Akko tightly gripped her broom as she looked down the balcony on the eighth level of the Luna Nova Tower.
"Alright Miss Kagari, you're the last one."
"Okay Professor Nelson."
Everyone had already taken their run through the course.
Naturally, Diana had the fastest time of just under five minutes. Amanda was a close second, at exactly five minutes, much to her own annoyance.
All the witches in the class were on the balcony two levels above Akko. Most of them whispered amongst themselves, wondering what Akko would do.
After all, it was a commonly held belief among most of the witches in school that Akko couldn't fly.
However, the members of red, blue, and green teams watched intently, waiting to see Akko prove everyone else wrong.
"Time starts the moment you call out the spell. If you wish to withdraw, just walk through the door behind you."
Akko took a deep breath, heart beating rapidly as adrenaline coursed through her veins.
She knew what she wanted to do.
Akko turned around and began walking towards the door, much to everyone's surprise.
Akko was known for doing many stupid things, but she would never give up.
"Oi, what's she doing?" Amanda muttered.
"Don't tell me she got cold feet." Hannah said, turning her attention to Diana.
Diana continued to watch in silence, eyes never leaving the brunette.
Akko stopped just before reaching the door. She turned to Professor Nelson.
"Time doesn't start until I chant the spell correct? And the only rules are to not touch the ground and to not fly too high in the first two sections?"
"Yes Miss Kagari, those are both correct."
Akko grinned. "Okay then!" Akko quickly turned around, broom gripped in one hand.
"Here I go!" Akko yelled as she sprinted towards the edge of the balcony.
"Miss Kagari! What are yo-" Professor Nelson was caught off guard as Akko jumped off the balcony without having called out the spell.
"Akko!" Lotte yelled out in surprise, hands gripping on the rail.
"What's she doing?!" Amanda yelled out before she reached out for her broom.
"Amanda, stop!" Diana commanded, glaring at her. "Akko knows what she is doing." Diana turned her attention back to girl in free fall.
Akko felt the rush of wind blowing past her as she fell. She grabbed her broom and straddled it in midair.
"Miss Kagari! What are you doing?!" Akko heard Professor Nelson call out from behind her.
Catch me if you can.
Akko smirked as she angled herself downward. The bristles of her broom shook as magic sparked out from the end.
"TIA FREYRE!" Akko yelled out. Immediately a gust of wind blew from behind her, pushing back Professor Nelson who had chased after her. Akko shot downwards before immediately changing her angle, jetting towards the thick forest in front of her.
"Oi Cavendish, did you know she was gonna do that?" Amanda said as she walked up to the blonde witch.
"I did not." Diana answered, eyes still focused on following the brunette through the thick trees.
"Then how did you…"
"I am her tutor Amanda. I believe in my students, and there is no student I have ever believed in more than her."
Akko grinned to herself as she flew past layers and layers of trees. Her opening had worked out a lot better than she had expected.
"Woah!" Akko ducked as a branch seemed to come out of nowhere. "Gotta be careful, can't have myself messing up here." Akko refocused herself, weaving her way through the dense forest until she saw a small ray of light ahead of her.
"Alright! Time for the second act."
Akko rushed through the trees into the next area, sand being blown away by the girl's speed. Akko paid close attention to the sand below her.
Images of her constantly being blasted by Diana's spell flew through her mind, causing her to smile.
This sand was no match for what she went through with Diana.
She flew in curves, constantly dodging the geysers of sand that burst from right beside her.
As she made a beeline towards the exit, an image from practice reappeared in her mind.
Akko grinned. This time she was ready.
She slowed for a second, and suddenly a huge geyser of sand erupted in front of her. Akko adjusted her grip and flew upward in a spiral along the giant pillar of sand. After the fifth circle around it, Akko sling-shot her way into the final area.
This final area was littered with rubble. Old, broken down towers, statues, and buildings poked out from the ground. Had someone not known what they were doing, they could easily find themselves lost searching the area for the seven flags.
Although this section was far more cluttered than Akko remembered it during practice, she already had a plan in mind. Akko twirled as she flew high up into the air to find out where all the flags were located, something she picked up during all those practices in the past week.
Time for the last act. Akko took a second to look at the end. She smiled, seeing Diana still calmly watching at the front of the balcony.
Once she found where all of the flags were, Akko spiraled towards the first flag. Akko looped her way to each flag, making an effort to grab each one in the flashiest way possible.
After all, she was putting on a show. This was her moment to show everyone just what Diana and her had worked so hard for. To show Diana just what she could do.
After grabbing the last flag, she quickly turned her broom to where all the other witches were watching.
She loved seeing everyone's faces, shocked. She smiled seeing her friends cheering her on.
Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Diana warmly smiling at her.
Akko blushed as she looked down at her broom. She concentrated all of her magic into it, all of her emotions into it, before releasing it all in one burst of speed. One final sprint.
In a moment, she flew right past the finish line.
Akko got lectured by Professor Nelson about the dangers of unsafe broom flying immediately after she finished, much to the amusement of her friends.
Professor Nelson huffed. "It's one thing after another with ya, isn't it? First you can't fly, then the moment I learn you can, you nearly give me a heart attack."
Akko laughed nervously. "Sorry 'bout that."
Professor Nelson sighed, seeing the smile on Akko's face.
"I can't even stay mad at you, cause now I know you can fly. Just… fly safe. Your friends are waiting for you."
Akko smile grew wider as she ran off to catch up to Lotte and Sucy.
"Akko! You didn't need to be so reckless." Lotte said, as she hugged Akko.
"Sorry, Lotte." Akko laughed out.
"You just love making people worry about you don't you?" Sucy said, a small smile on her face.
Akko laughed. She really couldn't deny it at this point.
She saw a flash of blonde out of the corner of her eye.
"Hey uh, you go on ahead. I'll meet you two where we're setting up alright?"
"Okay Akko, don't be too late, we only have a couple of hours to prepare."
"Alright Lotte!" Akko said before running towards the blonde. The moment she caught up behind her, Akko caught her in a tackle hug. "Hey Diana!"
Initially jumping at the contact, Diana relaxed upon hearing the voice of its owner.
"Good afternoon Akko, you did well out there."
Akko smiled bashfully at the compliment. "Six minutes! Surprised?"
Diana smiled. "I believe so… in more ways than one. You do know you most likely would have finished faster without all the theatrics?"
"Well yeah, but I wasn't beating Amanda's or your times, so I may as well have put on a little show instead! Did you enjoy it? Wasn't it exciting?"
"It was wonderful." Diana said as she petted Akko's head.
Akko found herself blushing shyly under Diana's touch.
"A-Anyway, Diana! You're coming to our little celebration party right? It's in like a couple of hours."
"I do believe I am, though I might be a little late. I have something I need to discuss with Professor Ursula."
"Alright! Also tonight right?"
"Yes Akko, I will see you then too."
"Alright, I'll see you then! You better show up!" Akko smiled before grabbing her broom and flying off towards Lotte and Sucy.
Diana watched Akko fly off, the smile not having left her face.
"So Diana, how did Akko do today?"
"She performed magnificently. I dare say she shocked just about everyone there."
Ursula smiled upon hearing the news.
"That's wonderful… So what is it you wanted to speak to me about?"
"Yes, so I wanted to ask you about the next spell I wanted to teach Akko. The Stellaetus spell."
Ursula thought about the spell. It was typically the first kind of light spell taught to young witches.
"Ah, that does seem like a spell Akko would be interested in learning. What about it?"
"Well, growing up, I was always taught that the spell would move according to whatever it is the caster desired it to do."
"That is correct, yes."
"However, when I first used this spell with Akko, it had acted differently than I had commanded it to. While I did not give it much thought then, I have since spent much time researching what went wrong so I would be completely knowledgeable of what I would be teaching her."
"And?"
Diana sighed at the question.
"My research has so far been unsuccessful, so I thought it would be best to ask a professor if they have had any similar experiences."
"I see. Would you care to detail exactly what happened?"
Diana recounted the experience she had had with Akko. How she had used it to simulate trees for Akko to fly through. She told Ursula everything about the glitter after effect she had used for the exercise.
"…The glitter on Akko's face would not leave her face no matter what I commanded."
Ursula thought about the Stellaetus spell for a moment. Diana may not have known it, but she had unwittingly asked the professor in this school who has had the most practical experience with this field of magic.
Ursula thought of her own experiences using this particular spell. She tried to think of any moments in her life when she had lost control over its light.
Ursula's eyes widened as she recalled one moment, back when she was playing with a certain upperclassman a decade ago...
"I think… I might know what happened. But before I can be sure, how did you get the glitter off of Akko's face? Did you turn off the spell?" As she asked the question, Ursula took a look at Diana.
Diana's face had started to break into a slight blush.
Oh?
"Well… you see…" Diana detailed exactly how she had removed the glitter off of Akko's face, the redness on her face beginning to spread.
"Pft"
"Professor Ursula?"
It started off as a small giggle. However, as Diana's story continued, Professor Ursula found she could no longer contain herself and began to giggle uncontrollably.
"Professor Ursula? May I ask what is so funny?" Diana questioned, almost annoyed at her professor.
"I-I'm sorry Diana." Ursula responded, as she wiped away a tear from her eye. "It's just… that spell. I hadn't seen that happen in a while."
"So you know what the cause for it is?"
"I most likely do." Ursula said, an amused grin on her face. "You see…"
And as Professor Ursula detailed exactly what the spell was, its purpose, and what she surmised happened in the moment between Diana and Akko, Diana's blush darkened as her eyes widened. She grew more and more flustered as Ursula's explanation continued.
"Three cheers for Akko!" the red, blue, and green team were all sitting together.
Tea had been passed to everyone, along with desserts the red team had spent time making in the kitchen.
"I can't believe you Akko. Do ya know how worried most of us were?" Amanda asked, jabbing Akko's side with her elbow.
"My bad. But it was pretty fun wasn't it?"
"Yeah, I guess." Amanda said nonchalantly, a joking smile on her face. "Cavendish over there was probably the only person who wasn't worried about you though."
"Really?"
"Yeah, you shoulda heard her."
Sucy waved her wand, and a small screen of magic appeared in front of Akko.
"I am her tutor Amanda. I believe in my students, and there is no student I have ever believed in more than her."
Akko's eyes widened.
"She really said tha… Wait Sucy! Do you just go and record things people say?"
"Not 'till recently, and only when I can use it to tease you." Sucy grinned.
Diana found herself unable to pay attention to what was going around her. Her mind was focused entirely on what Professor Ursula had told her.
Hannah and Barbara stuck with her, a little concerned with how quiet she was being. When they saw a figure approaching the three of them, however, they quickly moved away from Diana.
"Well, that's weird." Akko commented as she saw Hannah and Barbara run past her. "I wanted to thank them for coming. Oh well." Akko turned her attention towards Diana, who had barely touched her piece of cake.
"Hello? Diana?" Akko called out. No answer. Akko rolled her eyes.
"Hello?!" Akko said, suddenly coming into Diana's view.
"Kya!" Diana gasped as she jumped backwards.
"'Kya'? Really Diana? That's not like you." Akko teased.
"Well, I apologize, forgive me for being surprised." Diana said, unamused.
Akko laughed. "You're forgiven. So…" Akko took a seat next to the blonde. "What's up? You hardly touched your cake. Is it not good? We didn't mix up the sugar and salt, did we?"
"No, no it tastes delicious. It is just… I am not very hungry right now."
"Is something bothering you Diana?" Akko asked, getting closer to the blonde.
"…No."
"Diana." Akko's warned, her face getting even closer to Diana's.
Diana felt her heart stutter as she noticed how close the two of them were.
Memories of what Professor Ursula said flashed through her mind as she found herself unable to pick a spot on Akko's face to focus her attention on. Maybe her deep red eyes. Or her little nose. Or…
"It, it is of no concern." Diana said, choosing to turn away from the brunette. "If anything we can talk about it later tonight. If I remember correctly, you still have something you wish to tell me then?"
Akko blushed, recalling the previous night. "R-right. Yeah, that. Anyway…" Akko got up. "Come on," Akko grabbed Diana's hand. "enjoy yourself!" Akko pulled Diana towards the other seven, who had gathered around one circle.
Although still a little shaken, Diana found herself unable to stop the smile on her face as Akko pulled her towards the group.
Akko took a deep breath as she walked towards the field.
Their field.
She was going to do it.
Her heart raced as she began to think about what was about to happen.
What she was about to do.
When she finally found the blonde, she saw her crouched on the ground, surrounded by the light of a thousand stars. The light from the spell the both of them have seen several times.
Akko stood there, admiring the way Diana's hair glowed in the surrounding lights.
After a minute, Akko decided to call attention to herself.
"Hey Diana?" As soon as Akko called out, several lights flew past her suddenly. "Woah, did I startle you?"
"Good evening Akko. You might have a little, but it is no cause for concern" Diana said. There was a slight blush on her face.
"So, what's all this? Needed some light?" Akko asked as she walked to where Diana was. She giggled as she poked away at some stars that seemed to float towards her.
"No… I just wanted to verify something."
"Ah, alright. Did you?"
As Akko asked the question, the lights slowly began to circle the two.
Diana glanced downward on Akko's face, her blush deepening just a little bit. "I… believe I just might have."
"So… Diana, there was something you wanted to tell me?" Akko asked.
"Yes there was."
"Alright… uhm, is it okay if I go first?"
"I would not mind that." Diana answered, slightly relieved she had more time to prepare her thoughts.
"First thing, uhm… is it okay if we cancel our tutoring session tomorrow?"
"Wha…" Diana's thoughts screeched to a halt, her stomach instantly twisting into a knot as she heard the question. "Is there any particular reason?"
"I kinda just wanted to relax tomorrow. Maybe have a picnic before the snow comes and it becomes too cold to have one. Just hang out."
"I… I see. Well, if that is what you want." Diana responded, trying to hide the hints of disappointment in her voice.
"Yeah, alright. So next question. Would you like to join me tomorrow?"
The disappointment disappeared, Diana's heart jumping at the invitation. However, she tried to reign herself in. After all, it was just an invitation to hang out.
"Would you like me to?"
"Yeah! We could talk about stuff, have that picnic... Oh! I can show you how to play the Shiny Chariot card game!"
Diana smiled as she heard Akko's excitement. "I would love to. Should I invite Hannah and Barbara as well? Barbara said she had been needing to talk to Miss Yanson about some book series."
"Ah, no. No. Just you. Besides, Lotte and Sucy wouldn't be coming."
Diana's eyes widened. Was this… no. She couldn't be sure just yet.
"So it would just be the two of us?"
"Well… yeah. Is that okay?"
"I suppose… but why just the two of us?"
"Is… is that a problem?"
"N-no, it is not. I was just… wondering why?" Diana saw Akko's face flare up into a deep blush.
"Y-you're really going to make me come right out and say it, huh?"
"Say what?" Diana felt heart pounding as she began to catch on to what Akko was doing.
"Diana, I…I'm trying to ask you out on a date!" Akko yelled out.
Suddenly the stars around the two of them shined even brighter than before. Akko looked up and saw Diana's face flushed.
"A date?"
"Yeah… a date…" Akko said, turning towards the ground, too embarrassed to look up at Diana anymore. "I… know this might sound weird, but it's been on my mind since last night. You know, the thing I needed to tell you."
"From last night?"
"Yeah, I… kind of... stopped myself from asking you whether you thought the word 'friend' wasn't enough for us… cause I got to thinking about how beautiful you always seemed… how much I like spending time with you, how much I miss you when we're apart, how I'm always thinking about the next time I get to see you… and I realized I might like you… more than just as friends?" Akko said, ears red.
Suddenly, the stars around them changed color into a bluish white light.
Diana's heart skipped a beat at the confession. Diana felt her arms quickly capture Akko in an embrace, one Akko immediately returned.
Diana smiled as she savored every second of this warmth. She also quietly contemplated what she should say next.
Thankfully, Akko's confession made what Diana needed to say much easier.
"Akko… I… is it okay if I tell you what I was going to say from earlier? It is... somewhat related to our next tutoring session" Diana whispered into the shorter girl's ear.
"Really Diana? Tutoring things? Does it have to be right now?" Akko whined, clearly annoyed she couldn't just stay in this moment a little longer.
Diana laughed. "Yes, it must be now. I promise you, it is important and entirely relevant to what we were talking about."
Akko sighed. "Fine."
Diana took a step back and spun her wand, drawing attention to glimmering blue lights surrounding her.
"So… this is the next spell I planned to teach you. It is the Stellaetus spell. As I am sure you are aware…" Diana waved her wand, the stars following her every movement. "... the lights move however it is I desire them to."
Akko found that she couldn't stay annoyed at the blonde for very long, once again becoming enchanted by Diana's magic.
"It is a spell commonly taught to children so that they can bring a smile to whoever they wanted. As such, I assumed I had already known everything about this spell… That is until last week when it refused to listen to my commands."
Akko blushed, remembering how intimate the aforementioned night actually was.
"So when I met with Professor Ursula earlier, I had asked her if she knew what may have caused that to happen…"
"Did you learn something new?"
Diana nodded slowly, her face tinged with red.
"The light that is released from the Stellaetus spell can be controlled and moved according to the caster's desires, typically assumed to be the caster's commands... However, that is not entirely accurate. After all, this spell is considered light magic in its purest form."
"I'm not sure I follow."
"It is light magic that draws brightness from the caster's own emotions. As such, it can act and react according to those emotions… whether the caster is aware of them or not. That is to say some lights will follow the caster's purest subconscious desires."
"This sounds like a really complicated thing to teach kids."
Diana shook her head in response.
"It is a very simple thing when children are taught this spell. After all, when they cast this spell, they cast it with the sole desire to bring happiness to whoever sees it, similar to when you took control of this spell in our performance for Professor Ursula."
"… Okay?" Akko nodded slowly, remembering their performance.
"However, it does become slightly more complicated as you grow older. While the lights still do what the caster commands, the lights may also do things the caster may not have commanded, but secretly... even unknowingly, wanted… so last week, when those glitters refused to be removed from your face…"
"You… wanted to… touch my face?" Akko asked, confused.
"N-No!" Diana reddened further at the comment. "Well, perhaps… The desires do not have to translate literally into what the lights do. According to Professor Ursula, the glitter from the spell may have reacted to a subconscious desire I had to… grow closer to you…"
Akko's eyes widened as she began connecting the pieces of information Diana had told her.
"Diana… wait, what are you saying?"
"I... have always felt myself drawn to you. There was always something about you I found unique, special even. And the more time we spent together, the more I found myself drawn to you. There is something about the way you laugh, the way you smile, and the way your excitement bubbles to the surface that I simply cannot get enough of."
Akko felt her heart quicken after every phrase, every word, and every syllable Diana uttered.
"And this spell has verified something that… I think I might have always felt... A feeling that has only grown since I have grown closer to you… what I am trying to say is that I believe I may return your feelin-" Diana was suddenly enveloped in a tight hug.
"Really?" Akko whispered.
Diana brought her hand up, petting the back of Akko's head.
"Yes, really."
The two stood like this for a while, relishing in each other's warmth.
Each other's touch.
Each other's heartbeat.
The warmth of Akko's breath against Diana's skin.
The softness of Diana's hair on Akko's arms.
After a moment, with as much willpower as she could muster, Diana pulled away from the embrace.
After all, there was still something left to say.
"Diana~" Akko whined, clearly missing Diana's warmth.
"Akko, please, I am not…finished yet." Diana said bashfully, quickly realizing what she was about to suggest. In this moment, her eyes were suddenly drawn to Akko's lips.
"You're not?" Akko questioned, clearly confused. How could this moment get any better?
"Yes… When you arrived here, light suddenly rushed past you correct?"
"Yeah I remember… wait is there glitter on my face?"
"That is correct." Diana answered quietly.
Akko groaned. "Well take them off!"
"I… uh… May I?" Diana asked. She continued to stare unabashedly at Akko's lips, unable to form a complete, coherent thought.
"Yeah! Where on my face is it?" Akko asked. When she didn't receive an answer, she looked back up to the blonde. Diana's eyes were focused on her face… but clearly not looking at her eyes.
Akko's heart just about stopped when she realized where exactly Diana was looking.
"T-They're on my lips?!" Upon realizing this, Akko's face burned brightly as she quickly found her own vision had centered on the taller witch's lips.
Akko's surprise finally snapped Diana out of her stupor, though she still found herself incapable of looking away.
"…Yes they are." Diana whispered out. "It is barely noticeable… but they are there. And I have this distinct feeling they will not come off unless we were to k-" Diana was suddenly cut off by the most minute sensation upon her lips. Lighter than a touch. Perhaps lighter than a brush. It only lasted for a fraction of a second.
Yet that was more than enough to completely still her thoughts. More than enough to cause Diana's heart to jump. To nearly explode.
"…gone?"
The sound of Akko's voice brought Diana's thoughts back to her. Her face warmed as she began to realize what had just happened.
"I… apologize. I do not believe I heard your question."
"I asked… is the glitter gone?" Akko repeated. Her entire face was flushed, her eyes bashfully shifting between the ground and Diana's lips.
Diana took a deep breath, steeling herself before bringing her attention back to Akko's lips.
"It… they are still there." Diana said, counting the number this time, in an attempt to keep her mind functioning. "I… fear that this may require something a little stronger…"
And fear she did. After all, if just a light brush had caused her thoughts to cease, her heart to jump as much as it did… what would something even more than that do?
"I…I see." Akko felt heat spreading to her ears.
"W-we do not have to if you do not want to. After all I could always just cease the spell." Diana said, not wishing to make Akko any more uncomfortable than she may be.
"N-no! Don't do that! I uhm... like this... this spell." Akko whispered as she gently placed her hand on Diana's shoulder before bringing her full attention back to Diana's face.
Diana's face grew bright red when she realized what Akko was doing. What she was about to do.
Akko stared into Diana's eyes as she took a deep breath. To steady herself.
Quickly, she closed her eyes and leaned forward, standing on the tips of her toes.
Softly, she pressed their lips together.
Diana's eyes shut as she was captured in this sensation. This warmth. This gentle softness.
It made her heart flutter.
It robbed her mind of any thoughts beyond those of the girl right here with her.
It made her want more.
Diana wrapped her arms around the small of Akko's back.
Akko, wanting nothing more than to be closer, responded in kind. She wrapped her arms around Diana's neck, and the witches pulled each other closer together, deepening the kiss.
The two continued like this for several moments. Several blissful moments. Akko was captured by the scent of lavender, and Diana, the scent of the earth, with a hint of sugar and vanilla.
Eventually, the two parted, faces flushed. Rubies stared into sapphires as their hearts threatened to jump out of their chest. Their lips tingled, still feeling a phantom of the other girl's lips upon their own.
Both girls found themselves still lost in this moment, still lost among the stars, still lost in each other.
"So… uh… that was." Akko said awkwardly, a goofy smile on her face as she struggled to word how she felt in this moment.
"I agree." Diana said as she chuckled, finding herself just as speechless.
"Sooo Diana… is the glitter gone now?" Akko asked quietly, still staring into her deep blue eyes.
Diana forced herself to look away from Akko's bright eyes.
Naturally her gaze drifted down immediately to Akko's lips.
Diana stared for several moments, making absolutely sure the shine of glitter had disappeared completely.
It had...
However, a thought occurred to her.
Diana smiled, as she tucked away some of her hair that had fallen out of place.
"No, it is not." Was all Diana said as she leaned down and moved in for one more kiss.
Honestly, it's a weird feeling being almost finished with this. It started out because I wanted Akko to jump off a balcony before flying on her broom. When I tried to brainstorm ideas to make that possible, it turned into something I could sneak in some Diakko into... I might need to consider adding the romance genre tag to this, given the direction i took it... Anyway, it started out like that, and I never expected it to get as many people reading it as it did, so I'm really happy about that.
I really hope this chapter was worth the wait... and I hope the pay off was enough for all the buildup I didn't even notice I was doing lol.
I know this is a lot longer than usual, but I felt it was appropriate given I wanted to finish some things up... and not leave it hanging again lol.
So yeah, thanks to everyone for taking the time to read this. It really means a lot that you did.
Also I saw art from chapter 11. Who did that? oh my god. It looked so good, pretty much how that moment looked in my head. So whoever did that, thanks. you're awesome!
Still got an epilogue left! It's fluffy.
Also writing this chapter made me realize two things: Seasons are a thing that I forgot existed and Akko is shorter than Diana. The second one is more important cause that means Akko had to tip toe, pull Diana down, or have Diana carry her to get a kiss, and I think that's adorable.