Lessons Learned (ch1)

EARLY RELEASE FOR HIGH-PLEDGING PATRONS!

Join me for my next Dianakko fic! I wrote all of it before episodes 5+ of the anime were released, so with that information in mind, please excuse any inaccuracies you might see here based off events of the later anime episodes.

Disclaimer: I do not own Little Witch Academia.

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												    	Lessons Learned

												   	  Chapter 1. A Request

Diana stands with her posture straight and her hands folded neatly behind her back, just as she always does.

The only major difference about her appearance now from what it normally is would be how wide her eyes are going, and how high her eyebrows are raising.

This expression of surprise, and perhaps even shock, is due to the presence of the only other person in the hallway at this time.

None other than Akko stands before her, torso bent forward in a bow, hands clasped together to reiterate the desperate plea she's just requested of her.

Diana needs a moment to take it in; after all, she'd merely been on her way to collect her laundry when Akko had suddenly popped up and thrown this request at her. Diana is still processing it and needs confirmation.

"I beg your pardon?" She looks over Akko's posture, and can tell she seems genuine enough. But Diana still has trouble making sense of things. "You would like for me to assist you in learning magic?"

Akko's still frozen in her bow up until this point, but now she exaggeratedly bobs her head up and down.

"Yes! It's gotta be you, Diana! Everyone knows you're the best witch in Luna Nova! You know everything there is to know! If I wanna learn magic, then I'm gonna need a tutor on top of all the lessons I get in class!"

"Now hold on just a moment," Diana slows her down. "Firstly, I certainly do not know all there is to know about magic. Though I admit my knowledge does cover more of the spectrum than even the above-average students at this academy. But I certainly do not know all there is to know."

"Okay, okay, fine! Then you still know a heck of a lot! A lot more than I do, that's for sure!"

"I see." Diana reaches out and taps the girl's shoulder. "Stand up straight."

Akko shoots up immediately, that desperately-determined look still burning brightly in her eyes. But Diana doesn't want to cave in just because of that.

"And what of your teammates? Can they not assist you?"

"Oh, Lotte and Sucy definitely do help me out! But sometimes I don't take it as seriously as I should. Since they're my best friends and stuff, sometimes we end up messing around more than studying. I want someone who'll seriously whip me into shape! Someone I see more as a teacher than a friend!"

She clearly hadn't meant anything hurtful by saying this, but Diana still flinches ever so slightly. She's been trying as often as possible to drop hints to Akko that she would, in fact, be interested in initiating a friendship with her at some point, preferably in the very near future.

But Akko isn't always exactly the most perceptive of people. She seems to view Diana almost as a rival, or at the very least, a teacher, rather than a fellow classmate.

Diana is a little reluctant to continue with the topic, but she still wants to know exactly why Akko has come to her.

"And why not a professor?" she inquires. "Hasn't Professor Ursula been assigned to help you understand magic outside the classroom?"

"Yeah, that's true," she nods. "And she's really great! But like... when I'm with her, I feel like I'm in class again and I can't always focus! I start taking things way too seriously and then sometimes I think too hard and I screw up!"

"Really? With that woman?" Diana asks. "She doesn't seem to give off an intimidating presence."

"She doesn't..." Akko confesses. "I think it's just something I'm imposing. I can't help but see her as a teacher, so I always take things way too seriously, which usually just ends in disaster anyway..." Her shoulders slump as a long sigh exits her body.

Diana is given a moment to process all of this information.

Akko has really thought this through, it seems. She has selected Diana as her next potential tutor for good reason.

As she had previously stated, Diana is highly-skilled and extremely knowledgable about magic, and she ha rightfully earned the title of top student for her efforts. She isn't someone Akko considers a friend - at least not one she would end up fooling around with rather than practicing with. Surely, if she ever got distracted, Diana would put her back on track promptly.

However, Diana isn't her professor, either. Though she does give off a rather intimidating presence at times unlike Professor Ursula, Diana isn't part of the staff. She cannot punish Akko or give her extra clean-up duties if she makes a blunder, as most of the professors will do to her in class.

Diana possesses just the perfect mix of characteristics in order to help Akko learn magic more effectively. When she thinks about it now, it makes perfect sense as to why Akko chose her.

Diana is admittedly flattered, though she keeps any expression of such feelings to herself.

But Diana wants to give her one final test.

"While I can fully understand why it is you have selected me, I am afraid I already have too many responsibilities to see to as it is."

This is Akko's final test. Diana has already challenged her with the questions of why she has chosen her above her teammates and teachers, and Akko had given very reasonable answers. But if she is willing to give up on the endeavor solely because Diana is tight on time, then it means Akko was never very serious about it in the first place.

Diana watches the other girl as a look of deliberation comes across her features. She opens her mouth to speak, closes it again, then reaches up to tug at her hair. The overall sense of desperation is still pulsing off of her in waves, and Diana knows she doesn't intend to back down.

"Th-Then let me help you with some of your work!" Akko cries. "Please! I'll do anything! I just wanna learn magic!"

And with this, Akko has unknowingly passed her final test. Diana hides a tiny smile by dipping her chin.

"Very well."

"...Eh?"

"I shall consent to your wishes and-"

"R-Really?!" Akko shoots up to within an inch of Diana's face, emitting a joyous aura so palpably contagious Diana believes small flowers might start popping up around her in midair. Her chestnut eyes are absolutely glimmering with exuberant excitement, and the smile on her lips is so big, it looks like it's making her cheeks ache.

Taken aback, but not all that surprised, by her reaction, Diana withdraws a step.

"Yes. That is what I said, is it not?" She puts a hand to her mouth and looks away for a second to compose herself, trying to recover from the sudden attack of Akko's irresistibly adorable reaction.

"Uwaaaaah, really, Diana?! Do you really, really-"

"Did I not just give you my affirmative answer?"

Akko makes a sound like a tea kettle about to boil over. She reaches out to grab both of Diana's hands and shakes them vigorously.

"Thank you! Thank you sooooo much, Diana! I'll try not to disappoint you!"

"W-We shall certainly see about that." Diana promptly tugs her hands free and places them behind her back once more, trying to get ahold of herself. "N-Now then, I presume you would like to begin as soon as possible, correct?"

"Yeah, yeah! Oh, but if you have stuff to do, I understand. I know I kinda sprung this on you. B-But I did promise to help you with your chores or whatever so you could free up some time in your schedule to help me, so if there's anything I can do, just tell me!"

"That will not be necessary," Diana assures her.

"Huh? But you said-"

"I will make time to assist you as you have requested," she replies. "All you need to do is focus on your skills and remember all it is that I teach you."

"R-Really? Are you sure you don't-"

"Did I not just give you my answer?" Diana sighs once again. "Though, I do have one condition I would like to propose."

Immediately, Akko straightens up and gets serious.

"Anything! Just name it!"

Diana keeps her tone reserved.

"I do not think it necessary to proclaim to the rest of the Academy what you and I shall be doing."

It takes Akko a second to translate Diana's sophisticated words into modern language, but as soon as she understands, she asks for clarification.

"You... wanna keep it a secret? Oh, I guess that makes sense. You probably wouldn't want people to know that you're trying to help a hopeless witch like me behind the scenes. It'd ruin your reputation for su-"

Diana cuts her off by pushing her index finger against Akko's lips, effectively silencing her.

"Why must you read into things so unnecessarily now, yet you fail to apply such critical thinking skills in class?" she sighs. "My intentions for making this condition are nothing of the sort. I care not whether people consider this something that might tarnish my reputation. I simply believe that we do not have to make our activities known to others. This can remain undisclosed. It is something we can... keep between ourselves."

Akko isn't really sure why Diana is doing this at first, planning to keep their magic lessons a secret. She really had thought it was so Diana wouldn't risk her reputation, but judging by what she'd just said, Akko doesn't believe that's the case anymore.

Something tells her Diana isn't just doing this out of the goodness of her heart, either. Not to say that she isn't a good person, but Akko just thinks there's another reason behind it all.

Maybe she just... wants us to have our own space together. Something we can have together that we can't have with anyone else...

As the realization hits her, another huge smile spreads across her face. Diana quirks an eyebrow again.

"I take it you understand and will honor the nature of my request, then?"

"Yeah," Akko confirms. "Yeah, I get it, Diana! I won't say a word about it!" She swipes her thumb and index finger across her lips to seal them, then gives a salute in an unmistakable display of sworn loyalty.

And that's good enough for Diana.

"Very well. I will not have any time available for a few more days, but let us aim to get started sometime this upcoming weekend. Once I have deliberated in-detail where we can begin our practices, I will send you notice, so be sure to keep watch for such an indication."

"I will!" Akko chirps. "I definitely will! Thanks sooooo much, Diana!"

Akko can't stop herself from throwing her arms around the white-haired witch in her enthusiasm.

Diana is taken aback by the sudden embrace.

But the physical contact only lasts for mere seconds before Akko releases her and begins twirling around and skipping off down the hallway, humming nonsensically.

A bit flustered, Diana smoothes out her uniform and watches her go.

"My... what a strange girl."

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A/N: Future chapters will be longer! Think of this as more of a brief intro to the main plot.