Chapter 11

"Diana, do you want to sleepover in my room this time?" Akko asked, spoon on her mouth.

Diana placed her cup back on the saucer, her other hand still holding the small book she was reading about how to speak Japanese. "I'd love to Akko, but you must ask your roommates for permission if you fancy me over."

The Japanese girl pouted and showed her puppy dog eyes to Lotte and Sucy, oblivious to the awkwardness that permeated the table area due to Akko's request.

"Akko," Lotte said, forming an articulate explanation without stating the obvious as she took a deep breath. "Think about it, where will Diana sleep? Your bed is cramped and we can't have Diana sleeping on the floor."

"Lotte's right, you know," Sucy remarked. She was sitting next to Lotte and Akko with Diana across from her on the square table. "Besides, you are lovers. Unlike in Diana's room, you have privacy."

The bespectacled girl squinted at Sucy then elbowed her on the shoulder.

"Uwaahhhhh!" Akko yelled then inched closer to Diana. "Okay then, Diana let me sleep in your bed again," she asked in a soft sweet tone that Diana couldn't resist smiling despite the annoying subject.

With a low sigh, Diana closed the book and placed it onto her lap. The whole time, Sucy and Lotte kept observing them one with concern and the other one for amusement.

"No, Akko," she said with a blush then giving Akko a stern smile. "Hannah and Barbara are not still over by it. It's unhealthy for them to keep fainting like that. Furthermore, your teammates are right Akko. I do not intend to discomfort them on your own personal space, granted that I am also feeling a bit unease with the thought of us in your limited space with your roommates just beside and above us."

"Ehhh! Oh, come on!" Akko whined as if another tantrum will let things go her way.

"We need to discuss something with you two." Sucy sipped her mushroom juice just from the table. When she crouched like that her arms seemed as if it magically disappeared.

Diana frowned at the strange gesture and at the same time, the statement hurled at her like a splash of cold water. "Am I being too bothersome?" she asked, giving Akko a sideway glance. "I could leave you three alone. After all, I do understand that I'm being too intrusive."

"No!" Lotte said at once. "That's not what Sucy meant. You're very welcome to stay and hang out with us however you like, Diana."

"I see." Diana picked up her cup of tea and focused on the possible subject. "What sort of discussions?" Despite the fact that she could only see Sucy's only visible eye, the weight of the stare pierced her through.

"Did you really ask Akko to check the wooden mirror used in the Samhain festival?" the unnaturally pale witch asked.

"Pardon?" Diana asked as her body stiffened at the serious tone in her voice. Even Akko lost focus on her dinner.

Sucy clasped her heads together, elbows propped on the table. "We followed Akko before morning class started towards an archive we didn't know existed."

"There is an archive but only the professors and those who have been proven to trustworthy of the secrets were allowed." Diana provided then turned to Akko, her facial features softened. "How did you get in there?"

"What? You tell me. I didn't even go there!" Akko raised her voice. "I was with you the whole day. The only time I wasn't was during detention. I cleaned the classroom and returned the books to the library. You knew about it, Diana. You were there with me until you disappeared."

"I was?"

"Yeah, you were reading."

Diana remained clueless at first, but she could understand what Akko was referring to when all the dots were connected. She finally had a glimpse of what was happening and Akko's theory might have been half-right after all.

And it could have been happening for so long that she couldn't pinpoint the exact time when it happened. But why?

Akko leaned closer towards the taller girl, her eyes sparkling like stars. "Diana, tell me if you liked that fictional book. If you wanted to read more of it I can recommend some manga, Marvel comics or Harry Potter!"

"Akko, I'm sorry but I can't enjoy the wonder that is Harry Potter. The story is written by a mundane woman so her views of the magical world aren't true at all. If she would have written something about the magical world, it would have been better written if she did some research."

"That's why it's fiction, Diana because it's not true!" Akko yelled in embarrassment while her teammates agree to the blonde's opinions.

"That wasn't what you thought when you first talked about scar head." Sucy chastised. "It was weird because you're talking about someone else rather than Shiny Chariot."

"Hey! You can't blame me for thinking it was a magic history when I was young. Hermione is totally the best representation for witches with no magical lineage like me." Akko took a mouthful of bites on her meal before swallowing it all in one gulp. "I thought reading books and watching witches and wizards movies would prepare me when I get here to Luna Nova!"

"Don't ever trust mail order about magical references again, Akko," Lotte said.

Akko's head bowed in shame. "I regret my actions!"

It amazed the British girl that a topic can change quite easily and would lead from one to another when it comes to socializing; she was not used to this just yet. Up until her 15th year, Diana was a lone wolf. She grew up where socializing was just being arrogant faking genuine connections, except when it comes to Hannah and Barbara. She learned that the two had a strong bond and they accepted her in. At first, Diana was even wary of them but when she found out that they truly cared about her, her relationship with her teammates deepened. And through Akko, Diana was learning how to create genuine relationships with others. But there was still something that she couldn't take of her thoughts.

"Akko, you saw me reading the Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish?" Diana asked, still unable to grasp the idea.

"Aww Diana," The Japanese girl grinned. "Don't be shy to admit you're reading fiction! Lotte and Barbara are reading Nightfall after all and they are proud of it!"

Lotte's eyes twinkled at the mention of her beloved book series. "There's been this theory that one of the fans speculated that Nightfall does exist in another plane of existence so there's a very good chance that Nightfall might not be fiction after all."

Sucy sighed. "The internet loves conspiracy theories so much that even fiction has no escape." She then stared forward into space at the seemingly innocent viewers.

Lotte was fueled with sudden adrenaline as she always does when it comes to books. "If in our world, Nightfall is fiction, in another world, Nightfall could be an autobiography! That's why we can all agree that the Nightfall universe exists!"

"You said Nightfall three times in a sentence, Lotte."

"Diana!" Akko pouted. "Don't think you've escaped me! Why don't you want to spend the night with me! You already met my parents, they approved! Was I really that naughty in bed?"

"WHAT?"

Sucy and Lotte had their jaws dropped but it was only Lotte who became discolored; however, the expression of surprise wasn't just from them but also from the table next to theirs.

"What the—" Akko stood up and slammed the table and averted her gaze behind her. "Were you eavesdropping, Amanda!"

Diana smiled to herself at the sight of Akko's cheeks gaining a scarlet complexion but as soon as she felt the same heat reaching her face, she decided that it would be better if she just didn't look at the other girls. The green team had indeed been eavesdropping behind them the whole time, Diana collected and she finally covered her face with her hands. In no time, everyone will know she and Akko are dating.

"We're caught!" Jasminka cheerily said, finishing her fourth helping and stacking it on top of her previous plates.

"You can't blame us when you talk a bit too loud, Akko." Amanda said, her arm hanging at top rail of her chair. "Besides, Hannah and Barbara caused quite a ruckus this early morning during breakfast that we can't help but doubt."

Constanze crossed her arms and nodded briskly. Stanbot stood on her shoulder and yelling with its high pitched robotic voice. "That's right! That's right!"

"Also Sucy and Lotte confirmed it," Amanda added.

"WHY?" Akko gave her teammates a disapproving look.

Diana lost control on the redness of her cheeks as she experienced another blood rush to her face. She could not handle all this embarrassment. How many stacks of embarrassment will she suffer before she lost all her cool and composure? Sooner or later, she will not be able to help herself and will just faint like Hannah and Barbara.

In the blissful silence, Akko rejoiced that she was able to enjoy a night stroll after a tiring day with Diana, even if it was just her accompanying Diana back to her suite after dinner.

Possibly, their silence spoke more about their feelings than a bunch of words said out of mere boredom could ever do it, but it was in the blatting silence that Diana found, more questions that she didn't have enough courage to tell. She could tell Akko her speculation, but she wouldn't want to make Akko worry from her half-baked theory and lead her to danger so she needed to find more concrete evidence before they take action.

Diana's thoughts were already filled with duties and studies; add to that the ongoing shenanigans Akko gives her and the growing list of mysterious sightings of their doppelgangers. The blonde decided that her own lead was a dead end but when she considered Akko's theory. She finally found a new path to research on. The past sightings were not the workings of an illusionist but of a doppelganger. It explains why someone was able to become them without alerting the professors that a threat or a student is using a forbidden high tier illusion magic. Not to mention the fact that they can also read their feelings and anticipate their actions like an open book.

It was still a matter of deep concernment why Diana hadn't dared to talk to Akko about her conjecture just yet. Following their dinner where more people came to know of their relationship, but surely at that point, she could hardly find something proper to tell her.

Diana should be getting more concrete evidence of the existence of their doppelgangers but instead, she was busy flirting with Akko.

She became relieved when Akko decided to break the awkward silence.

"You don't really want to sleep with me tonight, Diana?" Akko, on the other hand, couldn't really let go of the opportunity to ask what she wants.

Diana truly wanted to tell her that she wanted to hold onto Akko through the night again. She also wanted what Akko desired, but she was scared of herself—of what she might do. Granting, with the presence of Akko's roommates, she's scared she would not be able to control herself. "Please don't make it a habit, Akko. We have more years ahead of us."

Let's take things slow, the thought died on Diana's lips

Akko pouted, she was used to getting things done and make things go her way but ever since she stepped foot here in Luna Nova, she finally learned how to do some restraint but it was still hard to practice it. "Oh well, all right. If that's what you want I must really respect your choices."

When they reached towards Diana's door, Akko followed her inside. The rest of the blue team had not yet arrived and the British girl suddenly had an idea.

She hugged the Japanese booklet tight, placed a lock of her hair behind her ear and then kissed the shorter girl on the cheek. "Sleep tight, Akko."

Akko loved the feeling of Diana's moist breath and soft lips and never wanted to let go of her so she placed her hand on the small of lover's back, and watched as Diana's long black lashes casted shadow over her pretty smile, she pressed her own cheeks to hers, "You too, Diana."

Diana blushed bright pink at this tiny gesture. Her eyes widened, even more, when Akko started wrapping her arms around her waist with a sudden longing that sent a shivering chill down Diana's spine. She hoped Akko couldn't feel her body trembling against hers.

When she got back to her own down room on the other wing of the academy, Akko changed into her night clothes as slammed the door of her dorm room and then threw her tired body onto the neatly made bed. The sheets smelled good as it was newly washed. "I can't believe Diana won't let me sleep with her again!"

"You're still whining about that?" Sucy fixed the position of her potions on her shelf.

"Come on, Akko. You're quite insensitive." Lotte said as she climbed up to her bunk. "You should realize that you're rushing into things. Diana is trying to discipline you."

"When the day comes that Akko will be tactful is the day World War III happens," Sucy said, throwing the bed sheets over her body. "That's why it's such a mystery why Diana likes you that much."

"Well you know what they say, opposite attracts." Lotte dreamily sang as she removed her glasses from the bridge of her nose to space beside her.

"Is that a Nightfall reference, Lotte?" Sucy chided.

The trio prepared for bed when there was a hesitant soft knock on the door.

"I'll get it!" Akko bolted out of the bed towards the door. As soon as she swung the door open, she didn't expect such a surprise. "D-Diana?"

"Good evening," Diana greeted as their eyes met she smiled. She looked pretty, even though her hair looked a bit messy hung loosely on her shoulders. She was in her nightdress. "I hope I hadn't disturbed your slumber—but umm... can I stay here for the night?"

Akko's whole face brightened up and spread her arms sideways in excitement. "Of course you can!"

"What a shocking turn of events," Sucy commented. Lotte threw her a glance that says she should tone down her sarcasm.

"But w-what happened? You said you wouldn't. Why you are here now?"

"Well, I was trying to sleep when Hannah and Barbara decided to not let me sleep a wink."

"Huh? Why what did they do?"

At Akko's question, Diana lost her nonchalant facial expression when it turned into embarrassment from sheer guilty discovery. She cleared her throat. "Well, it matters not. They shall receive a piece of my mind when I talk things through with them."

"Eh?"

Sucy laughed while placing a palm on her cheek. "I don't know if Akko is really dense and innocent or just plain dumb."

"Well okay!" Akko began fixing her bed, glaring at the creases that were made when she had lied down a while ago. "Come in, Diana. I'm sorry for our cramped space. I know you didn't like it but I have not much to offer."

"Its fine, Akko, I'm just worried that I might be intruding." She addressed Sucy and Lotte. "But seeing that the circumstances over there back in my room were giving me most antsy, I'd rather be with Akko. I hope you don't mind my intrusion."

"Not at all, Diana," Lotte said from the top bunk with a smile and her glasses missing. "Like we said, you're always welcome to join us."

"Just no hanky-panky under the blanket, I'm just beside you after all."

"Oh my gahhh— stop it Sucy!"

A/N

I can't believe the end is near. I hope you had fun reading the available chapters so far! I most certainly had fun writing. This chapter is to get you hyped for the next ones because we're finally at the plot!

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed by Diana, Sucy and Lotte that Harry Potter are incorrect portrayals of the Magical World are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the fanfic writer, considering that both franchises are separately made.