Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!
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1st year – Too Academy
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Break
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It was time for the break between the first half and the second half and they were in a very solid lead with 53-23 points, so they had a very large advantage and Mac knew it would be more than a miracle for them to lose it in the last half of the game.
Yet, she wasn't going to give up and she had a feeling that they might be facing a team that wasn't going to be giving up either. At least…that was what she was hoping for. She really hoped that Taiga and Tetsuya along with the rest of Seirin would keep fighting.
"Here," Mac said as she passed some lemon around that was in a kind of lemon juice. "Eat this and get back your strength."
"Not like we need it," Daiki muttered but he took his share and ate it with a small hum as he licked his lips.
"Daiki," Mac frowned at him. "Stop it."
He huffed and closed his eyes as he leaned against the locker.
Harasawa stepped up and clapped his hands to gain their attention.
"Don't relax too much," he told them. "Let's talk about the second half."
Daiki stayed in his seat but didn't open his eyes as they gathered around the coach.
"Open your eyes, Aomine!" Wakamatsu snapped.
"Why?" Daiki whined without opening his eyes.
"Why…?!" Wakamatsu started but Imayoshi stopped him with a hand on his arm and a shake of his head.
"Leave it," Imayoshi told him.
"But…"
"Let's just focus on what Coach Harasawa has to say," Mac spoke up looking away from Daiki. "Daiki is listening even if it doesn't look it, Wakamatsu-san."
The taller boy grudgingly settled and shot a glare at Daiki but didn't say anything else.
"You played very well," Harasawa told them. "I'm very happy with the way you fought, and I want to see more of that determination in the next half, got it?"
"Yes," they answered.
"Potter-san," Harasawa looked at her. "What can we expect from Seirin in the next quarter?"
Mac swallowed her lemon before answering.
"They'll probably bench Tetsu for a little while and rely on Taiga," Mac said. "It's necessary if they want to keep Tetsu to the end. They'll probably put in Tsuchiba-san, but we'll deal with it."
Harasawa nodded.
"Good," he said.
...
End break
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3rd quarter
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Mac was playing again and she had been right when she guessed that Tetsuya would start on the bench for the 3rd quarter. She saw the almost conflicted look on Riko's face when she realised that Mac would be playing again, but she didn't change her mind and put Tetsuya back in the game.
Mac couldn't see anything drastic about Seirin's strategy, while Tsuchiba was good he wasn't the kind of player Tetsuya was and therefore not really what Seirin needed to hope to change the situation.
It was very clear and no surprise that Seirin intended to put it all on Taiga. He was their hope and chance.
The game continued much like it had before the break with Too dominating the game and Mac being the one to distribute the passes and setting her teammates up for the best situation for the team, Izuki and Hyuga tried to stop her but she read through their moves and sidestepped them rather easily.
Though, she appreciated the effort they put into it.
She passed the ball to Daiki who immediately started to dribble the ball, he used the crossover and spun as he moved across the court without looking like he was hindered at all. Taiga was there, but Daiki passed him with his speed and then Izuki and Mitobe before finally Tsuchiba was passed and Daiki had a free position to score.
...
65-23: 24 minutes played – 3rd quarter
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Seirin had the ball and they passed it moving quickly forward and clearly intending to attack. Hyuga, then Izuki, then Mitobe before Taiga got the ball and scored.
He looked so determined and angry that Mac almost blinked, but he didn't look like he had given up and for Mac that meant a lot.
Daiki used his irregular change of pace as he faced Taiga again to get past him, but this time Taiga managed to keep up and Mac could see the slight shock in Daiki's eyes as he saw Taiga hanging on.
Daiki paused and watched Taiga with a considering look before he tossed the ball to the side making it look like he was about to pass and when Taiga moved to catch it Daiki used his long reach and speed to catch it right in front of Taiga and in a smooth move spun around and changed his direction making Taiga off balance and losing a couple of seconds but it was enough for Daiki to score another two-pointer.
"Hm," was all Daiki said as he watched Taiga who was breathing rather heavily.
Mac glanced at her best friend and thought he looked almost grudgingly impressed, but at the same time, there was an annoyance in his stance that she wasn't sure where came from. Was he disappointed that he had managed to get free?
...
Taiga scored another one and this time Mac knew Daiki had been impressed because her cousin had managed to get free from him before scoring something very few managed these days. She almost giggled at the look but schooled her expression the best she could when Daiki looked at her.
"Stop smiling like that," Daiki huffed gruffly and she frowned.
"Eh?"
"He's not worth getting your smiles," Daiki said.
"What?" Mac frowned deeper but Daiki turned away and ran away from her leaving her confused and bewildered behind because she had no idea where that had come from.
...
79-34: 27 minutes played – 3rd quarter
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"I'm done," Daiki suddenly spoke up and his aura seemed to darken slightly as he had the ball in his hands, his stance relaxed yet were tense in a way that Mac recognised easily and inhaled sharply as she took it in. "I've played your honest and boring basketball for long enough. I'll prove it now. I'll prove that my basketball is the strongest. You won't be able to keep up. I'll show you."
With that, he was off and with sharper and more ruthless if that was even possible. It was as if what he had been doing was what he called the boring basketball, and Mac couldn't help but see the shock on Seirin's faces as they took in the new Daiki.
Mac caught the ball and passed it to Imayoshi to spread their game a little and because she, unlike Daiki, wanted to keep the rest of the team involved.
Imayoshi scored beating Izuki in the duel and turned around with a smirk and a quick line that Mac didn't catch but Izuki looked slightly stunned.
Taiga had the ball again and Daiki was there right away to stop him, but he passed the ball visibly stunning Daiki when Taiga passed to Hyuga who scored.
...
"Sorry!" Sakurai yelled as he shot and scored another three-pointer.
Hyuga twitched again as he glared at Sakurai who winced at the glare. He swallowed as he fell back and looked at Mac who gave him an encouraging smile.
"Apologetic mushroom," Hyuga muttered under his breath.
"That's not nice, Hyuga," Mac smiled at him.
He gave her the stink eye and she smiled more.
"Whatever," he said as he brushed his brow for sweat.
...
89-36: 29 minutes played – 3rd quarter
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Daiki scored and landed on his feet as he sighed and looked at the scoreboard before he determinedly walked to stand before Tetsuya.
His eyes looked at Taiga even as he stood in front of Tetsuya.
"This isn't your basketball, is it? The only one who can beat me is me. You have no chance of beating me on your own. Everyone should know that." Daiki said confidently as he turned his eyes to Tetsuya, "come on out, Tetsu. Let's settle this. Let's see the strength of the new light and shadow."
Mac was not sure if she were the only one who heard the bitterness in Daiki's voice, but she was sure she was the only one who heard the pain and sadness hidden in it and saw it in his eyes as he looked at Tetsuya.
Daiki turned away and after meeting Mac's eyes for a moment he looked away and turned back to the game.
...
95-36: 30 minutes played – 3rd quarter (end)
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Tetsuya came back on the court while Mac took her place on the bench like their game plan said and prepared herself for watching her team for the 4th quarter.
Tetsuya immediately took a stance and Mac grimaced as she saw that he was going to use the ignite pass after Daiki had scored and she knew they hoped to get Taiga in a position to score before her team could get back.
It was fascinating to watch Tetsuya spin and moved to send off the ignite pass it almost seemed like there was wind blowing in his air as he spun and shot his hand out with his palm out and hit the ball to make it shot quickly across the court. It was a ball hardly anyone could catch and against any other team it would have been great…but…
Daiki caught the ball with an almost bored look on his face as he stared at Tetsuya who couldn't hide his shock. Neither could the others as they stared at Daiki.
"Not even Takao could catch that pass," Riko whispered loud enough for Mac to hear her.
No, but Takao wasn't Daiki, Mac thought to herself as she watched.
"Who do you think have caught that pass the most, Tetsu?" Daiki asked.
He jumped up and when Hyuga and Mitobe jumped up to try to stop him Daiki allowed himself to fall backwards and was almost level with the floor when he shot the ball and they could only watch as it went through the hoop.
Stunned silence filled the court and the audience before cheering was heard.
...
Taiga rushed to catch up with Daiki and jumped to try to stop him from scoring, but he was too close and collided with him in the air making Daiki lose his balance and the referee to blow his whistle signalling a free throw.
But Daiki somehow managed to turn as he fell and take the shot and score another point. Despite being faulted and on the side of the basket making that shot a very difficult shot to do even without the disturbance.
Taiga swallowed as once more he was faced with the wide difference in their abilities. It was like he was slapped every other minute and it was getting harder and harder to catch up with the other boy. He felt tired and his focus was slipping, but he refused to slow down. He refused to stop playing.
Daiki looked at him again and looked away without saying anything lining up to take the free shot (no need to tell you that he scored).
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113-40: 34 minutes played – 4th quarter
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Mac could see the resignation threaten to take over Seirin and knew they were on the edge of giving up and just fall apart like so many did in front of Daiki. She clenched her hands as she kept her eyes on the game and ignored the mutterings from the players on the bench.
Tetsuya stood in front of Daiki who arched a brow at him.
"You really think you have anything to give now?" Daiki asked as he dribbled the ball. "You've lost."
Mac remained unmoving as she heard Daiki's words but kept her eyes on the two.
"That's not decided yet," Tetsuya said his voice low but it carried over the court. "The result of a match isn't 100% certain as long as no one gives up. There's always a chance as long as someone remains fighting and I will never give up."
Daiki gave him an inscrutable look and didn't say anything for a moment as he watched him. Mac smiled slightly because that was a typical Tetsuya thing to say and she was so happy to hear him say that even now.
"I will give you that," Daiki said a note of respect in his voice. "You never do give up, Tetsu."
Mac could see that Tetsuya's words had an impact on the rest of the team who seemed to pull themselves together probably not wanting the first year to have more determination than them, and seeing the fighting spirit Tetsuya showed gave them all extra boost.
Taiga smiled as well and patted Tetsuya on the head as he rushed after Daiki and tried to stop him but even as he failed Taiga squared his shoulders and continued.
It wasn't much different after that, Seirin fought with everything they had and tried their best, but Too was too strong and Daiki even stronger. He didn't let up barely letting the rest of the team do anything as he was determined to prove something.
...
154-46: 40 minutes played – 4th quarter (end of the game)
...
They had won.
Yet, Mac couldn't smile as she stared at Daiki and Tetsuya walk past each other without exchanging a look both looking serious and grim as they moved farther and farther apart and Mac was left feeling numb.
"We won!" Namamura cheered.
"Yes!"
The cheering from the bench and the arm was thrown over her shoulder shook Mac out of her thoughts slightly and she allowed a small smile to cross her face as their happiness over the victory hit her. She couldn't help but feel…empty.
They had won and she should feel happy. It was a sport and a game with a winner and a loser. It was how it was and she knew that. How well she knew that. She watched as the two teams lined up as she stood beside her coach who had a respectfully blank look on his face as he watched the proceedings as well.
Mac couldn't help but let her eyes drift to Seirin and her smile fell at their defeated yet brave looks. The ones who were the worst were Tetsuya and her cousin and Mac winced.
"You okay?" Abe asked from beside her.
Mac just nodded and Abe didn't push it even as he gave her a look of concern. She fisted her hands as she turned her eyes to Daiki once more and found him scowling at Taiga and she frowned. Just what was his problem?
...
Mac was silent in the locker room as her team celebrated the win and she didn't fault them for it because they had won. It meant that they had a perfect start on the tournament and would be their chance to make it to Inter-High was even higher.
She watched as Daiki sat with his back to her and wondered what he was thinking because he had hardly said a word at all as they walked to the locker room.
"I can't believe we won that easily," Inoue laughed making Mac glance at him with a small frown as he seemed to be really happy. "I thought they would have been a greater challenge than this since they beat Shutoku."
The others had fell silent as he spoke and Mac was barely aware of the looks that were shot to Inoue as her eyes locked on to him, but he seemed unaware of her or the others as he continued on.
"Especially that Kuroko," Inoue continued, "he really should have just given up…to be carrying on like that… Even that Kagami would…"
What he was about to say was cut short by Daiki who had stood so abruptly that no one had time to react and grabbed Inoue by the collar and almost lifted him off the floor as he roughly pushed him against the lockers.
"Ey-what-Aomine?" Inoue spluttered shocked.
"Someone who spent the entire game on the bench should shut up!" Daiki snarled.
"Aomine!" Wakamatsu yelled trying to pull Daiki off Inoue whose eyes had widened and tried to stammer something out, but nothing sensible came out as Daiki sneered at him once more and roughly pushed him away from himself and walked out of the locker room.
Mac glanced at the door as it slipped close after Daiki before looking back at Inoue who still looked ruffled and the rest of the team who was silent as if not really understanding what had just happened.
Mac sighed and Inoue looked at her and paled seemingly catching up with what he had said and about whom.
"I…um…" Inoue stuttered.
"Forget it," Mac sighed. "You don't understand and honestly, I don't think anyone here understands."
"Understand what?" Susa asked calmly as he looked at her with a serious look on his face.
"What it means for Daiki to play someone who didn't give up," Mac said as she turned around to walk out after her best friend. She had reached the door before she paused and looked over her shoulder to stare at them a fire in her eyes they had rarely seen or seen at all, "oh, and never talk about Tetsu or Taiga like that again. I don't care if you're on my team, but you'll never talk about my family like that and get away with it again. Got it?"
She didn't wait for a response before leaving. She thought she heard someone mutter a "you idiot!" as the door closed behind her.
...
Mac frowned as she was unable to find Daiki. She had walked through the hallways and the immediate surroundings, but he was nowhere to be seen and she felt a stab of annoyance that he had managed to escape her one more time. Though, she was unsure if he tried to avoid her this time or if he just wanted to get away.
Her insecurities were back again now that the match was over and she didn't need to remain focused for the match. All of it came back and it churned in her stomach making her antsy and she hated the feeling.
Also…a small spark of anger was flaring inside her as she remembered the match. While she didn't want Daiki to hold back and let anyone win or take points from him because that would be unprofessional, she didn't like the way he had acted. It was something behind it and she wanted to know why.
Even as she felt angry she also felt worried and she knew that a lot of her anger came from that worry, worried about the fact that they had yet again won so easily and worried for how he reacted after the match.
Giving up on finding him here she made her way back to the locker room and found that most of the team had left. Susa and Sakurai were the only two remaining and she spotted her and Daiki's bags there as well.
"There you are," Susa smiled rather relieved. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Mac smiled at him tightly.
He tilted his head slightly as he looked at her before he nodded seemingly accepting that he wouldn't get another answer.
"Sorry, we didn't mean to upset you!" Sakurai suddenly burst out and Mac could tell he had been wanting to say that since she entered the locker room.
"I know," Mac said. "Besides, you didn't say it."
"Sorry," Sakurai said again.
Mac just nodded as she pulled her bag over her shoulder silently apologizing to Nao for forgetting him. She grabbed Daiki's bag as well since it was more natural for her to stop by his house to drop it off.
"See you," Mac smiled at them as she turned and walked away as they repeated her parting words and she pretended not to see the worried looks in their eyes as she walked away.
...
As Mac made her way toward Daiki's house her mind spun and it shifted between worry for Taiga and Tetsuya (and the rest of Seirin in some degree) and her annoyance and worry for Daiki. It was hard to focus on one thought as several tried to take place at once.
Did Daiki purposely avoid her now?
Did Taiga hate her for winning?
Did Daiki want to see her?
Was Tetsuya alright? Did his trauma from their last year at Teiko overpower him?
Was Daiki angry with her?
Did Daiki hate her?
Had he found out that she liked him and tried to tell her that he didn't felt the same way?
And what had happened between Daiki and Taiga? Something had clearly happened and Daiki referred to it before the match, there was something there and Mac had an idea and she wasn't sure what she thought about it.
The thoughts were overpowering and she had to confront him. It was no doubt in her mind that she had to deal with it even if it scared her more than anything. She fisted her hands as it builds up inside of her and she really needed to talk to Daiki.
Nao whines softly, probably sensing her restlessness and warring thoughts.
...
"Ah, Mac," Ayano smiled when she spotted Mac outside the door and soon Mac found herself being hugged tightly. "It's been too long since you've been here."
"I know," Mac said as she pulled back and smiled at the older woman. "I'm sorry."
"Oh dear," Ayano smiled warmly and reached out to cup her face. There was something in her eyes that had Mac swallow away the sudden lump at the back of her throat. "You have nothing to be sorry about."
Mac just nodded and allowed Ayano to pull her inside and to the kitchen. Mac looked around but there didn't seem to be anyone else there and no Shiro coming running to hug her.
"The others are out visiting Takehiro's parents," Ayano smiled at her. "I'm on my way there as well."
"Oh," Mac said.
Ayano smiled again and guided Mac to the table and told her to sit down before she started to make something but Mac didn't pay attention as her eyes drifted toward where the stairs were leading up to Daiki's room. Was he home yet?
"Here you are, dear," Ayano smiled as she put down a cup of warm tea in front of her.
"Thanks," Mac said gratefully as she took the cup and took a sip as she tried to gather her thoughts.
"Daiki isn't home yet," Ayano said again seemingly knowing what she was thinking.
"Oh," Mac said again and looked down.
Ayano sat down and watched Mac silently for a moment and Mac tried to avoid looking at her because she was afraid of what the older woman would see.
"Are you alright, Mac?" Ayano asked concerned.
Mac opened her mouth to say that she was but nothing came out and she closed her mouth again. Instead, she nodded jerkily and stared at the tea.
"Well, I won't push you," Ayano said, "but I'm here if you need to talk to anyone, Mac."
Mac glanced up at her and saw the sincerity in her eyes and knew that Ayano meant it. If there was an adult Mac trusted it was her, but she couldn't find the words and it felt wrong to talk to her without even trying to speak with Daiki first.
"I think I need to try to deal with it myself first," Mac finally said looking up to meet Ayano's eyes. "But…I might come and talk to you if…if it doesn't work out."
Ayano nodded and gave her a smile again.
"Alright," Ayano nodded.
"I have Daiki's bag," Mac said and motioned toward where she had dropped it. "He left it and I couldn't find him so I decided to bring it here."
"That boy," Ayano sighed. "Thank you, Mac."
Mac shifted a little in her chair as she looked around not really knowing what to do. She should go home, but…Taiga would be there and she wasn't sure he would welcome seeing her right now. He would need some time to recover before seeing her and having to deal with her, and she didn't want to push him. She tried her best to ignore the voice in her mind that said she was just avoiding having to see his fear, his disgust… she knew that seeing that from him would break her heart.
"You can stay here for the night if you want, Mac," Ayano said as if reading her (again) and making Mac look at her surprised. "Or come with me. They would be happy to see you again."
"I can't," Mac shook her head, "but I might stay here for a little while. Perhaps talk to Daiki before I go back."
Ayano nodded and got up. "If you're sure."
Mac smiled and nodded.
...
Ayano had left and Mac was alone in the house and it was the first time in a very long time that she was alone here. It felt both strange and natural to her as she settled on the coach. Nao had settled in a chair nearby and was resting his head on his paws, but his eyes were watching her.
Mac was not sure how long she had been there before the door opened and she heard familiar footsteps stepping into the house and the door closing behind him. She got up and swallowed as her mouth went dry for some reason and her heart seemed to be beating harder.
Soon Daiki entered the living room and stopped abruptly when he saw her. For a moment she thought he was going to turn around and leave but then he sighed and seemed to tense as he took a step further into the room.
"Kenzie," his voice was tense and controlled. "I didn't know you would be here."
Mac shrugged, "you forgot your bag and Ayano told me that I could stay for a while."
Daiki stared at her. His gaze was intense and Mac wasn't sure what he was looking for or if he even knew, but she felt the magnetic force from his eyes and she forced her mind to focus as she knew that this was it. This was the time for her to confront him.
"What was that today?" Mac asked bluntly.
"What was what?" Daiki decided to play it off like it was nothing, but Mac could see the nerves in his eyes. He was worried.
"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about," Mac said. "The way you acted around Taiga and Tetsu to a degree."
Daiki looked at her for a moment and his hands clenched.
"You're the one who says to not slack off," Daiki said.
Mac almost rolled her eyes, but she didn't and she didn't look away from him so she didn't miss the small blush or the way his eyes shifted and tried to find something else to look at. It was clear for Mac that he felt uncomfortable and was worried about something. What he was worried about Mac couldn't tell.
She inhaled deeply.
"I know what I said," Mac looked at him calmly but she felt her temper start to rise the more he tried to avoid the topic and she couldn't help the fear she felt as she watched him. "I just don't know why you decided to do what you did and act the way you did…You deliberately pushed and taunted them and I would have thought that Tetsu would be enough to have you at least show a little respect."
She saw the flash of pain in his eyes before it was gone.
"Then I guess you thought wrong about me," Daiki said.
Mac swallowed.
"I guess I did," she whispered.
He glanced at her before turning away and his back was to her and she couldn't see his face anymore, but she could practically feel the tension roll off him in waves. But she had seen enough before he turned away, his eyes had shown hurt and longing, but he refused to say it.
Had they really drifted so far apart that they couldn't even be in the same room and have a conversation anymore? Had she pushed him away with her feelings? Had…
She shut her mind off as she reminded herself that she wanted to get an answer from him and would not let him dismiss this and act like it was nothing because she couldn't go on like this and she knew that if she and Daiki was going to make it through this she needed to be honest and they needed to talk.
"Tell me one thing, Daiki," Mac said her voice much calmer than she felt and she could barely hear her thoughts over the thundering heartbeats in her ears. "I have a suspicion, but I don't want to jump to conclusions without talking to you… Did you play with Taiga before today?"
The way Daiki flinched and then stilled was enough of an answer and Mac felt disappointed, angry and hurt for some reason she couldn't say as she looked at him.
"Did you?" she pressed needing to hear him say it even if she knew. She knew.
"Yes," Daiki said.
"Why?! He was injured!" Mac snapped at him. "He shouldn't have been playing! You're the reason he played when he was supposed to be resting! You know better than that, Daiki! Why…!"
Daiki spun around and glared at her, but she could see the hurt in his eyes as well.
"Why do you care so much?!" Daiki snapped out. "He's not worth your attention!"
Mac blinked shocked at him, but she was angry and upset. All the feelings she had been holding back was bursting out and she couldn't stop herself.
"He's my cousin! Of course, I care!" Mac yelled. "He's a good basketball player and he's a good cousin! He cares about me! Don't ask me why I care! You know perfectly well why I care! Daiki!"
Daiki clenched his hands.
"No, I don't!" Daiki denied. "I don't know why you care so much about him and not only him, but the rest of that team as well! I don't know why you think Seirin is such a good team! It's just because of him and he already hurt you! And you're going back to him? After everything, he did to you? After making you cry and hurt you?! I don't care if you think I did wrong, because they all deserved it. You shouldn't pay them any more attention since they don't deserve you!"
Mac tried to make sense of what he was saying because now he wasn't just talking about Taiga…
"Who are you talking about?"
"Kiyoshi," Daiki snapped and glared at her, "don't pretend you don't know. Don't pretend you don't understand what I'm talking about, Kenzie. You're hanging out with him again like he didn't hurt you or made you cry!"
Mac gaped at him for a moment before she closed her mouth and stared at him. He looked upset and angry, but also…hurt. Something inside of her softened and she felt her anger fade. Why couldn't she keep a hold of her anger when it came to Daiki? A look and she would soften. It wasn't fair, she thought as she felt like pouting and resisting.
"Why do you care about that, Daiki?" Mac whispered.
"What?" he looked like she had hit him.
"Why do you care?" Mac asked again and turned her eyes to him.
His eyes darkened and he gritted his teeth, but she didn't wait for him to say anything.
"You have been avoiding me," Mac said unable to hide the hurt she had been feeling. "What have I done to make you avoid me? Don't you want to be my friend anymore, Daiki? What did I do? I…"
Her words were cut off as she suddenly was kissed and pulled closer in the same motion and she could only blink as the pressure of Daiki's chapped yet soft lips pushed against hers. Warmth, shock, elation, confusion, happiness, and so much more went through her as she realised that Daiki was kissing her.
He pulled back when she failed to respond and she could see the uncertainty and fear in his deep blue eyes, had they always been that blue? as he stared at her.
Her mind had short circuit as she blinked at him and she raised a hand to her lips and touched them gingerly feeling the lingering warmth from his lips against hers, the echo of a kiss and her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest as she stared wide-eyed up at him. He really was taller than her…
He backed away and looked so impossibly younger and lost as he stared at her his cheeks red.
"I…um…" Daiki stumbled in his words and he looked conflicted.
He turned and fled the room before Mac could catch up to him and figure out how to get her body to function again. Not to mention her brain as it seemed stuck.
The sound of a door closing snapped her out of it and she blinked.
He had kissed her.
He kissed her.
She licked her lips and imagined they tasted like him, the thought had her blush and she sank down on the floor not caring that she wasn't near a chair. What now?
...
Stupid, stupid, stupid, that was all Daiki thought as he closed the door and sank down with his back pressed to the door. He fisted his hands as he refrained from getting up and going downstairs to see her, to just see that she was alright.
He hadn't meant to kiss her. He hadn't meant for him to lose control and actually kiss her. He had just…lost it when she looked so sad and vulnerable and looked at him like that… he hadn't thought, he had just acted and without knowing it kissed her.
He had ruined it. He knew he had. He was so stupid!
He knew he had been avoiding her, but that was because he had been worried he would do something like this if he didn't and he never wanted to hurt her or scare her. He didn't want to lose her, so he thought his best choice was to avoid her.
Not forever, just until he got control over his stupid traitorous desires and hormones until he could control it and keep his feelings for her under control. He had realised that he liked her more than just his best friend, she was more precious than that.
And now he had hurt her even worse than Kiyoshi had. He flinched at the thought.
Her face, her voice, her smell, everything about her filled his mind like it had for the last weeks and probably much longer if Daiki would be honest with himself. It made thinking difficult, but he had to think and had to figure out how to fix this mess he had gotten himself in.
Was she angry at him? Did she fear him now?
Even if it was wrong of him he couldn't help but marvel over how soft and…and utterly perfect her lips had felt against his, how they had moved against his even if she hadn't responded properly to his kiss.
The fact that she had blushed and not actually pushed him away did make him hope that maybe he had a chance to win her over, but it didn't change the fact that he had kissed her when she hadn't expected it and he had no idea how she felt about him.
...
"Daiki!"
Mac knocked on the door to his room as she had gathered her thoughts and managed to get herself moving to find her missing friend.
There was no response from inside of the room and she sighed as she felt slightly annoyed at the door hiding him from her.
"Come on, Daiki! Open the door!" Mac called.
She heard a noise and it sounded like it was coming from right inside the door and she guessed he was sitting there and was now getting up. She waited for a moment and then the door was opened and she could see him again.
He looked…so scared that Mac instantly felt for him and she almost reached out but she held herself back as she stared at him. The kiss flashed in her mind and she swallowed.
She had to get answers and she had to get them now. This was just getting more and more out of control and her need to find out what this meant was driving her crazy.
"Why did you kiss me, Daiki?" Mac asked deciding to be blunt.
Daiki looked down and mumbled something, but Mac couldn't hear what it was.
"I didn't catch that," Mac said.
He looked up again and he swallowed visibly as he met her eyes.
"I couldn't stop myself," he whispered.
She looked at him and sighed; she took a step closer to him and saw how his eyes widened as she came closer.
"I think I need to tell you something," Mac said steeling herself even if she had a suspicion that her feelings were returned now, he had kissed her after all, but it didn't mean that he wanted to be with her the way she wanted him to. "And I need to ask you something and I want you to answer me honestly and not thinking about hurting my feelings or anything like that, ok?"
Daiki frowned slightly but he nodded.
"I like you, Daiki," she said clearly and a small smile crossed her lips and Daiki felt his breath catch as he had never seen her look more beautiful. "I like you as more than just my best friend, and I have for a long time. Longer than I think I could say, but that's the fact. I like you and I want to be with you."
She smiled at him and he couldn't look away even if he wanted to.
"Now, my question for you is," Mac didn't hesitate as she took a step closer still, "do you like me, Daiki?"
Daiki inhaled and felt his throat contract as he tried to speak as he looked into her green eyes that seemed even more enchanting than before and he swallowed.
"Yes," he said, "I like you, Kenzie."
Mac smiled then and before Daiki could say anything in return she reached up and grabbed him by the neck and yanked him down before her lips were on his and she was kissing him with more intensity than the last one.
He made a half-moaning, half-strangled sound as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer as he answered her kiss and almost moaned again as he felt her warm body pressed against his and how perfect she fit into his arms.
Mac smiled into the kiss as she felt him take over and held her close, she could feel the heat from his body and his hands that was stroking her back as he kissed her back.
Finally she pulled away and exhaled slightly as he rested his forehead against her own as he held her close and she smiled at him and got the most beautiful smile back.
But then she smacked the back of his head making him startle and give her a wide-eyed look but didn't let go of her and she nuzzled into his chest.
"That was for running away after kissing me," she mumbled.
She could both feel and hear him chuckle as he held her close. She sighed contently even knowing that they still had things to talk about, that there were issues they needed to clear up but right now, right at this moment here in his arms like she had longed to be for so long, she felt happy. She felt content and safe. It felt right.
...
...
AN: Soo...what do you think? :)
They kissed! Yay. It only took about 60 chapters... ;) They still have some talking to do, but for right now they are content. I have to admit that I'm rather nervous to learn what you think, I know it has been a slow (very slow) build-up to this point and I hope that I managed to make it believable and that you liked it. I didn't want to drag it out any longer, but also worry that it is too fast because I got too impatient... As you can probably tell, I have had a lot of trouble trying to do this right.
Also, about the match between Too and Seirin: There are some changes from canon because I tried to take into account that Mac was there and affecting the result, also Daiki is at this point stronger than Taiga. Also, Taiga needed the wakeup call to just how good Daiki (and in some degree Mac) is because he and the rest of Seirin have been lulled into a fake belief that they can match the best by beating Kise and Midorima. I also had Daiki join the match from the beginning because he was jealous and wanted to prove to Mac that he was better.
If you have questions or anything feel free to leave me a comment and I'll do my best to answer :) Otherwise, I would love to hear from you about what you think about the chapter!
Thank you for your support and for reading my story! XD