Chapter 10

As soon as Akko arrived at Diana's huge dorm room after morning class, she saw Diana scanning over a Japanese booklet while she waited with their lunch already prepared on a table. Akko was held back by Professor Badcock because after class, she brought her to the Headmistress office to get scolded on for ruining a spell.

"Akko, you look weary." Diana noticed and gestured her girlfriend over to sit beside her on the sofa. She then pointed to a pot of tea. "Come, Akko. Tea might help you invigorate yourself. Or do you prefer coffee?"

"That's my job, Diana! Let me brew your caffeine for you!" Akko bolted towards the sofa, but she slipped and fell face flat on the floor.

"Akko!" Diana stood up and kneeled next to her.

"Ehehehe, I'm fine." Akko grinned and stood up with her lover's help. "I'd love coffee." She said, sinking her rear onto the soft cushion.

"No, caffeine is out of the question for you." Diana began warming some milk chocolate on the counter using her wand to speed things up gracefully.

"Aww come on! Coffee doesn't make me frenzy, coffee helps me stay focused! It's like hot chocolate and soda for me!"

Diana handed her the hot chocolate mug but Akko took it anyway. She blew off some steam as Diana sat beside her. "Let's eat, Akko."

"FOOD!" Akko rejoiced at staring at the available ones on the coffee table.

She began gobbling her share of sweets and salads when Diana offered half of hers. With Diana's ongoing nerves, she kept drinking calming tea while scanning a Japanese booklet before being finally presented to Akko's family.

After their lunch break, Akko prepared the laptop on Diana's reading desk and connected online with a use of spirit energy while Diana put away the dirty utensils and cleaned them with a wave of her wand. Akko wished she was able to do that kind of magic easily without any disaster. She could ask Diana to tutor her.

The British girl offered that they could use her room to have the video call so when they were ready. Akko wished that she and Diana could sit on the spacious bed but the British witch opts a formal scene and background for the adults to see.

"Diana, I'll call them now, okay?" Akko pressed the button as soon as the taller girl nodded.

Diana lingered in the background and stand before Akko could formally introduce her. Crossing her arms and shifting her weight to her left foot, she put on a casually elegant stature as she saw the laptop's screen state that the other line was answered.

"Konbawa Otosan, Okasan!" Akko greeted her parents as soon as they showed up on the screen.

Diana expected a more formal Japanese interior house design but she forgot that Akko wasn't raised in a traditional home. She saw a couple in the drawing room, probably in front of a big computer.

Her parents smiled at the sight of their daughter. Diana's jaw slightly dropped on how much Akko resembled her mother. Everything in Akko was like her: her smile, her long chocolate brown hair and definitely those large red eyes, but her hair was shorter as it reached only past her shoulders and she sports full bangs. Meanwhile, her father has an average Japanese build and short brown hair and brown eyes, with a calm face and broad grin. He was quite handsome and he surely would be popular during his youth. Diana instantly knew that Akko inherited the cheerfulness from him.

The Japanese couple was glad to see their daughter. One minute into the call, Diana could easily understand now, why Akko had been so spoiled; she had been the only child to be born in the family, surrounded by both loving parents that she was able to enroll at Luna Nova to follow her dreams. They kept showering her praises, excitement, and love. Diana's heart warmed when she saw Akko jump out and about and then the conversation turned into full on scolding and reminders that Akko forgot to give them a call.

"Aren't you going to introduce this beautiful young lady to us, Akko?" her mother suddenly said, minutes within their conversation.

The shorter girl realized she had forgotten about the whole introduction thing due to her overexcitement in telling the past whole weeks to her parents. But when she was about to speak up, Diana cleared her throat and started with a bright smile.

As soon as she the focus was on her, Diana's breath hitched in her lungs but maintained a regal posture as she ambled closer in front of the webcam. "My apologies, madam," she said cordially. "I should have introduced myself earlier. My name is Diana. I thank you for accepting to meet me even though it is due to these circumstances. It's a great pleasure to meet you."

The tone she used was surprisingly tender and enthralling. Even Akko's mother, who was critical of people, was now blinking under Diana's perfect girl allure. But the father didn't look too comfortable about that, he looked pensive and wary. Akko noticed her parents didn't catch all Diana said so she translated it to Japanese.

"She's different from the friends you told us about." His face seemed guarded and even suspicious as if he knows something. He tried his best to speak in English.

"We recently became friends, Otosan. She's the one I told you about before."

"What a lovely name, Daiana." Akko's older image said, smiling back. "She has the same name as that girl you told us that you hated so much."

Mr. Kagari touched his chin. "Could she be the rival who you can't shut up about? The famed Daiana Kyabendisshu?"

Diana stared back at the Japanese girl with slight irritation that she had mentioned repulsive things to her parents about her in the first place. "So she has mentioned quite a few things about me."

Akko laughed uneasily and guiltily. The piercing stare Diana gave her was the stare she used to give her before. The one laced with annoyance—the one where Akko couldn't stop but feel irritated and the one she started to grow a crush on. She scratched her nape. "Hai, sore wa kanojo nodesu!"

Diana's Japanese was lackluster for she began learning the basics just hours before they called. Akko had to become their interpreter. Her parents were not so fluent in English either. Especially with Diana's RP accent that makes it hard for them to understand.

As they conversed, Diana came to know that Akko had graduated from her middle school with excellent marks in language. No wonder Akko was able to learn fish language easily even if it is one of the hardest familiar languages used in witchcraft. Akko was average in her non-magical subjects and was slightly bad at mathematical and arduous readings.

Despite her achievements and the parent's elation at the sight of them, Mr. Kagari still wished today that their daughter had not been so gifted and smart. In his fatherly egoism, he once wished his little girl hadn't been a Chariot fan so that they could keep her by their side forever. But his wife would have never forgiven him for having such malicious thoughts. So they let her go, she belongs here, to learn and become a witch at Luna Nova Witchcraft Academy.

"You should come visit us during summer, Daiana-chan." Mrs. Kagari said. "I'm pretty sure Akko would love to be with you and show you her home country."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Diana said politely and returned the smile, "Making Akko happy is an important milestone to me."

Mr. Kagari arched his eyebrow at the brutally honest remark. At the same time, he looked mildly amused by Diana's enigmatic sincerity. Akko noticed her mom and dad made a discreet look at the blonde, who fondly stared at their daughter. They immediately caught the rising colors on the blonde's face and the stares the teenagers have been giving to each other.

"Hmm... is that so?" Her father said slowly. "Are you two planning something special together?"

Akko felt a piece of cinnamon bun she had for lunch stuck in her throat and coughed a little.

"Yes," Diana said, still smiling, but her breath halted, but soon she added, "We are planning to go to travel the world together. I'll continue studying the path laid out for me while supporting Akko's dream of wanting to make everyone smile because of magic."

She grew stunned; Akko really didn't see that coming.

"Oh really Akko?" her father said, "That's good you're thinking ahead already."

Akko merely nodded back with a smile.

"Well, I know this isn't the place to talk about a family matter," Mr. Kagari began and looked at Diana again, "But we only have this time to spare. Let's cut the boring part. I have to know something to be certain about you two."

"As you please, sir."

"You seem to do a lot of good to my daughter," he said, "She's happier and a better person now than when she first got there. But as her father, I'm very protective of her. Yet I can't control every aspect of her life. I just hope that you don't mistake my trust as carelessness and do something that would disappoint us."

Mr. Kagari was hinting a fatherly message to them. Diana's eyebrow rose in surprise, he sensed something different than what they showed them.

"I understand your concern," Diana said. "I will make sure Akko is happy with me in any way humanly possible, you can have my word." Then she turned to smile at the shorter girl. Akko awkwardly smiled back.

"Such a gentlewoman," Mrs. Kagari murmured with an approving smile while her husband glared at his daughter's lover.

Mr. Kagari was intimidating but suddenly laughed in a very fatherly manner as if he just made a Dad joke to the kids. "You kids are so tense! But seriously you must know that it's about time Akko will start crushing on girls."

His wife nodded. "We've already discovered that Akko will surely have feelings for a girl ever since her childhood years."

"W-WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" Akko yelled as her face turned beet red.

"Seriously, Akko. Shiny Chariot this, Shiny Chariot that?" He said to prove a point.

"Eh?" Akko screamed. "Ehhhhh?" she met eyes with the blonde.

Diana stared back at her, wishing the shorter girl will blink so that she could take advantage of it and kiss her rosy lips but deep inside she knew she wouldn't do it in front of her parents.

"You're also in an all-girls school. A romance between two girls is about to happen especially when you sense your daughter is gay." Mr. Kagari said as he crossed his arms, sporting a broad grin on his face. "Daiana, right? We'd love to know you formally. So be sure to visit us soon."

Akko covered her face, she could not possibly deal with the fact that her parents have known years ago that she's gay before she ever did. "Hazukashi!"

"Daiana-chan," Mrs. Kagari took a photo album and opened its pages. "Do you want to see Akko-chan when she was little?"

"Nani?"

"Oh please!" Diana looked at the photos presented to her, trying to immerse in Akko's early life with the limited time given. She focused on the little girl of about six who was sticking her tongue at Diana, "Cutie."

"NOOOOOOO!" Akko yelled as she cupped the eyes of the blonde with her palms. "Don't look!"

The adults enjoyed teasing their daughter and would possibly show more embarrassing photos of her childhood when Mrs. Kagari noted the time. They grew sad with the recognition that they had to say goodbye to their bright and beautiful hyperactive daughter, the apple of their eye. But it was only the natural state of the world, children fly away, they spread their wings and they leave behind some very proud parents. And as Diana stare upon the man and the woman who brought Akko to life, they were truly proud parents, indeed.

"We miss you so much, Akko." Akko's mother said. Hands clasped on her heart.

"You take good care of yourself there, love." her father added.

Akko had finally brushed off all the embarrassments at the fact that her girlfriend found out about her toddler and prepubescent stages. "Of course," she said enthusiastically.

"And before we end this call—" the father began and pointed at her from the screen. "I better not hear my little girl crying over you."

"Yes sir," Diana's shoulders stiffened.

Mrs. Kagari smiled and then pulled her hair again in a bun with a hearty laugh and then elbowed her husband. "Be nice."

Akko instantly turned the call off as soon as they waved goodbye. Diana looked into her eyes, trying to find the answer to a question that had troubled her ever since their meeting, but while Akko's always reflected her true heart, her own iris was just as mysterious as her sudden estranging from Shiny Chariot that she had loved as a child.

"Your father doesn't seem to like me," Diana noted.

"Ehhh that's not true at all. He's just intimidated."

"Why?"

"Because you're so perfect, Diana, you could've sensed he was very disturbed that he can't match your authority." Akko shrugged. "So I guess he pulled the father card and tried to intimidate his daughter's lover. It's usually Okasan who does the intimidation on other people but the fact that she was nice to you means she already likes you!"

Diana could feel the warmth enveloping her system—particularly in her heart. She was glad that she was able to make Akko's parents like her. "So, you fancied Shiny Chariot that much, Akko?" she bantered.

"Daiana!"

She grinned when her Japanese girlfriend's accent was slipping.

"You're gay too! You're just better at hiding it!"

Ugh! I have no time doing this! I could be with Diana right now!" Akko hated the fact that she was held for an hour detention just because she screwed up another basic spell. Diana offered to accompany her but Akko reminded her that she has duties to make.

Now she regretted why she had to be selfless for once. She hated the fact that she was thrilled and joyful hours ago when she had the video call.

"No time to be sulking!" Akko motivated herself so she would finish cleaning up the whole classroom.

Akko wiped her sweat out with her sleeve when she looked around, "Almost done, yay!" The room was spotlessly clean and all that's left for her to do was to carry the used books back to the library.

With one great huff, she carried the countless books and head towards the library. So far, she was able to carry them without falling over. She was extremely careful and would put them down to rest for a minute or two. Akko could've made two trips back to the library if she would carry fewer books but she wanted this to be over with as soon as possible.

Reaching the top of the stairs, she pushed the door open hard. Akko lost her footing and she tumbled down the entrance, all books scattered on the floor. No authority was there to scold her but some students were irked at her noise but they brushed her off.

"Good thing the librarian is on break." Akko scratched the back of her head and began to pick up all the books when and returned them to their proper shelves. She wondered where Diana was now and saw that she only had two more hours left before afternoon classes so she quickly looked at which section the last batch of books belonged to.

It was on the far edge of the library so she sauntered there, but careful to make her footfalls sound quiet as possible. She entered the row and placed a book on its spot.

"Two more books to return." She whispered to herself.

She was humming to herself when she heard a soft murmur. Akko strained her words to hear them. "...a work of fiction allowed her to create a new world in which she could conceive of any possible reality..."

Through the space gap of missing books, Akko noticed a girl's silhouette. She smiled as she recognized her. "Diana!" she ran to the other aisle and caught the British girl shutting her book as if she was caught reading something she shouldn't have but Akko's eyes were quick. She knew the book.

"Hi Akko!" she smiled uneasily, her relief turned to mild fear when the brunette spotted her, jumping up from her position on the ground, eyes narrowed, and stalking towards her. Diana took a step backward as Akko raised her arm.

"I thought you said you don't read fiction literature." Akko reminded. "Hey, that's the book where one of your ancestors wrote about. You're reading it now?"

Diana pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear and placed the book behind her. "Indeed..." she answered playfully.

"Is it any interesting than what it says on the summary?"

"I was just glancing at it, Akko," she said dreamily then gazed at the books the shorter girl had been carrying. "Need help?"

"No need, I'm almost done!" Akko placed the last two books on the shelf and her eyes cast sideways swiftly before diving into the taller girl's arms. "I'm sorry," she chuckled. "You were just, gone for so long, and I already missed you. Can I... again?" she trailed off, unwilling to finish the thought as she felt her head go dizzy and cheeks turned warmly.

Diana stared at her with wide eyes. "Akko, are you asking for a kissing session in the library?"

Running a thumb over Diana's lips, her face fell but she relished the idea of kissing her here, even though just a peck. "Sorry I— it's just that way you smelled, and the way your eyes crinkle when you smile, so seeing you here, in front of me with nobody else to see us..." she blushed, "I guess I just lost it a little."

Diana grinned down at her, "A little, huh?"

"So umm Diana..."

"Yes?"

Akko glanced around again. "About your kiss mark, can I see it again?"

"Kiss mark?" Diana stared at her in disbelief.

Akko was undeterred by her expression. "Yeah, can I see it again? I didn't have the luxury to stare at it longer a while ago." She reached for Diana's collar but somehow, the blonde stopped her with a panicky smile.

"Not now, Akko." She beamed, winking flirtatiously as she walked out of sight, the book still on her hand. "See you later at the dining hall."

"What? But we can go together!" Akko followed her but when she reached the spot where she had seen the taller girl last, she was nowhere in sight. "Diana?"

A/N

It was revealed on Twitter by an animator that Diana can't speak Japanese fluently.