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“But what if I’m too old?” Akko cries out and sinks down onto the wooden table with a long theatrical sigh. “What if the perfect opportunity was years ago and I missed it and now it’s too late and just better to give up and accept the current state? Being happy with what I have, y’know?”
She gives Lotte and Amanda a look of desperation, then lets her eyes flicker around the small café, over cozy furniture, alongside the carved wooden panels, out through the windows to the patio filled with golden autumn leafs, and all back again, trying to find a calming anchor, something, anything, but nothing sticks.
Well, maybe the cute little animal figurines on the mugs help a bit. Akko smiles faintly at the small dragon guarding her cup of hot chocolate and takes a huge sip out of it, clutching its handle as if it’s her last lifeline. And maybe it is. Because so far her friends haven’t been of any help with her current dilemma…
“Akko, there’s really no reason to panic yet, you’re twenty-four, not ninety,” Lotte lets out an amused chuckle. “And besides, it’s never too late for love.”
“Easy for you to say…” Akko grumbles and pouts a bit.
“Yes, maybe so…” Lotte dips her head in acknowledgement, a light blush coming to her cheeks as she smiles softly. “But luckily there isn’t a timeline for these sorts of things, so take as long as you need.”
“Nah, you should really hurry up,” Amanda throws in with a wide grin. “Cause in a couple of weeks you’re a quarter century old, which is aaaancient. So better plan your stay in a retirement home soon.” Her eyes sparkle with mischief. “I heard there are plenty good options ‘round here. Even with the fancy lake view and all the other gaudy stuff you can imagine.”
Akko merely frowns and lets out another sigh.
“S’not to your liking?” Amanda raises an eyebrow. “Well, then how ‘bout getting yourself a lovely younger wife who takes care of you? Can really recommend, 10/10, would do again.” She pauses for a second to take a sip of her coffee, lazily leaning back in her chair. "Too bad Diana is the older one, but no worries, we’ll find someone else for ya instead.”
“Amanda!” Lotte sends her a searing glare.
“What?” Amanda gasps in exasperation. “Regretting our marriage already and lookin’ for a younger replacement yourself, now that I’m basically dead, my darlin’?”
“Can’t you be serious for a minute?” Lotte swats Amanda softly and shakes her head, even though her lips curl up slightly.
“I am serious!” Amanda shoots back. “Course not about Akko finding another girlfriend, because Diana would literally kill me and I enjoy life very much, but it’s never too early to invest into the future.”
“Really now?” Lotte eyes her pointedly. “Do I need to remind you that just yesterday you spent all your money on-”
“No, you don’t!” Amanda deflects quickly and clears her throat. “And this is not about me anyway. So…” she tapers off and turns back to Akko. “What’s all the fuss about? It’s just Diana…”
“Just Diana?” Akko growls in a dangerously low tone, her gaze practically piercing through Amanda. “How dare you!? It’s never just Diana. It’s Diana Cavendish, professor of Luna Nova, restorer of magic, greatest member of the nine new witches! Diana, the kindest, prettiest, smartest person in the entire universe! My Diana! And no one will ever compare or replace her and I’ll love her for all eternity!”
“Yeah, yeah, we already know that you're madly in love with the legendary cabbagenette witch, but now you’re just overdoing it…” Amanda waves her hand dismissively, not all that impressed by Akko’s outburst. “What are ya so afraid of? That your beloved doesn’t swoon properly when you deliver your cheesy lil’ speech?”
“Diana’s hair is blonde and not cabbage-colored!” Akko shouts back and jumps up from her chair. “And she likes my speeches, ok?”
“Oh, Akko,” Lotte interrupts them with an amused smile. “Don’t mind Amanda, she’s a secret romantic as well.”
“A-am not!” Amanda protests strongly, but struggles to meet Lotte’s eyes at the same time. “All this sappy lovey-dovey stuff got nothin’ on me!”
“Sure, sure, keep telling that to yourself, my dear,” Lotte’s eyes twinkle as she gives Amanda a little nudge. “By the way, I still have all those sweet letters you wrote to me over the years.”
“As long as you don’t show ‘em to anyone else…” Amanda huffs, blushing quite a bit. “And can we please go back to Akko’s problem now? I’ll be serious this time, promise.”
“Thanks.” Akko nods, taking in a few deep calming breaths, before she sits down again. “What if…” she croaks out, not able to stop her voice from quivering. “What if she’ll be disappointed?”
“Eh?” Amanda sends her a baffled look. “Why the hell would she be disappointed?”
“Look…” Akko clears her throat, nervously tapping her feet. “What if she expects something grand and magnificent and cool and then be disappointed cause it’s not?” She bites her lips, her eyes darting to her half empty mug, then back to her friends. ‘I’m Shiny Akko, goddamnit, I can’t do something ordinary, just wouldn't feel right…”
“Boring? You?” Amanda eyes Akko with a skeptical look. “Even at the Samhain festival back in the good old days you were totally killing it. Like, damn, girl! The performance alone was rad as hell, but no, you just had to go and save that slobbery glibbery old ghost from the sadness curse, too. What nobody else managed to do in over a thousand years. So of course Diana was over the moon, duh.” One corner of her mouth curls up into a playful smile. “Or maybe little Miss Perfect was just jealous that my group was the coolest clean-up squad ever.”
“Bu-”
“No buts!” Amanda intercepts, not letting her get a word in. “Wanna know what Professor Diana said during her lectures a few weeks ago?”
She clears her throat loudly, straightening her back and scrunching her nose, before she begins to proclaim, imitating Diana’s posh accent in the most ridiculous way ever.
“Dear students of Luna Nova, I am utterly devastated and remorseful for this major inconvenience, but I am afraid there is no other solution besides postponing today’s lesson without further notice.”
After a long theatrical sigh and a sad head shake, topped off with a fake sniffle, she goes on with her melodramatic speech.
“You all must know that I would never go to such extreme measures without a legitimate reason, so please let me explain the extraordinary circumstances for this happening: I must depart briefly, otherwise I might not arrive in time for my dazzling wife’s marvelous performance.”
“I'm not her wife!” Akko protests, flushing madly.
“Yet.” Amanda grins slyly.
“And she wouldn’t say it like that in front of her students.” Akko frowns. “Diana’s a professional.”
“Professional,” Amanda snorts. “She’s such a simp, she even handed out flyers for your next show in all of her classes.”
“She did not!”
“Did too!” Amanda sends her a triumphant look. “A very reliable source told me all about it.”
“Wouldn’t say Sucy’s reliable, just cause she temporarily teaches some potion lessons…” Akko pulls a face. “How many students did she kill again? Ten?”
“Not ten. Diana’s exaggerating, I’m pretty sure it had only been two or maybe three, and they’re alive again, so ‘s all good.” Amanda waves Akko’s concerns away. “Anyways. You better stop being such a coward and just propose to your girl already! You already failed the last time!”
“Ok, but that really wasn’t my fault!” Akko protests. “The forecast lied to me! And y’know, the line ‘Will you be my shooting star?’ doesn’t really have the same impact if you can’t see said shooting stars, because it’s fucking overcast!”
“I mean Britain isn't exactly famous for its great weather.” Lotte’s lips twitch up. “Next time try Finland instead? Clear skies, great scenery and even some polar lights, if you’re lucky. What more could you want?”
“Yeah, I was a fool believing that terrible prediction. Best visible meteor shower of the century, suuuure…” Akko lets out the biggest sigh.
“Well, it probably was.” Amanda barks out a laugh.
“Ughh, I hate that you’re right. This country really sucks sometimes...” Akko chucks down the last gulp of her hot chocolate, then gives the mug a slightly sour look, still upset that she’d missed the perfect opportunity.
Not just to propose, but to show Diana the beautiful meteor shower too. She knows how much her girlfriend loves the stars and had been so excited to watch it together with her. But alas, she wasn’t granted that wish. The world’s truly unfair at times.
“Maybe you should’ve used your chance with the proposal potion after all.” Amanda shrugs her shoulders. “At least it kinda worked? Even if its boring name can suck ass.”
“Oh god, please don’t remind me... What was I thinking? Trusting Sucy of all people ?” Akko groans and pulls a grimace. “Of course her idea of a romantic scenery is taken straight out of a horror movie. But did the damn thing really have to summon all those awful creatures too?”
“Eh, you should’ve proposed either way.” Amanda waves her hand.
“Excuse me, I was busy not getting killed by a horde of hungry zombies!?” Akko throws her an offended glare. “Really lucky that I got away without any missing limbs, and even luckier that Diana fell for my early Halloween event excuse.”
“In August?” Lotte asks drily.
“Late August,” Akko defends. “Which is basically autumn, so almost October.”
“She really believes everything you say, huh?” Amanda raises an amused eyebrow.
“I wish! But she always gives me a funny look when I tell her mischievous spirits ate all our snacks…” Akko sticks out her bottom lip in a pretend pout.
“Huh, weird, same thing happened to us too,” Amanda feigns confusion.
“It’s true.” Lotte nods gravely. “A major problem, but so far I only managed to catch one culprit and they were neither small nor a spirit.”
“Akko, don’t listen to her, I’m innocent!” Amanda cries out. “And I have evidence that the small orange one is guilty of this crime instead!”
“Alright, I believe you.” Akko grins. “Under the condition you’ll help me frame a certain blonde one too.”
“Sure, sure.” Amanda’s eyes sparkle in delight. “Together we’ll find so much evidence!”
“Ok, great, thanks. Though maybe we should wait till…after I proposed?” Akko jokes, but at the same moment starts fidgeting again. “Y’know, my next show starts in a couple weeks and I think…then I’ll do it. Write the proposal into the night sky, surrounded by fireworks and flying unicorns!”
She gestures wildly for emphasis, not entirely sure who she's trying to convince. Because what she fails to mention is how the plan had already flopped once.
The worst? This time she has nobody to blame but herself.
It had been the perfect evening, all according to her grand plan, from the flawless weather, the starry sky without a single drop of rain, to the amazing crowd, which had cheered and roared at all the right places. And Diana.
Diana sitting in the first row, wearing a dress so pretty that she had looked like the night sky herself, had taken all of Akko’s breaths away. A miracle that Akko hadn’t collapsed from a lack of oxygen, really. But despite or maybe rather because of that lovely distraction she had managed to outperform herself, her illusions looking more dramatic, her movements seeming more fluent and her fireballs blazing more powerful than ever.
Then at the finale, just when she had been about to unleash the spell for the special firework, the ring patiently waiting in the palm of her hand, Akko’s dumb brain had decided that it would be a so much better idea to just…do nothing instead. End the show like usual.
Like an absolute coward.
A strong shudder runs through Akko’s body as she tries to clear the dreaded memory out of her head. It's all in the past now. The next time will be different.
It has to.
“Akko…” Lotte clears her throat and regards her with such a kind smile that Akko’s almost afraid of what she’s going to say. “I really don’t want to tell you what to do, because that’s always your decision and yours alone, but since you specifically asked for advice…maybe you shouldn’t see your proposal to Diana as one of your performances?”
She taps her fingers onto the table, considering her next words carefully. “I know that Diana loves your shows with all her heart and your plan to propose to her at the finale is really cute and all, but…shouldn’t that be a special moment, for you and Diana alone? Do you really want to share it with the whole world?”
She pauses for a moment, regarding Akko in contemplation, but just when Akko’s about to reply, she raises her hand and continues.
“And as Amanda put it, Diana’s already impressed as hell, so no need for spectacles or fireworks or fancy magics. How about something warm and cozy and quiet instead? Because that can be magical in its own way, too.”
Magical.
But in a different way.
Akko blinks a few times and looks down at her hands, intertwining her fingers and shifting on her chair, needing a minute to let Lotte’s words sink in.
“You really think so?” she eventually asks.
“I do.” Lotte nods. “And I have a suspicion that Diana might agree with the sentiment.”
“Diana probs doesn’t give a fuck about anything as long as it’s you. Hell, I bet she’d even say yes if you’d propose to her with paper rings in the middle of a dumpster...” Amanda adds with a bemused huff. “Maybe you should try? I really wanna see her reaction.”
“Haha, in your dreams…” Akko deadpans and rolls her eyes.
“Come on, don’t be so boring! I’ll even help you out!” Amanda insists.
“Help me out…how, exactly?” Akko gives her a quizzical look.
“Oh, I’m so glad you asked.” Amanda sends her a lopsided grin, then proceeds to rip off a few strips of her napkin, assembling them into something that barely deserves to be called round, much less ring.
“There you go!” She proudly holds out her creation to Akko. “I’ll give you 20 quids if you propose like this.”
“No way!” Akko protests, eying the thing with a scowl.
“I know, I know, you should pay me for my work as a master blacksmith. But don’t worry, for my besties it’s on the house.” Amanda grabs Akko’s hand and forcefully puts the ring in it. “I believe in your believing heart or whatever.”
“A believing heart is your magic,” Akko automatically corrects, a light frown on her face.
“Yeah, like I was sayin’.” Amanda nods.
“No.” Akko blinks in irritation. “It’s -”
“Ahem.” A polite, but decided cough disrupts the discussion. “Are the two of you bothering my dear girlfriend by any chance?”
“Diana! I thought you were still at work.” Akko jumps up quickly and beams brightly as she drinks in Diana’s appearance. But how can she help it if her love looks this pretty? The combination of the elegant professor’s robe and slightly tousled hair is just killer and Akko’s a glad victim.
“Good afternoon, my dear,” Diana hums in that low voice, a lazy smile on her lips, and Akko feels her insights melting.
“Lotte, Amanda.” Diana gives her friends a fond nod too. “And to answer your question, yes, I was indeed. However I could finish my reports quicker than estimated, meaning I have some spare time to join your meeting after all.”
“Glad you could make it.” Lotte greets her with a wave.
“Also we’re not bothering your girlfriend,” Amanda adds. “Just…helping her out with a very special thing, y’know?”
Diana’s eyes move over the group, and of course immediately spots Amanda’s paper creation with her annoyingly perfect perception. Why the hell is the damn thing still in Akko’s hand anyway? She should’ve just dropped it earlier.
“Are you working on a new prop for the upcoming performance?” Diana asks, her gaze flickering curiously between Akko and the ring. “Either way, please let me know if you have any difficulties where I could be of assistance.”
“Ah no, that’s just…” Akko lets out a weak chuckle, casting her eyes away from Diana’s imploring gaze, only to be caught by Amanda’s expectant stare instead. Which is even worse considering the ridiculous way her friend wiggles her eyebrows. Can’t they just all leave her in peace already?
“Just?” Diana echoes, her voice all kind and patient.
"It's nothing…" Akko squeaks out nervously, still refusing to look at her.
"Is that so?" Diana steps right into Akkos space, slowly brushing her fingers over her cheek, then lifting up her chin and forcing her to meet Diana’s distractingly beautiful eyes again. "You do know that you can tell me anything, right?"
Oh god. Akko absolutely can’t have Diana look at her like that. This is foul play.
She suppresses a small whimper, already feeling her resolve crumble in such a fast fashion that it’s more like a rapid collapse, shattering the earth itself. Who’s she kidding, what resolve even? Isn’t she just here to watch the stars in Diana’s eyes and get lost in that alluring gaze? If not, she absolutely should be, it’s a good place. And it could be even better if Diana would lean in a just tad closer and -
“Akko?” Diana repeats, raising a somewhat bemused eyebrow, snapping Akko right back into reality and back to her damn problem.
Gwah, to hell with it! This has been going on for way too long, interfering with her life and it has to stop now. She owes Diana her honest feelings above all. Her friends are right too, the only thing that matters in the end is that she’s with the love of her life.
The creation of some telltale event? Not so much. She does have her shows for that after all.
“Alright…” Akko relents, nodding slowly and biting her lips. “Diana?”
“Yes?” Diana tilts her head in curiosity, with concern underneath it. “Are you alright, my dear?”
“Yeah.” Akko gives her a determined nod and takes a deep breath, even though it does exactly nothing to calm her nervously quivering heart, the stupid thing.
“Are you quite certain?” Diana insists, setting her hands onto Akko’s shoulders. “You look a bit pale?”
“I’m good, so please just listen to me for a minute, kay?” Akko says quickly, determined to put the sudden surge of confidence to good use.
“Of course.” Diana nods and gives Akko a gentle squeeze. “Always.”
Akko’s body screams at her to give in, to just pull her partner into the strongest hug and stay there forever, ignoring all of her worldly troubles. But Akko holds onto her self-control, as feeble as it may be. She knows she should probably do this the proper way with the knee drop and all. Wants to too. But Diana’s hands on her shoulders feel so nice and warm and soothing, and all of her other fancy plans had already failed, so does one more thing really matter?
In the end she decides that it’s gonna be fine and stays exactly where she is. Focusing her gaze onto Diana’s eyes once more, she holds up the paper ring with her terribly shaking hands, forcing herself to say the words with her equally shaking voice.
“Diana Cavendish, will you marry me?”
Then she waits, with the wild thudding of her heart as her trusty companion.
Akko had never particularly minded being patient the last couple years, carefully looking for the perfect opportunity, really not. But now suddenly even the short time waiting for Diana’s reaction - mere seconds - is too long, way too long. It feels like an entire eternity of a very special torture and it’s driving her crazy.
Luckily though, Diana - wonderful merciful Diana - grabs Akko just soon enough and frees her from that painful suffering, hauling her into a crushing embrace and whispering her answer.
Yes.
And again and again and again.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Each time it hits Akko like a gentle shock of electricity, right until all the remaining air has escaped her lungs and there’s nothing else for her to do besides clutching tightly to Diana too. She slowly breathes in the familiar scent, intending to profess her undying love all over again, but breaks out in tears of relief instead, sniffling loudly into Diana’s neck, blubbering utter nonsense.
Diana chuckles lightly, but can’t quite disguise the fact that she’s more than a little teary-eyed herself too. And in Akko’s defense it’s not like Diana’s sniffled replies make any more sense.
Once the cries and sniffles soften down to gentle whispers of sweet nothings, they loosen their embrace a bit, just so that they can look into each other's eyes again. Diana tenderly wipes the tears off Akko's face, letting her fingers linger on her cheek for the time being.
“Sometimes I almost believed you would never ask,” Diana eventually says, her voice coming out in a thick scratchy whisper.
“I wanted to!” Akko defends, blinking against her still burning eyes and leaning into Diana’s soft touch. “I had so many cool plans…”
“Mm-hm, I must admit I had the inkling you would do so at one of your many performances,” Diana reveals, sliding a loose strand of Akko’s hair back into place with her other hand. “But then…you never did.”
“I was worried, ok!”
“Worried?” Diana sends her a baffled look. “About exactly, what, pray tell? About the audience not approving?”
“No!” Akko shakes her head vehemently. “Of you thinking it’s too much. Or too little. Or too embarrassing. Or…I don’t know!” she croaks out. “Of you saying no…”
“None of those thoughts had even just crossed my mind…” Diana blinks in bewilderment. “Getting married to you. Getting to spend the rest of my life together with you. I once believed those things could only be found in the whisps of my dreams.” She brushes her nose with Akko’s. “And I still can’t fully grasp how I deserve to be this lucky. To have you by my side, making all those dreams become reality.”
Always so smooth. Always the one to take Akko’s breath away.
“I want it all with you, Akko. The good and the bad, and all those dreary Mondays too,” Diana adds with a wink. “When will you ever learn that I have to leave for work during weekdays?”
“Never?” Akko closes one eye sheepishly. “And I’ve been a bit ridiculous about this whole proposal thing, right?”
“Perhaps a tiny bit, yes.” Diana chuckles in agreement. “Who am I to speak though, it’s not like I dared to propose either, so…” she tapers off, the loveliest tinge of pink adorning her cheeks as her gaze drops to the ground.
And right back up again, a guilty smile on her lips. “Also I must apologize, it seems I accidentally stepped onto your ring earlier…”
“Ah, don’t worry about it, I’ll get us real rings!” Akko quickly reassures her, before shuffling her feet. “Actually…I already have them.”
“Stored in your shiny chariot collectors box perhaps?”
“H-hey?!” Akko gapes. “How do you know?”
“Oh, so my assumption was indeed correct?” Diana’s lips quirk. “You are such a dork.”
“I just thought it’s the safest place!” Akko puts her lips into a pretend pout, but can’t keep it up for longer than half a second, before wrapping her arms around Diana tightly again. “I love you so so much, Diana!”
“And so do I. Quite ardently, if I may say so, Akko Kagari,” Diana echoes the sentiment and returns the squeeze. “Or should I rather call you Kagari-Cavendish from now on?”
“Whatever you want. Akko Cavendish‘s fine with me too.” Akko sighs contentedly and sinks into Diana, finally able to fully relax and let go of all the tension in her limbs.
“And I would be your Diana Kagari, if that’s what you wish,” Diana offers with a whisper, softly carding through Akko’s hair, pressing tiny kisses on the top of her head.
“My biggest wish already came true the moment you agreed to marry me,” Akko declares with more tenderness than ever.
“And you always claim I am the cheesy one?” Diana chuckles, but Akko had noticed that little intake of breath.
“Don’t worry, you still are,” Akko reassures her with a swift kiss before burying her head even deeper in Diana’s collarbone, simply enjoying the closeness to her girlfriend.
No.
Fiancée.
Her grin turns ecstatic. And honestly, why shouldn’t she? It’s not everyday that you propose to the most wonderful woman on the planet and she says yes.
“And you may now kiss the bride,” Amanda comments drily, reminding the happy couple of their surroundings and the existence of other people.
“You really have no sense of timing, do you?” Lotte groans. “Give them some space…”
“That was plenty of space already!” Amanda defends. “Besides, I need practice for the wedding.”
“You need to what now?” Lotte frowns. “Since when do you have a license?”
“I don’t. Yet.” Amanda lets out a puff of air, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly. “But if they’re taking as much time planning the wedding as with the proposal…”
“Hey~!” Akko scowls playfully at her friend, fully knowing she more than deserves the jab.
“God heavens no.” Diana gives her head a decided shake. “I would prefer not waiting another five years.”
“I’m free tomorrow, babe.” Akko grins, batting her eyelashes.
“At least gimme till end of the year?” Amanda laughs. “I'm a fast learner, but not that fast.”
She takes a moment to mull over her statement. “Well, there are always…other ways, but I guess you’d be against not 100% moral ones, ye?”
“We do, in fact, very much want our marriage to be legal, yes,” Diana insists.
“Boring, but suit yourself,” Amanda quips. “Or get dresses, whatever ya prefer.”
“You know you could do us all a huge favor by refraining from telling such terrible jokes at our wedding…” Diana utters, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“Hey!” Amanda bristles and throws her an offended glare. “The only terrible thing here’s your humor, Dish!”
“Excuse me?” Diana huffs. “We most certainly won’t pay you for ruining the ceremony with idiotic jokes, Mrs. Jansson-O’Neill.”
“Yeah, you’re not,” Amanda agrees, a smirk coming across her lips. “Cause I’ll throw ‘em in for free~”
“How exceedingly generous…” Diana rolls her eyes.
Akko breaks out in giggles. “Yeah, no offense Amanda, normally I like your jokes, but…”
“You too, Akko? And I trusted you!” Amanda gasps melodramatically. “Maybe I need to search for new friends, if y’all so horrible.”
“Sorry, sorry,” Akko tries, but isn’t successful at all with smothering her grin. “But now for real: Thanks so much guys. For the pep talk. For being there.” She tilts her head to the side, feeling herself getting all choked up again. “For everything.”
“Of course.” Lotte dips her head, a soft smile spreading on her lips. “That’s what friends are for, right?”
“What she said.” Amanda points to Lotte. “I’m so proud you finally did it. Was about time.” She nods wistfully. “Best if we get going now though, don’t wanna get accused of being tactless again…”
On that cue she and Lotte say their goodbyes, wishing the newly engaged couple all the best, then leave the café, hands intertwined.
Akko and Diana nuzzle close again, sharing the sappiest of smiles and an even sappier kiss.
They do have a wedding to practice for, after all.
