Akko giggled as she sneaked through the halls.
Once again, dinner failed to fill her hunger. However, as she and her friends walked past the kitchen on the way back to their dorms, Akko saw something important. The faeries had just begun to place several cherry pies in the oven.
One look, and Akko knew she just had to have one.
She was currently on her way back to her room, freshly baked pie in hand.
Her team was going to have this to themselves; she would make sure of that.
Tonight was perfect too. It was a new moon, so the halls were poorly lit. When she first started sneaking into the kitchen all those months ago, this would have been a problem.
Now? She'd done this so many times, she could pretty much make the way in her sleep.
Akko was happily making her way through the hall when she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
She saw a faint green light far ahead of her towards the end of the corridor. Her eyes widened as she felt her heart jump.
Sure, the staff had been a lot more kind to her since she and her friends had unsealed the Grand Triskelion… but that didn't mean she wouldn't still get in trouble for both breaking curfew and for taking a pie from the kitchen.
To avoid the inevitable punishment, Akko did the first thing that came to mind. She ran behind a pillar and decided to wait for whoever was on patrol duty for the night to pass.
She took a breath to calm herself. After all, it was dark, and the person was far away. There was no way anyone could have possibly seen her.
In fact, there was only one person Akko thinks might have been able to-
"Akko, may I ask what it is you are doing?"
Akko looked up and saw Diana, the one person Akko believes could have possibly seen her, floating on her broom.
"Heeey Diana" Akko said, as she nervously scratched the back of her head.
"Good evening Akko. May I ask what exactly it is you are doing?" Diana repeated, clearly unamused.
"Oh… you know. Just taking a walk through the halls."
"In the middle of the night." Diana raised a brow, clearly not buying the excuse.
"Yeeeah, you know. Couldn't sleep." Akko avoided Diana's gaze, choosing to look at the scenery around her. Or at least the scenery she could see… it was very dark.
"I see. And the pie in your hand?" Diana pointed towards the aforementioned pie.
"Oh… this? I… uh…" Akko trailed off, failing to come up with an excuse. "I like pie." Akko decided, her face beginning to warm from how silly her own response was.
That being said, she couldn't really lie to Diana properly anyway. Over the past few months, Akko learned that Diana could often see right through her, for better or worse.
Diana began to quietly laugh, much to Akko's relief. In fact, Akko found her own lips beginning to curl into a smile as she listened to the sound.
"Honestly, Akko." Diana shook her head. "I see you are still causing trouble?"
"I'm hungry Diana!" Akko pouted. "We both know dinner tonight wasn't really filling."
"Was a whole pie really necessary?" Diana questioned.
"Of course!" Akko said proudly. "How could I resist?
… Please don't turn me in!" Akko pleaded.
Diana laughed slightly louder. "Fine, I will leave you with a warning this time, but please try to avoid doing this in the future."
"Wait, really?" Akko asked, shocked. "Are you sure?"
Diana was going to let her go?
"It is quite alright. The faeries love you. I am sure they would be quite forgiving of this situation." Diana said, turning her broom around to continue her patrol. "With that in mind, I should hope this is the last time this happens. I also suggest you be more careful for tonight. After all, you are still breaking rules. You are very fortunate it was I who found you."
Akko could hardly believe her ears. Diana was letting her go. Diana Cavendish was letting her go.
Akko smiled to herself, thinking about how different this situation would have been at the beginning of her time here at Luna Nova, back when the two of them did nothing but butt heads. It was a good thing they were both so close now.
Akko looked at the pie in her hands and suddenly had a thought.
"Wait Diana!" Akko quickly called out before Diana could fly off.
"Akko! Be quiet! Professor Finnelan is also making rounds tonight." Diana scolded, quickly placing her hand over Akko's mouth.
"B'uh ah' wan'd t' gib y' smth"
Diana rolled her eyes before removing her hand. "Yes Akko?"
"I said, I wanted to give you something." Akko carefully began to take a slice of cherry pie from its tin. "I know you have a long night tonight… and well… here take it." Akko offered. "As thanks."
She noticed Diana hesitating, so she stretched out her hand further. "C'mon Diana! Take it. Least I can do for letting me go."
With a sigh, Diana took the slice from Akko's hand. Akko felt their fingers brush the slightest bit.
"… F-fine." Akko barely heard the blonde witch's response. "Be careful on your way back okay Akko?"
"Alright! You be careful on your rounds. G'night!" Akko happily said.
"Good night Akko." Diana replied, before speeding off.
Akko smiled to herself before happily continuing her way back to her room.
After Diana had actually let her go, there was no way something else was going to catc-
"Miss Kagari. What are you doing?"
Akko flinched when she heard the stern voice of the one person she actually did not want finding her.
"Miss Kagari, would you care to explain why you were sneaking off in the middle of the night, and stealing a pie… again?" Finnelan firmly asked, leaning forward on her desk, in an effort to appear intimidating.
"Dinner wasn't satisfying at all! All we had last night was soup! No starch. No meat. Just soup!" Akko argued, waving her arms wildly.
Finnelan sighed as she leaned back in her chair before pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Professor Du Nord?" Finnelan turned her attention to Akko's red haired mentor.
"Y-yes?!" Chariot nervously responded.
"What should we do with her?" Finnelan sighed. Ordinarily, she'd have a strict punishment already lined up for the witch in training. However, she'd recently found it difficult getting too angry with Akko, her potential clearly having been displayed across the world.
"E-eh?" Chariot voiced out her surprise, which her student imitated. "You're asking me to suggest her punishment?"
"That is what I said, yes."
Chariot looked at Akko, whose eyes were pleading to keep the punishment light, if not to totally disregard it. Then she looked at Finnelan, who was clearly expecting an actual punishment.
"How about… detention for the rest of the week?" Chariot answered, unsure if that would suffice.
"That will be fine. I presume you will supervise it, correct?" Finnelan questioned. Once Chariot nodded, Finnelan dismissed them both.
"Sorry, Professor Ursula." Akko said, looking down in embarrassment.
Chariot laughed. "It's okay Akko. Try not to let it happen again though." Chariot continued, hoping to relax her student. After all, neither witch was a stranger to trouble. "Anyway, I think you should just spend this time doing some of your homework. You're not allowed to use magic right now anyway."
Before she could take out her books, Akko heard a familiar voice from the entrance of the classroom.
"Pardon my intrusion. I apologize for my tardiness."
"Di-"
"Diana?!" Akko yelled aloud, cutting off Chariot.
"Good afternoon Akko." Diana turned towards the brunette.
"What're you doing here?!" Akko asked aloud.
"I am here to join you. After all, I did let you go last night." Diana calmly said.
Chariot's eyes widened. "But Dia-"
Akko noticed Chariot quickly stopped as Diana sent a look her way.
Diana proceeded to take the seat next to Akko.
"Wait, Diana. Did you get in trouble because of me?" Akko asked concerned.
"I would not choose to word it that way." Diana said calmly as she began to take out her books.
"B-but Diana! You said it yourself! You're here cause you let me go!"
"I can assure you, I am quite understanding of my situation."
"But Diana! I didn't wanna get you in trouble!" Akko cried out.
"There is nothing to worry about." Diana said, sending a reassuring smile to the brunette. "Now I believe we have homework to do?"
"B-but… Diana…" Akko began to shake.
After all, this was Diana. Akko never wanted to cause trouble for her, at least not when it was something that would affect her negatively.
"Akko, please." Diana turned towards the brunette before placing a hand on her shoulder. "I can assure you that there is nothing for you to worry about. I am well aware and completely at ease with my actions and whatever consequences they may have had. I hold none of it against you."
"Are you sure?" Akko asked.
"Believe me. If I held anything against you, you would know. Now, I believe we are to spend this time doing our homework, is that correct Professor Ursula?"
Akko looked at her professor and saw that she had an amused grin on her face.
"That is correct Diana."
"You heard our professor Akko. Let us get to work." Diana said as she began to work on her Numerology homework.
Akko, still feeling a little guilty, decided to just go along with what Diana said. She too began to work on her Numerology homework.
"Aghhhh!" Akko growled, as she grabbed her head with both her hands.
She didn't get very far.
"I don't get it!" Akko whined, before slamming her head on the desk.
Akko was never really the best at math and numbers. It didn't help she was also heavily distracted by the blonde witch calmly working next to her.
After all, Akko got her in trouble! Diana. In detention.
Akko couldn't stop her attention from constantly shifting to the blonde.
"Akko, would you like assistance?"
"Eh?" Akko turned to her right.
"Would you like me to assist you? You seem to be having a lot of trouble."
"But!" Akko got right back up. "I already got you in here! I don't wanna cause you any more problems…"
"Akko, I would not offer you help if I found it troubling in the least. Now…" Diana turned her attention to the brunette's paper. "Would you care to tell me what it is you are having difficulty with?"
Akko wanted to protest some more, but she knew Diana would be having none of it.
Bashfully she pointed towards a mess of scribbles and scratches.
"I… uh… don't understand how this works…"
"Hm…" Diana moved in closer to get a better look.
As far as Akko could tell, Diana may as well have been sitting on the same seat as her. Diana had moved her torso in front of the brunette, her right arm resting atop Akko's. Her shoulder was in front of Akko's chest, and Akko could feel Diana's long wavy hair begin to tickle her hand.
"D-Dia-" Akko began to say, her face beginning to warm. She was growing slightly flustered at how close Diana was.
"So you are having trouble with this?" Diana asked, interrupting Akko. Akko looked down and saw Diana looking right up at her.
"Y-Yes…" Akko bashfully said, turning immediately to her homework.
"Alright then… so for this problem…" Diana quickly turned her attention to the papers in front of her and began to work out each step for Akko.
"Okay, today's detention is over!" Chariot announced.
Akko felt completely burnt out. In between doing her homework, focusing on Diana's instructions, and trying to focus on her homework instead of on Diana who had spent the whole time inches away from her, Akko was mentally drained.
"I suppose that should be enough for today." Diana said, quickly beginning to collect her things. "You should be able to complete the rest of the assignment given what we have done today… Akko are you alright?"
"Huh? Yeah! I'm… I'm fine yeah." Akko said, clearly exhausted. "Don't mind me… just not used to doing this much math at once."
Diana laughed. "Well, make sure you get some rest." Diana began to walk out of the classroom, after excusing herself with Chariot. "And Akko?"
"Yeah Diana?"
"I will… see you tomorrow. Good night." Diana said before quickly leaving.
"Good night Diana…" Akko said, in a daze. She turned to Chariot. "Professor, what was all that about?"
Chariot gave a nervous smile, shrugging.
True to her word, Diana showed up the next day to detention. She arrived earlier this time, just a minute after Akko and Chariot arrived.
"Good afternoon Akko." Diana greeted, once again taking the seat next to the young witch.
"Hey Diana… how long are you coming here for?" Akko asked, confused.
"The rest of the week, just as you are." Diana said calmly, once again taking out her own books.
"Huh?! But Diana! You weren't the one who took the pie in the first place!" Akko cried out.
"I did, however, let the person who did go." Diana noted.
Akko sighed. "I still don't get why you have the same amount of punishment I do. I'm going to complain to the Professor Finnelan." Akko began to pout.
"A-Akko please do not do that, you might make the situation worse." Diana nervously replied. "Disregarding that, would you like any help with any other assignments you might have?"
"Yeah… magical linguistics is killing me." Akko sighed out.
"Well, show me what trouble you might be having, and I will see what I can do." Diana offered, and the two girls once again took the same position they took yesterday, Diana positioning herself in front of Akko as she helped her with her linguistics homework.
They did the same things on the third day.
On the last day, Diana was there earlier than both Akko and Chariot. While Chariot was a bit confused, Akko just naturally began walking towards the seat next to the blonde.
"Hey Diana." Akko gave a quick smile as she pulled out her seat and plopped right into it.
"Good afternoon Akko." Diana smiled in kind.
"Ahh, last day of detention." Akko stretched in her seat before taking out her work for the day.
"That is correct." Diana calmly said, before taking note of the papers Akko took out. "Would you like assistance with any of those today?"
Akko thought for a moment. "I think I'll be okay! It's just potions. Sucy has been giving me a…" Akko cringed for a second. "crash course on potions… I should be fine."
"…I see, if that is the case, you would not mind if I were to take a rest right now would you? My patrol duty last night was more tiring than usual."
"Wait, we can nap here?" Akko turned to Chariot.
"If you are finished with your homework, yes."
"And I completed mine last night." Diana said , already beginning to lay her head on her arms. Her face was still facing towards Akko.
"I-I see. Well! Don't mind me then." Akko huffed, turning her attention back to her homework.
However, it wasn't long until her attention began shifting to the waves of blonde hair just off to her side, to the tiny strands just tickling the sides of her hand. She found her attention also drawn to Diana's calm, restful face.
"Akko."
Akko jumped upon hearing her name.
"What are you doing Akko? I do not feel your pen tapping on the desk." Diana said, eyes closed.
Akko began to grow flustered, realizing what exactly she had been doing.
"N-nothing!" Akko yelped out.
"'Nothing' is correct." Diana got up. "Do you need me to keep you focused on your work?" Diana asked, the slightest smirk on her face.
"N-No!" Akko stuttered out, her face beginning to heat up.
"Are you sure? Because it appears to me you have yet to start." Diana pointed towards Akko's currently empty paper.
"It's not my fault! I just… uh… got distracted!" Akko said.
Akko heard Chariot chuckle from the front of the room.
"I see. And what, may I ask, distracted you?" Diana asked as she began to look around the room. Akko could tell Diana was joking.
Akko suddenly felt her face burn when she realized what she just said.
"I-It's not important!" Akko quickly said. "I'm just going… to do my homework…." Akko said before quickly looking back down at the list of potion ingredients and potion samples on her handout.
"If you say so. Now if you excuse me…" Diana said, as she began to lay back down on the table. Akko noted she was even closer this time, their arms touching. "I will go rest now. Please do finish your work."
Akko took a shaky sigh as she began to write out her homework.
Despite her struggle to focus on her work, as well as how objectively boring her homework actually was, Akko found herself enjoying the fact that she had had Diana as company throughout the entirety of her punishment.
She was still worried about Diana actually having gotten into trouble because of her… but she knew that Diana wouldn't let her think that way. She didn't even hold anything against Akko.
Really, having Diana around felt like a blessing. Her punishment hadn't even really felt like a punishment at all.
"Okay you two, detention's over." Chariot announced. She looked up at the two and saw Akko had also fallen asleep. The two girls were elbow to elbow, their heads almost leaning on the others.
Chariot laughed as she watched the two girls sleeping.
She slowly walked up to the two of them before shaking Akko awake.
"Wha- Where am I?" Akko asked groggily as she scratched her eye.
"Detention." Chariot said flatly. "Or rather, the end of detention."
"Oh." Akko turned to Diana. "Diana wake up."
Diana slowly began to open her eyes. Once she did, however, her eyes quickly widened, seemingly surprised, almost as if she hadn't intended to fall asleep at all.
Diana raised her head off the desk. Akko saw that Diana's face seemed a little red. She also noted that Diana was quick to move and pack up her things.
"I take it today is the last day of detention?" Diana hastily asked Chariot.
"That is correct." Chariot answered, with a smile. "Akko won't have to be here after school anymore."
Akko felt there was something… hidden in the way Chariot said that, but she couldn't really tell what it was.
What she did notice, however, was Diana's eyes widening further and her face beginning to pink.
"Well…" Diana quickly moved to the exit. "I shall see you later then Akko."
"See ya!" Akko happily said. She then turned to her professor. "Professor Ursula?"
"Yes Akko?"
"Why did Diana have as much detention as I did? I didn't even know she got caught."
Chariot laughed nervously.
"About that… Diana… didn't really ever have any detention."
"What?" Akko grew confused.
"Yeah, she was never in any trouble. We hadn't even known she saw you those nights ago."
"Wait, then why was she even here?!" Akko questioned, even more confused.
"Hm… Hard to say… though if I had to guess… I think she just wanted to spend some time with you." Chariot said, with a slight chuckle.
…
" Ehhh?!" Akko yelled loudly, her face breaking into a bright flush.
A/N: So this was just a little thought that came into my head lol. I don't really have the time for another fic like my last one because of life things (plus... even if I did I'm not sure what I'd even write about... writer's block is fun), but I still wanted to write something... so I did this little one shot for now. I wanted to try a different dynamic than the barely friends to lovers thing I did, so I kind of went with friends (post canon) with one character already knowing they like the other, but the other person doesn't know it yet... not sure how well I portrayed that though. Honestly, this was meant to be a two parter, with the second part just being this chapter, but from Diana's perspective (since I focused on making this primarily Akko's pov), but I couldn't feel for essentially writing the same thing twice.
That being said, I could continue this for one or two more chapters, but I need to figure out how that'd turn out.
Also, I feel like if I write more things, it'll just be mainly one shots trying out, again, different things. Learning to Fly was my first fic, and I really need practice writing different kinds of things, else whatever long thing I try to write next (should I have the time) would just turn into Learning to Fly version 2 and I don't want that. So please, tell me how I did lol.
Also, I headcanon that the professors and new students would call Chariot, Professor du Nord (since most of the staff is called by their last name anyway) and her old students would continue calling her Professor Ursula.
That being said, here's a little excerpt from what would have been Side B of this:
"Excuse me Lotte and Sucy?"
"Yes Diana?" Lotte responded, with Sucy just silently turning her attention towards the blonde.
"Where would Akko happen to be?"
"She got busted last night for sneaking pie." Sucy said quickly.
Diana sighed. Of course that's what happened after she left.
"I see. And what punishment did Professor Finnelan give her this time?"
"She said she was having after school detention with Professor Ursula for the rest of the week." Lotte answered, turning a page of her book.
Diana was surprised. That sounded nothing like what Professor Finnelan would usually have done.
However…
"I see. Well…" Diana began to excuse herself "I have somewhere I must be."
Hannah noticed Diana beginning to leave and started to call out for her. However, she was stopped by Barbara, who then sent a little wink to Lotte.
"Yo, Diana. Go get her!" Amanda laughed out loud.
Diana felt her face begin to flush as she walked towards the classrooms.
So yeah, I hope you enjoyed reading this!