Smile (ch18)

For Antiqua! They asked for the OT3 of Akko, Diana, and Sucy with a "meet the parents" scenario.

Disclaimer: I do not own Little Witch Academia.

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																Chapter 18.

Whenever a small holiday vacation is marked on Luna Nova's calendar, the students begin making arrangements to return home to visit family, or simply to continue dorming at the school.

As usual, Lotte plans on going home to see her parents, but Sucy doesn't mention any such plans for herself.

Akko also assumes she'll be staying at Luna Nova this time around like she normally does. She typically doesn't go back home except for the important or longer holidays due to the plane tickets and the fact that her parents are almost always working.

But to her surprise, she actually receives a notification from the Headmistress that Akko's parents have invited her to come home for the coming holiday. When Akko hears the news, she blurts outright.

"What?! No way! I can go home?"

The Headmistress smiles her kind old smile.

"Of course you can, dear. They've sent over your plane ticket. And actually, they've sent two extras."

Akko blinks. "Huh? Why would they do that?"

The Headmistress chuckles.

"They have invited you to bring your friends, if they are available."

Akko's jaw drops open.

"Haaah? My friends?! Really?!"

"If they are available," the old witch reiterates.

Akko is absolutely beaming.

"Oh my gosh, no way! They've never let me invite people from Luna Nova over before! I gotta go tell Lotte and Sucy!" She starts running for the doors before she remembers a fraction of her manners, stops, whirls around, bows her thanks, and then continues running. She makes it back to her room in a matter of seconds and bursts in.

"Lotte! Sucy! You're comin' with me!"

"Eh?" Lotte looks up from where she'd been packing her own bags. "What are you saying, Akko?"

"Also pipe down," Sucy sighs from her desk where she's conducting some kind of experiment. Akko closes the door behind herself and tiptoes in.

"Sorry. But you heard right! My parents sent me two extra plane tickets so I can bring you guys home with me! 'If you're available,' apparently."

"Oh," Lotte smiles. "Well, that was so nice of them! But as you know, I'll have to decline."

"Haaaah?" Akko wails. "No way, Lotte!"

"Akko, you knew for weeks now that I was going back to my own country."

"Oh yeah… guess so… W-Well then Su, you're coming no matter what, right?"

Sucy doesn't turn around.

"Actually, I was planning on staying here to work on some stuff."

"Aw, c'mon!" Akko whines, scrambling her way over to throw her arms around Sucy from behind. "Come back to Japan with me! It'll be a good experience, right?"

"Not interested."

"Don't be like that, Sucy," Lotte says a bit chidingly. "You don't have to stay here all by yourself over break. You should go with Akko. Someone will need to keep an eye on her."

"That's right! Someone will have to- hey, Lotte-!"

Sucy pours a bit of a potion into her concotion, expecting it to fizz up. But instead, the liquid remains clear and smooth. Sucy mutters something under her breath. But after a moment she finally speaks up.

"I guess I could find some interesting plants in Japan."

Akko jumps back and clasps her hands together.

"So does that mean you're coming?!"

"Guess so."

And Akko starts simmering like a tea pot just seconds before she bursts and jumps up cheering.

"Yeeaaayy! This is gonna be so awesome, Sucy! I'll start packing right now!" As Akko zips around the room, she grabs pretty much anything and everything in her path, and Lotte has to gently remind her that she can't take her bunk bed with her. As Akko stuffs some of her clothes into her suitcase, Sucy leans back in her chair casually.

"So what about the other ticket?"

"Huh?"

"You said they sent two extra tickets and Lotte can't go. So who else are you gonna invite."

"Hmm…" Akko rubs her fingers on her chin. "Amanda? No, wait she's going to America…"

"Um, Akko?" Lotte chimes in. "I think you're missing the obvious choice."

"Huh? Who?"

Lotte and Sucy both share an exasperated glance. Akko really hadn't even considered the most obvious option.

"Akko," Lotte sighs. "You should invite Diana."

Akko perks up with her eyes wide in a way that shows she'd never actually even considered that.

"Diana?! N-No way! I can't do that!"

"Why not?"

"My parents told me to bring back my friends, not my girlfriends!"

"But Sucy's your girlfriend, isn't she?"

"But she's also my friend!"

"And Diana isn't?"

Akko clams up. Lotte has all the right points. Sucy yawns in her seat and adds on.

"I'd rather not have to go back with you alone. Diana should help keep me sane."

Akko pouts in her general direction before giving the idea some proper thought.

"I guess that makes sense… Even if Diana can't go, I should at least invite her, right?"

"I think she'd appreciate it," Lotte smiles. "Just ask her."

So Akko wastes no time in running out the door and down the hall to Diana's suite. She gives a couple of quick knocks and calls out.

"Diana? Are you there? It's me."

The response sounds rather surprised.

"One moment."

Akko steps back as the door opens, and Diana blinks curiously at her.

"Akko? To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Thank goodness I caught you!" she says. "Y'see, the thing is-" Akko cuts off abruptly when she notices Hannah and Barbara are peering curiously out at her. And even though she's kissed Diana right in front of them plenty of times, she suddenly feels a bit embarrassed. So she takes Diana's hands and leads her out into the hallway so the door can close behind her. Diana patiently waits for an explanation.

"Akko…?"

Akko draws in a deep breath.

"A-Actually, I was wondering… do you have any plans for the break?"

Diana shakes her head.

"Not particularly. I wasn't intending to go home or anything of the sort."

Akko chews her lip and swallows.

"Th-Then… would you wanna come… to Japan… with me…?"

She considers herself lucky she'd even managed to ask the question.

Diana blinks.

"Pardon?"

"I-I mean-!" Akko begins to babble. "My parents gave me two extra tickets and told me to bring my friends so I asked Lotte and Sucy but Lotte can't go and she told me I should ask you but I wasn't sure if I should bring my girlfriends so-"

"Akko…" With a soft chuckle, Diana places her hands on the other witch's shoulders to calm her down. "I would love to accompany you back to Japan for a few days. That sounds wonderful. Sucy is coming as well?"

"Really?! A-And yeah, she said she'll come!"

Diana nods thoughtfully.

"That sounds like quite the adventure. But for once, it's tame enough that I could handle."

Akko lights up and instantly throws her arms around her girlfriend.

"Yeay~! Thank you, Diana!"

"It will be my pleasure," she assures, hugging her back.

And so the arrangements are made, bags are packed, and the next thing they know, the three of them are on a flight to Japan.

Being on a plane with Akko Kagari is an experience in and of itself, and it takes both Diana and Sucy putting her in the seat between them and attending to her for hours on end in order to prevent her from quite literally running around in all of her excitement.

After a decent rest, they land the following day in Akko's homeland. Akko leads them through the airport and eventually manages to find the car her parents had arranged for them.

She reverts back to her native tongue a bit awkwardly, but eventually remembers the gist of it. Diana switches naturally, always eager to try out a language she'd taught herself in its proper setting. As for Sucy, she casts a simple spell on herself which automatically translates her words and allows her to understand others.

As their car takes off, Akko is absolutely buzzing as she points things out to them and rambles, trying her best to hold each of her girlfriends' arms in one of hers as the car drives along.

Diana marvels at the culture of Japan, the architecture, the arrangement of the businesses and such. And even Sucy seems interested enough not to scoff and shrug every five minutes.

They drive for a while through bright, bustling cities before the scenery changes to something a bit more rural. It's a good thing Akko is in the middle seat, or else the others fear she might've stuck her head out the window like a dog as she babbles on about every single thing she remembers.

Diana makes sure Akko keeps her seat belt on, but other than that, she enjoys hearing her so excited. And even Sucy doesn't complain or tell her to be quiet. Sometimes Akko's ravings would irk her, but she could never be annoyed at hearing her this genuinely excited.

When their car finally rolls to a stop it's just after noon. Akko is bursting at the seams.

"We're here, we're here!"

"Easy," Sucy says, grabbing her teammate's sleeve so she can't literally fall over Diana's lap and right out of the car. Akko chuckles and tries her best to settle down as the three of them retrieve their luggage. Diana thanks the driver before he takes off, leaving the three young witches now to turn and face the house. It's a modern, typical establishment, with at least two visible floors and a well-kept property.

As Sucy and Diana are taking it in, Akko suddenly runs up between them and slings and arm across each of their shoulders.

"Well? Whaddaya think?"

"It's… normal," Sucy notes. "Guess that's good."

"It's very nice," Diana adds.

Akko bounces up and down, making them both do the same.

"This is soooo exciting! Let's go, let's go!" Without wasting another second, Akko all but pulls both of them up to the front door, then rings the doorbell no fewer than six times. Both Sucy and Diana tense up just a little. They'd never met the parents of someone they were dating before. Mainly because they'd never dated anyone before.

As soon as the door opens, Akko doesn't even wait to see who is answering it before she flings herself forward with her arms open wide.

"I'm hooooome!"

Her suitcase begins falling over where she'd left it, and Diana hastily reaches out to grab it.

The person Akko had tackled full-force is a middle-aged woman with shoulder-length brown hair. Her complexion and her joyful eyes match Akko's perfectly, clearly indicating they are closely related.

"Akko! Welcome home!"

"Hi, Mom!" Akko and her mother give each other a long, tight squeeze. As Sucy and Diana look on, it becomes instantly apparent where Akko gets her hugging gene and enthusiasm from.

A much calmer man with darker hair and glasses steps into frame to support his wife and daughter so they don't crash into the floor.

"Welcome home, Akko." He pats and arm around her back briefly to join in the family hug, then straightens up to greet his guests. "Hello there. You must be Akko's teammates. Please come in."

Sucy and Diana share another uncertain glance. Sucy isn't all that fazed upon meeting Akko's parents, as she typically isn't fazed about meeting anyone. But she can tell Diana is rigid, which makes sense, considering the fact that she's always striving to gain the acceptance and approval of those older than herself.

As they make their way inside, Sucy offers the white-haired witch a bit of support by lightly nudging her elbow against Diana's side. It's just enough contact to remind Diana to exhale the breath she'd been holding in.

The house is just as typical inside as it is on the outside. There are scenic pictures on the wall, little tables and shelves and vases set up in the living room and hallways, several bushels of flowers here and there.

The girls are invited to put their luggage down in the living room. Akko has finally let go of her mother by now, so the woman invites them all to sit down wherever they like.

"You must be exhausted from such a long flight. And with Atsuko."

"Moooom!" Akko pouts for half a second as she plops down on the couch, but is already grinning again in seconds. Diana and Sucy tentatively sit on either side of her, as Akko's parents sit on a smaller couch nearby. Akko wraps an arm around each of her girlfriends and pulls them in close. "So anyways! Mom, Dad! These are my-"

"Classmates," Sucy interjects. "I'm on Akko's team at Luna Nova. Sucy Manbavaran." She dips her head. Akko's parents smile.

"It's so nice to meet you, Sucy," Mrs. Kagari says. "Atsuko has written to us about you. You're the one who loves potions, correct?"

"Yeah. It's my hobby."

"Then I have a few plants I think you might like to take back with you! Though we aren't a magic family by nature, I do know a thing or two!"

Sucy actually cracks a smile and dips her head again.

Akko's father looks to Diana next.

"And you must be Lotte," he guesses.

Diana politely shakes her head.

"Unfortunately, Lotte wasn't able to attend. So Akko invited me instead. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to travel here and meet you both."

Akko hums and gives Diana a firm pat on the back.

"Geez, Diana, you're always so stiff! My parents won't eat you, so just relax!"

Diana gives her a flustered kind of look briefly before turning back to the adults.

"My apologies. My name is Diana Cavendish. It's an honor to make your acquaintance."

"Oh, what a flatterer!" Mrs. Kagari says. "How polite!"

"We're delighted to meet you too, Diana," Mr. Kagari says.

Diana nods. "I look forward to learning more about Japan for the duration of my stay. Thank you very much for accommodating us." She dips her head, folding her hands into her lap.

"It's our pleasure," Akko's mother replies before glancing at her daughter. "Now then, would you three like something to eat?"

"Oh! I'll do it!" Akko jumps up from the couch with her hand raised high. "You guys can get to know each other for a bit while I'm gone! Sound good? Good!" And before anyone can oppose, she darts off into the kitchen.

"Take it easy in there, dear," her mother calls after her, then turns back to her young guests. "Thank you for always looking after Akko. I know she can be a handful at times."

"No kidding," Such mumbles. Diana flashes her a chiding glance - probably the exact same thing Lotte would've done if she'd been there to keep her in check. Diana clears her throat and straightens up a bit more.

"You have a lovely home, Mrs. Kagari."

"Why thank you, dear," she smiles. "Now then, would you mind telling me how you met Akko?"

"Indeed," her husband says. "I'm curious to know why Akko would bring home someone who isn't her teammate. You must be very good friends."

Suddenly, Sucy and Diana are overcome with the knowledge that they're going to have to mention their relationship with Akko.

Sucy never thought such a thing could actually make her stomach twist. She never cared about what anyone else thought about her, or her preferences in any department. But for some reason, this was a little nerve-wracking.

Similarly, Diana swallows a bit thickly, concerned that Akko's parents might be disapproving of her.

The two witches share a glance, then slowly look back to their hosts. Diana goes first.

"Actually, Akko is more than just a teammate or a friend to us. You see… how exactly can I say this-"

"We're girlfriends," Sucy finishes bluntly. Diana stiffens and whirls around to glare at her in astonishment, but Sucy just shrugs. "What? You were taking too long. Just get to the point."

"Sucy," Diana whispers. "This is a delicate matter-"

"Girlfriends… you say?" Mrs. Kagari parrots, tilting her head. "The two of you?" She points between Sucy and Diana. Her husband raises an eyebrow.

Diana readdresses them.

"Well, yes, we are. But also too-"

"We're Akko's girlfriends," Sucy blurts again.

This stuns both adults into silence. They look at each other, then back to the girls. Mr. Kagari crosses his arms.

"You…" he says, looking to Sucy. "And Akko are… dating? Or you are?" he asks, looking to Diana.

Diana fidgets a little.

"Actually… we both are."

Mr. Kagari blinks, then narrows his eyes.

"Both of you?"

His wife looks to him in equal disbelief.

"My… I've never heard of such a thing before…"

The couple tapers off, clearly stunned beyond words at the moment as they begin to try processing the information.

Diana's heart thumps thickly against her chest, and as she looks to Sucy, even she seems a bit uncomfortable now, slouched over a bit more than usual.

The awful silence ensues, broken only by the faint sounds of clanging pans in the kitchen. After one dreadful moment too long, Diana steels herself against what might be two disapproving parents and musters up some courage.

"If I may…" she begins. "Akko is very precious to both of us. I'll admit… when I first met her, I didn't always know how to act around her. She was always so passionate and bright, charging ahead with everything she had… To be honest, I think I was a little intimidated by her. But as I came to know her better, I became drawn to her. She's helped myself and many others in many ways, and after we've only known her for a few months. She truly is a wonderful girl and a splendid witch. She cares for us just as much as we care for her. I suppose what I'm trying to say is-"

"Just get to the point," Sucy interjects, then takes the discourse from there. She looks up at Akko's parents directly now. "Basically, we care about Akko, and we're dating her. And if you don't approve of that, then that's your problem."

"Sucy!" With a gasp, Diana grabs her hand in an effort to restrain her from saying anything else.

Both Akko's parents have surprised looks on their faces now as they look between the witches and each other.

"Well," Mr. Kagari says, adjusting his glasses. "This is quite unexpected, to say the least. To learn Akko has not just one, but two… girlfriends."

"Certainly a shock," his wife agrees. "I would say-"

And just then, in the height of all the painful awkwardness, Akko charges back in with a tray of sloppy pancakes in her hands and a carefree grin on her face.

"Lunch is served! Or, breakfast, I guess?" She chuckles, then finally seems to notice the tense mood in the living room. "Uh, what's going on?"

Diana - who is definitely the most perturbed of her and Sucy - flashes Akko a timid look.

"Akko-"

"Ahem." Mrs. Kagari pointedly speaks up, gaining everyone's attention. Diana's grip on Sucy's hands tightens so much that Sucy flinches, but she doesn't shake her off. The slight pain is keeping her grounded.

Akko's mother looks over all three witches with unreadable eyes before continuing.

"As I was saying. I would say the two of you seem like lovely young girls, right dear?"

Mr. Kagari puts a hand on his wife's shoulder and nods.

"Absolutely. And, well… while we are a bit surprised to be hearing all of this… I would say we're quite all right with the two of you dating our Akko."

Diana exhales so sharply in her relief she almost sways. Sucy quickly frees her hands and grabs Diana's arm to hold her up. Akko looks around to all four people in the room.

"Oh! Did you guys tell my parents we're dating? That's good! I forgot to mention it!"

Sucy snorts at her.

"Seriously? Wouldn't you say that's kind of an important thing to mention?"

"Sorry, sorry! I didn't even think about it! I knew they'd be fine with it either way!" She looks to her parents and both of them smile and nod.

"Of course, dear," her mother says.

"Whatever makes you happy," her father agrees.

"Heehee~" Akko comes around the couch and puts the food on the coffee table, then jumps down to sit between Sucy and Diana. "Even so, I heard all those things you guys said about me~! You made me blush!" She proceeds to hug both of them at the same time, turning back and forth to pepper kisses all over their faces. Sucy tries to lean away, and Diana bashfully hisses her name on repeat.

"Akko-! Y-Your parents are here!"

"Aww~ Don't be so embarrassed, you guys!"

"Now we're the ones blushing," Sucy mutters, sinking into the couch. Akko giggles and wraps an arm around each of them, pulling them both back into the cushions with a blissful sigh.

"Aaah, this is gonna be such a fun break! I'll show you guys all around town! There are some really great flower shops you'd like, Sucy! Oh! And Diana! There's actually still a store that sells Chariot merch! And wait till you see my bedroom!"

Akko's parents watch all of this with bemused smiles, then begin serving out the dishes of warm, runny pancakes.

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A/N: This was interesting to whip up, to say the very least! But I think it sounds plausible, no?