Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!
...
...
1st year – Too Academy
The pencil almost flew across the paper creating lines that turned into images with seemingly no concrete effort into making it. The scraping sounds from the pencil against the paper disappeared in the chatter coming from the classroom surrounding Mac and her idle drawing. Her thoughts lost in her own mind as her hand did what it so often had done before. Draw.
The sharp sounds from the bell startled Mac out of her bubble and she blinked confusedly. She looked down at the paper in her notebook and blushed as she realised that she had drawn Daiki. Inhaling she wondered why her throat suddenly felt so thick and why it felt so difficult to swallow. Her eyes took in the image she had subconsciously drawn. It was Daiki's face, but he was smiling and looked happy like he used to look when he played basketball or (more blushes) when he looked at her. A basketball was held up to his cheek making it look like he was hugging it.
Footsteps coming closer had her sharply close her notebook and put it away quickly. She briefly glanced over her shoulders and saw Daiki coming up behind her. He gave her a smile before he sat down and she could feel the butterflies in her stomach going amok.
"Calm down," she muttered to herself.
"Did you say something, Kenzie?" Daiki asked.
"N-no," Kenzie shook her head looking away from him hoping that he didn't notice her colouring cheeks.
Stupid, she mentally berated herself, why did she act like this now? She hadn't reacted like this before…
She forced her attention over to the teacher who started the class and Mac tried, she really did, to listen but the need to glance behind her was constant in her mind. She clenched her fists as she resisted.
...
"…and when…" Sakurai was talking but Mac couldn't really say she heard or remembered what he was saying as she glanced over at Daiki who was sitting with Fujimoto eating the lunch she had prepared for him.
She had together with Sakurai gone to meet the rest of the regulars of the team to eat lunch and everyone but Daiki had shown up. She had pretended that she didn't care, and in some ways, she even felt relieved because she wouldn't have to deal with everything if he wasn't there…but a part of her had missed him and anger lurked underneath at the thought that Daiki was with Fujimoto and that was why he wasn't with her. Images of cutesy scenes between Daiki and Fujimoto played in her mind making her crazy and snappy.
Imayoshi had given her those looks that had her want to go and hide not knowing what the older boy was thinking, but undoubtedly it was something about her. She hated it when he got those looks in his eyes that said he knew something and was looking straight through her.
Good to say, when lunch was over she had been relieved to be able to go back to the classroom and pray that the rest of the day would pass quickly. Yet, now she saw Daiki sitting at his desk and Fujimoto was sitting beside him with her hand on his arm as she laughed.
"Ouch!" Mac hissed quietly biting down on her lower lip to stop herself from letting out more. She rubbed her thigh as she had bumped harshly against the edge of one of the desks making it scrape against the floor and alerting Daiki and Fujimoto off her presence.
Mac looked away not able to meet Daiki's eyes and therefore missed the narrowed eyes from Fujimoto.
"Kenzie," Daiki sounded concerned. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Mac tried to sound convincing and to anyone but Daiki it might have worked.
"Hm," was all Daiki said and Mac glanced over at him to cringe when she saw the look he gave her. H knew she had lied, but she couldn't let him know. She pushed her feelings down the best she could as she steeled herself meeting his eyes.
"I'm fine, Daiki," she promised. "I just wasn't paying attention."
"I'm sorry!" Sakurai cried making Mac blink having forgotten that he was there, "I should have warned you! It's my fault you walking into the desk! I'm so sorry!"
He bowed and Mac stared at him and suddenly felt grateful to him. She smiled slightly.
"It wasn't your fault, Sakurai-san," Mac said glad to focus on someone else but Daiki. "I was the one not paying attention."
"Well, at least you're okay," Fujimoto said with a loud false laugh.
Even Daiki blinked as he looked at Fujimoto before looking back at Mac. He nodded when she met his eyes (making her stomach tingle).
...
Mac wasn't sure how the rest of the week passed, but it was slow and she felt stupid. She did her best to avoid Daiki and that annoyed her because she had promised to be there for him and she couldn't even face him without turning into a tomato and she didn't understand it!
"Stupid!" Mac hit her head before wincing slightly having used more force than she thought. "Why can't I just act normally?!"
She had to talk to someone, but whom? She could call Seijuro, she guessed, but… she shuddered, he would rant and probably blame Daiki and that wasn't something she wanted. She wasn't sure how to tell him and she really shouldn't do it over the phone.
Taiga, perhaps? Mac considered talking to her cousin, and while he was someone she had grown to trust, she just couldn't picture going to him with her boy troubles… she could easily picture his confused look and then blush. No, he was not an option.
Ueno? Maybe, but…
She groaned.
Mac wandered the streets thinking and trying to focus on the fact that it was the first match in the preliminaries the next day. Normally she could escape into basketball when she had trouble, but now all she could do was wonder if Daiki really would show up or if she should go and drag him there. Could she really manage to go to his house and drag him to the match?
Yes, she had been over at his house this week to play football with Shiro like she had promised, but Daiki hadn't been home then. He would be tomorrow if she went in the morning…
"Honestly…" Mac muttered.
...
Kiyoshi sat by his window staring out at the basketball hoop he could see from the window and wonder when he would be able to play basketball again. The doctors were optimistic about his recovery and said that it was highly likely that he would be completely healed and able to get back to the sport without any threats of lasting damage. Actually, the doctor had been a little surprised because the surgery he'd had shouldn't have this kind of result. He was only expected to be able to play for a year before his knee would go out, but the doctor said the images were showing tremendous healing and they were stunned to see it.
Kiyoshi didn't care why he just was happy to think that he would be able to continue to play basketball with his team.
The door opened and Kiyoshi turned to see Mac enter the room and close the door behind her before stopping. He frowned when he saw the pale skin and wide green eyes behind the glasses.
"Mac?" he asked.
She blinked at him, opening and closing her mouth without any sound coming out. He got up and walked over to her worried now. She didn't move nor did she say anything but she watched him as he got closer.
"Mac? What's wrong?" he asked again reaching out to put his hand on her upper arm.
"You knew…" she whispered.
He furrowed his brows confused as he looked at her. He knew what?
"I know I shouldn't be here… I just…" she continued and started to pace the floor making him lose contact with her and he let his arm fall down. "I shouldn't bother you with this… I know, it's not fair to you… but I didn't… I didn't know where else to go…"
Kiyoshi understood what she was saying, or what she didn't say. She knew. She had finally understood her own feelings for her best friend. A small part of him wanted her to leave, but the bigger part, the most important part, was worried about her and knew he wouldn't be able to send her away. He also knew that he was over her, and seeing her like this clearly worked up over another boy had him realising that even more than seeing her again had.
"Mac," he said trying to interrupt her.
"I can't… I'm sorry," Mac was saying.
"Mac!" Kiyoshi grabbed her arm forcing her to stop and to look at him. "Calm down, Mac. Sit down and let me find you some water, ok?"
He led her to the chair she usually used when she was there and gently pushed her down on it, she let him. He quickly returned with a glass of water and gave it to her before finding his own seat again. He watched as she took a sip of the water before putting it down.
"I'm sorry, Teppei," Mac whispered. "I'm a bad friend. I was even a bad girlfriend to you…"
"Hi, none of that," Kiyoshi said. "You weren't a bad girlfriend, Mac, and you are not a bad friend!"
Mac looked at him doubtfully but didn't say anything else.
"Why don't you tell me what has you so worked up?" Kiyoshi asked even if he knew, but he also thought it would be good for her to put it into words.
Mac visibly swallowed and looked up at him revealing the storm of emotions going through her right then.
"You knew that I…that I…like Daiki," Mac whispered.
"I figured it out," Kiyoshi admitted.
Mac hung her head and he could see her hands fisted together where they lay rested on her thigh.
"There's nothing wrong with that, Mac," Kiyoshi tried to comfort her.
"I can't," Mac shook her head. "I hurt you and I can't even…"
"Hi," Kiyoshi said and got up and walked over to her kneeling down as he took her hand. "Why are you so upset, Mac? I know you never wanted to hurt me, and you didn't even know how you felt for Aomine when we were going out. I know you would have done the right thing if you had known back then. Why are you so distressed about this, Mac? It's not the end of the world for you to feel something for Aomine."
Mac looked at him with those wide green eyes and he frowned when he saw the almost panicked look in them.
"I promised," she whispered.
"You promised Aomine?" Kiyoshi furrowed his brows confusedly. "What did you promise?"
"I promised myself that I would be there for him," Mac admitted. "I promised that I would support him and be there for him and not let anything drive us apart again. I just… I can't even look at him without feeling…ugh, I don't know. I just… I don't feel like myself anymore and he's just… there and I'm acting stupid. He must think I'm a fool."
Kiyoshi tried to make sense of her words but it was a little difficult, but he managed. He was now glad that he had seen this coming before and managed to end things when he did. He could only imagine how much worse it would be if she had realised this while dating him and Kiyoshi really wanted to save her that pain. Save them both that pain.
He reached out and pushed a stray hair away from her face and behind her ear while smiling gently at her.
"Why don't you tell him, Mac?" he asked. "You like him, that's why you act like that."
Mac shook her head frantically.
"I can't," she denied.
"Why?" Kiyoshi asked.
"It will ruin everything and he has a girlfriend," Mac said, "or I think he does, there's this girl that is always hanging around him and he lets her. So, he must like her. I can't get between them if Daiki likes her, and…and I can't lose him."
Kiyoshi sighed. What a mess…
"Daiki doesn't like me like that," Mac continued not noticing Kiyoshi's sigh, "he sees me as his best friend and someone he wants to protect. He's loyal like that, he still sees the girl he saved back when he was eight. I'm his best friend and nothing more."
Kiyoshi honestly considered smacking her (lightly of course), but honestly, she could really be blind. He knew that there was no chance for Daiki to only see her as his best friend. Kiyoshi knew, he saw it in the other boy's eyes, that Daiki liked Mac even if he too was in denial.
"I'm not so sure about that," Kiyoshi said making Mac frown at him.
"I can't lose him, Teppei," Mac said. "I can't risk him leaving me alone, he's…he's my best friend and my rock. I don't know what I'd do if he left or couldn't talk to me normally anymore because I had to ruin it with my stupid feelings."
Kiyoshi could see the fear in her eyes and he bit down the protests he wanted to say because he could understand. His father leaving, his mother dying… he could understand the fear of being left again.
He sighed and pulled her into a hug. He felt her stiffen for a moment before she hugged him back and he stroked her back comfortingly. He knew that nothing he said would actually help her, but this might help a little.
A few minutes later they sat in their chairs again and Mac had calmed down.
"You decide what you want to do, Mac," Kiyoshi said, "but I know that Aomine cares very much for you and even if you told him I don't think you'd lose him."
Mac just shook her head.
...
Mac felt better after having talked to Kiyoshi. He managed to calm her down and it felt better having been able to get it off her chest, so to speak. Not knowing what to do she had ended up in his room at the rehabilitation centre and seeing him had unleased everything and she had despite feeling bad for burdening him with everything let go and told him.
She could do it, and he had promised to help her when she needed it. Kiyoshi was really a great friend and she didn't deserve him. Mac knew that. She would never be able to pay him back for everything he had done for her.
Out of everyone she had felt Kiyoshi would be the best to help her, while she wanted to tell Seijuro she just wasn't sure how to do it and she couldn't do it over the phone. She missed him, and suddenly she wished she was with him in Kyoto or that he was here. He would be able to calm her, but Kiyoshi had done a good job too.
...
"Ah…you have your first match today?" Taiga asked when Mac shuffled into the kitchen the next morning.
"Yeah," Mac yawned as she leaned down to put food for Nao out and watched as Nao eagerly ate his food before she turned to make her own. "You had yours yesterday?"
"We did," Taiga said.
"You won, I take it?" Mac smiled slightly at her cousin who smirked in pride. "He, your face says it all, Taiga."
He frowned confused before shrugging.
"Who are you playing?" Taiga asked.
"Tokushin High School," Mac glanced at him, "you planning on coming to watch?"
"No, I don't think so," Taiga said.
Mac shrugged and put her food on the table and sat down to eat. She glanced at the clock and sighed, she would have to hurry if she was going to make it in time. Especially when she planned on making a stop on the way.
"Mac…" Taiga trailed off.
"Hm?" Mac glanced over at Taiga who was watching her with a concerned look on his face.
"Are you ok?" Taiga asked. "You've been acting a little…strange lately."
Mac looked down at her almost finished the food and considered her answer.
"I'm alright, Taiga," she finally said and glanced up at him. "Don't worry so much."
He scoffed and looked away, but she smiled at him all the same.
...
"Daiki!"
Mac entered the house she had called home for so long (and still thought of as home) and called for her crush the second she entered the house. Her feelings were neatly locked down and she knew she had to work hard to keep it locked.
"Ah, Mac," Ayano smiled coming out from the kitchen. "Daiki hasn't gotten up yet…did you have plans?"
Mac sighed exasperatedly and nodded. She grumbled as she made her way up the stairs passing the amused looking Ayano and ruffled Shiro's hair as he had paused on his way down the stairs on her way up.
She banged on the door leading into Daiki's room and after a moment to collect herself she pushed it open and quickly turned on the light in the still dark room. She immediately saw the bed and Daiki sleeping face. He looked peaceful in his sleep…no, she stopped her thoughts right there as she marched over to the bed, letting her annoyance over the fact that he was not ready for the match to guide her.
Her eyes lingered a second on his peaceful expression before she grabbed the nearby water glass and held it over his face.
"Daiki!" Mac said, but there was no reaction. "If you don't get up now I will pour water over you."
He mumbled something and turned in his sleep, but continued sleeping. Mac sighed.
"Ok, don't say I didn't warn you," she said and tilted the glass.
The water hit Daiki in the face and he jerked upright spluttering.
"Argh!" he rubbed his face furiously before looking at Mac. "Kenzie!"
"I warned you," Mac deadpanned.
"You could have woken me up softer," he whined. "Why did you wake me up at all? Why are you here?"
Mac arched a brow at him and then narrowed her eyes making him blink. He scrambled to his feet and stood beside the bed.
"Did you forget something, Daiki?" Mac asked in a tone Daiki knew meant trouble.
"Um, no?" it sounded like a question.
"Um, no?" Mac echoed in the same tone before using the pillow to hit Daiki. "The match, Daiki! We have a match! Honestly!"
Daiki used his arms to shield himself from the pillow and yelped when the pillow connected to his head. He managed to grab the pillow and yanked at it making Mac lose balance and stumbled forward.
Daiki reacted and caught her as she stumbled into him. She swallowed when she felt his warm body against her front and strong arms surround her. He held her close for what felt like an eternity and too short at the same time, and Mac didn't want him to let go before she managed to pull away and ducked her head to hide her blushing face.
"Get ready and meet me downstairs in five minutes," Mac quickly ordered and fled the room. She leaned against the wall outside for a moment a hand going to her warm cheeks trying to gather her thoughts and stray emotions once more.
"Deep breath," Mac murmured to herself and inhaled deeply before letting it out once more. She pushed away from the wall and walked downstairs oblivious of a pair of young eyes watching her.
...
Daiki stared at his now empty hands and wondered why he suddenly felt so empty and cold. She had felt so…soft and warm against him. He had reacted without thinking when she stumbled and caught her, that was understandable and something he had done before, but… the fact that he had pulled her closer and actually held her close for a moment too long before she had pulled away, that was new and puzzling.
He sighed and turned to find his clothes and get ready before she came back up. He knew she would too, and he sighed once more. It would be best for him to not annoy her even more. He had honestly forgotten the match, and it was not really on his mind when he had woken up so abruptly to find the very person he had been dreaming off (he didn't want to go into details about that dream) standing over him.
He blinked when he saw Sayuri right outside his room as he left it to go and find the bathroom.
"Sayuri?" Daiki asked confused.
"You're up," she smiled.
Daiki rolled his eyes as he dismissed her and made his way to the bathroom ignoring the giggles behind him. Little sisters…
He found Mac sitting with Shiro and listening to him tell her about something making Daiki smile slightly. She looked up when he entered the room and quickly look away again. What was that about?
"Eat," Mac said and Daiki noticed the plate with food on the table. "We don't have much time."
Daiki nodded and sat down to eat.
...
Mac dragged Daiki toward the gym where they were going to play their match, she was jogging and he was forced to jog as well to keep up. He honestly didn't see the point in getting there on time, it wasn't like they wouldn't win anyway.
"Look who's finally here," Imayoshi smirked at them when they entered the locker room.
"Sorry we're late," Mac apologized to Imayoshi with a small bow.
"I'm pretty sure I can guess why" the Captain just smirked back and his grey eyes looked at Daiki. "Go get changed, Mac."
"Ok," Mac bowed and walked to the locker room connected to theirs and closed the door behind her.
Maybe she could do this, Mac thought to herself as she got changed. Maybe she could really be by Daiki's side and remain his best friend.
...
"Imayoshi, Susa, Aomine, Sakurai and Potter," Harasawa read up. "That's the starting line-up."
Wakamatsu grumbled but didn't say anything as he glared at Aomine who looked bored and ready to go back to sleep.
"Potter-san has requested that we focus our play to assist Sakurai-san's shooting ability," Harasawa said, "so when you get the chance pass the ball to Sakurai and he will take the shot."
The team nodded while Sakurai looked shocked.
...
Mac passed the ball to Sakurai who took the shot and Mac smiled when she watched it go through the hoop.
"Sorry!" Sakurai bowed to the Tokushin player who had been marking him. The player looked confused at Sakurai.
"He really apologised to the opponent for scoring," Imayoshi commented amusedly.
Mac shook her head but couldn't help but smile slightly.
Tokushin High was a good team, Mac thought as they attacked once more and she saw Susa almost struggle against one of their players. She also saw Susa get control and win the duel for the ball and suddenly Sakurai had the ball in his hands once more.
He got into position and took the shot, his quick release was improving for every shot he made. Mac was pleased to notice this.
"Argh," a nearby boy with short brown hair yelled.
"You're one of them, aren't you?" he asked her. "Generation of Miracle-people, right?"
Mac arched a brow at him, "so what?"
"Nothing," he grumbled.
Mac shook her head and continued.
...
Mac subbed with Wakamatsu after the second quarter and took her seat on the bench beside Harasawa who gave her a polite nod. He looked pleased.
"You're working well together," he commented.
"Thank you, coach," Mac said.
She knew that they didn't look like they were working together, but they were. She could still see that there were aspects where they had to get better, but they were getting there. Sakurai was still making his shots and the rest of the team was assisting him by giving him the balls.
Daiki lurked in the background and made his shots when he got the ball, but he didn't try very hard. Mac sighed a little sad over that, but she knew that because he was holding back like this the others could get the experience they needed to get better.
...
"We won!"
Mac stared at them and wondered about the genuine happiness she saw in their faces. How long had it been since she had seen that look on the faces of her friends after winning a game?
She got changed and met the others outside of the gym and quickly saw Daiki standing beside Sakurai looking tired (like normal). She started to walk over to him and tried very hard to not think about anything at all when she suddenly felt someone barrel into her and latched themselves around her neck with a loud cry.
"Mac-cchi!"
She stumbled but managed to remain standing and noticed that her team was staring at her now.
"Kise!" Mac grumbled. "You're heavy."
Ryota laughed and pulled away beaming down at her.
"You played really great!" Ryota cried. "I had to come and see you play! Kasamatsu-sempai even came with me!"
Mac blinked and looked behind Ryota to see Kasamatsu standing there looking uncomfortable. He smiled slightly when he met her eyes though.
"Kise," Daiki grumbled and pushed him away from Mac making Ryota start to tear up.
"Aomine-cchi!" Ryota whined. "Don't be like that! I want to hug her!"
"Stay away, Kise," Daiki scowled. "You're too touchy."
Ryota narrowed his yellow eyes for a moment before he cried out dramatically and managed to get past Daiki and attach himself around Mac's neck once more.
"Why? I haven't seen Mac in weeks! You have her all the time, Aomine-cchi! You have to share!" Ryota said with fake tears in his eyes.
Mac sighed exasperatedly as Ryota hugged her tighter and Daiki scowl deepened.
Imayoshi was laughing making Mac glare at him, but she didn't say anything. She was actually feeling pretty nostalgic about this, seeing that it was something that normally happened back at Teiko.
"You're annoying!" Kasamatsu suddenly burst in and hit Ryota at the back of his head making the blond yelp and let go of Mac in order to hide behind her. "Stop causing so much chaos everywhere we go!"
Mac glanced behind her to see Ryota cover behind her and used her to shield him from his captain when he moved to get passed her. She was shuffled one way then the other while she had a very unimpressed look on her face.
"Does this happen often?" Imayoshi asked.
Daiki scowled but he nodded before he sighed.
"Pretty often, yeah," Daiki admitted.
...
Mac walked away with Ryota and Kasamatsu (much to Daiki's annoyance), but she had missed the dramatic Ryota and was pleased to see him again. She was also curious to see how he interacted with Kasamatsu who had the air of being dragged there without his permission. Yet, he was polite and curious and Mac was sure that if he had too much against the idea he could have stopped Ryota if he really wanted to.
"How are you doing, Kasamatsu-san?" Mac asked.
"I'm fine," he answered.
Mac nodded and glanced over at Ryota who beamed at her. She snorted and looked away from him.
"Where are you leading us, Kise?" Mac asked.
"You'll see," he said mysteriously.
Mac sighed and resigned herself to wait.
Soon they arrived at a small restaurant and she glanced at him only to be met with his wide smile. She smiled as she shook her head before heading into the restaurant. They were met with a woman with black hair tied back and a warm smile.
"Ah, Kise-kun is back," she smiled.
"Hi!" Ryota waved and skipped over to her. "Do you have a free table?"
"For you? Of course," the woman smiled.
Mac arched a brow as she followed them to the table by the window and sat down opposite Ryota and Kasamatsu. She put her bag in the free seat and considered taking Nao out, but she guessed that would be against regulations for the restaurant.
Mac smiled and relaxed as she talked with Ryota and also observed how he interacted with Kasamatsu who had more patience with him then she would have imagined at first. She smiled slightly.
"I will leave now," Kasamatsu said when they had finished. "It was nice seeing you again, Potter-san. You really played well today. It was very enlightening to see."
"Thank you, Kasamatsu-san," Mac smiled back. "Thank you for taking care of Kise."
He smiled and Ryota beamed even more.
...
"So…" Mac turned to Ryota and arched a brow, "want to let me know why you really came here, Kise?"
He smiled again, but this time it was more serious and not so overdramatic. She knew he was capable of it, but it wasn't often he showed this side of himself.
"Do I need a reason to come and see my favourite girl?" Ryota asked.
Mac snorted and gave him a look.
"You think I'm one of your fangirls, Kise?" she asked.
"What? You're my biggest fan, Mac," he said leaning back in his seat. "Actually, you're all of us six Generation of Miracles biggest fan. Don't deny it. We're yours."
Mac tried to scowl but soon she laughed making Ryota smile wider.
"There it is," he said.
"Eh?" Mac tilted her head confused.
"Your laugh," Ryota clarified. "You haven't laughed like that all day. I missed it."
Mac looked at him and felt lost for words. She hadn't expected that from him, but she should have she realised. She smiled again and this time it felt softer and sadder somehow.
"You like him, don't you?" Ryota asked quietly leaning forward toward her and his yellow eyes were locked on her and she knew he saw everything. She felt her throat thicken and she looked down.
He reached over and grabbed her hand that was fisted on top of the table in one of his strong and warm hands. He gave it a gentle squeeze.
"You know better than anyone that I actually see things that others things I am too stupid to notice," Ryota said.
"You're not stupid, Kise," Mac protested right away.
"No, I'm not," he agreed, "and I have seen how you look at Aomine-cchi, Mac-cchi."
Mac looked away.
"I didn't want anyone else to know," she whispered.
"You're worried he will turn you away," Ryota said. "I know, but Mac-cchi, he never will. He will always be with you."
Mac stared at him with large eyes and she knew that while Kiyoshi had said pretty much the same it was different coming from Ryota. Ryota knew Daiki better than Kiyoshi did, so maybe… but was she willing to take that chance?
"I know you probably won't say anything," Ryota continued, "but you'll be okay. You're not alone anymore, Mac-cchi. You have us; we might not be the best team right now or friends. Yet, I know we always have each other's back when it's needed."
Mac sniffed and rubbed her eyes before smiling slightly at him.
"Who knew you could be so deep, Kise," Mac smiled wobbly at him.
"Pfft, who are you trying to fool, Mac-cchi?" he smirked, "you knew that very well! Besides, I'm Kise the amazing Ace of Kaijo!"
Mac smiled and couldn't help but laugh again.
...
...
AN: Thank you for reading and your support! XD