giving up.
"Good game," he said.
"What?" her eyes snapped to him shocked he would say so and saw the small almost invisible smile on his face before it was gone.
"I said good game," he said, "you played well. I was surprised."
"Oh, um, thanks," Mac said looking down, "you too. You played good."
He gave a sort of smile and she wished she knew how to talk to someone she didn't really know, she had gotten better at talking to the players on the second and first string but that was because she knew them.
"You looked lost in thought," Kiyoshi said and Mac was surprised that he seemed to want to strike up a conversation with her.
"I was," Mac admitted and looked back at the gym. "I was thinking about your question to Murasakibara."
He looked a little surprised and she glanced at him for a moment before explaining.
"It's a long time since basketball has been fun," Mac admitted, "yes; I have fun when I play with some friends on the street court but with my team… It's been a while. We used to… we used to have fun."
Kiyoshi looked at her and she could tell he didn't know what to say. She wasn't even sure why she told him, there just was something about him that called her to talk.
"I want to have fun with them again," she whispered. "I want to let them have fun again playing, but…they're too good. I can't…"
"Well, you just have to let go and have fun," Kiyoshi said, "try to forget the situations around you and focus on what you love about the game. They're your friends, right? Then, focus on playing with them and let it solve itself."
Mac frowned and thought about what he said, could she do that? Focus on them and let go? She looked at him.
"How did you do it?" she blurted out and he blinked confusedly. "How did you continue like that? Everyone always gives up. That's part of the reason they lost their joy in the game. You didn't."
Kiyoshi gave her a serious look and she was starting to think he wasn't going to answer when he opened his mouth to say something.
"I love the game and I believe that you can never know the outcome as long as someone is fighting," Kiyoshi said. "It's not anything particular reason for why I get up. I just don't like the alternative."
"Alternative?" Mac asked.
He looked at her for a long moment before giving her one of his grins, the first one she'd seen since the beginning of the match. "To give up basketball. It's an alternative I don't like, so I get back up. I will continue to do so."
"Kenzie!"
Mac glanced to the side and saw that Daiki had come back for her and saw him furrow his brows when he saw Kiyoshi. Kiyoshi looked over at him before looking back at Mac and smiled once more before walking in the other direction.
Mac started to walk toward Daiki after a brief pause and her mind was made up. She would get back up and continue playing for her friends. She would trust in them and that one day they would have fun again, even if it was a long time before it happened she would hold her focus on that and try to have fun in the meantime. She would be ready when they were back.
...
...
AN: Next chapter they will be in the 3rd year at Teiko!
Thank you for reading and supporting the story!