What's Akko Worth?
It was no secret that Sucy and Diana hated each other. Ever since she began her relationship with Akko, Sucy had made her discontent quite known throughout Luna Nova. Whether it was a mean comment or a cold glare, it was obvious to everyone that Sucy couldn't stand the blonde heiress, and the feeling was mutual. "Honestly, Akko", she said one day, "must we allow Manbavaran near us at lunch?" "Yes, Diana", said Akko, "I let you keep your friends around". "True, but they don't test potions in my sleep", said Diana, "or at least, I don't think they do". "You'd know", said Akko as she kissed Diana's cheek. Sucy just seethed in anger upon seeing that, something Lotte took notice of. "You OK, Sucy?", she asked nervously. "Just fine", grunted Sucy. "You sure?", asked Amanda, "If my eyes don't deceive me, your eyes look a little green". Sucy glared at Amanda, then returned her gaze to Diana. "I think you and I should eat somewhere else", said Diana. She then took Akko by the hand and lead her out of the lunch hall. Sucy took out a notepad and wrote down what she saw. "What's that?", asked Lotte. "My notes", said Sucy before left to follow Diana and Akko.
Later that day, Sucy watched from behind the bleachers as Diana and Akko practiced a shape-changing spell. "Let's see if I can do better this time", said Akko. She then turned herself into a short, stumpy pony. "Alright, you turn", said Akko. Diana then transformed into a tall, white mare. Akko huffed and then transformed into a scrawny pigeon with molting feathers. Diana, on the other hand, transformed into a colorful macaw with red and green feathers. "Let's see you try this one", said Akko, and she turned herself into a crawling alligator. Diana, on the other hand, became a massive, hissing dragon. "Shoot", said Akko as she and Diana returned to their human forms. "It seems to me like you're a bit of a glutton for punishment", said Diana. "Yeah, well, just you wait", sputtered Akko, "I can still do the spell better". "Maybe one day", said Diana as she brushed a strand of hair away from Akko's face, "But today, victory is mine". Sucy didn't pay attention to the rest of the conversation as she jotted down some notes. "Need more evidence", she muttered, "Then I can save Akko from her ilk".
Much later, after the girls had returned to their dorms for the night, Akko awoke with a start. "You alright, Akko?", asked Lotte. "Fine", yawned Akko, "Just a nightmare is all". "Wanna talk about it?", asked Sucy. "It's...private", said Akko, "Besides, Diana wouldn't like me talking about it". Sucy snorted before writing in her notepad some more. "She's been writing all day", yawned Akko, "What's she up to, Lotte?" "Don't know", yawned Lotte, "Need sleep." Everyone then went back to their restful slumber, unaware of what Sucy had planned for the next day.
Some time during lunch, Lotte walked over to Akko. "Diana, is it alright if I borrow Akko for a moment?", she asked. "Certainly", said Diana. "I'll be back in a bit", said Akko as she and Lotte walked off. "Now, before we begin, I want to say sorry", said Lotte as she lead Akko down the hall, "This wasn't my idea". "What are you talking about Lotte?", asked Akko as she stepped into a room, where Sucy, Amanda, Constanze, and Jasminka were waiting. "She's talking about this", said Sucy, "We have to talk about Diana". "What about her?", asked Akko. "Sucy staged a whole intervention about it", said Amanda, "Might be important". "You better believe it", said Sucy as she pushed Akko into a chair and threw down her notepad. "What's that?", asked Akko. "Evidence that Diana is abusing you", said Sucy bluntly. "That's not what's happening", protest Akko. "Really?", asked Sucy, "Exhibit A: Yesterday, she took off somewhere alone to isolate you away from us". "She was weirded out by you staring", said Akko. "Leading to Exhibit B", said Sucy, "I have never once heard her praise you on your skills in magic. Instead, she always makes the conversation about herself. Honestly, I could go on about how she never apologized for the scar on your back or the fact that she's causing you to have nightmares". "Well, I'm not sure about that last one", said Akko. "I think what Sucy is trying to ask is if you feel like an equal in this relationship", suggested Amanda. Akko was about to say something, but instead pondered this last point.
"Face facts, Akko", said Sucy, "Diana is nothing more than a psychotic, abusive monster who sees you as a plaything to break down and throw away". "So, that's what you think of me", said a cold voice. It was Diana! "Better add stalking to the list", muttered Amanda. "No, don't add that", snapped Diana, "All of your accusations are untrue". "Really?", asked Sucy, "So when exactly did you apologize for letting your sycophants run wild with insulting your girlfriend?" As Diana stammered out a response, Constanze nudged Jasminka to get her to pass over some popcorn, which she did. "Why does it matter to you anyway?", asked Diana, "You poison her every chance you get!" "I make her stronger", snarled Sucy, "Unlike you, I see her as more of an asset to make myself look better". "I would never do such a thing", snapped Diana, "Akko, tell your..." But when she turned to Akko, she found that she was gone.
After running down the hall, Akko ducked into an empty classroom. There, she took a seat at one of the desks and began to look over the notes Sucy had made on her relationship with Diana. One after another, Akko's negative thoughts piled up until she collapsed onto the desk and began to sob. She was so busy weeping that she didn't notice Professor Finnelan enter the classroom. "Whatever is the matter, young Kagari?", asked Professor Finnelan. "It's Diana", said Akko, and she explained everything as Professor Finnelan sat down and patiently listened to the young witch's plight. "I don't know what to do", sobbed Akko, "On one hand, Sucy is right. Diana doesn't see me as an equal a-and I keep wondering if I'm just good enough in general. But one the other hand, Sucy sees me as an experiment to test poison on. What do I do? What do I do?" "Well", said Professor Finnelan, "Most of this evidence is circumstantial at best. But if Diana is hurting you without knowing it, I think it would be best to take some time to distance yourself from her. Just for a little bit." "I'm scared of how Diana will react to that", said Akko as she wiped away the tears from her eyes. "I know", said Professor Finnelan, "But sometimes, we have to stare fear in the face in order to do what needs to be done".
The next day, as Akko was leaving class, she bumped into Diana. "Oh Akko", she said, "I didn't get a chance to talk about yesterday". "About that", stammered Akko, "I think w-we should s-stop seeing each other for a bit". "What?", asked Diana. "I-I don't feel like an equal in this relationship, so I want to step back from it", said Akko. "For how long?", asked Diana as she fought back tears. "I don't know", said Akko, "Just for a little bit, I hope". A single tear fell from Akko's eye as she said this. Diana reached forward to wipe it away, but Akko gently grabbed her wrist. "No", she said, "I can handle it myself". "OK", said Diana softly as Akko walked away.
Diana found herself inside of Professor Chariot's classroom trying not to cry. After explaining everything from the intervention to the recent separation, she then said: "Maybe I have been horrid. Did I ever deserve to be loved in the first place?" "Of course you deserve to be loved", said Professor Chariot, "Everyone deserves to be loved." "Even when you cause them immense pain?", asked Diana. Professor Chariot took a moment to think of an answer, memories of Professor Croix flooding her mind. "Sometimes", said Professor Chariot, "But you have to be careful. The line between love and obsession is a very thin one". "I might have done permanent damage to Akko's psyche", said Diana mournfully, "She's going to wonder for the rest of her life if she was ever good enough at anything". "I don't think that's true", said Professor Chariot, "She'll be down, sure, but Akko always has a way of getting up again. Remember the Samhain Festival? Even if what you say is true, Akko will always find a way to become something greater than herself. Just give it time. Akko wants to be safe, but she would also want you to not punish yourself for something you didn't know you were doing".
Later on, Diana sat alone at lunch, silently contemplating her future relationship. She felt a presence next to her and looked over to see Amanda sit next to her. "I don't have time for your teasing today", said Diana, "Just leave me alone". "Would love to", said Amanda, "But I'd rather keep an eye on you". "Why?", asked Diana. "Let's just say some people have a tendency to hurt themselves before seeing the bigger picture", said Amanda. "Be honest", said Diana, "Am I really a psychotic, abusive monster?" "No", said Amanda, "You just lack awareness of Akko's feelings".
"That's just as abusive", said a voice. Diana snapped out of her funk to see Sucy standing across from her. "That just goes to show how selfish you truly are", she continued, "You love yourself more than her". "I do not", said Diana. "How long would it have taken you to notice?", asked Sucy, "I'm guessing some time after the wedding". Amanda could see Diana beginning to shake with anger. "What do you care, Manbavaran?", snarled Diana, "You seem to enjoy seeing people in pain". "We have that much in common", said Sucy, "Or did you think I forgot how you let your roommates run wild with my friends?" "That wasn't my doing!", snapped Diana. "OK", said Amanda, "Let's cool it". "OK", said Sucy. Then, she opened a water bottle and splashed it onto Diana's face! That did it. Despite Amanda's best efforts to hold her back, Diana leaped forward and slammed Sucy to the ground! She punched the girl beneath her as she cackled with delight, angering her further. Amanda tried to pull Diana away, but the raging witch knocked her aside and slammed her fist into Sucy's face! Diana felt someone grabbing her arm and back-handed them on instinct! "Akko!", cried Amanda. That didn't sound right. Diana looked behind and gasped in horror as she saw Akko clutch her bruised face. She froze up as the teachers ran over to break up the fight. "Now you're just as monstrous as me", said Sucy as they were both taken away.
In the office of Headmistress Holbrooke, Diana was shaking and muttering to herself as Sucy sat next to her. "I'm quite disappointed with you two", said the Headmistress, "The lunch hall is no place for fighting". Diana could only nod her head as she continued to murmur. "What's she saying?", asked Professor Chariot. "I'm a monster", whimpered Diana. "A moment of weakness does not make one a monster, despite what some will say", said Headmistress Holbrooke as she eyed Sucy, "Still, we cannot allow students to fight in the lunch hall". "I agree", said Professor Finnelan, "We should expel both of them". "Oh, that's your solution to everything", said Professor Chariot. "It's a good one", said Sucy, "As soon as we get her away from Akko, she'll be safe and happy." "Well", said Professor Finnelan, "since Akko is the reason you two were fighting, we'll just expel her instead". "You can't do that!", said Diana and Sucy. "Then in that case, you two will be put in detention together", said Headmistress Holbrooke, "I trust you two can handle fixing broken brooms without quarreling". "I'll take it from here", said Professor Chariot, "Follow me, girls".
As soon as they left, there came a furious knock on the door. "Now what?", asked Professor Finnelan. She opened the door to find Akko, still holding some ice to her bruised cheek. "Please don't expel them", she begged, "It was an accident". "They're not being expelled", said Headmistress Holbrooke, "They've been sent to detention to mend brooms as well as any damaged pride". "Oh, this is all my fault", said Akko as she slumped into a chair. "Don't be ridiculous", said Professor Finnelan, "Taking some time away from a relationship didn't cause them to fight. They did that on their own". "She's right", said Headmistress Holbrooke, "You had nothing to do with them fighting". "I should've paid more attention to them", said Akko, "I might have been able to..." "Some things are inevitable", said Professor Finnelan, "Let's just hope they mend fences before something like this happens again".
Over in Professor Chariot's classroom, Diana and Sucy silently put together broken brooms, while Professor Chariot watched over both of them. "You're awfully quiet, Diana", said Professor Chariot. "She's likely rethinking her entire life", said Sucy. "Now, Sucy, that's not a very nice thing to say", said Professor Chariot. "Neither is she", said Sucy bluntly, "Or did everyone just forget that she's abusive?" "Is this about that notebook Akko handed me?", asked Professor Chariot. Sucy nodded an affirmative. "I want to be better, I really do", said Diana. "I know", said Professor Chariot as she sat in front of both girls, "But you need to take better care of the people around you." She then turned to Sucy. "You, on the other hand, need to control your temper better", said Professor Chariot, "While your intentions were noble, the way you went about was just as abusive, and that's without getting into your habit of testing potions on Akko". Sucy was about to argue, but conceded to the point. "Not to be a brow-beater", said Diana, "but you splashing water in my face doesn't look good to Akko". "You're right", said Sucy, "and I'm sorry". Neither Diana nor Professor Chariot expected that from Sucy. "So am I", said Diana at last, "When we're done here, let's try not to fight so much". "Agreed", said Sucy.
A few weeks had passed, and Akko was still feeling an ache in her heart. She didn't say it out loud, but she missed Diana. Still, she wanted to be her equal, and after a particularly long test one Friday morning, she sat on her bed, admiring the A+ she had earned in Professor Finnelan's class. Just then, Sucy burst into the dorm room. "I need you for something", Sucy said. Without another word, she took Akko by the hand and led her down the hall. She was then shoved into a room, where Diana was waiting. "I'll leave you two to it", said Sucy as she shut the door. "At least you two aren't fighting as usual", said Akko in an awkward attempt to break the ice. "I guess so", said Diana, "I didn't get a chance to apologize..." "It's fine", said Akko, "You didn't mean it". "But I still hit you", said Diana dejectedly, "Do I even deserve forgiveness?" "Yes', said Akko as she took both of her hands. "Do you really want us to stay together?", asked Diana. "It depends", said Akko, "What am I worth to you?" "Everything", said Diana. "Perfect", said Akko as she pulled Diana in for a hug, "Let's not have this whole thing blow up again." "Agreed", said Diana, "I don't ever want to hurt you again". "You won't", smiled Akko, "You've been working so hard to improve yourself. That's what couples do with their flaws: they work through them.". "I love you", said Diana. Akko simply kissed her forehead and said: "I know you do".
The End.