Akko climbed the stairs with Andrew and Marianna, and almost collided with Mr. England, who was waiting at the top step, looking pale and apprehensive.
"What happened? Is everything all right?" he asked quickly. "Yoruichi didn't say – "
"Cleared of all charges," Andrew announced happily, clapping Akko on the back.
Beaming, Mr. England seized Akko by the shoulders.
"Akko, that's wonderful! Well, of course, they couldn't have found your guilty, not on the evidence, but even so, I can't pretend I wasn't – "
Mr. England broke off because the Magic Council were climbing the stairway behind them.
"By the nine," said Mr. England wonderingly, pulling Akko aside to let them all pass. "You were tried by the whole council?"
"I think so," said Akko quietly.
One or two of the council members nodded to Akko as they passed, and a couple, including Ava O'Neill, said "Good day, Sir Hanbridge," to Andrew, but most averted their eyes. Crawford Seam and the veiled witch were the last to leave. Crawford acted as though Akko and Andrew were part of the wall, but again, the veiled witch looked almost appraisingly at Akko as she passed.
"I'm going to take you straight back to the manor so you can tell the others the good news," Mr. England said, beckoning Akko forward as Crawford disappeared around the corner. "Would you like to join us, Sir Hanbridge. You of all people deserve to celebrate your victory."
"As delightful as that sounds, I must decline," said Andrew, walking alongside with Marianna in tow, "My mentor is expecting a report on the results of this trial. Then he has some cases he wants me to take over. Nothing major – just a few minor trials. One of which apparently includes an exploding toilet."
"What's that about?" Akko asked, grinning. Everything suddenly seemed five times funnier than usual. It was starting to sink in: She was cleared, she was going back to Luna Nova.
"Ugh, I'd rather not think about it," Andrew grimaced. "Someone decided that it would be funny to booby trap a toilet at a shopping mall in Texas, North America, and largely suspected that the vandal used magic to do it. My client obviously did it, which begs the question whether I should – "
Andrew broke off mid-sentence. They had just reached the end of the corridor, and Crawford Seam was standing a few feet away from them, talking quietly to a tall man with slick black hair wearing a badge with the Chinese character for 'Peace.'
The second man turned at the sound of their footsteps. He too broke off in mid-conversation, his pale-blue eyes fixed on Akko and a small grin on his lips.
"Well, I heard you cause for celebration, Miss Kagari," said Master Noah with a tine of amusement.
Akko found herself frozen in her steps. The last time she had seen that face was at the end of her third year, when Amon threw the mask on the floor in the Tree of Woodward. Akko could not believe Amon would appear so brazenly like this; she could not believe that he was here, in the Magic Council, or that Crawford Seam was talking to him, when Akko had told him two years ago that Noah was Amon, Jennifer's right-hand.
"The Chairman was just telling me about your marvelous trial, Miss Kagari," Master Noah said pleasantly. "I am so relieved that Sir Hanbridge was there to have you cleared. It would have been…dreadful if something were to happen."
Andrew took a step forward as a warning.
"I've always been good at escaping bad situations…," said Akko.
"Yes, I remember quite well," Master Noah chuckled. "In any case, I'm happy to know that you are all right. I suppose my trip to Era was all for naught."
"Why are you here?" asked Andrew.
"I was concerned for Miss Kagari's sake," said Master Noah, putting a hand to his chest. "I had heard through the grapevine that Miss Kagari was to be put on trial. As her former teacher, I felt it was my duty to help. And, if necessary, I would have…intervened. Fortunately, that wasn't the case…. But while I am here, there is another matter I would like to discuss with you, if you don't mind, Chairman. Shall we take it to your office?"
"Certainly," said Crawford, turning his back on Akko. "This way, Master Noah."
They strode off together, talking in low voice. Mr. England did not let go of Akko's shoulder until they disappeared into the elevator.
"How is Amon able to walk around the Magic Council like that?" Akko burst out furiously. "He's working for Jennifer!"
"But the Magic Council doesn't know that," said Mr. England coolly. "He was able to maintain a convincing story by pretending that Master Noah left Luna Nova on the same night that Amon appeared. And the only testimonies against him came from people who were either close to you or Izetta. Amon covered his tracks well. I'll have to write up a note to the Inner Circle when I drop you off, they ought to know Amon's been talking to Crawford."
"What private business have they got together anyway?"
"Money, I imagine," said Andrew angrily. "For the past few years, the Magic Council has been receiving a steady sum of donations…most of them are from anonymous sources, but it's not too hard to imagine Jennifer's people are supplying the funds…. That puts them in with all the right people…asking for favors…delaying laws they don't want passed…They are a very well-connected group."
The elevator arrived; it was empty expect for a few FA messengers riding a roomba around their feet as Andrew pressed the button for the atrium and the doors clanged shut.
"If Crawford is meeting Amon," said Akko slowly, "if he's meeting him alone, how do we know they haven't put him under Evelyn's control."
"Don't think it hadn't occurred to us, Akko," muttered Mr. England. "But the Inner Circle thinks that Crawford is acting of his own accord. Jennifer wants you to join her willingly, so having the Magic Council against you would not benefit her."
"Then why hasn't she taken over yet?" asked Akko. "It would be easier to – "
"It would likely be best to stow this conversation for now," said Andrew.
The doors slid open and they stepped out into the now almost deserted atrium. Lily the security demon was hidden behind her Sorcerer Weekly again, They walked straight past the fountain before Akko remembered.
"Wait…" she told them, and pulling out her wallet from her dress pocket, she turned back to the fountain.
She looked up at the statues depicting the Nine Olde Witches, though she had no idea who they were other than by name. She thought it hilarious that one of them had flowering horns growing from their head and wondered if they watered them regularly. The witch across from her drowned themselves in animal furs, which did not look very comfortable in Akko's opinion. The one to the animal witch's right definitely it the bill for the "evil witch" stereotype. And a couple of them were literally no older than Akko. They were certainly an odd bunch, Akko thought with a grin; it reminded her of her own friends.
As she had promised, Akko dumped her entire allowance into the water at the statues' feet.
"I knew it!" yelled Amanda, punching the air. "You always get away with stuff!"
"They were bound to clear you," said Lotte, who had looked positively faint with anxiety when Akko had entered the dining room and was now holding a shaking hand over her eyes. "There was no case against you, none at all…"
"You all seemed very relived, though, considering you all knew I'd be cleared," said Akko, smiling.
Sucy scoffed and rolled her eyes, but were still grinning, and Garie and Sabi were doing a kind of war dance to a chant that went, "She got cleared, she got cleared, she got cleared – "
"That's enough, settle down," said Mr. England, though he too was smiling. "Listen, Izetta, Amon was in Era – "
"WHAT?!" said Izetta sharply.
"She got cleared, she got cleared, she got cleared – "
"Be quiet, you two! Yes, he was wearing his old Noah disguise and talking to Crawford in the basement level, then they went up to Crawford's office together. Chariot ought to know."
"Absolutely," said Izetta. "We'll tell her, don't worry."
"She got cleared, she got cleared, she got cleared – "
"That's enough, you two!" Anna snapped, irritated. "Miss Kagari, come and sit down, have some lunch, you barely had anything for breakfast…."
Everyone sat themselves around the long dining table looking happier than they had been since Akko first arrived at the Cavendish manor, and Akko's feeling of giddy relief, which had been somewhat dented by her encounter with Amon, swelled again.
"Of course, once Andrew turned up on your side, there was no way they were going to convict you," said Diana happily as Anna dished out great mounds of mashed potatoes on everyone's plates. "That man in infuriatingly good and getting anything what he wants. Well, almost anything," she added, resting her hand on top of Akko's like she is reaffirming her territory.
"You should've seen him work the Council over," said Akko humorously. "I thought Crawford was going to cry when he brought out Yoruichi and Marianna. But how did he know to be there?"
"I asked him," said Diana. "I knew he was practicing law, so I thought he could help you in court. It's not like anyone else was willing to defend you."
Akko was about to reply when she suddenly felt a sharp sting in her head, like someone had jabbed a white-hot wire at her brain. It had taken her by surprise, she clapped her hand over head forehead with a hiss.
"What's wrong?" asked Diana, looking alarmed.
"Headache," Akko winced. "Probably just stress…I'm fine, I promise…."
None of the others had noticed a thing; all of them were now helping themselves to food while gloating over Akko's narrow escape. Gari and Sabi were still singing, now with Amanda providing a chorus. Diana looked rather anxious, but before she could say anything, Nico said, "Maybe Chariot will finally turn up this evening to celebrate with us. I mean, Akko, is her daughter, isn't she?"
"I don't think she'll be able to, Sucy," said Athena as Anna set a huge roast turkey in the middle of the table. "She's very busy at the moment."
"SHE GOT CLEARED, SHE GOT CLEARED – "
"SHUT UP!" roared Anna.
Over the next few days, Akko could not help noticing a considerable change in one person's mood as the day Akko and her friends returned to Luna Nova drew near. Izetta had put up a very good show of happiness on first hearing thew news, clapping Akko's back and beaming just like the rest of them; soon, however, she was more subdued and dejected, talking less to everybody, even Finé, and spending increasing amounts of time shut up in in the observatory with Qing.
"She's probably just missing Akko," said Lotte, after Akko had confided some of her feelings while everyone was cleaning out the manor's dusty root cellar a few days later. "Akko's going to be gone for months, so Izetta might be sad about it."
"It's not like she'll be lonely," said the Stan-Bot on Constanze's shoulder while she remotely controlled the rest into scrubbing the floor. "It's the headquarters of the Celestial Sphere. She'll have lots of company, including Archduchess Finé."
"It's different with family," said Lotte, wringing out her cloth. "Chariot is constantly running around that hardly anyone sees her. And with Akko leaving for Luna Nova, she'll be stuck in the manor while her family is out therewhere she can't reach them."
"That's not something Akko should feel guilty about," said Nico. "Akko can't stay behind just to make her feel better, especially after all the trouble she went through to avoid getting expelled. Personally, I think she's being selfish."
At this point, Anna came down the stairs behind them.
"Still not finished?" she said, doing a sweep of the cellar.
"I thought you might be here to tell us to have a break!" Hanna complained. "Do you know how much mold we've gotten rid of since we got here?"
"You were so keen to help the Sphere," said Anna, "you can do your bit by helping keep things tidy around here."
"Because that is mother's orders?" said Diana, disgruntled.
"Actually, the root cellar was Lady Daryl's idea," said Anna. "But Miss Athena offered no complaints."
Akko found herself daydreaming about Luna Nova more and more as the end of the holidays approached; she could not wait to see Professor Ursula, to play a game of Chariot Racing, even to stroll across the vegetable patches to the Herbalism greenhouses. As fun as it has been to be able to live in a grand mansion for several weeks, Akko was looking forward to leaving.
The fact was that living at the headquarters of the anti-Jennifer movement was not nearly as interesting or exciting as Akko would have expected before he'd experienced it. Though members of the Celestial Sphere came and went regularly, sometimes staying for meals, sometimes only for a few minutes' whispered conversation, Athena made sure that Akko and the others were kept well out of earshot and nobody, not even Izetta or Blair, seemed to feel that Akko needed to know anything more than she had heard on the night of her arrival.
On the very last day of the holidays, Akko was helping Sucy with her latest batch of poisonous mixtures. After years of exposure, Akko had developed an immunity to all poisons, but Sucy was determined to find something that would break her. Akko was gulping down her latest concoction when Lotte entered their room carrying a handful of envelopes.
"Booklists have arrived," she said, tossing one to Akko and Sucy each. "I was starting to worry they had forgotten, they usually come earlier than this…."
Akko set aside the now empty glass beaker that was once filled with poison and started opening her letter; Sucy clicked her tongue, disappointed Akko wasn't writhing on the floor in agony. Her envelope contained two pages, one the usual reminder that term started on the first of september, the other telling her which books she would need for the coming year.
"Only two new ones," she said, reading the list. "The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, by Minerva Cavendish and Defensive Magical Theory by William Borrin."
"You got the list, too?" Amanda, Constanze, and Jasminka had entered the room, carrying their own booklists. "We were just discussing who assigned the boring book."
"You mean Borrin," Stan-Bot corrected.
"I know what I said," quipped Amanda. "Doesn't sound like something Professor Croix would assign. Guess that means we're getting a new Defensive Magic teacher."
"I don't think they had a choice," said Amanda.
"What do you mean?" asked Akko.
"I overheard Blair and Athena talking the other day," said Amanda. "And from what they were saying, the Magic Council forced the teacher on the staff."
"But Andrew said that the council can't do anything about what happens at Luna Nova," said Akko.
"Apparently, the rules have changed after Akko managed to make a clean getaway," said Amanda, scowling. "They couldn't touch Akko in court, so now they're going to Luna Nova."
"They're really that desperate to discredit her, aren't they?" Sucy commented.
"They want to bury her before word gets out that she's the Star-Born Child," said Stan-Bot.
"Lotte, are you feeling all right?" Jasminka asked suddenly.
Lotte did not answer. Akko looked around. Lotte was standing very still with her mouth slightly open, gapping at her letter from Luna Nova.
"What's the matter?" said Amanda impatiently.
"I…," Lotte said softly, turning around slowly. "I made prefect…."
Silence filled the bedroom. It wasn't the kind of silence that came from hearing shocking news, but one of baffled confusion. Amanda scratched her head with a quirked brow, Jasminka and Constanze exchanged bewildered expressions, and Sucy just stared apathetically.
"…Okay, I give up," Amanda finally said. "What the hell is a prefect?"
"Y-You know," Lotte sputtered, not expecting to be asked such a question. "They're in charge of keeping people in their houses in line and enforcing the rules. Akko, you used their bathroom with Diana to solve that puzzle box last year."
"Wait, that's a real thing?" said Akko, astonished. "I thought Diana was just making that up to get alone."
"Prefects are real!" Lotte shouted indignantly. "They're a very important part of the school!"
"How come I've never seen one before?" asked Amanda.
"You've met them before," said Lotte. "Remember Blair?"
"Akko's cat?" asked Jasminka.
"No, the other Blair!" shouted Lotte. "Italian girl? long blonde drill hair? Same year as your sister? Liked to pretend she was an aristocrat? Is any of this ringing a bell?"
"Wait, wasn't she the one that kept reporting you to Professor Ursula every time you pranked someone?" Stan-Bot said to Amanda.
"Oh ye-e-e-eah," said Amanda, nodding thoughtfully. "I thought she was just a nosy tattletale. Huh, I guess we did have one of those prefect things. Though they've done a pretty crappy job over the years."
"I think they just gave up trying after the second year?" said Sucy. "But I guess if anyone was going to keep this group of weirdos under control, it would be Lotte."
Wordlessly, Lotte turned the envelope upside down and Akko saw something white and green fall into her palm. She stared at it for a moment, tilting her head like she didn't quite believe it herself. She then held it out to Akko as though asking mutely for confirmation that it was genuine. Akko took it. It had the circular crest of Luna Nova with the four-point star of Polaris House superimposed in the center. A banner along the top of the badge said in "PREFECT" in bold letters.
The door banged open. Diana came tearing into the room, her cheeks flushed and her hair flying. There was an envelope in her hand.
"Akko! Akko, you won't believe what happened?"
"Could you guys help us out here." Akko tilted her head around her girlfriend; Nico was leaning against the threshold, her arms crossed. "Could you tell her there's no such thing as a prefect."
"Prefects are real!" Diana shouted indignantly. "And they're super important!"
"If they were so important, how come we've never seen one in the four years we've gone to Luna Nova," Nico retorted. "It's like a poorly planned plot hole in a shitty fanfic."
"Turns out they are real," Akko confirmed. "We just got one, too – "
"WHAT?!" Diana and Nico yelped in shock, whipping around toward Akko so fast, they nearly broke their necks. They spotted the badge in Akko's hand and Diana gapped dumbfoundedly.
"How did – " she sputtered, rubbing her eyes to make sure they weren't playing tricks on here. "I mean, that is – not that there's anything wrong with it, but – they would they give it to…."
"Wha – no," said Akko quickly, pushing the badge back into Lotte's hand. "It's Lotte's, not mine."
"Oh, okay, that makes sense," said Diana, sighing in relief. "For a minute there, I was afraid the world had gone mad."
"Your faith in me is touching," said Akko sarcastically.
"Oh, come off it," said Diana, rolling her eyes. "No one in their right mind would put you in a position of power."
"…Yeah, that's true," Akko agreed.
"Wait, so these prefects are a real thing?" asked Nico, flabbergasted. "Then they've been doing a shitty job all these years."
"That's what I said!" Amanda chortled.
Someone knocked on the bedroom door, startling Nico from her place, and Athena walked in while buttoning her traveling coat.
"I heard from Hannah and Barbara that your booklists had come at last," she said, glancing around at all the envelopes in their hands. "I'm heading into London with Daryl on business, not that I have much of a choice, so I thought I would stop by Westfield while I'm out. Diana, I noticed that your uniforms is getting a little short – I'll have to get you a new set while I'm out. Any preferences?"
"I'm fine with anything as long as there's space to pin my badge," said Diana, smirking.
"Your what?" said Athena, facing her daughter with a quirked brow.
"My badge," Diana repeated with a hint of pride. "My new prefect badge."
Diana's words took a moment to sink in to Athena's head.
"…that's a real thing?" she asked.
"OH, COME ON!" Diana complained loudly, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
"I'm just teasing you, Diana!" Athena guffawed. She crossed the room, nearly knocking Akko out of the way, and threw her arms around her daughter. "Ooh, I am so proud of you, Diana! Not that I'm surprised. You know, both your mother and I were prefects back in the day."
"You were a prefect?" said Diana, slightly surprised. "Even though you with Chariot's group."
"Yeah, I thought it was a mistake at first, too," said Athena, snorting amusingly. "Our prefect duties were how your mother and I became close, even though she was dating Chariot at the time. Oh, what a thing to happen in the middle of all this worry, I'm just thrilled for you, Diana!"
Amanda was rolling her eyes and making a gagging motion behind their backs, but Athena nor Diana noticed. Athena was hugging Diana so tightly; she was starting to turn blue in the face.
"M-mother…please…I need to breathe…" she murmured, trying to push her away. "It wasn't just me…. Lotte has one as well…."
"Is that true?" Athena gasped. Lotte smiled sheepishly, holding up her own badge. "Oh, how wonderful! Charlotte would be so proud of you! That's it. We simply must celebrate!"
"Y-you don't have to…," Lotte said shyly.
"Nonsense; you both deserve it," said Athena fondly. "We'll have a big celebration and invite everyone. Most of your friends are already here. Andrew might come if we ask him; hopefully he's not too busy with work. What about that boy you're with? What was his name?"
"Frank," Lotte offered.
"Yes, of course, Frank!" said Athena, clapping her hands cheerfully. "We must absolutely invite him! He should celebrate with his girlfriend!"
Another knocking came at the door, once again startling Nico (she really should find another place to stand, Akko thought.) This time it was Anna, bowing respectfully before she entered the room.
"Miss Athena, Lady Daryl is waiting impatiently in the foyer for you," Anna informed them.
"Oh, that's right, I had forgotten," said Athena, frowning like she wished she could do anything but spend time with her sister-in-law. "Well, I suppose I'd better be going…. Hand me your lists, will you – have to get your things, after all. Oh, if only Charlotte was here to see her daughter like this. Perfect! I almost can't believe it…."
She gave Diana a loving kiss on the forehead, smiling proudly, and bustled from the from with Anna in tow.
Amanda sneered.
"You don't mind if we don't kiss you, princess," said Amanda in a falsely anxious voice. "We could curtsy, if you like."
"I would suggest you start showing us a little more respect from now on," Diana threatened.
"Or what?" said Amanda, an evil grin spreading across her face. "Going to put me in detention. I've gotten the better of dozens of authority figures in the past."
"True," said Diana with a smug grin. "But unlike them, I know you and I have power to do something about it if you ever step out of line."
"….Shit," Amanda cursed.
Diana smirked triumphantly at the redheaded rebal, who understood well enough that the Cavendish heir was in a completely different league. Amanda turned with a huff and stomped out of the room, headed down the hall. Constanze and Jasminka chased after her.
"As fun as this has been, I've gotta pack my things," said Nico.
"I think I'll go call Frank…," Lotte muttered softly, checked flushed as she gazed at her own badge. "I want to be the one to tell him the news…. I hope the Sphere lets him come."
"Then I guess I should check on Garie and Sabi to make sure they packed their luggage," said Sucy dryly. "It's always such a pain when they procrastinate until the last minute."
They all left one by one until Akko and Diana were alone in the room. Akko watched her girlfriend smile fondly as she traced a finger over her new badge and couldn't help smiling herself. She could imagine that, to Diana, this badge was not only a confirmation to all of her hard work paying off, but it was another thing that connected her to Bernadette Cavendish. Knowing that both of her mothers had held the position in the past made it that more important in her heart.
Akko quickly stepped behind Diana, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend's waist and resting her chin on her shoulder, fondly embracing her. Diana quietly leaned into the hug, resting her hands on top of Akko's.
"I'm so proud of you, Diana," Akko whispered lovingly in her ear.
"I can hardly believe it myself," Diana murmured softly. "Prefect…just like my mothers…."
"You deserve it," said Akko proudly.
Diana titled her head to face Akko, smiling in adoration, and leaned forward for a tender kiss….
Athena returned from London around six o'clock with Anna in tow, the maid's arms laden with books. She also handed Diana and Lotte each a bundle wrapped in thick brown paper.
"As Prefects, you'll be wearing new uniforms, so I took the liberty of getting some while I was out. Oh, don't worry about it, Lotte," Athena cut the bespectacled girl off before she could argue. "Your mother was one of my closest friends. She would want you to have it. Now hurry up and get changed; people are arriving for dinner. I want you all downstairs."
Their new clothes looked similar to the school's uniforms, but were pure-white that it was almost saintly; according to Diana, they were enchanted with a permanent clean spell so that they were impossible to get dirty. They also had hoods instead of the traditional witches hat and the Luna Nova crest emblazoned over their left breast, which was apparently where the badges were supposed to go. Honestly, you'd think Akko would remember seeing prefects around the school is this was how they dressed. Then again, Akko didn't have much of an attention span.
Down in the dining hall, Anna had hung a lime-green banner over the heavily laden table, which read: Congratulations Diana and Lotte – New Prefects.
"I thought we'd have a little party, not a sit-down dinner," she told Akko and the others as they entered the room. "Andrew and Frank said they were on their way now. From the sound of it, Frank was absolutely thrilled for you, Lotte."
Lotte smiled, her cheeks hued pink.
Blair, Izetta, Finé, and Ram were already there. Even Maril and Merrill stopped by to offer their cousin a word of congratulations, though they acted cheeky about it, which Akko supposed was their way of showing affection. Daryl never showed, to no one's surprise. To Akko's delight, Croix turned twenty minutes after the party had started.
"Professor Croix, so glad you could make it," said Akko happily.
"And pass up the chance for free food?" said Croix jokingly, ruffling Akko's hair. "I heard about the trial from Andrew. I knew that fat bastard wouldn't be able to pin anything on you."
"That makes one of us," said Akko.
"Oh, Croix, so glad you're here," said Athena brightly, as Croix shrugged off her cape. "We've been wanting to ask you for ages – could you have a look at the writing desk in the drawing room and tell us what's inside it? We haven't wanted to open it just in case it's something bad."
"Not a problem…"
Croix pulled out her phone, tapping the screen, and one of her pixel cubes materialized in the air, flying out the room.
"Drawing room…" she murmured, tapping her phone animatedly. "Desk in the corner? Yeah, I see it…. Yeah, it's a boogeyman…. Want me to go and get rid of it, 'Thena?"
"No, no, we'll get it later," beamed Athena. "Grab yourself a drink. We're having a little celebration, actually…." She gestured at the green banner. "Runs in the family, doesn't it?" she said fondly, ruffling Diana's hair.
"No surprise that Finnelan would pick Diana once she made it to her fifth year," said Croix with a humorous tone. "She was already an unofficial prefect. Though I wasn't expecting Ursula to pick Lotte of all people. Then again, all the other choices are a danger to society."
"You really get us," said Amanda teasingly.
"Sorry you didn't make prefect," Croix apologized to Nico. "But Priscilla was just…more fit for the job."
"I would totally have abused my authority," Nico admitted.
"At least you're honest about it," Croix snickered.
Andrew, Frank and Marianna arrived at the party fifteen minutes later with Marianna's magic. Frank – a kindhearted and charming young man – was bouncing with joy as if he had been made prefect. Lotte looked embarrassed, but still found herself holding Frank's hand for the rest of the evening. Andrew and Diana even spared a few polite, yet clipped, words of congratulations. The heated rivalry was still there, even if most of their issues were resolved last year. Athena was in such a good mood that she didn't even complain when Urahara showed up; he was wearing a long overcoat that seemed oddly lumpy in unlikely places and declined the offer to remove it.
"I think a toast is in order," said Andrew, when everyone had a drink. He raised his glass. "To Diana and Lotte. Best of luck to you both. You're going to need it with this one running around," he added jokingly, gesturing to Akko.
Everyone shared a laugh and drank to Diana and Lotte.
"I was never a prefect myself," said Izetta brightly from behind Akko as everyone moved toward the table to help themselves to food. "My Head of House said I lacked certain necessary qualities."
"Like what?" said Finé, who was choosing the grilled chicken.
"Like the ability to behave myself," said Izetta.
Finé laughed; Izetta watched the archduchess fondly as if Finé were an angel sent from heaven. Akko knew exactly what her aunt was going through, having been in her position for years.
"What about you, Blair?" Finé asked, rounding to the cat witch that had an entire fish in her mouth.
Blair threw her head back and laughed so hard, she dropped her fish on the floor, much to Anna's chagrin.
"No one would have made me a prefect, I spent too much time in detention with Chariot. Athena and Croix got badges. They were good girls."
"I think Holbrooke might have hoped that we would be able to exercise some control over our friends," said Athena amusingly. "I need scarcely say that we failed dismally."
"I got expelled in my sixth year, so you were pretty much on your own," said Croix.
Akko loved hearing stories about everyone's time in Luna Nova; it made her feel better knowing that Chariot wasn't perfect either. She loaded up her plate and wandered around the room, listening in on everyone's conversations.
Frank was telling Lotte about his new job in government.
" – only doing small things right now like filing paperwork and such, but I hope to one day work in Demi-Human Relations. All of this strife we have going on now is because we're not making an effort to reach out – "
Diana was talking very earnestly to Andrew about their arranged engagement.
" – getting Aunt Daryl to call it off is like trying pull a Mandrake by the roots. I'm hoping things are going better on your side of things. God knows your father isn't particularly fond of me – "
Sucy was talking about relationship of all things with Maril and Merrill of all people.
" – Long distance relationships can be stressful, but so much more worth it when you finally see each other," one twin said.
"If this Fu girl is still faithful to you by the time you graduate, then you know it's true love," said the other twin.
Garie and Sabi were huddled in the corner with Urahara. Urahara stopped talking when he saw Akko, but Garie winked and beckoned Akko closer.
"It's okay," she told Urahara. "We can trust, Akko. She's not gonna rat us out."
"Look what the old timer got us," said Sabi, holding out her hand to Akko. It was full of what looked like shriveled black pods. A faint rattling noise was coming from them, even though they were completely stationary.
"Devil's Breath seeds," said Sabi. "We need them for our Sick Snacks, but they're a Class-3 Non-Tradable Substance so we've been having trouble getting our hands on them.
"Five thousand credits for the whole pot, then?" said Garie.
"After all the trouble I went to get them?" said Uruhara, peeking at them from under his bucket hat. "I like you kids, but I'm not taking a credit under ten."
"The old timer likes to make jokes," Garie said to Akko.
"Yeah, his best one so far was eight hundred credits for a bag of blue hedgehog quills," said Sabi.
"Be careful," Akko warned them quietly.
"What?" said Garie. "Miss 'Thena's busy fawning over Diana, we're okay."
"But Ram could have her eye on you," Akko pointed out.
Urahara looked nervously over his shoulder.
"Good point," he said. "All right, kids, five it is, if you'll take them quick."
"Smart man," said Garie delightedly, when Urahara had emptied his pockets into the twins' outstretched hands and scuttled off toward the food. "We'd better get these upstairs…."
Akko watched the twins sneak through the forest of legs and scrambled out of the dining room when she heard her own name. Ram voice, sharp as a razor's edge, was audible even over the surrounding chatter.
"…why wasn't Kagari made a prefect?" said Ram.
"You're kidding, right?" replied Blair. "That girl causes too much trouble."
"But it would've shown confidence in her," persisted Ram. "Especially with the news having a jab at here every few days."
"It was Ursula's decision," said Blair. "She has her reasons."
Akko did not look around; she did not want Blair or Ram to know she had heard. She followed Urahara back toward the table, though she suddenly wasn't feeling hungry. She hadn't really thought about it. Not that she would've been good for the job, but Akko did wonder if Ursula had even considered her as a prefect. Akko admired and respected Ursula since her first year, but over the past couple years, she was starting to realize that Ursula was keeping more and more secrets from her. Whether it was about the Sphere, the Shiny Rod, Chariot, or her own illness. Akko was starting to wonder if Ursula even trusted her….
"You all right there, Akko?" asked Croix, coming up next to her.
Croix took a swig from her glass, staring at Akko in the corner of her eye.
"Come here, I've got something that might interest you," she said.
From her pocket, Croix pulled out pulled a very tattered old photograph.
"The original group from back in the day," said Croix. "Found it last night when I was cleaning out my closest looking for something – honestly forgot what it was halfway through…. Thought people might like to see it."
Akko took the photo. A small crowd of people looked back at her.
"There's me," said Croix unnecessarily, pointing at herself. The Croix in the picture had longer hair, still wore square glasses, wore sweats instead of dressing up like everyone else. "And there's Chariot beside me, Otto Apocalypse on the other side…. That's Oliver Queen, he died two weeks after this was taken, choked on a chicken bone if you can believe it. There's Athena and Bernadette – "
Akko's stomach clenched as she looked at Bernadette Cavendish; she was beautiful, smiling happy and healthy, nothing like the sickly woman Akko had met through the Horologium Clock.
"Poor Bernie," murmured Croix. "Tried every method I could think of to help her, but…. that's, Chris Redfield, back before he founded the BSAA, and that there's Blair, obviously… Makarov Drayer, he's gone now, gave his own life to protect his family, good man…. There's Ram, damn, I forgot she knew how to smile….
"That's A2…she was an android working for us on the sly, all we found were pieces of her…. Alice Ichijo with Karen Travers and Fubuki Spring; Alice disappeared six months later, Karen never spoke to us again…. Max Tennyson, great man, one of the best, decided not to join us this time around…. Patolli, you've met him, used to go by Licht back then…. Lucoa, a bit ditzy, but very powerful, no idea what happened to her…. Oh, this might interest you…."
Near the corner of the picture, Croix pointed out a tall, well-built man with short dark hair and finely trimmed beard and mustache.
"Orion Du Nord, Chariot and Izetta's older brother, only time I ever met him, great cook…. That's Agent 47, kinda creepy, Amon killed him personally…. Izetta, back when she had long hair…and…there you go, this is what I wanted to show you. Recognize her…?"
Akko's heart turned over. She stared at the face of a young woman, in her early 20s, with her brunette hair tied up in an elaborate bun wearing square glasses on her narrow nose. What struck Akko was how much she and this woman looked so much alike; they could practically be mother and daughter. Akko knew who this woman was because Ursula had told her only months ago after escaping Jennifer's trap. It was Professor Finnelan's daughter.
It was a kick in the gut to see her again, but even more so when she was flanked by both Cinder Fall and Master Noah, the people responsible for betraying their order and causing so much death. They are the reason Jennifer returned, the reason why Akko's mother left her….
"Eh?" said Croix.
Akko looked up at Croix, fighting off a grimace. Evidently, she was under the impression she had just given Akko a nice treat instead of a haunting reminded of their past failures.
"Yeah," said Akko, attempting to grin again. "Er…listen, I've just remembered, I haven't packed my…."
She was spared the trouble of inventing an object she had not packed; Izetta had just said, "Whatcha got there, Croix?" and Croix turned toward her. Akko crossed the dining hall, slipped through the door, and up the stairs before anyone could call her back.
She didn't know why she had received such a shock; she had seen pictures of Chariot and her friends, after all, and she had met Amon…but to have them sprung on her like that, when she was least expecting it…. No one would like that. she thought gloomily….
And then, to see them surrounded by all those other happy faces…A2, who had been found in pieces, and Makarov, who died protecting his family, and Bernadette Cavendish, who had been tortured to death…all smiling happily out of the photo forevermore, not knowing that they were doomed…. Well, Croix might find that interesting…she, Akko, found it disturbing….
She shuffled along the hallway and dragged her feet into the bedroom she shared with Lotte and Sucy, shutting the door behind her. She flopped forward into Lotte's bed, her groans muffled by the sheets. She just wanted to lie there until she needed to leave for Luna Nova.
"Tired?" someone asked behind her.
Akko snapped up in attention, panic racing through her heart when she didn't recognize the voice. She flipped around and tried swinging her arm, only to be caught by the wrist. Akko was able to look back at the intruder and came to a horrible realization: it was the person in the black coat, from the night the Heartless attack.
"How did you get in here?" Akko gasped.
"That should be the least of your concerns," said the black coated intruder, their voice distinctly feminine.
Black Coat (which is what we'll call her for now) flipped Akko over the edge of the bed, throwing her flat on the ground with a thud. Akko hoped it was loud enough to get somebody's attention.
Akko tried to push herself up by her elbows, but Black Coat grabbed her by the back of the head and pressed her down to the floor. Akko tried flailing, but Black Coat was holding her down with a knee pressed against Akko's spine. This was bad, Akko thought. Why didn't she think to have her wand on hand?
"I heard you managed to make a clean getaway at your trial and decided to offer my congratulations," said Black Coat with a voice like venomous honey. "Must be nice to have all those people to clean up your messes."
"They didn't…clean my mess?" Akko grunted, struggling.
"Didn't they?" said Black Coat. "The way I understand it, you were floundering until Hanbridge saved your skin."
"What's…you're point?"
"That you're a curse," Black Coat said seriously. "That everywhere you go, you drag others into your problems and they have to suffer the consequences of your failings. How many times did your friends almost die chasing after the Shiny Rod when you could've left well enough alone? Who brought the plague into Luna Nova that nearly killed everyone? Who dragged her friends in the middle of the night chasing a would-be murderer and let Amon escape? And who was it that almost got Nico killed and let Evelyn escape with all of Ram's students? Who was it that allowed Jennifer to return?"
"…How do you know all of that?" asked Akko hesitantly.
"I've been watching you for years, Atsuko Kagari," said Black Coat. She lifted Akko's head up and slammed it back down on the floor; Akko's became momentarily dazed. "Everywhere you go, you cause nothing but grief to everyone around you. One day, they're all going to die, and it will be all – your – fault."
"I…I don't…I never…," Akko stammered, her breath hitching.
"Akko-nyan!" Blair's voice came from the door, knocking on the other aside. "Are you all right in there? I heard a noise."
All at once, the pressure on her head and spine vanished with the sound of flapping fabric. Akko flipped around on her back, but Black Coat had already vanished without a trace. She raised herself on her elbows when Blair, growing impatient by Akko's lack of response, shouldered her way into the room, closely followed by Izetta with Croix lurking behind them. All three looked down at Akko lying on the floor strangely.
"Did you trip over your own feet again, Akko-Nyan?" asked Blair teasingly.
"No, no, there was someone in here," said Akko. "Someone wearing a black coat."
"A black coat?" Izetta repeated curiously. "Was an older man?"
"No, it…it sounded like a woman," said Akko after a moment of thought.
"Then it wasn't your father…," Blair mumbled.
"My what?" Akko asked quickly.
"I'm going to have a look around," said Croix seriously. "You stay with her until I've made sure the manor is clear."
She stalked off down the hall. Blair crossed the room and pulled Akko to her feet while Izetta closed the door behind them. Blair led Akko over to her bed and sank into the mattress beside her while Izetta walked around to the window to make sure it was locked.
"Have you met this woman before, Akko?" asked Blair.
"Uh, once, I think," said Akko, sounding uncertain. "Just before the Heartless attacked in Japan."
"Think she could be with Jennifer?" asked Izetta, now checking the walls.
"No, I don't think so," Akko mumbled. "I got the impression that she wasn't happy that Jennifer was back…. She said it was my fault."
"What was?" asked Blair.
"That Jennifer came back," said Akko, staring at a spot on the floor to avoid meeting her guardian's eye. "If I hadn't grabbed that stupid trophy in the Contest, maybe Jennifer wouldn't have come back. Then Nico wouldn't have got her throat cut open, and Mato would still be – OUCH!" she yelped when Blair smacked her over the head.
"Are you stupid or something – don't answer that, it's a trick question," said Blair.
"But – "
"Akko-Nyan, there was nothing you could've done to prevent what happened," said Blair firmly. "Amon already had the Star of Time, so he could've brought Jennifer back whenever he wanted. The only reason he waited for you was to convince you to join them, which they failed. And you didn't cut Nico's throat – Ruvik did – so there's no point in blaming yourself."
"And Evelyn already possessed Mato and her classmates long before they arrived at Luna Nova," said Izetta. "There was nothing you could've done to change that."
"I could've saved them – "
"And you will, someday, but not now," Blair interjected. "It's easy to place blame on yourself after everything you've been through, but you have to realize that there are some things beyond your control. If you let yourself be weighed down by every little setback, you're going to find yourself crushed."
"But I'm the Star-Born Child – "
"And you think that makes it your responsibility to fix the world?" Izetta cut in. "You might be the Star-Born Child, but you are still a child. You should be more concerned with passing your classes and going on dates with Diana, not trying to fix everyone's problems."
"But I – "
"That's enough, Akko-Nyan," said Blair sternly. "Stop trying to be everyone's hero; it's not your responsibility. Once we get back to Luna Nova, you'll have plenty to distract you, especially since S.T.A.R.s are coming up this year. You focus on that and leave Jennifer and the rest of her followers to the Sphere."
But Akko, laying in her bed ten minutes later after Croix gave the all clear, did not think Blair was right. She could still see the people beaming up at her from the tattered photograph, unaware that so many of their lives were drawing to a close. The words of the woman in the black coat pounded against her mind like an angry drumbeat.
Without warning, she felt another sharp sting in the back of her brain and her stomach churned horribly.
"Why is this happening to me?" she grimaced, rubbing her knuckle against her skull as the pain receded.
Akko felt older that she had ever felt in her life, and it seemed extraordinary to her that barely an hour ago, her biggest concern was Garie and Sabi purchasing illegal Devil's Breath seeds.
Next chapter: Molly McIntyre