Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!
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1st year - Too Academy
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97 – 107 : 34 minutes played – 4th quarter
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Mac watched as Daiki and Seijuro went up against each other, both in the zone, and she realized that right now Seijuro had the upper hand.
"Are… Akashi better than Aomine?" Namamura asked.
"No," Mac said without looking away from the game. "But Seijuro has the emperor eye and can predict what Daiki will do next. It's stronger now that he's in the zone and it's hard for Daiki to counter that…"
Alone… but if they helped?
Could it be what they needed?
Tetsuya always said that basketball was a team sport. That no one was alone on the court.
She agreed with that, but she hadn't considered…
"Just how does the zone work?" Inoue asked.
"It's complicated," Mac said. "But picture a massive door, and when you open it you enter the zone. Inside it is water, and the more you focus the deeper into the water you sink… you can get in different levels of the zone, you see. And if you reach the bottom of the water, you are fully immersed in the zone. You can perform at your true best… but according to Daiki, there is another door…"
She trailed off as she thought another door…
"Another door?" Abe asked. "What's inside?"
"Don't know," Mac said absentmindedly. "Daiki never opened it and I don't know anyone who has… but… it's a theory that a zone greater than the zone is beyond it."
Something they could need right about now, but how to open it? Could Daiki do it?
Yes. She had complete faith in him.
...
Tetsuya looked worriedly down at the court. How could they stop Seijuro like this? He wasn't sure, but he knew that as long as Daiki kept fighting on his own like that it wouldn't be good for Too Academy.
It wasn't like the others didn't try, but they let Daiki handle Seijuro on his own and well, it was logical and Tetsuya knew that but he kind of wished that Mac could play so she could have helped. She would have been able to do it.
"How can they stop him?" Taiga asked.
"I don't know," Tetsuya said.
"Mac seems to be thinking hard," Kiyoshi commented and Tetsuya looked over at Mac and saw her talking but her eyes were locked on Daiki. What was she seeing?
"Akashi sure is a monster," Hyuga said.
Tetsuya frowned but said nothing. It wasn't the first time he'd been called a monster and seeing him like this… well, Tetsuya couldn't exactly blame them for thinking it. Didn't mean he liked hearing it, though.
"I'm almost glad we're not playing him," Koganei said.
Mitobe nodded.
"Oi!" Riko glared. "Don't talk like that!"
"Y-yes," Koganei paled at the glare directed at him.
...
Mac got to her feet and Imayoshi who was closest ran so he came close to her.
"Help him," Mac said, and Imayoshi arched a brow.
"How?"
"Team play," Mac said. "Involve him in team play even as he is in the zone, okay? He needs alternatives against Seijuro's emperor eye and tries to have several options ready. Remember what I said about predictability? If it's only Daiki, then Seijuro can read him more easily…"
Imayoshi looked at her and nodded.
"Tell Daiki to involve you in his game," Mac said and Imayoshi nodded again.
Mac sat back down and scribbled something in her notebook, even if it was not much time left.
"You think that will work, Potter-san?" Harasawa asked.
"I'm not sure," Mac admitted. "But it's the best idea I have."
Harasawa nodded, "well, it's better than what I have. I must say, I have never seen anything like this before."
Mac hummed and nodded.
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97 – 110 : 34 minutes played – 4th quarter
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Daiki glanced over at Mac as Imayoshi gave the new order. His first instincts were to huff and roll his eyes and deny it. But… a flash of Tetsuya and his teamwork with Taiga in his mind had him pause.
Maybe… well, Kenzie seemed to think it was worth a shot, and he trusted her and her plans. If she saw that this could work… He looked at Imayoshi who smirked and he wondered… would he be able to include him in his game when he was in the zone? Could he do it?
"Trust us, eh, Aomine?" Imayoshi said. "We're a team, you know."
Daiki nodded slowly. "Okay."
Imayoshi smirked.
"Interesting last match," he said. "Let's do this!"
Daiki smirked back and nodded.
...
Imayoshi took his spot behind Daiki as he faced Seijuro. Seijuro arched a brow as he paused and dribbled the ball close to his side as he took in the new addition.
He narrowed his eyes. What was this? Did Daiki really think that just having another behind him would change the outcome? Seijuro would still get past them and Imayoshi had no chance to keep up with Seijuro…
Was this Mac's plan?
That was disappointing…
Seijuro moved as if he were going to the left and used his emperor eye to see how Daiki would react. He could see Daiki react like he thought he would, but he also saw Susa move in the background and Sakurai moved the opposite way again and Wakamatsu was running to get to the hoop and Imayoshi wasn't moving at all. He saw it all and swiftly spun around so he could turn to the right instead and slipped past Daiki and the free path…
Wait… Imayoshi was suddenly in front of him and he shouldn't have been able to be there. He hadn't moved or…
Seijuro narrowed his eyes as he tried to figure it out, but he caught a movement from the corner of his eyes and dribbled the ball closer to him to prevent Daiki from stealing it.
This was Mac's plan. He was sure of it, but how had she gotten Imayoshi past his emperor eye? He hadn't been moving!
Seijuro hesitated a moment too long, and that was all Daiki needed in order to get close enough from behind him and tip the ball away and Imayoshi caught it before passing it back to Daiki who was already running toward the other side of the court.
Seijuro froze.
He had lost the ball?
He had let them take it?
HE (!) had lost the ball?!
...
The rest of Rakuzan watched in shock as Seijuro lost the ball and tried to stop Daiki who was dribbling past them quickly and reached the hoop and was just about to jump up and dunk the ball through the hoop when Seijuro suddenly was in front of him again.
That was faster than what should be possible, but another example of what could be possible for a player in the zone.
The look of wild desperation in his eyes had Daiki pause for a moment before he passed the ball to Imayoshi, making Seijuro widen his eyes as his head snapped in Imayoshi's direction.
Imayoshi was smirking and jumped as if to shoot and Seijuro reacted and moved but it was only then mid-step that he realised that it wasn't a shot but a pass.
Daiki had already jumped and was ready to catch the ball…
An alley-oop?
Don't be absurd! Seijuro thought. I am absolute! I must not lose!
Mac tensed as she watched. Come on, Daiki… make it… do it!
"Come on, Aomine!" the bench yelled.
Daiki was very aware that everyone was watching and that his team was hoping, trusting, that he made the shoot. He caught the ball in the air and knew Seijuro was close, he could see him but he was too late. Daiki would score.
He did.
...
Shintaro wasn't sure why he was surprised. He knew Daiki was strong, so seeing him score and forcefully dunked the ball into the hoop over Seijuro's head was not that surprising, really, but still… Daiki had included Imayoshi in his game. That was new. That was unheard of, especially when Daiki was in the zone. And Seijuro… he never lost like this.
Tetsuya blinked. That was something he had never thought he would see happen. Daiki had actually included someone else in his game when he was in the zone. He had actively used Imayoshi as a part of a strategy… was that what Mac had told Imayoshi when she had talked to him?
"…" Atsushi gaped. Seijuro lost a duel like that? What would happen now?
Ryota ignored the looks he got from his team when he leaned forward, wide-eyed and disbelieving. Not that he didn't think Daiki could do it, but it was so unlike Seijuro to allow that sort of thing to happen. How had he not gotten past Imayoshi? He should have, right? But Seijuro had stopped and allowed Daiki to steal the ball. Why?
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99 – 110 : 35 minutes played – 4th quarter
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Seijuro missed the next shot and stilled in shock as Wakamatsu jumped up to catch the rebound.
Mac watched from the bench and frowned. She hadn't seen Seijuro like this before… it wasn't just that he missed, but the fact that he seemed uncertain and less composed than he ever was. She watched as he ran back and saw that he didn't have the same speed as before…
"He's distracted," she said. "He's leaving the zone."
"That's good, isn't it?" Abe asked.
Mac didn't reply as she kept her eyes on Seijuro and tried to figure out if he would shake it off soon or if this was it. They had to take advantage of this. Mac knew that and while she understood and wanted that, she still felt a little conflicted.
She hated seeing her friends in trouble.
She sighed quietly.
Daiki scored again.
...
Susa stole the pass from Seijuro to Mibuchi.
You're at your limit.
Don't be absurd! I can't lose!
Sakurai came up behind him and tipped the ball out of his hands.
Give up. You can't win anymore.
Wakamatsu stopped him from dunking the ball through the hoop.
Shut up! I will win! I have until now and I always will! I have to…
...
Mac winced as she saw the team play of Rakuzan suffer and they made simple mistakes and Seijuro was especially looking fragile. He was barely aware of what was going on, or so it looked like for her.
She bit down on her lip as she took it in.
She knew that their chance was now… they had to change this now and hopefully, Seijuro would see that she was there for him even if he lost. That he wouldn't be abandoned even if he wasn't perfect.
This wasn't the time for her to worry about Seijuro, though. She had to focus on her task at hand and that was the match.
...
Imayoshi stopped a pass from Mibuchi just before it reached Seijuro, who flinched.
Hayama glared at Seijuro annoyed while Mibuchi looked shook but also annoyed but kept his mouth shut as he tried to stop Sakurai from making another basket.
What was going on?
They were slipping…
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112 – 113 : 36 minutes played – 4th quarter
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"This is ridiculous!" Nebuya yelled.
Mac looked away from Daiki and Sakurai, who actually fist-bumped and shared a smile. Her own smile slipped off her face when she saw Nebuya having grabbed Seijuro by the collar of his jersey and dragged him closer. Her good hand clenched around the notebook as she watched.
"A kid could've caught that weak pass!" Nebuya snarled. "You think that'll work now? I've had enough of your crap, Akashi!"
Mac was on her feet before she really thought about it but a hand on her arm stopped her from doing something and she glanced down to see Harasawa holding her back. She nodded and he let go. She knew she couldn't interfere, but she hated not being able to do anything when someone she cared about was being… no, she had to calm down.
Luckily the Rakuzan coach called a time-out just then and Nebuya let go of Seijuro. With a last look of contempt, he walked away from Seijuro who remained standing there for a moment longer as his team walked past him without looking at him.
Mac gritted her teeth that would only make Seijuro think they would leave him behind…
"Kenzie," Daiki's voice was suddenly close and concerned. "It'll be all right."
"Yeah…" Mac said before she took a deep breath and forced herself to look away from Seijuro who was walking over to his bench now and sat down.
"So… what's happening," Wakamatsu asked.
Mac and Daiki exchanged a look, "he's never been challenged like this before."
Mac said it with forced calm, but her voice shook slightly.
...
Shirogane looked at Seijuro with a pensive look on his face. He had not expected to see Seijuro fall together like this. He had never seen this side of him before and he couldn't believe that he was such a fragile player. He knew that Too Academy closing the gap between their points shouldn't have been enough to agitate him. It was probably the fact that they stopped him while he was in the zone and using his emperor eye. It must have shocked him.
What was worse, it caused discord within the team. It was affecting them all, and right now Seijuro was the problem. Which meant… Shirogane grimaced. He never thought he would pull Seijuro out of a match, normally Seijuro decided himself if he would play or not.
He sighed tiredly. He needed to think… they could still win this, but he would admit that right now the momentum was with Too Academy.
And he hadn't missed the way Mac had directed things from the sidelines even as the game went on, he'd seen her talk to their captain a few times and it was impressive how she could influence the game even without playing.
...
Seijuro was barely aware of his team around him.
He was barely aware of Mayuzumi talking, his words seemed distant and unimportant even though he was challenging him and saying something about being a disappointment. Right now, that didn't matter.
His mind was otherwise occupied.
"Who are you?"
The question was suddenly clear, and his eyes widened.
Who am I?
Images of himself as a baby in his mother's arms and father's cold eyes watching him, four-year-old him seated behind a desk reading, playing the violin, the piano…
Who am I?
More images of him at five or six years old holding a basketball for the first time and his mother smiling down at him her with the sun behind her giving her a shine that made him believe she was an angle, images of him playing basketball at his elementary school…
You are my weakness.
He remembered his mother's funeral. How alone he felt at that moment and how he knew that the one person who loved him for him was gone. He would never see her again.
Born to a distinguished family, always standing above others, and obligated to win. Even when you lost your mother, your only repose, you weren't allowed to stop.
Images of perfect tests, all 100% scores and trophies from various competitions lined up on a table flashed in his mind now. His father watching with arms folded over his chest and without a smile on his face.
I was already starting to tear apart then. Basketball… the anchor my mother left me. As long as I kept winning, my stern father allowed me to play. The Teiko basketball team's practices were hard, but not painful. More than that, I enjoyed the ability to play and spend time with my friends. It's where I met Mac and the others… they became important to me. Mac became my best friend, my sister.
Images of times spent with Mac and the others were next, and the smiles on their faces were happy. Mac was always close and warm, and she needed him. He was someone she looked to and was happy to see.
Then we won our second national championship. It would've been impossible with anyone else. It happened because I led them. But… the team began to emphasizing victory. At the same time their talents began to blossom. Their growth planted the fear that I'd be unable to keep up. Believing that they would leave me behind, seeing how Mac struggled to keep us together and happy, how she felt torn between us all… the fear turned to panic. I had to keep us together for Mac.
Images of his match against Atsushi…
I, Akashi Seijuro, lost? Impossible… that's impossible. It cannot be. What is gained through victory is lost through defeat. My ability to protect Mac, and my friends would be lost through defeat… I had to be the strongest to continue playing with them.
That's right… that's why… that's why I was born.
They followed me again. We were together and have been ever since! They are still my friends! Our third championship was easy enough. It was a thorough victory. I was absolute. My stern father was pleased.
Even as we are opponents, we are friends and I have to be strong in order to keep us together! I need to continue to prove my strength so that they will follow me.
So, you don't need me?
That's right. You stay here forever.
I meant to. But the scent of defeat is making you crack. You can't protect Mac like this.
You know nothing! You allowed yourself to be weak!
Yes… I didn't understand. I was trying to save it by winning… something irreplaceable. I didn't know what else to do. It's what I've been taught my whole life. But… It's that weakness that gave birth to you.
Desiring only victory and abandoning all else, I lost sight of why I wanted to be stronger.
No, I know…
Do you? I don't think so… you're about to make the same mistake. By trying to protect my friends, I pushed them away. By trying to protect Mac, I am losing part of what she wants to protect. And you are about to push away our new team.
Our guilt will stay with us forever. I thought it couldn't hurt to lose. But it seems I was wrong. It's because we're playing Mac and Aomine. We can't repress our impulse to win.
...
Mac gave the last of her observations and analyses quickly and efficiently. They all nodded, and she looked around at them with a slight smile. They were tired, and she hoped that they wouldn't end up in a tie like they did against Seirin… she wasn't sure they would have enough energy to keep playing.
"Continue to work together like this," she said. "I'm sure Seijuro will be back soon and we need to be able to keep resisting him and the others."
"He'll be back?" Wakamatsu asked sceptically. "It didn't look like it, though. He barely kept up…"
"He's not someone you should underestimate," Daiki said. "Akashi is strong, stronger than this, and I'm sure he'll be back."
"Well, if both Mac and Aomine say so," Imayoshi said.
"We'll be ready," Susa nodded.
"Good," Mac smiled.
...
Daiki was facing Seijuro, who was coming at him with the ball. Daiki frowned slightly as he watched Seijuro because something had changed since before the time-out…
"Hello," Seijuro said pleasantly. "It's been a while, Aomine."
Daiki's eyes widened as Seijuro dribbled the ball and got past him before Daiki could really get his head around the fact that Seijuro just addressed him by his last name and smiled in a way he hadn't seen in years…
Imayoshi was behind him and tried to stop Seijuro but the Rakuzan captain dribbled the ball between his own legs before making a crossover and passed the ball to Mibuchi whose eyes widened at the perfect pass before he made his heaven shot getting it past Sakurai.
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112 – 116 : 36 minutes played – 4th quarter
...
Mac felt… she wasn't sure what she felt as she sat down at the bench and stared at Seijuro who just complimented Mibuchi for his shot and the look of confusion and happiness on Mibuchi's face was telling.
That was a pass she knew very well… she had longed to catch it again. The pass from the old Akashi Seijuro.
"What just happened?" Inoue asked.
"I thought he was done," Abe complained.
Harasawa looked a little surprised as well and glanced at Mac who was staring with wide eyes. Her hand was in front of her mouth and he wasn't sure about the emotions he could see in her eyes happiness, wariness and hope and sadness seemed to flicker through them.
"Potter-san?" Harasawa asked, slightly concerned.
"That's the pass we used to receive," Mac said quietly. "Back at Teiko…"
"What?" Harasawa asked, confused.
"That's the pass from the old Seijuro," Mac said. "This just got even tougher…"
Mac was mostly happy because it meant that he'd had a breakthrough, but she knew that it meant that the last few minutes of the match would turn… more difficult.
...
Alex arched a brow in surprise as the change in Seijuro became clearer and his passes became even better than before. They were perfect. The rhythm of them was so good she doubted any professional basketball player could find any fault with it.
What was more… the entire Rakuzan was lifted because of it.
"To think he can dribble like that without even looking at his hands to see what he's doing," Alex commented.
"Aka-chin doesn't need to," Atsushi said munching on his crisps even as he still looked down at the court with interest. "He can still see the entire court."
"He's not only making assists," Himuro said thoughtfully. "He's helping his teammates improve their movements as well. You can see it, right Alex?"
"Of course," she said. "I wonder how Mac and Too Academy will solve this."
"Mac-chin would have if she could have played," Atsushi said, "but I'm not sure what she'll do now."
"Do you think she can?" Himuro asked.
"I don't know," Atsushi frowned.
...
Similar conversations took place among all the Generation of Miracles and their teammates. All of them watching their former captain return to the one they had first followed and became friends with.
"Kuroko?" Taiga looked at the shadow.
"I… was just remembering the day I came back and found Akashi-kun changed," Tetsuya admitted. "He was different, even if he still remained our friends and kept us from growing apart. But the one down there… that's the one we followed. That's the one we know has been there somewhere all along, and the one we hoped would return."
Tetsuya knew what this meant, and he knew Mac knew it too. She was looking searchingly at the court and was talking with her coach, no doubt discussing what they could do as Rakuzan kept making baskets and Seijuro kept making perfect passes.
Luckily Too Academy still made baskets as well and they didn't lose too much ground. Yet. If they did nothing soon, then Tetsuya knew that it was only a matter of time (and time they didn't have much of) before they would.
...
119 – 126 : 37 minutes played – 4th quarter
...
Daiki muttered a curse as they forced him back, and Nebuya dunked the ball.
To think Seijuro had managed to get his teammates in the zone. He had never thought he would see anything like that… but here he was and witnessing it.
He almost wanted to think this was impossible, that there wasn't anything he or even Mac could do to turn this around. Just how could they change this?
Harasawa called a time-out and Daiki walked over to the bench and sat down, thinking hard. He was feeling the strain of having been in the zone for a period of time himself now and felt his breathing coming harder than normal. He felt the exhaustion in his legs, but he knew he had to ignore it.
What to do now?
This was turning really bad.
"Daiki?" Mac was in front of him and he blinked. "You okay?"
"Yeah," he said.
She frowned at him, "this is tough."
"Yeah," he said again, too tired to find another word.
"We only have one chance to change this," Mac told her eyes locked on Daiki well aware that the others were watching them and listening. "and Daiki will be our only hope."
"What can I do?" he asked, feeling a little desperate. "I… even in the zone I can't…"
Mac looked at him for a moment.
"You've been accepting help from Imayoshi," Mac said.
"So?" Daiki asked.
"You never did before," she said and he blinked. "Especially not when you've been in the zone. So… if we're going to take a lesson from Tetsu… I think it should be team play."
"Teamplay?" Daiki furrowed his brow.
"I know I have said it several times already, but it's the best way for us to counter Seijuro and Rakuzan. Before you have always challenged everyone on your own, but this time that won't work. It's when you've been working with Imayoshi that you've challenged Seijuro. Remember that he uses his team, so it's logical that we need to do the same. Right? Besides, you have been acting with the team almost all game, Daiki," Mac pointed out. "And they've turned to you differently than before… I can't say how you can push the zone farther, it's up to you to figure it out."
Daiki watched her, and she was smiling slightly as she met his eyes and he saw the trust, the faith in her eyes directed at him. She always believed in him. Always. Even when he didn't deserve it.
But what did she mean?
Team play and the zone… he understood the zone better than most, but apparently Mac seemed to understand it even better and she was hinting at something and he had to figure it out before it was too late.
But how?
...
Daiki closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
This team was… good. He would admit that if he was pressed. He had spent more time with them than he'd thought he would. Okay, so mostly it was because Mac was there and she dragged him along or he wanted to spend time with her and joined because of it.
But the fact was that he had enjoyed spending time with them… he remembered laughing at Sakurai's clumsiness and timid ways of apologizing for everything and actually liked the other boy. He was interesting and Daiki never knew what he would stumble into next.
Imayoshi was… creepy and annoying, but Daiki would admit that he was smart and that he covered for him a lot. So Daiki would say that he respected Imayoshi and might even like him (only a little, though, and he would never tell him because it would go to his head).
Susa was always kind and patient, and Daiki didn't have a reason not to like him. And he always looked out for Mac and that automatically put him in Daiki's good books (as long as he wasn't in love with Mac).
Wakamatsu… well, he was a jerk and Daiki kind of like him and didn't like him at the same time. He always tried to tell Daiki what to do or complain when he didn't do whatever it was they were supposed to be doing. Daiki (if he was pressed hard) would admit that he found the arguments with Wakamatsu fun and even sought some of them out just because he could.
"The possibility of victory is only 0% when all the players give up. I refuse to make it 0% myself. It's not over."
Tetsuya's voice sounded in his mind and Daiki wasn't sure why that was suddenly so clear to him. But he could remember Tetsuya saying that and Daiki remembered thinking it was just wishful thinking, but right now… he didn't feel like it was. He still had a chance.
"I'll never find what I'm looking for…"
Daiki had said that to both Tetsuya and Mac, and he couldn't say how many times he had thought it to himself. But as he was quickly thinking through his options now, he knew that it wasn't true… this was the second match in a row that was challenging and he was feeling threatened and didn't know if he would win or not.
He knew he wanted to win.
...
126 – 130 : 38 minutes played – 4th quarter
...
"We're following your lead," Susa said clasping Daiki on the shoulder as they stepped out on the court again.
"Let's give it everything we have!" Wakamatsu said and Daiki met his eyes and for once didn't find annoyance or hostilities looking back at him but rather… trust. Huh, strange…
"Let's win this," Imayoshi smiled.
"Um… sorry… but you can do it, Aomine," Sakurai said.
Daiki took a deep breath and felt himself fall into the zone again as his mind focused and the feeling of being immersed in water or something like that filled him once more.
He was ready.
...
Seijuro had the ball again and looked over Too Academy. They seemed a little different now; he thought as he took in their positions. Their defences were aggressive and one step up from earlier.
"Sei-chan!" Mibuchi yelled, looking like he wanted the ball.
Seijuro made to pass to Mibuchi but in last minutes passed to Hayama instead and he saw the widening of eyes from Imayoshi and Susa as they realised the switch just too late.
Hayama dribbled the ball past Sakurai who was just a second too slow to stop him and jumped up to take the shot.
Daiki came storming in and jumped up to stop Hayama from scoring.
Hayama smirked like he had expected that and somehow lowered the ball and changed directions while still in the air.
"Double-clutch?!" someone yelled.
Hayama felt his eyes widen when Wakamatsu suddenly was there and slammed the ball out of his hands and away.
"What?" Hayama gasped.
...
Mac felt her eyes widen in surprise as she took in her team on the court and how they suddenly passed the ball with only meeting each other's eyes once and that seemed to be enough to know what to do.
Had Daiki opened the door to the zone beyond?
He had, hadn't he?
...
They had caught Too Academy unaware, and they still reacted in time? Seijuro felt….rattled. It might not be surprising that Daiki reacted in time, but that when Hayama got past Daiki and Wakamatsu was there to stop him instead? That was surprising.
And how could they coordinate with Daiki that well? Daiki was always on the outside of his team.
Seijuro frowned as he took in Daiki and realised that he had misread him. How had he missed this? Daiki wasn't on the outside of this team… not at all. He had tried to be, but without really meaning to they have pulled in him and was a part of it. It had even become more and more clear as the game had continued, but Seijuro had missed it. He had let that fact slip through and now he was wondering how he could have done so. His planning would have been different with that fact, but now he wasn't sure what to do.
It was because of Mac, Seijuro was sure of it. She was the reason Daiki had become close to this team and could suddenly interact with them like this. This kind of trust didn't just happen just like that in one game, after all.
It had been well hidden from anyone, really. If one looked at Daiki and his games for Too Academy you'd see him playing mostly by himself but it was clear to Seijuro now that Daiki had a place in this team outside of basketball too, and now it became visible even with basketball.
...
"Are… they…?" Taiga trailed off. His eyes wide and mouth slightly open in shock as he stared down at the court and took in the way Too Academy suddenly moved. It was like they were one and they were passing the ball without looking at each other… or so it seemed like.
"They look like… us?" Hyuga commented slash asked.
Tetsuya blinked as he watched. He felt it more than he saw it, but Too Academy was countering Rakuzan's zone play. They were relying on Daiki and Daiki was… including them and playing with them too.
...
"Good," Kagetora smirked.
"That was well done," Nakatani agreed.
"Harasawa looks pleased," Araki commented.
...
The true zone was not fighting alone.
Daiki couldn't believe it, but it was true. He felt it now as he accepted the help from his team and passed the ball and received it back just like that.
He dunked the ball through the hoop and barely looked back as he returned to defend against Rakuzan's next attack.
Daiki wouldn't have realised what the true zone was if it hadn't been for Mac and Tetsuya. Both of them had pushed him to play with his team and he had been stubborn and too caught up in his hurt to actually listen to what they were saying.
But now… now he knew, and he felt the rush of it go through him.
...
131 – 135 : 39 minutes played – 4th quarter
...
"Defence!" Seijuro yelled. "Focus!"
Mac knew she couldn't do anything now. She could just watch as they did their best. She felt proud and happy as she saw how well they passed and played together and warmth filled her.
She had found another place to belong. Right here with this team.
(She didn't want to think about that this was the last official match for Imayoshi and Susa.)
Imayoshi stole the ball from Mibuchi and hurriedly passed the ball toward Daiki who caught it and dribbled as he spun around getting past Seijuro who looked tired now too.
Daiki then stopped right outside of the three-point line and took the shoot.
The ball flew through the hoop and Mac grinned as the rest of the bench cheered loudly and so did the crowd.
...
134 – 135 : 39 minutes played – 4th quarter
...
It was only seconds left and Rakuzan had the ball.
"Defence! Get the ball!" Mac yelled, unable to stop herself from doing it. Her heart was beating faster and even if she was just sitting on the bench she was breathing like she had been running for the last ten minutes. Everything seemed to go both in slow motion and top speed at the same time.
The clock was ticking traitorously down and nearer the end of the match.
"Come on," Mac murmured. "Come on…"
Rakuzan only had to keep the ball and they would win, but Mac knew that they would go for the shot. Their pride told them to, and that was something she understood very well.
She met Daiki's eyes, and he nodded. He understood.
...
Fifteen seconds left.
...
Daiki allowed his instincts to lead him knowing that they hadn't led him wrong before and somehow just knew that if he moved left now and reached out, he would get the ball, so he did and he heard the curses from someone but his mind didn't process who as he moved and dribbled the ball closer to the other hoop with trails of rapid footsteps behind him.
...
Ten seconds left.
...
Seijuro was suddenly in front of him and Daiki quickly realised that he wouldn't be able to get past him in time.
"I'll win, Aomine," Seijuro said.
Do the unexpected when you really need it, Daiki.
Mac's voice filled his mind and without giving it a second thought passed the ball to Sakurai who was standing to his right.
Seijuro's eyes widened in panic as he looked to the side to see Sakurai already in position to shoot.
"Stop him!" Seijuro yelled.
Daiki could hear Rakuzan's coach yelling too but didn't pay him any attention as he felt like time stood still as Sakurai waited Mibuchi out for a second longer before taking the shot.
He scored.
...
137 – 135 : 40 minutes played – 4th quarter – end
...
Mac was not sure if she laughed or cried as she was hugged by someone and the cheers from the crowd, from her team was loud but mute at the same time. She couldn't believe it. They won.
They had done it!
"Kenzie…" Daiki's voice was in her ear now and suddenly she realised that he had pulled her away from whoever had been hugging her and was now hugging her and she laughed.
"You did it!" Mac cried. "I knew you could do it, Daiki!"
"Only because of you," Daiki said and his voice betrayed that he wasn't unmoved either as he held her close and she felt his lips against her temple.
Mac wasn't sure how long she stayed there in his arms before someone tapped her on the shoulders and she turned her head to see Imayoshi looking amused as he arched a brow at them.
"Think you can share, Aomine?" Imayoshi drawled.
Daiki glared, but it wasn't as severe as it normally would have been, given the good mood. Mac laughed lightly and pulled away from Daiki and accepted the hug from Imayoshi and then Susa.
"Thank you for the match," Susa said.
"Thank you," Mac smiled back.
...
Seijuro stood as rooted to the spot in the middle of the court.
He had lost?
Huh… so that was what it felt like… it was as if something heavy was pressing down on his chest and his eyes burned and tears seemed to want to escape despite his best effort to push them back because he didn't want to cry in front of everyone.
He was scarcely aware of his team standing scattered around the court in similar condition as himself. The cheering was loud and he couldn't shut it out even if he wanted to, but his eyes automatically sought Mac who was looking happy as she was being hugged by her team and Daiki.
Both of them looked happy, and he felt a small smile on his lips as he took it in. It hurt to lose but seeing his friends happy and so carefree was good. He thought he never would tire of seeing Mac happy like this… she should smile more.
He couldn't regret playing basketball… he couldn't find it in him to regret it because he had met his friends who had given him so much. So, even if it hurts now and he wasn't sure how to process a loss, he couldn't regret it.
They lined up and did the routine round after a match and Seijuro worked to keep his cool as he stood there. He met Daiki's eyes and saw the worry in his blue eyes, but he didn't say anything and Seijuro was grateful because he wasn't sure what to say in the first place or how to respond to anything.
"Seijuro…" Mac's voice was suddenly close, and he looked up from his seat on the bench and saw her biting her lower lip as she watched him. "I know you want to process it on your own but I just wanted to say that you played really well and I'm looking forward to our next match."
Seijuro smiled a little as he got to his feet and she seemed to read something in his eyes and suddenly she was hugging him and he stiffened for a second before he relaxed into her hug. He didn't say anything, but she didn't seem to expect him to either. She just hugged him tighter for a moment longer before she let go and stepped back.
He wanted to stop her, to ask her to keep hugging him because he felt… so much and so little at the same time and her hugs always made him feel better. He wanted to ask her to stay, but he didn't so he watched her leave and walked back over to her team and Daiki who immediately pulled her down on the bench beside him and leaned his head on her shoulder with his eyes closed.
Seijuro suddenly felt… alone.
...
"I can't believe they won!"
Tetsuya felt tears in his eyes, but he didn't mind. Mac and Daiki had done it! They'd won! He couldn't believe it, even if he had witnessed it. The way Too Academy came back and turned it around was just the type of basketball Tetsuya loved.
They had really been playing as a team and trusted Daiki who had stepped up and played with his team. Tetsuya had longed to see him play like this since their last year at Teiko. He had known that he could, but he had pulled back and turned bitter.
He'd seen nothing of that bitterness today, though. He was happy, and he was smiling.
"They did it, Kuroko!" Taiga grinned. "Next year that will be us!"
"Yeah," Tetsuya half laughed, half cried. He looked at Seijuro and felt worried as he did so. He knew he was probably questioning himself right now… Tetsuya didn't want him to be upset, but it was part of losing. It hurt, but he knew that Seijuro wasn't used to it and Tetsuya couldn't help but worry about how he would deal with the loss.
...
Shintaro smiled as he pushed his glasses back up his nose. Mac and Too Academy had won. They had beaten Rakuzan and Seijuro. It had been an intense match as far as Shintaro could tell, and he wondered what Seijuro was thinking now. He was happy for Mac (and Daiki), happy they had won and proud in a way because it had been a hard match. Yet, he felt worried for Seijuro too.
Concern for his friend filled him. He looked alone down on the court and he briefly wondered if that was how he looked after a loss as well. He still felt the sting from his own loss against Seirin just a couple of hours ago, and he knew he needed time to process it. But he also knew that Seijuro handled things differently than him and he had never experienced anything like this before… would he be all right?
"Don't look so serious, Shin-chan!" Takao cheered. "Too Academy won!"
"So they did," Shintaro said, but he smiled again pushing his concerns about Seijuro back for now. He would think about it later… maybe he should check what his lucky item was?
...
Ryota was bouncing in place as he laughed and cheered with the crowd. Mac had won! She had won! She had done it! And Too Academy and Daiki, of course!
"I need to get stronger," Ryoga declared causing Kasamatsu to look over at him.
"Good," Kasamatsu said. "You should keep working."
"You're not the captain anymore," Ryota pouted. "So don't lecture me."
"What did you say?!" Kasamatsu growled and kicked him.
"Ouch!" Ryota whined. "Sorry!"
"Huh, I would think so," Kasamatsu said. "You better win next year, Kise!"
"We will," Ryota grinned and looked back at Mac. "Mac-cchi looks happy."
"She won, of course, she does," Moriyama smiled dreamingly. "She's even more beautiful when she smiles."
"Shut up," Ryota rolled his eyes. "I won't warn you again."
"But…"
"Enough," Kasamatsu sighed tiredly.
Ryota shook his head and looked back at the court and smiled, but it slipped away as he looked at Seijuro. Was he okay? He looked a little lost, and Ryota wondered if he had ever seen Seijuro look like that before. He didn't think so.
...
Atsushi ignored the others chatting as they were waiting for the ceremony to be held. He was happy for Mac and Daiki who had won and they deserved it, but he was also concerned about Seijuro. He knew he wished he would lose and that he might be back to how he used to be if he did, but that didn't mean that he wasn't worried now.
He had seen Mac give Seijuro a hug and Atsushi was glad because Seijuro liked Mac's hugs and she gave the best ones. But Mac couldn't stay with Seijuro now because she was on the other team and they expected her back.
He sighed and wished he had more snacks.
...
Sirius and Remus were happily watching the ceremony and smiled proudly as Mac and her team got the trophy and cheered as they raised it in the air.
"It's like seeing James after the quidditch cup back at school," Sirius commented. "He looked just as happy when we won."
"Yeah," Remus smiled. "She looks happy."
"You think she'd teach me basketball sometime?" Sirius asked eagerly. "I want to try playing it."
Remus laughed and shrugged, "I don't know, but I am sure you can convince her to do it. Aomine will probably help too."
Sirius nodded and smiled.
"I'm thinking that our new house should have a basketball court in the backyard," Sirius said. "That way she can bring her friends and they can play there."
Remus glanced over at Sirius pensively. "You know you don't need to bribe her to come over, right? I'm sure she'll enjoy visiting even if you don't have a basketball court."
Sirius just shrugged.
...
"Good game," Harasawa said as he looked around the locker room and observed his team. They all looked tired, or rather exhausted as they sat on the benches around the room. He didn't blame them because they had worked hard and pushed themselves harder than ever. "Congratulations on the win and you've deserved it."
"Thanks, coach…"
Harasawa smiled as the words were muttered tiredly from most of them. They hadn't changed yet, but he would allow them to do so soon, but he just wanted to have a few words with them before they did. He saw the trophy placed on a bench and felt a deep satisfaction as he looked at it.
This team deserved it. The way they had come together in the end there had stunned him more than he thought possible. He hadn't thought he would see Daiki work with the team like he had, nor the others accept him and trusted him like they had done. It was unbelievable and had so much potential for further development.
It was too bad that this was the last match for Imayoshi and Susa…
"This was also the last match for Imayoshi and Susa," Harasawa continued and he noticed the sad smiles on several faces including Imayoshi and Susa. "It couldn't have been a better match to end their high school basketball career, and this team has grown so much and will take lessons from their dedication to the game. I will not announce a new captain yet, but will do so in a couple of days."
Imayoshi shot him a questioning look, but Harasawa ignored it. He had ideas about who the new captain should be, but he wanted to wait a little before he decided officially or said anything.
"Be sure to enjoy the win and celebrate," Harasawa said. "But be responsible."
"Yes, coach," they said, and he smiled and stepped back.
Mac watched in silence as Harasawa spoke and her emotions seemed to be all over the place. She was beyond happy for the win, but sad because the realisation that this had been Imayoshi and Susa's last match hit her for real now and worried about Seijuro. It was all swirling inside of her.
"Change and go get some well-deserved rest or whatever you want to do," Harasawa said and turned to leave the room. "I will see you in a couple of days for our next practice."
Mac got to her feet and squeezed Daiki's hand once more before letting go and slipping out of the locker room to wait outside. She leaned against the wall and allowed her mind to wander.
...
"Mac-nee!" Shiro and Sayuri called as they rushed toward Mac who was leaning against a wall and looked to be in deep thought. When she heard them call she straightened up and smiled at them, though.
"Shiro, Sayuri," she smiled before huffing as they collided with her and both hugged her around her waist.
"You won!" Shiro beamed.
"I knew you could do it!" Sayuri said.
"So did I!" Shiro declared.
"Thank you," Mac smiled. "I'm happy you were here to see it."
"Me too," Shiro said. "I almost wish I played basketball now."
Mac laughed lightly and pulled a hand through his hair and smiled fondly down at him.
"But you would miss football," she said. "I would miss watching you play football too."
He smiled and nodded while Sayuri rolled her eyes. "You made Daiki-nii play with the others, right?"
"He did that himself," Mac said with a shrug and looked up to see Ayano, Takehiro and Tarou standing right there and she blinked. "Hey."
"Hey," Ayano smiled. "Waiting for the others?"
Mac nodded, "they'll change when they get energy to move again."
"You all worked hard," Takehiro smiled. "Congratulation, Mac. I'm proud of you."
Mac knew she was blushing but smiled as Takehiro pulled her into a hug and she felt her throat tighten as he held her for a moment. She then found Ayano there and hugged her as well before Tarou took over. She felt warm and happy seeing the adults in her life smiling at her and being there and showing that they cared.
It was… almost too much.
"Congratulations, Potter-san," Sato said and Mac blinked as she realised that her professor, Kaori and Daisuke was there too.
"Yeah, congratulations, Mac," Kaori smiled.
"You did it," Daisuke grinned. "It was an amazing game!"
"Thank you… I didn't know you were coming," Mac said stunned.
"I wanted to see the final," Daisuke said, "and dad and mum decided to come with me."
"We've heard you talk about the sport for a long time so we wanted to see what you talked about," Sato explained.
"Next time we'll come when you can play too," Kaori smiled. "But I understood that you had a lot of influence on the match?"
Mac shrugged, "I did what I could with the strategy and things, but it was Daiki and the others who did the work."
"Well, you all did great," Ayano smiled.
Daiki blinked, surprised when he stepped outside and found his parents and siblings there. He rubbed the back of his neck as he accepted their congratulations and Mac saw the soft blush in his cheeks, but she knew he was pleased.
Sato, Kaori and Daisuke had already left and told her they would see her soon.
Mac couldn't help smiling and laughing as she watched her boyfriend and family and team as they walked out of the gym and found the sun still high in the sky. The worry for Seijuro was still there and she would do something soon, but she knew she had to give him some space before she did anything even if it was hard to wait.
But she also wanted to celebrate with her team and friends. They had won the Winter Cup!
...
...
AN: What do you think? XD
So, Too Academy won... I was a little conflicted about who I wanted to win but ended up with this. I thought that even with Mac on the bench they could win, but it would be close. :)
Hope you liked the chapter! :) Thank you for reading!