Kenji, Akko, and Andrew stood outside the giant stone gateway. Diana had gone in not too long ago now, a hurried and panicked look on her face - there was no surprise as to why her aunt would no doubt be on her way to stopping the ceremony from taking place, wanting the Cavendish title for herself.
The two of them had tried one final time to talk her out of it, pleading for her to find another way but ultimately in this situation what could she do, letting her aunt lead the Cavendish household would be the worst possible outcome, what else could she do other than take it upon herself to lead it.
'In the end, me and Akko couldn't do anything to change her mind...'
Kicking at the dusty cobblestone flooring, Kenji mentally cursed himself for being so useless. Diana was his friend, and he knew how much she not only cared about magic but Luna Nova, there was no way she wanted to leave it.
She'd been pushed into an awful corner, with only one way for her to get out.
"So, none of us can follow after her?" Akko questioned, forcing Kenji to tune back into the conversation, having blanked out for the past few minutes.
The older maid nodded, lowering the candlelit torch in her hand, "That's correct, only members of the Cavendish family may enter. So, that no one not related to it could lead the family.."
"You see, once every few years at the edge of the lake encircling the manor, the horn of a unicorn, known only as the Jewel of Venus lights up and ensures that whoever enters can swear an oath to their ancestors and become head of the family," She explained, with Andrew acknowledging something to himself.
"Got something to share Andrew?" Kenji questioned jokingly.
"I do actually. Tonight is the Venus eclipse, it only makes sense that the ritual is happening now, this is the only chance Diana will get," Andrew informed the rest of them, a somewhat smug look as he perfectly answered his question.
He sagged his shoulders, no longer trying to challenge him, "Mr. Hanbridge is correct. So, we must seize this opportunity while we still have it." Kenji and Akko exchanged a glance with each other, both looking just as downtrodden as the other, they had no right to step in and get involved.
Unbeknownst to them, inside the room, Diana was preparing a spell to travel across the broken bridge, flicking her wand with the elegance expected of her and enchanting the floor beneath her, "Louperial Ral!" She yelled out, her voice echoing through the empty, sacred building.
From under her feet, an entanglement of branches ripped from out the stones, manifesting to the other side of the path allowing her to cross.
As she did cross, Diana felt the creeping sensation of fear crawl up her back to the nape of her neck, the type you would get with the eerie feeling that someone was following her Proving her worries, a snake the same color as the wood shifted into a deeply pale white, lunging towards her with its sharp oozing fangs, "Kertina Fer-"
Suddenly, another snake ensnared her arm, tightly forcing her to drop the wand leaving her utterly defenseless as the two reptiles continued to constrict her in place, compacting closer and closer, 'These snakes...no else can perform magic like this. They have to be my aunt's!'
Emerging from the shadows was Daryl Cavendish, cocky smirk and all, "That took hardly any effort, not only did I sneak past those three, who are absolutely none the wiser, but I caught the so-called witch meant to lead the Cavendish family into a new era. Get comfortable, without your magic you'll be here a while," She cackled to herself, watching Diana become completely covered in snakes.
Andrew watched from within the outskirts of the Cavendish manor as his father drove off, "Honestly, the second that's there's nothing here for him he's off. Not to mention he didn't bother to stay even when I wanted to..."
"Sad for you...why are you even still here?" Kenji replied snippily, lent over a stone balcony alongside Akko, "There's no reason for even us to be here."
"For what reason do you two want to bring her back so badly? You of all people should know that Diana isn't someone to act rashly, she finishes what she starts So, there's no way that she didn't deliberate over this for some time.."
"We know that Akko especially. But, I decided to follow her impulsively because we both want her back for the same reason, Luna Nova is where she belongs, whether she'll deny it, that's what I believe!" Kenji cut in before Andrew could berate them even further, it wasn't out of spite, the brunette was sure that he was only trying to calm their discomfort with the situation.
Akko agreed silently, happy that for once she wasn't the only one sticking her nose where it didn't belong, She knew all too well that she and Kenji shouldn't have been that in the first place, yet he had followed her without a moment's notice and they'd tried to convince Diana to come back to together.
Despite how it had turned out, she had to admit that it had been nice to spend time with him. Now though, not only did they fail to bring her back, actually managing to push her even further to leading the Cavendish's but they were going to head home with nothing having changed.
She just couldn't accept that.
"Everything you said is right Andrew, I know that. But, it still doesn't feel right, but I'll choose to believe just like Kenji does. I might be acting selfishly by wanting to bring her back, but Luna Nova is where she belongs, even if Diana won't admit it.."
"What makes you so sure of that?" Andrew questioned skeptically.
Kenji irritatedly flicked his forehead, "Why are you so insistent to shoot us down...you said yourself that Diana finishes what she starts, I'd like to think that graduating from Luna Nova is part of that.."
"...Not to mention, for a while now I think she's been looking into the Nine Witches, that has to be part of her reason for staying at Luna Nova alongside learning magic," Kenji finished, plenty sure of himself, even though he was only going off of what he'd seen Diana researching.
Akko nodded her head eagerly, "As well as the Grand Triskellion and seven words, I can only activate them but I'm sure...I'm sure Diana was planning to do something with them because I'm not like her, she is amazing at magic..."
Kenji subconsciously tapped the back of her head, a sympathetic gaze cast over him, 'Is she seriously still hung up on this? I guess when it comes to Diana it's hard not to compare yourself to her'
On the other hand, all Andrew could do was chuckle lightly under his breath, "Sorry, I don't mean to laugh. It's just I can't believe you think that Diana's always been amazing at magic, although I guess she never would have told you."
"Told us what?" Kenji queried, squinting his eyes up to him.
"When Diana was little, I can't remember the exact details, it's all a little fuzzy with how long ago it was. But Diana was completely unable to perform magic, so much that the adults doubted she ever would..." Andrew replied, leaving the other two completely bewildered, almost as if they hadn't taken in what he'd said.
"Really?" Akko said sceptically as if finding the information unbelievable.
"It's true," Andrew validated, "That fact never stopped her though, every day she would practice using magic. Until she was at the point that she is at today, I never understood back then, but I think I do now. It's simply what she strived to achieve, just like she's trying to become the leader of the Cavendish's.
Kenji went to say something before he overheard two distinct voices from the corner not too far away from them, abruptly smacking his hand over Akko's mouth, causing a bright red blush to form, she quickly pulled it away from her, "K-Kenji what are you-"
He repeated it once more, now just as embarrassed as her. Still, he gestured with his eyes over to the footsteps steadily approaching, quickly passing the message along to Akko.
Without wasting any time, all three of them clambered over the stone edge, resorting to hugging the side of the wall only barely obscuring them from view from both Maril and Merril who had already turned the corner, conversing amongst themselves.
'Why the hell are they here!?'
"I sure do hope mother has dealt with Diana properly, she's such a cocky girl, getting so ahead of herself. I really do wish that I could have dealt with her personally, maybe then it would've taught her a lesson," Merril complained, huffing as she crossed her arms.
Maril felt the same leaning over the balcony, "C'mon, do you really think that you could've dealt with Diana alone?"
"No, obviously. I'm just saying it would've been nice too.."
Right on cue, Daryl removed herself from the shadows, quickly catching the attention of her two daughters, "Mother! Did you do it? Has Diana been dealt with?"
As per her nature, their mother wore a crooked, evil grin, sarcastically swaying her hand to the side, "Honestly I was expecting a little more from someone trying to become head of the family, now she'll be left to rot till morning."
Kenji peaked over the wall they were hiding besides, growing more and more concerned as to the topic they were talking about, 'What did they do to Diana...'
"Are you not worried that she'll escape though, I mean this is Diana we're talking about," Maril questioned nervously, it wasn't as if she doubted her mother's magic. It was the fact she wasn't going to underestimate her cousin, she wasn't known as one of the best witches in Luna Nova for no reason.
Daryl brushed it off, overly cocky to her magical prowess, "No need to worry, she's lost her wand and therefore all the magic she can wield. Besides, it isn't as if anyone can escape my serpent. Diana won't even step foot in the sanctuary let alone pass through the ritual."
"I can't wait to see that proud, determined look she had to get wiped clean off her face tomorrow morning."
After some time passed, the three of them crawled back over, now even more worried than they were originally, "This is bad, really bad. Whatever they've done with Diana can't be good, we've got to go after her!" Kenji said vehemently, already forming a plan in his head.
Akko bobbed her head up and down in agreement, just as determined as he was, "We need to head down there, even if we're not allowed. Diana's in trouble!"
"Not we, you. I can't go with you Akko, I need to deal with those three up here, might be a little stupid, but as soon as they find out that you're up to something they'll try to stop it. I'm gonna stop that," Kenji explained, brandishing his wand, and watching it glow in his palms.
"W-Wait, you're not coming with me? B-But Kenji, I'm not sure if I can save Diana by myself, she said Diana couldn't escape it, so how can I help?" Akko stammered, now much more unsure than she was previously, her crimson eyes wavering.
All Kenji could think to do was lightly pat her hair, calming her down, "Look, you've got what you need and I'm confident you can go and save her. She said Diana can't get out alone, you're going to save her. I need to make sure none of them can get in your way," Kenji said warmly, smoothing out her ruffled, chestnut hair, the two of them staring back at each other.
"Right!" Akko exclaimed, pumping herself up, "Just...make sure you stay safe as well, I don't want you getting hurt."
"Shouldn't I be saying that to you, this is your weekly quota of shenanigans after all," Kenji dryly joked, earning a laugh from the both of them, with Akko sprinting off back to the entrance of the sanctuary, "
"Now, Andrew you sure you can fight? I know I can't, but I've got magic to help, I don't know if you're any more than a rich boy," Kenji taunted, rolling his sleeves up and removing his blazar.
Andrew did the same, "If I can get a weapon then I'm sure I can handle myself, witch or not." Kenji nodded, standing his ground outside the staircase, unaware of the three Cavendish's watching him.
Daryl practically snarled at Kenji, "You two, deal with them. I don't want either of them to get in the way, especially not the boy who can perform magic, we don't know what he can do. I'll make sure that Atsuko Kagari doesn't get in the way..."
Akko stood at the edge of the bridge, patting her foot onto the wood root stretching out from one side to the other, 'Did Diana make this? Or was this here from the start?'
She shook her head. It didn't matter right now, Diana was here somewhere, stuck and in trouble. Although it was entirely possible that even if she did save her, she was most likely going to get scolded for entering the sanctuary, that was just a risk she was willing to take.
"Metamorphie Fasciesse!" A blind white light engulfed her, morphing her into a small, orange mouse scuttling her across the wood beam. That was until the rough texture on her feet turned wet and scaly, revealing a pale white snake hissing back at her, its piercing red eyes filled with internal bloodlust.
In a moment of quick thinking, Akko darted back running alongside the snake's flowing body, suddenly being trusted high up into the air, now right at the mercy of the snake's fangs, 'Over there, that's Diana!' Coiled around a cage of serpents was the platinum blonde witch herself, seemingly unconscious.
Narrowly avoiding the snake's venomous bite, Akko's bounded off the reptile's nose, hurrying over the rest of the bridge to the other snake wrapped around Diana, now looking to take care of her, "Metamorphie Fasciesse!" She incanted once again, this time shifting into a bird that flapped high above the white creature dropping down onto it without warning.
Now in the form of an elephant, the snake could only wriggle about helplessly under the sheer weight of the form, unravelling around Diana and slumping her to the concrete, "Diana! Are you ok-"
There was time to get an answer out from her, with the two snakes now towering over her, sinking their fangs deep into the elephant's skin, the poison seeping into her, leaving a purple bruise behind, "This...is nothing like Sucy's poison!" Akko persisted, a puff of pink smoke turning her into a turtle, her hard shell protecting her from the creature's sharp teeth.
Before they could go any further, a flashing green blast slashed straight into one of the snakes, dropping it off the edge of the bridge whilst scaring the other away, slithering back to Daryl.
With no energy left to hold her form, Akko shifted back to normal too exhausted to do anything other the close her dark purple eyes, "Akko! No, just hang on a little longer!" Diana pleaded, rushing to her side and inspecting the bites all over her body, they were slower growing darker and darker, signalling that there wasn't long left.
Having no other way to heal her, Diana relented and carried Akko into the sanctuary.
Right about now, Kenji was seriously regretting his choice to take on two magically gifted siblings, he was doing well enough avoiding the variety of creatures they were sending his and Andrew's way.
"Fuyu Maho!" He declared, beginning to float high up in the air, stopping himself when he reached a certain point. He could perform magic well enough now, even some spells that were fairly difficult to learn weren't all too difficult, even if they did leave him completely exhausted after he'd used them, and he couldn't afford that at a time like this.
Andrew held a sword that had been stolen from one of the several plates of armor that were spread throughout the manor, using it to knock away every one of the creatures, not like he was in the line of fire - the two sisters were doing their best to keep him out of the fight.
'What am I supposed to do, no matter what I do? They're better than me at magic, I've been doing it for maybe two months. Compared to them who've been doing it since they were children...not to mention their Cavendish's..'
Losing his focus for a brief moment, Kenji was almost met with a devastating Lion's paw swiping directly at him. It would've most likely clawed most of his face if he hadn't fallen backward, floating slightly midair, struggling to regain balance, "Getting lost in thought isn't the best thing to do in a fight like this," Andrew said snidely, knocking away a snake barrelling towards him.
"Uh, why are you so finicky? The fact that you can do magic is annoying enough, but you move around so much I can't get a hit on you," Merril loudly voiced her complaints, stomping her feet in outrage over the fact that Kenji wasn't allowing himself to be mauled to death by several animals.
'I'm just keeping them busy; I don't know where the oldest one went, can't worry about that now..'
Without his knowledge, the crystal wrapped around his neck was beginning to glow brighter, the more he fired whatever spell came to mind the more a luminescent green glow would shine through his shirt.
Before he could place his feet back on the cobble, it was ripped apart at the seems, where they had they been standing just a few minutes prior discussing Diana's fate, was now being torn right before his eyes, almost catching Andrew in its path.
From just this small confrontation alone, Kenji was quickly understanding who was much more sadistic among the two sisters. Which was a sentence he didn't think would ever cross his mind, especially when he was watching stone collapse into a lake from a green light emerging from a magic wand.
'Seriously, what is my life!'
The levitation spell was quickly losing its touch, dropping him faster and faster to the submerging broken ground below, 'Gravity spell! Floating spell! Any spell!'
He was only able to create a fraction of the spell he'd been practicing, slowly down the swift breakdown of the bricks, allowing him to land without to much harm, getting dragged back into the fray by Andrew, "This isn't what I expected from a visit to the Cavendish manor," Andrew spoke briefly, readjusting the sword in his hands.
"Neither did I. They're destroying their own house.." Kenji murmured, keeping his footing.
They expected to be met by even more spells being thrown at them, instead, the two sisters were bickering among one another, "Maril what are you doing, this is the garden fountain courtyard, we can't just destroy it!" Merril complained, flicking her sibling at the back of the head, "What would mother say!"
"Oh, will you stop moaning all the time! Mother will be happy that we dealt with him, maybe even kill him!" Maril brushed off, snickering to herself.
Even Merril seemed taken aback by the claim, "We can't kill him! That's going too far!"
Taking the opportunity, Andrew glanced to Kenji as he floated upwards once again, this time looking slightly worse for wear, "Get em' both, I don't have a spell to deal with them...but I've got a potion!"
All the youngest Hanbridge did was nod, rushing them with a striking speed that Kenji didn't expect from him, 'He's a rich kid, didn't expect him to be an expert in swordsmanship...'
Rushing along the still gravity effected layered-bricks, the spell didn't have much duration left. It could last based on however skilled the user was, and that rang true for Kenji's level with magic. Just like that, the spell wore out, dropping everything that it had been affected by in an instant.
Andrew did his job perfectly, catching the sister completely off guard, stumbling them back and knocking their wands right from their hands, "It's on you now! He called out to the brunette, who was currently throwing himself toward the two witches, he reeled his arm back and domed the potion right before their feet, cracking it on impact.
A blinding orange smoke engulfed them both, before shortly knocking them out.
"Those mushrooms Sucy found are seriously toxic. Worked pretty well though," Kenji said under his breath, observing his work on both Cavendish's, "Now let's worry about what to do afterwards.."
"You didn't think that far ahead," Andrew said, sighing a little as he did.
"No, I thought of doing this like ten minutes ago. I've done my part though, now I just have to hope Akko can..."
The room seemed dim.
Opening her eyes, Akko found herself staring up at the dark, groggy ceiling, the only light source seeming to come from a small table to the side of her, "Oh, you're awake. It seems your recklessness knows no bounds.." Diana said calmly, although it was obvious that something was bothering her.
The brunette hung her head at that, yet again Diana thought that she'd gotten herself involved even though it might not have been needed, "Sorry, I really was just trying to help..."
"I know, that's what upset me. I wasn't good enough to get out alone, it's always you who's there. No matter what you do and where you go, you're incredibly encourageable, do you know how frustrating that is?"
"What do you mean? Aren't you the incredible one, I mean you are about to become head of your family- wait! Diana what about the ceremony, you have to head there right!" Akko remembered all of a sudden, now much more anxious than she previously was.
Diana on the other hand, was content with the fact, "Even if I hurried there now, there's no way for me to make it there. No magic from you or Kenji can change that, speaking of which where is he?"
'How is she just gonna gloss over that!'
"H-He didn't come, I wanted him to, but he said that he was going to deal with your cousins and aunt. To make sure they didn't head down here," Akku answered, twiddling with her fingers, "I'm not sure if he'll do it though, your aunt seems like she's really strong."
"I don't think there's any need for alarm. Hearing that is a little worrying, if Kenji got hurt whilst trying to help me then I don't think I'd forgive myself, but I'm sure he can handle himself, I suppose it's no surprise that he chose you, the two of you are similar like that. Always managing to pull through in a desperate situation," Diana expressed, Akko felt her heart tense up upon seeing the heartfelt look she had as she described Kenji. She may have been dense with these kinds of things, but even she could tell the obvious.
"Wait. Diana, do you...like Kenji?" Akko questioned timidly, concerned about what the response would be.
All Diana replied with was a small, somber smile, "I may have. But it doesn't matter now, I'm not trying to steal him from you if that's what you're thinking, I'm much more courteous than that. At the end of the day, it was just simple admiration that I could do nothing about.."
"What!? For how long, does Kenji know? What no he probably shouldn't, boys like him would get too ahead of themselves if he found out," Akko bombarded her with an array of questions, shaking her back and forth.
Diana pushed her away, despite the growing red on her face, "P-Please, let's just drop the subject. I've wanted to, for a while now, even if I can't. But I must focus on this, the generations of my family can't go to waste," Ushering her away, the youngest Cavendish picked up her illuminated wand and walked into the next room over.
"Wait up, we're not seriously just going to skip past that! You like the guy that I like, you're not going to do anything!?" Akko exclaimed, dropping her shoulders in confusion.
"Do you want me to!? You're with Kenji aren't you, why would want me competing for that? I've just come to understand that it won't happen Akko, and quite frankly I don't want it to...it's for the best. I must have focus on this, although I suppose it's pointless now...all of this medical knowledge to heal people with magic we'll just go to waste."
As Diana spoke, she picked up some of the soggy books and even more ruined ones, the centuries of knowledge were already being forgotten, just like magic.
Akko was more taken aback by the giant stone statue of Beatrix, "Is that one of the Nine Old Witches?" Akko pointed out the obvious, in awe of its scale.
"Yes, she was the matriarch of the Cavendish's, like my mother she sought to use magic to heal and help all those in need. But both died of poor health, they spent so much of their lives burdening themselves to heal others, I only wish to become like them. But that's no longer possible."
Clenching her fist, Diana held tightly onto her cloak, "It's as Kenji said, I love Luna Nova and all the magic inside of it. The same is for this house, I love being the Cavendish, and want to protect it no matter what," She grit her teeth as she spoke, finding the situation impossible.
"Then do it! Me, Kenji, and even Andrew is behind you on that, don't just give up now!" Akko blurted out, clasping her hands around Diana's, "No Akko, I'm not sure if I can-"
"Yes, you are! This whole time, without me even knowing or anyone, you've had so much burdened on you, yet you kept going so don't give up on your dreams now! Don't give on saving your family, don't give up school, and don't give up on your feelings for Kenji!" Akko declared a completely serious look on her face despite the last section of her sentence.
"Are you serious? Do you have any idea what you're saying, especially with Kenji? You're dating him, why would you want that!?" She bellowed, her blue eyes shaking back and forth.
Akko suddenly pulled a smug face, "Well, that's easy. I know Kenji wouldn't do anything; I trust him. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself, he's the first person you've felt like this towards, you can't just forget it! It's the same with Luna Nova, leaving it behind won't make you happy, you have to believe in your magic!"
"Believe...in my magic," Diana repeated, finally starting to understand. Once she'd finished, the Shiny Rod attached to Akko's hip began to glow a bright green, the fifth orb along it shining the brightest, "That's right...the fifth-word links to tradition.."
Acting quickly, Diana snatched the Shiny Rod and placed it into the brunette's hands, "Quickly Akko! Recite the fifth word! Sybilladura Lelladybura!"
"Sybilladura!" Akko reiterated.
"Lelladybura!"
With a single raise of the Shiny Rod, she transformed the staff into strings of light, until it finally drifted back down now in front of them in the shape of a broom, "A broom? That's it, you can use this to make it to the ceremony Diana!" Akko said excitedly, a bright smile on her face.
Staring at the hovering broom in front of her, Diana couldn't help but smile, "C'mon then Akko, let's go together!"
"Right!" Akko nodded.
No longer than a second of Akko sitting behind Diana, did the broom fire off at the speed of a bullet, blurring past all the swiftly passing surroundings, bursting them straight out of the lake that sat beyond the Cavendish manor, there wasn't so much as a drop of water on them.
Glancing back to the giant moon up in the sky, Diana could just make out Venus about to pass the moon, there was still time, "Look, Diana. The eclipse hasn't finished yet we can still make i-"
Clearly not getting the memo, Akko was almost thrown straight off the broom as it accelerated back up again, rippling them across the streaming water that was morphing into a giant whirlpool that took up nearly the entire lake. Diana dived straight into the typhoon, not showing any sign of stopping.
That was until Daryl came flying from the other end, looking much more dishevelled and exhausted than she had a few hours prior, "Finally caught up to you, that kid got in my way constantly. Don't think...that I'm just going to let you complete the ritual just like that!"
Appearing just to ruin the moment, Kenji suddenly leaped out from the top of the now opened lake, shoving the full weight of himself into Daryl, knocking her off balance and downwards into the lake.
"Kenji!? What are you doing here? H-How are you here?" Diana probed for an answer, extremely muddled to see him floating in front of her.
"Not the time, let's just say that magic is the answer. Go and do what you have to!" Kenji retorted, slowly inching to the stone flooring below.
Diana had other plans though, beelining straight for her aunt, she wasn't bothered too much, but a small part of her would feel guilty if she didn't check that she was alright.
To her horror, Daryl was where she had fallen, only now there were roots sprouting from her foot elapsing over her body as if it were a shell around her. Akko was slightly unnerved by the wood that was making its way up her body.
"Please Diana, have mercy!" Daryl pleaded, only able to stretch her arm out to her niece, completely and utterly terrified.
A small shred of guilt began to outweigh Diana's need to pass the ceremony, she couldn't just leave her there, no matter how much she wanted to lead the family. Beatrix, her mother, a proper Cavendish wouldn't do it, so neither would she.
"Ennor Fiendennor!" She proclaimed as a twister-like light circled her aunt protruding high up in the air. Not too long after it dissipated whatever curse had been placed upon her, Daryl collapsed without a word, no longer the texture of bark.
It was already too late though, the eclipse was over, with no chance of completing the ceremony. Diana could only stare at her feet, not knowing what else she could do.
That was until, to the side of her appeared a bright, ghostly figure of Beatrix. All either one of them could do was stare at one another, she couldn't put a finger on it but Diana felt as if she'd done the right thing, even if now she couldn't properly become head of the family.
'It was Madam Beatrixe...why would she appear before me?'
Diana didn't know, and now there wasn't much she could do about it.
Not too much happened after that, the night came and gone, with Diana effortlessly managing to clean up the destroyed portion of the balcony that Maril had left in her wake.
Kenji and Akko were already sitting atop Diana's broom, watching the blue-eyed girl converse with her maid, who seemed to be handing her a small box, "What's she giving her?" Akko tried to lean forward, squinting her eyes to get a closer look.
'Too close! Too soft!'
He reactively jerked forward, not wanting the blush on his face to grow even more apparent, "L-Look, Akko. Let's just be happy that Diana's coming back with us to Luna Nova alright? No need to fuss over anything else.."
"I know, I'm glad she is. But I can't help but feel bad, if she didn't have to save me then maybe she could participate in the ritual..."
Kenji responded with a light chop on the head, "And without you, realistically I'm not sure she would've been able to even enter it, not without a broom. Diana made her choice, might not have been the one she wanted but hey, I really don't see her aunt trying to become head of the family anytime soon. It's a bit disappointing though, that I won't get to see it.."
Akko frowned at that, realizing that even Kenji was aware of the growing inevitability that he was way home was becoming more and more of a reality, on instinct she laid her head down onto his back, "Don't say it like that Kenji, I don't want you to. I'm going to make sure we do whatever we can, I'll even learn to fly a broom!"
"Hey! Why is that what made you pull a face," Akko pouted, punching him softly. She didn't know why, but even after the truthful words she'd said to Diana, she still couldn't help but feel slightly competitive by the fact that she liked Kenji, there was nothing to worry about.
Nothing at all.
"Are you two ready? It's a long ride back and fitting three people on a broom might be difficult, so make sure...to hold on tight," Diana slowed her words the moment she came to the realization that Kenji was in the middle, squeezed between both her and Akko.
"Hey Diana, what's the holdup, isn't it a long ride back? We better get going then," With an even more coy smile, Akko cheekily wrapped her arms around Kenji, "A-Akko what are you doing!"
"D-Don't worry, we're dating r-right. This shouldn't be embarrassing, besides Diana said to hold on tight.
Kenji was less than convinced, 'Try to say that without being completely red..'
With some awkwardness, Diana sat in front, first levitating up with some trouble not expecting Kenji's arm to be held onto her shoulders, "By the way, I should probably say this before I forget...even though you two came with me asking, if you hadn't yesterday would've gone much differently so...thank you, really."
"No problem, you'd do the same for us, right?" Kenji added, making sure.
"Yes, I very much would.." Diana said, giving him a curt smile, hoping he didn't point out her rose-tinted cheeks. Akko puffed her cheeks out at their interaction, even if Kenji hadn't actually done anything wrong, "Hey, Diana! I didn't hear what you said so could you repeat that?"
The other witch replied with her sharp gaze, "Don't push it."
"C'mon I didn't hear what you said!" Akko faked whining pushing up against Kenji once more, "Hey wait Akko stop, you'll make me fall off!"
...
Another chapter was posted, no clue if anyone's even reading I'm just enjoying myself with how I'm finishing this story, because I swear I will do it.
