Yahallo! Finally made it to the end of Episode 2. Only 23 episodes to go! Let's see how these crazy girls handle the fallout from last chapter.

Our Magic!
Episode 02: Luna Nova Over Capacity
Part IV

"Diana!" The scream of glee was all the warning the prodigy had before she was tackled. Thankfully, the magic crystals she had used in her spell had burnt up and were not an obstacle to their bodies hitting the floor. Akko hugged and squeezed and began kissing Diana on the cheeks as she gushed, "You were so amazing! You cast a ritual spell all by yourself! I've never even heard of someone doing that!"

Diana flushed and was glad the Sorcerer's Stone was only slowly beginning to brighten. Although Akko was rolling them around enough it was unlikely she could notice how embarrassed Diana was becoming. "I just thought of everything you were doing and did not wish to see you have to do any of that again and I reached out for the magic."

"That's what I do!" Akko exclaimed as she kissed her solidly on the lips, "Ohmigosh, that's OK, right?"

Diana's mind was a million miles away in orbit.

"Diana, Diana? Hello? Venus to Mars," Akko asked.

Diana refocused on Akko, "It is supposed to be 'Earth to Diana', Akko." She thought back to Akko's question, "And yes. Hannah and Barbara told me that best friends sometimes kiss one another like that so it is . . . "

Diana stopped suddenly as she realized she just implied Akko was her best friend. She had no need to be self-conscious as Akko simply cheered, "Yay!" and kissed her again, and again. When Akko stopped, Diana kissed her.

"I am sorry, but I wanted to kiss you too."

"That's OK!" Akko beamed, her smile brighter than the sun, "I want you to kiss me!"

Akko bent over her and kissed her again. Diana's hands tightened around her back and drew her closer. Akko's body pressed against her felt so amazing. Diana shifted her hips to roll Akko to her right and resumed kissing. Akko's right leg wrapped around her butt and pulled her as close as possible. Diana lifted her hand to tuck Akko's hair behind her ear, taking the opportunity to stare into her eyes.

Diana leaned in and kissed Akko on the forehead, then her right cheek, then her chin, then her nose. Akko giggled and whined, "Diaaanaaa."

Diana smiled and leaned in, brushing her lips against her best friend's lips. "I love you so much, Akko. I am so glad we are friends."

"Hey! We're best friends! Not just friends. I love you too!" Akko resumed kissing her, her hands weaving their way through Diana's blonde tresses. They could not pull each other close enough. Diana groaned in pleasure and Akko kissed her open mouth.

The groan of exhaustion that came from the staircase jolted them from their reverie. "So. Many. Stairs."

Akko rolled onto her back, pulling Diana across her as they regarded their professor and childhood idol. "You're a little late! We already fixed it." Diana nuzzled into Akko's neck to kiss her there, she began kissing up her jawline and nibbled on Akko's ear. Akko groaned and giggled, "Diana! That tickles!"

Someone lit a fire under Chariot's cheeks and her mouth dropped open. No words escaped her.

Diana giggled, "Professor Chariot, you appear like a fish like that!"

Akko glanced at their professor and rolled her eyes, pulling Diana more on top of her, her right leg still hooked behind her friend. Her left hand scratched at Diana's side until Diana looked her in the eyes and realized what she wanted. Diana leaned over and resumed kissing her.

Finally, Chariot came to her senses, "Girls! I realize you have both just—stop kissing for a moment! I realize you have both just went through a life-and-death situation, but your behavior is completely inappropriate! Such behavior should only occur when you are on a date or in private!"

"Whaaaat?" Akko whined, "Why would I go on a date with Diana?"

"Huh?"

"Yes, Professor Chariot. We are simply extremely elated to both be safe; we are not dating," Diana reached up and kissed Akko once more, "Please do not ever worry me like that again, Akko. You mean too much to me."

"Heyyy, I thought you said you believed in me?"

"I will never not believe in you, but I will also never not worry about you. I love you."

"I love you, too," Akko kissed her again.

"Huh?" Chariot watched, mouth agape.

"Haha, I think we broke Ursula-sensei," they resumed kissing.

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"Ahem, the two witches in question were both suffering from a combination of simultaneous exposure to magic overuse and a magic overdose. The symptoms included drastically lowering their inhibitions and a general euphoria . . . although who knows how much of the euphoria was from their actions," Professor Chariot trailed off.

"What was that last part?" Professor Finneran asked.

"Ah, I was merely commenting that their inhibitions were dramatically lowered."

"It is incredible what these two were able to do," Headmistress Holbrooke commented with a smile. Her smile faded to a frown as she regarded the reports on her desk, "Others have not been so lucky."

The other professors in Holbrooke's office frowned, even Professor Lukić took no pleasure in the gruesome news.

Vice Principal Badcock picked up the papers. "The Sorcerer's Stone at the Sol Veritas Wizard Academy has exploded, the school has been destroyed and rescue teams are still trying to save students and faculty in the rubble."

At the collective gasp of the faculty, Badcock continued, "The American College for Wizards and Witches managed to avoid having their twin Sorcerer's Stones explode."

"Thank God," came from Professor Nelson.

"Unfortunately, the magic could not be contained and the Stones have entered into a meltdown state. Magic radiation has flooded the campus and it has been evacuated. There is no telling when they will be able to contain or begin to repair the damage."

"Is there anything we can do?" Chariot asked desperately.

"There is not much we can do that is not already being done; disseminating the procedure Miss Cavendish came up with to sap the stones is our number one priority," Finneran responded.

"They have had success where the Stones are not as substantial as the one we have here, and there are many rituals that the magical community has been eager to attempt with enough magic on hand to try," Holbrooke seemed especially tired having to be serious for so long.

One of the first-year professors raised her hand, "You do not need to raise your hand, speak."

"Why don't we get rid of the stones? We don't need them now that magic is so plentiful."

"That would be . . . difficult," Chariot conceded. "Each Stone is a priceless treasure and they are almost impossible to dispose of safely."

"Indeed," Badcock agreed, "Witches and wizards may be enjoying a period of heightened magic levels, but there is nothing saying how long this will last. We believe it will be centuries until they subside, but who's to argue that it may only last a decade. Even if we were able to get rid of all the Sorcerer's Stones—which is no small task—if the world's magic were to then recede . . . "

"Well, we could just ask Akko to fix it again," Chariot said offhandedly.

Finneran glared at her peevishly, "Don't you mean Diana? Just because Diana allowed Akko to participate is no reason to believe . . . "

"That is enough," Holbrooke surprisingly intervened. Chariot looked at her in wonder, "It has been accepted as fact by the magical community that Akko was the wielder of the Claiomh Solais. Any suggestion that she was only a participant is tantamount to denial of her accomplishments and will not be tolerated."

Finneran stopped herself from arguing any further, as much as she gave Akko a hard time, she had an idea of how hard she worked. It was more obstinacy and favoritism towards Diana than anything else that kept her suggesting Diana should be given more credit than Akko.

Chariot decided to be political, "It is truly a wonder that Diana was able to come up with a technique to sap the Stones."

Finneran smiled and nodded at the young witch. She frowned as she thought of the destruction that had come to the two other schools, "Still, if it were one of the witch's schools or a coed school that were the same age group, we might be able to accept at least some of the students here, but college students and wizards would have no place here."

Holbrooke hummed and coughed, "W-well, we will be accepting some of the college-aged witches as graduate students here. They will assist in teaching and researching. At least a few of them are alumni from Luna Nova."

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Diana and Akko walked hand-in-hand through the halls of Luna Nova. The silence between them was amicable and comfortable. Eventually, Akko broke it, "Everyone sure is looking at us funny."

Diana frowned as she considered whether to reveal the new information she had come across, "I asked Hannah and Barbara about that . . . "

"And? What did they say?" Akko asked curiously.

"They said that some best friends do not do these things."

"What?! Are you serious? This is the best!" Akko squeezed her hand tightly.

Diana smiled, "Indeed."

Akko stopped dead in her tracks, "Wait, does that mean you don't wanna' hold my hand anymore?"

Akko tried to pull her hand free, but Diana resisted, "No! I mean, I do want to hold your hand."

Akko nodded, "And what about kisses?"

Diana looked furtively around, then leaned in and kissed the corner of Akko's mouth. Akko beamed a megawatt smile back at her, and Diana could not resist another kiss. "They said that if we do not want everyone to misunderstand that holding hands is probably alright, but kissing should only be done in privacy."

"Well that explains Ursula-sensei at least."

"Akko," Diana asked for her attention and waited until Akko's crimson eyes met her azure ones, "You do not think it is strange that we kiss and hold hands and cuddle, do you?"

Akko shook her head slowly, "I've wanted to kiss you for so long."

Diana smiled and turned away. Akko pouted and pushed her face up against Diana's turned cheek. "Um, yes, Akko?"

"Dfon' ton wei."

Diana turned back to her and Akko kissed her, "I said, 'Don't turn away'."

"Ah, I see. So we shall go meet your friends now."

"Our friends, Di-chan," Akko disagreed, "You need to stop excluding yourself. You're as much a part of our group of friends as I am."

Diana nodded once, "It is difficult. I have never really had friends."

"Hannah and—"

"They are wonderful and I am so grateful for their friendship, but there was always a distance between us until you brought me back to Luna Nova. That changed everything."

"Sou ka," Akko said, "I'm a little afraid to face everyone to be honest."

Diana's laughter rang out like a bell, "Well, the last time you faced them you weren't exactly on the best of terms."

"Do you think they'll understand?"

Diana squeeze her hand and offered a smile, "They are good friends."

Akko reached the lounge for her floor and hesitated before knocking, "It is a public room, Akk—"

"WHO KNOCKS TO GET INTO A LOUNGE?" Amanda slammed open the door and grabbed Akko, pulling her inside. Diana, still attached at the hand, came along with her. Akko stood in the center of the room and faced her friends.

"Um, hi guys." She looked back at Diana, who smiled at her. OK, I can do this. She began, "So, I'm not sorry for what I did."

"Akko," Lotte stopped her from going on, "It's OK. We're sorry."

Sucy agreed, "I'm used to thinking of you like an idiot that is just as likely to drink poison as she is an elixir."

"Is that an apology?" Akko asked unsure.

Amanda laughed, "To be fair, you are just as likely to drink poison."

"Heyyyy!" Diana laughed also, "HEY! Not you too!"

"Just shut up," Sucy said. Lotte came in close to hug the two of them—since Diana had still not let go of Akko's hand—and quickly Sucy, Hannah, Amanda, Barbara, Jasminka, and Constanze swarmed them as well. They fell over.

Akko laughed on the bottom of the pile and everyone joined in. Diana lay on her side, laughing. When she stopped, she couldn't help but stare at Akko with a smile on her face. Akko turned her head and caught her eye, and her smile turned up even more. "Guys, I feel like we've tried this before and had the exact same outcome. Maybe nine is just too many for a group hug."

Sucy remarked, "Akko thinks one time before making a plan and now she thinks she can use things like logic and reasoning."

The young witches got up slowly, Diana and Akko remained on the floor, but sat up. Diana scooched closer and rested her chin on Akko's shoulder. Lotte began to hyperventilate upon the sight of it and caught Barbara's eye. I know! She communicated wordlessly.

Just like Nightfall! Lotte gesticulated back.

Hannah nudged Barbara with her shoulder, and Barbara grabbed Hannah's hand. She smiled regretfully at Lotte.

You two are just like Nightfall too!

I wish! Barbara smiled and turned to Hannah to pull her a little closer. She whispered in Hannah's ear and Hannah smiled before mouthing, "Thank you," at Lotte.

Amanda took one look at the snuggling witches and grabbed up Constanze and swung her around until a Stanbot stopped her. Constanze wagged her finger at Amanda as she was set down. Amanda laughed nervously, "So what's everyone doing next week?"

"Huh? What's next week?" Akko asked.

"You don't know?" Amanda asked in surprise, "It's summer break!"

"Whaaaaaaaat?!" Akko screeched. Diana flinched away from her, "Already?! I only just now became allowed to use magic again and I don't get to go to magic school?!"

Amanda brushed her off, "No one wants to go to classes, Akko." Before Diana could respond, Amanda continued, "We should totally do something!"

"Oh, that sounds like fun!" Hannah chipped in.

"Oh yeah, I meant we should all do something!" Amanda covered quickly.

"When is everyone free? Is anyone going home?" Lotte asked.

"Hai!" Akko raised her hand, "I have to go home the second week, so I can only do something the first week."

"What?" Diana asked, "You're going home?"

Akko nodded without looking at the blonde witch that was only inches from her face, "Hai, I have to return home to help my parents. They made me promise before coming back for this term."

"How long will you be gone?" Diana asked intently.

"Like, the whole second week. I'm sorry."

"Oh. My. God. Get a room!" Amanda finally couldn't take it anymore.

"We are on different teams! How are we supposed to get a room?" Akko asked seriously.

"Are you serious? You WANT to get a room? Since when have you two been dating?"

"We're just friends!"

"I'm having a stroke!" Amanda dramatically performed a pratfall, which happened to get Akko's attention further away from Diana.

"Are you OK?" the brunette witch asked as she tried to tug on Amanda's arms to get her to sit up. Diana frowned in thought.

Lotte, for her part, was furiously scribbling notes, and Barbara was reading over her shoulder, offering her opinions and insights. Hannah kept an eye on those two, but decided to disarm the Amanda bomb in the room while she was at it, "So is the first week alright for everyone?"

Constanze gave her trademark thumbs up and Jasminka paused eating just long enough to coo an assent. Sucy agreed, but began to mutter darkly about new potions to test with ingredients she could not have at Luna Nova. Amanda ignored Akko and slowly sat up, "I guess so, what do we want to do?"

Diana offered, "I should be able to complete the summer homework the first day of break, so this is agreeable to me. I am open to anything everyone else wants to do."

Lotte looked to Barbara and the two shared another wordless conversation, with a quick nod, they announced in chorus, "It's got to be the beach!"

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BWA HAHAHAHA. Some of you seemed to have thought that Diana and Akko were already in a relationship, well guess what, they're just THAT FLIPPING DENSE. But seriously, Diana has probably not had a lot in the way of real friends, so of course she'd misunderstand Hannah and Barbara's relationship and those two cowards (my favorite cowards, but they're still scaredy cats) would dissemble and try to play it off as though they were just friends, thus leaving poor impressionable Diana thinking that it is normal behavior between friends, so when she finds the girl that SHE wants to do those things to, she just thinks it's because they're best friends. And as for Akko, well, Akko is Akko.

And yes, that means Hannah and Barbara are in a relationship.

Also, I threw a hint of my previous favorite OTP in the first scene with Akko's stumbling over a common idiom.

Beach episode is next. Right now I have the next episode titled as, "Akko Gets Her Yay Back".