Diana finally finished the last pages of her homework.
She stretched and sighed contentedly when her joints snapped from the stiffness of sitting in the same position for too long.
She closed her books, grateful at being able to do so at an earlier hour than usual. With everything else done and having had reviewed the material that will be discussed in the coming week, she had nothing else to do.
Part of being an honor student is knowing how to manage one's time well. And Diana makes certain to have at least a few hours to herself every week. Although now she had a few more hours to spare than usual.
After tidying up her desk and making some tea for herself, she laid out her options for the day.
She could always read a book outside. Most times, it was already too dark when she finishes her work, and a bit too cold for her liking. But now, she could enjoy some time for herself and get some fresh air.
She could also grab her broom and go for a short flight around the area. It's been a while since she took a stroll after all.
She took a sip of her tea while deliberating her options.
It was most unfortunate that her plans will have to wait.
"What? Who's there?!" Diana glanced around, unconsciously whipping up her wand. She was suddenly alert, watchful of any entry-points of the dorm room.
It was a moment of delusion on her part.
"Huh, maybe it was. I was so sure I heard someone." She droned, placing her wand down.
All the same, she now knows what to do with the extra time that Jennifer had so graciously blessed her with.
"I don't think it's apt to credit Jennifer for my free time. It is a trivial matter after all. She has much more important things to do." She said distractedly, finishing her tea.
Yes, she knows she just hadto make proper use of this time as it is a gift. A gift she will not waste by reading autobiographies of dead witches or flying around the Academy and spying on her peers.
"Alright! Whoever you are, I demand you to come out! I will not hesitate to use force." She raised her wand once again, ready to cast her spell.
It was of no surprise that she was jittery and all too ready to leave the room. But before she walks out of the door, she just absolutely had to make sure that she looks the part.
"The part? Part for what?" Diana looked up, her irritation giving way for curiosity.
She knows just what to wear- or in this case, what part of her uniform to take off. If it wasn't for the dress code the Academy insists to uphold, Diana would be wearing something else.
"Rules as such are in place for a reason. If there weren't any, then the bulk of society would surely descend to madness." She reasoned, scrunching her brows in irate frustration.
And oh, she was mad because if not for the restricting rules, she'd be wearing something much cooler- something slicker. Perhaps a leather jacket paired with a low-cut tank top, and skinny ripped jeans.
"That is in no way anywhere near my usual attire. Although I do have very flexible tastes." Diana ponders, recalling the contents of her wardrobe back home.
Regardless, she just had to make do with what she has. She took off her vest over her head, folding it and placing it atop her dresser. After taking off the ribbon from around her collar, she then folded the sleeves of her shirt to her elbows and unbuttoned two of the top buttons.
"W-wait! What is happening?! Why am I- Who's there! Show yourself! Stop controlling me!" Diana struggled to stop her limbs from moving.
She stood in front of her mirror in careful deliberation of her appearance. She looks alright, but it still feels like something's missing.
"No! I am in no way 'deliberating' anything! Stop this at once! Unhand me! Are you in this room?! Are you invisible?!" Diana thrashed her limbs around her periphery, grasping for anyone or anything at all.
"Amanda! Oooh, if this is another one of your ludicrous pranks, I'll- I'll- well, I'll be very cross with you!"
After a moment of moving her arms around aimlessly in an attempt to wave off her indecision, she finally decided on doing her hair. She took a black band from atop her dresser drawer and tied her hair into a ponytail. When she looked back up at herself through the mirror, she was satisfied.
"No, I'm not satisfied at all! This looks like something Amanda would do. And certainly, I'm still wearing my uniform, but I might as well wear a leather jacket if I'm breaking the rules all the same!" Diana spoke through gritted teeth.
She was now ready to leave the comfort of her dorm room.
"I most certainly am not."
The day is still young, and she has a lot to look forward to.
"If I leave like this, my reputation will fall to ruin! Do you hear me? Ruin! If the professors see me, I might as well give them my head on a silver platter! I'm the only hope for the Cavendish name! I can't show myself gallivanting around in such a- a- an indecent attire!" Diana's voice was strained, as she is left clawing at the wooden doorframe of her room. Clawing in anticipation, that is.
Because she is ready to face the day. And she for one, can't wait to see the love of her life.
"The love of my what?!" she looked up, incredulous. Her surprise made her release her fingers from damaging the door any further.
With her confidence level a bit boosted by how she remedied her appearance, she knows she is now well-equipped to woo one Akko Kagari.
"To woo who, now?!"
Diana feels elated, there's a jump in her step as she walked through the halls.
"If anything, I'm pulling myself back, but apparently my Will isn't mine." She mutters bitterly, walking strangely for this very reason.
The students who were out and about had caught a glimpse of her and were whispering amongst themselves. The transformation of her appearance from a graceful and elegant lady who places a high regard for school policies, into a bold tomboy with a girly streak and a newfound confidence in her gait, was no doubt the cause of their unrest. What they don't know is that although her countenance boasts a swagger of a lady-killer, her heart was doing somersaults for what's to come. But as nervous as she is, she was very much assured of her feelings and she knows in her heart that she is doing the right thing. She was as certain of her feelings as she was certain that the sun rises in the east.
"Good Lord," she groans, "whoever you are, I want you to know how much it took in me not to curl up in a ball right in the middle of this hall from the secondhand embarrassment you made me experience just from hearing those words." Diana gritted, "That said, I am now positive that you aren't Amanda, granted she was at the very top of my list. Apparently, she's above anything remotely cheesy as she's quite verbal of her aversion to Night Fall." she muttered, careful not to speak up too loudly, so as to not arouse concern from the other students.
Most of the girls took second glances at her as she passed by. Some were even licking their lips with wanton desire.
"They are? Wait, no. As far as I'm concerned, you have been an unreliable narrator all throughout this whole ordeal."
None of which really mattered to Diana. Those girls don't hold a candle against Akko after all.
"Here we go again," she huffs, "how many times do I have to say this- I am in no way in love with Akko. She and I-"
Her sweet Akko, so cheerful and passionate. There was a way about her that had always caught Diana's eye. How everything about her is a delight in itself, and at times it brightens her day when the girl becomes so blindingly excited about the most inconsequential things.
To describe it in a word, Akko is infectious.
"Like…like a foul disease?" her face scrunched up, but the rest of her body had long surrendered to this unknown force controlling her. An unknown force that she just had to gradually accept, known as Love.
"I truly hate repeating myself, especially if you're just going to ignore me."
The journey through the Academy in search for Akko was long and arduous, but she knows she'd be willing to sacrifice anything for Akko. Looking for her in the unending maze of the halls of Luna Nova is nothing compared to that.
"Admirable. And although I quite agree that I'd be willing to sacrifice some things to an extent for a dear friend, Akko hasn't gone missing for you to phrase it in such a misleading manner." She said, her tone neglecting its usual spite.
Perhaps she was now ready to admit certain feelings she held for such a 'dear friend'. It was a small step, but a first step nonetheless, and the most important step of all.
"No! I was worn down! There is nothing for me to admit in the first place! Now, Let. Me. Go." She gritted. Her hands grasping onto the nearest lamppost as she now found herself in the courtyard.
As she was bemoaning her momentous realization of love, two of her classmates came by to check up on her, concern etched on their faces.
"Diana? Are you alright?" the unknown girl leaned over and put a steady hand on her shoulder.
Diana sighed in frustration, "I'm fine, Rosie." She fought so hard not to look up at the sky and roll her eyes so as to not create a misunderstanding with her peers.
"Are you sure? You were gripping onto that post so hard." The other unnamed girl said, skeptical. And surely, when they all looked back at the post, the dents created by her fingers were plain for all to see.
She had no time to entertain these girls anyway, Akko was waiting for her. In fact, she's committing the highest form of debauchery just by laying her eyes on another woman.
"Quite." She gritted, before catching herself in her cold tone, "Don't worry, Aileen. I just felt a bit nauseous for a moment. And I grabbed onto the nearest thing to keep me upright." She tried for a smile to appease them.
"Are you sure? We could take you to the Nurse's office." One offered.
"I'm alright, girls. Thank you for your concern. I should be on my way." Diana told them politely, before letting go of her solid grasp on the pole.
The girls had no chance to respond as Diana had suddenly flung away, her feet light on the ground. She couldn't contain her excitement to see Akko any longer.
"Oh for-!" she groaned, "I don't even care anymore. Do what you will." Diana went slack from the exhaustion of her relentless denial of her feelings for Akko. But she stayed upright, and her legs continued walking ahead. Nothing good will come to her for being idle after all. And she knows she has to work for it if she was going to be deserving of Akko's love.
"Please stop talking about that. Better yet, stop talking altogether. I'll do what you want, just please stop talking." She pleaded almost too piteously. Dragging her feet as she did so- very unbecoming of a lady. If Akko could see her now, she'd be worried of course, but the way Diana has been carrying herself is nowhere near attractive.
"UGhhh! Sweet Jennifer, make it stop!" she cried, very uncharacteristically.
It was understandable for Diana to be nervous. She was after all, planning on declaring her love to her whole world. Her objective of which is to end the day with a mind-blowing kiss, under the sunset if possible. But for the long run, marriage would most definitely be the end-goal.
"Hannah! Barbara! Good God!" Diana stepped towards them in a rush. Startling the girls as she all too suddenly grabbed their hands.
"Whoa! Diana, wait!" Barbara said.
"Easy there, Diana!" Hannah said.
By her eagerness to see Akko, she pulled both girls forward with her. Fortunately, the two were able to maintain their balance. Their hands however, were trapped in a solid grip by their friend.
"D-Diana? I'm quite happy that you want to hold hands with us, but this is becoming quite painful." Barbara winced, but she still remained holding Diana's hand nonetheless.
Hannah wasn't too pleased herself, what with her hand in the midst of turning blue in the other girl's metal grip, "What she said." She said.
"Girls, you have to help me." The pitiful pleading of Diana's tone was pathetic enough to ring warning bells in her friends' head.
"What is it? Are you alright?" Hannah stated.
"We're here, Diana. What do you need?" Barbara verbalized.
Diana breathes in, ready to unload a lot of her frustrations, namely, her feelings for a certain Japanese, brunette, crimson eyed, fair skinned, five-foot thre-
"I was about to give up all hope, but when I saw your faces, I know there was still a chance I could pull through." The intensity in her tone was enough to affect the two girls so deeply.
"Oh, Diana. Of course. Whatever you need." Barbara squeezed at her hand in reassurance.
"Right, we'll help you, anything you need." Hannah nodded, suddenly straightening her back.
Diana sighed in relief, her grip loosening as a result. She was so fortunate to have friends like Hannah and Barbara. Sure, she knows the two of them were exceedingly loyal, and would perhaps support her in her endeavors without much prompt, but It was still a great comfort to have firsthand knowledge that her two closest friends have her back.
Love wins after all. Or so she heard. Be it the love of a friend, a family member, or someone special. Perhaps it was nigh that she finally came out to her friends. Came out about her feelings for an Atsuko Kagari. Came out about loving another woman so passionately and fervently that her quaking legs can't stop itself from quivering with desire every time Akko passes by and she catches a whiff of her entrancing fragrance. About how everything feels oh so right about loving another woman, and if it's wrong then she doesn't want to be right.
Yes, it was the perfect time to finally come out to her friends as an out and proud lesb-
"Tiemeup!" Diana spoke too fast, her rapid breathing a symptom for her growing panic. She repeated herself for clarity, "Tie me up. Please." A soft and pleading whisper, but it was heard by both girls nonetheless.
"Tightly. Do it very very tightly. Make sure I won't be able to escape." She quickly followed up, snapping her friends from their disbelief.
Silence befell the three girls. Hannah had her mouth open, then closed, then once again opened. Barbara on the other hand, was in absolute delight.
"Diana, I didn't know you were into that! But I want you to know that I fully support you on your journey towards sexual enlightenment." Barbara's cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were full of pride as she now squeezed Diana's hand with both of hers.
"Well, that's literally the last thing I was expecting to come out from you." Hannah's reaction was calmer in contrast to Barbara's elated support. Still, her eyes were wide and her brows high up her forehead all the same.
"No! That's not what I meant! I need you to stop me from finding Akko, there's been-"
"Akko? Did you guys have a fight again?" Barbara interjected, worried.
Hannah on the other hand, just shook her head in mild exasperation, "Honestly, you two should just kiss and make up. You always get into these trivial bouts anyway, and you eventually settle your differences within a few hours of moping around and complaining to everyone about each other." She smirked at her knowingly.
"K-kiss and- No! That's not the point! Akko and I aren't in a fight. There's just this-" Diana tried, but once again, she was interrupted.
"Hey, we get it. You've been pining after her all this time. We just so happened to have the front seats every time you have an aneurysm when she hugs you after your stupid arguments." Hannah deadpanned, as if it was something that happened on a regular.
"Wh-what? I don't have aneu-"
"Oh yeah, it was sooo bad. Akko thought she was having a seizure." Barbara giggled into her hand.
Before Diana could argue any further, a ping from Hannah's pocket startled her.
The girl pulled her device out, tapping and scrolling in practiced ease. "Shit, Jaz is waiting. We should go." She darted her eyes at Barbara.
"Oh! Right. Diana, we have to go. Jaz just sent for us to pick up some ingredients." She lifted the small brown, bulky paper bag pinned between her armpit that Diana hadn't noticed.
"We're going to bake some pot- I mean, some awesome uber normal double chocolate brownies." Hannah sweltered mid-sentence when Barbara elbowed her.
"You can join us if you want." Barbara offered good-naturedly, "Or maybe after you settle your argument with Akko." She quickly added.
The girls made to let go of her hand. Diana wasn't quick enough to hold onto them tighter as they effectively released her grip.
"W-wait-!" her hands outstretched, in a vain attempt to reach out to them.
"Good luck, Diana! Although I'm sure Akko would readily forgive you for anything if you just kiss her as an apology." Hannah snickered.
"Oh! And ask Akko about tying you up! I'm sure she'd be willing to do so as tightly as you like." Barbara winked.
Now with the two, walking embodiment of NPCs gone, she could finally focus on finding her one and only true lov-
"SHUT UP!" she screamed at the heavens in utter frustration. She was at her limit and would no doubt tear out her hair if pushed further. But that just wouldn't do as it would not be very pleasing to the eye when Akko threads her fingers through her bald spots during their much anticipated first kiss.
"Heaven's sake, I can't even do any self-harm at will. Just kill me." She muttered under her breath, glaring at the sky. Such dark thoughts come by her, but they pass just as quickly as it will certainly do no good to take light of them considering how grave of a subject it was. What with the growing mortality rate of kids her age nowa-
"Okay, fine. Stop guilting me. I apologize, I don't mean it. I don't actually want to die." She rolled her eyes.
With all that's said and done, she now finds herself walking much too vigorously towards Professor Chariot's place. She could almost imagine a play-by-play of how things would turn out.
She'll force the door open, because of course it'd be locked and perhaps it would be polite to knock instead, but it wouldn't hold much dramatic effect at all. Once the doors are off from its hinges from the full force of the power of her love, Professor Chariot and Akko would turn their heads, simultaneously whipping their luscious mane in a bewildering fashion. Diana's eyes would immediately make contact with Akko's crimson orbs of fire known to be likened to the pits of the devil's rear end. Their lips twitching from the anticipation of the other's similarly pouted lips. Hands reaching to touch their would-be lover, caressing every part of their skin, the trail of their touch would feel like it's on fire, especially their noses- because they're enveloped with each other's hypnotic scent. Although a certain part of their body on the lower crotch region begged to be desperately noticed as it screamed like a burn victim. Diana won't care about Professor Chariot watching them at all. In fact, if need be, it should serve as reference when she and Professor Cro-
"I hate to interrupt your very disturbing portrayal of romance, but why are we even going to Professor Chariot's place? It's almost time for the cooks to prepare dinner. Akko would hang around the kitchens for a first taste. Trust me, that girl's a glutton."
.
.
.
"Silence? Why, that's a first. Though I myself am a bit jarred at why I even bothered pointing it out. No matter, might as well get this over and done with quickly as I'm sure you'll eventually find a way to bring us together by the end of the day. There's no use in delaying the inevitable.
.
.
.
Silence, still? It's fine, you know. I'm rarely wrong, but I myself have a hard time admitting it when I make such blunders. The first step is always accepta-"
A detour. Diana thought as her step followed.
A notion popped in her head that perhaps it was better to come bearing gifts. After all, other than the common bouquet, what screams 'YES I WANT TO BE YOUR GIRLFRIEND' if not some sweet, delectable, finger-licking dessert.
Yes, of course, that was written in Chapter 2 of the Guide Book of the Basics of Wooing a Girl, and she will certainly see she follows it thoroughly. What with its very compelling title, it's hard to ignore its sagely advice.
And if Akko happens to be there, then it's settled that they're really destined to be together.
"I mean, you couldn't even barely call it a coincidence since I have knowledge that she'll most probably be there. But that could work, I guess." Diana shrugged. Almost too smugly.
Smugness, condescension, and being patronizing- listed as numbers 34, 41, and 67 under 'Big Red Flags of Absolute Turn-offs' in the Guide Book of the Basics of Wooing a Girl.
"I was trying to be supportive! I know it's hard to admit mistakes, and I was being so nice about it too." She rolls her blue orbs at the like-colored sky, but now it was slightly orange because it was almost dinner after all. Though her eyes remained blue as the orange-colored sky won't be reflected through it as they're not mirrors.
"Oh, careful there. Don't want to create inconsistencies because of your God-awful metaphors now, do we?" Diana smirked, her tone very demeaning.
Come to think of it, Diana thought, number 1 under the list of 'Big Red Flags of Absolute Turn-offs' in the Guide Book of the Basics of Wooing a Girl was being a Mama's Boy.
"Now, where is this 'guide book' I keep hearing about? I highly doubt they keep such literature with questionable contents in the library."
Perhaps Diana was the exception to this rule. But being disqualified because of the technicality of gender alone doesn't sound fair at all. Perhaps the qualifications for such should be amended wherein the requisites for which includes an individual's very alarming degree of idealizing the image of their mother to the point of seeking out this ideal in their romantic pursuits, regardless of their gender. Disconcerting as it may seem, an Oedipal Complex is an absolute Red Flag that should and would make the other party run for the hills.
Diana hummed, sounding as if she was considering her thoughts carefully, "Are you done?" her tone was very quiet. But as quiet as it may be, it carried a weight that would make any normal person quiver in their boots.
"That's right. You're on very very thin ice."
A retraction. She thought. There is absolutely nothing wrong with loving one's mother. A mother who carried you for nine months with fervent care. Even after giving birth to you, which in of itself is a Herculean task, would wrap her warm arms around your small frame and take care of you and accept you with the devotion of an entire world's weight on her shoulders. A mother who you would simply call your hero, your savior, and someone who you would look up to for the rest of your life.
Yes. Perhaps there was nothing wrong with seeking out such honorable qualities in potential romantic partners after all. And anyone who says otherwise is obliged to ask for a most sincere apology.
Diana hummed once again "I'll take it- apology accepted." Her tone now lighter albeit still bearing a bit of an edge.
She walked towards her destination in silence. Her pace was slowed, as a certain wave of calmness washed over her being. A calmness almost akin to…acceptance.
"Yes, yes. I've accepted my fate of being your ragdoll for the time being. Rest assured, I will find you and I will most definitely put a stop to this atrocity tomorrow." She forewarned, undoubtedly planning her next steps for the following day.
Although she was still loath to admit that her sudden spurt of courage will be helpful in the long-run, she is certainly grateful for her current predicament.
"Absolutely not. And I won't have you thinking otherwise." She scoffed. Still being held back by the last traces of her denial.
Her progress towards full enlightenment will come in due time. After all, love is very patient. And rushing it won't do any good when one wants to achieve a certain level of progress. Diana is a very complicated woman after all, her heart needs proper and due preparation before making any sort of move. Especially for one very special woman called Akko Kagari.
If only Diana would openly admit to being in love with such a remarkable woman.
Remarkable in a sense that she is resplendent in every such way that often leaves Diana gaping in the wake of her bold nature. Which in most cases would make any normal person stop in their tracks at the near improbability of most of her 'grand' ideas.
And a Woman. Oh, Diana could only dare lay her mortal eyes on how Akko has grown into such a…well-developed anatomy, to say the least. Her proportions alone leaves Diana salivating in her trail like a mad dog. Admittedly, the size of Akko's chest isn't as bodacious as one might care to like. But for this very reason alone, the usually naïve girl would opt out of wearing a brassiere when in her uniform, which in turn would leave her very perky bosoms in such a salacious display for all of Luna Nova to see. Diana was no doubt just minutes from commi-
"Good heavens! Amanda! I can't believe I'm saying this. But it is so good to see you." Diana caught sight of the said girl. She grabbed the redhead's arm in time just as she was about to run off. Not paying much care at the tightness of her grip.
"Fuck! Diana?! Dafuq?! That hurts! Jesus woman! I know I'm irresistible, but would it hurt to lay off a little?" Amanda screeched, as overtly exaggerating as ever.
"Sorry." Diana loosened her hold a bit "Look, I have no time to explain- but if you see Akko tell her to run. Maybe go out of town for today just to be safe. Anyway, just tell her not to come find me for the next few hours."
"Why? Are you guys fighting again? You know, you should learn to treat your girl right. Don't worry, Imma tell her to go to you as soon as I see her. I got cho number." Amanda finger guns, clicking her tongue in a smirk.
"No! Why do you always insist on going through unnecessary lengths just to contradict me? That's quite literally the exact opposite thing I'm aski-"
"Look, not to be rude to your royal lady-ness, but I don't have time to help you with that stick up your ass. Conz is running up my ass for ruining one of her many Stanbots. I mean, what gives right? I didn't mean to spill my coffee all over it! It was an accident! And It's not like she couldn't easily fix it. She's like some sort of genius after al- wait, something's different about you." She stopped mid-rant, peering at Diana with a hand under her chin. After a beat, she gasps, and her eyes brightened in realization.
"Oh shit, did you finally decide to come to our side? Oh man, dude, I'm so proud of you." She makes a fist to cover her mouth, wiping crocodile tears with her other hand.
"Pardon? I'm not sure what you- " Diana cocked a brow at Amanda's sudden shift in mood. Her urgency to flee was replaced with an addling veneer of delight.
"Hey, hey, it's cool, Diana. I get it, you're still a baby gay and you've gots a long way to go. And for that, I'm officially taking you under my wing." Amanda drapes her arm amicably around Diana's shoulder, shaking her gently in camaraderie.
"I'm afraid I don't quite understand." Diana started. Looking as though she wanted to vehemently protest but seeing Amanda act so friendly with her made her react otherwise. After all, the fiery girl only ever acts like this around literally everyone besides Diana. It was a breath of fresh air to be finally treated like a proper friend.
"Oh, don't act like that. You've finally seen that the Gay Way is the Right Way! And I have to say, as your self-appointed mentor- I one hundred percent approve of your recent choices." Amanda nods as she regarded her.
"Just what are you talking about? I'm not in any way different from how I was before!" Diana's brows remained scrunched in bewilderment.
"Huh-ho! You get it! I like this 'new' you, Diana. Just imagine- me and you, mentor and student, The Butch Duo of Luna Nova. We'll be the talk of the academy! I can just smell all the girls I could-"
As Amanda ranted about her wishful adventures with fantasticalwomen, Diana tuned her out. Largely because Amanda's descriptions are getting too disgusting for her tastes. Bewilderment turned to total perplexity as each statement from Amanda would make her cringe or scrunch up her face even more. So yes, she wasn't being rude when she tuned out such sordid details of what two girls can do in bed, not at all.
Although there was just one thing she had an issue with- she, in no certain way, identify as ""Butch"". Oh no, if she were anything at all, she'd say "Futch" is the term that wholly embodies her.
"Futch?" Diana looked up, her face now seemed to be regrettably stuck in a permanent scowl.
The girl's sudden question interrupted Amanda in recounting various tips for safe sex between two women. As much as Diana needed to hear such golden words of advice, they would have to delay that lesson for another time. Her sexual identity was a matter that must be discussed as it is something of an utmost importance for the whole world to know just how and what exactly she labels herself.
"What? Futch? Like a femme and a butch meshed together? Futch. Huh." Amanda repeated, trying to grasp the concept. And as expected of an established connoisseur in her field, Amanda took the concept in stride.
"Hmm, I guess you are still a bit of a femme. But y'know, the 'Butch and the Futch Duo' doesn't have the same ring to it." She shook her head.
"R-right." Diana found herself agreeing, as she's at a loss of what to say.
"Anyway!" she clapped her hands "Femme, Butch, or Futch- these labels don't really matter. We're all still under the same Big Ol' Lesbian category." She concludes.
"Wh-what! I-I'm not! How did you even- I'm not a le- le- les-! I'mnotgay!" Diana squeaked out, appalled at the implication.
"Oh Diana, I get it now." Amanda inhales and exhales deeply, "Babygurl- it's okay to say 'Lesbian'."
"Goodness gracious, please stop."
"Lesbian is not a bad word, Diana. Now repeat after me: Le- "
Before Amanda could elucidate on the matter of Diana's repressed nature, they heard something bounding towards their direction.
They fell silent in order to try and decipher the ponderous weight lumbering and getting closer with each step, thundering louder and louder as the ground shook along.
"TARGET ACQUIRED" a deep robotic voice forewarned.
It all happened in a flash.
The robot, a humungous bulk of metal, ran towards them in a speed that's atypical for its size.
In a state of utter confusion, Diana just stood frozen in place, gaping at the looming danger in front of her. Luckily for her, Amanda had shoved her away, "Watch out!"
She fell on her behind on the dry grass in a painful thud. When she opened her eyes from wincing, she saw Amanda running off, screaming nonsense at the giant robot, as it chased her to god knows where.
"Well, that just happened." She muttered in disbelief, falling onto her back on the grass and looking up at the sky.
Perhaps a little rest was in order. What with the frankly befuddling turn of events that seem much too comical to actually play out in real life.
"For the first time, we are finally in agreement." She stretched out her limbs, relishing the cool breeze that blew by.
She allowed herself a breather for a few minutes as she idly hummed an unnamed tune.
Mayhaps it was time to get up. Serene as it may be, languidly lounging about in an open field doesn't particularly bode well for a woman of her standing.
"Hmm, it may be so." She hummed, closing her eyes.
Diana felt an urgency that she needs to absolutely get back up and go find Akko. The day is closing to its end, and after dinner, Akko would most likely pass out from the food coma she manages to give herself every nigh-
"You know," she started, still lying down and basking in the warmth of the ground, "I've been thinking. About Akko and I, that is." She placed her hands behind her head, cozying up, before continuing.
"Everyone seems to be so convinced that we're…or that she's, that is to say…" she huffs, not exactly finding the right word, "Well, that she's special to me at least. Hannah, Barbara, Amanda, and well, even you. Whoever you are." She added the last bit as an afterthought.
"And when I gave it a thought, I still don't really understand. Because to me, she and I are dear friends."
Perhaps Diana still needed time. Quite frankly, it's a bit insulting as she's been given the whole afternoon to sort out her feelings. All the poetic revelations, the sensational imageries, and the most meaningful paragraphs to ever be constructed in the history of romantic literature, are brought to naught by the simplest, most senseless, most ignorant-
"Oh hush, you. Let me finish. As I was saying, I've never really thought of it like that. Yes, I know, it's a trite remark, but it's true, nonetheless. That said, everyone was relentless. And when I say that, I meant you are the most persistent of them all to convince me that there just might be something… different between the two of us.
So, I thought back to the times we usually spent together with our friends. Although I do find joy in spending time with everyone, I also tend to gravitate myself towards her, and by the end of the day, we'd be laughing among ourselves even if we're with everyone else."
"Most days, I try to make her smile, and mind you, that girl finds everything funny. But there's this smile that you'd only get to see once in a while. The first time it happened was when I gave her a sunflower on her birthday. A simple gift, I know, but I just couldn't think of anything else to give her. I remember being really nervous while handing it to her. When she took it, our fingers accidentally brushed, and she was hiding a shy smile, looking down at her shuffling feet and tucking her loose hair behind her ear. It was all too endearing." She coughed, as her face reddened form the memory, "I don't even know why I recalled that moment so vividly. And to think I always think back to that day before falling asleep."
"From that moment on, I'd always try and find opportunities to make her smile like that again. Surprisingly, it was easy. Akko would turn timid with even the slightest touch of our hands. And even when she greets me with a hug- a hug that she initiated, she'd look up at me shyly and grin at me. And I'll be left in a fumbling mess, trapped in her warmth. And- and, ehem" she stopped ranting, a bit embarrassed at losing herself in the memory.
"What I'm trying to say, is that while I do enjoy my time with everyone else, be it Hannah, Barbara, and even Amanda of all people, I tend to be the happiest when I'm with Akko. And even if we've only started getting along for a few months, I find myself… paying closer attention to her than anyone else.
So yes, maybe I do think she's someone special. And maybe you're all right. Maybe I do like her." She finished, crunching her stomach forward to sit back up.
Pride. Pride that a father might feel towards his daughter when she finally comes through. And Joy, oh how joyous and absolutely momentous this occassio-
"Hey, I'm not done. I'm not sure if this is what 'coming through' actually is, as I'm not certain I've come to this 'realization' you so often speak of." She shook her head, leaning back with her hands flat on the ground.
"I just want to clarify, that I've just recently given name to this… thing I've been feeling for Akko. And even I'm not so sure what it exactly is. It might just be something a bit beyond platonic, or it might be romantic after all, like you want it to be. My point is, I don't know what it is- but what better way to find out than to give it a try, right?"
There is no 'try' only 'do' or 'do not'
"For heaven's- stop butting in for once and let me finish, will you?" Diana waited, but it seems like her message was clearly received.
"Thank you. Now, I'll talk to Akko, alright? If she doesn't feel the same- "
Which she does.
"If she doesn't feel the same," Diana glared at the sky, the silent threat was well received, "I'm sure she's not the kind of person who will hold it against me. And I'm confident we'll still remain friends afterwards. Then we'll all finally be able to move on, like adults."
The absurdity of this implication seem rather-
"To make things clear, I was talking about you."
Duly noted.
"All I ask is for you to leave me alone." She finally stood up, seemingly finished with her less than reasonable demands, "Oh, and I want to do this my way, understood? No controlling me anymore. Although I feel like your power has been waning since you haven't forced me into doing anything since my conversation with Amanda." She added, smugly.
"I'm not being smug. I'm being contemplative. But if you're acting like that, it just means I'm close to the truth." She added, smugly.
"Don't worry, even after you've manhandled me in the beginning, I did promise to do my part, so trust that I'll follow through. You'll just have to make do with being the silent observer."
Thus, begins the first step of Diana and Akko's love story. After the long and arduous twists and turns that Diana had to go through, she found that the true enemy she had to face was none other than herself. Truly a formidable foe, but ultimately, she conquered herself by making herself understand that only one thing could conquer the highest of mountains, the lowest of valleys, and the widest of rivers: Love.
"So much for the 'silent' part." She huffed. But her irritation was only an indication of her nervousness as now, it is only mere minu-
"Can I ask you to stop being so verbose about this affair? I'm trying to think of the best way to tell Akko how I feel."
.
.
.
You go, girl.