Archive of Our Own ^beta

Usually, Finnelan going red in the face at her was such a common occurrence that it didn’t really get into Akko’s head at all. It had happened so many times now that Akko got really good at just letting it roll off of her. Maybe the reason this time was different was because it was the first time she actually got in trouble since all the things with the Noir Missile happened.

Maybe.

They were just outside the cafeteria, late enough into the evening that the sun was beginning to set. Professor Finnelan’s wrinkled hands were firmly on her hips, and her trademark, familiar scowl could not have been more pronounced. 

“-and I would’ve expected you three to have grown past such childish behavior, but clearly it’s quite beyond anyone’s power to take the trouble out of a trio of troublemakers, sentient warheads or not!”

Akko peeked out the corner of her eye at Sucy, who looked back, bored. Between them, Lotte looked as distressed as she did every time they got yelled at. Slowly and hesitantly, Akko raised a hand.

“O-okay so it’s a little messed up. But it’s just a tiny scratch, so it’s no big deal!”

“No big deal? The sacred Nine Witches’ Hall, broken into! The trust of the magic community placed in us, violated! One of our oldest, most valuable magic implements, chipped! Chipped beyond repair!”

“To be fair…it’s not like you couldn’t take a little bit of super glue and-“

“Miss Kagari! Do you have something else to add?”

Akko’s face pinched up like she ate a lemon. “…no, professor.”

“I should hope not! Allow me to give you some free advice that I expect all three of you to take to heart.”

Not content to just go off on them, the professor leaned in closer, and made absolutely sure they heard the next words that came out of her mouth.

“Take some pride in your heritage as witches!”

Akko winced.

“Especially you two, Miss Mambavaran and Miss Jansson!” Finnelan said. “The artifacts of the Nine Olde Witches are sacred, a part of our very culture as those who follow in their footsteps. I would’ve hoped you would have some respect for that! For our birthright!”

Akko immediately glowered. She bit into her lower lip to stop herself from saying something back. 

Heritage.  

Why did they always have to phrase it like that? Finnelan might as well have spit the word for how venomous Akko heard it. What, like she didn’t count?

Finnelan narrowed her eyes. “Are you listening, Miss Kagari? You do want to be perceived as an authentic, capable witch some day, don’t you?”

Perceived? 

“…yes professor,” she gritted out. Her frown deepened.

Finnelan went right back to talking about proper behavior and conduct, and it was crystal clear that she didn’t have a clue what she was saying. What did she know about being perceived as a witch? Especially after all the hard work Akko put into unlocking the Words and reviving magic itself. That wasn’t enough to be perceived now?

And where did she get off, singling her out in front of Lotte and Sucy? Just because she wasn’t the daughter of some witch didn’t mean she wasn’t still here in front of her.

“Actually,” a voice called from behind her, making the professor turn. “The fault lies with me, in this case.”

Akko’s face lit up. As did her pulse. 

Diana Cavendish, poised and pretty as ever, could catch Finnelan off-balance with just her presence alone. She gave a quick, kind look to Akko. She quickly hid it, to talk to Finnelan, but it was there just long enough for her to see.

“Our group was in close proximity to very ancient magic from the Nine themselves. I was the one who suggested we look into an artifact from them so that we may understand it better.”

“You- you encouraged these three to break into the Nine Witches’ Hall?”

“Of course not. As a descendant of Beatrix, I had suggested we investigate something of my ancestral home, but I suppose one cannot blame them for making use of resources here on campus, don’t you agree?”

Oh. 

Akko’s shoulders slumped. More heritage. More blood. 

Professor Finnelan’s eyes widened. “Miss Cavendish, you’re not saying that the magic of the Nine Olde Witches could’ve had some…adverse effect?”

“Perish the thought. But we know very little of the magic from that age. I thought it might be prudent to ensure there were no potential side effects.”

“Goodness! I- I hadn’t even considered…that’s quite wise of you, Miss Cavendish! But nonetheless, one of the most ancient staffs we have…”

“It’s a shame to see my ancestor’s staff damaged,” she agreed somberly. “As it was my idea…I believe it only fair that I share whatever their punishment is. I had only wanted to protect my fellow students.”

Professor Finnelan’s face grew paler with every passing word, but Diana didn’t let up for a second.

“I’m sure Lady Beatrix prizes safety and health over any of her old knick-knacks, but that doesn’t mean my actions have been-“

“O-oh please!” Finnelan cried, flustered. “Please, that won’t be necessary, Miss Cavendish!”

“Are you certain? I would not wish to be a bad influence.”

“Of course! Of course! You were simply doing a good deed, how can I punish you for…for helping keep Luna Nova safe? Why, we should be thanking you! You may get along with the rest of your evening, I insist!”

Diana bowed her head slightly. “That’s extremely generous of you, Professor.”

Finnelan turned to the Red Team. “And next time you have a concern like this, I expect you to inform us before you do anything!”

Lotte and Sucy dutifully recited another round of yes, professor, and Akko clenched her fists and tried to look like she meant it. 

She wondered if it showed through her grimace.

The Red Team wasted no time getting out of there before Finnelan could change their mind. Diana quickened her pace to walk next to Akko, and once she was confident enough that Finnelan was well out of sight, she flipped her hair back confidently.

“Thanks, Diana…” Akko said glumly.

“This is the last time I’m covering for you.”

“That’s just what you said last time too,” Sucy grinned wickedly. “That was a heck of a lie from you of all people, though.”

Lotte, still somewhat shyly, butt in. “It’s not…entirely a lie. Diana and I were actually discussing it the other day. Just as a theory!”

Diana nodded. “It’s rather unprecedented. The last time Yggdrasil existed on earth, no one had any idea what bacteria was. There certainly could’ve been ramifications they hadn’t known about.”

Judging from Lotte’s slow turn, they clearly had this argument before. “Maybe…but I've been around spirits and Ley Lines all my life though. I think we’d already know about any negative effects by now, right?”

“Perhaps, but Ley Lines were always far weaker than the full Yggdrasil. It could be prudent to consider dosages.”

Sucy slithered into the conversation, snickering. “There’s a four letter word why she’s so worried, Lotte. Or a six, if she’s feeling especially formal.” 

“N-now I’m certain I have no idea what you’re talking about. Besides, I was up there as well.”

“But you’re not really concerned about your health, are you?”

“Sucy…” Lotte sighed.

“For your information I…!” Diana paused. “…can be concerned about more than one thing, thank you very much.”

Sucy grinned, baring pointed teeth. “Look, she’s not even denying it.”

The two had stopped to talk theory, and Sucy stopped to snark at them. But all three noticed when Akko kept right on walking. One by one, they all fell silent and watched her. 

Akko felt like someone had grabbed her by the gut and started twisting it. She was barely paying attention to where she was going, mostly just focused on trying not to blow up.

It was Diana who spoke up first. “Akko?”

“Hm?”

“Are you alright?”

“Oh, yeah, it’s just…” Akko whipped around to face the others. “Man, Finnelan is such a creep! Can you believe her?”

Diana arched her brow dryly. “You’ve known me for over a year at this point. I'm not sure why you say that and expect me to agree.”

“I’m talking about her whole ‘Take pride in your heritage as witches’ thing. Why did she have to phrase it like that anyway?! It’s so-!” She bitterly kicked up some dirt, groaning in disgust. “Just nasty. It’s not like everyone in this stupid school is part of a witch family…”

“…Actually, it’s just you,” Sucy said.

“Well, what about you? You’re an orphan, right? Doesn’t it ever make your skin crawl when people act like only your birth mom counts?”

“No one really says that,” Sucy shrugged. “Besides, Ramzan is a witch anyway.”

“But you know what I mean!”

Lotte smiled placatingly. “You shouldn’t let the professor get to you like that. She didn’t mean it…a-at least, not in that sense.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Akko crossed her arms. “Always kinda hoped she’d change her tune once I did something impressive enough, but I guess some people are just…just-!”

She huffed, blowing her bangs upward in a breath of hot air.

“It’ll be okay,” Lotte said. Her face supportive and kind, but her tone just a bit too light for Akko to know if she actually understood.

“Sure,” Akko waved her off. “What does Finnelan know anyway? I guess being inclusive wasn’t invented until a few centuries after she was born…”

“T-that’s the kind of thing that gets us in detention all the time, you know…”

In between all three of them, Diana’s eyes were flipping between all of them, trying to follow the conversation, to no real luck. She finally settled her gaze on Akko.

“I’m…not certain I understand your problem.”

“Not you too, Diana!”

“I hadn’t known you ever had any reservations regarding…the fact your family isn’t magically gifted. You were always so confident about it not mattering, so I just assumed…”

Akko pressed her lips together tightly.

She wasn’t exactly wrong. But she also still didn’t know, mostly because Akko hadn’t managed to tell her yet. And ever since the missile…

Atsuko had decided to tell Diana the second they touched down, with the roar of rocket exhaust and the cheers of the other New Nine Witches rattling in her ears. It was the first of many perfect moments. Because for the first time, they felt close enough that Akko wanted her to know. She was overflowing with gratitude, admiration, and she wanted to tell her. 

She just…held off because they were both tired, and celebrating magic was more important.

She and Diana had been practically glued to each other ever since, which had been awesome, the best days of her life, even if it was filled with imperfect moments. And one day of putting it off turned into two. Which turned into two weeks. 

And then three, four…

Diana glanced at Lotte and Sucy, before turning back to Akko. “I apologize, have I…overstepped my bounds?”

“What? You’re fine! You’re really fine!” Akko said, before her brain caught up with her mouth. “N-not like fine fine, I’m not talking about that, but I mean I guess you are. B-but that’s nothing to do with- um, anything.”

Akko clapped her hands to really put a big old period on that sentence. Diana stared at her a moment, before finally her face settled in quiet amusement. She didn’t quite chuckle, but she let out a quiet noise that could’ve been.

And it was crazy how different she looked, now that she wasn’t all icy and looking down her nose at people. Her eyes were so gentle, and her expression had since melted into something so tender and picturesque, like the smile of a movie star…

Suddenly Akko’s throat went dry.  

No way. There was no way she was going to say something here. She was way too much of a ball of mixed emotions right now, plus Lotte and Sucy being here would make her feel all pressured. She’d probably flub it, ruin Diana’s mood. 

So Akko let her think it was about family. Just for now, to see how she’d answer. That was all. 

“But…you get it, right Diana?” She swallowed. “Isn’t it just- just creepy and weird to say that because you were born this way, you can do magic, and because you were born there, you can’t?”

Diana mulled it over for a moment, but she didn’t exactly look moved.

“That is a pretty reductive viewpoint…but at the same time, I am a descendant of Beatrix myself, I have to take a certain level of pride in that.”

Akko deflated. “Oh…you do, don’t you…?”

“Is…something wrong with that?”

“No! No, I…” Akko tried to smile. “You gotta make your family proud, that makes sense. That was your dream. Er, am I allowed to say that in front of-?”

“Oh, of course,” Diana blinked. “I’ve never made any secret of that.”

“I just wasn’t sure if you were okay with them knowing.”

“That’s…surprisingly considerate of you.”

Her lips upturned in a small, but graceful smile. Akko rubbed her arm awkwardly, but matched her with a lopsided grin anyway. It was almost unfair, how she always had that soft, ridiculously pretty expression…

She could look at that smile forever… 

“We are still here.” Sucy interrupted. “If you two are done making out with your eyeballs, or whatever this is.”

“Sucy let them have this,” Lotte hissed.

Diana flushed. “In any case…” she cleared her throat, “I might not be as much of an open book as you, but I have no shame in who I’m meant to be.”

“An open book, yeah…” Akko chuckled, ignoring the pit in her stomach. “Listen, thanks for saving my butt from Finnelan- our butts. I just remembered something I gotta do, so...I’ll see you later, okay? Bye, Diana!”

Akko sped off before anyone, including her, could say anything else. Diana could only watch her go, looking more than a little lost.

And behind her, Sucy and Lotte both exchanged a knowing, worried glance.

~~

Akko pressed the pillow deeper into her face. She was on her bed, with her legs curled up into her chest, in much the same pose as a dead spider. And she groaned miserably like she was in physical pain. 

“What’s wrong with me today? I made myself look so dumb back there!”

Sucy, meditating on her side of the room, lazily peeked open an eye. “So what? It’s not like that’s anything new for you.”

“Ha ha. You know, that’s not funny at all!”

“Oh, that’s not the joke here.”

Akko pulled the pillow down just far enough for her glare to be seen.

Why was it bothering her so much today? She had been totally happy just a few hours ago, and now all she wanted to do was pull the covers over her head and not move for the rest of the week. 

And why was that stupid word still rattling against the inside of her skull? Heritage. 

It was so unfair that she could be okay- better than okay, living the life she had always dreamed of- and then with just one word, she was thrown right back onto all those painfully awkward days at her old schools. Like the past 10 years of her life were for nothing. 

Stupid Finnelan. Stupid backwards witch society.

Her legs flopped down, and she stared at the bottom of Lotte’s bunk. “Why are witches so weird about biology…?”

Lotte was sitting next to her. Her eyes glanced over at the desk drawer, where Akko kept her bottles. “So then, this actually is about…?”

“Yeah, it’s about that! I just…” She sighed. “I just don’t get it! Why is it so important? What, the only part of witches that’s actually magic is…is your blood? Not your brain or anything you actually do?”

“I don’t think that,” Lotte said quietly. “And I bet Diana doesn’t either.”

Akko flushed, and pulled the pillow down over her face harder. “Don’t even talk to me about her right now…”

Sucy peeked open her eye again. “Is today another one of those days?”

“No…”

Lotte immediately panicked. “Oh! If- if you’re feeling bad, we…we could find something to do, like we could-“

Akko groaned. “No, really, I’m fine. It's not like that. I don't feel that bad, I just wanna…” 

She fell silent for a long moment, before pulling the pillow down and tossing it aside with a heavy sigh.

“I really wanna figure out how to tell Diana. Like…come out to her, and stuff.”

“I thought you said you were going to do it yesterday?”

“I was gonna. But Diana said she was- uh, well, she was just kinda talking about something personal and I didn’t wanna make it about me. You know how hard it is to get her to open up.”

“Not like you,” Sucy drawled. “Happy two month procrastination anniversary, by the way.”

“Hey…”

“What Sucy means is,” Lotte cut in. “It’s really not like you to wait so long to do something.”

“Gimme a break! This is important! Super important! I mean for one thing, I…” Akko chewed on her lower lip. “I think Diana might like me too?”

Lotte and Sucy exchanged a glance. “You think?” Lotte said. 

“She’s only been making an excuse to see you every single day since February,” Sucy added.

“It’s not that simple, I-!” Akko sat up and thumped her head on Lotte’s bunk. “Ow - I mean what if I do it wrong? I really don’t know what I’m doing or- or what she’s gonna say, or what!”

“I’m surprised at you,” Lotte smiled lightly. “I thought you of all people wouldn’t think there was a wrong way to love.”

“But…what about after?”

“What about it? I’m sure she’s going to feel the same. You won’t know until you try!”

If it was anything else, if it was even just confessing to Diana about her feelings, Akko would agree. She probably would’ve even done it by now. But it wasn’t about her feelings, or her family or her heritage. This was about her. And that made it terrifying.

“…guys, what if after I come out…she doesn’t…like it?”

Lotte fell silent at that. Even Sucy stopped, unfolded her legs and turned to look at Akko fully. Her shoulders hunched nervously. The extra attention, especially to this part of her life, hit a little close to home, in a way that made her extra conscious.

“I’m just…I keep wondering what she’s gonna think? Is she gonna think it’s weird or…or that I should’ve told her earlier? Like it’s not what she signed up for, right? What if she’s…disappointed?”

Lotte frowned. “What? She’s not going to be like that. I’m sure she’s not a bad person.”

“No no no, she’s a great person! But I’m just saying it’s not- I mean there’s a difference between being accepting and dating, right? Isn’t it kinda natural to be let down by something like this…?”

“Akko…” Lotte sighed. “She’s really smitten with you! She’s not going to think it’s strange at all. You’re going to tell her, and Diana’s going to be Diana and love you so much.”

“Oh my god…” Akko covered her face with her hand, and then in the same motion ran it through her hair to the back of her neck. “I just don’t know what to do. Because she's so…so amazing, I just really wanna make her happy…”

“Then tell her that. I’ll bet she would be over the moon to call you her girlfriend.”

It was meant to be teasing. To fluster her a little, get her out of this funk. Akko hugged her knees to her chest, trying to look even smaller.

“Do you think…if I tell her, and if we get together…she’s gonna wish for something different later…?”

Sucy responded before Lotte did. “We can talk in circles all day. But in the end, you just need to do it. And I cannot believe I’m the one having to tell you that.”

“I know, I know. I guess I’m a little…intimidated. That’s all.”

“Either pressure yourself to do it, or stop pressuring and making yourself feel worse. No one said you have to tell everyone.”

“I…guess that’s true,” Akko admitted, pulling her legs in tighter.

It was a good point. Akko was always sort of shocked by how open people were about this sort of thing on this side of the world. Not in a bad way, of course, it was awesome to be proud, but still, shocking. And it was why none of the other professors knew, besides Ursula. There were definitely some that talked way too much about being a fine lady to be a good idea. 

She and Diana had a good thing going right now. She wouldn’t mind if it just…stayed that way. She glanced over at the Chariot poster on the wall next to her, with her dazzling wink and boundless confidence.

Then again…

Slowly and carefully, kicked her legs over the side of the bed, and stood up. “Okay,” she exhaled. “Okay okay okay. I’m gonna go try to find her.”

Just as she slipped on her shoes, her roommate called out. “Before you go? You got this, girl.”

Akko paused, and looked at Sucy for a long moment.

“…Did that hurt to say?”

“Immensely. I’ll survive.”

“Thanks, Suce.” Akko smiled, and closed the door behind her.

~~

She paced through the academy halls like she was trying to outwalk her own thoughts. She muttered to herself, quiet enough that no one else could actually hear her. Considering she was repeating herself, it was probably a good thing. 

“It’s obvious she likes me, right? I mean I just…needed someone else to confirm it, but she likes me! So let’s just go with it and tell her.”

She meandered down the stairs, catching the eye of a few other students, which she paid little attention to.

“No, I can’t just blurt this out. Doesn’t she deserve something special after everything?”

The first floor hallway was mostly empty, now that it was late in the evening. She continued to talk to herself.

“Ugh, this would be so much easier if there was a mind reader spell or something! Wait, is there? No, what am I thinking, she does not need to see what I was like when I was 11!”

The root of the problem was simple; Atsuko Kagari could never quite help being who she was. 

Her old teachers never liked that fact, that was for sure. All throughout middle school, she could tell with absolute certainty that they didn’t get what she was meant for. They didn’t like her dressing out of uniform, they didn’t like her being loud and opinionated. And they especially didn’t like her saying she was going to be a witch. 

Saying she was a witch. 

Most of her professors didn’t say anything, confident she’d eventually grow out of whatever weird personal choice this was in a year or two. They were content to just stare, to not comment. Her old English professor had practically tried to flunk her just because she wouldn’t drop it.

She stopped at the trophy case that hung from the academy wall. 

She stared at the glass, behind which sat all the awards and accomplishments of some of the best witches this school ever had to offer. Promising young ladies with their futures so sure ahead of them. The kinds who anyone would be lucky to know.

…and she used her reflection to fuss with her hair. 

“Wonder what you’d say now, Souji-senpai…” He’d probably have a heart attack, right after another lecture on how her conjugation was terrible.

Amanda waltzed over next to the trophy case, and leaned cooly against the wall. She cracked a soda (it might’ve been juice? She didn’t recognize the label) and then just observed Akko attempting to fix her own hairstyle from reflection alone, vaguely amused.

“Lose your compact? Or was the vanity mirror just not enough to admire your full vis-ahge in?”

“Hey Amanda.” 

“W’sup, Akko. You didn’t wave back to me.”

Akko straightened. “Wait, what? You waved to me?”

“On the stairs,” Amanda smirked into her drink. “What were you doin’, talking t’yourself?”

Akko went back to her reflection, flushing slightly. “Just…trying to psyche myself up! I need to talk to Diana really quick.”

“Geez, you are obsessed with her.”

“I am not!” Akko argued. “…besides, everyone in this school gets all awestruck by her, it’s not just me.”

Amanda scoffed, more amused than anything. “Yeah, everyone. You always did go red when she was around. I just miss when it was you bein’ ticked off and not…blatantly fruity.”

“Yeah…”

Atsuko never forgot her first impression of Diana. Here she was, finally at the school of her dreams, thousands of miles away from all her awful teachers and her classmates who snickered at every voice crack.

And there…there was Diana. The living embodiment of a true, beautiful witch. All the things Akko wanted to be. She was so aloof, so elegant and beautiful. So distant. So untouchable.

Of course she wanted to throttle her. 

“…but things change!” Akko declared. “She’s so much nicer now. Aw man, you should’ve seen her when we were up in space. She was just so cool…”

“Like I said, fruitier than a farmer's market. Good for you two though.”

Akko took a long hard look at her reflection. She hadn’t been lying when she said it wasn’t one of those days. But at the same time, her gangly proportions left her feeling something she couldn’t quite put a name to. Not quite upset, not quite satisfied. 

“Hey Amanda…am I a tomboy?”

“That a joke?”

“What? No, I’m serious.”

“Dude, are you kiddin’ me? Look at yourself.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Like I get in trouble all the time! And people always tell me I eat too messy or that I talk like a boy.”

“Oh yeah, you’re a huge rebel. I remember you snuck into a party, and you wore a pink dress with prissy little bows. OoOoh.”

“Eh?! How do you know about that?”

“You bragged about it over lunch!” Amanda threw her arms out. “Don’t think I forgot that you got me all worked up over you getting kicked out only for it to be the pinkest princess thing I ever heard in my life.”

“Getting kicked out isn’t pink princess!”

“See, I was expectin’ you got kicked out because of something like…hard liquor, or you punched a guy out. And no, Sucy’s little fruity bee doesn’t count.”

What in the world kind of parties did Amanda go to? She wasn’t sure she wanted to be invited…

“I hit Andrew’s dad in the face with a flyswatter, does that count?”

Amanda seriously, genuinely considered this piece of information. “Yeah ok that’s pretty good. You’re still way too much of a girly girl though, Akko. Sorry.”

Akko regarded her reflection again.

“Yeah…I guess I am. Thanks Amanda.” She let out a small laugh. “Guess that’s what I get for letting teachers put the idea in my head!”

“Couldn’t be me! I got three more years of school, and then I’m forgettin’ every single thing I ever learned.”

Amanda got off the wall, deciding it was high time to get back to…whatever she had been doing, casually tossing the can over her shoulder as she left.

“Right out the other ear! Not a lasting impression t’be had! It’s the way to be, Akko! I’m tellin’ ya!”

Akko watched the can fly through the air, before landing right on the rim of the waste bin. It teetered in and out, and then promptly landed on the floor.

And it was there she spotted the old issue of the school newspaper, with her pictured on the front page, standing next to Diana. In a glowing article about the most impressive thing two witches have ever done.

As Akko kicked the can into the bin, a hopeful smile made its way up her face.

~~

She could do this. She could do this.

What did her teachers know? Some of them said she wouldn’t even be allowed in the building, and here she was anyway. A total rejection of the magic world’s weird, gross fixations. 

Heck, she couldn’t help but be a little smug. Who saved magic? Certainly not someone who was a witch by blood or body, that’s who.

…the newspaper was in the waste bin because it was super old news by now, but it had been very exciting when Wangari passed it out. Souji-senpai was still 0 for 2 on his predictions, and she could say that to his face in English too.

She could do this. She could do this.

The Blue Team was on their way back from an elective class. Hannah was carrying three books, Barbara was carrying three books, and Diana carrying none.

Akko grinned, and immediately ran forward to the walk next to them, immediately making Hannah jump back.

“Heeey, Diana!”

“Oh! Hello, you.”

Again with that immediate soft smile. That light rosiness of her cheeks. How in the world did Akko get so lucky to catch the attention of a girl like her?

Diana turned to her roommates. “Girls, do you mind?“

“Ugh, seriously?” Hannah rolled her eyes.

“Not at all!” Barbara quickly assured her. “Hannah and I will just head back to the room, which we have no problem with at all, right Hannah?”

Diana held out her arms. “Now will you finally let me carry my-?”

Hannah rolled her eyes at Barbara, but nonetheless refused to give up the books. “No way, it’s fine! Just don’t take forever! We don’t want you to overdo it.”

Barbara narrowed her eyes at Akko. “She has patrol duty tonight, so you better not keep her too long, she needs time to rest!”

Diana made a pained face. “You…make it sound like she’s dogsitting me.”

“I mean it, Akko!” Barbara pointed to her eyes, and then back at her. “We expect her back soon!”

“Girls.”

Despite Hannah’s protest, Barbara dragged the two of there as fast as she could, grinning way too wide for it to be authentic, leaving Diana and Akko alone in the hallway. Diana was trying not to blush. 

Diana cleared her throat. “I…apologize that you had to see that.”

“How long has that been a thing?”

“Oh don’t be mistaken, it is far preferable to how they used to act around me. It’s…just the most bizarre thing to get used to. This fretting side of them is just perplexing.”

“Are they gonna call a parent-teacher conference on me if I bother you until sundown?”

“You are never a bother,” Diana replied. “But I take it you managed to take care of your things then?”

“My what now?”

“You said you had business to attend to earlier.”

“Oh! Right, yeah, that’s…almost done. I was just thinking of you, and I wanted to ask you something.”

Diana giggled lightly, and it was genuinely unfair how her laugh alone could make Akko’s heart beat faster. She was the witch who helped save magic. She could totally do this. 

“Well, how fortuitous for me that you have nothing better to do with your time.”

She glanced over her shoulder, making sure the hallway was empty. Confident that they were alone, she took a breath and blurted out her question.

“Do you ever wonder if you’d be as good at magic, if you weren’t a Cavendish lady?”

“That is…quite the quandary. Is that really what’s been on your mind?”

“Sorta,” she said, not elaborating further.

Diana brought her hand to her chin, thinking about her answer. Akko couldn’t help but watch. Even her hands were pretty. Slender, soft looking. 

Not at all like Akko’s.

“I won’t deny having access to my family’s resources did give me a...considerable advantage in practicing my craft. Few witches get to have a Sorcerer's Stone in their own backyard.”

“Yeah, that must’ve made everything easier! It…it must’ve been so nice, to be a Cavendish…”

Diana frowned, looking at her sideways. 

“I suppose…”

“You know, when I was just a little…” Akko paused, and then chuckled quietly.  “…kid, I’d wish I could be the daughter in a real magic family. Just sometimes. And we’d go on adventures with Chariot…do magic…b-but I guess that’s sorta fitting for me.”

“I don’t know. I always believed it gave you a good perspective on this culture. You’ve brought along some much needed changes. I’m certain the spirit of Vajarois rests far easier now.”

“R-right! Sure, believe me! I think if something needs to change, you should change it! That’s…that’s kinda what I wanted to talk about…”

“Yes?”

She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. Did she move naturally so gracefully? Was she just born knowing all these things Atsuko had practiced and failed at in her childhood bedroom late at night?

Akko blushed. 

She could do this she could do this.

“I…so there are…rules, right? And when I came here I…really had to relearn all of them, right? Does that make sense?”

“You mean, the academy rules.”

“No! No, I mean, maybe I should learn those, but I mean, when I came here, like to the west! You guys…do things really differently, and…I had to learn…the way I’m- we’re supposed to be as…you know-“

Akko sucked in her lower lip, and paced in a quick circle before facing Diana again. Her face was incredibly red. 

Diana stared at her a moment. She took a quiet breath. 

“I’m afraid I don’t follow entirely…but there’s some emotions I don’t think you can do wrong, provided you mean it…”

Her voice too. Perfect. The kind Akko would’ve begged for. That dreadful, twisty-tied feeling in the pit of her stomach gnawed louder and louder.

“S-sure. Right. Some. But what I’m trying to say is, I was born really… no I mean, I was- I had to learn how to not- like you guys are really open about…certain things, and…I- I want to be that, but I really want you to be…ughhh.”

“You can say whatever you wish to say,” Diana said, in a hushed voice. 

She didn’t get it. The smartest witch in school, and she didn’t get it. And worst of all, she sounded so hopeful. 

“I…I’m not sure if I should. I really like you, I don’t want to…to…” 

“Then, m-may I?”

Before Akko could answer, Diana closed her eyes intently. When she spoke, it sounded practiced to perfection, knowing the end of what she wanted to say before she ever even opened her mouth.

“I have experienced quite a few changes myself lately. But these past two months have been…the best of my life. And I never would’ve been able to experience them, had it not been for you, and your bravery.”

Her eyes remained closed, for whatever reason, but her hand lifted, and motioned towards Akko’s own. It was just a little shy, the way her pinky stretched out, hoping to loop around someone else’s and pull them closer.

And Akko couldn’t quite believe herself when she pulled her own hand away. But just looking at them side by side, it looked so…so gangly and awkward next to hers. Why were even her hands wrong now? They were fine just minutes ago. Everything was fine, her hair, her voice, and all of a sudden it all felt so wrong, why was it all so wrong, wrong, wrong ?

Diana’s smile strained when she couldn’t find another hand, but rolled her wrist to play it off. “Erm...my point being, I’m happier now than I have ever believed I deserved to be. I feel blessed to have you in my life.”

She was so happy. 

“I…”

Okay there was no way she was doing this. Why bring down the mood? Why make it weird for her? She was happy now. She deserved to be happy.

“I might throw up…”

Diana’s eyes snapped open. “Wh- Akko?!”

“Sorry!” Akko bolted upright and forced out a laugh. “N-not really, obviously! Pfft, that’s so gross! Haha!”

“What-?”

“Sorry, I really didn’t mean to interrupt, Diana! I’m just…I’m amazed you would actually feel that way about me! It’s…oh gosh, it’s so amazing to think! Amazing!”

“After everything we shared together, how could- are you certain you’re okay?”

“Of course! Nothing’s wrong, really! My head’s a little scrambled today, but I’m good! I’m goooood! I- I’m just flustered! I really can’t believe- I mean someone like me made you happy! Waow!”

Diana just stared at her. The disappointment on her face couldn’t have been more obvious. 

“I…see.” 

“Please don’t feel bad!” Akko clasped her hands together. “R-really, I feel the same way! Diana, you’ve made me so happy and you’ve done so much for me, and I’ve never felt this way about someone before, I’m just- ugh I can’t speak today!” 

She ran her hand through her hair.

“Diana, you’re so so great, and I feel the same way about everything you said, but about you, and I just need a little time to knock all the dust bunnies outta my head, and I will get right back to you! I promise!”

She left with that. Left the girl of her dreams hanging. With the promise of hitting her head until dust fell out. 

~~

She did her best to walk normally through the halls. 

Of course Atsuko had wanted what Diana had when they first met. Why else would it be so frustrating to be her rival? To constantly fail to live up to that expectation she set so high? There was never any question who Diana Cavendish was, no matter where she went, or what she was wearing, or how she spoke or moved or ate or slept or sat. 

Atsuko so desperately wanted that.

And she did try. All the things she tried, right after her growth spurt hit. She would sit demurely, she would speak softly, she would try to embody the humble spirit of a graceful flower.

And it was 

so 

boring.  

But if she didn’t do it, the absolute best she could ever hope for was for them to call her a tomboy. And how often did she even get that? Finnelan, Holbrooke, the whole stupid magic world insisted on a binary. You were a witch, or you weren’t. You were magically gifted and you had the lineage to prove it, or you weren’t. 

You were a proud spellcaster who did not share her magic with the other people, or you weren’t.

You were Diana Cavendish. Or you weren’t. 

She had all of those things. 

And she liked Akko. But she was so traditional and so built into the culture of witchcraft. Even now, when there were people in her hometown that accepted her for her , she still wondered what name they thought of her as. What would Diana, who had everything and could be with anyone, say?

“Akko! Akko!” 

Lotte ran over, so clearly ready for some juicy gossip and sappy love stories.

“Did you manage to do it? What’d she say?”

“I talked to Amanda?” Akko shrugged. “She gave me some good advice. Nothing really happened with Diana today…told her I’d get back to her. Go me.”

Lotte’s face fell. “Oh no…I’m so sorry. Do you need anything? Please don’t tell me you’re blaming yourself.”

“It’s alright!” Akko said, forcing a smile onto her face. “I’ll get through it. It all passes eventually, right?”

She didn’t realize how much she meant it until the words left her mouth. Maybe…maybe it was for the best that she didn’t end up coming out. Akko’s job as a witch was to spread happiness. That was always her dream. She liked Akko, and that was good enough.

And hey, she beat the binary. Atsuko was a witch. She was undeniably a witch. She knew, she’d never be anything else but a witch, and no one could take that from her.

It was just that Diana was so...beautiful.

Everything about how she looked was perfect. Her complexion, the curves of her face, her absolutely gorgeous hair, everything. She was the picture of womanhood. No one could compare.

Akko’s shoulders slumped. 

No one.

~~

“Metamorphie Faciesse!”

Poof.

“Metamorphie Faciesse!”

Poof.

“Ugh…nothing’s working! Metamorphie...Faciesse!”

Poof.

Poof.

Poof.

She growled in frustration, but since she had ended up in her blubbery merman form again, it came out bubbly and gargled. She flopped her…fins, over the edge of the flight deck and set her wand down with a long sigh.

It was nice to be up on top of the tower, at least. Overlooking the entire school, about as far from all the other girls as she could possibly be. Especially since students weren’t allowed up here at night..

The first night after Yggdrasil had been revived, the view of the Milky Way in the night sky was bathed in an iridescent green glow. Quite literally, magic in the air, settling in after being gone for millennia, getting its bearings before it returned to…whatever magic dimension the actual Yggdrasil tree was in right now.

That emerald haze had faded a little bit, day by day, and most people predicted that by the end of the month, it would be gone.

For just a few more weeks, everyone could look up in the heavens and see the amazing thing the little witch Atsuko did. She wanted to come up here tonight too, and get one more look that wasn’t from her dorm window, before it was gone forever. 

“And I’m a fish right now…” Her voice was a quiet, empty singsong. “Big old, silly fish, that’s me. And I’m happy…”

She didn’t know how this relationship would work out in the long run, but she’d figure it out. 

She didn’t know if- or when- Diana would find out, but until then, Akko would enjoy every second of this relationship. And if- when- Diana lost interest or if she wanted a real girlfriend, then Akko could say she had at least made her happy in the meantime. 

That was all she wanted. The next time they saw each other, they’d be jokey and happy and mushy. And that was all she really wanted out of a relationship.

Poof.

She sighed as she looked at her now human hand against the hazy, starry sky. At the very least, comparing them to her fish form made her regular old fingers look slender by comparison.

“Goodness. I haven’t seen you up here in quite a while.”

Akko jumped with a shriek. 

She teetered on the edge of her seat, and immediately found herself looking straight down the enormous tower. Her arms windmilled in an attempt to regain her balance.

An ethereal green hand plucked the hood of her tunic. With a small, casual tug, it pulled her right back onto more solid ground, where she promptly fell over.

Diana put her hand back down to her side with a small smile. “Your flying may have improved in the past month, but I still think you would do better to have a broom before you go leaping off the tower, don’t you?”

Akko rolled over onto her back, “Was...was that a joke? You told a joke?”

“I’m afraid I haven’t the faintest what you’re referring to,” Diana said. “What are you doing up here?”

“Oh, just…practicing, I guess. Doing transformation magic.”

“I don’t believe I’ve met anyone as single-mindedly focused on transformation magic as you.”

She sat up, with a grin. “How can anyone not love transformation magic? You just think it, and poof! Turned into whatever you can dream of, no waiting and no fuss!”

“I’m not arguing against its appeal, you silly girl. Just don’t be so focused on one magic you lose sight of the fundamentals.” 

“Oh, I’m sorry. I seem to recall that one magic stopping some missiles from blowing us into chunks.”

“My chunks thank you, Akko.”

“…Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that word.”

“Neither have I, and with any luck, I won’t again.” 

Diana walked over and sat next to her, hanging her feet over the edge right alongside Akko’s own. Akko found herself a little taken aback at how casual the motion was.

“…Akko?”

“Yeah?”

“I know I can be closed off. And I…will absolutely not judge you, if there’s something you want to keep private. But you are so incredibly dear to me. I promise, no matter what it is, I will do my best to understand.”

She played with her pinky finger in her lap, not looking anywhere in particular. “I know. Thank you, for…you know, coming to sit with me, even after I wigged out back there.”

“These things happen. I know you wouldn’t do that intentionally. You’re not that person.”

“I…I just…I wanna say didn’t mean what I said back there, about my family. Mom and Dad are amazing, they’re so supportive, and they let me be who I wanna be. I wouldn’t want to trade them for anything.”

“Your parents sound like kind people. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“They are! They helped me a lot. I don’t…I don’t really wish I was born differently, you know? I’m so glad I can be who I am. Some days it’s not super easy, but I really am.”

Akko swallowed, hard. Was she doing this now? Did she have a choice?

“A-and I’m really glad you like me too! I…I dunno where I’d be if you hadn’t come back for me. You’re really dear to me too. And- and I really…I really want you to l-like me. You’re probably t-the coolest person I’ve ever met. I’m just really-”

“Are you…shaking?”

“What? Am I?”

Akko glanced down, and her hands and legs were plainly quivering. She had felt it, of course she had, but she hadn’t thought it would be visible.

“That’s so weird! I don’t really know what's up with that. Hehee, maybe I’m- I’m cold or something!”

She wasn’t fooling anyone. She had seen a lot of expressions on Diana’s picturesque features in the past two months. Helplessness was a new one.

“Akko, I really don’t understand.”

“I…I just…”

Once she said it, that was it. There’d be no taking it back. And if it wasn’t what Diana wanted, if it made her less attractive, then that was the final word. There’d be nothing else anyone could do, so what happened…happened.

But this was the same witch who saw her there, despondent in the cafe. The same witch who defended her from Daryl, who defended her from Finnelan just this morning. The one who chose her. Even with how badly Akko messed up everything today, Diana trusted her every intention. 

Atsuko had promised herself she would never live a lie again. And she trusted Diana too

“What would you say if I said I wasn’t biologically a witch?”

“As in…your family again…?”

“As in me.”

It took Diana about a minute. 

But slowly the pieces of the fragmented conversations came together in her head. This one. The conversation from the hallway, her reaction to Finnelan, all the little moments. It was obvious when the realization made its way to her eyes. The way they gazed at Akko did indeed change.

“Oh…” They were wide, and reeling. “Oh. Oh, so…so you’re not…?”

Akko turned her head down. “Yeah…I’m not.”

She knew she was rambling, but the words spilt out of her mouth all on their own. 

“Sorry. I didn’t really… plan this? But I knew I should tell you, and I didn’t wanna…lead you on? I didn’t really wanna keep it a secret or anything, but I just kinda liked that people here didn’t think that I was…I was anything but me. I could just hide it, and no one had any reason to care at all, and it was so great.”

Eventually she shut her eyes, and took a deep breath. 

“If...if you want to know...m-my real name is-“

“Stop.” Diana cut her off harshly. “…I already know.”

Akko looked up in panic. How? How could she know? Was it on some official document here at school? Did she somehow learn it in Divination when she read her fortune? Why hadn’t she said anything? What did she think?

Diana picked Akko’s hand off the floor, and held it tightly within both of hers.

“You told me the first day we met. You’re Akko. And you’re going to be the greatest witch since Shiny Chariot. Isn’t that right?”

Diana’s smile, the one she directed at her now, now that she knew, was like nothing like what Atsuko saw on posters or in movies. It wasn’t confident. It wasn’t big, it wasn’t swooning, and it didn’t light up the room. 

It was simple, unsure, and fragile looking. It was small, and no one could see it but them. And it was overflowing with admiration. With genuine, messy, honest, love. 

“If you prefer Atsuko, then I’ll be happy to call you that. But if you want me to keep calling you Akko, like you said that day, I absolutely don’t mind. Your name is beautiful either way.”

Akko couldn’t say anything. She wiped at her eyes with the bottom of her palm, grinning widely.

“You…you really don’t care t-that I’m…?”

Diana squeezed her hand tighter. “Of course I care about that. You are the most…beautiful, wonderful girl I have ever known. How could I hear this, and not be that much more in awe of you…?”

The tears flowed freely, and Akko wasn’t sure if she was crying, or laughing or both. But she felt so deliriously happy. She couldn’t believe that she was so lucky. That someone would be so in awe of her.

“I love you so much.”

Diana’s lips parted. The shade of pink followed the curve of her lips up her cheeks, until her face was all but glowing, in expression and in color.

Akko sniffed, and wiped her eyes, to little effect.

“…Sorry. I shouldn’t have-“

“You always were too impulsive for your own good…”

Diana lifted Akko’s hand, and brought it up to her lips, tenderly kissing her knuckles. Even through the skin on the back of her hand, Akko could still feel how happy she was.

“But I wouldn’t want you any other way.”

Akko threw her arms around her in order to kiss her for real, laughing harder and harder as she tasted Diana’s joy too. It might’ve just been a trick of the light, since neither of them were looking, but for just a second, that green haze in the sky flickered just a little brighter.