Chapter 9

Ingredior

Author Notes

Okay finally the 9 chapter, and the important talk that those two need to have since chapter 1 XD, hope you like it.

Oh and remember make a review if you want.

Declaimer: I don't own any characters from Little Witch Academia, I'm just doing this for fun.

She was waiting in a small room next to the hotel door, as always, she had arrived on time, although it could be said that Akko never told her the exact time, so she was in serious trouble if the girl didn't show up.

Taking advantage of the moment she had, she started planning what she would talk about with the Japanese girl. She didn't know if she would have to lead the conversation or not, but "a prepared witch doesn't get incinerated," her mother used to say.

Now the question was, what topics would they discuss? How would she explain the hug? After all, they were never that close. Was there anything else that interested her now besides magic? As she continued to go around in circles, she heard hurried footsteps approaching her. When she looked up out of curiosity, she found the very person she was waiting for. Akko looked agitated, as if she had rushed to get there, which seemed like a positive sign in a certain way.

"Diana, I'm... I'm sorry," she said while trying to compose herself.

"Akko, take a deep breath and relax. We hadn't agreed on a specific time anyway," Diana replied, trying to calm the girl down.

When Akko managed to compose herself, she opened her mouth and said, "Diana, I'm really sorry. I didn't tell you the time, nor did I consider if you had other things to do…" Diana, not liking the direction the conversation was taking, replied, "Look, Akko, if I had other things to do, I wouldn't have agreed in the first place. And secondly, I think I'm the one who needs to clarify things, not you." She saw how the Japanese girl widened her eyes and said, "Wait, wait a second. How did you just call me?" Diana, tilting her head slightly in confusion, responded, "Um, Akko?" She saw how the woman's eyes welled up immediately, and she turned her gaze away. Diana was alarmed and asked, "A-are you okay? If you don't like it, I can call you by your full name." The answer didn't take long to come, "¡NO!, no, it's just that you've never called me that way, and it surprised me a bit."

Accepting the explanation, albeit with some doubts, Diana decided to continue the conversation. "So, where are we going?" she asked.

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Hearing Diana's question, Akko had no idea what to respond. Everything had been impulsive, nothing was planned, but there was no turning back now, and who knows, maybe something positive could come out of this. Regaining her initiative, she said, "Well, what can I say... I had nothing planned, so all we can do is go out and explore." She looked at Diana and waited... seeing that the English girl didn't seem upset with her response but rather welcomed it with a smile (something very rare to see), it boosted her spirits even more, and she said, "Alright, then, should I follow you?"

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And so, this little adventure began.

Their first destination was a nearby park, which seemed to be very popular judging by the number of people around. They decided to enjoy the view without exchanging words, simply walking aimlessly. While there were many things to discuss, for the moment, they just wanted to savor each other's company in silence.

They observed families having fun in the morning, and elderly people doing their morning exercises to get active. There were also young ones, like them, brimming with energy. At one point, Akko started stealing glances at her companion, obviously curious about how she was feeling. Diana, on the other hand, was looking around, occasionally stealing glances as well.

In one of those glimpses of curiosity, their gazes met, but this time, there was no magic like the previous night. Perhaps, now being more conscious of each other, all they could do was quickly avert their eyes, feeling utterly embarrassed.

Akko, to get rid of her blush, spotted a small place where they were selling some local products, and an idea came to her. "Hey Diana," she said. The English girl, who had already calmed down after the previous awkward moment, turned and replied, "Yes, Akko?"

"Would you like to eat something? I don't know about you, but I haven't had anything to eat all day, and I'm starting to get a bit hungry."

"Akko, I understand your intention, but I hope you're not thinking of eating at the cart in front."

"Eeeeee, t-that was the idea," Akko said as she scratched the back of her head. Diana rolled her eyes dramatically and said, "Let's walk a bit more, maybe there's a restaurant nearby."

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They searched for the nearest exit and walked around the block, finding a small place that seemed quite decent by Diana's standards. It was a one-story establishment, spacious, with a relaxed atmosphere, decorated with portraits of different people, and several tables set up elegantly. "Ummm Theatercafeén," Diana read the name aloud upon entering. "It looks quite expensive, Diana, and I don't think I have that much money," Akko commented. The prodigious witch simply ignored her and asked a woman nearby, "A table for two, please." They were seated at their designated table, and seeing how uncomfortable Akko looked, Diana said, "Don't worry about it; I'll treat you." Akko reacted and said, "W-wait, at least let me contribute with something." Diana looked her in the eyes and, seeing that it genuinely bothered her, decided to accept the offer. "If it makes you feel more comfortable."

As soon as they sat down, the menu with various dishes offered at the place was brought to them. Akko, who was drooling while imagining the food, chose an omelet, and Diana went for a Caesar salad. For drinks, Akko ordered an orange juice, and Diana opted for a glass of water. Now, as they waited for their orders to arrive, they tried to break the ice and engaged in some conversation.

"And tell me, what have you been doing since you left Luna Nova?" Diana asked curiously, as she knew Akko's deep passion for Chariot and magic, but didn't know much else about her interests.

She replied, "Oh, you know, reading manga or comics, sleeping, going for walks, spending time with my childhood friends..." Something caught Diana's attention, and she asked again, raising an eyebrow, "Reading manga? What's that?" Akko realized her mistake and said, "Oh, of course, how would you know? It's like a Japanese comic, so to speak."

"Comics..., I've never read one, but I can't deny that they've caught my attention at times," she said with some interest, as her taste in reading tends to be very academic, but exploring something more mundane would be quite interesting.

The Japanese girl, for the umpteenth time, opened her eyes wide and exclaimed in surprise, "Really?!"

"Well, there's one that I'm currently reading, and it's fantastic! It's about how a gal falls in love with a girl in her class who belongs to the, let's say, antisocial group, but she... where was I?... A yes! Actually she only admires her like a princess and doesn't plan to get any closer than that... AAAAAH! W-wait a second, that's yuri, how can I be talking about this in front of you... n-never mind, Diana." The mentioned girl was just having fun, observing how Akko made different expressions in record time. However, there were certain things she couldn't let pass and asked, "Akko, what's this about 'gal,' and how did you say, 'yuro,' 'yuri'? If I'm not mistaken, doesn't that mean 'lily' in Japanese?" Fortunately for Akko, the waiter arrived with their food at that moment, allowing her to escape from the topic.

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The food was delicious, and thanks to the nine they made the decision to eat here, Diana couldn't imagine the disaster it would have been to eat from a street cart. Not to offense people who work in such places, but given her dietary requirements, she would have likely gotten sick, and that wouldn't be ideal at the moment.

As they calmly savored their meal, accompanied by the murmurs of other customers, they decided to continue their conversation. "And where were we? Ah, right, the yuri thing," Diana said, noticing how Akko's cheeks immediately flushed. She chuckled a bit and moved on to another topic. "No need to explain anything about that, but instead, tell me about your friends in Japan."

Akko sighed and continued, "They're... well, how should I put it? Normal, but special at the same time. In other words, they've always been by my side, and they were a significant support for me since I returned home. Though, when it came down to it, it was pure coincidence that they found out I had come back."

"It sounds like they are wonderful people, I hope to meet them someday."

"Well, if you ever visit Japan and I'm there, I could introduce them to you."

"I'll keep that in mind..., Akko, there's something else that I found curious. Why haven't you mentioned Chariot even once today?"

"Oh, Chariot," the name came out with less energy than before. "Well, it's hard to explain, but... Diana, I've found another kind of magic in my life, and Chariot is not a part of it."

"Another magic?"

"Yes, exactly, but don't get me wrong. That doesn't mean my admiration for her has disappeared. However, this new magic is something that has surprised me in an unimaginable way, and you know what's best? This time I understand it, it feels like it's a part of me."

"That, means... there's no turning back? You'll never return to Luna Nova?"

"If you see it that way... yes, I'll never go back."

Diana remained silent for a few seconds, and in her heart, there was still a small possibility that Akko would return with her, but that hope had just been extinguished with that sentence.

"Hey Diana, Dianaaaa!" Akko called out. "Yes?" Diana responded as she refocused on the world around her. "Are you okay? You looked a bit pale..."

'WHAT ARE YOU DOING, DIANA CAVENDISH? Pull yourself together. YES, she won't return to the school, but that doesn't mean it's the end of everything. You can still talk to her, connect in a different way, and maybe be something more in the future.'

"So, yes, I'm fine, Akko. It was nothing, but before we continue with this topic, I'd like to talk about a few things first." Akko, who bought the response, trusting her companion completely, said, "Sure, Diana. In fact, I think I've talked too much already, and I also want to get to know the Diana behind the last name." Diana nodded and opened her mouth, "Then, before saying anything else," she said as she stood up, "I, Diana Cavendish, heiress of the Cavendish house, want to offer my most sincere apologies to Atsuko Kagari for any behavior or insult that may not have pleased her since the day we met. And as compensation for what happened, for you and anyone you trust wholeheartedly, the doors under my name will always be open."

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Akko didn't fully grasp it at first; she was surprised by the gesture, but the pressure of needing to respond pushed her to stand up and reply, "I-I, Atsuko Kagari, heiress of the Kagari house?" She started a bit confused about how to answer, "I accept the apology from Diana Cavendish..." hoping it would be enough. Her upbringing didn't come with the etiquettes of nobility, after all. However, she had nothing to worry about, as the smile she received was all she needed to know she hadn't made a mistake.

Diana sat back down and ordered a pot of tea from the waiter. They continued talking for a good while, and she managed to find out more about Diana's hobbies and what her life was like outside that glorious school. There were little laughs, pleasant remarks, and all sorts of things shared between them.

One could say that their connection was growing stronger with each passing moment. The gloomy memories she had of Diana were being replaced by a clear desire to make a lasting impression.

Everything was weaving together like a spiderweb, creating an extremely necessary bond between them.

As the sun started turning orange, they decided to call it a day. They got up from the table, Akko gave her small share to Diana, and the young witch completed the rest of the payment. They walked together for a while, arriving at the doors of the hotel where it was time to say goodbye.

"Hey Diana, I didn't ask you, but why were you here?"

"I had an issue with a relic my aunt sold. And you, Akko?"

"I came to help my mother with her work, translating..."

"So, the woman who was by your side was your mother, you look very alike."

"Hahaha, people often tell me that..., umm well, I guess it's time."

"Yes..., h-hey Akko, is there any way I can contact you?"

She had stammered, and Diana never stammered, "Yes, do you have a cellphone?"

"Why wouldn't I have a cellphone Akko?"

"Okay, then could you dictate it to me?" Diana quickly dictated her contact information with a hint of excitement in her voice. "Alright, that should be everything. I hope to see you soon, Diana."

"Likewise, Akko," she said as she took a step back and gave Akko a surprising hug, which was returned with even greater force.

And so, each of them went their separate ways, eagerly anticipating the reunion that would likely take place in just a few months.