Three's A Charm (ch18)

Newest reward for Antiqua!

Disclaimer: I do not own Little Witch Academia.

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								Chapter 18.

While the young witches of Luna Nova did recognize most well-known holidays, there were certain ones that were more celebrated than others, particularly ones like Halloween and Christmas. However, even the smaller ones were given some attention.

And for a certain few cases, that wasn't always necessarily a good thing.

Akko has been fretting about Mothers' Day for about a week now, not because she didn't plan on sending letters back home to her own mother, but because there was a certain witch she knew and loved who didn't have a mother to write home to. And when the day finally arrives, she can't contain her worries any longer.

"Suuuu, what should we do…?"

Currently, it's only Akko and Sucy in their dorm room, as Lotte had flown home for the weekend to spend time with her family. While Sucy wasn't exactly on the fuzziest terms with her own mother, she didn't rue her or anything of the sort, but she definitely wasn't going to fly home for the occasion. Akko might have considered doing as much if Japan weren't so far away, and if she wasn't so concerned about her girlfriend.

Sucy, who has been sitting at her desk muttering at her potions, doesn't even look up as she replies.

"Dunno. Not sure if there's much we really can do."

Akko sits on her bed pouting, kicking her legs over the side in dissatisfaction.

"That's no good, Sucy! Today's probably a rough day for Diana! We've gotta do something!"

Sucy finally pauses in her potion-mixing to consider Akko's point.

"Hm. And there's no classes today to keep her mind off stuff…"

"Exactly! See? So what do we do?!"

"We don't need to freak out, for starters," Sucy sighs, capping her potions for the time being. "Why don't we just do what we always do? I'm sure just spending time with Diana will be more than enough."

Akko flails her legs some more.

"Uuuu, are you sure? Don't you think we should get her something? Like a cake or-"

"Where the heck are we gonna get a cake right now?" Sucy reasons. "And besides, wouldn't making a big deal out of it only make her more upset?"

"Ahgk! I guess you're right…"

"Right? So let's just go see her."

"Okay! You're right, Su! Let's go!"

Akko jumps up from her bed and grabs Sucy by the sleeve before dragging her across the room and out the door. Akko sets a determined march for Diana's suite, but just before they get there, Sucy frees herself.

"Hold on a sec." She grabs Akko now, preventing her from going a step further. "Did you even think about what you're gonna say?"

"Of course I-! …N-No, not really."

"You're such an airhead," Sucy sighs. "So maybe let's stop for a second and think first. I know that's hard for you."

"H-Hey! I can think!"

"Prove it."

As they pause to bicker lightly, the very door they were headed to opens, and Hannah and Barbara step out. The pair actually perks up at the sight of their visitors and quickly close the door behind them.

"Akko! Sucy!"

"Thank goodness!"

"Hah?"

"Huh?"

Both Akko and Sucy tilt their heads as the other two quickly approach them, speaking in whispers.

"Like, we mean it!" Barbara wails. "Hannah and I have to go home to see our moms today…"

"We didn't wanna leave Diana!" Hannah says. "She told us she'd be fine and is just gonna study today…"

"But we know she'll be lonely!" Barbara continues. "It's Mothers' Day, after all!"

"You two are gonna go see her, right?" Hannah begs. "Please make sure she doesn't cry!"

Both Hannah and Barbara clasp their hands together imploringly. Akko and Sucy take a moment to absorb everything they've said, then share a determined look.

"Sucy!"

"Yeah."

They turn back to Diana's roommates, and Akko puts a hand on each of their shoulders.

"Hannah! Barbara! Don't worry! Sucy and I won't leave her side today no matter what!"

The pair of witches perk up hopefully.

"Really?"

"Thank goodness…"

Even Sucy speaks up to reassure them.

"Leave it to us."

Both Hannah and Barbara get tearful with relief, glad to not have to leave Diana alone today. As they proceed down the hallway, Akko and Sucy turn to the suite they'd left. They share another look, then Akko steps forward to knock.

"Just a moment," Diana calls out from the other side. A few seconds later the door opens, and Diana's eyes widen in surprise. "Akko? Su-"

"Dianaaaaa!" Akko throws herself at her girlfriend full-force, bowling into her in a huge hug and sending Diana a few paces back. Sucy heaves a sigh as she slinks in behind them.

"A-Akko-?!" Diana yelps, scrambling to catch her and maintain their balance. "What-"

"Lotte went home," Sucy answers. "Akko was bored so we figured we'd stop by. Sorry for the trouble."

As Diana recovers from the initial shock, a smile curls her lips.

"No trouble at all. You're both welcome at any time, so long as it's reasonable. Hannah and Barbara have gone home for the day as well, so I'm glad to have your company."

By now, Akko has pried herself away again, just enough to leave a kiss on Diana's cheek.

"You weren't just gonna stay cooped up studying alone all day, were you?"

"Actually-"

"Nope! Denied! We should all go out and-"

"Akko." Sucy cuts in with a hint of warning in her tone. Akko clams up and lets Diana finish speaking. When she does, her smile becomes fainter.

"Thank you both for coming to see me. But unfortunately I'm not feeling all that well today. I'm sorry, but I think I would prefer to stay here."

Akko frantically scrambles for words, while also trying to soften her tone accordingly and taking both of Diana's hands.

"Wah! S-Sorry! That's totally fine, Diana! Sorry!"

Diana gives her hands an appreciative squeeze back.

"There is no need to apologize, Akko. Thank you both for coming."

"On that note," Sucy says. "Mind if we hang out to study for a while, too?"

Diana smiles kindly.

"Not at all."

And so the three witches pick up a few spell books and get comfortable together on the couches. Sucy understands Diana's methods of trying to distract herself from less-pleasant thoughts by focusing instead on magic and studying; things she very much enjoys.

Sucy asks her questions about various spells and mixtures, allowing Diana to stay engaged in conversation, rather than letting her mind wander, which it likely would have, had she been alone. Akko squints at the spell books and struggles to pronounce most of the ancient language, which has Diana chuckling before helping her pronunciation.

For a while, the three witches go at their leisure, either discussing the spells or practicing with their wands. Since Akko's magics had started reawakening, even she manages to cast them to the best of her current abilities. Of course, Diana is the most powerful of the three of them, so whenever she casts a spell, Sucy and Akko take notes.

Around lunchtime, they pause for some tea and snacks, which Diana serves them. All the while Sucy makes sure to tactfully steer the conversations away from the topic of family or Mothers' Day.

After eating and relaxing for a while, the trio continues their impromptu study session.

It's a short while later when Diana turns the page to one of her spell books, and her smile suddenly disappears. Akko, who had been cuddling up to Diana's side, more or less feels her girlfriend's heart sink, and on Diana's other side, Sucy frowns.

Printed on the page of the spell book is the image of a unicorn, depicted alongside a caption about certain healing magics. Akko knows better than anyone that unicorns would naturally remind Diana of her mother. She casts Sucy a panicked look of concern, but Sucy can't think of anything to say or do quickly enough.

Diana lets out a soft sigh and slowly closes the book in her lap, then places it onto the coffee table. The smile she'd been trying to maintain wobbles, and her voice quivers just a little bit.

"Akko, Sucy. Thank you both very much for coming to spend time with me today. But I think I'd like to lie down now."

Akko and Sucy each take one of her hands.

"Diana…?"

"Hey-"

But before either of them can finish, a single tear drips down Diana's cheek and falls into her lap. She shakes her head, sniffling softly.

"Eh? I apologize… I simply…" She doesn't even finish before the tears take hold of her completely and she begins to cry.

Dismayed, Akko pulls Diana in tightly into a hug.

"Oh, nononono, Diana…"

Sucy moves in from the other side to rest a hand on Diana's back.

They both hold her for a moment as she weeps quietly. Akko starts to sniffle too as she rubs her hands up and down Diana's back. Sucy catches her eye, and together they come to a silent agreement.

Slowly, Sucy and Akko help Diana to her feet, then bring her across the room and around the bookshelf to her bed. They sit with her for a few minutes there, until the tears have slowed.

They lie her down, each one huddling into one of her sides to hug her gently. Diana doesn't want to show her face when she feels so vulnerable, so Akko turns her onto her side and hugs her close. Sucy circles her arms around Diana from behind, pressing softly against her back.

Diana cries for a little while longer, and Akko fights back tears as well as she strokes through her hair. They both hold her, until Diana's hiccups begin to fade. Eventually, she's able to find her voice again.

"I apologize…"

"Don't worry about it."

"You don't have to apologize, Diana! We're the ones who should be sorry! We told Hannah and Barbara we wouldn't let you cry…"

Diana eases back just a little and lets out a sigh.

"So those two were worried as well, then."

"Of course they were," Sucy mumbles. "It's kind of a tough day for you."

Drawing in another deep breath, Diana slowly rolls to lie on her back, allowing both Akko and Sucy to cuddle up a bit closer.

"Indeed, today is a challenging one…" she confesses. "I was trying so hard not to think of my mother… and yet now that I have, I feel much better."

"Really?" Akko asks timidly. "But you were crying so much…"

"Not all of them were tears of sadness," Diana assures her.

"That's good," Sucy says. "You're right. Better to think of her and remember her today instead of trying not to think about her at all."

"I agree." Diana smiles, pulling each of them in closer. "My mother was a wonderful woman, and an amazing witch."

"She was! She really was!"

"Like mother, like daughter."

Diana smiles honestly, and as her girlfriends cuddle her softly, she begins telling them all she remembers about her mother. Akko and Sucy listen happily, sensing Diana's pure joy in talking about her.

Even though Diana was so young when she lost her mother, she still recounts so many things about her, and about her works even after she had passed. Akko ends up crying a bit more, and even Sucy sheds a few tears, but they're just glad to hold her and be with her.

And in the end, Diana is smiling as she falls asleep this Mothers' Day.

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A/N: I think I've written something similar before, but not with this OT3!