Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!
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1st year – Too Academy
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The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
It was the kind of awkward silence that felt so thick and unbreakable that every little movement looked out of place. The distant sounds from the restaurant outside of their private room filtered through the door and it was like a sound from another life.
At least that was what Sirius thought as he stared at the door and waited for his goddaughter to come back inside. He itched to go and look for her, to make sure that she was alright but he had a feeling that the boy across from him would not allow him to do so.
But why did he care? Why should he care that the boy would say or do? He was just a teenager and Sirius was a grown man. There was no reason for the boy to have that kind of power over him.
Narrowed heterochromatic eyes locked onto him and Sirius almost flinched because how could he know what he was thinking? It was unsettling and once more he wondered why Mac was friends with someone like that.
Mac… he hoped she was alright. He needed to find her and explain. To get her to see that he really just wanted to be in her life and get to know her. Get to know James' little girl. The thought about his best friend, his dead best friend, only urged the desperate need inside of him.
He had to…
Remus glanced at Sirius and he knew that he was very close to do something that would probably blow up in their faces and only make the situation worse. He understood better than anyone the impatient nature that was Sirius Black. Especially when it concerned Mac.
The idea of Mac had been the only thing keeping Sirius going both in Azkaban and out of it, even when he sank into his depression it was the idea of one day finding Mac that kept him from drowning completely. Remus was…worried.
Worried about what would happen if Mac really didn't want them in her life. He was worried that Sirius would completely lose it if that happened and nothing Remus could do would be enough to save the last reminder of his friends.
He withheld a sigh as he tried to push the worry away for now. But he did hope that they could make Mac see…
Just then the door opened and Mac stepped inside the room again with Daiki having an arm around her shoulders. She looked calmer even if she was a little pale and her eyes a little red like she had been crying. Remus eyed the arm around her shoulders and wondered again just what kind of relationship she and Daiki had.
...
"Are you alright, Mac?" a quiet voice asked making both Sirius and Remus jump in the seat.
"I'm alright, Tetsu," Mac said with a small barely there smile at the teal-haired boy before she sat down and looked back at Remus and Sirius.
Remus noticed the way her friends eyed her after her assurance of being alright like they didn't take her word for it and had to check for themselves. It wasn't just one of them either, but it was all of them and he was not lost to the concern they had in their eyes as they looked at her.
It was…very intense and odd.
"So," Mac said quietly. "I don't really know what to say now."
Remus looked at her and despite it being well hidden he saw the lost expression on her face.
"What can we do to make this easier for you, Mackenzie?" Remus asked leaning forward slightly.
Her brows furrowed as she looked at him for a moment.
"Easier?" she repeated.
"Yes," Remus eyed her closely. "What can we do to make you believe that we only want to get to know you?"
She inhaled before meeting his eyes.
"Nothing," she said bluntly. "There's nothing you can say to make me believe that. Words are empty. Words can lie."
Sirius leaned forward and Mac turned her eyes to him and for the first time since they had met her, Remus noticed a small frown marring her face as she looked at Sirius and something in her eyes flickered like she was trying to remember something… but then it was gone and she just looked at him blankly.
"If you give us a chance we will prove that we're not lying," Sirius pleaded. "We have so many stories to tell you about your parents, so much to show you and… We really have been looking for you for a long time…"
...
Mac felt…lost and confused. The earlier anger was gone but she could feel it stir inside of her still as she looked at the two men that were sitting in front of her and looked at her with such hopeful expressions that she almost felt like hiding because of the intensity of it.
How was she supposed to handle this?
What was she supposed to do?
Give them a chance to prove that they weren't lying. Sounded simple enough, but… it wasn't. It just wasn't. How could she just accept their words and hope for the best?
A little part of her wanted…no, she pushed it away. She wasn't going to even think it.
If they had come earlier, before the Dursley's left or even just right after they had left she might have taken the chance to listen, but now… She fisted her hands.
"I…" she stopped at a loss on how to continue.
"Mackenzie," Sirius' voice was pleading, hopeful…so hopeful… but she only felt…tired.
"No," she said almost desperately. "No, no, no…"
"Kenzie," Daiki's voice was close and she felt some of the fog of confusion leave her as she looked up and met his deep blue eyes. "Deep breath."
"I think this is enough for now," Seijuro said and scraping of chairs suggested that he had stood up. "Mac is tired and overwhelmed."
"But…" Sirius protested but Remus held out a hand to stop him.
"I think that might be a good idea," Remus agreed. "We will let you think and get used to the thought, Mackenzie."
Mac glanced over at him and the eyes that met his was tired and seemed suddenly impossibly older than they should be.
"I just want to say that I'm sorry we weren't in your life before," Remus said holding her eyes with his. "I'm really and truly sorry for not being there, one day I hope you will allow us to explain the reasons for why. I won't go into it now before you are ready and open to listening, but know this; we never forgot you. We always thought about you and loved you."
Mac flinched back and her eyes went wide before a burst of anger spread through her again.
"Lies," she snapped. "Stop lying to me. It's not me you want. It's not me you really are looking for! It's the link to my parents you seek! Stop trying to make it sound like you really want me!"
She glared at the two stunned men before she turned and fled the room once more and Daiki followed behind her with a last glare at them.
...
"I told you not to upset her," Seijuro said coldly.
"We never meant to upset her," Remus said warily as he looked at the teenager in front of him. He was the only one left in the room as the others had followed after Mac.
"I don't care," Seijuro said. "I don't care about anything but Mac and her happiness."
"Why doesn't she believe us?" Sirius asked desperately.
"Why should she?" Seijuro arched a brow at him. "You've shown no proof that you mean what you say nor in fact have you shown proof that you are who you say you are for that matter."
Remus looked thoughtfully at Seijuro even as Sirius glared but he didn't say anything.
"Stay away from her for a while and don't tell anyone where she is," Seijuro said. "If more of you come here and corner her she will never open up to you and I will put everything I have into keeping you away from her by any legal means I have access to."
With the last warning he left the room.
...
Mac stared out into the air thinking and well, brooding. Everything that had happened, been said at the meeting with Remus and Sirius went through her mind and she cringed as she thought about it. The uncertainty about it all still weighed on her and she really was not sure what to do or even what to think. Then there was the anger that was still there and threatening to burst out at any moment as well.
All in all, she was just so tired.
"Kenzie," Daiki called her name and again he brought her back to reality and she realised that she was in his living room and she could hear Shiro and Sayuri from the kitchen directly behind her. She was home.
Daiki had insisted that she come home with him after they had said goodbye to their friends. She had protested at first, but had ended up giving in as he kept insisting and honestly? She didn't really want to go home and be alone right now. Well, Taiga might be home or he might not. Anyway, she wasn't really up to explaining the situation to him just yet but she knew she had to do it soon.
Would her uncle be mad at her for being rude to adults? Would he think that they had a right to know her like they seemed to think? Would he and Taiga hope that she left with them?
"Kenzie," Daiki said again. "You're letting your mind wander again. Come on. Focus on the television. The point is to distract yourself from your thoughts."
"That's not so easy, Daiki," Mac whispered.
"I know but try," he said and she felt him press his lips to her temple and she felt warm and melted against him in content.
"Okay," she agreed and turned her attention to the television and the crime show he had put on. She wasn't really sure which one it was but it didn't really matter. She just curled up and leaned against Daiki smiling slightly as his arm went around her shoulder and pulled her closer to his side.
...
"I just need to finish one more and then I'm done!" Shiro snapped at his sister. "So stop nagging me!"
"I don't nag!" Sayuri said indignantly as she glared at Shiro.
"You do!" he glared back.
"Do not!" Sayuri argued. "I just said you should have done it earlier so you didn't have to do it now!"
"I'm not a nerd like you!" Shiro scoffed and Sayuri inhaled sharply.
Mac turned to look into the kitchen and saw the two twins glaring at each other.
"I'm not…" Sayuri said and bit down on her lower lip before she stopped and ran out of the room and into the hallway. They could hear her stomping up the stairs and slamming the door to her room shut.
Mac stared after Sayuri for a moment before she turned her eyes to Shiro who was glowering down at the homework in front of him. She sighed as she pushed herself out of the sofa and away from Daiki who was frowning slightly as well.
"I'll go and talk with Sayuri," Mac said and Daiki nodded as he looked at the door that his little sister had disappeared through.
...
Pushing away the lingering thoughts about her own drama and conflicted emotions Mac walked up the stairs and to Sayuri's bedroom. She found Sayuri sitting on her bed with her arms crossed over her chest and glaring at the door when Mac pushed it open after a knock. When Mac entered the room Sayuri blinked but then continued to glare but Mac knew it wasn't directed at her so she just walked over and sat down on the bed beside Sayuri. She leaned against the wall and stretched her legs out on the bed without saying anything.
"He's so…so…so…" Sayuri finally exploded but seemed unable to find words. "Stupid!"
Mac looked at Sayuri in silence for a moment with a soft look on her face and Sayuri looked up at her with a challenging tilt of her head.
"I wish he wasn't my brother!" She said challengingly.
Mac tilted her head almost sadly as she observed the younger girl and the stubborn look on her face but Mac wasn't blind to the hurt in her eyes or the tears that were spilling over and down her cheeks. Sayuri hurriedly wiped them off but new ones took their place faster than she could get them away.
Mac sighed softly and reached over pulling the girl into a hug and held her as she cried. Mac could feel her t-shirt getting wet but she didn't care as she stroked the girl's long hair soothingly.
"It's alright," Mac murmured soothingly. "You don't mean that."
"Maybe not," Sayuri mumbled against Mac's shoulder her words muffled but Mac could make them out. "But he still is stupid."
"I have the impression that brothers often are," Mac said pulling back slightly so she could look at Sayuri's face. "What's this really about, Sayuri?"
Sayuri sniffed and Mac grabbed a tissue from the bedside table and wiped the tears away as she waited for the girl to speak. She knew that Sayuri wouldn't talk until she was ready.
"I just want to help him!" Sayuri said looking at Mac. "But he never listens! He always just keeps going on about me being a nerd or a bookworm or…boring! Just because I don't like to play football like him or basketball like Daiki!"
Her words were coming out hurriedly like she had been keeping them inside for a long time and now they finally found a way to escape. Mac watched the girl she saw as her little sister and knew that she had probably been keeping this inside for a while. So Mac just remained silent as Sayuri kept talking.
"It's so unfair!" Sayuri continued. "Why do I have to be the only one not good at sports? Why do I have to be the one who can't play basketball or football? I'm not like Daiki-nii or Shiro! I'm just Sayuri, the one who likes to stay inside and read."
She inhaled deeply before she continued once more.
"When I try to help him with his homework he dismisses me and accuses me of nagging him. I'm not! I just know that the teacher is expecting the homework tomorrow and he's not even done yet! He postponing it and gets in trouble. I just want to help him…" Sayuri voice faded away.
Mac took a moment to think and observe the girl before she reached out and took Sayuri's hand in hers. Sayuri looked up at her questioningly.
"There is nothing wrong with you not liking sports, Sayuri," Mac said softly. "I know it must be a challenge to be in a family where so much is about sports, but no one is thinking anything less about you because you don't like it or is any good at it. You are good at your own things and I think that's amazing."
"Really?"
"Yes, really," Mac smiled at Sayuri and brushed a finger over her cheeks wiping away a stray tear as she did so. "You are smart and kind. You have such a big heart and I'm always amazed by the way you see the world and I love hearing you talk about your books and discuss what you have read. You challenge me with your reading and I love that."
Sayuri blinked and before Mac could do anything the girl had thrown herself at her and hugged her. Mac hugged her back and could feel herself warm up more and the stress from the last couple of days faded away a little more as she really felt at home once more.
...
"You shouldn't talk to Sayuri like that, Shiro," Daiki said glancing over at Shiro who scowled at him.
"It's true," Shiro muttered.
"Sayuri is only trying to help you," Daiki said looking back at the television. "You should be more grateful."
"She's just bragging that she's already had it done and how easy she finds it," Shiro said stubbornly.
Daiki glanced back at him and sighed wishing that Mac was here because she always knew what to say and he didn't. He was so not good at this stuff. What was he supposed to do with this?
"Does she make fun of you because you are good at football?" Daiki asked after a moment.
"No…" Shiro looked up and Daiki could see the questioning look in his eyes.
Daiki muted the television before he got up and walked over to Shiro and sat down on the empty chair beside him.
"Does she call you names because of your skill?" Daiki asked again.
"No," Shiro shook his head.
"Then why do you call her name because she's good at studying?" Daiki asked seriously.
Shiro looked down and frowned as he thought.
"I just feel like I'm stupid when she tells me that my answers are wrong," Shiro muttered. "So, I get mad and…"
Daiki nodded in understanding.
"I see," he said. "I too felt like that when Kenzie helped me with my homework, but I realised that Kenzie never thought I was stupid. She just thought I was lazy because I postponed it."
Shiro looked at him and then looked back at his homework.
"I don't think Sayuri is a nerd," Shiro admitted. "She's really smart and everyone in our class says so too. The teacher said that Sayuri was the best in our entire year!"
Daiki smiled and nodded.
"That's good," he said.
"But…I'm not as smart as her," Shiro said.
"That's fine too," Daiki said a little awkwardly. He really wasn't good at this… Was Mac almost done comforting Sayuri? He really wished she would come and take over here because she was so much better at this than him.
"I guess so," Shiro muttered. "I should apologize to Sayuri."
Daiki blinked before he nodded and Shiro nodded back before he went back to his homework.
...
Daiki smiled relieved when Mac accompanied by a calmer and happier Sayuri entered the living room again. Mac went over to him while Sayuri went over to Shiro who glanced up at her and they looked at each other for a moment.
"I'm sorry," Shiro said quietly. "I didn't mean it."
"It's alright," Sayuri said.
Shiro looked at her for a moment longer before he gave a tentative smile.
"Could you help me with this question?" he asked unsurely.
"You want me to help you?" Sayuri asked surprised.
"Yes, you're good at this," Shiro said nodding. "I'm not… I can't understand…"
"Okay," Sayuri nodded and sat down and started to explain while Shiro nodded and paid attention to what she was saying.
Mac smiled happily as she watched them.
"You talked to him?" Mac asked looking up at Daiki who blushed slightly and looked away from Mac.
"Um. Well. Not really?" he said.
"Not really?" Mac arched a brow.
"I said something but I don't know if it actually was any good," Daiki admitted. "I just thought about what you would say and hoped for the best."
Mac smiled and leaned up pressing a kiss to Daiki's lips before pulling back again. Daiki blinked at her confused for a moment.
"You did well," Mac smiled.
Daiki blushed slightly and rubbed the back of his head self-consciously. Mac smiled at how adorable he looked.
...
Ayano and Takehiro came home and found their kids all together in the living room watching a movie. Ayano smiled as she watched Mac curled up next to Daiki and looked to be having a good time.
"Hello kids!" Takehiro greeted.
"Hey dad," Shiro and Sayuri said without looking away from the movie.
"Hey, Takehiro-san," Mac smiled as she looked over at him and then at Ayano. "Ayano-san."
"Are you staying for dinner?" Ayano asked.
"We already ordered a pizza," Daiki said and Ayano arched a brow. "We thought you might want to take a break from cooking and thought it was a good idea."
"Alright," Ayano nodded. "It's been a while since we did that."
Daiki nodded and looked back at the movie.
Ayano let her eyes linger on Mac who had a peculiar expression on her face as her attention didn't turn back to the movie but onto the twins and Daiki. She wore a small smile that was almost wistful yet there was something else in that smile as well that Ayano couldn't read.
"Kenzie, you're missing the movie," Daiki commented and Mac chuckled and turned her eyes toward the movie.
Ayano looked at her husband and could tell that he too had caught the same thing she had and he turned considering eyes to her and shrugged a little. She wondered what was going on. She knew that Daiki had been distracted for a few days, since before they lost in the Inter-High final. So it wasn't the loss that was distracting him.
She would watch them for the rest of the evening and hopefully, she would find out what was going on.
...
Sato's house
...
Mac had thought about telling Sato about Remus and Sirius when she saw him again because she had been given days off her magic study for the last couple of days of Inter High. But as soon as she entered the office used as her classroom all thoughts of the two British wizards were pushed out of her mind as Sato went into full revision mood for her upcoming OWLs exams.
Stacks of books was now surrounding her practically hiding her where she was seated at her desk and she could barely see the blackboard that was filled with notes as well. She could barely think for all the information he wanted her to remember. She rubbed her temples as she tried to remember the transfiguration analysis of wand movements and pronunciation of spells.
Professor Sato was seated at his desk and was currently going over her essay from Charms and she tried not to look over at him to find out what he was thinking.
Two hours later he stood up and Mac felt like groaning in relief as he walked over to her. She looked up at him and rubbed her stiff neck.
"That should be enough time," he said. "Are you done?"
"Yes, professor," Mac nodded and held out her essay.
He took it and let his eyes sweep over the small stack of pages that was filled with her scribbles.
"I think we should move on to the more practical side of magic now," he said as he put the essay down at his desk. "I want to work on your Patronus again today."
Mac smiled and nodded eagerly. She really wanted to learn how to do a Patronus!
...
"Expecto Patronum!"
A bright light shot out of her wand and Mac staggered back slightly as she released the spell.
"Good work, Potter-san," Professor Sato complimented, "you almost had it."
"But it's still not complete," Mac muttered disappointed.
Professor Sato allowed a small smile to cross his lips as he watched her.
"Still, this is very well done," he said.
"Thank you," Mac said but still didn't look happy. "But you said that it would be even more difficult in front of a Dementor and if I can't even do it without one here…"
Her professor looked at her for a moment before nodded.
"That's true," he said. "But if you know the basic then you can more easily make the next step."
Mac nodded.
"But how will I know that I can handle it in front of a Dementor?" Mac asked.
Her professor looked thoughtfully at her for a moment before he nodded slowly.
"That is a valid concern," he agreed. "I will think about it and find a way to test it later. But before we do that you need to make a corporeal Patronus."
Mac nodded.
...
Too Academy
...
"I heard you lost the Inter-High final," Fujimoto sneered as she and Fukui stopped in front of Mac's desk.
Mac looked up lazily and pushed back the lingering pain from the loss. Had it really just been a couple of days since the final? It felt so much longer… She blinked as she focused back on the two girls who were sneering at her.
"Obviously," Mac deadpanned.
"I thought you were supposed to be brilliant in basketball and have plans for everything?" Fujimoto mocked. "At least that was what I thought with how Aomine-kun went on about you. I suppose he must have been mistaken…"
Mac refused to let herself be wound up by her words and just stared at her with emotionless eyes. The silence stretched and Mac yawned.
"Did you have a point? If not I would like to go back to my own thinking before class," Mac said bored. "I much prefer to continue my thoughts than to hear your pointless words."
"You…" Fujimoto fumed and stepped closer but then the door to the classroom opened and Daiki entered yawning and stretching his arms into the air as he did. He stopped when he saw Fujimoto standing in front of Mac though making a very comical figure.
Fujimoto immediately stepped back and put a smile on her face as she turned toward Daiki.
"Good morning, Aomine-kun!" she greeted him cheerfully. "I'm sorry about the loss in the final, but since you didn't play I suppose it's only to be expected."
Daiki frowned at her and looked over to Mac who rolled her eyes at him before looking away.
"It was a close game," Daiki shrugged walking over to his desk that was behind Mac's. He looked at her for a moment before looking back at Fujimoto. "Kenzie almost had it."
Mac snorted and looked at him.
"That didn't sound like you at all, Daiki," she said.
"Oh? Then who did it sound like?"
"It sounded like something like Tetsu would say," Mac grinned.
"Oy! I'm not like Tetsu," Daiki protested. "Though…"
Mac rolled her eyes and laughed.
"I'm sure you would have won if you had played, Aomine-kun," Fujimoto interrupted and smiled at Daiki who scowled back at her.
"What do you want?" he demanded.
"Eh?" Fujimoto stepped back at the hard tone in Daiki's voice.
"If you don't have anything to say then go away," Daiki said and turned his attention back to Mac who kept her face blank and watched from the corner of her eyes how Fujimoto stomped back to her desk with Fukui. Both whispering together and shooting glares over at Mac.
"Did she say something to you?" Daiki asked worriedly.
"Nah," Mac said with a shrug. "Nothing of importance."
Daiki didn't look happy but he had no time to press her about it because the teacher entered the classroom.
...
Mac found her way to Harasawa's office before they would start practice. He had asked her to come and see him. She found him looking at a whiteboard that was filled with notes and diagrams. A glance told her that it was from their last match.
"How are you feeling, Potter-san?" Harasawa asked when she entered the office and he looked at her with sharp eyes.
"I'm fine, coach," she said.
He gave her a look before he smiled slightly.
"Good," he nodded. "You have already processed the loss?"
She nodded even though she grimaced slightly.
"I will admit that it still hurts slightly to think about it," she said and looked at him, "but I'm determined to get better and stronger. We'll beat them next time."
Harasawa nodded and had an almost proud look on his face as he looked at her.
"Good to hear," he said. "I wanted to talk to you about how to proceed."
"Yes, coach;" Mac nodded and sat down when he pointed to a chair.
"Our focus now will have to be the Winter Cup," Harasawa said and Mac nodded. "How do you think the training menus look for the regulars?"
"Well, I think we could upgrade them and I have new data from the matches they have played in Inter-High," Mac said, "I haven't had a chance to put it together yet, though."
A frown marred her face as she admitted it. It was true that she hadn't had the chance to put the new training menus together yet because of everything that had been going on. Basketball had been pushed away and she felt a stab of regret because basketball was the place where she could always find solace and distraction.
"That's fine," Harasawa said and she looked at him. He didn't look angry or disappointed as he met her eyes only understanding. "I'm sure you will have it ready soon."
Mac nodded and they started to discuss some of her new data on the team and some of the thoughts Mac had on their progress and new development.
Harasawa was again stunned by the raw talent in this young girl in front of him. He had never before allowed so much of the training menus and planning for their practices and matches go to a student before, but seeing how Mac worked and the thoughts and insights behind it he couldn't help but involve her more and more.
Not that he put everything on her because she had school and he was, after all, the coach for the team. But he brought her in to discuss plans and ideas and found her a rare source of talent and inspiration. He had no trouble seeing why the coaches at Teiko had done the same.
It wasn't until Imayoshi peeked into the office that they were reminded that the practice was started and Harasawa sent Mac off to change into her practice clothes.
...
The regulars, minus Daiki, gathered around the coach who had asked them to join him before the practice started. The rest of the club was using the other half of the gym with some assistant coaches for the moment.
They were all quiet and subdued as they waited for Harasawa to start talking. The loss still lingered over them like a dark cloud and it was clear that more than one of them had not been sleeping very well.
Mac was watching them from where she was standing beside Harasawa and frowned slightly as she took in the state of the team. She couldn't help but feel a little bad about how she had completely forgotten about them as she had been sucked into her own little world of drama. How could she have forgotten about her own team?
Guilt filled her as she fisted her hands tightly as she pressed them against her thighs. She glanced at Harasawa and saw that he also observed the team with a small frown on his face. He looked at her and she bit her lower lip before she scratched her chin.
"Do you have an idea?" He asked quietly and a little curiously.
"Maybe," Mac said.
"Then do it," Harasawa said and Mac nodded but felt a little unsure as she turned her attention back to her team.
"Warm up!" She ordered and she saw the surprised looks before they looked at the coach who just stared back at them calmly. "Come on! Get at it! If you don't start in the next ten seconds I will make you run around the school until you can't move!"
Eyes widened and filled with fear as they turned and started to run toward the exit and their normal warm-up route around the gym.
Mac followed them and ran behind watching them closely.
"Oi! Wakamatsu! Keep up your speed!" Mac called when he started to lag behind and he gave her a worried look before he sped up slightly again.
"Come on! You can run faster than this!" Mac yelled. "Last round I want you all to run as fast as you can! Push yourselves!"
"Mac!"
"No way!"
"Why?"
The exclamations were loud and whiny but Mac ignored them and they all sped up.
...
Mac wiped the sweat off her forehead as she watched her team lying or sitting on the ground around her in various states of exhaustion.
"Mac, you're so mean…" Abe moaned.
"Cruel…" Inoue nodded and shot her a tired glare.
Mac rolled her eyes at them but smiled slightly feeling amused. She looked at Imayoshi and Susa who both looked better than the others. Imayoshi was smirking slightly as he took in the other's exhaustion and gave her a knowing look. Susa just smiled slightly to her.
"So a reason for you trying to kill us so soon, Mac?" Imayoshi drawled.
Mac tilted her head as she looked back at Imayoshi for a moment.
"There is a reason," Mac finally said.
"What? Punish us?" Wakamatsu cried.
"I'm sorry! It was my fault! Sorry!" Sakurai apologized and somehow managed to bow even as he was sitting on the ground.
Mac snorted amused as she looked around at her team.
"Who knew you all were such drama queens," she said and enjoyed the offended looks they threw at her. She clapped her hands together making some jump and glare at her. "Get up!"
With moans and groans, they got up and followed her inside the gym and past a very amused looking Harasawa.
...
Imayoshi watched Mac curiously and wondered what she was planning. A look at the rest of the team also showed that they had no idea either on what Mac was wanted. She walked to the large net where the basketball was gathered and picked up two balls before walking back to them.
"What do you have planned?" Wakamatsu asked warily and Imayoshi wasn't sure he disapproved of the tone in his voice because one never knew what exhausting exercises Mac would put them through.
"I want you to get in line from where I'm standing now," Mac said and indicated to the spot she was standing on a couple of meters outside the three-point line and Imayoshi blinked.
She looked at them and when no one moved she huffed.
"Hopefully today," she said. "Random order, just get in line!"
Imayoshi decided to follow her order just because he was curious and went to stand in front of her and she nodded pleased before she stepped away to stand beside him as she watched the others line up.
"We're in line," Imayoshi eyed her and she smirked lightly.
"We're playing a game," she declared.
"A game? Like this? How…" Wakamatsu started to ask confused and a little frustrated.
"Wait," Mac told him and gave him a look. "Not the kind of game you're thinking about. Have you ever heard of a game called Knock Out?"
Imayoshi frowned, thinking and couldn't remember a game called that.
"What? Like in boxing?" Inoue asked.
"I hope not," Nakano muttered to himself. "I like being conscious."
Mac heard him and repressed a smile.
"It's a kid's game in basketball," Mac said. "You never played it before?"
Imayoshi arched a brow. A kid's game? Mac seemed to see the incredulous looks from more than one of them and rolled her eyes before she started to explain.
"It's a simple game," she said. "You have a group of players in line, that's you, and you will take a shoot one at the time. When or if you make the shot, (if you miss you can run to catch the ball and get back to this spot to attempt to make the shot again), you will go back in line and wait for your next turn."
"That sounds…too easy," Imayoshi commented and Mac smirked.
"Ah," she nodded. "Of course there will be…obstacles."
"What would they be?" Abe asked.
"I will also be at the free throw line and if you miss your first shot then I will attempt to make my shot," Mac looked at them. "If I make the shot before you get back to make your second attempt (or third or whatever number) you are out. Knocked out."
"So the one remains standing at the end is the winner?" Susa summed up.
"Right," Mac nodded. "Normally you will stand by the free-throw line but I thought we should make it a little more challenging and have a little more distance."
Imayoshi looked at her for a moment before he shrugged and thought; why not? The others looked interested enough and nodded in understanding.
...
They played and it took a few minutes before they really got into the spirit of the game and yelled and cheered for each other and urged someone to hurry up to stop Mac from making the shot while they tried to get the ball again.
Abe cursed loudly when his ball bounced on the metal and away from the hoop. He ran as fast as he could to get the ball again and cheered when Mac's ball also missed the hoop. She was already on her way to get it and was luckier because her ball went toward her while his had gone the other way.
He was just back when she got ready to shot and he quickly released his shot and watched as his ball raced through the air against hers.
"Come on, come on," Abe pleaded. "Yes!"
Mac shook her head as Abe cheered and Inoue stepped up.
Harasawa watched amused from the sidelines as his team lost themselves in a child's game and seemed to get more and more worked up. He turned his eyes to Mac who was preparing to shot but had to wait when Imayoshi's ball went in and he smirked at her before going back in line.
Sakurai was next and he made it with ease. This would be easy for him. Namamura was the next one and the third to be knocked out when he missed and Mac made her shot. It was funny to see how disappointed they got when they were knocked out.
The tension that had been present in the team at the start of the practice was gone and the easy and more relaxed air was over them now and Harasawa marvelled over the fact that this was only possible because of Mac. Her way to get them to let loose was brilliant. He would not have thought that a game like this would have them forget and have fun.
...
"Well, congratulations, Sakurai," Mac smiled at the stunned looking boy who didn't seem to understand that he had won. "You won."
"I did?" he asked.
"Yeah," Mac nodded. "Your reward is that you get to pick where we go and eat."
"Eat?" Sakurai repeated and glanced around with wide eyes.
"Yes! I just decided that we should all go out to eat together," Mac said and it was true. She had just thought of it and thought it was a good idea and a way to get them to bond a little more.
"Alright," Imayoshi said when the others looked at him. He smirked lazily and looked at Sakurai. "So where do you want to go, Sakurai?"
Sakurai blushed and looked down.
"I'm sorry!" He squeaked. "I…"
"Hey, Sakurai," Mac stepped closer to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry and just tell us. It's fine."
He swallowed and nodded.
"Um, sushi?"
"Alright," Mac said. "It's a place not too far from here."
Harasawa stepped up and they fell silent as he looked at them all.
"Well done," he said and if he talked about them all or directed it toward Mac was anyone's guess. "That's it for today. Tomorrow we'll start to prepare for the Winter Cup!"
"Yes, sir!"
...
Daiki met them at the gates and he looked a little grumpy as he did but when Mac swatted his arm he rolled his eyes and his expression mellowed out some. He took his place beside her and listened to her talk with Susa.
They made their way to the Sushi place and found seats before they ordered. Mac was happy to listen to the talk fly freely around the table and the easy laughs that followed. She hoped that they would be able to do this more often.
She was unaware of the eyes of a large black dog watching her from across the street.
...
...
AN: What do you think? XD
Hope you liked it. It was difficult to figure out how I wanted to proceed with Sirius and Remus but I think I now have an idea that will work and that I like, so hopefully, the next chapter will come a little easier for me. :)
Thank you for reading and supporting the story! XD Feedback is always welcome and love to hear what you think!