Diana lay in bed and was completely content and utterly at peace.

A light breeze teased the window curtains to fluttering, somewhere outside amid the honeysuckle a lark was singing. An unopened book sat neglected on her lap, and the love of her life lay by her side.

Akko yawned and nestled herself against Diana. "How long have we been doing this?" she asked.

Diana found her glasses on the bedside table. "It's nearly ten," she said, checking the alarm clock. "So, about an hour."

"No, no," said Akko. She squeezed Diana around the middle. "I mean, how long have we been doing this?"

"Oh." Diana did some quick mental math. "It was our first year at Luna Nova. We started during our second semester so, about five years?"

"Sounds about right." Akko yawned. "I wasn't sure."

"You're a liar," said Diana. "I know you've kept track."

"I'm a little disappointed you haven't."

"I, well, I knew you'd keep track for the both of us, you see."

No, that wasn't it. Diana felt her face growing hot. The truth was they had fallen into a relationship—fallen in love—as quietly and casually as one falls asleep after a busy, fulfilling day. She had let herself be submerged, like sinking into a warm bath. She hadn't thought to count the hours, the days, the years, she'd been content just to have them pass.

"I'd been wanting to hug you for a long time," said Akko, interrupting Diana's thoughts. "When I first met you, I thought you were just cold, or a jerk. But then I realized—well, still—I never thought you'd let me. It was a red-letter day."

"You know," teased Diana, "I hated it at first."

Akko shot up. "What?"

"Just for a moment, a half-second at most," said Diana. "I was so tense—"

"Oh, that." Akko relaxed. "I already knew that."

Diana adjusted her glasses. "You did?"

"It's why I wanted to hug you in the first place. You were always so tense back then. Walking around like you were afraid the ground would give out under your feet." She scratched her chin. "But, also, like you had the whole weight of the world on your shoulders at the same time? Does that make sense? You were very good at hiding it, but I saw."

"I was under a lot of pressure back then," said Diana, "although a lot of it was self-imposed."

"Was?" Akko smirked. "You're still under a lot of pressure. Honestly, I don't know how you manage it all."

Diana considered this. "I suppose I have a good support network now." She gave Akko a squeeze. "Five years—"

"Five years exactly," said Akko. "To the day."

"Really?"

"Like you said—I've been keeping track."

Five years to the day from their first hug? Diana thought about this as she held Akko. Did that make this the anniversary of their relationship? Their hugversary? She chuckled to herself. Maybe it was.

"I tried to brush off that first hug as a one-time indulgence, a little moment of weakness I had allowed myself," admitted Diana. "I remember—I stayed up all that night, tossing and turning, my stomach in knots, arguing with myself. I needed more, but I was afraid of what it meant. I prepared an entire speech, fully outlining all the reasons why we should avoid one another, and never speak to each other again."

Akko nodded sagely.

"But," Diana continued, "I realize now, I never stood a chance. That first hug was all it took."

She smiled at the memory. "And then we fell into a routine. Our daily ritual became so normal, it slipped into me so easily, like a key into its lock. I didn't think to remember—like one doesn't think to remember what they've had for breakfast."

"Lots of things are like that," said Akko. She rested her head on Diana's shoulder.

"By the Nine!" cried Diana, "I didn't realize we were dating until Lucy teased me about it!" She winced at the embarrassing memory.

Like a gradient, or the dimming of evening into dusk, their relationship had been, and still was, gradual, ever-changing, advancing by imperceptible degrees. Only when looking back, and comparing it to the 'before' could one see and truely appreciate the progression.

"Five years of hugs," whispered Diana. "Five anniversaries, unmarked, uncelebrated! Have I been a bad girlfriend?"

"I forgot last year," admitted Akko. "I didn't remember until a week later. And the year before that, I was in Japan for a month—"

"Hmm, I do seem to recall you being particularly affectionate upon return from your trip."

"Sometimes I get huggy."

Diana drew Akko close. "Well, I'll remember for next year," Diana assured her. She ran an idle hand through Akko's hair, letting the loose strands cascade through her fingers.

"And the year after that?"

"Yes."

Akko stretched and yawned. "We should keep doing this," she said. "Forever and ever."

Diana gave the alarm clock another glance. "No—I think I'd like some breakfast."

Akko threw a pillow in Diana's face. "No!" She pouted. "This! We should keep doing this! Don't you want to keep doing this?"

"What?" asked Diana. "Lounging around in bed on a Sunday morning? The daily hugs?"

"I don't know—all of it, I guess."

"Oh! Yes, of course. Do you really have to ask?"

"Forever?"

"Of course."

What a silly question, thought Diana. Forever…

Something clicked in her mind. She brought a hand to her lips. "Miss Kagari—was that a marriage proposal?"

"I—" Akko blinked as the question sunk in. "I suppose it was."

She grew serious. "Will you?"

"I already said yes."

"Oh gees," said Akko. "I really should have put some thought into this. Made a big show—something with fireworks."

Diana threw off the covers and jumped out of bed. "Something bombastic! Well, there's still time. Hurry up now. We'll call everyone on the way to city hall. Amanda will organize the party. I'm sure she can find some fireworks."

Akko wiped the last of the sleep from her eyes and crawled out of bed after Diana. "What are you talking about?"

"Well, obviously we have to get married today," replied Diana, hastily tugging on a pair of pants. "It's our anniversary! It'll be perfect—"

Akko slipped her arms around Diana from behind, preventing her from buttoning up her shirt. "Now who's rushing?"

She gently tugged on the collar of Diana's shirt, laying a line of kisses down her neck.

Diana laughed. "You used to get so annoyed when I was… methodical." She turned around and embraced Akko. "I suppose you've rubbed off on me."

"Perhaps another hour—"