Sports field
Ever since watching that performance by Shiny Chariot over a decade ago, Akko became mesmerized by the world of magic, and had wanted to become a witch herself so she can follow in her idol's footsteps.
But if there's anything the Japanese girl wanted as much as that, it is the idea that she'd be able to fly on a broom like most witches would.
And that's exactly what made Akko excited about her first Broom Flying class.
"Alright, ladies, listen up!" Said the professor of the class in a drill sergeant-type commanding tone. "For those of you who are new here or have forgotten about it during the summer vacation, my name is Adrien Nelson, and I am the professor of Broom Flying class!"
Akko, standing in formation with the rest of the class, tried to hold back her excitement. This is it! I'm finally going to be able to fly! She thought to herself.
"Now, broom-flying is one of the most basic things you will be doing as a witch, no matter what job you take after graduating!" Professor Nelson continued with the introduction of the class. "However, that doesn't change the fact that you're still flying who knows how far off the ground, and falling from great heights without safety measures can be hazardous to your health, as a lot of my friends back in the United States Air Force can attest to!" She loudly emphasized that part.
Akko can agree with the professor on the "falling can be hazardous" part. When she was little, she fell a lot from all of her failed attempts at flying a broom, and although none of those falls caused long-lasting injuries, they were all lessons to be learned about safety in broom-flying.
"Before we start, let's do some basic warm-up exercises!" Professor Nelson barked at everyone. "Because you do not want to suffer sudden muscle cramps when you're high in the air!
...
After five minutes of warm-up exercises, Professor Nelson had the students sorted into two groups: the returning students (apparently all Luna Nova students must take Broom Flying class every semester even if they passed it before) are told to go practice what they have learned in the previous semester(s), while the new students found themselves standing before the professor as they will be taught the basics.
Akko, however, is confused as to why she and the other students, including the returning ones, had to wear a helmet and this weird looking backpack for Broom Flying class.
"As I've said earlier, broom-flying is the most basic thing a proper witch would be doing, but it can still be dangerous. And that is why you ladies are wearing these safety helmets and parachutes - they are safety measures, just in case anything goes wrong." Professor Nelson explained.
Oh, they're safety measures, like when you're riding a bike. That makes sense.
"Before we start the class, does anyone have any questions?" Professor Nelson asked everyone present.
Only one student raised her hand, and that's Teresa Finneran.
"Professor, you were once my mother's classmate, right?" Asked Teresa bluntly.
Professor Nelson sounds confused by the question. "Remind me, who's your mother again?"
"Professor Anne Finneran." Teresa gave a straightforward answer...
A straightforward answer that made the Broom Flying class professor freeze in surprise, and confirmed once and for all for the other students that one of their fellow classmates is the daughter of Luna Nova's strictest professor. The only person on the field who isn't surprised one bit about the revelation is Diana Cavendish.
"I assume her being a control freak got on your nerves all the time, professor?" Teresa continued.
Professor Nelson stood frozen for another five seconds before responding, "W-well, you're right about her being a control freak, and she did get on my nerves a couple of times..." She said. "But what did she tell you about me... Actually, don't answer that. I think I know the answer already..."
That got everyone giggling in response, except, again, Diana.
"Enough of that!" Professor Nelson changed the topic. "Everyone get into position! We will start with the most basic of the basics!"
Everyone stopped giggling and did as told.
"Alright..." Professor Nelson then blew the whistle before starting. "First, hold your broom out."
Everyone did as told. Akko was a bit impetuous, and her broom almost slipped out of her hands, though she was able to hold it in place and get back into position.
"Second, pay respect to your broom..." Professor Nelson continued...
...And paused as she noticed everyone (save Akko who is giving her broom a military salute) rolling their eyes at that.
Professor Nelson sighed. "Yes, I know it sounds childish. But it does work most of the time. So would you ladies kindly do as told? It doesn't have to be a military salute, mind you..."
Only Molly McIntyre and Elizabeth Cullen responded by slightly lowering their heads and uttering something.
Professor Nelson sighed again. "Well then..." She continued, ignoring a song that suddenly started playing somewhere in the background. "Third, get on your broom, like so." She then demonstrated by straddling her broom. "And this is when you imagine yourself flying in the skies, and chant the spell: Tia Freyle!"
"Tia Freyle!" All the students did as told, as they collectively chanted the spell and started to hover off the ground.
Akko is particularly excited about this, as she felt herself lifting off the ground. She has been waiting for over 10 years just for this moment. To be able to fly on a broom like any witches would. To be able to touch the sky. To be able to fly alongside the birds.
Except there is one slight issue with all that...
She is merely hovering a few inches off the ground. That doesn't sound underwhelming for a beginner, but compared to all her fellow classmates whose hovering heights are measured in feet, that does look pretty lame.
Akko looked up at the others. Her cheeks red from feeling embarrassed. "Well, uh, looks like everyone else are much better at this..."
The Japanese girl is quickly cut off when most of her classmates started laughing. Sucy didn't laugh, but she did chortle at the bit. Diana, on the other hand, looked like she is above such lowly acts, and kept her stoic face.
Akko pouted. She tried to prove everyone wrong by attempting to steer her broom higher...and only managed to raise a few more inches.
"Don't fret, Miss Kagari." Professor Nelson flew over and told her. "As they usually say, practice makes perfect. I'm sure you'll be able to do better if you work for it."
The professor then looked up at the other students. She was about to tell them to stop laughing until she saw one of the students making her grit her teeth.
"Miss Cavendish!" Professor Nelson called out to Diana. "Come down here and put your safety helmet and parachute back on!"
Everyone else stopped laughing and turned toward Diana. Indeed, the Cavendish heiress is the only one not wearing the provided helmet and parachute pack. Everyone are shocked as to why an honor student like her would be not wearing school-mandated safety equipment, and intentionally at that.
Akko looked over at the returning students at the other side of the sports field. She can see that even Chloe, Hannah, and Barbara have their helmets and parachute packs on. So why would Diana refuse to put hers on?
Diana descended from the air until she is at the same elevation as Professor Nelson. "Witchcraft is an art steeped in tradition. To use these modern appliances is an insult to witchcraft." She casually responded.
Professor Nelson then glared at Diana. "I don't care if it goes against ancient tradition! It's safety first in my classes! So go put them on, or I'm giving you an F Minus for Broom Flying when the semester ends! You hear me!?"
With the professor outright threatening Diana with a tardy on her grades, the heiress has no choice but to obey with a grunt. "As you wish, professor..." She said as she dismounted from her broom and went to fetch her helmet and parachute pack that she ditched earlier.
Akko stared at Diana in astonishment. Turns out this seemingly perfect, flawless honor student has such a major flaw...
"Traditionalists. Not even Anne is that bad..." Professor Nelson muttered. "Even Amanda didn't ditch her safety equipment for any reason..."
Akko, who was hovering right next to the professor, overheard her muttering. "Who's Amanda?" She asked.
Before Akko can get an answer, something flew past her with enough speed to knock her off her broom with the displaced air.
That didn't hurt Akko much, if at all. So she got up relatively quickly before looking at what had knocked her down.
It was one of the returning students, performing some amazing feats of acrobatics on her broom while wearing a casual expression on her face and seemingly enjoying the moment.
At the same time, the song that has been playing in the background the whole time reached a loud chorus, which seems to have been timed perfectly by (or with?) the acrobatics-performing student performing a somersault on her broom.
After the somersault, the student witch stopped her acrobatics to take off her safety helmet and catch a breath, revealing her two-toned red hair in the process. "Hell, yes." She then said to herself.
"Amanda O'Neil!" Professor Nelson yelled at the redhead. "How many times have I told you that no acrobatics are allowed in Broom Flying classes?!"
The redhead, now named Amanda, responded by turning around, putting her back against the professor. "Jeez, what a buzzkill..."
"And please turn off this annoying song!" Professor Nelson added.
Amanda took out her wand. With a wave, the song died out and the field became silent. "What's wrong with Blue Swede's Hooked on a Feeling, anyway?" She muttered. "After all, it was good enough that they put in Guardians of the Galaxy..."
At the same time, Akko wondered when is the class going to continue normally...
...
Beyond Diana refusing to wear safety equipment, and Amanda performing unauthorized acrobatics, the Broom Flying class concluded without a hitch.
For Akko, however, it was a bit humiliating that she has the worst performance in class among the new students. Sure, she finally got her wish of being able to fly like a witch, but she needs to fly higher if she were to become a proper witch.
With Broom Flying class having ended for today, all the students packed up their brooms, as well as returned the safety helmets and parachute packs to Professor Nelson, as they head off for their next class, or go back to their dorms for those who don't have classes for the moment.
"And Diana is the one Hannah and Barbara ditched Chloe for?" Akko, as she prepared to go back to the Red Coven's dorm, overheard Avery gossiping with her Coven mates. "She outright refused to wear safety equipment, because they're not traditional witchcraft? Give me a break!"
"At first, I thought it was her displaying the usual 'Scottish daredevil' stereotype..." Mary chimed in. "Turns out it was because she is more traditionalist than Professor Finneran..."
"Hard to believe an honor student like her would give a professor a bad first impression..." Blair also chimed in.
Akko shook her head. As much as she wanted to agree with Purple Coven, she doesn't want to interact with them, given what they said about her back at the Leyline Terminal.
"Purple Coven, is it?" A none-too-familiar Scottish-accented voice caused Avery, Mary, and Blair to freeze. "What were you girls saying about me?"
The Purple Coven girls slowly turned to face Diana, with chills running down their spine - which was understandable, since Diana was sorted into Blue Coven with the bullies Hannah and Barbara, and everyone have reasons to believe those two may have corrupted Diana into becoming a bully.
Even Akko took a step back, prepared to turn tail and escape should the situation with Diana become as degenerate as it would with Hannah and Barbara.
"I-it was n-nothing..." Avery responded.
"We...we were just gossiping about..." Mary also responded.
All that came out of Blair's mouth are unintelligible mumbles.
Diana rolled her eyes at how Purple Coven reacted to her presence. "If this is about my background, then-"
"So you're the princess that England and Parker ditched Rich Bitch Chloe for?" Says Amanda as she suddenly appeared, putting herself between Diana and the Purple Coven.
The Purple Coven took this opportunity to make their getaway from the field.
Akko watched as Avery and her Coven mates ran away from the scene toward the dormitories. The thought that Purple Coven, whom bullied her on her first day, were afraid of Diana being corrupted into a bully says a lot about just the kind of terrible people that Hannah and Barbara are...
"Amanda O'Neil, is it?" Diana looked at the redhead. "And what did you mean by Hannah and Barbara ditching Dubois?"
Amanda crossed her arms and tilted her head. "Weren't you right there when they utterly destroyed Chloe's pride in the cafeteria yesterday?" She reminded.
"Although I admit that Hannah and Barbara stepped out of the line in their gloating," Diana said. "Dubois deserved it as penance for her attitude..."
"Yeah, can't argue with that." Amanda acknowledged with a snap of her fingers. "But, I just saw you picking on Avery and her friends. Didn't you, also yesterday in the cafeteria, rip Chloe a new one for doing that to the Reds?" The redhead then glanced at Akko and threw her a wink.
Akko didn't know how to respond, so she just stood there and watched.
Diana narrowed her eyebrows. "I will never resort to such lowly acts as bullying less capable students. It is against the ideology of the House of Cavendish to engage in such behavior..."
"What's with your royal way of speaking? Never saw you as a literal princess..." Amanda interrupted Diana, then interrupted herself as an idea suddenly came to her, which is made apparent by the redhead's cheeky grin.
Diana scowled, apparently picking up on what Amanda is planning. Akko's limited intellect prevented her from fully understanding the atmosphere, but she could still vaguely guess what is coming, having been familiar with being mocked and insulted herself.
"Silly for me to look down on a bloody wee lass like ye, ay?" Amanda said as she put on a downright repulsive Scottish accent, very definitely with the intent of mocking Diana. "Perhaps ye can toss a few cabers after finishing ye haggis, or ye no' a true Scotswoman!" Amanda burst out laughing as she finished her stereotype-inspired insult.
Diana pinched the bridge of her nose. She looked like she is resisting the urge to just up and punch Amanda. "First of all, that is not how a Scottish person actually speaks." She argued. "Second, what you did just now contradicts your own criticism on bullying..."
"That all coming from the princess who ripped someone else a new one just for liking Shiny Chariot?" Amanda interrupted. "You got some nerves, calling me a hypocrite, when you're one yourself."
At that point, Diana looked like she is about to have hot steam coming out of her ears.
"Ah, what am I saying? You princesses are always like that." Amanda said with a shush. "See you later, Cabbage Hair."
And with that, Amanda walked past Diana without sparing her a glance.
"Don't mind O'Neil, Diana..." Hannah said as she joined the heiress. "She's got a bad reputation in Luna Nova for doing things like that all the time."
"She's always like that, giving everyone she meets a headache." Barbara said as she too joined in. "Let's just go and do our own things..."
At the same time, Amanda approached Akko with a smile on her face.
"There. That's what that lettuce-head gets for insulting Shiny Chariot to her Number One Fan's face. No need to thank me." Amanda told Akko.
"That was pretty harsh, though." Akko responded.
"Sometimes, the only way to knock a harsh person down a peg is to be harsher yourself." Amanda said. She then extended a hand toward Akko. "I'm Amanda O'Neil, by the way."
Akko took Amanda's hand and shook it. "Kagari Atsuko... I mean, Atsuko Kagari. But you can call me Akko." She introduced herself to the redhead.
"Akko, huh? You sound Japanese. Probably explains your accent." Amanda noted.
"So Amanda, you're a fan of Shiny Chariot too?" Akko then asked.
Amanda scratched her head in response to that question. "Well, not a fan per se." She answered. "But I do like the way she defied her peers to do her own thing. Chariot haters like Chloe Dubois and Cabbage-dish can go suck it up, for all I know."
"I knew I'm not the only one in Luna Nova who likes Chariot!" Akko said happily.
The conversation is cut short when two witches - one chubby and with pink hair, the other short and with dark hair - approached Amanda. Judging by the green sashes that they shared with Amanda, they are probably in Green Coven with the redhead.
"Jas, Cons! Took you two long enough!" Amanda waved at her Coven mates. She then turned to Akko, "These are my friends in Green Coven. The chubby one is Jasminka Antonenko, and the short...I mean, the grumpy-looking one is Constanze Amalie Von Braunschbank Albrechtsberger, or you can just call her Constanze." She introduced her Coven mates before turning back to them. "So you girls have anything in mind?"
The short witch, Constanze, who has what looked like a fully metallic backpack on her back, is the one to respond...with a grunt.
"You just want to keep working on your stuff?" Amanda, somehow understanding the short witch's grunt as an entire sentence, asked, to which the short witch answered with a nod.
"What about you, Jas?" Amanda asked the chubby witch, Jasminka. "You want to grab a bite?"
That question was a rather redundant one, as Jasminka is already eating out of a bag of potato chips at the moment. "I already have." She answered between her bites.
"Well, that's a shame. I was thinking on playing a prank on Avery while she is having one of her live-streams..." Amanda lamented.
Akko stood at the side as she watched Amanda talking to her Coven mates.
"Oh well, let's get back to our dorm." Amanda then told her Coven mates. "Cons, mind giving us a ride?"
Constanze responded with a grunt before setting down her metallic backpack.
Akko wondered what Constanze is going to make the metallic backpack do. Something magical that she has never seen before, perhaps?
Instead of something magical, however, something technological happened: the backpack began to unfold itself in a similar fashion as one of those old school mecha anime. Bits and kibbles twisted and turned before the mass of metal settled down as a go-kart (that somehow seemed bigger than the backpack that it was earlier).
Akko wondered why the go-kart looked awfully familiar. Though it didn't take her too long before she realized why.
"Hey! It was you!" Akko pointed out. "Back at the town a few days ago, you almost ran me over with that thing!"
Amanda jerked her head toward Akko. "That was you back at Blytonbury? Uh, I'm so sorry..."
And here in this extra long chapter, we're introduced to the Green Coven: Amanda, Constanze, and Jasminka. Let's give them a warm welcome, shall we?
Amanda strikes me as the kind that likes to listen to pop songs, not unlike Peter Quill from Guardians of the Galaxy. So expect to see more pop songs being mentioned in later chapters. I originally wanted to apply the same thing to Akko with J-Pop songs, but couldn't find any that sounded suitable (not to mention that I don't speak a lick of Japanese), so that characteristic ended up not being used.
I don't think I need to explain why Professor Nelson insisted on all students having to wear helmets and parachutes for Broom Flying class, as the reason is pretty obvious and already given right here in this chapter. But the fact that Diana refused to wear them when Amanda of all people wore them without asking questions just says a lot about how much of a traditionalist Diana is (considering that Nelson had to threaten her with a fail grade to get her to budge), and it even caused some students to start doubting her legitimacy as an honor student (not that she isn't one).
Why does Diana here behave like so? Well, for starters, I hated how Diana was portrayed as a "jack-of-all-trades, master-of-all" flawless Mary Sue-ish character in the first cour of the anime. So I gave her a few flaws, beginning with her disobeying modern safety procedures in class, in order to, bluntly put, nerf her. She won't be nerfed so much as to become an incompetent character, but she's not going to be so competent as to solve every problem just by showing up.
By the way, I subscribe to the theory that Diana is Scottish, because she's from Wedinburgh, which is one letter away from Edinburgh, Scotland.
"Just remember: a believing heart is your magic."
Afterwords end here.