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

...

...

2nd year – Too Academy – Time jump: after Inter High

...

Seirin High School the Champions of Inter-High!

...

Too Academy vs Seirin High School: 131-132

The first quarter started strong and both teams showed that they wanted to win this game. Potter Mackenzie started on the bench for this game and was seen talking with the Too Academy coach, Harasawa, for quite a bit as the two teams fought on the court. In the end, Too Academy was leading when the first quarter was over after having a three point-war between Sakuno Ryo from Too Academy and Hyuga Junpei from Seirin.

Too Academy intensified the tempo of the match

Potter Mackenzie took Wakamatsu Kosuke's spot in the second quarter and this quarter Too Academy seemed to be increasing the tempo of the game and Seirin seemed to struggle to keep up as Aomine and Potter led their team forward and their lead grew while Seirin barely managed to hang on. Kagami Taiga and Kuroko Tetsuya were the reason why Seirin managed to do so, and Kiyoshi Teppei had a strong hand in stopping Too Academy from getting too far ahead.

Seirin refused to give up

Third quarter showed Seirin as most of us have learned to know them. They refused to give up even though Too Academy seemed to be too strong, but they kept going and worked their way back into the game with Kagami and Kuroko in the lead. Too Academy seemed to struggle a little as Kagami entered the zone to fight against Aomine who also used the zone.

Too Academy was still in the lead when the fourth quarter started and Seirin kept fighting. First-year, Kuroki Dan, managed to stop Sakuno and that made Too Academy lose one of their best shooters. Kagami and Aomine were fighting more openly now, and the match revolved around the two Ace's while the rest backed them up. Seirin kept coming back and took the lead for the first time in the match one minute before the buzzer sounded. In the end, Aomine won the ball back from Kagami and had the chance to take the lead back with a three-pointer, but just as he took the shot Kagami managed to get a finger on the ball and Aomine missed the shot and Seirin won the game.

"It's the best game ever!" Kagami Taiga said when we talked to him after the match. "Finally we won! It was a really good game, and I can't wait until the next time we get to play them!"

- You like playing Too Academy?

"Of course! They're strong and I know that they are stronger than us on most days, but we work hard and finally managed to win."

- Your cousin plays for Too Academy, doesn't she?

"Mac, yeah. That's why it's so fun to play them. I know she's good. I never manage to beat her one-on-one, because she always knows what I'm about to do before I do it."

- You and Aomine Daiki fought hard against each other today. How does it feel to beat him? He is called the strongest Ace in the tournament by almost every coach we've talked to throughout this tournament.

"He's annoying, but I don't think anyone can deny that he is strong. It's always challenging to play against him and it's fun."

Kagami was not the only one who was happy for winning the final and beating Too Academy, a team they lost against twice last year.

"It was exciting. We managed to hang on when Too Academy tried to shake us off and worked together to win," Kiyoshi Teppei said. "It was hard, but it was fun! Too Academy is a strong team and it wasn't easy to win."

"Finally! We won!" was all Seirin's Captain, Hyuga Junpei, said.

"We lost to a stronger team today," Potter Mackenzie said when we talked to her briefly when the game ended. "It was a fun and exciting game, and we did everything we could. I'm really proud of how everyone worked together and fought for our team today. They were simply stronger than us today. We will work harder and come back stronger in the Winter Cup."

More reaction on page 6 and 7. Interview with coach Aida Riko on page 10.

...

Daiki sighed as he rested his head in his hand as he stared out of the window not really paying attention to the teacher. He was thinking about the article he'd read and wished he hadn't done so. Why did he seek it out? He should have just ignored it like he normally did…

He sighed again and stifled a yawn.

"Am I boring you, Aomine?" the teacher asked making Daiki blink and turn to see the teacher watching him with a frown.

"Um, no," he said.

"Then perhaps you'd like to come up and do the math problem?" The teacher asked though Daiki knew it was more like a demand.

He pushed himself up from his seat and walked to the blackboard to do the math problem. He looked at it for a moment before he started to solve it. Luckily he understood it even though he hadn't been paying attention.

"Good," the teacher said when he finished. "Now, pay attention in class."

Daiki muttered something as he sat back down. He hoped the lesson would end soon…

He wanted to play basketball.

It felt like ages before the class ended and Daiki sank down in his seat as soon as the teacher left. He longed for the times he could get away with sleeping in class.

"Too bad about the final, Aomine," Yamato said turning to him.

"Hn," Daiki said as he stood up.

"What do you think about Seirin?" Yamato asked. "They were even stronger this year than last…"

Daiki shrugged and picked up his bag not feeling up to discuss Seirin at the moment. He knew he was being rude, but right now he didn't really care. He didn't have anything against Yamato, he was okay. He just…asked too many questions at times.

He walked to Mac's classroom before he really knew what he was doing and looked inside wondering if Mac was still there or if she had left. He saw that she was still seated at her desk talking with Nakano and Ito.

He opened his mouth to call out to her but closed it again without saying anything. He just stared at her for a moment not sure how to approach her. He felt…guilty.

"Sorry!" Sakurai said just as he walked straight into him. "Oh, Aomine!"

Daiki grumbled before he turned away from Mac and left without saying anything. He was aware that Sakurai said something, but he didn't pick up on what he said. He felt another wave of guilt go through him and felt like he didn't deserve the concern he'd picked up on in Sakurai's voice.

...

Mac blinked as she thought she saw Daiki from the corner of her eye but when she turned, she couldn't see him. She was worried. He hadn't come to see her in the breaks like he normally did, and she was not sure if he would welcome her if she went to find him.

Why hadn't she gone to see him? She should have… it felt like forever since she'd seen him.

"Are you sure you can't join our study group today, Mac?" Nakano asked.

"I'm sorry," Mac said turning her attention back to the two girls in front of her.

"Please?" Ito asked. "You've been so busy lately."

"I know," Mac said getting up. "I'm sorry."

"You're still busy?" Nakano asked. "I thought you would be free now that Inter-High is over."

Mac pushed back the disappointment she felt over the Inter-High as she pulled the strap of her bag over her shoulder.

"Mm," she said.

"Sorry," Nakano said sheepishly. "Are you….are you okay, Mac?"

Mac smiled, "I'm fine, Nakano."

"It was a good game," Ito said. "Too bad you lost."

Mac nodded, "it was. We'll be stronger next time."

"I'm sure," Nakano said.

"So, what are you doing today? Date with Aomine?" Ito asked.

"No," Mac said. "I have a Martial Arts class today."

"Martial arts?" Nakano asked surprised.

"You do that?"

Mac nodded, "When I have time."

"Oooh," Nakano said. "Is it fun?"

"Yeah," Mac nodded. "It is."

"Is there anything you can't do?" Ito asked.

Mac shifted uncomfortably on her feet as they stared at her.

"Of course there is," Mac said a little flustered. "And I never said I was any good at it."

They laughed and Mac managed to steer the conversation away from her and over at something else, as they walked out of the classroom and out of the school. When they reached the school gate, Mac waved at them and said goodbye.

As soon as she was on her own, she felt her mind drift back to basketball and how they needed to improve and grow stronger. It hurt to lose. She felt frustrated and upset but at the same time content. She knew they had played a good game, but Seirin had just been stronger that game.

Second place in Inter-High wasn't bad, but not good enough either. She sighed.

She worried about Daiki too. It hurt that he had withdrawn so much since they lost. He avoided her. She knew it was the first time he lost a game in years, (the final in Inter-High last year didn't really count, since he hadn't been playing.)

She worried about how he was handling it. She wanted to see him, to reassure herself that he was dealing with everything okay.

"I need to think…" Daiki said looking lost and not looking at Mac. "Just…let me think."

How long did he need to think? Mac sighed. She wanted to respect the distance he put between them and allow him time to process the loss on his own terms. But she would admit that it was hard to just sit by and wait.

Just like she knew with Seijuro needing to see that they were still his friends after he lost, she knew that Daiki needed to process it on his own before she should find him. But it was hard.

...

Kubooki smiled when Kagetora greeted him loudly making many of the others at the restaurant turn to look at the man.

"You haven't changed," Kubooki commented when Kagetora sat down.

"You have," Kagetora grinned looking at him. "Looking all business-like."

"It's required," Kubooki said.

"Boring," Kagetora huffed. "But it's good to see you again, Kaze-san."

"You too," Kubooki said. "I hear your daughter's team won the Inter-High this year."

"They did," Kagetora grinned proudly. "They have grown a lot."

"I see," Kubooki said. "They have Kagami Taiga on their team, right?"

"You've heard of him?" Kagetora asked.

"His name has been mentioned in the US, yeah," Kubooki nodded.

Kagetora looked at him with a shrewd look, "trying to lure him to the US?"

Kubooki shrugged, "I'm not. But I can't say what others will do."

"Hm," Kagetora said. "Not that surprising, I guess. He has great potential."

"Seirin seems like an interesting team," Kubooki said.

Kagetora nodded, "mm, they are."

They ordered their lunch and continued to talk about basketball and life in general as they ate. Kubooki was interested in hearing what Kagetora had to say about the High School basketball scene since he had better insight into it than he did at the moment.

"You've been pumping me for information, Kaze-san," Kagetora said when their lunch finished.

"You got me," Kubooki said with a smile.

"Why?"

"I'm curious," Kubooki said. "So, what are your thoughts about the Generation of Miracles?"

...

"I asked her out!" Ueno squealed when she saw Mac and Mac blinked.

"What?" she asked before she caught what Ueno said and grinned. "You asked Hermione out?"

"Yes!" Ueno said. "And she said yes!"

"That's amazing!" Mac grinned. "I'm so happy for you!"

She had been waiting for this for months now. Or at least it felt like it. Ueno had been going back and forth on whether she should ask Hermione out or not. Not sure if Hermione liked girls like that or not.

"Thank you," Ueno grinned. "I was so nervous!"

"It's understandable," Mac said. "It's not easy to take a chance like that. You did well."

Before they could talk more about it Matsumoto Yuki arrived and they immediately stopped their conversation and focused on their lesson for the day. Mac was mainly there to help Ueno with her practices since she needed someone to practice on and Mac understood enough now to be able to help with that.

...

"I think I'm dead," Mac said as she fell onto the chair at the ramen place they usually ate at after martial arts.

"You're so dramatic," Ueno said rolling her eyes.

Mac snorted, "I'm not dramatic."

"Sure you're not," Ueno teased.

Mac shrugged and greedily started to eat her ramen when it was placed in front of her. She was so hungry.

"Are you okay?" Ueno asked after a moment.

Mac looked up and saw Ueno watching her.

"I'm fine," Mac said.

"You sure? I watched your last match," Ueno said. "It was a good game."

"Mm," Mac nodded. "It was. It hurts a little, but we weren't strong enough this time. I know we did everything we could."

"Is it strange losing to your friends?" Ueno asked. "Your cousin is on the team too, right?"

"It's a little strange, but at the same time not," Mac said. "On the court, they're not my friends, but my opponents. I've gotten used to separating the two."

"I never know how to do that," Ueno said.

Mac nodded in understanding, "it was harder last year, I think. To go from being a team to being opponents."

"So, you're handling the loss okay," Ueno said. "Good."

Mac nodded, "I try at least. I know it's a part of the game, but… It really sucks losing, though."

"I know," Ueno agreed and Mac looked at her closer.

"You okay, Ueno?" Mac asked.

"Oh, I'm fine," Ueno said with a smile. "You don't need to worry about me, Mac."

Mac smiled a little relieved knowing that while Ueno had asked Hermione out now, she knew it hadn't been easy for her to admit to herself that she liked Hermione like that. She knew that Ueno was worried about how her parents would take it as well.

"Good;" Mac said. "You know you can talk to me, right?"

"Of course," Ueno said. "I know."

Mac smiled knowing she couldn't do anything else at the moment.

"So, have you thought about where to take Hermione?" Mac asked curiously.

"Nooo…." Ueno cried and Mac felt her lips twitch amused. "Where can I take her, Mac? I can't think about anything…what do you do on your dates with Aomine?"

"Hm, well, he took me to the aquarium once," Mac said, "it was fun. Or we play basketball and just hang out. Picknick at the park, as well…"

"I see," Ueno said.

"I don't know what you should do," Mac said. "I always just enjoy hanging out with Daiki, it doesn't really matter what we do. So, try to think about what she likes and something you can maybe share together?"

Ueno looked thoughtful as Mac talked.

"She likes books and learning…it's fascinating, you know. She knows so much and I can't even start to understand half of it. But I can listen to her ramble about her books for hours, I think."

Mac smiled and would admit that she was relieved that Ueno liked this part of Hermione. She knew that books and learning would always be important for Hermione so it was good that she found someone who appreciated it.

Mac briefly wondered how much Hermione managed to read because the books she could talk to Ueno about would be non-magical books…

"Oh! Maybe a library?!" Ueno exclaimed.

"Sounds like a good idea to me," Mac agreed. "I doubt she's had a chance to really see a lot of the libraries here, so it should be good."

...

The next day went much the same with Daiki still ignoring her and she trying to find the patience to wait. She'd talked to Harasawa for a little bit after school as well preparing for the next day's basketball practice. They had been given some days off after Inter-High, but Mac was looking forward to starting up again.

So, she made her way home on her own once more wondering if she maybe should find Daiki later. She worried. She sighed before she blinked as she noticed Shintaro standing outside of her apartment building. She hadn't expected him but felt pleased seeing him standing there clearly waiting for her.

"Shintaro," Mac said as she reached him and he turned and pushed his glasses up his nose.

"Mac," he said a little stiffly and she saw the faint blush on his neck.

"Do you want to come up?" Mac asked and he looked at her for a moment before he nodded.

"Okay," he said.

She glanced over at him curiously as they made their way up to her apartment knowing that he rarely sought her out like this.

She got Nao out of her bag as soon as she entered the apartment and immediately ran to her room like he normally did. She glanced over at Shintaro before walking into the living room and then the kitchen where she found tea and prepared it for them. She didn't say anything as Shintaro kept quiet.

"Thank you," he said when she handed him the cup.

"You're welcome," she smiled a little. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Shintaro said.

"I haven't seen you since the game," Mac said.

Shintaro nodded and she knew he was remembering the game they played where Too Academy won meaning they made it to the finals while Shutoku had to play for third place. Again. Though, they lost against Rakuzan and had to settle with fourth place.

"I know," he said.

Mac watched him and felt a little relieved seeing that he didn't seem upset or anything like that.

"It was fun," Mac said. "You and Takao really have a good dynamic in your play."

"He is useful," Shintaro agreed while Mac bit back a smile.

"Good," was all she said.

They were quiet for a moment and Mac relaxed for what felt like the first time in ages. She was aware that Shintaro looked at her with a sharp look when he thought she wasn't looking but didn't comment on it.

"Are you okay?" Shintaro finally asked.

Mac looked over at him properly and found him watching her. He showed open concern and didn't try to hide it behind a stoic mask. She smiled knowing that he didn't often allow anyone to see past his mask.

"As good as I can be," she said, "but it hurts a bit."

"You played well," Shintaro said.

"Mm," Mac hummed, "they were just better."

...

Shintaro pushed past the awkwardness he felt as he watched her. She had seemed tense when he first saw her, but at least it looked like she had relaxed a little now. He could see the doubt in her eyes, though. The doubt that came from losing, he had felt it himself. More times than he cared for, really.

Honestly, he thought Too Academy had deserved to win their game against Seirin. It had been close and Mac had really been at her best. It was just not enough that time, but Shintaro thought that she still should be proud of the game.

"I don't know about that," he finally said and shifted slightly in his seat as she turned her attention to him again. Her sharp green eyes looked at him and he felt like she really saw him. It had made him feel unsettled back at Teiko at first until he got used to it. He had even grown to love how she saw him, how she accepted that he didn't feel the need to fill up every silence with words or sounds.

"You are worried about something," he said changing the subject slightly and she frowned a little and looked back at her tea.

"Is…it that obvious?" she asked.

"Yes," he said bluntly, and she huffed a laugh as she relaxed a little more.

He tried to hide the smile he felt growing on his lips at the sight.

"I guess I'm worried about Daiki," she said, and he wasn't surprised.

"Is he okay?" Shintaro asked and didn't really want to admit that he felt a little worried too. That was part of the reason he came to see her after all, though…maybe he wouldn't mention that part.

But he knew that Daiki never lost. Much like Seijuro, really. But it was different with Daiki, and Shintaro was a little worried. And he was worried about how Mac was handling it.

"He's avoiding me," Mac admitted. "And I know he needs to process everything, and he needs time. I just feel…impatient."

Shintaro arched a brow as he looked at her. He hadn't expected that, but then again maybe it wasn't that surprising.

"I see," Shintaro said.

He could tell that she was frustrated and worried.

"Oha Asa is strong for you this month," Shintaro said adjusting his glasses, "you will figure it out."

Mac smiled softly as Shintaro did his best to offer her comfort and she reached out and squeezed his hand making him look at her before looking away again.

"Thank you," Mac said and watched how he nodded and refused to look at her. She knew he felt embarrassed expressing his concern so openly, but it meant a lot to her that he did.

"We all process losses differently," Shintaro said. "You'll know what to do when it's time."

"I hope so," Mac said. "You'll stay for dinner, right?"

...

Daiki stared at the sky above him as he had lied down on the bench beside the street court and his basketball was resting on his chest with a hand holding it in place. It was getting darker now and he knew he had to get back home soon or he would worry his parents. But he didn't find it in him to actually move.

"I thought we would win when we had Aomine on the team," a boy said.

"I know right? He is supposed to be the best of all of them, but he missed the last shot like that…" the other boy answered.

"Guess he is overrated," the first one said.

"Well, it is just one loss…" another one said.

"It was close…just one point."

"They would have won if Aomine hadn't missed the last shot."

"He was struggling against that Kagami from Seirin."

Daiki closed his eyes and fisted his hands as the conversation he'd overheard went through his mind once more. The words seemed to push him down more than anything.

He had missed the last shot.

He had been tired, and he had been too impatient to take the extra second to calm down before he took the shot and hadn't considered that Taiga was that close… It was a rookie mistake and he was angry at himself and disappointed.

He had just gotten free from Taiga but could tell he was right behind him and he could hear how everyone counted down the time. It was so close… he had to shoot.

They would win if he got the shot.

They were two points behind and if he took this shot then they would win with one point…

"Go!"

"Aomine!"

"Let's go!"

He jumped and felt the ball leave his hand but it felt off…then he felt Taiga right behind him and he realised what had happened.

It felt like everyone held their breath as they watched the ball make its way toward the hoop and he felt like the moment had lasted forever before the ball bounced on the metal of the hoop before tipping back and away.

Daiki sighed and sat up as he pushed back the memory of the last shot. It haunted his dreams and every time he closed his eyes he could see it. Over and over and over again. It was on repeat and he really wanted to change it.

...

Taiga looked up from his homework when he heard a loud noise and frowned. It sounded like an explosion or something and it came from Mac's room. He got up and moved toward Mac's room and paused when he opened the door and saw his cousin standing in front of her desk covered in some red looking liquid.

"Um…Mac?" Taiga asked not sure if he should laugh or not. "You okay?"

Mac turned and glared at him before she sighed and wiped her face with a hand.

"Fine," she said. "Just…annoyed."

"What happened?" Taiga asked and he felt his amusement slip through and smiled a little now that he was sure that Mac was fine.

She rolled her eyes, "laugh it up."

Taiga laughed and stepped into the room. "So?"

"I just messed up a spell," Mac said.

"You look funny," Taiga said.

"It's gross," Mac said. "I need a shower."

He watched her as she picked up some clean clothes and made her way to the bathroom. He would admit that he was a little worried about her, but she seemed to be handling the loss okay.

It was hard, he though.

He was excited about winning. They had finally won the Inter-High and it had been exciting and fun. They had worked so hard, and it had finally paid off. But he thought he finally understood why Mac always had seemed so worried after winning now.

It was not easy to see someone you cared about hurting because of you. He knew that it was a game and that it was part of it. And he knew she would be fine, but still… it was not easy. And he wanted to be respectful and everything. He wondered how Mac managed to do it.

He went back to his room and sat back down at his desk.

He knew Tetsuya was a little worried about Mac and Daiki as well. Maybe especially Daiki.

...

Mac had just gotten out of the shower when her phone rang and she reached for it as she used a towel to dry her hair.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Mac," Ayano said. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Mac smiled a little even as she felt both worried and surprised.

"Good, dear. Is Daiki with you?" Ayano asked.

Mac frowned, "no. I haven't seen him."

"Oh. I hoped he was with you," Ayano said.

"I thought he went home after school today," Mac said.

"I see," Ayano said. "He's not picking up his phone, so I worry."

"Oh," Mac said not sure what to say.

"Has he said anything to you, Mac? He's been quiet since the final," Ayano said. "I know it hurts to lose, and we try to be understanding."

"He hasn't really talked to me since the final," Mac admitted. "I know he needs time to process it."

"Okay, well, if you hear from him will you tell him to go home and let me know?" Ayano asked.

"Of course," Mac said. "Bye."

Mac put the phone down and stared at herself in the mirror. She could clearly see the worry on her own face.

What should she do?

Daiki pulled away from everyone and now he hadn't even gone home. She felt a little angry and hurt, but tried to push it away. She had to understand, but…but!

...

Mac grumbled to herself as she walked toward the street court near Daiki's house. She had given in to her desire to find him and gone out despite it getting late.

"Making me worry," Mac muttered.

She couldn't relax when she worried about him, and she had tried to give him time. It didn't seem to be helping, though.

"I'm just going to see him and then leave," she whispered to herself as she felt like she was betraying the promise she had given. "Just…for a moment."

She needed to know that he was okay. She missed him.

She reached the street court and immediately spotted Daiki lying on one of the benches with the basketball resting on his chest. He was lying immobile and it almost looked like he was sleeping, but his eyes were open and staring up at the sky.

Mac took a moment to just watch him as he lay there, and she frowned a little as she noticed the small frown on his face.

What was he thinking about?

Did he hate basketball again now?

...

The only one who can beat me is me.

The words swirled around in his mind over and over again overlapping the last moments of the game. Where he lost.

He should go home. He knew his parents were worried, but he couldn't find it in him to move. Not yet.

Not until he figured out his own feelings. His own flaws…

The only one who can beat me is me.

How arrogant…he felt shame and guilt making him feel heavy. How often hadn't he said that? How often hadn't he used that phrase to taunt others? Was it to prove that he was that much stronger than everyone?

He wasn't sure. All he knew was that he had believed it. In a way, it still sounded true in his own mind and it made him feel all the more guilty.

"Daiki."

Daiki blinked and turned his head to see Mac standing there in front of the bench looking at him with worried green eyes. He blinked again but didn't say anything or move.

"Are you going to ignore me now too?" Mac asked.

Daiki shook his head and looked up at the sky again.

"No," he whispered.

"Daiki," she said again and reached out to take his hand in hers. Her warm hand. "Talk to me, please."

The only one who can beat me is me.

He pushed himself up and sat upon the bench properly making the basketball fall off his chest and bounce against the concrete a couple of times before rolling off. He watched it in order to avoid having to see the disappointment in Mac's eyes.

"It's my fault," he admitted quietly.

"What?" Mac asked sounding confused.

"That we lost," Daiki said.

"It's not," Mac said immediately.

"It is," Daiki argued. "I missed the last shot."

He felt her looking at him and he wished she would just agree with him. Prove that he was right.

...

Mac sighed as she realised that he had been blaming himself the entire time. Just because she had allowed him to pull away. She should have talked to him sooner.

"It's not your fault, Daiki," Mac said. "We win as a team and we lose as a team. We just weren't strong enough that match."

"If I had made…"

"It can be said about every shot we missed that match, Daiki," Mac interrupted. "I missed a few shots as well, and so did Wakamatsu and Abe. Everyone did that. It happens."

"But I missed the last one," Daiki argued.

"You did," Mac agreed. "But it was not why we lost the game. It's okay."

"No…" Daiki said.

"Daiki," Mac frowned as she looked at him. "You… you know that it's okay for you to miss a shot at times too, right? It was the only one you missed the entire game, your stats are amazing from that game. It's one of the best ones you've played."

Daiki frowned and looked at her, "that's not…"

"Are you saying that I'm lying?" Mac scowled at him and he closed his mouth. "Didn't think so. It was a close and good game. It hurts when it doesn't go our way and we lose, but it's part of the game. We will use it and learn from it."

Daiki sighed as he deflated.

"I know," he said. "I just… I'm so..."

He struggled with the words and Mac understood.

"I know," she said squeezing his hand. "Talk to me. You're not on your own."

She wished he would talk to her. She wished he would allow her to help him. It hurt to see him struggling. It made her own heart hurt.

"I'm so confused," Daiki admitted.

"Why?" Mac asked.

"I thought I missed it," Daiki said, "but I really hate feeling this frustrated and disappointed, but then again I still feel excited and happy. I keep wanting to play basketball, but that makes me feel guilty."

Mac blinked as the words poured out of him and she felt a small smile cross her lips.

"That's normal," Mac said. "It's what I feel too when we lose. It hurts, but at the same time, I think it is fun and challenging. I've learned that I can accept that it was a good game even if we lose."

She got up and pulled Daiki to his feet as well making him blink at her. Mac just smiled and let go of his hand as she walked over to pick up the basketball that had rolled away earlier.

She turned and saw that Daiki was watching her and she smiled at how adorable he looked as he watched her confused. She threw the ball at him.

"Come on," she said. "Let's play."

He looked at her for a moment longer before looking down at the basketball in his hands before he smiled.

"Okay!"

...

Daiki let himself get lost in the one-on-one against Mac and felt himself smile as she stole the ball from him and he reached out to get it back from her. She spun away from him with a laugh and a mischievous look in her eyes.

"Come and get me, Daiki!" she laughed.

"Oh, I will!" He said and rushed after her.

He grinned as he almost caught her but again she managed to slip away all the while dribbling the ball.

"Too late!" She said as she shot the ball through the hoop.

Daiki grumbled playfully as he picked up the ball and tossed it to her.

"You got this one," he said. "Let's go."

Mac smirked and dribbled the ball again and moved to the side, but this time he was there and managed to block her and with a quick movement he shot his hand out and hit the ball so that she lost control over it.

With a quick step he had control of the ball and he laughed as he moved away from her.

He dribbled the ball between his legs as he watched her move closer, and stepped away.

"You're not getting the ball from me," he said. "Kenzie."

"We'll see," Mac said and he avoided her as she came closer but made no move to get toward the hoop just yet.

It was fun to dribble like this, to try to get away from Mac who was watching him making him feel a little warm knowing that she was watching. She was smiling freely now and looked so cute, and his throat felt a little dry.

"Come on, Daiki," she said. "Don't just defend."

"Oh?" Daiki asked leaning forward slightly as he smirked at her. "Then don't complain."

He moved and dribbled the ball from one hand to the other before he moved closer to Mac who reached out to take the ball. But he knew she was coming so he spun around still dribbling the ball and getting past her and with two long steps had gotten free.

He stopped before he jumped up and shot the ball and watched as it flew through the hoop.

"Yes!" He grinned.

"Nice shot," Mac said.

He picked up the ball that came rolling back toward him and turned to find Mac right there and he blinked. She was smiling and had that mischievous look in her eyes again as she leaned in and suddenly she kissed him.

He immediately felt his eyes close as he relaxed into the kiss and felt his grip on the ball loosen as he wanted to reach out and pull her closer. Before he could do that, though, she ended the kiss and stole the ball from his hands.

"I'll get you back!" she said.

"Kenzie!" He whined though he would deny that later.

She just laughed and was already dribbling the ball.

Daiki growled a little as he ran after her as she laughed more. He almost got her as she spun away making him grab air instead.

"Get back here!" Daiki said as he rushed after her once more.

"Don't think so!" Mac said spinning around as she dribbled the ball.

They ran around on the court and Daiki didn't even care that they weren't really playing basketball anymore even as she kept dribbling the ball, but never going for the shot.

It was just fun.

Daiki laughed as he managed to get an arm around Mac's waist and pulled her to him but since they were both moving they lost their balance and fell to the ground and the ball rolled away. Daiki had managed to turn so that she landed mostly on top of him so that she wouldn't get hurt and felt how she laughed.

"Daiki!" she cried.

"Caught you," he said and she shifted a little so that she could look at him properly but didn't move to get off him (ignoring that he still had his arms around her).

"So you did," she smiled and he couldn't help it. He leaned up and she must have seen what he wanted because she met him halfway and kissed him back.

...

They lay in the middle of the street court staring up at the starry sky, Mac was resting her head on his shoulder and he was playing with her hair with one hand as the other held her close.

"That was fun," Mac said quietly.

Daiki smiled a little as he nodded in agreement before he yawned.

"Tired?" Mac asked.

"Mm," he said closing his eyes for a moment. "I can't sleep."

"Why?" Mac asked.

"I keep seeing…" Daiki sighed and opened his eyes again.

"The game?" she guessed.

"It's like it's on replay in my mind," Daiki admitted. "Every time I close my eyes, I see it. Especially that last shot."

"I see," Mac said.

"And I feel restless," Daiki said. "Like I want to play, but can't…"

"I can understand that," Mac said. "It's what it was like for me last year. I woke up early and couldn't sleep, so I got up and went for a run and then worked on my analysis. So that we could get stronger."

They stayed quiet for a moment.

"How do you feel now?" Mac asked.

Daiki frowned thoughtfully, "better, I think."

He did feel lighter than he had earlier. It was still nagging at him, and he still felt a little guilty. He still felt like he should have done something different, but it wasn't as heavy anymore. It felt like he could breathe again.

"Good," Mac said. "It will get better with time. We'll work harder at practice and be stronger when Winter Cup comes around."

"Sounds like a plan," Daiki said and yawned again making Mac laugh softly.

"Okay," she said. "Come on."

She moved and he whined a little as she pulled away from him and she laughed. She reached out and took his hand and pulled at him and he followed so he got up.

"Don't want to," he complained.

"You're tired," Mac pointed out. "You need to sleep."

He pouted but smiled a little when she pressed a chaste kiss to his lips.

"I'll walk you home," she said when she pulled back.

"That's my job," Daiki frowned.

"Not today," Mac said. "Today it is my job."

Daiki sighed but smiled a little as she took his hand and they started to make their way to his house.

...

...

AN: What do you think? XD

It's been forever since I update this story. Sorry about that! I tried to figure out how to do the Inter-High, and it really got me stuck and lost. So in the end I decided to just skip it and focus on the aftermath instead. I'm not totally happy with this, but I just couldn't figure it out. And I wanted to be able to post something again soon. I hope you still like it and understand. XD

Thank you for reading and for your patience. Hope you are doing well wherever you are 3