No one said a word as the five trekked out of the burial grounds. Not even Maril, Merrill, or Daryl mentioned anything about what happened earlier. For what reason, Akko had no clue, but she didn't mind. Anytime without any of those three talking down at her was completely welcome.
More than that though, Akko was happy that Diana could have some time without having to do anything.
Akko looked to her side, where Diana was still clinging onto her left arm. Diana's cheeks were red and tear stained, and her usually perfect hair hung forward out of place, obscuring her eyes from view. Her nose was still running, and her breaths were still staggered.
Akko brought Diana closer, and Diana quickly rested her head against Akko's shoulder.
When they were out of the burial grounds, Akko unslung the bag Diana had brought earlier from her right arm and took out Diana's broom. With a wave of her wand, Akko uncast the spell Diana had cast prior, poofing the broom back to its original size. She mounted the broom, and Diana followed behind her. Diana's arms wrapped around her waist, and Diana leaned against her back.
Akko tried her best to turn to look at Diana, who had hidden her face in her blonde hair. She could feel Diana still trembling against her, could still feel her robes dampen, and it was clear that Diana wasn't ready to return home just yet.
Akko took a deep breath and turned forward.
"Daryl?" Akko called out, breaking the silence. When Daryl looked back at her, Akko continued, already bracing herself for some jerky backlash, "can you go on ahead? I think Diana and I need a little bit more time."
Akko's brow shot up when Daryl just nodded and looked ahead.
"Just don't take too long," was Daryl's reply before flying away, her daughters following closely behind.
Akko stood dumbfounded until Daryl and her daughters were no longer in sight. When they were gone, she focused all of her attention on Diana.
"Hey Diana, I'm going to fly us slowly alright?"
Diana nodded against her back and wrapped herself closer, her arms trembling slightly. Akko rested her hand atop Diana's before turning towards the estate.
"Tia Freyre!"
Just like Diana did on the way to the burial grounds, Akko took several detours on the way back to the Cavendish estate. However, Akko took much more obvious detours, taking up significantly more time to get back, thus giving Diana enough time to fall asleep.
When Akko heard the gentle, even, breaths she could recognize anywhere, she smiled. She could not even imagine how drained Diana must feel. She couldn't wait to get back so that Diana could just relax in bed.
When Akko finally flew towards the mansion, it only took five minutes before the pier was in sight. Akko looked behind her and sighed. Diana's cheek was pressed against her shoulder. Her cheek was still red… but less than before… and her face felt so peaceful. Not a bit of tension.
She really didn't want to wake Diana up… but she'd have to. They'd definitely been gone for way too long.
"Psst, Dianaaaaa" Akko whispered. "Dianaaaaaaaa." But Diana didn't budge.
Akko grunted as she gently rolled her shoulders backwards to, hopefully, wake her girlfriend up. After a few moments, Diana shifted, and Akko could feel the light flittering of Diana's eyelids.
"Ak, Akko?" Diana asked, her voice hoarse.
"Morning Diana" Akko greeted softly, "We're almost back. Did you have a nice nap?"
Diana stiffened against her back, and Akko had to stifle a giggle, imagining her girlfriend's face hued an adorable pink. Akko had to bite her lip to prevent it from escaping when she felt Diana hide her face against her back and nod slowly.
Akko then looked back to the pier, where Anna was already standing in wait.
"Hey Diana, you ready to be back yet?" Akko asked quietly. "We could always take another turn if you need a bit more time."
Diana shook her head. "No, no I should be okay, I'm sure that I have kept them waiting long enough."
"You sure?"
"Yes, I am very sure." Diana said. The hold around Akko's waist squeezed just a bit more, and Akko felt a smile against her back. "Thank you though. I truly appreciate it."
Akko nodded and hummed before beginning their descent.
"Milady, Lady Kagari, welcome back," Anna greeted with a bow.
"Hey Anna," Akko returned as she stepped onto the pier, "Sorry we took so long. Did I make you wait?"
"Pay no mind. Lady Daryl already informed of me of what happened and that you two would likely arrive later than they would," Anna dismissed before turning to Diana. "Milady, I understand you must be very tired, and I apologize, but we must head to the entrance hall."
"Huh? What? There's more?!" Akko blurted. "I thought that we could both just go back to our room!"
"My apologies, but the Young Lady still must greet the people who have travelled here waiting to see her," Anna said.
"But!"
"Akko, I will be fine," Diana interrupted with a tug of her arm.
Akko turned to Diana and frowned. Diana's eyes still seemed sore, and her cheeks were still red.
"But Diana…"
Diana shook her head. Her eyes glanced towards Akko and her robes for a second before flashing back to Anna.
"Anna, could Akko and I have a moment to freshen up before heading there?"
"Of course milady," Anna said.
"Very well," Diana answered with a small smile before she turned back to Akko. "Everything will be fine, Akko. I'll be okay."
Akko pouted again, and she furrowed her brow. She squeezed Diana's hand, silently begging her to just go rest. Akko really didn't want Diana to have to see so many people while she was still so vulnerable.
But Diana just returned the squeeze and smiled.
"Trust me, I will be just fine." Diana said. "After all, you'll be with me right?"
Akko's eyes widened, and her heart skipped as the realization sunk in. It was in the gentle smile on Diana's face, the soft squeeze of her hand, and the belief in her eyes as she looked at Akko.
Diana really wanted her to be there. Truly trusted that she would be there.
Akko grinned back at Diana and nodded.
"Of course!"
When Anna said that they would be greeting people, Akko assumed, or really just hoped, it would only be a short thing. Maybe an hour at most.
She completely forgot about the crowd of people who had camped outside the Cavendish estate the night they arrived.
When Akko caught sight of the long line, extending out of the entrance hall, and likely past the gates as well, she nearly collapsed.
Diana would have to greet all of these people?! How could Diana possibly be okay with this?!
It seemed Diana was aware of Akko's inner strife, seeing as she giggled softly before pulling the both of them to their spot, just beside Daryl and her daughters, who all strangely ignored how late the both of them probably were.
Diana bowed to the first guest. Judging by the dark blue blazer and fancy moustache, Akko assumed that he had to be some sort of noble.
"I apologize for the wait," Diana said.
"It is of no concern, Diana," the old man dismissed with a wave of his hand. "Please, raise your head. Today isn't a day for such trivial formalities."
"Yes, of course," Diana answered.
"Yes, yes" the old man smiled before noticing Akko. "And who's this young lady?"
Akko stared blankly at the old man, as if she had just been caught sneaking off from detention by Professor Finneran. She then turned to Diana, silently asking for permission to speak.
Diana simply rolled her eyes and smiled, sending a nod.
"Oh, uh hi!" Akko greeted immediately, given the okay. "My name is Kagari Atsuko, er well Atsuko Kagari! But you can just call me Akko."
"Ah Akko, it's a pleasure to meet you," the man said with a hearty chuckle and a twinkle in his green eyes. "My name is Albert Douglas. And how would you happen to know Diana?"
"She is my classmate at Luna Nova," Diana answered back. Then she looked at Akko with a smile filled with so much affection, warmth rushed to fill Akko's face. "More importantly, she happens to be my girlfriend."
"Marvelous!" Albert exclaimed, before his expression darkened considerably. "It's quite a shame she never had the chance to meet dear Bernadette."
"Yes… it truly is," Diana breathed out.
Akko gently rubbed her thumb over Diana's knuckles and pulled her closer.
"Tell me Akko, do you happen to know much about Bernadette?"
Akko flinched, her thumb freezing in place. She gulped and she shook her head slowly.
"Is that so?" Albert pondered with a scratch of his chin. "Well let me tell you, she was truly a saint. She helped my wife you know?"
"She did?" Akko asked.
"Yes she did. Worked tirelessly too. She spared no efforts to find a cure for an illness my wife had. From what I was told, she worked day and night for over a week."
"Woah."
Albert chuckled gruffly. "Yes, woah indeed. Bernadette was truly a great woman, and she… she will truly be missed." Albert then turned to Diana and nodded his head. "Diana, it was a pleasure. I still offer my sincerest condolences."
"That is much appreciated Albert," Diana answered back. "How is your wife, if you don't mind me asking?"
Albert smiled. "Never better. She's currently overseas for work, but she also sends her respects." Then he turned to Daryl and sent her a nod as well. "Daryl, it's been a pleasure."
As soon as Albert left, the next person walked up to pay their respects. And when they left, the person after came up.
When she first saw the line, Akko was dreading the whole thing.
Of course she was going to stay with Diana, no matter what. Just, with the line, she kind of assumed it'd just be hours of standing around doing nothing while nobles just came in to pay short, shallow, respects before leaving.
Instead, she was met with people of all walks of life. From nobles to ordinary townsfolk. From the elderly to teenagers. There were even several families who brought along children who couldn't be any older than seven years.
There were dozens of visiting groups. Many of them were like Albert, expressing curiosity for her presence, but were all ultimately very accepting. More importantly, however, each group arrived with a story to tell. A story of the different ways Bernadette had helped them in their lives.
From brewing cures for different obscure magical illnesses, similar to what she had to do back when she visited Lotte's house, to creating a special cough medicine, to nursing an infant back to health, Akko was constantly amazed by just how much Bernadette gave to help others. There was just… so much to tell.
She had helped so many people in such a short amount of time… it was absolutely crazy.
Yet, the more Akko heard about Bernadette… strangely enough, the more she felt a knot tighten in her stomach.
It was weird. She was learning so much about Diana's mom. She could begin picture exactly what kind of person she was, the kind of mark she had left on all of these people's hearts.
She had already known Bernadette had to be an amazing person. After all, she raised Diana! She had to be amazing…
But this was so much more than she could have ever imagined.
When the final group nodded their goodbyes, Akko felt that knot tighten just a bit more.
She recalled the words Daryl had scolded her with this morning… about the fact that she hadn't known Bernadette at all.
Well now she did know just how amazing Bernadette was. It really was no wonder even Daryl and her daughters teared up at her grave… Honestly, it almost made Akko feel small in comparison.
Even so, Akko really wished she could have learned even more about her... about, possibly, the largest influence in Diana's life.
As soon as they were allowed, Akko and Diana retreated to their room. It was just past four, but they both immediately collapsed onto the bed. Akko fell first and opened her arms, letting herself be the perfect spot for Diana to nestle into.
Diana obliged, and Akko wrapped herself around, a now curled up, Diana. The both of them had been very silent since the guests left.
Akko was lost in thought, constantly thinking back to all of the things she'd just learned about Diana's mom. Just… how crazy it was that she managed to cram that much life into a short few years.
Diana felt... absolutely exhausted.
It felt liberating to finally let go at the burial grounds. To just… allow herself to cry, to rely on someone for support, after years of fighting to keep it together alone… but it also left her drained of much of her energy.
Truthfully… the only reason she had made it through the day at all… was because of Akko.
Diana felt a pang in her chest as she thought of the day… all the things she must have put Akko through. From the constant surprises to the displeasure of having to deal with her relatives. It wasn't fair to make her go through all of that… and, while the thought itself filled her with warmth, she couldn't help but feel more guilty knowing Akko did it all for her.
"Akko?" Diana called out in a whisper, snapping Akko out of her thoughts.
"... Yes Diana?" Akko slowly replied.
"Thank you… so, so much." Diana said. "You have my sincerest gratitude for being here with me… and my sincerest apologies for any inconveniences I may have caused by having you here."
"Bwe-eh?!" Akko sputtered. "Diana! You don't have to be-"
"Akko, with all due respect… I truly do have to," Diana interrupted. "I know I said this last night… but after today it needed to be said again. I apologize for everything Daryl and her daughters might have put you through today… and more importantly for all of the things I had neglected to inform you of before today."
"Diana!" Akko protested, tightening her embrace ever more, "It's fine! I know you didn't mean to!"
"Even so," Diana said in retort, "it was unfair of me to ask you to come without so much as an explanation as to what it was you would be doing."
"That doesn't matter though! I would have come, no matter what."
Diana sighed, but smiled against Akko's arm.
"I know, and that is truly why I must thank you. And why I still must apologize."
Akko groaned, but Diana continued, undeterred.
"I can't imagine what we have done today was anything like what you might have expected two nights ago."
"... That's true," Akko admitted, though she still pouted in protest, not at all believing Diana needed to apologize for anything.
"Yes… well allow me to explain... what we did today… has sort of become a tradition, one I had neglected to tell you about, and again, I apologize. We've done it for several years now, actually." Diana said with a breath. "Both greeting the guests… and casting that spell upon my mother's grave."
"A tradition?"
"Yes, a tradition," Diana whispered, "It… started the year after my mother was buried. Before my mother passed, she'd told me the stories of the Cavendish burial grounds, stories of the great trees that have sprouted from the graves of each member of the Cavendish family, surrounding the estate. So… when I noticed no such thing happened to my mother's… I'd assumed it was just simply lacking nutrition."
"Diana…" Akko breathed out, slowly tightening her embrace around Diana.
"I think Aunt Daryl knew that wasn't the case. Likely Maril and Merrill knew as well. Though, for whatever reason, perhaps as an excuse to visit mother again or just to allow a little girl to cope, they went along with me. At the very least, after several years, they had to have figured it out… but by then all of this had become such a natural thing to do. It was their way of keeping my mother's memory alive," Diana continued, nestling her head into Akko's chest.
Diana took a heavy breath and sighed. She clenched her hands, gripping on the sides of Akko's shirt.
"At some point, I realized it too… or perhaps I had always known. I just… refused to accept it, that someone like my mother, who, in all respects, perfectly epitomized the values of the Cavendish name, wouldn't leave a tree, a mark, just like every member of the Cavendish family had, solely because she passed away too soon. It was as if… she's truly gone, like there's nothing left of hers on this Earth."
Akko held Diana closer.
More than that, though, Akko thought about what Diana said, about Diana's mom not having anything left on Earth, and the thought made her pout. She remembered the dozens of people lined up, each one with a story to tell. Each one with honest and very real memories of her.
Diana's mom not having anything left on the Earth?
"That's stupid," Akko said suddenly.
Diana's eyes widened, and she faced upwards.
"Wha-"
"Your mom doesn't need some silly old tree!" Akko protested more firmly, looking down to meet Diana's gaze. "She doesn't need one because of all the people she's helped! So many people remember your mom, remember her for all the things she did for them, and that's so much better than some tree!"
Diana stared openly into Akko's eyes until the intensity in those crimson irises was just too much, forcing her to turn away.
Still, the words Akko said echoed in her mind, pulling together all of the words and stories she'd heard from the guests. Stories she'd experienced firsthand as a child.
Stories that… have impacted all of those people's lives, stories that have become memories for so many.
She could, once again, feel tears welling up… but these were different. Back at the burial grounds… her chest had felt empty, devoid of anything, at least until Akko came to fill it. Even after, she felt drained.
But now?
Now, her chest was filled with this... bubbly feeling, light and airy, begging to be released.
Akko, however, was oblivious to this.
When Akko felt a drip roll down her arm, felt Diana begin to shake, her heart instantly dropped. The words she uttered played back in her mind, and while she really meant everything she said, she immediately fretted about how she chose to say it.
"E-eh?! Uhm! I didn't uhm, it's not like it'd be bad if your mom had a tree! I mean, if you want, we can plant one there tomorrow!" Akko babbled, immediately trying to salvage, what she thought, caused Diana to cry again, "Well, I guess not there there, but we could plant one around there. I think that'd look nice! Maybe-"
Akko's blubbering only made Diana shake more, and Akko was starting to cry out in defeat... until she heard an unmistakable sound. A bright melody, a cheerful symphony.
Diana was laughing.
"I'm sorry Akko, you must forgive me," Diana said between her giggles, "but I simply couldn't resist."
"W-what?" Akko spouted indignantly, though she did let out a sigh of relief.
Diana once again looked up, a tear rolling down her cheek but a wide, grateful, smile on her face. Only someone like Akko could have done this for her, could have made her laugh and drain her troubles away.
"Thank you for that, Akko. Truly. You are truly one of the most wonderful things that has ever happened to me," Diana admitted. She took in a deep breath and rested her cheek on Akko's chest. "I only wish that my mother could have had the chance to meet you."
And, after everything she'd heard today, Akko couldn't agree more. Being able to meet Diana's mom, getting to know her... it would have been so cool!
But even so, there was a tiny, yet ominous, voice in the back of her head. A voice that muddied the light, clear oasis Diana's laughter had brought.
Diana's mom was so amazing. Even sick, even when she was weak, she was able to accomplish so much to help other people. Did so much, that people couldn't help but look up to her.
And there was her.
The tiny voice brought up events from the past two days flashed through her mind.
Her messing up their surprise snack date.
Her doing... something embarrassing the night before.
Her not knowing… not taking the time to know about witches and their burials… or about Diana's mom. Her lack of knowledge making Daryl and her daughters furious… and more importantly, and as a result, causing Diana more stress.
Would… Diana's mom...
"... Ne, Dia-" Akko started but soon stopped, the tiny voice now making her question herself, making her ashamed for even having the thought.
"Hm? What is it Akko?" Diana muttered.
Akko stiffened, her heart jumping into her throat. "It-It's nothing! Nothing at all!" Akko laughed forcefully.
Diana narrowed her eyes and pressed her ear against Akko's chest. She could feel Akko's heart drumming heavily.
"Akko, what's wrong?" Diana asked, with far more authority than earlier.
"I-It's stupid…" Akko stammered, trying to quiet the incessantly loud voice now ringing in her head.
"Akko." Diana said, now looking up into Akko's eyes. "Tell me what's wrong. Please?"
Akko looked at Diana and tried to dismiss the question again… but Diana's eyes were pleading, imploring her. And... try as she might, she couldn't say no to those eyes.
Akko bit her lip and looked to the corner of her eyes. "Do… do you think your mom would have liked me?" Akko whispered.
"What?" Diana tilted her head, her brow wrinkling. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... like, do you think your mom would approve of us?"
Diana blinked, before letting out a chuckle. Would her mother have approved of the both of them?
Diana knew, there wasn't any doubt.
"Of course she would," Diana answered firmly, more sure of this answer than any she had ever given.
However, Akko's face twisted, the voice in her head continuing to grow louder and louder.
"But how do you know? I mean your aunt still kind of hates me…"
"Exactly, and I happen to know my mother was almost nothing like Aunt Daryl" Diana joked.
"Mouu, Diana! I'm serious," Akko pouted. "Besides, your aunt isn't wrong when she says I'm really not all that talented as a witch… that I screw up a lot..."
Diana frowned as she listened to Akko list off all of her insecurities. The speed at which she learned new spells. Her inability to keep out of trouble. The struggles she goes through just to pass a class.
With each passing word, Diana felt her heart ache. Her heart broke each time Akko's voice quivered.
Diana didn't want to hear any of it, not when it was abundantly clear the purpose was to tear down the person she loved with all of her heart.
Diana knew all of this about Akko… knew that Akko worried about it from time to time… but there was so much more to Akko. So much to love, so much her mother would have loved.
She shifted around in Akko's hold, which had loosened considerably, until she was facing Akko. She narrowed her eyes at her target and made her move, leaning forward.
"... and not to mention I still don't know all that much about witch ru- mmph?!"
Diana pressed forward, capturing Akko's lips with her own, effectively shutting her girlfriend up. It wasn't long until Akko melted, sighing into the kiss.
Diana then pulled back, lifting herself above Akko, and stared right into her eyes.
"Akko, my mother would have adored you." Diana answered firmly.
Akko shifted her eyes to the side, flattening her lips.
"H-how do you know?" Akko asked.
Diana sighed.
"I know my mother Akko, she would have loved you, faults and all."
"But-"
Diana interrupted Akko with one kiss onto her left cheek.
"No buts," Diana said as she pulled herself back up. "While, you do have your faults… you are aware of them and are working your hardest to make sure they don't stand in the way of achieving your dreams… in helping others. My mother would have greatly admired that strength of character."
"Diana, but I-"
Diana just rolled her eyes, this time moving to press a kiss atop Akko's nose.
"What did I just say Akko? No buts," Diana continued. When she saw that the expression on Akko's face had yet to change, Diana sighed. Clearly she would need to try a more direct approach. "Akko, would you like to know how I truly know my mother would have loved you?"
Akko's ears perked, but she still looked away, unable to meet Diana's gaze. "H-how?"
Diana took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts, struggling to choose just one of an almost endless number of things to love about Akko to start with.
"Because… you truly embody all of the qualities my mother wished to see in herself and in others." Diana finally answered.
Akko's head whipped towards Diana's and gaped at her, almost not even believing what she just heard. She embodied everything Diana's mom looked for?
"Wh-what? H-how did, but I-"
Diana quickly pressed forward, this time pressing a kiss onto Akko's right cheek.
"Shh, please let me finish," Diana requested before beginning to speak once again. "First, and most importantly, you, Akko Kagari, are kind to a fault, able to show sympathy, if not empathy, with almost anyone in plight. You wish for the happiness of everyone around you, just as you did with the cursed spirit of Varajois the Wailing, with the faeries… and with me before we even became friends."
Akko pouted, wanting to deny what Diana said. She wasn't anything special or noble like that… but before she could say anything, Diana already placed another kiss, this time atop her forehead, causing her heart to flip and her thoughts to silence.
"Shhh," Diana hushed, looking warmly down at her girlfriend, gently pushing aside a strand of Akko's hair from her face. "Ah yes, and then there's your willpower. Your determination," Diana closed her eyes and smiled. "Sure, you find yourself knocked down… discouraged. But with just a little bit of support, you're right back up again, ready to try once again."
And once again, before Akko had any chance to protest, Diana pressed another kiss onto Akko's face, this time by the corner of her lips, sending a jolt through each other's nerves.
And thus the pattern continued.
Diana continuously sang her praises of Akko. Things she knew her mother would have definitely loved and admired.
She recounted the stories of their time at Luna Nova. Of all the things she managed to accomplish.
The way she managed to even change the minds and hearts of the most stubborn of teachers.
Diana spoke of the lengths Akko would go to help her friends… to help anyone.
She spoke of the trials Akko had faced, trials that would make any one witch quiver in fear, and how Akko faced them in her own way, in ways no one else would have even considered.
And of course, she lauded the qualities Akko had to embody to accomplish everything she has. Intense determination and drive. A strong passion. Depths of kindness and affection that knew no bounds. An openness to learn and an understanding to know when she needed help. And, of course, a true love of magic and a belief in all of its possibilities.
And just like before, Diana finished each thought with a kiss on a different spot on Akko's face. She placed several on different spots of Akko's cheek. She peppered Akko's jaw with tiny pecks. She placed light, feathery kisses atop Akko's head, and occasional slow, lingering kisses onto Akko's lips.
Each kiss sent heat shooting up Akko's face, made her heart race wildly, and filled her chest with fuzz and flutters.
By the time Diana was just about to finish, Akko was already a melted puddle beneath her.
"And… do you wish to know the reason that I can say, with absolutely no doubt, that my mother would have loved you Akko?"
Akko could only nod, finally completely lost in her girlfriend.
Diana smiled and pressed a short kiss onto Akko's lips.
"Because… you would do absolutely anything for my sake. Because you encourage me to truly go after whatever it is I wish… and no matter what I say or do, you always find a way to be right by my side. Just as she would," Diana took in a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment, remembering the lengths her mother had to go through to let her visit Japan that fateful night. The night that would link her and Akko together forever. She then opened her eyes and smiled. "Because you love me, just as much as I love you."
And that was it.
The fluttering in her gut. The overbearing heat in her face. The wild jumps and flips of her heart.
It was all too much.
Akko's eyes watered, and she reached up and pulled Diana closer to her, hiding her face in the crook of Diana's neck.
Diana smiled and let herself be pulled in, and together, they laid in each other's arms, not a word said until the sun had set.
When the moon shined through the translucent curtains, Akko whispered against Diana's shoulder. A question whose answer was extremely obvious… but one she's surprised she'd never asked before.
"Hey Diana, do you miss her?"
Diana held Akko closer and whispered back.
"Every day… but it's certainly more bearable when I have people like you, our friends, and our teachers around."
"She must have been amazing."
"Yes… like you said. She was 'just like some kind of hero'."
"Do you… think you could tell me more about her? Like… I've heard a lot of stories… but I kinda wanna hear more about who she was from you."
Diana pondered the question. It was something she would certainly be quite… open to, especially after everything they'd gone through during the day. But just how would she…
"Of course I could, Akko… I believe I still have some old family albums I haven't looked at in years. Seeing as we still have another day here… perhaps I could show you some pictures of her as I share stories about her?"
"Y-Yeah! That'd be great!" Akko cheered, causing Diana to giggle.
"Very well, I will ask Anna if she could help us collect them tomorrow, and we can spend the rest of the day looking through each album."
"Yay!" Akko cheered before letting out a loud yawn.
"Sounds like someone's tired," Diana joked, before letting out a loud yawn of her own, much to her own chagrin.
"Looks like I'm not the only one!" Akko giggled. "I'm rubbing off on you~"
"Y-yes well…" Diana muttered, her cheeks beginning to pinken, especially under the pale moonlight, "I suppose today has been extraordinarily trying. Shall we retire for the night?"
"Sure~" Akko sang before snuggling onto the bed and into Diana. "Night Diana! Love you."
Diana smiled and nuzzled her head atop Akko's.
"Good night Akko, I love you too."
Welp, with that we're down to the last bit of this story! After this, there's like two pretty short epilogue-ish things left, one silly one more serious, that I'm debating uploading as one or as two. They'll hopefully wrap this up all nice... and like you all knew I had to end this chapter off with Diana Akko cuddling! I'm a little unsure how I feel about how I took this chapter, but I liked it when I thought it up! Hopefully you did too.
Also, Thank you so much for your reviews. I know I don't really say that much, but they do mean a whole lot. Also of course, thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope you enjoyed it!