Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!

...

...

Before Too Academy

Mac smiled as she looked up from her sketchpad when Kiyoshi entered the room again, he blinked before smiling when he saw her sitting in her favourite chair next to the window in his room. He had just come back from his rehabilitation session for his knee and wasn't expecting to find anyone in his room.

"Mac!" He smiled happily.

"Hi Teppei," she smiled back and got up from her seat. She put the sketchpad as she did and walked over to him. "How was your session?"

"Alright," he smiled and accepted the kiss to his cheek. "They are happy with the progress. Apparently, I'm doing much better than they had expected. It's healing better."

Mac smiled feeling pleased, happy that the potion she had been giving him in his tea seemed to be working. He had been able to ditch the crutches a few weeks ago, but he still couldn't use his knee like before yet. He had to train it up to become strong again.

"I'm happy to hear that," Mac smiled softly taking her seat again as he did too. He smiled at her.

"How does it feel being done with Middle School?" Kiyoshi asked.

"A little strange," Mac admitted. "I can't really believe that I'm actually done."

He laughed a little.

"I know what you mean," he said before he frowned slightly, "and… are you ok?"

Mac looked at him and saw the concern in his eyes. She smiled a little.

"Yeah," she nodded. "I'm fine. I…I think I realized that I can't keep holding on to the way things were. I have to accept that we're different now and that they won't be able to play on the same team anymore. It's for the best, I think."

Kiyoshi nodded, but still looked concerned.

"It's not like I'm not going to be able to see them anymore," she added, "I'll still see them and have them in my life. It just…it just won't be like before."

He nodded again. "Good."

Mac smiled, "yeah."

"So what have you been up to since finishing school yesterday?" Kiyoshi asked.

"Well, I was with Daiki earlier today," Mac said, "we just walked around the city and then we stopped by an arcade. It was fun, and then I had lunch with him and his mother before I came here."

Kiyoshi nodded and smiled but Mac thought his smile seemed a little sad. She wasn't sure though so she didn't comment on it.

"You've been seeing Aomine a lot lately," Kiyoshi commented.

Mac frowned slightly trying to see where he was going with this and looked at him. His face didn't betray what he thought and his voice was even like he was simply commenting on the weather but… something nagged at her.

"Not really," she said slowly. "I used to be with him every day, so it's not really a lot."

Kiyoshi didn't say anything and they fell into a slightly uncomfortable silence. Mac wondered about his questions and why he asked, or rather why he asked like that. It was like there was something else in the meaning of his questions and she felt confused.

"Kiyoshi!"

The door slammed open startling Mac and causing Kiyoshi to blink as he turned away from Mac and to the door where his team was standing.

"Idiot," Hyuga grumbled smacking Koganei at the back of his head as he walked past the other boy who looked a little sheepish. "Think before you burst in."

Kiyoshi chuckled amused and Mac smiled a little as she watched as most of Seirin basketball team entered the room.

"Ah, Mac-san is here," Izuki smiled and waved.

"Hi Mac," Riko smiled walking over to her. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Mac said smiling a little shyly at her. "You?"

"Alright," Riko answered.

Kiyoshi and the other boys had started to talk and Mac watched as he interacted with his friends, it was a while since she had seen his friends and she could tell that they were still worried about his knee. Yet, they were cheerful and made Kiyoshi laugh.

"Kiyoshi never said which school you were going to," Riko said bringing Mac's attention back to her and away from Kiyoshi.

"Oh, I'm going to Too Academy," Mac said.

Riko arched a brow, "really? I guess they have a strong team."

"They do," Mac said with a small smile.

"And with you joining them they'll be even stronger," Riko almost grumbled making Mac smile a little. "Why did you choose Too?"

"They had the best offer," Mac said glancing over at Kiyoshi before looking back at Riko. "And Daiki is going there."

Riko blinked and Mac didn't miss her glancing over at Kiyoshi herself before looking back at her.

"Oh," Riko said. "I see."

Mac wondered what she saw, but didn't ask. It was like she was missing something, but she couldn't see what she was missing. She watched as Riko was dragged into the conversation with Kiyoshi and Mac was content to just watch them. She couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like if she was going to Seirin when school started up again. Would she have fallen right into their mix now or would she still feel the need to stand on the outside and just watch them?

Her eyes fell on Kiyoshi who blinked and looked back at her, he smiled at her and held out his hand. She took it but couldn't help but notice that it felt…different. She frowned slightly as she tried to figure out why.

...

Sato's house

"I think we'll finish here today," Sato said.

Mac nodded and rubbed her hand over her eyes tiredly. The lesson had been brutal and she ached. The dummies she had been duelling as in the process of mending themselves magically as she grabbed her books.

"Mac!" Daisuke cheered when he entered the room and blinked when he saw the dummies before looking back at Mac with a contemplative look on his face.

"Hi Sato-san," she smiled tiredly.

"Daisuke," he whined. "Come on, Mac. How many times do I have to tell you? Call me Daisuke!"

Mac rolled her eyes but she chuckled. "At least once more."

"You say that every time," Daisuke sighed dramatically.

Sato watched his son and Mac interacts with amusement; he was surprised at how well they got along. He glanced at the clock and frowned a little, Sachi and Hermione should still be out shopping and meeting friends so he let the two talk.

"Want to play some Quidditch before you go?" Daisuke asked.

"Sure," Mac smiled.

Daisuke glanced at his father who nodded and smiled a little as he watched them head to the gardens. Nao ran after with a happy bark and Mac paused to let him run past her out into the garden.

...

Mac smiled as she felt the air in her hair again and the freedom that always came with being on a broom, she hadn't flown much since the first time but a few times. She loved it. She grinned when she saw Daisuke try to get the Quaffle from her but she dodged and raced toward the goalposts that were placed at the end of the garden in makeshift Quidditch pitch.

They varied between racing each other, fighting for the Quaffle and searching for the Snitch but mainly they just had fun. Mac really enjoyed the time she spent in the air and she could let go of her problems for a little while, everything seemed smaller from where she was currently as she flew higher.

Daisuke smiled as he watched Mac enjoy herself on the broom, the slightly stressed look vanished from her face. He had stopped having small heart attacks when she did something crazy on the broom so he could relax better as well when they went flying together.

It was an hour later that they both landed on the ground again and Mac smiled yet looked mournfully up at the sky. Daisuke laughed at her making her glare at him.

"Alright," he laughed. "Wait here and I'll get you something to drink."

Mac nodded and sat down on the patio patting Nao when he came over to her, he barked at her and she smiled at him. She heard Daisuke leave through the door and the door closing behind him, but she didn't look up.

She sighed a little as her mind went over everything that had happened over the last week, finishing Middle School and saying goodbye to her friends (however temporarily) and then the strange tone between her and Kiyoshi. She wished she could tell what it was.

The door opened again and Mac didn't turn to look thinking that it was just Daisuke who came back with their drinks.

"That was fast…" Mac said and turned her head to look at him but stopped when she saw that it wasn't Daisuke. A girl she had never seen before was standing just outside the door, her bushy brown hair looking wild around her pale face and brown eyes that seemed almost too big in her face with how she was staring at Mac. Mac could see how her brown eyes jumped up to Mac's revealed forehead and scar before looking back at her eyes.

...

Hermione sighed, she was grateful for Sachi who had brought her home with her instead of letting Hermione spend the break on her own at the school. It was too short of a break to allow her to travel all the way back to Britain to visit her parents, but it would have been boring to spend the free time all alone at the large school. So, when Sachi had suggested that she come home with her Hermione had accepted.

She couldn't help but wonder though if it was the right thing for her to do. While Sachi's mother, Kaori, had been welcoming Hermione couldn't help but notice the slight tension from Sachi's father and brother. They both welcomed her, but they seemed tense and wary. Like… very interested in when they would be back and where they were going, it was strange. Sachi just waved it off when Hermione had gingerly asked her about it, so she tried to push it out of her mind. Thinking she was just sore on the subject.

She had finally gotten back from a day out shopping, and meeting Sachi's friends. Sachi was still with her friends, but Hermione had wanted to go home and rest. She wasn't used to being with someone so long and she felt rather uncomfortable with Sachi's friends. Plus, she didn't like shopping. So, she was tired. Sachi had said she could go home if she wanted to, so Hermione had.

The house had been quiet when she entered through the Floo into the living room. She looked toward the office door and saw that it was opened and guess that Sato was finished with whatever he was doing in there. Sachi had been vague in that too, just said it was important not to disturb him when the door was closed.

She felt like getting some air and walked toward the gardens that Sachi had shown her when she first arrived, it was a beautiful garden with more flowers she had ever seen in any garden that wasn't a greenhouse belonging to Hogwarts. She opened the door and almost instantly stopped when she noticed someone sitting on the edge of the patio with her back toward the door. From where Hermione was standing all she could say was that the person was a girl and that she had long darkish red hair that was pulled back in a ponytail.

"That was fast…" The girl started to say and turned, making Hermione gape as she noticed the lightning bolt scar on her forehead and striking green eyes behind a pair of glasses. She was pale and seemed to pale even more as she stared at Hermione in clear shock.

Hermione wasn't sure how long they both stood/sat there frozen just staring at each other before the girl who Hermione was pretty sure was none other than the missing girl-who-lived jumped to her feet and backed off as she stared at Hermione.

"Um…I'm sorry," Hermione said in English. "I didn't…I mean…"

She wished she had gone up to her room instead and not in the gardens, she was struck by the fear she saw in those green eyes. Why was she scared?

"Granger-san!" Daisuke's voice was sharp and Hermione winced. "What are you doing here? I thought you were out with Sachi."

Daisuke stepped between her and the girl, hiding her from her view, and she noticed that he had two glasses in his hands. He had clearly been getting something for them to drink. His eyes were narrowed and Hermione felt like she had just done something very, very wrong.

"Sato-sempai is still out with friends, but I was tired so she said I could go home before her," Hermione explained shyly barely daring to look at the stern look on Daisuke's face. He was scary with how angry he looked and she could hear him letting a curse or two flies from his mouth as she spoke. "I just wanted to get some air before I went to rest… I didn't…"

Before Daisuke could say anything else a hand was placed on his arm and Hermione had completely missed that the girl had moved close enough to touch him. Hermione looked up and met green eyes that were still warily watching her, and she was still tense.

"It's not her fault, Daisuke," the girl said quietly. "I'm sure Sachi thought I had left by now, besides how was she supposed to know not to go out in the gardens?"

He frowned and looked at Hermione again who swallowed.

"You're Mackenzie Potter, aren't you?" Hermione couldn't keep the question in any longer.

They both tensed again and Hermione noticed how Daisuke shifted so he was almost covering her again. Hermione frowned confused not understanding why she was being perceived as a threat.

"Yes, I am," Mac answered not seeing a point in denying it. She stepped out from behind Daisuke again and moved so she was standing in front of Hermione. She gave Hermione a long look before speaking up again. "Who are you?"

Hermione blinked and swallowed nervously.

"H-Hermione Granger," Hermione said. "I can't believe that you're here! You were supposed to be at Hogwarts when I started, but you weren't and everyone was talking about it. I have read every book that you're in and many are asking where you went or if you're dead! If they only knew…"

Mac stared at her for a moment as fear and worry filled her. What if she told someone in England where she was? What if she told… Mac didn't want to leave…

"I don't see why it's any of their business where I am," Mac said coldly as she fisted her hands.

Nao tensed noticing how tense Mac was and started to growl making Hermione take a step back.

"I live with my guardians and my uncle is the one who decides where I live and go to school," Mac said, "I don't care about what the so-called magical community thinks. They have done nothing for me and they don't know me."

"There are books…" Hermione started.

"Books can be misleading, Granger-san," Mac interrupted her sharply. "Books that never have had direct contact with the subject they're supposed to be writing about, so how reliable can they be? If they write about my parents then I can't really say anything because I never knew them, but how can I take what they write as truth when they easily write about me like they know everything about me? And if that was true…they how come they don't know where I am?"

Hermione blinked and then blinked again, but she didn't say anything. Daisuke frowned at Hermione before focusing on Mac.

"Mac? Are you ok?" he asked.

Mac exhaled and tried to calm herself down before she nodded. She had said more than she had planned, again. She cursed her inability to think before she spoke when she was upset.

"I think, perhaps, that I should get dad," Daisuke said unsurely.

Mac nodded while Hermione looked nervous, or more nervous. She was a little pale and her eyes were wide as she stared at Mac. Mac felt a little bad for scaring the other girl, but she couldn't let her tell anyone.

...

"Son?" Sato looked up and away from his wife who had just arrived home and was talking to her husband when Daisuke found them in the kitchen.

"Ehm, I think perhaps you should come…" Daisuke said frowning worriedly.

"What's wrong?" Kaori asked.

"Well, Granger-san met Mac," Daisuke grimaced and Sato frowned.

"What?" he asked.

"Sachi sent her home alone and…well," Daisuke said annoyed. "Granger-san decided that she wanted some air and Mac was out in the gardens waiting for me and some drinks after our Quidditch match…"

Sato sighed and pulled a hand over his face. This was what he was scared off when he learned Sachi was bringing a friend home from school. He and Kaori both followed Daisuke out to the patio and saw a tense Mac standing at the edge with Nao in her arms, seemingly calming him down or holding him in place as he was growling. Hermione was right by the door looking worried and nervous.

"I see we have a situation," Sato said more calmly than he felt.

"You could say that" Mac muttered. "I should have just gone home after the lesson."

Daisuke grimaced and sighed sadly. He was the reason she stayed, he had wanted to spend time with her.

"Granger-san," Sato said looking over at Hermione who looked up and met his eyes nervously. "There are reasons for why Potter-san is here and why it's being kept a secret. I would like for you to promise me that you won't go and tell anyone that you saw her here or that you know where she is."

Hermione glanced at Mac who was now hiding her feelings and thoughts behind a blank mask. She thought back to how frantic the professors had been at Hogwarts her first year when Mac didn't show up. How her favourite professor McGonagall had looked years older and how she had seen her cry in one of the classrooms once when she thought no one was looking, a photo of Mac in her hand.

"I…" Hermione started. "I… Why? I mean, the professors back at Hogwarts…they looked for her and they worry for her. Why don't you let them know where she is? Don't they deserve to know?"

Hermione looked up at Sato like he was supposed to be agreeing with her and then looked at Kaori who frowned worriedly.

"Forget it," Mac said resigned. "Just… forget it."

She walked past them and to the door.

"Potter-san," Sato called and Mac paused before she left through the door. "We'll work it out."

Mac looked over her shoulder and looked at Hermione with haunted green eyes making Hermione gasp slightly as she took in the pain she saw in those eyes.

"How? Granger-san has decided she knows what's best," Mac said emotionlessly, "she thinks she knows what's best for me and my life, just like they will. Even… even Newt and Tina said that's how the British wizarding world will react."

Mac turned around and walked inside and pulled out her Port-Key and said the activating phrase before she felt the familiar hook behind her navel and she was pulled away once more.

...

Home

Mac jumped when the door opened and closed and she shook her head feeling silly. Nao looked at her with wide eyes and she could tell he was tense and knew it was because she was tense. She had to calm down so that Nao could calm down, but it wasn't easy. She could only think that she had been found. She had been found by someone who didn't see it like Newt and Tina, and she was scared. She could barely admit it to herself.

"Mac."

Mac jumped again and looked up to see Taiga watching her with a worried look in his eyes.

"You okay, Mac?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Mac said trying to smile. "You just startled me."

Taiga looked sceptical, but he nodded. "Well, I'm going out with a friend and dad will be late."

Mac nodded and watched as he left. The moment she heard the door close behind him she suddenly noticed just how silent it was around her. She got to her feet and walked to the kitchen; maybe she could make some food and get her mind off everything.

Mac frowned as she placed the cookies in the oven and tensed as she felt like someone was watching her. She looked behind her but there was nothing but the large windows and Nao in the room. She sighed and rubbed her face. This was getting ridiculous. She had never been scared of being alone before, she had liked being alone. Used to it.

The ten minutes the cookies used before being done was the longest ten minutes she had experienced in a long time. She fidgeted as she paced the floor. The timer finally beeped and she took the cookies out and placed them on the tray.

Daiki… she could go and find Daiki and see if he wanted some cookies, Mac thought. She magically cooled them and turned off the oven before placing the cookies in a bag and walked to her room to change.

...

"Hi Kenzie," Daiki smiled when Mac entered his room.

"Hi Daiki," Mac smiled feeling better now that she saw her best friend. The tension left her as she felt safe for the first time since leaving Sato's the day before. "I brought cookies."

"Awesome," Daiki grinned and reached for the bag and pulled one out before taking a large bite. "I love your cookies!"

It was barely audible as he talked around the cookie, but she understood him making her smile. He looked at her and frowned slightly.

"What's wrong, Kenzie?" he asked.

"Nothing is wrong," Mac said.

"You don't fool me, Kenzie," Daiki said, "we might have been disagreeing lately, but I still know you. I can tell that something is wrong, and you're worried about something."

Mac sighed and looked at him. She saw the care in his eyes and she felt a little warm and blushed lightly before quickly looking away confused. She pushed the last feeling away before she started to tell him about meeting Hermione and her worry about what she would do.

Daiki scowled and moved abruptly making Mac blink as he was suddenly next to her and put a hand on her shoulder.

"They won't be able to take you away," he promised. "We won't let them and your uncle won't let them."

Mac swallowed before she nodded and tried to smile.

"Just because a know-it-all says something doesn't mean that they can do anything about it," Daiki said and Mac nodded again letting him reassure her. It felt good to be able to come to him again when she was troubled.

"You should stay here tonight," Daiki said. "I'm sure mum will say its fine."

"Ok," Mac nodded.

...

Sato's house

Mac frowned when she saw Hermione and Sachi when she arrived at her professor's house the next day. She had contemplated ditching, but she had forced herself to go. Daiki had been entirely for her idea of ditching the lesson, but that hadn't changed her mind.

"Ah, Potter-san," Sachi said coolly, "came down from your little fit?"

Mac glared and turned around without saying anything ignoring Hermione entirely. She walked to the office and knocked before entering. Sato was like usual sitting behind his desk and looked relieved when he saw her.

"Potter-san, I'm glad you're here," he said.

"Of course," was all she said.

Sato smiled understandably at her, "I understand you have a lot on your mind, Potter-san. I can reassure you that Granger-san hasn't told anyone about you."

"Why?" Mac asked frowning suspiciously, "she seemed determined to do so."

"Well, we had a talk," Sato said.

"And she just happened to give up?" Mac asked disbelievingly. "Did you tell her..?"

"We didn't tell her anything personal, Potter-san," Sato reassured her. "We only made it clear that she didn't know the whole story and that she was expected to follow our orders now that she is visiting our home."

Mac was silent for a little while.

"That's only until she leaves and goes back to school," Mac said. "Who to say that she won't tell anyone then?"

"Perhaps you should try to get to know her, Potter-san," Sato said. "She might understand just why you want to stay here."

Mac frowned, she wasn't sure she liked that idea. Her professor didn't let her think long before he started the lesson and Mac got other things to focus on.

...

"Does she come here every day?" Hermione asked glancing at the office door.

Sachi sighed and rolled her eyes before she glanced at Hermione.

"Pretty much," Sachi said. "Dad has been teaching her for almost two years now, I think."

Hermione glanced at her friend and then back at the door. She was curious and a little annoyed that Mac had ignored her when she arrived. There was something about the girl that had her wanting to get to know her, she was curious.

"Why?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know," Sachi shrugged, "she never told me. Daisuke probably knows, though."

Hermione fought the grimace; she wasn't going to ask him because it was clear what he would say. He had been angry at Sachi when she got back that day and Hermione hadn't seen anyone fight like the two siblings had before. She felt bad for having placed them in that position, but she was too curious about Mac and why she was there and not at Hogwarts like she was supposed to be.

Though, Mac's point about books and the credibility had Hermione thinking and question what she had read. She didn't like it, she didn't like questioning what she read and knew from her books. If she couldn't rely on her books then who could she rely on? Her friends? She never had any of those, not before Sachi…So, her books were all she had. Her books said that Mackenzie Potter was a hero for the British magical world and a powerful witch that could rival Dumbledore one day.

Yet, the image she got of the slightly younger witch was of someone pained and haunted yet content. She looked different than she thought she would and Hermione struggled with accepting the actual image of the girl with the girl on paper. She remembered the youngest Weasley girl raving about how great Mackenzie Potter would be, how strong and secure and how she would come and save them from Death Eaters that had escaped Azkaban after the war was over. How she would be the one to take over for Dumbledore when he got too old to lead the light.

Hermione sighed and ignored Sachi rolling her eyes at her saying something about going to her room to read. Hermione was not able to stop wondering about the girl she had heard so much about since entering the magical world. Perhaps she would have been her friend if she had been at Hogwarts?

Hermione blinked when the office was opened and Mac left and carried the fox Hermione had seen last time in her arms. Mac paused when she saw Hermione and frowned slightly. She looked thoughtful and like she was debating something with herself before she walked toward her.

"Granger-san," Mac said her voice polite, even.

"Potter," Hermione said nervously back.

They stared at each other and neither seemed to know what to say or do. Mac shifted on her feet as she watched the other girl and thought about what Sato had said. She had agreed to not say anything, at least for now. There was a chance she could stop her from telling everyone where she was.

"I forgot to ask you," Mac swallowed, "do you attend Mahoutokoro."

"Yeah," Hermione nodded looking down before glancing back up at Mac to find Mac look a little confused.

"But you talked about Hogwarts like you knew it," Mac frowned.

"I transferred to Mahoutokoro in September," Hermione said quietly.

Mac frowned as she looked at Hermione. There was more to the story, but she didn't want to push her either. She noticed how Hermione bit down on her lower lip as if trying to force something out of her mind.

"I see," Mac said.

Silence again and it felt stifling, she blinked when Nao barked and looked down to find her fox looking up at her with wide brown eyes.

"He's cute," Hermione said making Mac look over at her to see her watch Nao with a small smile. "What's his name?"

"Nao," Mac answered smiling slightly, "and yeah, he's adorable."

"I never knew anyone to have a fox as a pet before," Hermione said.

Mac shrugged, "Nao is more like a friend than a pet, though. He likes to think he's my protector."

Hermione smiled, "I can see that."

"Um… So, how do you like the school?" Mac asked awkwardly.

"It's great!" Hermione said seemingly coming more to life as she started to talk about the school and the subjects she was taking, she compared some of it with Hogwarts and how much she liked the challenge the new culture gave her.

Mac blinked a little shocked as she listened to Hermione rambled about the school. She hadn't really expected her to start to ramble like this when she asked her about school. It wasn't until Mac's phone rang that Hermione trailed off suddenly looking sheepish.

Mac couldn't help but smile a little as she pulled out her phone.

"Ah, excuse me for a moment, Granger-san," Mac said and answered the phone. "Hi, Teppei."

"Hi Mac," Teppei's voice sounded through the phone. "How are you?"

"Fine," Mac smiled, "what about you?"

"Just great," Kiyoshi said and she could hear the smile in his voice. "Listen, I was thinking… would you like to spend the day with me tomorrow?"

Mac smiled and bit down on her lips as she tried to contain it a little.

"Sure, when and where?" she asked.

"How about you coming over here at 12 and then we'll take it from there?" Kiyoshi asked.

"Sounds good," Mac said but frowning slightly when the butterflies didn't show, but she pushed it away and smiled into the phone. "I'll look forward to it."

"Me too," Kiyoshi said. "Ah, the nurse is here… I have to go."

"Ok, see you tomorrow," Mac said and hung up.

Mac looked to see Hermione watching her curiously and she rubbed the back of her head slightly, feeling sheepish.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow, Granger-san," she said.

"Um, didn't you just make plans…?" Hermione said looking confused.

Mac glanced at her and hesitated for a moment, "I have a Time-Turner so I can take my muggle school at the same time, Granger-san. I will use that to get my day with Teppei as well since we have a break from school."

Hermione blinked shocked but before she could say anything Mac was gone leaving Hermione with even more questions about the other girl.

...

Home

Mac smiled as she walked up to the rehabilitation centre and spotted Kiyoshi waiting for her by the door. He was dressed to go out and had a cane in one hand, he waved when he saw her.

"Hey, Mac!" Kiyoshi smiled.

"Teppei, are we going somewhere?" Mac asked.

"Yes, I think we both earn a day outside this place," Kiyoshi said with a smile.

Mac smiled and nodded, she grabbed his free hand when he reached for hers. She looked at him.

"So, where are we going?" she asked curiously.

"Secret," he grinned.

"Teppei…" Mac whined.

"You'll see," he promised and she couldn't help but smile and stop pressuring him. She was content to walk by his side and soon they came to the bus stop slightly down the road from the rehabilitation centre.

They talked casually together as they waited for the bus and Mac ignored the awed looks they got from the elderly couple standing a few spaces away from them. She felt like blushing at their attention, but she fought it.

...

They arrived at a beautiful park with flowers starting to bloom and greening trees showing that spring was coming for full now. She smiled as she looked around and took in the wide grass filled hills and the gravel path that stretched between the grass in a natural path leading further into the park. In the distance, she could see a lake with ducks.

"I thought we could walk around a little before we eat," Kiyoshi said bringing her attention back to him and make her realize that he had a backpack on his back.

"Ok," Mac smiled at him.

He smiled a little relieved and squeezed her hand as he tugged at it and she started to walk. They walked in silence for a little while and just enjoyed walking next to each other. She did keep an eye on him to make sure he wasn't getting too tired but so far he seemed fine.

They had reached the lake when Kiyoshi stopped and he looked around before leading her to a patch of grass underneath an old looking tree. It stretched far into the sky and had to be really old with a thick tree trunk that seemed perfect to lean against.

"Let's stop here," Kiyoshi said.

"Ok," Mac said watched as he took off his backpack and opened it. She curiously watched as he pulled out a blanket and arranged it to lie perfectly under the tree. "Looks perfect."

He grinned at her before continuing, he denied help when she offered and she was left watching him with a soft smile on her face. She couldn't help but wonder just how she had deserved someone like this, and why her heart almost clenched painfully as she watched him. Why did it feel…almost like an ending? She pushed the thought out before she could dwell too much on it.

"Done," he stated and turned to smile at her.

She smiled and sat down next to him. She looked at the blanket and saw the different sandwiches that were stocked on a sort of plate. A bottle of water was popped up against the bag and a pair of glasses was placed on the blanket.

"Wow, it looks perfect," Mac smiled.

"Good!" he said.

"It's like in the movies," Mac laughed as she looked around at the scene of the park and people walking in different pace through it and the picnic he had arranged for her.

"That was my intention," he said a little sheepishly. "I watched TV enough being locked in that room for so long, and I thought that one day I wanted to take you on a picnic."

"I'm glad you did," Mac said and accepted the sandwich he offered her.

They talked and ate and laughed together making Mac feel lighter and she managed to push the feeling from before further from her mind as she watched her boyfriend laugh. They didn't talk about basketball, but more about the books they had read and television shows Kiyoshi had watched. Mac couldn't help but laugh as he came up with his own interesting views on some of those shows.

After some time she pulled out her sketchpad and started to draw as he rested against the tree trunk with a content smile on his face. He looked peaceful and perfect where he sat and she couldn't help but draw him. She was glad Nao had settled at the edge of the blanket watching the ducks with keen eyes when they got to close he growled and they moved away quickly.

"I think your little protector has gotten used to me," Kiyoshi spoke up but didn't open his eyes.

"Oh?" Mac glanced up from her drawing and then over at Nao.

"He's not growling at me that much anymore," Kiyoshi said.

Mac smiled and continued to draw.

...

It started to get chilly sitting still and Kiyoshi stretched and yawned as Mac pushed her sketchpad back into her bag and got up. She held out a hand and helped Kiyoshi get to his feet, she noticed the small grimace he let out and she felt a little worried.

"I'm fine," he said reading her expression correctly. "My knee is just a little stiff."

Mac nodded and helped him pack everything together again.

They walked through more of the park and stopped to feed the ducks a couple of times laughing as Nao eyed the birds sceptically and growl when Mac gave them food. He nicked her shoe when she did and have such wide eyes that she couldn't help but give him some food as well. He gave the ducks a smug look when she did.

"He really has a personality," Kiyoshi observed amused.

"Tell me about it," Mac sighed but she smiled.

...

They arrived at a what looked like a large screen and row after row of chairs, it had started to get dark outside and Mac was wondering if they should get back soon or not. She saw that the rows started to fill up with people, couples, and children with their parents alike. She felt a little curious about what was going on and was about to ask Kiyoshi when he pulled her to some free seats.

"Teppei?" she asked.

"It's an outdoor cinema," Kiyoshi explained.

Mac felt her eyes widen as she looked around once more.

"Really," Mac said.

"I read that it was going to be showing a movie today and thought it would be fun," Kiyoshi explained.

"What movie?" Mac asked curiously.

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," Kiyoshi answered.

Mac looked at him with wide eyes.

"You said once that you hadn't seen it and that you wanted to," Kiyoshi said trying to explain. "I know that you have some not so good memories connected to the movie, and I thought that perhaps this would make it better."

Mac felt stunned as she watched him. She couldn't believe that he remembered her mentioning that she had never been allowed to watch movies with her aunt and uncle and that she remembered just listening to the sounds from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from her room and heard the laughter from her relatives making her feel sad and alone.

She couldn't believe that he did all this for her to have better memories of the movie and in his way showing that she wasn't alone anymore. She swallowed thickly and squeezed his hand tightly, unable to speak but she could tell he understood because his smile soften and he reached out and brushed a strand of her hair out of her face.

"No matter what, Mac," he said quietly, "I'll be here for you. No matter what's happening or where we are in a week, a month or even years. You're not alone."

Mac smiled and nodded ignoring the lone tear that escaped her eyes just as the movie started and she forced her attention away from the sweet, sweet boy next to her and over to the movie. It was time to make some new memories of this film.

...

...

AN: Thank you for reading!