Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!
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1st year - Too Academy
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Mac laughed and rolled her eyes at Daiki and Wakamatsu, who was in the middle of an eating competition. They were at a restaurant that served beef and had a competition going on who could eat the biggest portion of beef (without getting sick).
Of course, Daiki and Wakamatsu had also added the 'who-could-eat-it-the-fastest' as well. The owners were watching in mild horror but also intrigued.
"They're going to get sick," Susa sighed worriedly.
Inoue, Abe and Namamura was half-way off their chairs as they laughed so much watching Daiki and Wakamatsu.
"They can blame themselves," Mac answered Susa as she stopped laughing. "But I think Daiki is winning."
"Want to bet?" Imayoshi smirked.
Mac pursed her lips slightly as she looked at Daiki and then over at Imayoshi.
"What do you want to bet?" she asked.
"2136 yen," he said.
"All right," Mac agreed, shaking his hand.
They turned their attention back to Daiki and Wakamatsu, having all finished eating their own portions (all thought smaller portions).
Mac had to work on not feeling sick herself as she watched Daiki and Wakamatsu eating, or rather stuffing their faces. She grimaced.
"Go! GO!" Inoue cheered.
"Come on! Don't give up!" Abe called while pumping his fist in the air.
Sakurai was looking worriedly at the two, but was also smiling.
Finally, Daiki let out a loud burp and grinned as he leaned back having finished. Wakamatsu finishing just a second later.
"I'm so full…" Daiki groaned.
"Don't complain," Mac grinned and turned to Imayoshi. "Well?"
"Here," Imayoshi said and handed the money over. Mac grinned as she pocketed it, and Imayoshi laughed. "I should have known better than to bet against you."
"You really should," Mac agreed.
Susa shook his head, amused.
Daiki groaned, but his lips twitched in amusement as he watched Imayoshi hand Mac money. He didn't understand why someone would bet against Mac. She normally predicted things correctly.
"I'll beat you next time," Wakamatsu said, looking over at Daiki.
"You can try," Daiki smirked.
The owners came and cleaned up and the man grumbled a little but couldn't hide the slightly impressed look on his face.
"So? What's the price?" Imayoshi asked.
"Here," the woman said, handing over two tickets and Daiki accepted them with a thank you and a small nod.
...
"What is it?" Sakurai asked before taking a sip of his soda.
"Tickets to the fair going on by the river," Daiki said, looking at the tickets.
"Huh, I think I know where the next date will be," Imayoshi said, looking between Daiki and Mac. Mac blushed a little but didn't say anything.
"Shut up," Daiki grumbled but didn't look particularly upset.
Imayoshi smirked but said nothing else.
"I still can't believe we won," Inoue said, looking around.
"It was a fun match;" Susa agreed.
"Have we had a match that was that hard before?" Abe asked.
"Seirin was tough," Sakurai said. "Ah… sorry!"
"True," Mac said. "Every match is a challenge in their own way, but I will agree that the last two have been tough."
"And it's thanks to you we've made it," Daiki said.
Mac looked at him and he smiled at her, his eyes soft and warm.
"No, you all were the ones who did the job," Mac said.
"Don't sell yourself short, Mac," Susa said. "We know you have a lot of the credit for our wins. The way you analyse and bring us together is amazing."
"True," Imayoshi said.
Mac ducked her face, suddenly feeling shy and felt her cheeks burn.
Daiki looked at Mac and smiled again. He knew she felt uncomfortable when getting compliments, but he knew she deserved them. He liked that the others recognised the efforts and time she put into her work. He knew that without her skills at analysing and reading the match, they wouldn't have been able to win.
"Thank you," Mac said.
"Just saying it as it is," Imayoshi said. "I can't image having had a better last match!"
"Me neither," Susa agreed.
Mac frowned as she looked over at them, "right."
Daiki thought it was strange knowing that they wouldn't be a team anymore. Not like this, anyway. He had gotten used to them, and (kind of) liked them. But to think he would soon go to practice and not see them there… it was strange.
...
Mac had fun with her team and felt relaxed as she celebrated with them, but she couldn't help to feel the worry for Seijuro creep in as the evening crept up on them and it was getting darker outside. He had looked so alone where he had stood by himself after the match and hadn't really interacted with his team as they had waited for the medal ceremony.
She had wanted to talk with him longer than she had, but she wasn't sure how he would react to having her close at the time then. And it was expected that she would be with her own team to celebrate with them.
That was what she liked the least about being on different teams from her friends. She sighed as she sipped her water and let her eyes drift away from her laughing friends as she looked out of the window.
Would Seijuro be all right? Was he beating himself up because of the loss?
She pictured him sitting alone in his enormous room, no one around as he sat there, probably trying to play some shogi. It hurt to think he would be alone… or maybe his dad was around, but that wasn't necessarily a good thing.
She frowned. Would his father be angry now? She could remember Seijuro talking about his father, always expecting him to win and be the best… and from the few times she had met him he had been strict and cold. She didn't like it.
"Kenzie?" Daiki asked, and she turned to look at him. He was close beside her now and she noticed that the rest was still busy with their own talks and laughter, not paying them any attention. "What are you thinking?"
"Just worried about Seijuro," Mac admitted, knowing better than to pretend that she hadn't been distracted and thinking about something.
Daiki nodded slowly, "I'm sure he's fine."
"He's never lost before, Daiki," Mac said.
"He's a big boy, Kenzie," Daiki said. "He'll handle it."
Mac shook her head, "you don't' understand. He's expected to win at everything, and he always has. This… this isn't simple. You saw what happened when he thought he was about to lose against Murasakibara… he broke. And now…"
Mac bit down on her lip as she talked and couldn't help the concern she felt. How was Seijuro handling this loss? Daiki was looking a little concerned as well now.
Mac knew she should probably let it be, that she should allow him time to think and process things alone, but she also knew that she couldn't allow him to think that he was alone. She pulled her phone up from her pocket and saw the multiple texts from Kiyoshi, Taiga and others but she didn't read them right away deciding to look at them later. She sent off a few texts herself before she put her phone back and looked back at Daiki.
"When we are done here, come with me?" she asked.
He nodded and smiled to her before he reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it lightly.
"It will be okay," Daiki said.
She smiled and adjusted so she was closer to him and leaned in, so her head rested against his shoulder. He stilled for a second before he put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her to his side.
...
Shintaro pushed his glasses up his nose as stood quietly next to Ryota by the grocery store they had spent so much time at during their time at Teiko. Ryota had just arrived, but he wasn't as loud as he normally was as he joined him.
"You know why she asked us to come?" Ryota asked.
"No," Shintaro said.
He didn't know. He had a feeling that it had something to do with Seijuro, but he wasn't sure what. He hadn't really expected to hear from Mac today at all, having expected her to be busy with her team and Daiki. He couldn't help but feel worried though.
He told himself that he didn't care. He was only mildly curious about how Seijuro was holding up now. He knew that he was the one who knew Seijuro the best, well besides Mac of course. They had spent a lot of time together at Teiko playing Shogi. So, he had gotten to know the other boy pretty well. He knew he didn't lose at anything, so this would be his first loss and remembering how his own loss felt… he wasn't sure Seijuro knew how to deal with it.
"Ah, you're here too," Atsushi said and Shintaro looked over to see the tall centre having come up beside them. It was almost strange seeing him without his teammate following him.
"Yes," Ryota said (unnecessarily in Shintaro's opinion; it was obvious that they were in fact there). "And what is that?"
It took a moment before Shintaro realised that Ryota was talking to him and saw him looking at the item that was placed by Shintaro's feet with a thread tied to it that Shintaro used to pull the item behind him.
"My lucky item," Shintaro deadpanned.
"But… why do you have a horse on wheels?" Ryota asked.
Shintaro just sniffed and looked away.
"Hello," a quiet voice said, and Shintaro suppressed the flinch of surprise at the unexpected greeting. Ryota and Atsushi both jumped as they turned to see Tetsuya standing there as if he had been there the whole time. Maybe he had…
"Kuroko-cchi!" Ryota beamed and attached himself around Tetsuya's neck. "I've missed you!"
"You saw me earlier," Tetsuya deadpanned but didn't move to push Ryota away just yet.
Shintaro pushed at his glasses again, but felt a spark of warmth and familiarity with the scene. He was used to seeing that a lot back in the day, but now it wasn't as often anymore. He didn't miss it. Not at all… really. Okay… so maybe a little.
"You are making it harder for Kuroko-chin to breathe, Kise-chin," Atsushi said calmly as he took another handful of his crisps.
Ryota pouted but pulled back, and Tetsuya smiled a little as he nodded to Atsushi.
So, the only ones who were missing now were Mac and Daiki, Shintaro thought. Well, and Seijuro, but he wasn't sure if Mac would have contacted him now. But why had she contacted them all and asked for them to meet? /p
They stood quietly and waited. It was a little unnerving, but Shintaro had a feeling they were all thinking the same thing, all wondering what Mac wanted.
Shintaro noticed Mac and Daiki first. They were walking hand in hand toward them and a quick look at Daiki showed Shintaro that he looked tired, but he was smiling slightly as he glanced down at Mac as she said something.
Shintaro could tell when she noticed him because she smiled and waved, and he nodded back causing the others to notice them to.
...
Mac smiled when she saw her friends waiting by the grocery store. She knew they would come when she texted them, but it didn't stop her from feeling the familiar gratitude and wonder as she always did when they came just because she asked them to.
"Hey," she smiled at them.
"Mac-cchi!" Ryota cheered and hugged her. "Congratulations on your win! You were amazing!"
"Thanks," Mac said, hugging him back before Daiki pulled him away and scowled lightly at him. "It was Daiki and the others who did the work, though."
"But it was your strategy," Shintaro said stoically, pushing his glassed up.
"Mac-chin did well," Atsushi nodded and pulled her into a hug as well before pulling back and patted her head (she almost felt like she was a dog).
"Congratulations," Tetsuya said.
"Thank you," Mac said.
"Thanks," Daiki nodded.
"You played very well, Aomine," Tetsuya said, looking over at him. "With your team."
Mac hid a smile as Daiki blushed lightly and looked away uncomfortably as he muttered something about just doing what was needed to win and that it didn't mean anything. No one believed him but didn't challenge him on it.
"So, why did you ask us to come?" Ryota asked, unable to wait any longer. "And is Akashi-cchi coming?"
Mac lost her smile, and a worried look crossed her face.
"No," she shook her head. "And the reason I asked you to come is…"
...
He had lost.
You're not good enough. You needed to win. Not good enough… not good enough. Not good enough. Weak. Alone.
Seijuro sighed as he stood by the window, looking out at the garden behind the house. He had separated from his team soon after the match. They all needed to process the loss, and he could feel their accusing eyes on him. Like he had let them down. Like it was his fault.
The thoughts were spinning in his mind, but he tried to push them away. He focused on the garden outside. How much time had he spent out there playing basketball with his mum? He had almost forgotten about it until that moment during the match. Then it all came flowing back, and he remembered. He remembered everything.
"You can do it, Seijuro!" His mum cheered. "The game is simple. You have one ball and five players on each team."
"Team?" Seijuro looked up at her with wide eyes.
"Yes, and you work together to win," she said.
He blinked and stared at her for a moment, not able to really understand.
"Together? Like friends?" he asked.
"Yes, Seijuro," his mum nodded with a kind and warm smile. "Like friends. Playing together and having fun, getting stronger together and finding challenges as a team can be a great experience."
"I would like to have friends," Seijuro said, looking at the basketball in her hand. "Can I really play?"
"I will talk with your father," she promised. "You will be able to play."
Seijuro sighed as he shook the memory off. She had managed to get his father to agree to him playing, and he had loved the game from the moment he had first accepted the basketball from his mum.
He had almost forgotten that the game was his connection to her. She had been the one to introduce him to the game and the freedom he felt while playing. He could be him when he played. He wasn't the heir to the Akashi family on the court. He was just a strong basketball player that had friends and a team to rely on.
Until now… Now you lost and showed how much of a fraud you are. You're weak. You're alone. You saw how quickly they left after the match. They blame you.
Again, he pushed the thought away, shaking his head and walking over to the shogi board and sitting down. He didn't pick up any of the pieces that were still spread out on the board from the last match he had played against himself.
Everything had changed when Atsushi had challenged him back in their second year at Teiko. That was the first time he had felt like he was losing control and had seen it all slipping away. Mac, Shintaro, Atsushi… all of them. Just because he wasn't good enough.
And that was when he had made the first mistake. He had allowed the Akashi doctrine to take over and had fallen back on his father's constant demands of winning in order to remain strong. His other personality had been created then. In order to keep his friends.
He wondered if things would have been different if his mother was still alive. Would she have known what to do then? Would he have listened to her? He was sure she would have been able to keep his father back and maybe keep some of the pressure off him. But she wasn't and there was nothing he could do to change it no matter how much he wished.
He was sure his mother would have loved Mac, too. Mac was the kind of friend she had talked about right before she died.
"Seijuro… My boy," her voice was weak now. "You are a good boy."
"Mother…" he wasn't sure what to say. Don't die? But Akashi's never begged…
"Everything will be fine," she said, and her eyes never left his. "You will be fine and one day you will meet someone who will be your friend. They will be by your side and you will have fun and find a bond that will mean something to you."
"Father doesn't believe that I need any friends," Seijuro said blankly. "He says it's a weakness."
"Your father doesn't always know best no matter what he believes," his mother said. "Don't close your heart for the possibility of friends, Seijuro. It will be worth it, you'll see."
He hadn't understood what she meant, but he had remembered her words. But he found it difficult to connect with the other kids. They were all different from him, and while he was polite and could talk to them, there was always that distance. It was like he was detached from them all. Then there were the kids he encountered because of his father, and it was all so set up and businesslike that he never felt a connection with them like what his mother talked about.
Then… he met Mac and the others. Everything had changed then. They were interested in him because of the game, basketball was what connected them. At least at first. He knew a genuine bond had formed as time went on, even when they started to break apart. It was Mac who was the link that bound them together. Without her, he wasn't sure they would have kept holding on to their friendship.
But they stayed.
But will they stay now? You lost, and they know you're not strong enough anymore. You're weak.
He frowned and fisted a hand as he stared at the king on the shogi board. He wasn't weak… but he couldn't help but feel alone. The room was so large and for the first time he felt small inside of it. The silence was overpowering too…
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in," he called without looking up, expecting it to be Takashi announcing dinner or something like that.
...
"Seijuro!"
Seijuro felt his eyes widen before he looked up and stared. What…? He blinked, but the scene in front of him didn't change. In fact, someone was coming rushing toward him and he barely had time to get to his feet before he had his arms full of his best friend who was now hugging him tightly as if she thought he would disappear if she didn't.
"Mac!" Seijuro gasped. "What…? You… Why…?"
Mac pulled back, and she grinned at him even though he could see the shadows of worry hidden in her eyes as she looked at him.
"We're here to keep you company!" She declared, and her voice left no room for arguments.
He blinked feeling uncommonly bewildered and emotional. He could feel the tears sting his eyes but pushed them back and a lump in his throat as he looked over his friends who were all smiling back at him.
"You didn't have to do that," he said. "I'm fine."
She gave him an unimpressed look, and he closed his mouth.
"Don't be silly," she said, and Seijuro wondered if anyone ever dared to call him silly before. "We stopped by the grocery store we used to hang out at, remember? And bought supplies!"
"Supplies?" Seijuro asked.
"Yup!" Mac said. "I asked Takashi-san if we could use the kitchen, and he said yes."
"He let you in?" Seijuro asked.
"He did," Mac nodded. "I said we were here to check up on you."
Seijuro wondered why Takashi had let them in like that, but he pushed the thought away for now.
"Well, sit down," he said, and they went to the sofas in the middle of the room and sat down.
He was pleased when Mac sat down next to him. Daiki sat down on her other side.
...
Ryota was the one who got the conversation going, and his excitable manner loosened up the slight tension that had been in the room at first. Seijuro's smile at one of Ryota's jokes was enough to make the others relax, and the chatter continued with ease.
"It's not that bad, Kise," Seijuro smirked when Ryota whined over Tetsuya's deadpanned demand of being let go off.
"Meany!" Ryota exclaimed before he blinked and looked over at Seijuro. Seijuro just arched a brow but said nothing.
Mac laughed quietly as she watched them. She thought it sounded strange to hear Seijuro address them with their family names (though, luckily, he still called her Mac). She had gotten so used to him using their first names. She saw the others also giving Seijuro searching looks, but no one commented on it.
Mac got to her feet and Seijuro looked at her questioningly.
"I'll start making us some food," she said. "You need to eat."
Mac saw the flash of surprise and vulnerability on Seijuro's face before he masked it with a smile and nod. Had she neglected him that much lately that her offering to make him food would surprise him? Had she been so wrapped up in her own life that she had forgotten about her best friend?
As she found the kitchen and got started on the food, the thoughts whirled in her mind. While Seijuro seemed at ease now with them there, he still had this fragile note to him. She'd seen it as she had observed him, as they all had talked.
What could she do?
...
Akashi Shichiro was frowning as he entered the house. He had gotten the memo that Seijuro had lost a basketball match. He gritted his teeth as he turned toward the stairs leading up to his son's rooms. He would need to have a talk with him.
Losing was not an option. Akashi's needed to win. That was how they always had been and how it always would be. It was in their nature, and it was proof of their place in the world.
His son would need to learn that and learn that very quickly.
This was his fault, Shichiro thought. He knew that. He had allowed his son to continue with the sport despite his misgivings. He had been against Seijuro to continue playing the sport as he started High School; it was for children and not his son. His son was expected to do more than just throw a ball around on a court.
But his wife had been the one who had introduced the sport to Seijuro. Shichiro wasn't unfeeling toward his late wife. He missed her gentle but fierce presence beside him. She so often was the one who steadied his hand and told him when he went too far. But she wasn't here anymore… and now Seijuro had obligations to the business.
"Father," Seijuro said, and Shichiro looked up to find his son on the way down the stairs. His eyes guarded.
"Seijuro," Shichiro said coldly and heard the noise coming from somewhere behind Seijuro. "You have visitors?"
"My friends," Seijuro said.
Friends… Shichiro narrowed his eyes. "Come with me."
He walked back down and toward his office, knowing his son would follow behind him.
"What friends?" he asked as he slid into the chair behind the desk.
"My friends from Teiko," Seijuro said.
"You have better things to do than to entertain such friends now," Shichiro said looking over his son and saw the tension in his shoulders.
"It's fine," Seijuro said.
"And you lost," Shichiro said. "Don't think I don't know about that."
"Yes, sir," Seijuro said stiffly.
"You know our deal, Seijuro," Shichiro said.
Seijuro stiffened more, his hands clenched against his side.
"It was a close game," Seijuro said. "It was a good game."
"I agreed to let you play as long as you won," Shichiro said. "That was our deal."
Seijuro said nothing for a moment. He fought the sudden need to yell at his father but knew that it was not really a smart move. His father was stubborn and Seijuro knew that convincing him to change his mind was nearly impossible.
"I know, but…" Seijuro finally said even knowing that it was no use, but he had to try. The thought of his friends in his rooms upstairs, their smiles and laughter… he didn't want to stop playing.
"But nothing," Shichiro interrupted him sharply. "You will focus more on the work for the business and show that Akashi's are strong. Akashi's never lose, Seijuro. It's not acceptable. Being an Akashi means to be strong."
"That's bullshit!" a voice interrupted from the door.
Seijuro spun around and blinked while his father directed cold red eyes toward the door.
"This is a private conversation," Shichiro said coldly.
...
Mac knew she shouldn't eavesdrop on the conversation between Seijuro and his father, but she had been on her way to tell the others that the food was ready and get them to help her bring it up. She'd seen Seijuro enter the office with a stern-looking Shichiro and Mac had not been able to stop herself from walking over to the door. It wasn't completely closed, so she could hear what was being said inside without a problem.
As she listened, she had gotten angrier and angrier. How dare he talk to Seijuro like that?! How dare he treat his son like an employee or someone he could control?
She couldn't see Seijuro, but she knew he would have that stoic mask on, and tension would make his shoulders stiff.
This was the reason Seijuro thought he had to win at everything?
Mac hadn't felt so angry in an exceptionally long time, and she had been unable to stop herself from bursting in and interrupting the obviously private conversation. Her anger stopped all other rational thought as she glared at the man behind the desk, only thinking that this man was the reason her friend believed that they wouldn't be his friends if he lost, that he had to win to control everything! The anger she had felt toward Haizaki and Hanamiya was nothing to what she felt now.
"So what?!" She snapped back at him. "I won't stand back and listen to you being a jerk to your own son!"
"Mac…" Seijuro started, but she ignored him. Her blood felt like it was boiling as she stepped further into the room.
"I will talk to my son as I see fit," Shichiro said coldly.
"That's not acceptable!" Mac glared. "Do you know what you've done to him? He thinks we won't be his friends because of you and your demand that winning is the only thing good enough!"
"He's an Akashi! Akashi's win!" Shichiro said. "And he has more important things to do than to play around with friends."
"Winning isn't everything! He's your son!" Mac shot back. "And you know perfectly well that he does his duty and more! He is smart and kind, and he has more talent than anyone I know! So what if he lost? It doesn't change who he is or what he's capable of! He's more than good enough and you need to realise that you-you-arrogant-fool!"
Shichiro watched the girl standing there glaring at him. Had anyone ever glared at him like that before? And did she really just call him an arrogant fool? He couldn't remember… oh, wait… his wife had glared at him like that when he first met her. She had called him arrogant and told him that the world didn't revolve around him.
Seijuro couldn't help but stare open-mouthed at Mac. Just who was this girl? He had never seen anyone talk to his father like this… And he really should stop her before his father retaliated, but his mind wasn't working as it should, too stunned by what was happening.
"And friends are important!" Mac continued, unaware of the two Akashi's thoughts as she glared at Shichiro. "Friend's support you when you need them, they back you up and gives you the strength to face hardship and challenges. Seijuro is stronger with his friends at his back, and you should see that. How dare you treat him like he doesn't matter if he doesn't win!"
"That's not what others see," Shichiro said more calmly as he leaned forward, staring at the girl with a calculating look in his red eyes. "They see the heir to the Akashi business losing and being weak."
"Then they are blind!" Mac said. "If they can't see the strength in Seijuro or the brilliant mind he has, then they should not be someone you should care about doing business with! Then they are clearly stupid and not worth your time!"
"Mac," Seijuro stepped forward now and placed a hand on her arm making her pause and glance over at him and he saw the anger in her eyes dim and she took a deep breath. "It's fine. I'm fine."
"You…" she frowned.
Seijuro allowed himself a slight smile and squeezed the arm he still held, "thank you, but you don't need to worry about me now. I'm fine. I promise."
She nodded slowly and with one last glare at Shichiro, turned and walked back to the door before she hesitated and looked over her shoulder.
"I suppose I should apologize for interrupting," she said. "And Seijuro, the food is ready."
...
"She's… fiery," Shichiro commented after a brief silence as she left the room. "I've met her before, haven't I?"
Seijuro tensed slightly. "Yes. She's my best friend, Mackenzie Potter."
"Right," Shichiro said absentmindedly. "Well, we'll talk more later, Seijuro. Go back to your… friends."
Seijuro pushed down the surprise he felt as he politely bowed to his father and turned around and left. He had expected his father to, well, scold him more after Mac left. He had expected him to demand that he told his friends to leave. Instead, he sent him back to them.
What was going on?
He frowned in thought before he shook it off for now.
"Aka-chin," Atsushi nodded when he entered the room again and he saw that both Mac and Daiki were missing. Probably gone to get the food. "You're back."
"Yes," Seijuro nodded. "Where's Mac and Aomine?"
"Aomine went with Mac to get the food," Tetsuya said.
"Ah," Seijuro said. He was right. "I see."
"Are you all right, Akashi?" Tetsuya asked, looking at him with sharp light blue eyes.
"I'm fine, Kuroko," Seijuro nodded and forced a small smile. The conversation with his father was still on his mind and Mac's confrontation with him. He still felt… what did he feel? Rattled? Surprised? Upset? All of it, he supposed, over it.
"Good," Tetsuya said.
...
Daiki could tell that Mac was on edge. He followed her to the kitchen, but before she could get the food, he pulled her into a back-hug and felt how she momentarily stiffened in surprise before she relaxed into him.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
She sighed softly, "sorry. I just…"
Daiki frowned as he put his head on her shoulder and hugged her a little tighter. He could feel the tension in her and he couldn't understand what had caused it.
"Don't apologize," he said. "Did something happen?"
"I kind of lost my temper," Mac admitted and pulled away so she could turn around and look back up at him.
"You did?" Daiki asked and would admit that he felt surprised. She didn't lose her temper that often, really. But when she did… well, she could get angry. "On whom?"
"Seijuro's dad," Mac admitted, and Daiki noticed that she looked a little pale.
"Hey," he said, placing his hands on her shoulders. "What happened?"
She told him, and Daiki wasn't surprised that it had been enough to make her lose her temper. She was protective over them all and maybe especially Seijuro. People saw them being protective of her all the time, but few realised that she was equally protective over them.
"Ah, I see," he said.
"What if I made it worse for Seijuro, Daiki?" Mac worried. "I shouldn't have lost my temper like that… I shouldn't have… but he made me so angry! That's not an excuse, though. If he makes it worse for Seijuro, then it's my fault and…"
"Kenzie," Daiki interrupted and placed a hand over her mouth to stop her talking. "Akashi can take care of himself. You know that, and I'm sure you didn't make it worse. He probably deserved to be told off."
"I shouldn't have…" she whispered when he removed his hand. "I just… got so angry and didn't think. I don't like how he makes Seijuro doubt himself or think he has to be perfect all the time."
Daiki nodded, "that's why we're here, right? To show Akashi that we're his friends?"
"Yeah," Mac said.
"Then let's get the food and get back up to the others," Daiki said. "I'm sure they're waiting and I'm starving."
"You can't be starving already," Mac stared at him incredulously. "You… ate all that food at the restaurant!"
Daiki shrugged and watched as Mac shook her head, but she was smiling again, and his heart skipped a beat seeing it. He reached out and pulled her close and before she could ask him what he was doing pressed his lips to hers. She kissed him back and her arms went around his neck, pulling him closer. He pulled back again much sooner than he wanted and felt a pleasing thrill go through him when he saw the dazed look in her eyes and the flushed cheeks.
"What was that for?" Mac asked when she finally got her voice back.
"Just felt like it," Daiki smiled. "Well, come on."
They managed to get the food up to Seijuro's room and saw that Seijuro had returned. Daiki was pleased to see that he seemed all right and not upset or anything. He even seemed more relaxed now than earlier.
"Food!" Atsushi cheered. "Mac-chin's food is the best!"
...
Shichiro remained seated in his seat behind the desk for a while, thinking. He remembered meeting the girl months ago, both here and then again back at their house in Kyoto. He remembered now that he had ordered someone to look in on her and frowned.
The rapport had been brief. She was an orphan and had grown up with her aunt and uncle in England until they had moved to Tokyo when she was 8 years old. Her uncle working for a company called Grunnings, while her aunt was a stay-at-home mum. Then they left when she had stayed with her friend Aomine Daiki and his family. Why they had left and left her on her own in Tokyo was not explained in his rapport. After a year, she had moved in with her uncle and cousin.
There was… something about her that Shichiro couldn't put his finger on. The way she had glared at him had him remembering his wife, and he did his best not to think about her too much because he still felt the loss. He didn't like the heavy feeling he got remembering her and he couldn't afford to be weak in front of the company or his son.
Sighing, he got up and walked to the window and looked out.
In the distance, he could hear the sounds from Seijuro's friends coming from somewhere inside the house. Had he ever heard that kind of sound in his house before?
Without thinking, he walked out of the office and made his way up the stairs and paused when he reached his son's room. The door was slightly open, and he could hear the voices inside.
"Oi, Akashi! That was mine!" a voice said.
"You were too late, Aomine!" Seijuro said, a teasing note to his voice that Shichiro hadn't heard before.
"Don't pout, Daiki," Mac said.
"You're supposed to be on my side," Daiki said.
"She's my best friend," Seijuro said.
"She's my best friend and my girlfriend," Daiki returned.
"So? She likes me best," Seijuro said.
"No way!" Daiki denied.
Shichiro glanced inside and saw Seijuro and a tall blue-haired boy face each other, though Mac was in between them. He saw the others also spread around the room, all looking amused as they watched.
Shichiro looked back at his son and saw the relaxed posture as he smirked at Daiki. He looked different from how he normally looked, Shichiro realised. He was more open and happier. It stung, realising this.
He's a boy, Shichiro! Not a prop for you to use! He needs to have fun and friends. He's just a child!
His wife had said that once, and Shichiro had forgotten about it until now. Had he treated Seijuro too harshly?
"Calm down," Mac suddenly said, and Shichiro looked up and saw her looking between Seijuro and Daiki, but Shichiro had a feeling that she had been watching him. But she didn't know he was there, did she? "You're both my best friends, okay? So, don't argue over me like little kids."
"We're not kids!" both Seijuro and Daiki protested.
Shichiro watched for a moment longer before he pulled back and walked back to his office, still in deep thought.
...
Mac yawned as blinked awake and looked down on her stomach to see Nao curled up there. He was awake, though, and amber eyes met hers.
"Morning, Nao," she said through a yawn.
Nao yapped and jumped off her so she could sit up. She felt confused for a moment because she clearly wasn't in her own room. She blinked again as it came back to her and she looked around and sure enough her friends were spread around the room, still asleep.
She had slept on the sofa because Daiki had insisted that she took it and the others had agreed. She looked down and saw Daiki sleeping on the floor close beside the sofa, and she winced slightly. That couldn't be too comfortable. And after the match yesterday… she hoped he was all right.
He looked peaceful in his sleep, though. He always did, and she took a moment to study him. Her heart pounded harder in her chest just watching him sleep. She smiled softly before she pushed the blanket off her and got up, careful not to step on Daiki.
The soft sounds from the others sleeping were soft. The sleepover hadn't been planned, but they had so much fun together and just been hanging out until it got late and Seijuro had said they could just stay over for the night. It was fun; they had talked and played games until they had practically fallen asleep right three in the room.
The offered guest rooms stayed unused.
Mac had sent her uncle a text telling him she would stay over at a friend's house since it was late. He had answered that it was okay, so she was relieved that she wasn't in trouble for having spent the night here.
Finishing with washing her face and getting ready, she stepped out of the bathroom again. It wasn't that much she could do right now, but it was good enough.
"You're still here," a voice said behind her, and she jumped before she spun around and saw Seijuro's father standing there with a stern look on his face.
"Y-yes," she said, feeling shy and suddenly very aware that she had yelled at him the day before. What if he was angry at her and… No. She had to calm down. "Good morning."
"You're more polite today," he said.
"You're not annoying yet," she said before she could stop the words.
Shit, she thought. Stop talking! Seriously.
"No one has called me annoying to my face before," Shichiro said, but he didn't look angry. She looked at him and bit down on her tongue to stop herself from saying anything else that could get her in trouble.
He looked behind her and toward Seijuro's room. "I didn't know you stayed over."
"We ended up staying because it got so late," Mac explained.
"I see," Shichiro said and moved to continue to wherever he was going. "I see," Shichiro said and moved to continue to wherever he was going.
"Um, Akashi-san," Mac said, and he paused.
"Yes?"
"Would it be all right if I borrowed your kitchen?" Mac asked.
"The kitchen?" he asked.
"I would like to prepare breakfast," Mac said, pleased that her voice wasn't shaking. "And I would ask Seijuro, but he's not awake yet."
He looked at her for a moment and she fought the need to shift on her feet.
"Do as you please," he said turning again and left.
She let out a small breath she hadn't been aware she had been holding in. He was intimidating. How had she even dared to yell at him again? Well, he was being unreasonable and Seijuro had been upset so she hadn't really thought about it and just acted because she was angry.
She shook herself and caught Nao, who jumped up in her arms.
"Okay, let's get started making some food," Mac said scratching his ear.
...
Mac looked up to see her boys entering the kitchen just as she finished making pancakes for breakfast.
"See who shows up when the work is done," she rolled her eyes.
"It smells great!" Ryota grinned, bouncing over to the bench looking down at the stack of pancakes.
"You didn't have to make breakfast," Seijuro said.
"I woke up and wanted to get started," Mac shrugged. "Your dad said it was fine."
Seijuro blinked. "You… talked to my father?"
"I met him," Mac nodded.
"Did he say something?" Seijuro looked at her, concerned.
"No, he didn't really," Mac said and blushed a little.
"Mac?" Seijuro noticed. Of course, he did.
"Well, I might have, kind of, called him annoying," Mac said not looking at Seijuro.
Seijuro blinked. "You called him annoying? To his face?"
Mac just shrugged. "Well, I said he wasn't annoying yet when he said I was more polite."
Seijuro smiled and shook his head. He wasn't sure what to think, but he couldn't deny that he wished he had seen his face when she said that.
"Um… Seijuro?"
"Yes?" He looked over at her again and saw the nervous and guilty look on her face.
"Did I make it worse for you yesterday?" she asked. "I really didn't think… I should have, I know… but…"
"It's fine," Seijuro reassured her. "You didn't make it worse. In fact, I think you got him to think… I don't know because he dismissed me right after."
"Oh… okay," Mac said. "Good."
"Thank you," Seijuro said without looking at her.
Mac glanced at him, but she didn't need to ask what he said thank you for.
"Of course," was all she said and squeezed his shoulder briefly before walking over to sit down beside Daiki and Tetsuya.
...
"Here, sir," Takashi said and placed a plate down on the desk in front of Shichiro.
"What's this?" Shichiro asked.
"Potter-san asked me to give this to you," Takashi said. "It's breakfast, I believe."
Shichiro frowned, "I didn't ask for this."
"I know, sir," Takashi said. "Potter-san insisted. Said it was a thank you for letting her use the kitchen and for letting them stay the night."
"Hm," Shichiro said, but he picked up the fork and took a bit of the pancake. It was good.
...
...
AN: What do you think? XD
Thank you for reading! :)