"S-Sucy! Hurry!" Lotte huffed out.

"I don't see why we need to rush. Not like we can keep up with her when she runs like that." Sucy deadpanned, half a step behind Lotte.

"We don't know how long Akko might be there! Also she ran this way right?"

"I kind of doubt a tutoring session with Akko would only last 15 minutes."

"Sucy!"

"Yes, she went this way."

The two girls rushed in the direction until a hunched over Akko came into view.

"Shh Sucy. Slowly."

"Now you want to go slower…"

The two witches slowly approached their roommate. Once they had a clear view, the two of them hid among the bushes.

"Huh Sucy. Akko's alone. You don't think that she was li-"

"No way. Is that?" Sucy's eye widened as she interrupted Lotte, pointing towards Akko. Lotte turned around and reacted similarly.

"D-Diana?" Lotte gasped.

The two were surprised to see Diana with Akko. After all, the times when those two were together usually changed into a one-sided shouting match, courtesy of Akko, as well as a tense stand-off.

To see the two acting cordial, if not friendly, was a shock. Ignoring the disconnect between the expectation and the reality of how those two act with each other, though, the fact that Diana could be Akko's tutor made sense.

After all, if Diana was the one tutoring Akko, it'd make sense for Akko to decline Amanda's offer. After all, Diana ability to fly was, at the very least, on par with Amanda's, tricks and dancing aside, and probably had far more experience tutoring someone else.

Although dumbfounded, Lotte was glad the two were getting along well. Diana genuinely seemed interested in both Akko's safety and general well-being. Akko also didn't seem as confrontational as usual.

Lotte and Sucy silently watched Diana and Akko as the the tutoring session continued.

"Sucy! Akko was able to get her broom to float!" Lotte happily whispered.

"Yeah, now if she could only do that while on her broom." Sucy replied sarcastically, though the slight smile on her face betrayed her actual feelings.

Then they continued to watch silently as Diana told Akko to try flying now.

Lotte and Sucy watched intensely. The tension was palpable. After all, this was Diana telling Akko to try.

That must mean that Akko should be able t-

"Tia Freyre!"

Nothing happened. Lotte and Sucy sighed as the tension they were feeling dissipated.

"I guess Akko is beyond even Diana's help." Sucy muttered.

"Akko's getting closer. I'm sure with a few more days she'll be able to get i-"

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

The two found themselves frozen by Diana's tone of voice.

It sounded so frustrated. So angry.

With just a hint of disappointment.

"That's a lot more emotion than I expected out of her" Sucy commented.

Akko was shocked as well, clearly not expecting that level of disapproval from the taller witch.

The two watched as Diana approached Akko, tone scolding. Her voice was not quite as angry as it was before, but it was still very stern.

Despite the tone, however, Lotte noticed the words were all very encouraging. All reassuring.

It was evident to everyone that Diana had a lot of faith that Akko could do this. The idea struck everyone speechless. Even Sucy couldn't come up with a quip in response.

"I have no reason to doubt that you can do this." Diana finished. The two peeked and saw Diana was staring expectantly at Akko.

Lotte and Sucy were surprised to see Akko as shaken as she was. They were expecting some sort of outburst in response. Instead, they saw Akko struggling to find a proper response, a slight redness on her face.

Then they saw Akko try again, more composed than before. More focused than before.

"Tia Freyre!" And Akko floated off the ground.

"SU-" Lotte's excitement was blocked by a sudden hand blocking her mouth.

"Shh, don't want them finding us here." Sucy responded, though she looked both shocked and happy. Though her smile grew mischievous as she thought of the ways she could mess with Akko about all this.

"Woah!"

Akko's sudden yelp shocked the two witches. They watched helplessly as Akko flung upwards. Lotte was the first to react.

"AK-" Lotte was again stopped by Sucy, though this time it was just a pull on her sleeve. She saw Sucy point towards Diana, who had immediately grabbed her broom. Her face was a mix of determination and concern.

"TIA FREYRE" Diana yelled as she shot upwards.

"I think we can go now. I think Akko's in good hands." Sucy stated as she watched Diana fly up.

Lotte gave a gentle nod in response. The two witches walked back to their dorm, thinking off all the questions to ask their roommate when she returned.

Diana grit her teeth as she flew upwards as fast as she could. Akko had flown up far faster than her broom had originally shot up on their second day together.

This was worrying. Akko's grip might not have been strong enough to hold on to something moving that quickly. For all she knows, Akko might've already let go. Or worse, moved out of the original trajectory. Out of sight.

The thought Akko might be hurt made Diana feel sick.

She shook away those thoughts. After all, they wouldn't help the situation right now. Before she could dwell on any other thoughts however, she heard a scream from above her. A very loud scream.

Diana never thought she'd be relieved to hear that voice screaming, but she was anyway. Because that means…

"Paleis Capama!" Diana yelled out. Immediately Akko and her broom were encased and suspended in a large green bubble. Diana sighed in relief once she saw Akko was safe.

"Honestly Akko." Diana let out, the worry on her face slowly ebbing away. All Akko could do was let out a rather embarrassed laugh as Diana gently brought the both of them down. Once they were safely on the ground, Diana let Akko free from the bubble.

Diana looked back at Akko for a moment, to verify that she was unharmed. With no sign of any damage, Diana relaxed herself.

"Would you please be more careful? We're going to be working on your control while flying, so I would appreciate it if you would keep your broom in check." Diana said, trying to sound annoyed. However, the concern in her voice was far more evident.

"Hehe, sorry. I'll try to be more careful." Akko answered back joyfully.

"You do not sound all that sorry." Diana commented.

"Well… yeah." Akko smiled as she continued. "I mean, of course I'll be more careful later. I'm just super, super happy."

Diana could guess why. After all, it was painfully obvious Akko had always wanted to be able to fly.

"Why so?"

Diana did enjoy hearing Akko talk about it though.

"I've always always wanted to fly! To soar through the sky. It was the magic I'd always wanted to do since I was little! Even before I had any idea how magic worked, it was always the one I'd try anyway. I would jump off hills and trees trying to fly. I could get one step closer to being able to bring magic to more and more people!" Akko practically had stars in her eyes as she continued. "After so many years of failing and falling, I thought it was impossible for me… but now? I just flew! It might have been chaotic, but it was me flying by myself! And that just makes me so happy!"

Diana smiled to herself as she listened to Akko's ramblings. The excitement. The joy. It reminded her a lot of herself when she was six. Watching a Shiny Chariot show.

… Akko could never know that, of course. Diana would not allow that bit of information to become known.

At least not yet.

"Is that so?" Diana asked, noting Akko had already finished.

"Yeah! It's so exciting. I can't wait to show Lotte and Sucy. Oh! And Professor Ursula too! I bet she'll be so proud."

Diana flinched slightly at the mention of their teacher, of Akko's mentor.

For some reason, the thought of Akko's mentor coming back filled Diana with a strange feeling. It felt… empty. Diana couldn't figure out why though. Before Diana could think more on it, however, she noticed Akko was fidgeting slightly.

"Akko is something wrong?" Diana asked.

"Eh? O-oh it's nothing. Just uh…" Akko looked down, her cheeks flushed. "I was wondering if I could give you a hug?"

"Why?" Diana questioned, genuinely curious at Akko's hesitation.

"I- I mean, I'm just so happy. I kind of never thought I'd be able to fly, but you believed in me. And helped me. Even when most others wouldn't even consider it possible for me. I kind of wanted to uh… thank you? Or uhm, something like that?" Akko struggled to put into words just how much gratitude she had for Diana in the moment.

Diana's eyes widened at Akko's admission. Diana could feel her heart beating a slight bit faster. She felt heat creeping into her own face at Akko's honesty. She cleared her throat to reign in whatever reactions she was having.

"I-I meant why you felt the need to ask?" Diana clarified, eyes closed as she tried to get herself to her usual composure. "After all, I seem to remember a certain witch suffocating me with a hug a couple of weeks ago." Diana tried finishing with a joke, to cut the tension.

"Y-yeah? W-well I seem to remember a certain witch trapping me in a bubble when I tried yesterday." Akko answered back.

"Right…" Diana trailed off.

"So?" Akko asked, after a few moments of silence. "Can I?"

"… If you insist. I would not be opposed." Diana answered, a slight heat returning to her face.

Akko's face brightened as she received permission. She opened her arms and quickly pulled Diana into a tight embrace.

It wasn't as overbearing and tight as it was the first time Akko embraced Diana.

However, the emotions behind it were just as strong, if not stronger.

Diana felt whatever emptiness she had felt earlier melt away.

Slowly. Hesitantly. Diana brought her arms up to return the hug. She felt Akko stiffen up slightly when she slightly tightened her hold on the shorter witch. Before Diana could wonder if she should have or not though, Akko relaxed again.

Diana took a moment to take in all the sensations she felt. The embrace's warmth. The softness of Akko pressed against her. Akko's soft breath against the crook of her neck. The scent of grass and earth that was just so Akko. The slightly different pressure of each of Akko's fingers. The smile she could feel against her shoulder. The slight shake of laughter and relief.

Slowly, though, Diana noticed Akko's shaking began to change. She began to feel a minute dampness on her shoulder. When Diana attempted to check on the shorter witch, however, Akko tightened her grip.

"A-Akko, are you okay?" Diana asked, concerned.

"Y-yeah. Just. Thank you so much for helping me." Akko shakily said in response.

After a few minutes, Diana spoke up again.

"I know this is a special moment for you Akko, but I think you know we have much more to work on right?"

"I know."

"… Are you ready to begin?"

"Just give me a few more minutes." Akko swiftly replied. She tightened her grip again, clearly not willing to back down.

Diana smiled at the girl's response, glad Akko couldn't look up to see the slight embarrassment on her face.

"… Fine."

Akko walked back to her dorm after finishing her tutoring session with Diana. Her arms were sore from all the jerking her broom did throughout the rest of the session. Sure she could fly… but control was an entirely different matter.

She could hear Diana's constant reminders to relax, to loosen her grip but not loosen it too much, to think of it moving smoothly, like walking.

She smiled as she thought of their time together. Of their hug. How soft Diana's hair was. The way Diana rubbed tiny circles on her back when she began to tear up. That scent of lavender Akko began to associate with Diana.

Akko knew she'd have to try to get Diana to hug her again.

She laughed at the thought as she approached her room.

When she opened the door, Akko was surprised to see Lotte and Sucy sitting right in front of the room, looking at her expectantly.

"Hey you two?" Akko said.

"So how long were you planning to keep it from us?" Lotte asked, her eyes obscured by the light reflecting off her glasses.

"Eh?"

"That Diana was tutoring you." Lotte clarified, looking up, mirth in her eyes.

"Eh?! H-how did you-"

"We followed you." Sucy said bluntly.

"Huh?!"

" 'I have no reason to doubt that you should be able to fly'" Sucy said, imitating Diana. "How does it feel knowing the 'Luna Nova's Star' has so much faith in you?" Sucy continued, a smirk on her face.

"Eh?! How long were you two there!?" Akko cried out, a flush on her cheeks.

Lotte and Sucy laughed as Akko pouted at her two friends.

I, uh, needed some more fluff after everything that's happened, and everything that's about to happen.