Diana woke up just as the sun began to rise.

She was always early to rise, whether it be to study, to read, or just to enjoy the beauty of a sunrise.

At the moment, however, she cursed her disposition for waking up early. After all, the earlier she woke up, the longer she'd have to wait for the day to pass.

She sighed as she looked at a piece of paper on her desk. She wrote a message on it, waved her want, enchanting the message for Akko, before having a faerie deliver it.

She may as well make sure that she would not have to wait a moment longer than necessary.

As soon as the message left her room, she sighed.

Today is going to be a long day.

Akko heard what sounded almost like a million glass chimes ringing in the wind. It was loud. It was chaotic.

And worst of all, it had woke her up.

Akko just wanted to get more sleep.

Akko found it odd she sensed no sign of Lotte or Sucy waking up from the noise. After all, it was very loud.

When Akko decided she should wake up to stop whatever was making that unholy sound, she was greeted with a sight that left her in awe.

Hundreds of tiny green stars danced across the dimly lit room. The stars radiated a soft light as they twirled, swirled, and flew. Akko found herself mesmerized by the display. Even the jarring ringing of chimes began to slowly harmonize with the movement of the stars.

Akko felt her anger ebb away. Akko could hardly believe her eyes. It almost felt like what she was witnessing was a dream. As if what she was watching would disappear had she blinked.

And it did.

The sudden disappearance of the hypnotizing display left Akko confused. She questioned whether what she had just witnessed was real, or if it was all a dream.

The only thing Akko knew was that she was no longer sleepy. Figuring she may as well make the most of her situation, she decided she should get out of bed.

Akko looked passed the headboard of her bed directly at her broom. Maybe she could get some practicing done.

At the thought, Akko decided it was time to get up, so she jumped right out of her bunk.

And immediately slipped on a paper envelope that Akko knew wasn't there before. Akko screamed as she fell, landing with a rather loud thud. Akko turned her attention first to the offending envelope. She picked it up and saw it was addressed to her. She opened it and saw a sole slip of paper inside. The message was written in perfect cursive:

Do not be late.

-D.

Akko giggled to herself as she read the short message, clearly from her tutor.

Then she started to grow excited. After all, she's been having tutoring sessions with Diana every day for over two weeks now. Never once had she been told to not be late.

Today had to be something special.

Before she could dwell on her thoughts though, Akko heard the sounds of Lotte and Sucy stirring in their respective beds.

Akko sighed to herself. Of course she woke them up and not the sounds that woke her up.

"Hey Akko, why do ya got your broom?" Amanda asked from across the table.

"Eh? I just have it so I can practice with it right after class." Akko answered.

"Huh? Can you fly with it yet?" Amanda asked.

"N-no…" Akko timidly admitted. "But I'm getting closer! Probably! I think." Akko blurted out.

"Are you trying to get ready for the obstacle run?" Amanda asked, before beginning to eat lunch.

"...The what?" Akko asked, curiously.

"The obstacle run is something that happens in Professor Nelson's flying class every year." Lotte answered. "She should be announcing it soon, so it should be happening in about three weeks."

"Think you'll be ready by then?" Amanda asked.

"Probably not." Sucy answered for Akko.

"Sucy!" Akko whined, much to the Sucy's amusement.

"Akko did say she had someone who was helping her learn how to fly, though." Lotte added.

"Wait, seriously?" Amanda said in disbelief.

"Surprising, isn't it?" Sucy interjected.

"Ya know, if you needed help, I could give you some." Amanda offered as she leaned back on her chair.

"Thanks, but I'll be fine." Akko respectfully declined. "I have a really good tutor anyway" Akko finished with a smile.

"Is that so?" Amanda asked in reply. "Well, suit yourself."

Sucy and Lotte shared a glance at that statement. Now this had finally piqued their interest about Akko's tutor. Amanda was, without any doubt, one of the top fliers in their class. Not only that, Amanda was a friend. For Akko to not accept her help…

The two witches nodded to each other.

They were going to find out just who was tutoring Akko.

The second classes ended, Akko excused herself and bolted out into the fields. She sprinted as fast as she could, refusing to let herself be one millisecond slower to arrive then at her top speed.

By the time Akko had arrived, she was out of breath. Her heart raced as she struggled to catch her breath. As she found herself recovering, she looked up to see Diana descending onto the field.

"Akko? Are you alright?" Diana asked, a hint of worry in her voice when she noticed the brunette hunched over. The girl was panting rather loudly, and her face was flushed.

"Y-yeah I'm fine. Just catching my breath." Akko panted out.

"I see." Diana said, relieved. "Do you need any water?"

"Yes please." Akko gratefully replied. Diana took out a water bottle from her bag and gave it to Akko, who graciously accepted before ungracefully chugging the entire bottle. "Thanks Diana" She sighed with relief as she finished.

"It is no problem." Diana said. "Now, shall we begin?"

"Yes ma'am!" Akko replied with a wide grin.

"Okay. Before we begin what I have planned for today, I would like you to levitate your broom to your side." Diana began. Akko followed her directions. "Good. I will now push down on your broom with as much force as I can. I want you to keep your broom in the air. Is that understood?" Akko nodded.

Diana began walking towards Akko. She was a little frustrated that she, herself, was delaying the main event. However, as a tutor, she felt she needed to get a current understanding of where Akko truly was. As to confirm what she already knew.

She began to push down on Akko's broom. The broom refused to budge. She looked at Akko's face and saw that there were no signs of struggle or stress. If anything, there was a proud, self satisfied grin on the witch's face. The grin almost bordered on smug. Diana fought the urge to roll her eyes, though a tiny smile formed on her lips. Diana looked at Akko's arm, which also showed no sign of stress.

She was ready.

"So Diana? Any complaints?" Akko smugly asked, challenging Diana to find anything to critique.

"In regards to the broom, there are no complaints as to the task I had requested" Diana answered, her eyes closed. "Although, I do feel like the broom's owner could afford to be more humble until she, herself, could fly on said broom." Diana continued, in mock seriousness. She opened one eye to sneak a peek at the girl's reaction.

Rather predictably, Akko pouted at the answer, a slight redness evident on her face.

Diana found herself smiling as she watched. Before Akko worded out a response, however, Diana continued with her assessment.

Or rather her plan.

"And so, this brings us to what we are doing today." Diana opened up her other eye, finding a small sense of pride in being able to cause Akko to shift moods so quickly from anger to anticipation.

Diana would be lying if she said she didn't feel the anticipation too.

"Akko. Today, you are going to fly."

Akko's eyes brightened as she heard that statement. Was she finally ready?

"Really?!" Akko blurted out, shaking in excitement.

"That would be the plan, yes." Diana answered, smile widening at the young witch's excitement. "But first, I would like you to try on your own, without any instruction from me."

At the request, Akko nodded eagerly before beginning. She straddled her broom, gripped it, and began pouring magic into it.

"TIA FREYRE!" Akko yelled as she jumped.

And landed.

And she repeated. Over and over, clearly growing more frustrated.

Diana watched the display in… disappointment? No, it wasn't exactly that. Disbelief? Perhaps.

One thing's for sure: she was confused. It appeared as if Akko had regressed. Sure Diana did not exactly expect Akko to get it perfectly without any instruction. However, it looked almost like the first day of their sessions.

But that shouldn't be the case. She knew Akko had a better grasp of controlling her broom. Something must be different.

So, she started to focus on exactly what was happening.

She watched Akko jump. Akko jumped higher than the broom, pulling the broom up with her. That itself was a problem in procedure, but it should not be affecting the broom levitating.

She watched as Akko began to land instantl-

No. Near instantly. It was short. Perhaps so short, one could question if it were staying up at all. But Diana was confident that the broom was stalling for just a moment before descending.

Was Akko's magic not strong enough to keep the broom in the air?

That couldn't be it. Akko had displayed greater feats of strength, both in these tutoring sessions and outside of it.

Then what was it… She watched Akko jump, stall for the tiniest moment. Then she would stretch her legs down as she landed.

… Stretch her legs down?

"Akko?" Diana questioned, loud enough for the frustrated hopping witch to hear.

"Yes?" Akko responded, both anger and embarrassment in her voice.

"Why are you extending your legs downward?"

"Because if I don't, I'll hurt myself when I fall?" Akko answered questioningly. After all, the question seemed too silly to come from Diana. It was common sense.

Diana was shocked by the girl's response. After all…"If you are flying… why would you fall?" Diana continued to question.

Akko stared at the blonde witch, speechless. Akko nervously started stuttering before grasping an answer.

"B-but I'm… not… I c-" Akko began to respond before immediately being stopped by a sudden glare from her tutor.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence Akko." Diana scolded.

Akko was shocked by the venom in her voice.

Diana knew she sounded harsh. However, she was not going to tolerate Akko even imply an inability to fly.

Diana sighed and thought of what she knew about Akko and her history of flying.

Or rather her history of not flying. Of failing to fly. Of injuring herself.

And Akko's neverending determination to fly anyway. Like during the relay race all those months ago. Or her efforts in the past couple of weeks.

Diana sighed and slowly began walking towards Akko.

"Akko. Much of what goes into successfully casting a spell comes from your own confidence." Diana begins. "If you begin to doubt yourself, you will be unable to cast it properly."

"B-but Di-"

"No buts Akko. You must have complete confidence that you can fly. That you will fly."

"Diana, what if I-"

"Akko." Diana was clearly not going to allow Akko to continue doubting herself. "Think of everything you have accomplished in the past two weeks. There should be no reason to think that you would be unable to at least levitate off the ground. There should be no need for you to extend your legs downward, expecting to fall on the ground. Is that understood?"

"What if I hur-"

"You will not hurt yourself. Not as long as I am your tutor." Diana immediately shot down Akko's concern. "Not to mention, I have no reason to doubt that you should be able to fly as you are."

"Really?" Akko questioned, surprised.

"Of course. After all, after the progress you have shown these past two weeks, I have no reason to doubt that you can do this."

Akko found she couldn't properly respond to Diana's statement. So she changed the subject.

"S-so tell me what I should do." Akko hurriedly said.

"All you are trying to do right now is levitate off the ground. So just do what you were doing before. Except this time, tuck your legs in after you jump. Do not stretch them downward. Have confidence in yourself. That is all."

"…Understood."

Akko took a shaky breath as she took her position again, straddling her broom and gripping it. She closed her eyes.

Diana was right. Akko had put in way too much work to not be able to do this.

After all, if someone like Diana could believe that she could fly…

There shouldn't be any doubts at all.

"Tia Freyre!" Akko yelled as she jumped.

And she didn't land on the ground this time.

Akko looked down at the ground, then to Diana. Akko could feel her eyes begin to water as she failed to fight back a huge grin.

"Congratulations." Diana smiled gently as she watched Akko's joy. This is what she had wanted to see. "Now we can begin to work on flying."

In her moment of triumph, Akko had forgotten she was on her broom. And that she was still channeling magic into it. And that she should have been controlling how much magic was flowing into it.

"Ya- WOAH!" Akko screamed as she and her broom began to shoot upwards as she started to celebrate.

"Tia Freyre!" Diana quickly yelled, as she grabbed her broom to chase after Akko.

Fixed a typo.