"Well, that's weird."

One particular night, Sucy didn't wake up in neither her usual weird dreams nor her just as weird inner dreamscape where she often "re-watched" some of the pleasant memories she's had, but rather, she woke up in someplace else entirely.

A large, open grassy plain with a single blossoming cherry tree in the middle of it all, and flowers blooming in small patches all over the place. What caught Sucy's attention the most, however, were the girls running around the place. Or rather, what seemed to be different sides of the same girl's personality, as it seemed that she ended up in what could only be described as Akko's dream world of sorts.

One Akko copy was dressed up as Shiny Chariot and was constantly practicing spells, doing much better than her real-world counterpart. Another was just quietly sleeping in a patch of lilies, snoring rather loudly. One more copy was very intent on climbing the tree that was situated in the middle of the meadow, and even when she fell down, which, admittedly, happened quite often, she continued trying to get back up, seemingly making a bit of progress each time she did.

"Okay, this is weird. I'm sure we weren't practicing the Mendemen Haibute spell. Even if we did, I'm pretty sure Akko would be the one on the receiving end, not me." – Sucy remarked, and soon another of Akko's copies popped up right behind her.

"Oh, hey Suce! Didn't expect to see you here, of all places! Maybe you want a tour through this place? Or-or maybe you want me to introduce you to the others? Or no, wait, you're just looking to get out of-"

"Whoa, hang on a second. First, how did I get here? Second, what kind of Akko are you supposed to represent?" – The violette was honestly feeling rather unsettled by where she ended up in. She knew that Akko's head was a bit of a mess, but she expected her dreamscape to be…A little less neat than what she saw.

"Oh, I wish I could answer your first question. But as for the second one – I guess you could call me the "I-Just-Wanna-Help Akko"! So, do you want a tour or not?" – The brunette responded.

"Not really. Let me guess, do I have to wake the original Akko to get out of here because she's got her hands on some of my leftover potion or something?" – The alchemist deadpanned. The reply did surprise her quite a bit: "Actually, she's all wide awake, so all you'll need to do to get out of here is just ask her! Why would you leave so early, though?"

"Because I wasn't really planning to stick around for the entire night and then some." – Sucy retorted.

"Well then, she's going to be here quite soon, actually. Maybe we'll still go for that tour in the meantime?" - As soon as the Not-So-Helpful Akko said that, another emotion popped up right beside her, kneeling down and incessantly pleading.

Groaning, Sucy added: "Alright, alright, I'll go for that tour."

What she thought instead, however, was "Jeez, I guess all of those emotional beings seem to inherit some sort of dominant trait from the original. And Akko's main trait is definitely childishness."

"Now, are you really so certain about that?" – A more mature voice said from right behind the violette, slightly startling her.

Jeez, that sure was a taste of her own sneaking-up-on-people medicine, huh. As Sucy turned around, she was rather dumbfounded by what she saw.

Sure, it was another one of Akko's emotions, but… She certainly looked a tad more mature. She was taller, her body was more developed, and if that voice really did belong to her, then she even sounded more mature, like she was in, what, her late twenties or something?

"I have to admit, I wanted to hear you make a sarcastic remark on the situation, but I guess you're not gracing my ears with the sound of your deadpan tone anytime soon. " – The tall brunette remarked, looking down at Sucy as the violette just stood there, dumbfounded.

And mere moments before Sucy attempted to ask the emotional embodiment about what emotion or desire she represented, the woman placed her index finger on the witch's lips and replied: "I know what you are wondering. Well, the answer to that question is nothing too complex – I represent responsibility, conscience, and restraint. But not the harmful, brutal kind of restraint that destroys any unneeded desires or emotions – rather, I help guide the Original Akko's emotions towards the rightful path, and make sure that she doesn't mess anything up in the real world. Admittedly, after some of this year's events, Akko has been taking my advice quite a bit more often. "

"Doesn't look like it to me. She…You… Ugh, this is so confusing… Anyway, the original Akko still screws up a lot, is still rather impatient, and…" – She was suddenly interrupted by the Responsibility Akko's giggling.

"That's because I don't have total control over her. Sometimes the more momentary impulses take their hold, sometimes my advice is outright ignored in favor of some other desires… But despite all that, I'm always there to stop Akko from making any decisions she would later regret – small and big ones alike." – The brunette walked over a little closer to Sucy, then, conjuring a lily seemingly out of nowhere, handed it to the alchemist. – "Those flowers are your favorite ones, right?"

"I guess so. I mean, I was never a fan of any kinds of flowers, it's just that… There is something about lilies. Formerly I excused it as them being the kind of flowers usually seen on funerals, but, recently…" – Sucy blushed a bit. – "I guess that won't even go as a proper excuse. I do know the meaning behind lilies in Japan, however. "

"Good. Then that means you understand what else I represent." – The emotional being replied, a warm smile crossing her face.

Sucy understood that one fairly easily, but that only ended up in another question: "But, how is that even possible? I mean, considering some of the things she does for me out of impulse, one would think that…"

"It's her love for you that made her want to improve as a person. To do everything in her power to be a truly responsible individual. And she is looking forward to a rather bright future with you." – To prove her point, the Love Akko pointed over to a certain vision not too far away from the place – a river that wasn't there before, a small cobblestone bridge stretching over it, and a duo of women in their mid-twenties sitting next to each other at it's edge, embracing one another. It didn't take Sucy long to figure out whom exactly this vision was meant to represent.

"I… I understand now." – Sucy's only visible eye has gotten a tiny bit teary as she took a good look at the duo once more and she turned back to face the being that represented a more mature Akko. – "Sorry to be leaving so early, but I kind of get the feeling it's time for me to return back to the waking world now. I may have overstayed my welcome here, not to mention that… I kind of promised her…Promised you…"

"A date during the afternoon, yes. The original may be a little scatterbrained, but she remembers that quite well." – The emotional embodiment replied, nodding. – "Speaking of which, I guess that floral archway behind you might just be the way out she had created."

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" – A high-pitched voice said from right behind the taller emotional being, and soon the bearer of said voice had walked over from behind the mature Akko and over to Sucy.

A little girl looking to be no older than eight years, wearing what seemed to be a child-sized replica of Shiny Chariot's stage costume. Somehow, Sucy knew that the "original" Akko would look significantly younger than she really was.

After all, that girl certainly refused to act her age almost all the time.

"You'll keep your promise to spend some more time with me later, right?" – The child asked, looking up at Sucy.

The violette smiled for a bit, then remarked: "I most certainly will."

"Right on time, too – seems like it's time for us to wake up as well." – The older Akko remarked as Sucy went on to leave through the odd portal.

They've had a lot to talk about back in the waking world.