In hindsight, Akko should've expected that Sucy would be the one to ruin everything. After all, the mistress of mushrooms had made it her life's mission to cause as much chaos in Akko's life as possible. That and one day finding a way to turn all forms of fungi sentient, but Sucy was still working out the kinks to that plan, so until then, she'd find ever more creative ways to drive Akko insane.
Maybe Akko was overreacting a bit, maybe. But seriously, out of everything to do at a tea party, who the heck would take the time and effort to spike the tea (Tea! Tea of all drinks!) with illicit substances? What witch in Luna Nova would go to such lengths and sink to such lowly lows?
Sucy, that's who.
Events leading up to the day had started off innocently enough. Hannah and Barbara had decided to throw a little sleepover slash tea party social to celebrate the end of mid-terms and Diana had graciously agreed to use their shared suite as the venue. Not a surprise, seeing as how they owned the largest room in the entire school and could stuff Akko and Co. into their quarters with plenty of room to spare. They sent invites to the other witches a week in advance, though it was more of a formality than anything; nobody in their right mind would turn down an invite to a tea party hosted by Diana's team. The promise of excellent food alone was enough to convince Akko. The only holdout was Amanda, who had to be persuaded beforehand into wearing acceptable sleepwear because according to Barbara, "look, you can sleep au naturel in your place but if you do that at our place, I will, like, literally, charm my eyeballs into stones. Think of the children! And Lotte!"
Other than that hitch, everyone was excited about the upcoming party, making the days leading up to it all the more excruciating. It took all of Akko's learned patience to just sit still in class and listen to the professor's lecture when all she wanted to do was bounce up and down in eager anticipation. Even Lotte, a studious witch by definition, had to make a visible effort to pay attention in class.
When Friday evening finally rolled around, Akko could barely contain herself. As soon as classes were over, she dashed back to her room, grabbed her things and dragged Sucy and Lotte over to the suite.
"C'mon you guys! Let's go, let's go, let's go! I haven't had anything to eat since lunch and Hannah said that Diana made those English pastry things again!"
"A-Akko, slow down. I'm sure there will still be plenty of food by the time we get there!"
"Fufufu, don't be so sure. Any food is fair game if Jasminka is there. Though if there is nothing left for you, I have this beautiful little bloodcap you could try…"
"Don't even joke about that Sucy." Akko rounded the corner and stopped in front of the door, shoving it open with her shoulder with a resounding bang. "All right, let's get this party started!"
After the initial complaints from her rowdy entrance had died down (doors exist for a reason Akko!) and she had slipped into her comfortable pink pajamas with patterned bunnies, Akko made a beeline to the dining table and loaded her plate up with all the delicacies and pastries she could fit. Once that was done, she headed into the common room, where all the other witches were gathered.
She called out a cheerful greeting to Amanda, who waved back distractedly, attention focused on the game she was playing with Constanze on the spirit orb. Judging by Constanze's slightly upturned lips and Amanda's colorful language, the rebellious witch was losing spectacularly. Next to them, Jasminka watched with her customary cheerfulness, chewing contentedly on her own enormous plate of food that made Akko's look miniscule in comparison. Barbara had squirreled off with Lotte, and the two witches seemed to be discussing something with excited fervor, occasionally punctuated by a giggle as Hannah watched on bemused.
Hmm… Just one witch was missing from everything. Just where had Diana gone off too? Akko scanned the room again and… there! Sitting by the massive window, dressed in a modest, white nightgown and staring off into the distance, a ways removed from the rest of the party.
Well, that just wouldn't do! With a careful hop and a skip (she was carrying a massive plateful of food and tea after all, so just one hop, half a skip) she popped up behind the other witch and grinned mischievously.
"Boo!"
To Akko's disappointment, Diana didn't so much as flinch. "Good evening to you as well, Akko."
Akko pouted. "Awwww, how did you know?"
"Forgive my forwardness, but you aren't exactly the most subtle of people, Akko." Diana turned around, a small amused smile on her face. "That and I could see your reflection sneaking up on me."
Curses. Once again foiled by a reflective surface. Akko scowled. "Yeah well, maybe if the window wasn't so freakishly sparkly- holy Shiny Rod, your windows are super clean! You can see all the way back into the living room!" Akko sidled up to it, then thought better of it. Just breathing near it seemed to be a desecration to its all-out sparkly purity. If only the goblin cleaners were this thorough for her room. "Feel like you could drink one of Sucy's shremedies off it no problem."
"I'm afraid I can't speak from personal experience," was Diana's dry response. "And before you ask, please do not attempt to make it into a personal experience."
"Haha, funny." Akko stuck out her tongue at the teasing and Diana's lips quirked a fraction higher. "Don't laugh! I would never do something as crazy as drinking one of Sucy's shremedies!"
"Hm. I seem to recall an incident last spring involving Ms. Manbavaran and a room exploding with mushrooms?"
"Willingly! I would never WILLINGLY drink one of her shremedies!"
"My, such a distinction." Diana chuckled warmly, a rare sound. After a second, Akko's pout morphed into a grin, and she began giggling as well. They shared a laugh, just the two of them in their little corner of the room.
"Forgive me; I couldn't help but tease," Diana apologized after her laughter subsided, sitting down on the ledge. She motioned for Akko to follow suit. "It feels as though an eternity has passed since we last spoke."
"Well, duh, it's been like two eternities!" Which was true, for the most part. The blonde witch was notoriously difficult to pin down for Akko, caught up in all her extracurricular work for the student body. If she didn't know any better, she'd say Diana was avoiding her. "How are you holding up? School running you ragged?"
Diana shook her head, but Akko could see the bags underneath her eyes and the ever so slight slouch of her usually perfectly straight shoulders. "Not school, no. Though I do admit, I have been having trouble falling asleep as of late."
"What's up? Maybe I can help. Just say the word."
Was it Akko's imagination or did Diana's smile look just a tad forced? "I appreciate the offer," she said, with another light shake of her head, "but it's nothing you need concern yourself over. I have the situation under control."
Even Akko could see the apparent deflection for what it was. "But…"
"I'm fine, Akko. Really."
Okay, okay Akko could understand that Diana was unwilling to share what was keeping her up at night. She could respect Diana's wish for privacy, even if the refusal stung, just a tiny, wee bit. Akko could totally understand. Totally. One hundred percent complete and utter understanding.
"I don't believe you," Akko said bluntly, with a scowl. Diana visibly bristled and opened her mouth to say something but Akko held up her hand. "But I'm not gonna force you into telling me. Instead," here she took her own plate of food and pushed it onto Diana's lap, "I'm going to make you eat this entire plate."
Diana blinked, caught flat-footed. "Er…"
"And you're going to drink this tea too." She handed over her teacup. Diana took it, bemusement written all over her face. "Because tea's supposed to relax you or something like that, I think. And then I'm going to get another plate, this one filled with desserts because desserts make everything better."
"Akko, what on earth-"
"And then we're going to stuff our pie holes until you feel better because this is a sleepover and that's what friends do at sleepovers, eat tons of junk food and cheer each other up." That last part was an Akko addition to the definition of a sleepover, but Diana didn't need to know that. She stood up. "Cherry tarts are your favorite, right?"
"Yes. But Akko-!"
"Nuh uh, nope, not another word. I wanna see that plate sparkling like your window when I get back! Chop, chop, get to it!" With that, she left Diana on her own and made her way back to the dining table.
Sucy was manning the tea tray, handing out cups and saucers. Wordlessly, she offered one to her and Akko took it and threw it back, draining it in one scalding gulp.
"What's got you in a snit?" Sucy asked, eyebrow raised after Akko finished hacking up a lung. "It's tea, not soda."
It took another second before Akko was ready to answer again. "I'm not… being snitty," she coughed. What she wouldn't do for an ice cube right now. "Don't...even know what the...word means."
"Mhmm," went Sucy drolly. She handed Akko another cup, and this time, Akko had the mind to take it slower, blowing on it first. "It's Diana, isn't it?"
"Wha-no!" Sucy simply stared back at her, amusement flickering in her single eye and Akko crossed her arms. "Maybe. How did you know?"
She shrugged, seemingly disinterested in the current conversation. "She's your only friend out of all of us who can get you so riled up."
"Nuh uh. One time, Amanda borrowed the Shiny Rod to use as a paperweight without telling me. I didn't speak to her for a week afterward."
"We both know that Amanda is a particular kind of reckless," Sucy countered in her raspy monotone, "and we both know that you don't think of Amanda in the same way you think of Diana."
Before Akko could ask what that meant, Sucy shoved another cup into her hands. "By process of elimination that leaves only Ms. Perfect. So... what's she done to get you in a snit?"
Akko sighed, taking a sip. "I'm not in a snit. Well, I am, I guess. Not at her, but at myself. I'm snitty for being snitty at myself. Does that make sense?"
"Adjective butchering aside, sure. Why not."
"Like, something's bothering her, and it's super obvious, but she won't tell anyone just what it is. And I get that, and that's her own business, and I shouldn't snoop into it. But then I get...snitty because she doesn't want to tell me what's wrong and I just wanna help her out, but I don't know how to except to force her to eat a ton of cherry tarts. Speaking of which, where are they?"
Wordlessly, Sucy handed her a tray, packed to the edges with tarts, and another teacup. "Thanks, Sucy." She took one and popped it into her mouth. "Dif tha' ma'e any f'ense?"
"Again. Sure. Why not."
She swallowed. "I thought so. Thanks for listening to my spiel. I'm feeling better already."
"It was funny watching it all, so..." She shrugged and held up another teacup. "Refill?"
"Nah, I'm good. Still haven't finished the one earlier." Akko raised the cup to her lips, then paused as a sudden thought crossed her mind. "Actually, why are you handing out the tea, Sucy?" she asked, taking a sip. Mmm, now that she had a chance to savor it, this was some pretty good tea! Lemony, with a citrusy twist. Barbara had good taste!
"Oh, I got bored, so I spiked one of the cups with LoveLove venom," Sucy shrugged again, a little helplessly. "But I lost track of which one, so I've been handing them out to make sure everyone has a fair chance. Nobody's professed their undying love just yet, but the night's still young."
"Ah gotcha, gotcha." Akko took another sip- "Pfffffttt- You did what?!"
"I really hope that wasn't the cup, for the sake of tonight's entertainment."
"No- what. Suuuuuucy!" Akko grabbed at her hair and pulled. Oh this was bad. This was very very super ultra magic-missile-propelled-by-hate-and-forbidden-science levels of bad. "Whyyyyyy? Why would you do something like that?!"
"Call it a social experiment," Sucy said, and then smiled, a wicked grin that showed off more canines than Akko thought possible. "But mostly to mess with you. Remember how popular you were at the Hanbridge's ball?"
Gosh, if this sleepover turned into anything like the Hanbridge's ball… Akko felt a cold shudder run across her back. She smacked Sucy's hand, who had been preparing another tea cup, and tore her away from the table. The aloof witch went along willingly enough, damage already done.
"I'm going to sit you next to Lotte and you're not gonna do anything else for the rest of the night except twiddle your thumbs and be on your best behavior." Which would be a feat in of itself, considering Sucy's penchant for mischief.
"Sure," agreed Sucy. "But more importantly, how're you feeling right now?"
Akko paused, then turned around to consider her friend. Sucy stared right back, visible eye half-lidded and looking bored.
"I'm not getting the urge to profess my undying love to you or anyone else in the room if that's what you're asking."
"Drat," and Sucy really did sound disappointed that her scheme had yet to come to fruition. "I was hoping you'd be the one, knowing your luck and all."
"Well sorry to disappoint," grumbled Akko. Secretly, she agreed with Sucy's assessment. Knowing her luck, she had dodged a bullet. "Wait, why am I even saying sorry!" She turned around and began marching Sucy in front of her. "You should be the one apologizing to everyone for spiking the tea."
All Sucy did was chuckle, in that raspy way of hers that made her sound like a mad scientist straight from a Saturday morning cartoon. "Are you sure that's the best idea?"
Akko frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Think about it. Your friends, all gathered here, relaxing and enjoying their evening after a long and grueling midterm. And then suddenly, you come in and drop the bombshell, that someone has spiked the tea with LoveLove venom. Enter, panic and pandemonium, stage right." A slow grin began to form on Sucy's face, her thoughts caught in the rapture of the chaos and entirely oblivious to Akko's own horrified expression. "Suddenly, friend can no longer trust friend, for who knows which one is the infected? Bonds of trust are broken, eyes gouged out in fear of what may happen, and every reflective surface in the room shattered as a preemptive measure for the horror that is to come!" Her voice had risen to an uncharacteristic crescendo, truly horrifying in its mad passion. "Anarchy at its purest form!"
Well, when she put it like that…
As absurd as it sounded, there was a grain of truth in the mad witch's assessment. Maybe not to the grand scale Sucy hoped, but there would definitely be some mild panicking. And Akko was hardly looking forward to being the bearer of bad news, especially tonight when everyone had come to relax and enjoy each other's company.
But what could she do?! Last time she had broken the curse by killing the stupid LoveLove bee. But there was no bee this time, just its venom and Sucy's diabolical scheme. Akko grimaced, completely stumped.
Maybe the LoveLove effect wouldn't work without the bee? Then again, risking everything on that assumption could only go splendidly. And knowing Akko's luck…Maybe an anti-venom instead? That could work, but there was no way in hell that Akko knew how to brew an anti-venom. But somebody had to, right?
Think, just who had the expertise and knowledge to brew a potion of that caliber? Asking a teacher was out of the question as the repercussions would be an eternity of detention. Professor Ursu- Char-URSULA could probably do it but the last thing Akko wanted to do was add more to Professor Ursula's plate when student grades were due so soon. So if not Professor Ursula, that left only…
"Change of plans. We're not gonna tell anybody. I'm going to get Diana."
"Oh?" Sucy's grin seemed to grow even wider, if it was at all possible. "And what does Diana have to do with anything?"
"None of your beeswax." With that, she marched Sucy into the living room, where everyone else was gathered around in a small circle, and sat her down next to Lotte. "You are not to move from that spot for fear of my fury."
"I'm quaking in my boots." Succy drawled, drier than the Wagandean forest.
"Zip it you" Akko turned to Lotte, who was watching the exchange with a confused expression. "I am leaving Sucy in your care while I go fix up her mess. Do not, under any circumstances, let her near the desserts."
Understanding flashed across Lotte's face. "Code Kinoko?"
"Upgraded to Code Mushroom Cloud as of a minute ago," said Akko as Sucy bristled indignantly (wait you have danger levels for me but not Akko?) "I'll let you know if anything changes." Lotte gave her a solemn thumbs up.
With that, she scurried back to the window that Diana was sitting at. When she got there, for some reason, Diana had her face in her hand, exuding an odd sense of exasperation. Another time, Akko would have been curious but there were more pressing matters at hand.
"Diana Diana Diana, I need your help!"
The blonde witch flinched, quickly looking up. "Akko? What's the matt-?" was all she got out before Akko interrupted.
"Okay, before you get mad, this was all Sucy's fault, just so you know, so I don't deserve detention but Sucy does because she managed to spike one of the teacups with LoveLove venom but she lost track of which one and I need your help into making an anti-venom because you're the only one who knows this kinda stuff and we need to do this like, super sneakily so no one panics and I really, really, really need your help." Akko took a huge breath. "Please?"
Diana blinked. There was an odd twitch underneath her right eye that Akko took as a very bad sign.
"Great! Let's get cracking then!" Before Diana could say anything else, Akko grabbed her hand and pulled her along as they made their way to the exit.
"Hey Akko!" Amanda called out to her as they passed the living room. She beckoned to the spot next to her. "Sit down; we were just about to start playing Spin the Wand!"
"Sorry, I gotta talk to Diana for a second!" she called back, already moving away from the group and completely missed the smug smirk Amanda was sharing with everyone else. "Rain check, yeah?"
Once they were out in the hallway, she let go of Diana's hand and turned away from her, ideas racing through her head.
"Sooooooo, we're probably going to need to sneak into one of the empty classrooms to brew this. I can get us in, no problem, but I'm not sure how we're going to get a cauldron in without making a whole lotta noise. Oh, but if a professor does catch us, you can just tell them that you caught me making a late night potluck with stuff I stole from the kitchen. I know what I said earlier, but one more detention isn't going to kill m-"
She was cut off when something warm placed itself on her back, followed by an unfamiliar weight that smelled vaguely flowery resting on the back of her neck. Huh. Was that...lilac? Whatever it was, it smelled nice. Nice enough for Akko to forget that Diana was currently-
"Bwah?!" came Akko's eloquent reaction because, if she wasn't mistaken, Diana, Diana, of all people, was... nuzzling her.
NUZZLING.
Diana Cavendish, star pupil, brightest witch at Luna Nova, proper to a razor point, was nuzzling her like a forlorn puppy. HER.
She's pretty warm for wearing just her pj's, was Akko's first thought and then a mental double-take because, hullo, where did that spring from?
Aloud, she managed to stammer out, "U-uhh, D-Diana, I, uh-umm…"
She was saved from saying anything else when the other witch let out a noise, a cross between a sigh and a whimper that sent trills down Akko's spine. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper, the words tickling her cheek.
"H-how does the expression go? Third… third t-times the charm?"
It took Akko a second to parse just what Diana had said. When it finally registered in her brain, her eyes widened in realization and- "Oh, crud."
Gently, she pulled herself out of Diana's space and turned to face her. As soon as she moved, the other witch crossed her arms over her stomach, a gesture that was completely out of place for the typically confident witch. There was a noticeable flush on her normally pale cheeks and Akko could hear Diana's breathing coming out in short, unsteady puffs.
The dead giveaway though was the intense look in Diana's eyes: pure, unfiltered yearning.
Heat shot through Akko's chest and her heart decided at that moment to skip a beat entirely, for reasons unknown. Somehow, she managed to speak over the pounding and croak something out.
"O-oh man. I don't know if you're either super lucky or super unlucky." Because, seriously, what were the odds of Diana being struck not once, not twice, but three times by the sting of the LoveLove? Practically astronomical at this point.
"If it's you, I would count it as a blessing from the stars," said Diana promptly. Her eyes widened and then she groaned, turning away from Akko, who had turned just as flushed as her. "M-my apologies, that was untoward of me."
Actually, it was just a little charming, judging by how Akko's traitorous heart decided to skip another beat, though she'd never admit it out loud. "I-it's okay, it's- whatever." Akko coughed and then giggled nervously. "I guess we don't need to make that anti-venom now, huh? You'd think you'd develop a tolerance to it by now."
That got Diana to let out a shallow chuckle that sounded just as nervous as Akko's. "P-perhaps I am. I feel...somewhat more composed than the previous time." She grimaced, then sighed. "Though that isn't saying much."
"Hey, progress is progress." Akko glanced back to the door, where the sounds of the sleepover could be heard. "I guess you don't want to go back in there?"
"To quote a wise mage, 'I would prefer not to.'"
And that meant asking the professors for help was out of the question too. Akko bit her lip, considering her options, which were few and far between. After a second, she clapped her hands, startling Diana.
"Okay, so here's what we'll do. You don't seem as bad as last time so I'll take you to my room and we'll just ride the venom out and let your body recover by itself." When Diana was silent, Akko felt compelled to add, a tad defensively, "I know, it's not the best plan, but it's the best one I could come up with right now."
"Oh, n-no, that isn't…" Diana began, then stopped. The blonde witch, seemed more than a little surprised, judging by the look on her face. When she spoke next, her voice was uncharacteristically timid and completely at odds with her usual assured self. "Wouldn't you prefer to spend time with your friends rather than looking after me?"
"Hey, you're my friend too! And it's not like we can't have our own sleepover either. I mean, we're already dressed for the part. The only thing we're missing is the food, but I've got Witchflix on my orb so it's not like we're going to be bored. Besides, it's my fault as well, kinda, that you're in this mess."
At that, Diana's expression turned confused. "What makes you say that? You had no hand in 's scheming from what I know of."
Akko put a hand on her hip and used the free one to brush her hair back like the women in those shampoo commercials, which admittedly would've worked better if her hair was longer. Still it got the point across as she put on a haughty tone and declared, "No, it's totally my fault for being so irresistible."
The eye-roll along with the exasperated smile was exactly the reaction Akko was hoping for. "Half of me would like to agree with you," she said and Akko fist pumped. "The other half would like to compliment you on your modesty."
"Details, details." Akko turned around, already feeling better with a plan in place. "Well then, let's go!"
She began walking forward, stopping only when she realized that Diana wasn't following her. Quizzically, she turned around. The other which remained in the same spot, looking at the ground.
"Diana?"
The other witch twitched and seemed to arrive at some conclusion as she glanced back at Akko. "B-before that… would you mind terribly if we…" her voice petered out. She seemed half-torn, half chagrined by whatever she was asking. Akko leaned in closer.
"Sorry, say that last part again?"
The bridge of Diana's nose turned pink. "...mindterriblyifweheldhands?"
It took a second for Akko to understand the rushed sentence, another second for all the blood to rush back to her own face and turn a similar shade of pink. "I uh…" Akko tugged at the collar of her t-shirt. When did it get so warm all of a sudden? "S-sure. R-ride out the venom and all that, r-right?"
Diana muttered something, maybe a confirmation, it was hard to tell, and Akko decided not to push it. Instead, she clumsily stuck out her left hand, the same time Diana stuck out her left hand as well. "Ah, sorry." "Sorry," they muttered at the same time, embarrassment evident in their voices, before both changing to the right hand. "Oh, sorry" "No, that's my bad- I mean…"
Akko couldn't help the giggle that escaped from her throat and Diana flushed further. "This is ridiculous," she muttered. Instead of waiting for another slip-up, she simply reached out and grabbed Akko's opposite hand. "There."
That should've been the end of that, except Akko's mouth decided to drop its filter at that moment and remark, "Your hand's really soft."
The pink on Diana's cheeks that had been receding suddenly flared back into existence.
"I-I mean, i-i-it's soft as in, you know...soft!" Excellent save. A wonderful way to salvage that sentence. Akko cleared her throat before she could shove more of her foot into her mouth. "Anyway, l-lets go!"
"W-wait, Akko, don't- not so quickly! Akko!"
In the short amount of time it took to get back to Akko's dorm room, the two witches managed to avoid any other interactions, human or otherwise, apart from the brief scuffle with a minotaur janitor on the third floor. He had looked up from the floor he was mopping, seen the two dressed in their nightwear and holding hands, and simply let out an amused snort before continuing, leaving the two once again red-faced and thoroughly mortified.
"Herbie's a good guy!" Akko reassured Diana, stopping in front of the door to her dorm. "I know him; he's not going to tattle us to the teachers for breaking curfew."
"The quality of his character is the least of my worries," muttered Diana and privately, Akko had to agree. "Just… let's not tarry any longer than necessary."
"Right, right. Lemme just get the...key…" she let go of Diana's hand and dug into her pockets. "It's… somewhere here-hah!" With a flourish, she drew out the key and stuck it into the lock. "Make yourself at home. Pull up a seat!"
Diana glanced around the room, looking for said seat. Akko's bed was a jumble of notebooks, old clothes and random knick-knacks she had accumulated over the school year. Sucy's side was slightly better, but the formula jars and mushrooms surrounding the frame gave it a wholly foreboding look. Only Lotte's bed was remotely made and tidy, the single bastion of order in a sea of chaos.
Whoops. Probably should've cleaned the room beforehand. Then again, Akko hadn't been expecting a guest anyways. She let out an awkward chuckle. "Ahahaha… right. Um, hang on." She dashed to her bed, kicking the old clothes onto the chair, and shoving everything else beneath the desk to deal with later. The sheets were another matter and she smoothed them out as best she could. Thank the Olde Nine that she at least had changed them last week. "Sorry about the mess. It's uh, not usually this bad."
Diana, who had been gingerly lowering herself onto Akko's bunk, paused. "Really."
"Okay, fine, it's usually worse- don't laugh!" Akko huffed as Diana covered her mouth to stifle her chuckles. "I've just been busy with mid-terms and everything!"
"My apologies," said Diana, still smiling and Akko decided to forgive her, if only for how relaxed she looked at the moment, eyes curiously exploring the room as she settled against the headboard. "It's… charming. Really." she assured in response to Akko's suspicious glance. "It's all very reminiscent of you."
"And that's a good thing?"
"How could it not be? I find you utterly bewitching, after all."
An utterly smooth delivery too, which was completely ruined by Diana's stutter on the last word, followed by the abashed head turn half-way through the sentence.
Butterflies erupted in her stomach and Akko had to duck underneath the bedframe because she knew, just knew, that her stupid face was red again after that compliment. "Y-yeah, well, you're just saying that because of the LoveLove venom," she muttered, poking around the bottom of her bed for her orb.
There was a pause. And then, Akko heard Diana mumble something and… Akko frowned. Was it her imagination or did she sound oddly disappointed? Before she could question it, however, her fingers brushed against the smooth surface of her spirit orb.
"Aha! I knew I still had it!" Akko straightened triumphantly, orb in hand. Hopefully, the dust hadn't rendered the spirit inert. She have it an experimental tap and sighed in relief when it flickered into life. She plopped down on the bed at Diana's feet and set the orb down between them.
"I think I still have my Witchflix subscription… Yep. Any preferences?"
Diana scooched closer to her and Akko did her best not to jump at the sudden movement. The lilac scent was there again and Akko had to resist the urge to inhale deeply because that could only go so well.
The blonde witch scrolled down the list, eyebrows rising at the recommended section. "'Night of the Living Toadstool,' 'Fungi Ate My Neighbors?' 'Pride, Prejudice and...Puffballs?'"
"How did Sucy even get my password?" Akko groaned, taking the orb and deleting everything in the history. "Ignore that."
"Well, in any case," Diana pushed the orb back to Akko. "While my repertoire of English classics is acceptable, I'm afraid my knowledge of cinema is rather lacking. I shall leave it to your recommendation."
Akko considered for a second, trying to think of a movie that would satisfy her and Diana's tastes. "Hmmm, well… how about," she went to her favorite's list and pulled up a movie, "'Jiji and the Rising Wind?' It's about a witch who wants to make the best broom in the entire world and runs a delivery service in her downtime. It was my favorite growing up because it has a little of everything in it. Plus, it's got a super cute kitty in it. Bonus points."
"Bonus points, indeed," Diana remarked with an amused smile. "I have no objections."
"Great!" She clicked on the image and made herself comfortable against the wall, next to her Shiny Chariot poster, before noticing that Diana had yet to move back. "What's up? D'you need more pillows?"
Diana coughed. "N-no, but..." her voice trailed off and she simply held out her hand instead, studying intently the color of Akko's sheets.
Right, LoveLove venom and physical contact… to make it better. Right. "O-oh. S-sure." Slowly, she threaded Diana's fingers with hers, managing to keep her mouth shut this time. Still really soft though. "H-how's that?"
Instead of looking alleviated, the other witch bit her lip in response, a very un-Diana gesture if Akko ever saw one. "I-I was thinking… now that we've been afforded s-some privacy, that we may- that is to say…"
Akko waited bemused, as the star pupil of Luna Nova tripped over herself in her explanation. The hand in hers was making nervous circles around and around the back of her palm. "Yeah? What are you thinking?"
"That is...to say, might we...embrace, instead?"
It took a second for Akko's mind to translate Diana's stilted speech and then another second to understand what she wanted.
And then another second for her brain to repair itself because Diana wanted to what?!
"Oh. You mean, uh," her voice broke embarrassingly on the last syllable and she coughed to clear her throat. Natural, act natural! You're helping out a friend, your best friend who's not totally in her right mind and is just as embarrassed as you are. Besides, it's for a good cause. Natural!
"You w-wanna...cuddle?"
Diana winced. "N-nothing so infantile- oh, forget I said anything."
"N-no! It's cool, it's cool. Just, uh, gimme a sec."
Despite it being her request, Diana was surprisingly skittish as Akko scooted closer to her. When Akko gingerly lowered herself into Diana's lap, the other witch flinched, then stiffened, like a doe caught in the headlights. A pair of arms jerkingly made their way around Akko's waist where they hovered a fraction over her skin.
Despite her own nervousness, Akko couldn't help herself. She snorted. "This is like, how a textbook would describe what cuddling is."
The blonde witch flushed even further in response. "D-despite my current affliction, I would rather you not feel… uncomfortable by my advances."
"Sweet Shiny Rod, even your sentences are a textbook. You know what's uncomfortable? Hover-handing. Here." Akko grabbed Diana's arm and secured them snugly over her waist. "There we go! Now this is cuddling. Snug as a bug in a rug."
Looking over to Diana, the other witch looked ready to about die of mortification. Akko was too, but at the same time, seeing another side of Diana, one that was surprisingly cute, was enough for her to grin brightly through her own mortification.
"A-are you sure you're not uncomfortable?" Diana asked again, still doubtful.
Akko rolled her eyes. "Yes for the bazillionth time," she said, nestling further into Diana's arms. "It's not bad. Just… different."
Diana hesitated, and then asked softly, "Different... in a pleasing way?"
And holy Nine Olde Witches on high was Akko not ready for the vulnerable look that Diana gave her, a look that made the butterflies in her stomach turn into fire. "D-different in a way that makes me think you have the makings of a great cuddler!" she fumbled because right now, she wasn't sure of the answer to Diana's question herself. "A-anyway, let's start the movie!"
Watching the movie turned out to be a mental exercise in of itself. For the first half, Akko was hyper-aware of Diana's every movement. Every time she shifted just a fraction, Akko would stiffen and the two would end up whispering apologies to each other under their breaths. It didn't help that Diana was just so… warm. Seriously, it was like being cuddled by the fluffiest of clouds and very distracting.
Towards the latter half though, the two of them managed to relax and start paying attention to the story. At the part where the main character had to choose between following her dreams or returning home to say one final farewell to her sick husband, Akko felt herself tearing up. She couldn't help it; she always, always, teared up at that part. She sniffled and rubbed at her nose.
Gentle hands reached up and with only a brief moment of hesitation, tenderly thumbed at her eyes. Surprised, Akko looked up, still nestled in the other witch's embrace, just in time to see Diana turn away.
"O-oh. T-thanks…"
Diana hmm-ed, a strange catch in her voice. She spoke, still facing away from Akko. "Perhaps we might watch something else?" she suggested.
"Why? You don't like it?"
"Not per se." At Akko's inquisitive silence, she reluctantly added, "I dislike seeing you so downtrodden."
There was genuine concern in her tone as opposed to the awkward flattery earlier, and it made Akko smile. Apparently, being considerate was just ingrained into her character.
"I'm fine, really. I always cry at this part. It gets better, I promise."
"If you say s-so," Diana said, trying to come off as skeptical. Akko, however, noticed the catch in her voice on the last word and she grinned slyly as she realized something.
"Diana, are you crying too?"
The other witch flinched, confirming Akko's suspicions. "P-perish the thought. The glare was merely upsetting my eyes."
"Uh huh, right, right. You know what we do to witches around here who aren't being honest and need cheering up?" Before Diana could respond, Akko surged forward, fingers ghosting along Diana's sides. "Tickle attack!"
Diana squeaked in surprise, a thoroughly undignified reaction from a thoroughly dignified figure as she tried in vain to twist away. "N-no, Akko- haha! No, hah, A-Akko, y-you pest! C-cease thi-ahah! S-stop!"
"Not until you're honest with your feelings! Admit you that you got sniffly! Admit it!"
"F-fine! I was- ahaha! I a-admit to b-becoming emotional! Hahahaaappy?"
Akko paused, pretending to consider it, as Diana continued to giggle weakly. "It'll do. You may live."
"S-such generosity," panted Diana, sitting up. Her hair was a wild mess, framing her red face and eyes that sparked still with mirth.
"You know me, bleeding heart and everything. Now scoochie." She moved to the headboard and pushed Diana down along the bed. "It's clear that you're the one who needs the cuddles, not the other way around."
"O-oh, no, I assure you-"
"Nuh uh, not another word!" With some shifting and strategic maneuvering, she placed her back on the headboard, resting Diana's head on her stomach and wrapped her own arms snugly just below the blonde witch's collarbone. "There we go! Optimal cuddling position achieved."
From her current vantage point, Akko only had a view of Diana's blonde mane and some of her cheek, which was still red, though for an entirely different reason now. "You are absolutely incorrigible, you realize?" said Diana, half exasperated, half fond.
"I'll take that as a compliment. Now shush, we're coming to the good part!"
They watched the rest of the movie in relative, warm silence. The tears came back near the end, yet Akko still managed to hum the ending theme as Diana tried in vain to discreetly wipe away her own tears with the back of her wrist. When the final credit scrolled to the top, the two fell completely silent. They watched the orb glow for a second longer before dimming into black, leaving the two of them in total darkness.
Diana still hadn't moved from her grip. Idly, Akko wondered if the LoveLove venom had run its course. Aloud, she whispered, "So. What'd you think?"
The blonde witch made a contemplative noise. "It's strange," she whispered slowly. "I am left with conflicting feelings of melancholy mixed with contentment. Bitter and sweet, all at once."
"Five stars?"
"Undoubtedly." And Akko didn't need her vision to hear the smile in Diana's voice. "I can see why you enjoy it so. The parallels you share with the main character are uncanny."
"Really? Oh, you mean the part where Jiji lost her magic and had to find a way to bring it back." Akko thought about it. "A little, I guess. Though the same thing happened to you, didn't it? And besides, Jiji's more like you. Smart and brave."
"I disagree. Her perseverance and ingenuity can only be likened to you."
"What? No way! Don't you remember the scene where she saved the boy from falling off the tower? All cool and composed, like, no sweat and then flying off into the sunset? And-and that one part where she dueled the pirate captain in the air like a fencing pro with her wand? Totally you!"
There was a long pause, long enough that Akko was beginning to wonder if she had somehow offended her when Diana suddenly chuckled. "You never cease to amaze me Akko. Anyone else would be hard-pressed in finding any similarity."
"Hey, I'm just saying what I think."
"I know. And that's what makes it all the more astounding. Your honesty in what you believe is just...astounding."
Akko felt herself grow warm at the praise. Compliments from Diana, while rare and far between, were always genuine. Hastily she tried to deflect. "So wait, are you saying that you're not a nice person? Because I can tell you, you're like, the nicest person I know. Well after Lotte," Akko amended. "Nobody can beat Lotte. But you're a solid second."
But Diana only shook her head. "Being genial can be easily affected. But you… you're honest to a fault. What you show of yourself is genuine and you believe in that same honesty with everyone you meet, no matter their shortcomings."
Now it was Akko blushing furiously. Silently, she thanked the darkness at hiding the most of her red face. "L-laying it on a little thick, dont'cha think?"
"How could I be when it's the truth?" countered Diana. "That is your magic Akko. Your absolute faith, not just in yourself, but in everyone else as well," she sighed a little before adding almost as an afterthought, "It's just one brilliant part of why I love you so."
Akko froze. Diana must've realized what she had just admitted in the darkness of the room for she felt her physically stiffen in her arms.
Calm down, Akko thought to herself, willing her heart to stop the painful beat in her chest, she doesn't mean it. That's the LoveLove sting making her talk like that. She doesn't mean it. Doesn't mean it.
That didn't make the sting any less painful though.
"Y-yeah, I guess I am pretty lovable, huh," she forced a laugh, the best one she could with the strange lump in her throat. Even to her, it sounded hollow. "Pull the other one while you're at it."
She expected Diana to take the opening, to relax and counter with a dry rejoinder.
"I wasn't joking," was what she quietly said instead.
Akko's heart flew into her throat and she had to struggle to squash it back down. "Diana, it's okay," she whispered back in what she hoped was a reassuring voice. "You don't have to protect my feelings like that. I know it's the LoveLove in you doing the talking."
Diana shifted, moving so that Akko could tell she was trying to look her in the eyes. Just sort of face was she making now? Akko could only imagine.
"But that does not make my feelings any less real, does it not?"
Akko swallowed thickly. Jeez, why was Diana making it so hard to let it go? There was almost a hint of desperation in her voice and... something else that Akko refused to think about.
"Cut it out, Diana." It was meant to be light, but the lump in her throat turned it harsher than she intended. "What about in the morning then, huh? Are you going to be saying the same thing or singing a different tune?"
Silence from Diana.
Mentally, Akko berated herself. Stupid. Stupid. She was here to make Diana feel better, not worse! Way to go. "That was mean, sorry," she muttered after a painful silence. Her eyes had adjusted well enough now that she could make out Diana's blonde mane. Akko placed her hand over Diana's, a peace offering and truce. "You don't have to answer that."
There was an even longer pause before the silence was finally broken. "No… no, you were-are right," said Diana, subdued, but she took the offered hand, weaving their fingers together and Akko felt herself smile a little. "I overstepped my boundaries. I apologize."
"It's alright."
"It isn't," insisted Diana stubbornly and despite the seriousness of it all, Akko had to roll her eyes. Trust Diana to play the willing scapegoat until the bitter end. Before Akko could comment though, she added quietly, "But thank you anyways, Akko." She hesitated briefly before asking, "The morning, come what may. But might... we still have tonight to ourselves?"
"You don't even have to ask twice. C'mere." Gently, she tugged Diana up to the pillow and hugged her, burrowing her face just below the blonde witch's chin. "I think we both could use some cuddling right about now."
That got a small chuckle out of Diana, as she wrapped her arms around Akko's shoulders. "I don't disagree. Thank you, Akko. And good night."
"Good night."
Only sometime later, when she heard Diana's breathing even out into slumber, did Akko pull out of the embrace. She stared back at the slumbering witch, noticing just how much more peaceful she looked in her sleep. And pretty.
Okay, so there really wasn't any point left in denying her little crush anymore.
"Ya know, you're a lot more trouble than people give you credit for," Akko whispered. She poked indignantly at Diana's blonde mane. "Everyone else see's a grade A honor student, top of the class and untouchable." She scoffed quietly. "You know what I see? A witch who got stung by a LoveLove three times. Three! Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, but three is like, purposely sticking your hand into the hive or something."
Part of her had known far beforehand that she was falling for the blonde witch. It had been a gradual thing, small enough that Akko could effectively ignore it or convince herself that it was Diana simply being the kind-hearted person that she was. Tonight, though, had pretty much thrown any semblance of Akko's denial out the window.
"You make it really hard for me to say it when you've already done it twice, even if they don't really count. So not fair, by the way." Akko smiled, twisting a golden curl around her finger. "Plus… I think you got it mixed up. You're the one that's brilliant. I'm just…" she trailed off, staring at Diana's back, smile fading into the dark.
"I'm just Akko."
Complete silence, only punctuated by the sound of Diana's soft breathing. Akko let it play out for a second more before she vigorously shook her head. That was enough doubt for the night. Time to move on.
"I mean, don't get me wrong, being me is still really awesome. It's… just not as awesome as you are. But just you wait. One day, I'll be as brilliant as you think I am. You'll see. I'll become so dazzling, you won't know what hit you when I sweep you off your feet. That's a promise.
"So until then, you mind waiting up? I know, I know, it's a lot to ask for when you're already leagues ahead of me, but I promise that I'll get there one day and you'll be super proud of me when I do. I promise. It'll be worth it in the end. I'll be worth it in the end. I p-prom-."
Her voice caught on the last syllable and she had to swallow thickly. Quietly, she raised the entwined lock to her lips, before letting it slowly unravel.
"I promise. One day, when I'm the shooting star you think I am… I'll tell you that I love you too."
When Akko woke the next morning, it was to an empty bed and the sound of magic being cast.
"Whu-whuh, whozzat?" She shot up, blinking the sleep away from her eyes and fumbling for her wand… wherever she tossed it last night. "Whoever you are, I sorta, kinda know magic!"
Her comparatively fumbling was put to an end when she heard someone clear their throat. Akko squinted, trying to see who it was in the pale morning light
"Diana?"
Akko saw the witch in question straighten up, fully dressed in the middle of the room, adjusting the ribbon on her uniform. "Good morning, Akko."
"Is it?" she grumbled, checking her clock and grimacing at what she saw. She didn't even get up this early on school days, let alone on weekends. Diana must've been some sort of super witch if she could even function this early. Internally, she debated whether Diana would be offended if she rolled over and caught another few minutes of sleep. Or hours. Or days. Or-
"GAHH DIANA!" And then the previous night's events rushed back to her and she yelped in surprise. "I mean, uh, g-good morning to you too! Sleep well?"
Diana dipped her head, seemingly unfazed by Akko's intense reaction. "Well enough, thank you. You?"
"Like a log. Sorta. Kinda." Akko nervously cleared her throat. Now that her memory was starting to reboot herself, she couldn't help but remember what happened last night. From the look of things though, the blonde witch seemed to feel the opposite. She was as composed as ever, hands behind her back.
"So...uh," Akko began. How to best approach the topic? Thankfully, Diana was the one to take the initiative.
"About last night," she cleared her throat, standing ram rod straight. "I must apologize for my unsightly display. My behavior was unacceptable and my conduct was even worse. That being said, I am eternally grateful for the consideration and patience you showed me." She bowed, so formally that Akko had half a mind to return it. "Despite my boorish behavior, I hope you can find it within yourself to look past it, for the sake of our friendship."
The blonde witch could've been a voice recording with how level her inflection was, which was disheartening, to say the very least. Yet, Akko managed to swallow her disappointment and reply back, "O-of course! You couldn't get me to stop being your friend even if you tried."
It was barely noticeable, but Akko saw Diana's shoulders relaxed just a fraction. A ghost of a smile flickered across her lips before disappearing just as quickly. "True," she said, turning around. "In that case, I'll leave you to your repose. I must check in on Hanna and Barbara and the rest."
"I-I'll come with!" Akko leaped out of bed, not willing to let her chance for a few more minutes with Diana slip away, before suddenly remembering she had left her regular clothes back in the suite. "Ah, crud. You wouldn't happen to have a spare uniform hanging around would you?"
In response, Diana simply waved her wand, muttering an incantation under her breath. Akko felt herself warm as her pajamas took on a bright glow, before morphing into an exact replica of her school uniform. Well, not quite exact; the skirt was a little long for Akko's taste, but she decided against saying anything to Diana's alteration. "Thanks. Wasn't looking forward to the entire dorm seeing me in my bunny pjs."
"Not a problem." Diana collapsed her wand, stowing it into her pocket and turned around. "Come find me when you wish to reverse the enchantment," she said as she made her way to the door.
Without thinking, Akko reached out to grab Diana's hand
And then promptly froze.
Diana turned around when she failed to hear Akko's accompanying footsteps. Her brows rose at Akko's outstretched hand. "Is there a problem?"
Other than that Akko had subconsciously reached out to hold Diana's hand? Not a damn thing. But Akko would rather drink a shremedy than admit out loud that she had grown accustomed to Diana asking for physical contact over the course of one night. Just one night!
"Uhh…" Akko's eyes darted, landing on the blonde witch's collar and she quickly pointed to it. "Your ribbon is...crooked?"
Complete lie, the thing was practically a straight point on Diana's collar. Diana, however, seemed to examine it more carefully. "Hmm, is it?" She readjusted it, giving it a small tug. "There. One of the drawbacks to dressing yourself with magic, I suppose. Now, let us be off."
"Right behind ya." When Diana's back was turned, Akko knuckled herself in the head. Act natural. Natural! Or as natural as she could before last night. Sure it was disappointing, a bit, but then again, there was nothing else Akko could really do right now. Still had some ways to grow before she could put Operation Sweep-Diana-Off-Her-Feet-With-How-Awesome-I-Am into motion.
"Akko?"
"Coming!"
The two witches made their way back to Diana's suite, Akko lagging a bit behind. Around them, most of the school was just beginning to wake up. A few students called out groggy greetings to the two of them, but for the most part, they were left alone as they walked. When they reached the door to the suite, however, Diana stopped suddenly, before turning back to Akko.
"It slipped my mind earlier," she said slowly, "but might I count on your discretion regarding the events of last night?"
Akko would've kept quiet even if Diana hadn't asked her. Call her selfish, but last night was something that was for Akko's memory alone. "Of course," she answered instantly. "You don't even have to ask. Besides, the last thing I want to give Sucy is more blackmail material." A sudden thought occurred to her. "Actually, are you sure you're feeling a hundred percent better? We never really did figure out if riding out the venom works or not."
At that, Diana winced and touched a finger to the side of her head. "I wouldn't say one hundred percent," she admitted quietly. "There are noticeable gaps in my memory. Most of what I recall of last night are my emotions. Certain events, however, are a blur." She frowned in concentration. "I do remember watching the film with you though. That was rather enjoyable."
"Ah, cool, cool," said Akko, trying her best to swallow her disappointment. Looks like last night was going to be exclusively for Akko's memory alone after all. "Well, don't worry about it. You were still as cool and slick as ever, Diana."
That got a small smile out of her. "Somehow, I doubt that was truly the case," she said, turning the knob and opening the door. "But I appreciate the senti- Good heavens!"
Akko peered around Diana's shoulder and- holy crap.
The suite was shredded. It was as if Croix's magic missile had rerouted itself to detonate inside this room rather than a country away. There was food everywhere, on the floor, on the ceiling. Somebody's sheets had been thrown over the light fixture, feathers from ripped pillows dashed the walls and there was a large hole in the glass window where the two had sat just a few hours before.
"Heyyyy, you guys came back!" a voice called from behind the upturned sofa and Akko and Diana cautiously made their way over to it.
From her upside down position from where she laid, Amanda's grin looked more than a little shellshocked, but she somehow managed to give them a cheery wave. Nestled in the other corner of the couch and curled up in a ball was Lotte, still sleeping. Constanze sat a length away, sleeping soundly as her head lolled against her chest. And somewhere in the room, Akko could hear the tell tale sounds of Jasminka's snoring. Sucy was nowhere to be found.
The only other people awake asides from Amanda were Hanna and Barabara, who were sitting on the floor away from the rest, near the dining table, a shared blanket draped over their shoulders. They were whispering and giggling furtively to each other, as though sharing a secret privy to only themselves.
Akko could only gape dumbly. Diana, however, had no such qualms.
"O'Neill." Her voice could freeze magma. "What. Happened."
Amanda nodded reasonably, as if asked what she thought of the weather. "That's a good question," she said, just as reasonable. "But lemme get back to you on that in a couple of hours. I'm knackered." And with that, she let her head fall back against the floor with a meaty thud.
"Don't you dare-!" But Amanda was already snoring loudly, dead to the world. Diana pinched the bridge of her nose. "Unbelievable. Akko, I'm sorry, but would you mind waking the rest? I must talk to Hanna and Barbara about the sorry state of the suite, seeing as how they are the only ones currently conscious."
Like Akko was going to say no to livid Diana. "Go for it. I'll handle things here." Diana gave her a small, grateful smile before getting up and heading to the two. Once she was out of earshot, Akko gently tapped Lotte. The mousy girl blinked awake after a few light taps.
"Oh, A-Akko," she yawned, slowly sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Goooood mooooorning… Wait. Oh Akko!" Lotte jolted awake. "You're back! Are you alright? Sucy said you got a stomachache from eating too much and Diana had to take you to the nurse's office afterward."
Well, that was downright considerate of Sucy to cover for her like that. Though knowing her, she'd probably use it as some sort of leverage down the line. Akko coughed. "Yeah, something like that. But Lotte, what happened here? It looks like a bomb went off!"
Lotte's expression turned chagrined. "Oh, Akko, I'm so sorry! I know you asked me to keep an eye on her but Sucy managed to sneak past me somehow. She spiked the tea with LoveLove venom!"
Akko's stomach turned to ice. "Oh crap." Everyone knew. They all knew that Diana drank the spiked tea! Maybe she'd been giving Sucy to much credit. Crap, crud,cripes.
"N-now hang on," Akko began, scrambling for an excuse, any excuse to justify herself. But Lotte simply continued talking, too distressed to listen.
"It was awful! When Sucy told everyone what she did, Amanda panicked and threw the tea tray out the window and I think that upset Jasminka because next thing you know, food is flying everywhere! Everywhere! And then Constanze's robot went into emergency protocol and things just went downhill from there." Lotte shook her head and rubbed wearily at her eyes. "Funnily enough, the only ones who escaped relatively unscathed were Hanna and Barbara. And they were the ones who drank the spiked cup!"
Akko froze. "Wait, what."
Lotte nodded, mistaking Akko's reaction for indignant disbelief. "That's right. They shared a cup so I think the effects may have been diluted because they didn't start kissing until the middle of the food fight. And they got to miss most of the excitement by making out underneath the dining table, lucky them."
"Wait, no- stop," Akko grabbed Lotte by the shoulders. "You said- you said, Hanna and Barbara?"
Lotte nodded, a little warily at the wide-eyed look in her friend's eyes. "Right. They've been inseparable since. Actually, it's been a while now. How long does it usually last?"
Akko let go of her friend, reeling mentally. "B-but that doesn't make any sense!" Had the room always been spinning before? And had it always been so bright? "Diana was the one-!"
And then she stopped.
You'd think you'd develop a tolerance to it by now."
P-perhaps I am. I feel...somewhat more composed than the previous time
Is what Diana said… But now that Akko thought about it more, there was a pretty noticeable difference from the way she acted before when she was stung. At the ball, Diana had acted more coyly skittish, kind of like those fainting damsels inside those old stuffy romance novels written ages ago. But this time, Diana had acted remarkably similar to her usual self. Still embarrassed, sure, but there was something uniquely Diana in the bashful way she acted. Akko hadn't really given it a second thought, what with more pressing matters at hand. But...
So wait, Akko thought, if Hanna and Barbara were the ones who drank the spiked tea last night. Then… Diana...
I find you utterly bewitching, after all
It's just one brilliant part of why I love you so
That does not make my feelings any less real, does it not?
Oh.
Bang!
The two jumped as the door slammed behind them. Akko whipped around just in time to see a flash of golden hair and a cheek that was furiously red disappear around the corner.
"Huh. Diana seemed to be in an awful hurry." Lotte worried her lip nervously. "I hope she's not too angry with how the room is. Akko, do you think you could explain to- Ohmigosh, Akko, are you alright?!"
Akko's knees had turned to jelly, collapsing like a house of cards beneath her. All she could do was stare wide-eyed at the door.
"Akko? Akko, can you hear me? Your face is really, really red! Are you okay? Do you need to see the nurse again? Akko!"
She couldn't answer. How could she? Her face was on fire. Her whole body was on fire, like a meteor blazing in the night sky.
Maybe I'm closer to becoming a shooting star than I thought, she thought, as the world around her shined bright.
Me: "Dianakko week, huh? Sounds cool, I should write something fun and short."
Me, but 10,000 words later: "I've made some poor decisions in my life."