Smile (ch20)

EARLY RELEASE FOR MY $10+ PATRONS!

After the Valentine's chapter, here is the follow-up for Antiqua!

Disclaimer: I do not own Little Witch Academia.

-----------

															Chapter 20.

Ever since the moment Akko had handed her those wildflowers she'd picked for Valentine's Day, Diana had started deliberating about how she would reciprocate.

She mulls it over through the beginnings of her classes before the professors enter and start their lessons, all the while keeping those little flowers secure in the pocket of her school bag. But by the end of the day, she still hasn't come up with any feasible ideas.

She does manage to pull Akko aside one more time in the afternoon before Diana starts her patrols, and thanks her with an appreciative hug, which Akko enthusiastically returns.

After that, Diana ponders all throughout her rounds of the school building, trying not to let it take up too much of her focus. But by evening she still has no ideas, which makes her realize that for someone who has liked and been dating Akko for this long, she really doesn't feel like she knows very much about her.

/What would make a good gift for her?/

Food and sweets seem reasonable, but she isn't sure which kinds. Or should she reflect Akko's gift and also give her flowers? But if so, what kind? Or should she try something with a bit more flare and use magic? Or would it be better to keep things simple…?

She ends up thinking about it all night long until she falls asleep, but still has no surefire answer in the morning.

So she elects to do something she rarely ever does with anything - ask for help.

That morning, as she's walking down to the cafeteria with Hannah and Barbara, Diana spots Akko and her teammates across the hallway. Dipping her head to her partners, Diana excuses herself briefly to greet the others.

"Akko, Lotte, Sucy, good morning."

"Diana!" A giant grin spread across Akko's face in an instant, and she throws both arms around her in a big, tight hug. "Good morning~!"

"Yes." Diana gives her a quick hug back before gently easing her away, very aware of the amused glances all their passing classmates are giving them. "I just wanted to thank you once again for the flowers you gave me."

"Oh, it's no problem!" Akko beams. "I'm glad you liked them!"

"Indeed. I was just wondering if there was anything you might like in return for them."

Akko tilts her head.

"In return? Nah, you don't hafta do that, Diana! They were a gift!"

"But-"

"C'mon, let's go eat! I'm starving!" And with that, Akko scurries off toward the cafeteria. Diana looks after her, shoulders slumping. She'll have to resort to her next plan after all.

"Lotte, Sucy." Diana motions for the two of them to come talk for a moment. "I wanted to ask your opinion. You're both Akko's teammates, and you know her far better than I do. Have you any suggestions as to what she might like?"

"Hmm…" Lotte puts a hand to her chin and thinks for a moment. "Well, I have some input on what I'd give her as a friend. But you three are closer than that." She smiles, nudging Sucy a step closer to Diana. "I think this is a discussion for you two." With this, she heads off after Akko.

Diana and Sucy share a glance.

"She's right," Diana says. "You and I must think of something ourselves, Sucy."

"Why?" Sucy mumbles. "Akko already said she doesn't want anything."

"But surely she was just being humble."

"Nah," Sucy shakes her head. "When you live with Akko as long as I have, you'd know she's dead-serious about everything she says. She didn't give us those plants expecting to get anything in return."

"And that is precisely why we should give her something," Diana reasons. "She deserves it, don't you think?"

Sucy doesn't say anything for a moment, but she does look ahead into the cafeteria to where her energetic roommate is already on line, bouncing with excitement just to get her breakfast. Sucy sighs.

"Guess you're right."

Diana relaxes a little in knowing she'll have some help now.

"Right. We must think of something to demonstrate our reciprocity of our feelings for her. I've done a bit of research and have come to understand that in her culture, Japan celebrates a holiday called White Day, exactly one month after Valentine's. I believe this would be the perfect opportunity to give her something in return."

"Guess it makes sense." Sucy tilts her head to one side. "But that means we have a month to think about it. Best not to rush it, right?"

"I suppose so… In any case, we should collaborate from time to time and see if we can come up with any ideas. Does that sound all right?"

"Sure."

Such was their plan.

But over the next several weeks, both Sucy and Diana have quick, private conversations together to discuss Akko's gift, and never seem to have a solid idea in mind.

At one point, Sucy beckons Diana to her after classes and reveals a vile of purple potion in her sleeve.

"I've been working on this for a few nights," she says. "When poured onto soil, it should sprout some nice flowers. Maybe we can give her those.

Diana feels a hopeful little flutter in her chest.

"Wonderful! Shall we test it out?"

She brings Sucy to the green house to an available plot of soil that students are allowed to use. Sucy pours the potion over the dirt, and both witches stand back to observe.

Diana is expecting the soil to open up gently with an array of colorful flowers.

But instead, the ground begins to bubble like a potion-gone-wrong. Sucy takes Diana by the wrist and slowly guides her back a little further. In the end, only mushrooms and vines and thorns sprout up. Diana sighs, and to her surprise, Sucy actually seems to pout a little bit.

"Darn. I thought I made it right this time…"

Diana can't help but smile. She squeezes Sucy's hand softly and presses a swift little kiss to her cheek.

"Do not fret, Sucy. I'm sure Akko would've loved the idea of you making her a potion, regardless of the results."

"Maybe…" Sucy looks away from her, letting the hair over her face hide the tiny blush. "Either way, it was a bust. You got any ideas, Diana?"

Diana make a contemplative expression. "Let me think on it tonight. I'll let you know tomorrow."

And so she does another night of thinking, and ultimately decides on the possibility of casting Akko some kind of spell, or even a mini magic show. When she tells Sucy her idea the next morning, Diana explains her thinking when they're alone in the hallway.

"You and I both could join in," she suggests. "We could give her something styled almost like one of Chariot's performances."

"Hm." Sucy mulls it over for a minute. "That sounds good, but what would we actually do?"

"Pardon?"

"Like magic tricks? Transformations? Illusions?"

Diana considers it, but shakes her head.

"I hadn't thought about the details…"

"I think it'd be best to keep it simple," Sucy says.

Diana heaves a worried little sigh. "You're right. But Sucy, we've only got a week left. We've got to do something for her…"

Sucy can tell Diana is really upset by this - and being that she herself is also dating Akko, Sucy feels she should probably be a bit more invested in this as well. She glances around to ensure they're alone before reaching out to rest her hand on Diana's shoulder.

"Well, no sense in worrying so much. We still have time. We'll think of something."

Her flippant-sounding words actually provide Diana with some much-needed comfort. She's gotten to know Sucy much better since they'd started seeing one another, and she knows this is her way of providing support. Diana smiles.

"You're right. Thank you, Sucy."

And over the next several days, Diana and Sucy continue having their secret little rendezvous and sharing ideas about a possible gift for Akko.

And it's only the very night before the designated White Day, as it would be celebrated in Japan, when they actually come up with an idea they both agree on.

-------

That morning, Akko wakes up on her back with her mouth halfway-open in a snore. She almost panics for a second before realizing it's the weekend.

"No school today…"

She starts to close her eyes again to go back to sleep until she realizes she can't hear or see either of her roommates in their beds. Puzzled, Akko sits up and finds a little note taped to the underside of Lotte's bed for her to see:

Akko, I'm going out for the day so don't worry!
Make sure you find Sucy as soon as you wake up!

-Lotte

Akko scratches her head.

"Find Sucy? Is this like a treasure hunt? What the heck is going on?"

Akko jumps out of bed, quickly gets dressed, and hurries for the door, prepared to take off down the hallway in search of her classmate. But-

"Uwah?!"

As she charges out of the room, Akko bumps into someone. Or rather, two someones. And it takes both of them to grab onto her to prevent them all from falling over.

"Sucy?! Diana?!" Akko blurts out. "What's going on?"

Both of her girlfriends are dressed and ready for the day with their brooms in their hands.

"Finally," Diana sighs. "Sucy, does she always sleep in this late?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Goodness…"

Akko watches in confusion as Diana snaps her fingers, which animates Akko's own broom from back inside the room and brings it drifting over to her. Akko blinks, still utterly baffled as she takes it.

"Uhhh, guys? Did I miss something?"

"I should hope not," Diana says. "You of all people should know what day it is today, Akko."

Akko just stares at both of them, back and forth, totally flabbergasted.

"Uh… Saturday…?"

Diana heaves a loud sigh. Sucy smacks a hand to her face.

"Geez, you really are an idiot…"

"H-Hey!" Akko whines. "No fair! You guys were totally planning something! How was I supposed to know?"

"Take a moment, Akko," Diana offers. "Think of the date, and about what your people might be doing today back home."

Akko purses her lips, squeezing her eyes shut as she thinks super hard.

"Today… l-let's see… today is, uh… May-"

"March," both of them correct her.

"Oh, y-yeah right! March! March, uhh… um… 3rd?"

"Higher," Sucy sighs.

"… 20th?"

"Lower," Diana advises.

They have to keep going for a moment until Akko finally gets it.

"The 14th?"

"There you go."

"Indeed it is."

Akko sighs in relief.

"March 14th… back in Japan, what kinda day is it… Oh! It's White Day!"

Sucy and Diana both finally nod.

"Finally."

"Yes, Akko."

Akko's jaw drops as she looks back and forth between them.

"W-Wait! S-So you guys are giving me a White Day gift?! You knew about it?! Aww, that's soooo super sweet of you!" Akko drops her broom in favor of throwing both her arms around her girlfriends. Sucy and Diana scramble to catch her, dropping their own brooms in the process.

"Whoa, easy-"

"A-Akko!"

But Akko ends up bowling them both over, and the three witches crash to the floor in a heap. And though Sucy and Diana both groan, Akko's gleeful laughter doesn't allow them to frown for long.

"Oh my gosh! This is the best!" Akko sits back and helps them both up to their feet again. "Thank you guys so much!"

"Hold on." Diana straightens out her uniform and hair, then does the same for Akko.

"Yeah, slow down," Sucy says. "You still don't even know what the present is yet, Akko."

"Oh! You're right!" Akko picks up everyone's brooms and hands them back, then starts bouncing excitedly in place in anticipation to hear the answer. Sucy and Diana share a look, and a helpless smile.

"Time," Diana says at last.

Akko blinks.

"Huh?"

Sucy elaborates.

"We didn't wanna give you something super extravagant, but also not something that was too small. So this is what we decided on."

Diana nods her agreement.

"We are giving you our time, Akko. An entire day to do whatever you'd like with us. Sucy and I will gladly come along with you." She motions to her broom. "We thought we would get started with a broom ride after breakfast."

Akko's jaw drops again, and once more she glances back and forth between them.

"So… like… a date?!" she cries. "You guys're giving me a date day?!"

"Basically."

"Essentially, yes."

Akko is like a tea kettle about to overflow.

"Wow! Oh my gosh! That's the best gift ever, you guys!"

"Not again-"

"Akko-!"

Akko throws her arms around them and tackles them all over again. Thankfully this time Diana is able to cast a quick spell to put a soft cushion beneath them for them all to fall on. Akko squeals and giggles as she peppers them both in tons and tons of kisses.

"Thank you! Thank you, thank you! I love it! Today's gonna be so much fun!"

"Geez, you're like a rabid animal…"

"A-Akko! We are still in school-!"

But in spite of their minor protests, Sucy and Diana share a glance and smile. Akko lies between them with an arm around them each, hugging them as much as she can. The other two witches gladly return the embrace.

"Happy White Day, Akko," Diana murmurs.

"Thanks for the gifts before," Sucy adds.

They each kiss her hair before helping her back up. By this point, Akko has tears streaming down her face.

"S-Sucy… Diana… thanks so much…"

"Gross."

"Here, use my handkerchief."

After cleaning her up and picking up their brooms once again, Sucy and Diana step in on either of Akko's sides to lead her to breakfast.

And all throughout their day, Akko never stops smiling.

---------

A/N: I couldn't decide on a good gift for them to give Akko either until I started writing. I thought this would be the best thing, though. Akko probably wouldn't want anything crazy or lavish (of course she'd love it if that's what they gave her though). But I think most of all she'd just love spending time with the people she loves~