(Hello everyone! Thank you for the comments, faves, and follows! Writing the last chapter was difficult for me, and I wanted to convey Constanze's turmoil and pain. Unrequited love is painful. I've noticed some comments in the last chapter were talking about the rarepair that is AkkoxConstanze, and let me tell you, I am planning something in the future :3 Anyway, thank you again and please enjoy this next chapter!)

Chapter Three

"Man, I wonder what was up with Constanze today?" Akko wandered aloud, playing with her quill. She squeaked when she accidentally pricked her finger, sucking on the tip. Lotte nervously laughed. "Akko, she was probably upset about something she didn't want to talk about."

Sucy nodded. "She doesn't even talk at all." Lotte whirled about. "Sucy! I was speaking metaphorically!"

Akko sighed, nursing her pricked fingertip. "I don't know…I thought she might want some help. She doesn't ask for help, but I know she needs it."

"Bleeding heart Akko, that's the girl I know." Sucy dryly stated. "But have you ever considered that someone might want to do it on their own? Or that getting help might hurt them more?"

Akko cocked her head. "Sucy, are you okay?"

Sucy huffed. "I'm fine. I'm just saying…you can't help everyone. Or…" She slyly sneaked a glance towards a certain blonde. "…love everyone."

Akko squealed and threw her manuscript at Sucy. "Shut up shut up shut up!"

"ATSUKO KAGARI! IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH THE CLASS?" A large voice boomed across the room, and Akko cringed. The brown-haired girl turned and smiled weakly. "Sorry professor?"

Akko moaned. Groaned. All of the sad noises she could manage. She shuffled papers and set them aside after proofreading them. Professor Badcock, in her infinite wisdom, found it prudent, as punishment, to make Akko go through past documents and organize them for future reference. If only the writing wasn't super dry and boring, Akko would've done it in a flash. And if the papers were much more informative and fun, she would've done it even faster!

A quiet knock. Akko whirled about, dreading more stacks of paper. Instead, it was Diana. Akko let out a long sigh and smiled. "What's that saying, a sight for tired eyes?" Akko drawled, leaning on the desk. Diana coughed. "Sore. Sore eyes. You were close. Do you need some help?"

Akko nodded, already pushing a seat outwards with her foot in preparation. Diana sat down, daintily as always, taking some papers. Akko sighed. How Diana always seemed to make anything she did graceful and elegant, she didn't know, but Akko enjoyed watching her.

"What ever are you sighing for?" Diana inquired, looking a little peeved. Akko blushed. "No, well, I was, I was, uh, th-thinking how pretty you are. Even while shuffling papers. Yeah."

Now Diana was blushing. Akko giggled.

"Okay, here's my guess. It's…ANDREW HANBRIDGE!" The girl confidentially yelled out. Wangari yawned, and shook her head. "Nope. Pay up."

"What?! But-who else?!" The girl protested, holding on to her meal ticket with all of her might. Wangari grinned. "Well, I wouldn't be holding this contest now, would I? Just to spice things up."

The girl sighed and relented, handing the ticket over. Wangari took it, putting it within a special locked box. "Next!" She cried out.

A small girl shuffled in and sat down, without any unnecessary noise or movement. Wangari's eyebrows rose. "Ah, Constanze. Didn't think I would see you here. Oh, yeah, thanks for the printer!"

The small girl waved her hand. No problem.

Wangari grinned. "So, your guess?"

Constanze shook her head. She held up a hand.

"What? You want—"

Constanze smiled before mimicking taking a picture.

"Come on, you're going to run me out of business—"

Constanze's eyebrow perked up.

"Ah! You drive a hard bargain. Hold up, hold up." Wangari left the desk, walking over to her shelf, opening doors that were full of things much larger than the shelf itself. She rummaged for a bit (it had been a while) and pulled out a camera. Specifically, an SRT 101. One of her extras. Still good as new. Just needed some film.

She looked at Constanze with a pleading look. Constanze simply smiled again, and Wangari sighed, taking out two film canisters. "You're killing me, Cons!"

Constanze simply stared. Wangari groaned again and searched, throwing a camera bag at the small girl. "There! You happy? Oh, and there's a photo shop downtown."

Constanze got up and bowed, taking the items and leaving. She quickly signed "Thanks" before exiting, letting another girl into the room.

Wangari smiled and let in the other girl. "I hope it goes well." She murmured.

Constanze took a breath before she hesitantly grasped the doorknob. Amanda and Jasminka would no doubt question her about what happened during earlier this morning. She had skipped classes (she never did that) and didn't eat with them during lunch (she really NEVER did that). And now, afternoon classes were over and Constanze was now at the door to her dorm. It might as well felt like she was entering foreign territory.

She opened the door. Amanda had been lounging in bed, already half naked, but jumped to her feet once she saw that it was Constanze. "Constanze! Jeez, you had me worried!" She stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

Jasminka instead already strode over with her long legs and quickly picked up Constanze, hugging her tightly, rubbing her back and smoothing her hair out. Amanda gulped and joined the group hug.

Constanze had been holding tears back the entire day and was unable to hold them back any longer. Tears messily streamed down her face and she closed her eyes, taking in the shared embrace. She was so happy that they were there for her. Despite how coldly she was acting.

She returned the hug and Jasminka happily hummed. After some minutes, Constanze tapped her shoulder and Jasminka gently set her down, understanding. Amanda backed off as while, an uncharacteristic blush covering her face. She knelt down and patted Constanze's shoulder. "Hey…do you want…to…y'know, talk about it?" Amanda looked incredibly concerned, her green eyes soft and comforting. Constanze looked away and muttered a small "Yes".

She only ever talked with them, and even then, it was in very small, single words. But Jasminka and Amanda were all for helping their small friend, even going so far to learn sign language.

She took a breath, then sat down on Jasminka's bed. The taller girl sat next to her, their bodies touching. Amanda, unsure, simply grabbed a chair, pulled it around, and sat on it. Constanze cracked her hands and began her story…

"Wow. Uh, I wasn't expecting that. You like…Akko? Really?" Amanda spoke after the retelling of Constanze's ordeals. Constanze blushed and nodded. Jasminka stayed quiet, perhaps thinking of her response as well.

Amanda leaned back in her chair and ruffled her hair, looking up at the ceiling. She leaned forwards with a loud THUD! of her chair. "Well, I don't blame you. Akko's a real nice gal. Although she can be a bit thickheaded someti—"

Jasminka cleared her throat very loudly.

Amanda stopped talking and awkwardly coughed. "I mean—uh—jeez, what am I even trying to say?! Anyway, Constanze, I'm sorry that happened, and like, if you need anything, please tell me. And Jasminka, of course."

Constanze nodded, unsure. She had already made up her mind that she wouldn't have anything to do further with Akko, but that would be hard when her team and Akko's team were often interacting. Constanze wasn't even sure if she could be friends with Akko, pretend to not have feelings for her…

She sighed, and Jasminka rubbed her back again, her large palms easily covering her small back. It was a nice, warm sensation. Constanze leaned against her. Opening her mouth, she spoke slowly, "I…don't…know…what to do. I…really…like…Akko. I can't…pretend…not to."

Amanda looked heartbroken. Jasminka probably did too. Constanze closed her eyes and tried to breathe. Why did talking about your true feelings…take so much out of you? It was difficult to fathom.

Jasminka suddenly spoke. "Constanze, what if you confessed to her?"

Constanze whipped her head. Amanda did as well. "Jasminka, are you serious?"

"I think, telling her your true feelings might help. It will hurt though." Jasminka continued speaking, squeezing Constanze's shoulder. "However, it might be better than not telling her. Better than pretending. Because your feelings…are not a burden. You," and Constanze looked as Jasminka pressed a finger upon her chest, above her heart, "are certainly not a burden."

Constanze nodded, not trusting her voice, and sighed. "Thank you." She paused, then spoke again. "I…will…confess."

Jasminka smiled. "You can do it."

Amanda watched on and chuckled. "Leave it to Jasminka to know what to say. Hey, Constanze. Afterwards, no matter what happens, if you want to go wreck some junk, or maybe make something like a pudding-making-robot, I'll help."

Constanze smiled at that. After taking a shaky breath, she spoke again. "Thanks. I'm…so happy…that you two…are…my friends."

Jasminka sniffed and tears began to drip down her face as well and she grabbed Constanze in another tight, bear hug. Amanda rubbed her face so quickly that Constanze couldn't tell if she cried too, and joined the hug.

Constanze would have been lying if she said she didn't enjoy it.

TO BE CONTINUED