Author Notes
Hello! First, I'd like to apologize for the delayed update. It's been a chaotic few weeks since the last post, but I've finally found some time to bring you this story. I hope you like it.
Any constructive review is really appreciated.
Thank you for the kudo.
Declaimer: I don't own any characters from Little Witch Academia, I'm just doing this for fun.
Chapter V
Dubias ac Iudiciis
"Why had she done that?"
"It was the first thing that came to her mind the following morning, and that's because, in addition to the obviously strange feeling in her chest and the reaction she had the other day when she saw Akko crying, that night she had a dream in which the little Japanese girl was the protagonist."
'And now I'm dreaming about her, what's happening to me?'
'Why am I having these sensations?'
'Could it be that ...?
'No. Impossible. It can't be Akko.'
'Wait a second, do I actually like girls? Since when, or is it just her?'
And so, she continued in a stupor while staring at the ceiling of her room, waiting for something or someone to appear and give her the answers she truly longed for at this moment, but that obviously never happened.
.
.
"Hannah!" it was Barbara calling her, and turning to look at her, she let the girl continue, "Are you going to class or not? Diana already left, and we only have forty minutes left to grab something to eat."
'Go to class?'
"Barbs, what are you talking about? It's Saturday," the black-haired girl barely heard what came out of her mouth. She looked at her with a completely bewildered expression and, walking toward the door, said, "Look to your right, I'll be waiting for you in the dining room." Following her advice, she glanced at her nightstand, and there, clearly on her magic calendar, it said -MONDAY-, leaving her in a trance once again.
When the six words had already been etched into her mind, she jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom.
.
.
"Argh, all of this is your fault, Akko," she said aloud as she put away her wristband in case her hand hurt.
When she saw that everything was packed, she glanced at the clock and noticed that she still had twenty-five minutes to grab something to eat. Hurrying her pace, she left the room and went straight to the dining room.
.
.
Walking down the hallway at a rather brisk pace, she spotted a certain trio of witches who were heading in the same direction.
"Akko, next time we're leaving you behind. How can you take so long to get ready?" scolded a witch with orange hair.
"Ugh, if this happens again, I'll pour a poisonous potion down your throat while you're asleep," threatened an intimidating-looking witch.
"I-I'm s-sorry, girls, but it really wasn't my fault," replied a slightly disheveled witch, perhaps due to rushing.
"So, whose fault is it going to be then?" Sucy asked with a tone of suspicion.
"A-a-it's..." And just as Akko was about to finish her response, their gazes met, and crimson and charcoal eyes intertwined, with a faint glimmer starting to emerge in them.
In an instant, Hannah watched as the Japanese girl set aside the conversation she was having and rushed toward her, shouting her name, "Hannah!" She felt arms wrap around her tightly, squeezing her affectionately, if it could be called that.
While the two of them were engaged in this act, Hannah glanced over her shoulder and saw how Sucy and Lotte were looking at them. She could swear she had never seen them so surprised, but how could she blame them? Even she hadn't expected such an action from Akko. In fact, it was even stranger because at that moment when she saw her running towards her, it seemed as if the usual Akko had returned, as if that wound she was sure was still open had started to heal.
Returning to her reality, she watched as the girl distanced herself a bit to speak to her. "Why are you here?" she asked while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Oh, I know, you probably overslept too, right?" Hannah could only nod, and as she looked at the girl, an irresistible urge to hug her started to well up inside her chest. 'God, how can she be so sweet?'
"And... how's your wrist? Do you feel better now?" the girl continued as she delicately took her right hand, another thing that definitely melted her heart.
Summoning all the strength she had left, she responded, "Yes, Akko, I feel much better, thanks. Although it still hurts sometimes, I just put on the wristband, and it goes away." Seeing how the brown-haired girl nodded, indicating that her answer was satisfactory, she seized the moment of silence that followed to ask, "And you? Did you also wake up late?" She nodded, then scratched her head in a nervous manner, continuing, "Y-yes, although Lotte and Sucy waited for me, so I wouldn't have to go out alone, you know." Considering the topic closed and clearly feeling uncomfortable not knowing what else to talk about, Akko suggested, "U-um, Hannah, would you like to go have breakfast with us, i-if you want? After all, Barbara and Diana must be saving something for you."
Considering the proposal seriously and assuming that Barbara and Diana were probably already on their way to class, she nodded and said, "Yes, I want to. Besides, don't worry about them; they're most likely already on their way to class."
And so the four girls set off, leaving Lotte and Sucy clearly confused, a situation that Akko would likely have to explain later.
.
.
Arriving at the dining hall, fortunately for the girls, food was still being served. Before getting her plate, Hannah checked the usual spot where she and her two friends always sat, and seeing that it was unoccupied, she continued to the buffet to choose something to eat.
Due to the time and the fact that classes were about to start, there wasn't much to choose from. She ended up with a bit of what appeared to be potato with eggs, some leftover sausages with a piece of bread, and a cup of coffee. It wasn't bad, but it was very unusual for her to eat all of this at this time, but she had no other option.
Seated at the table, the four of them began to savor their meal in a calm atmosphere. Oddly enough, the atmosphere was very relaxed, which was what didn't add up. If we were to go back in time, what lay before their eyes was surely impossible. If things had continued as they always were, she would probably be arguing with Akko and hurling all sorts of insults at her while Akko responded in kind.
Taking a sip of her coffee, she glanced over at the girl beside her. Her posture was more rigid than usual, and her eating manners were completely different. One could even say they were somewhat refined. She wasn't playing with her food anymore, but she was engaging in lively conversation while maintaining certain manners.
With this, Hannah realized something: it was evident that since she had experienced rejection, Akko had changed. She was no longer the same rowdy girl as before, but she still held onto certain actions that defined her true self, which was evident when they met in the hallway.
It could be said that she was slowly rebuilding herself.
And she wanted to be a part of that. She didn't know when it happened, but she had already decided. It didn't matter what her parents, Diana, Barbara, or anyone else around her might say—Hannah was willing to give her all for this little Japanese girl.
And why? Wasn't it too fast?
Well, what can you say? That's how feelings work—they come out of nowhere and at any time.
And even though her mind may want to deny it, her heart already knows.
As strange as it may seem, she had fallen in love with Atsuko Kagari.