Something short and sweet after yesterday's length. Just a reminder, this is a direct continuation of yesterday, and finishes up this little three-part story. The rest of the week's entries will be completely unrelated to these first three, and each other.

Hope you all are still enjoying!

Day Three: Cuddles

Cuddle Positivity

Akko and Diana exited the leyline back to school property some hours later. Both were busy reminiscing about the wonderful outing they had just experienced, and secretly desiring there would be many more to come. Diana, especially, was anxious for the chance to take charge next time and really spoil Akko.

Neither wanted the day to end, but Akko had been busy mulling over a plan ever since they had left the restaurant. The past twenty-four hours had gone so perfectly, her confidence had been steadily on the rise since, and she was now certain her next proposal wouldn't be met with any uncertainty.

"Diana?" the brunette finally spoke up as she slowed her broom down by a margin. "Can we make one more stop before I take you back to your room?"

"Of course, Akko," the blonde replied instantly. "I…don't want to separate quite yet."

Thankful Diana couldn't see her blush and goofy grin, Akko changed course and picked up speed again.

"Great! Me neither!"

As a familiar building came into view, Diana chuckled and tightened her grip around Akko's waist in more of a hug.

"Is this supposed to be some kind of déjà vu?" she asked lightly.

Akko laughed. "I didn't even think about that! I guess it kinda is though, huh?"

Sure enough, they dismounted atop the New Moon Tower, where only a short while ago they had confided in each other beneath the stars.

"I guess I just instinctively came back here since it's kinda where we both realized we have something special," Akko started to try to explain. "Plus…" she bit her lip shyly, "I was kinda hoping we could kinda recreate that memory?"

Diana smiled. "We still have quite a while until the stars come out though," she pointed out.

"That's okay!" Akko exclaimed. "The sun's about to set! We can…just watch that together instead?"

Diana hoped the pink in her cheeks could be attributed simply to the darkening hues of the sky, though she knew that was an utterly silly notion.

"I'd like that," she mumbled.

Akko beamed before taking Diana's hand once more and settling back down on the ledge of the tower. They started off simply leaning against the other heavily, though Akko had a plan.

"You know," she began, "we have quite a history atop this tower; and I'm not just talking about last night."

"Hmmm?" Diana sighed, encouraging Akko on as she settled her cheek upon the girl's shoulder.

Diana's nuzzling caused Akko to trip over her words slightly, but only encouraged her on in the end.

"Y-Yeah! It's where we kinda had that face off before the Parade, which really made me want to put my all into it just to show off to you. Then, it's where I confronted you about leaving Luna Nova," Akko looked down briefly at recalling the somewhat bitter memory before smiling once more. "I think that's really when I recognized my feelings for you. I mean, why else would I fight so hard for my 'rival' to stay at school?"

Diana smiled, though she knew Akko couldn't see it from where she rested. "I still can't believe you were the one to come after me and try and stop me," she recalled fondly. "I expected it from Hannah or Barbara, but seeing you come instead, it hurt even more."

She felt Akko shift uncomfortably.

"Diana, I…"

"You didn't come up to hurt me, I know," Diana cut her off softly. "I needed to hear everything you told me. Even though I still dismissed everything and left you standing there anyway, the pain that followed me alerted me for the first time that I wasn't thinking straight. I'm sorry I was so stubborn when you came after me to my home. Like I told you in the café the night I found you, I did leave partially to get away from you, and now I know the reason wasn't only because I envied your view of magic, but because…I liked you as well. You were making it all the more difficult for me to stay away, and I foolishly thought if I kept pushing you away, you'd just leave."

Smirking, Diana looked up at Akko as she linked their hands together once more.

"But you proved to be even more stubborn than me."

Akko's face colored so dark and so fast, Diana was just waiting for steam to come streaming from her ears.

"Heh-heh… I guess I am," the younger girl mumbled.

Diana's smirk transformed into another tender smile as she adjusted herself once more, taking the chance to be bold and thread her arm around Akko's before taking her hand again.

"As I told you before, it's utterly endearing," she whispered.

Akko was close to having a meltdown, not only because of how affectionate Diana was being, but also because she was enacting Akko's plan on her own unknowingly. The brunette witch had wanted to take Diana up here simply to cuddle with her as the sun set, yet Diana had already gone the extra mile by making the first move, and perhaps even completely unaware she was doing so. Diana Cavendish didn't seem like a cuddler, so perhaps she didn't even know that's what she was doing, and was instead just following what her heart felt was right.

Regardless, Akko wasn't about to be upset about any of this as she closed the distance between them even more, resting her head on Diana's, replicating the scene from last night almost perfectly.

"Thank you for coming out with me today, Diana," Akko spoke after a moment's silence in which they simply stared out at the horizon as the sun began to set.

"Thank you for inviting me," Diana returned. "I wouldn't be opposed to doing it again soon."

Akko gulped, and she was sure Diana could hear her heart hammering in her chest from their proximity.

"R-Really?"

Diana giggled. "Really, Akko."

Blushing, Akko pulled away from Diana only enough to quickly plant a kiss atop her head.

"I really like you, Diana," she confessed.

Looking up, Diana met her eyes, sapphire and ruby bleeding into the other, before leaning in to plant a chaste kiss upon Akko's cheek.

"I really like you, too," she echoed.

And as the sun set on the day, it would only rise again to start the dawn of a beautiful relationship between the two little witches.