Chapter 10

Akko couldn't sleep.

According to the wall clock, it was 3 am. 5 and a half hours until she had to get up. She wanted to sleep, she really did, but she just wasn't tired. And her mind wouldn't stop. All she could think about was that kishin egg and the eventual fight. What if she tripped again? What if Diana lost her form? What if they got hurt or worse?

She sat up and pulled her legs close to her chest, careful not to disturb her partner in the process. It was so quiet. Even being in the city, over a 24-hour pub, the whole world seemed to be at rest. If it weren't for the panic rising in her chest, she would have felt at peace.

Taking deep breaths she tried to calm down, to slow her pounding heartbeat but it wasn't working. She needed to move, to do something.

Anything.

Quietly she got up, carefully as to not wake Diana, and tossed her coat and shoes on. After tying them she crossed to the window, opened it, and slipped outside.

It wasn't until she was on the roof that she realized it was snowing gently, adding to the existing layer that crunched under her feet as she walked to the edge of the roof and looked out over the sleeping city, unbothered by the cold.

Old buildings surrounded her on all sides, made from various types of stone. They were a strange contrast to the newer buildings further in the distance, rising higher and shining brighter than their elders. That was the true downtown. Where all the lawyers and executives and CEOs worked and lived. It was never something shed wanted, to be rich and powerful like that. All Akko ever wanted was to be happy.

To be happy and strong and save the world like Shiny Chariot. That was her goal. Her dream. She just had to study hard and make Diana a death scythe. That was still an odd thought. Despite everything, she still wasn't used to being paired up with Diana. It always felt like there was a wall between them, even when she was a weapon. Akko tried to ignore it at first but the more they trained the more it seemed to make itself known. It was hard to get a read on Diana because of it, and that made it harder to fight together. And that meant tomorrow wouldn't be easy. Not in the least.

Akko let out a sigh and watched as her breath made its way skyward, toward the clouds made purple by the city lights. It was a shame, out here you wouldn't be able to see the stars on a clear night.

"Akko."

The brunette jumped a mile and yelped. Spinning around she was surprised to see Diana "Diana don't do that what are you trying to kill me?"

The blond raised an eyebrow. "Staying out here in pajama shorts will do that just fine without my aid."

Akko blinked and then nodded. "I suppose your right. I'm sorry did I wake you?"

"No. I woke on my own to find you gone, as well as your coat and boots. From there I simply followed your tracks. What are you doing out here?"

"I- I just couldn't sleep is all."

"So you came out, in the snow, at 3 am, in shorts to just watch the night go by?"

Akko sighed "I just...I'm nervous about tomorrow. That's all."

Diana had a feeling it was something like that. "To be honest," she walked over next to Akko and looked out over the city "I don't feel completely prepared ether."

That took Akko by surprise "What? Diana you're amazing! How could you not be ready?"

"It's one thing to know how to perform a job in theory, it's another to actually do the job. It's still our first kishin egg." it was hard for her to admit that, but Trixie was right. She needed to try to open up to Akko, at least a little.

"Your right. But I think we're about as ready as we're going to be. We've trained and studied so hard. We just have to be brave, just like Shiny Chariot!"

There was that name again. "Can I ask you something Akko?"

"Sure what is it?"

Diana looked over at her. "Why do you idolize Chariot so much?"

Akko smiled and looked back out over the city "When I was little, I lived right down the road from a playground. One day when I was about 10 I got bored and wandered down the road to play.

The sun was just setting, and I was on the swings when I heard a branch crack and then a loud roar. I fell off of the swings and as was laying in the wood chips a big monster appeared. I rolled over and tried to scramble back but bumped into the slide. The monster was looming over me, his eyes a deep red and drool coming out of his mouth he reached for me. I thought I was going to die.

But then he roared again and fell sideways and landed with a big boom. He was dead, with an arrow in his ear. The next thing I knew someone was running up to me and asking if I was ok. It was Shiny Chariot. She had saved my life.

She picked me up and carried me all the way home. My mother made her stay for dinner as a thank you and over dinner she told me all about the DWMA and being a meister. I think her partner was there too but I don't honestly remember. All I could focus on was Chariot. Ever since then I wanted to be just like her and help to save the world."

Diana was quiet for a long moment. She'd heard of Shiny Chariot. She was one of the better known meisters, easily recognized by her fire red hair and flashy attacks and antics. They were great for recruiting people but not always the most effective in killing kishins. From what Diana understood, Chariot had died in a fight years back. She was pursuing a kishin through an abandoned building and launched an attack.

The kishin, according to her partners report, lashed out and hit support pillars, triggering a partial collapse, pinning itself and Chariot under a slab of concrete. There was no way to free herself without freeing the kishin as well, nor was there a way to kill it without causing a full collapse. After making her partner get out of the building, Chariot threw out a powerful wavelength attack, killing the kishin and dropping the building on top of her. Her body was never found.

It was definitely a lot to process. After several minutes of silence, Diana finally spoke, "Akko, I believe you can do it."

Akko turned her head to look at the blond, only to find her partner already watching her thoughtfully. "What?"

"I believe you can do it. You may goof things up, and put holes in desks, and get me stuck in walls; but you have a big heart Atsuko Kagari. And you have drive. And with that, I believe you can accomplish anything." It was the truth, and Diana knew Akko needed to hear it.

Akko was quiet for a second, then her eyes started to water "Diana!" The next thing she knew, Akko was throwing herself at her and pulling her into a big hug. She was still for a moment, very much aware of how Akkos body was pressed into hers, before bring her arms up from her side and hugging the shorter girl back, for once not fighting things and just letting the moment happen. It just felt… right.

After a minute Akko pulled away, a big smile on her face. It disappeared however when she noticed how red Diana's face was. Looking down, she grew more alarmed when she saw she was still in her night dress "Diana, are you crazy? Why are you in a night dress? Come on let's go inside before you freeze!"

It was all Diana could do to not facepalm.