(Hello everyone! Thank you all for the favs, follows, and comments. I'm glad you're all liking the story so far. I've been busy as of late due to work, life and other projects, but I wanted to promise that I will at least make two updates per a week, maybe more if I have time. Anyway, thanks again, and enjoy the story! ^_^)

Chapter 8

The bell rang again, telling the students to finish packing up and get ready for their next class. Akko's memory was fuzzy – she took notes but looking at them again she could hardly remember what the teacher was talking about. Blushing, she stuffed them in her bag. All that she could think of was…

Diana's lips.

Soft, softer than she thought.

Diana's gentle kisses on her cheek and nose.

Akko's face felt warm and she couldn't help but smile.

"Atsuko Kagari, I presume?"

Akko whirled around at the sudden voice, covering her face. "Y-Y-Yes!?" She asked, nervous that the person may have seen her smile for no reason. A tall girl, perhaps taller than Diana, with long black hair tied in a high ponytail with no stray hairs to speak of, stood on the stairs in the lecture seats. She had piercing dark brown eyes, and her neat, straight bangs accentuated her seriousness. Akko gulped. Was she in trouble?

The girl smiled, her eyes warming up and her face no longer terrifying. "Ah, I finally get to see you. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Kagari." The girl spoke, bowing as she did. Akko blinked. What was happening? Akko bowed back, feeling somewhat nostalgic for the gesture; she hadn't really done it since—Japan! The new student!

Before Akko could voice this realization, the girl spoke again, in her accented voice that suggested elegance and curiosity. "My name is Momo Hikari. I have recently transferred here from my home in Japan. I've heard a great deal of your exploits, and seeing that witches from the Orient are few within Europe, I just had to come here."

Akko nodded, unable to speak. She couldn't help but think that Momo was perhaps far more suited to the role of a witch than she was—no, no, no, she had to stop thinking things like that! Akko had her own achievements as well! And she could fly! Kind of!

Momo continued speaking. "I must say, the faculty here is quite amazing, although I must beg to differ for the students. However, I can see why you chose this place! It is quite the illustrious academy! The campus grounds are lovely as well, even though it's very different from home." Realizing that Akko was silent, Momo stopped speaking and bowed again. "How boorish of me. I continued talking even though you had something to say. Forgive me."

Akko shook her head, finally finding her voice. "No, no its fine, really. Ano," Akko began, then pausing, realizing she had slipped into a different language. Momo simply smiled. "It's been a while since you've spoken Japanese, I gather? Would that be easier to do then? Speaking in your native tongue?"

Akko laughed. It really had been too long. And it seemed that Momo was a nice person. "Sure, why not!"


They walked together to their next classes, Momo's being a different one, but Akko's was close by so they made a compromise. Akko learned that Momo was from a noble family, descendants of the god Inari. For the moment, however, Momo's family took care of several shrines, and the girl herself used to be a shrinemaiden. Her talents had awoken one day when she was able to help in a possession.

Akko's eyes widened. "Those still happen in Japan?" She asked, knowing that they were common in the West. Momo nodded, her brows furrowed, as if remembering the day it happened. "Yes. It was quite frightful. However, on the bright side," and Akko was startled when Momo clicked her tongue twice, and a sudden smell of trees and rain entered her senses.

Something touched, no, rubbed itself against her leg. Looking downwards, Akko noticed a small white fox smiling up at her.

Momo patted her arm and it leapt into her arms, the tall girl easily carrying it. "My familiar, Shiro." She explained, petting the fox's head. Akko squealed. "This is my first time seeing a fox!" She cried out excitedly, stopping herself suddenly. "May I pet them?" Momo nodded, and Akko carefully put her hand on the fox's back, gently petting it. The fox leaned into the touch, and its eyes twinkled.

"Wow! A familiar…" Akko marveled, continuing to pet the fox.

Momo raised an eyebrow. "You don't have one?"

Akko shook her head, sighing. "No…not yet…I didn't make the requirements for the class during my first semester, and I'm already in my chosen classes for the second semester…I have to wait until my third…"

Momo huffed. "They simply don't know your true talents, Miss Kagari!"

Akko laughed at that. "Thanks. And call me Akko, it feels weird when you say my last name like that."

Momo took a step back. "I couldn't possibly!"

The bell chimed. "Ah, time for classes." Momo said, clicking her tongue two times again, and her fox disappeared in a puff of smoke. "Well, let us meet again another time." She spoke, her voice grand and slow, as if she was making a speech instead of simply saying goodbye. Akko knew the girl was well meaning, but her seriousness and the way she talked…

"You kind of talk like a grandma, Momo." Akko spoke, slapping a hand to her mouth when she realized what she had said.

Instead of being mad, however, the tall girl simply let out a cheery laugh. "My parents and roommates have said the same. I do not mind." She began walking away, waving at Akko. She turned away to walk faster, stopping and slowly turning towards Akko. "Ah, Miss Kagari, I mean, Miss Akko; congratulations on your courtship with Diana Cavendish."

Akko felt familiar heat crawl over her face in a flash. "Wha-What?!"

Momo let out another hearty laugh. "It will be a great union, of rich, magical bloodlines. See you! And don't be late!" Before Akko could say anything else, Momo was already gone.

Akko sighed. This was going to be a rough semester.


Across from campus, her girlfriend was thinking just the same. Except Diana couldn't sigh, as she was in Holbrooke's office, the headmaster and several professors were standing in front of her.

"Diana?" Holbrooke asked, concern in her aged voice. Diana snapped back to attention, straightening her back. "Yes, Headmaster. I have heard what you've said. However…this will be the first time that there's been a festival like this in the history of the academy." Diana spoke.

The headmaster had just asked her if she would be interested in being a member of the "Summer Festival" Board Committee. A short festival, spanning two days, would be held on campus, inviting not just students, but outsiders as well. She had explained that it would be a great chance for more students to possibly go to the school, as well as show the world what the academy had to offer. Although, Diana had to admit, it was partly her and Akko's fault, due to the publicity of the Missile Crisis. And such, she had a strange feeling of obligation.

Holbrooke smiled. "I'm aware, Diana. However, I feel that our school needs a little change. Nothing too drastic, but, so many things have happened in the past month, that I believe, that have been for the better. Don't you agree?"

Diana shuffled her feet. "Of course, but, would there be anything that could possibly interfere with other ceremonies or events?"

Holbrooke's eyes widened. "Oh, I didn't think of that. Lets see," She spoke, taking out her wand and waving it, producing a calendar in mid-air, surrounded in flames.

Diana stepped away from her position behind it to face the calendar, studying the different days. "Ah." Before she could say anything, Professor Badcock spoke first. "Within this month, there are two blue moons! Wouldn't that be enough to hold a festival?"

Diana squinted at the aforementioned days. Indeed, there were two blue moons. However, she thought, glancing at the now-excited professors, there was no convincing them to reconsider.

Diana was aware of the implications that the re-invigoration of the Grand Triskelion had done. More magic, yes, but with it came both good and bad things. She remembered stories of more and more possessions, demonic encounters, and bad events happening around the globe. And, perhaps just as equally, good events as well. Hastily putting together a festival when things were still growing, people, animals, creatures and the land itself adjusting to the "New Age of Magic" felt…dangerous.

Diana let out the breath she was holding. Maybe she was thinking too much. She turned to face Holbrooke. "I accept your invitation to be on the Board Committee, Headmaster Holbrooke." The older woman smiled widely, getting up from her seat and shaking Diana's hand eagerly. "Thank you, Miss Cavendish. I have a good feeling about this festival!"

Diana weakly smiled back.

If only she could feel the same.

"Oh!" Holbrooke suddenly spoke, as if remembering something. "Since you have been doing so well in your punishment, the professors and I have decided to give you the days on the Festivals off."

Well, Diana could appreciate that. And, she thought, smiling, Akko could too.

TO BE CONTINUED