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

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1st year – Too Academy

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Mac was as confused as anyone else in the classroom when a tall woman with dark hair pulled back into a tight bun at the back of her head and square glasses with a dark frame entered the classroom. She was dressed in a dark skirt that reached her knees and a white shirt and a dark blazer, and Mac thought she looked like she was about to enter a business meeting or something.

She glanced back at Daiki who was (surprise, surprise) yawning but she saw the confused look in his eyes as well as he met her eyes.

"Good morning, class," the woman said formally. "I'm Nishimura Tomoko and I'm your new teacher."

Mac heard the surprised gasp go over the class as they all seemed to look at the woman with new interest.

"What about Tuskuda-sensei?" Ito asked.

The woman turned her eyes to her and Mac noticed that Ito seemed to squirm slightly in her seat. But it was a good question.

"There as several reasons for why Tuskuda-sensei won't be teaching this class anymore," Nishimura said. "He is taking some personal time, and that is all you need to know."

Personal time? Well, that sounded like a crap excuse and Mac had a bad feeling she knew just why they had suddenly a new teacher. She wasn't sure she liked it. While she didn't exactly like Tuskuda she knew where she had him and how to deal with him. This…well, she wasn't so sure.

Nishimura let her eyes scan the class and Mac noticed how she did so and was it her imagination or did Nishimura's eyes linger on her for longer than the rest?

"Well, let's get started," Nishimura said. "First I want you all to form a line and then come and draw a number out of this bowl."

Mac suddenly noticed a bowl on the desk in front of the room and she wondered what the new teacher was up to.

"The number signals a desk and you will be seating on that desk for the remaining of this term," Nishimura said. "Or for as long as I decide before we change again. I will not hear anyone complain about the new seating arrangements. Any complaints will be met with detention. You got it?"

Mac had tensed and she could hear Daiki groan quietly behind her. Seriously? They had to change seats? That was… not good.

Nishimura had walked to the blackboard and pulled one down and Mac could now see the classroom drawn up and the desks had numbers and it was clear that it was to help them know what desk they were going to be changing too.

No one had moved and Nishimura arched a brow when she turned and saw that everyone still sat in their seats.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" Nishimura asked impatiently.

Mac got up and dragged Daiki to his feet as well and she couldn't help but feel like she was being watched as she did so and glanced over her shoulder and saw the dark eyes of Nishimura watching her. Mac frowned but looked away.

"Come on, Daiki," Mac said.

"This is stupid," he muttered.

Mac didn't say anything but she agreed. They moved forward and eventually it was her turn to pick a number from the bowl, it was almost empty by now. She picked one and stepped to the side to open it.

8.

She glanced at the blackboard and the desks drawn on it and saw that it was the desk on the other side of the room (farthest away from the window) and on the second row from the blackboard. She saw that there was another desk on her right side closest to the wall meaning that she was in the middle of two desks.

She felt a mild panic rise inside of her and did her best to push it back. She would be surrounded by people on all sides and not even have the window that offered some openness and feeling of light in. She glanced at Daiki and saw him scowling. When he felt her looking he held up his number and saw the number '21' written on his piece of paper.

Daiki wouldn't even be close to her… she fisted her hands feeling the piece of paper curl in one hand but she didn't care.

"Everyone has a number?" Nishimura asked.

Mac remained quiet as the class murmured agreements.

"Then take your things and move to your new desk," Nishimura ordered.

Mac considered protesting but knew it was futile. She noticed Daiki scowling and also glancing at her with concern but she knew there was little he could do as well. She tried to smile at him and he frowned probably seeing through her façade.

"This is so stupid," he muttered again.

"Did you say something, Aomine-san?" Nishimura asked.

Daiki scowled at her and opened his mouth to speak but Mac put a hand on his arm and he closed his mouth again.

"No," he said.

"Good, now go and do as you were told," Nishimura said.

...

Mac sat down with a sigh and immediately noticed someone watching her. She looked up and to her side and saw Miyamoto Kouji staring at her. She had never really talked much with him before but now it seemed like he would be sitting next to her.

"Hey!" He said.

"Hey," Mac answered.

"Hey!" Another voice said and she looked to her other side and saw Nakano looking at her with a small smile and slightly nervous.

"Hey," Mac said again.

Mac felt both of them looking at her and she wished they would stop. She turned her attention back to her desk and the book she had just placed on it. She hoped that Nishimura would start the lesson soon.

Luckily Nishimura did start the lesson then and Mac could pretend that she wasn't for the first time since she had started school in Japan not seated near Daiki.

…maybe she did have a dependency issue?

...

The day went slowly. Mac had not met a teacher she disliked more than Nishimura, but at the same time, she was a good teacher. It was annoying to know that but at the same time really disliking her because she was always there. Even during breaks.

When the day finally was over Mac couldn't help but let out a relieved breath at finally being out and away from the teacher's searching and judging eyes. She had no idea what Nishimura was up to but Mac was not sure she liked it. Or, she was pretty sure she didn't like it. She didn't like the feeling of being studied like she was now.

"So, do you want to go and watch Seirin's match against Senshinkan tomorrow?" Mac asked Daiki as she did her best to push the thought of their new teacher out of her mind.

"Nah," Daiki yawned. "It's not interesting."

"You know it's one of the three kings," Mac said.

"So? The title means nothing," Daiki shrugged. "You know that better than anyone, Kenzie."

Mac nodded because she did but she had hoped to catch Daiki's interest that way, though she should have known he wouldn't be interested.

"If there's anything worth watching it is Tetsu and Midorima's match," Daiki said.

Mac glanced at him.

"You're so sure they will meet?" she asked.

"Seirin will win against Senshinkan," Daiki said. "It's easy to say because of their performance."

Mac arched a brow but smiled slightly.

"Tetsu would be happy to know that you have faith in his team," Mac said.

Daiki huffed and looked away making Mac laugh softly.

"Anyway, what's up with the new teacher?" Daiki said changing the subject. "She's got trust issues."

"Trust issues?" Mac blinked.

"Staying in the classroom even during breaks," Daiki said. "It's like she can't even trust us to be on our own even during breaks…and the way she kept looking at you…"

Mac looked away and fisted her hands, even Daiki had noticed how the new teacher had looked at her.

"I don't know what her problem is," Mac said.

"She's crazy," Daiki scowled.

"You shouldn't talk about our teacher like that," Mac said but her lips twitched slightly.

"Whatever," Daiki muttered.

...

Mac entered the apartment and could hear someone move around in the kitchen as she did. She guessed it was her uncle who had remained home longer this time around and she knew it was because of her. She felt bad for keeping him from his work (well he worked but not travelling) just because of her issues. She had tried to tell him that she was fine and that he didn't need to worry, but he had just smiled and told her that it was fine and that he didn't mind.

"Welcome back, Mac," Tarou said entering the hallway.

"Hey;" she smiled. "You're home early."

He smiled and she noticed him stretch his fingers slightly as he nodded.

"Dinner is ready," Tarou said.

"Okay, I'll just have to wash my hands," Mac said.

She let Nao out of the bag and he yapped affectionately at her before he jumped onto her bed and curled up to sleep.

"You've spent too much time around Daiki," Mac told Nao. "You're both lazy."

Nao just turned his head away leaving Mac to roll her eyes before she walked to the bathroom to wash her hands before dinner. When she entered the kitchen she noticed that only her uncle was there and it was only set for two.

"Where's Taiga?" Mac asked.

"He's out with a friend," Tarou said. "He said he would be eating with them."

"Oh," Mac said. "Okay."

They ate in silence for a while and Mac wondered why her uncle seemed nervous. He glanced at her and looked like he wanted to say something but kept back. Come to think about it, he had been doing that for days.

"How was your day?" Tarou finally asked.

"Weird," Mac said.

"Oh?"

"We got a new teacher," Mac said and noticed that Tarou didn't seem very surprised.

"You knew?" Mac frowned.

"I knew they would do something," Tarou admitted.

"But…"

"Mac," Tarou said interrupting her. "Your teacher has a responsibility when it comes to your safety. I did not like how your teacher handled your situation with Fujimoto."

Mac knew that, but still…

"I told the school that I was not happy about it and that I expected them to do something to make sure that this wouldn't happen again," Tarou said. "Fujimoto is coming back soon and I need to know that there is a teacher that has the strengths, and the will to act if something happens."

Mac looked at him. She saw that he was completely serious and looked a little pleading as he watched her.

"Did you not like the new teacher?" Tarou asked.

"She's…different," Mac said. "She had us change seats."

Mac hated that. She hated how unsettled it made her feel, but she knew it was unreasonable and that others would think she was weak or childish if she complained about it just because she wasn't close to Daiki anymore. But they didn't know how safe he made her feel, they didn't understand that.

"But it's only been a day," Mac added and shrugged not looking at her uncle.

Tarou looked pensive as he watched her.

"I see," he said.

...

Mac helped with the dishes and cleaning up after dinner and when she was done she wasn't surprised to be met with her uncle asking to talk.

"Okay," she said and followed him to the living room. She smiled when Nao came running into the room and jumping up in her lap. She allowed a hand to absentmindedly start to pet him as she waited for her uncle to start talking.

"Is something wrong, uncle Tarou?" Mac finally broke the silence when she couldn't take the silence anymore or the nervous ticks her uncle betrayed.

He smiled slightly and shook his head.

"I just wanted to ask you how you are doing after everything," Tarou said surprising Mac slightly.

She tensed and looked away from him feeling how her nails dug into her palms as she fisted her hands. Nao made a soft sound calming her down.

"I'm fine," she said.

He was watching her (and she was getting tired of being watched all the time – she wasn't going to break!) and didn't say anything for a moment before he sighed and seemed to steel himself for something before he spoke.

"I don't think that's the case."

Mac turned wide eyes at him and opened her mouth to protest but he held up a hand to stop her and she closed her mouth again almost unwillingly as she bit the denial, the protest back.

"Just listen to me for a moment, Mac," he almost pleaded and his eyes were wide and honest but she frowned slightly as she gave a tight nod. "I want to apologize to you."

"What?" Mac asked shocked.

"I think I have forgotten that you are not invincible, Mac," Tarou said. "I am sorry you feel like you have to be strong all the time and that I haven't been able to make it clear that you can come to me with your problems."

Mac stared at him trying to figure out what he was trying to say and where he was going with this. She had no idea what to say to this either.

"I want you to understand that I care for you, Mac," Tarou said and leaned forward slightly so he got even closer to her. "I really do and think that you are an amazing girl. I…I talked with Ayano and Takehiro and they care about you too, you are so important to all of us, Mac."

Mac swallowed trying to keep her emotions back as she stared wide-eyed at her uncle.

"We only want what's best for you," he continued. "So, we think that you might need more help than we are able to give you, than I am able to give you."

Mac froze now. What was he trying to say…?

"What?" she managed to get out.

"You had a panic attack, Mac," Tarou pointed out.

"I know," she frowned. I was there, but she managed to keep it back. Barely.

"That's normally a sign for needing help," Tarou said.

"It happened once!" Mac protested. "I'm fine! I don't need…"

"You're not fine, Mac," Tarou interrupted her and she stopped talking out of shock. She had not expected him to actually tell her so bluntly. "Talking with a therapist, someone who knows about these kinds of things isn't a bad thing."

"It's not like I can," Mac muttered. "Magic and all that, or have you forgotten that?"

She couldn't help the slightly sarcastic tone in her voice and she couldn't even feel guilty for using it, but all she could think was that she couldn't see a therapist. She just couldn't.

"I hadn't forgotten," Tarou said calmly. "I've talked with Professor Sato and he has recommended a therapist he knows, she's a witch so you are free to talk about that part of you as well."

Mac flinched. Even her professor knew…? And Ayano and Takehiro…she couldn't help but feel betrayed.

"I'm fine," Mac said angrily. "I don't need to talk to someone!"

"We all forget that you have had a difficult childhood and that you've experienced things no children should," Tarou said not bothered by her anger. "You are handling everything surprisingly well, but that doesn't mean that you're fine, Mac. And there's nothing wrong with that, we don't expect you to be perfect."

Mac got to her feet and curled Nao closer to her as she turned her back to Tarou. She felt tense and she could feel the tension in her neck and her shoulders.

"I'm not going to talk to a therapist!" Mac said. "I don't need it!"

"Mac…"

"You have no right!" Mac snapped. "You don't know anything! I…I have handled it my entire life. I'm fine! You…none of you…you don't know anything!"

She turned and glared at her uncle who looked at her with a worried look but she didn't care. If he was worried he wouldn't be doing this! He wouldn't be talking about therapist making her… No.

"Mac," he said again and got to his feet.

Mac shook her head and glared at him feeling hurt and betrayed. She had thought he understood…She couldn't be here right now. She needed to get out. She needed to get some air. It was so closed off in her.

Nao yapped and snuggled into her chest as she moved. She ignored her uncle calling her name as she left the apartment. She knew she probably shouldn't leave like this, but she had to. Before she said something she shouldn't.

...

Mac wasn't sure where to go. She considered going to Daiki but the thought that Ayano and Takehiro also supported her uncle saying that she needed to talk to a therapist... well, it had her staying away. She ended up walking aimlessly around as her mind went over the last hour over and over.

Nao was snuggled in her arms and made soft sounds that calmed her down some. She didn't need to talk to anyone. She was fine. Really, she was. Well, she had had a panic attack. But that didn't mean that she needed to talk to someone. She had talked to Daiki!

What did her uncle know? He didn't know anything. No one really did, and she wasn't going to talk about it. It would do no good for anyone for her to talk about it. How would it help? Why did she have to…No, she didn't want to remember. And if she had to talk about it then she had to remember.

But don't you already remember?

The small voice in her head whispered making her frown. She thought about the dreams bordering on nightmares she'd had the last few nights, memories she had repressed coming back. She shook her head. No, she was not remembering. And she was definitely not going to talk to anyone about it.

Had her uncle gotten tired of her? Was he looking for a reason to get rid of her? Was that why he had said he wanted her to talk to someone? Maybe he thought she wasn't good enough anymore, that she was too broken and weak to be his niece. She could feel her palms getting sweaty and fear gripped her as the panic thoughts hit her all at once.

She completely forgot the way he had told her that he had said he cared.

Eventually, she ended up in front of Daiki's house even if she had decided to stay away from it. She stared at the house and remembered the day she had come there upset, hurt and drenched from the rain. She still didn't remember how she had ended up there that day but the knowledge that she would be safe there was enough. Ayano and Takehiro had been the only two adults she had trusted or at least somewhat trusted.

And they agree with uncle Tarou. They think you need to talk to someone. That you're weak.

She hated the idea of them thinking that, she wasn't weak. She didn't need anyone. Well, she needed Daiki and her friends, but other than that she didn't need anyone.

Oh? What about your uncle Tarou? Taiga? Ayano? Takehiro? Shiro? Sayuri? You don't need them?

That annoying voice in her head asked and she scowled. She didn't…even she heard the lie in her thoughts but she ignored it for now.

...

Tarou was beating himself up. The talk with Mac had not gone well. Not at all. He had known she would probably not react very well, but he had hoped that he had found a way to talk to her about it that would be helpful and not cause…well, this. She had left.

She would be back, he didn't doubt that. And he did tell himself that she probably did need the chance to calm down and think without him hovering over her. But he worried. She had looked…scared and upset. He hated that he had made her look like that, but she needed help. He was sure about it, and all he wanted was for her to be okay and happy.

You can't always be popular with your kid, Tarou. Sometimes you need to be the 'bad' guy in order for them to be happy and learn.

Sophia's voice sounded in his mind and he remembered her telling him that when Taiga was little and had been upset with him when he had to punish him for something (he had forgotten what) but the look of betrayal and hurt from his son had hurt more than he had thought it would. His wife had been calmer and had been more suited to handle it and had told him that.

He knew he was Mac's guardian, her uncle and while she had already been a teenager when she moved in and he got to know her she had never really needed him to put down rules and boundaries. Not like you would expect with a teenager, so this was the first time he had to be the guardian in that way.

It wasn't fun.

The sound of the door opening and closing had him back on his feet and moving toward the hallway but stopped in the door when he saw Taiga and Alex.

"Hey, dad," Taiga said with a smile. "Look who showed up."

"Hey, Alex," Tarou greeted his son's old coach. "This is a surprise."

"Hello, Kagami-san," Alex smiled. "Nice seeing you again."

"You too, Alex," Tarou said working to keep the worry and impatience out of his voice. He was really starting to get worried about Mac now.

"Um, dad, is Mac home?" Taiga asked. "I wanted her to meet Alex."

Tarou grimaced.

"She's out at the moment," Tarou said. "And I am not sure if today is…"

The door opened at that moment and Mac stepped in but froze when she saw the people standing there already. Tarou saw her eyes snap to Alex and was surprised to see the recognition and then hostile look enter her eyes.

"What's she doing here?" Mac narrowed her eyes.

"Ah," Alex said. "We meet again."

"Unfortunately," Mac snapped. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

Taiga and Tarou both looked confused as they looked from Mac to Alex. Mac was outright glaring, and Tarou was not sure if that was because of something else of because she was already in a bad mood because of their talk.

"Mac," Tarou said a small warning in his tone. "This is Alex Garcia, she's Taiga's coach from the States."

"Yeah!" Taiga said. "She's the one who taught me and Tatsuya basketball!"

Mac was tense as she glared at them and Taiga looked a little hurt but also confused when Mac just huffed and patted Nao when he growled (who Tarou just noticed in her arms) as she flipped her shoes off and moved to walk past them.

"Mac," Taiga tried.

"Talk with your friend, Taiga," Mac said. "But I have no interest in talking with her. It's getting late and we have morning practice tomorrow, so g'night."

They could only watch as Mac left them and disappeared into her room before slamming the door shut.

...

Tarou looked over at his son who was frowning after his cousin and he saw the hurt in his eyes. Tarou sighed. He knew Taiga must have looked forward to introducing Alex to Mac.

"You have met?" Tarou asked Alex who was looking pensive.

"Um, yeah," Alex said. "Yesterday."

"What?" Taiga asked. "You didn't say you had met her!"

"I didn't know she was your cousin, Taiga," Alex said. "I met her outside the arena where you played your match. She was with someone else, three boys, and she collided with me."

"That's not enough reason for her to…" Taiga frowned before his eyes widened. "You didn't!"

Tarou looked confused.

"Well," Alex said.

"Alex!" Taiga growled surprising Tarou. "I told you! You can't go around doing that to anyone you see! And at least not… No wonder why she's angry at you!"

"I didn't mean anything by it," Alex said holding up her hands.

"That doesn't matter!" Taiga said annoyed and cast a worried look toward the room Mac was in. "Great. Just great."

"I'll apologize," Alex said.

"That's probably not going to help much," Taiga muttered.

"What's going on?" Tarou interrupted, tired of feeling confused and having a bad feeling about this. "Alex?"

Alex did look a little worried as she looked at Tarou and Taiga looked between them with something that looked like a cross between concerned and annoyed.

"Alex has this habit of…" Taiga started before he stopped and inhaled as he glared at Alex before looking back at his dad again. "…of kissing someone she finds cute."

"What?" Tarou frowned because there was no way that Taiga meant what he thought he meant.

"Well, it's nothing," Alex said. "I'm American!"

"You kissed her?" Tarou frowned. "She's 16!"

"I didn't know that," Alex denied.

Tarou looked at his son who was scowling.

"I think perhaps you should leave," Tarou said. "This day has been rough enough and right now I don't think Mac should have to deal with you."

"I…" Alex looked apologetic and worried. "I really didn't mean anything…"

"That might be the case," Tarou said his voice a little colder than normal. "But my niece is hurting and you're not helping. I am not happy to hear this, Alex. I trusted you with my son, and…"

"Whoa! I never did anything to Taiga!" Alex denied.

"She didn't," Taiga confirmed.

"But you did kiss my 16-year-old niece," Tarou said. "And seeing that she was not pleased to see you I am not inclined to believe that it was nothing to her. You are an adult, Alex. I expect you to act like it. At least around my kids!"

Alex looked contrite as she looked down and nodded. It was not often someone could make her feel like she was a kid again and Tarou just did that.

"I really am sorry," she said. "I'll apologize to Mac as well."

"You can do that when Mac agrees to see you," Tarou said. "Not before."

Alex nodded and with a last look at Taiga she left.

...

Tarou sighed as he sank down on the chair by the kitchen table and stared at the cup of coffee. It was late for coffee, but he needed it. This day had not been a good one. He felt angry thinking about Alex, and surer that Mac really needed someone to talk to now. She kept everything to herself, and he really wished that she would open up a little.

"Dad?" Taiga sounded wary and Tarou saw him lingering in the door to the kitchen.

"What is it, son?" he asked.

"Is Mac okay?" Taiga frowned and stepped into the kitchen.

"Probably not," Tarou said. "She's had a rough day."

"What happened?" Taiga asked.

"I think she's going to be the one to tell you, Taiga," Tarou said. "Just…"

"Alex really messed up, didn't she?" Taiga asked.

"Yeah, she did," Tarou huffed.

"I really wanted them to like each other," Taiga said. "I mean…they have a lot in common, both are really good at basketball and have taught me a lot. I just…"

"You wanted them to get along," Tarou finished. "I know, and maybe they will. But you know as well as I do that Mac uses time to get to know someone and allowing anyone close. And this, well, I am afraid will put her off Alex for a while."

"I know," Taiga pouted.

Tarou smiled slightly at his son. "You should go to bed, Taiga. It's a school night."

...

Mac was staring unseeingly up at the ceiling above her bed with Nao cuddled up on her chest; he seemed to refuse to leave her at the moment and would make soft comforting noises from time to time probably picking up on her inner turmoil.

She had heard her uncle and cousin talk with Alex after she had gone to her room. She had almost turned around and left when she saw Alex inside her own home talking with her family. It looked like they knew each other and that they were close, at least Taiga and Alex. Just why would Taiga know someone like her? She had been the one to teach him basketball?

But…she had been surprised by the anger in Tarou's voice when he heard about the kiss. He had really sounded to be angry on her behalf, and…and he had claimed her as one of his kids. Something inside of her clenched and twisted almost painfully. Did her uncle really care? He had claimed to do so earlier, but…how could she believe him? How could she really believe that he cared?

For the first time, she allowed herself to think that he might actually mean it when he said he cared. He might actually really care for her, so…did that mean that he really believed that she needed to talk to someone and that he did so because he cared? She was not sure what to think about that just yet.

Her mind went over to Taiga who had looked disappointed and hurt when she had dismissed him and Alex like that and she did feel guilty (kind off, but not really). It was clear that he had wanted her to meet his old coach, and Mac had just ignored him. But, why should she have to meet her? She had kissed her without her consent! That was not okay and Mac shuddered still when she thought about it, which she tried to avoid and had been doing well in doing so. Now, she remembered that she hadn't told Daiki yet and she probably should. But she was kind of worried that Daiki would be angry at her and think that she had cheated on him, but she hadn't …had she?

...

...

AN: Sorry for the delay! I really had hoped to have this chapter ready sooner but I'm afraid real life have been getting in the way of writing the last couple of weeks. I hope that it will be a little better soon so I have more time to write. But I want to thank you for your patience (hope you're still here). XD

Now, what do you think? :) I know it's a shorter chapter than normal but it felt right to end it here, and I wanted to be able to update something for you now as well. But I must say that the talk between Mac and her uncle Tarou was DIFFICULT to write! I hope Mac's reaction was okay and that it makes sense.

And for Alex's character: I do like her and I don't plan for Mac to hold a grudge for too long. The meeting in this chapter was also bad because she was already in a bad mood and this was just too much right now. But Alex is important to Taiga so Mac will probably make an effort for his sake when she calms down somewhat. Besides, I think it's important to address the fact that kissing someone as Alex does isn't okay. And the fact that Tarou is angry at Mac's behalf and takes her side is important for Mac's growth. I needed that reaction from him in order for Mac to understand that he really cares for her. Actions are louder than words and all that ;)

Thank you for following and supporting this story! XD I really am grateful for it! And again sorry for the delay!