#diakko week

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Diakko Week- Day 1: Love Languages

A/N: It’s been a while. 35Hrs or school/per week goes brr, but Diakko week is bigger brrr. I’m screwing myself over by doing this instead of my million requirements due, but hey! Happy Diakko week~. I’m planning to make the whole week just one whole story with a few time gaps :> (P.S. I haven’t written in a while so I expect this to be a wreck. Thanks.)

Enjoy?

~Shintori Khazumi

“There’s no way she likes me.”

“How do I get Diana to fall for me?”

Constanze’s brows furrowed as a piece of her sponge cake fell onto the table, off her fork from the force of Akko’s hands that slammed against their usual lunch table.

Eight of the New Nine were seated around it, a mix of emotions across all their faces- irritation, sheer confusion, shock, and indifference. Akko looked dead serious as she shifted her gaze from one friend to the other, awaiting their solicited advice.

Hannah blinked once, twice. She turned her head to Barbara who simply stared right back at her and shrugged. Hannah turned back to Akko before placing her fork down on her plate. Gracefully, she stood up and made her way over to Akko, stopping a foot or two away and staring into her eyes.

Akko cocked her head to the side curiously. What was Hannah-

The next thing she knew, her cheek stung, the sound of a slap still echoing in her ears. “What the f-”

“Oh, so I’m not dreaming.” Hannah muttered, examining her hand with greatinterest.

“What- that’s not how you che- Why did you slap me?!”Akko screeched, perplexed. She hadn’t expected that at all. She had only wanted to ask how to impress Diana enough that she’d maybe say yes to going to the latest Shiny Chariot movie premier with her next weekend.

“Ah, that.” Hannah hummed, looking up at the ceiling for a second, as if the answer was written there somewhere. “I don’t quite know, if I’m being honest. I suppose feeling the sting on my palm makes the situation feel realer. Your cheek against it also helped.” She shrugged, gaze resting on Akko once more.

Akko had so many things she wanted to say, but refrained. She settled for incoherent cursing under her breath, caressing her reddening cheek lightly, wincing as she touched it the wrong way.

“Damn it, Hannah. That really hurt.”

“Sorry, I was just… really shocked.”

“What?” Akko looked at her incredulously. “Why?”

“I mean…” The other brunette looked about their table, meeting everyone’s eyes, each nodding their agreement to a silent message they all seemed to have received except Akko. “See?”

“Seewhat?!”She asked, perplexed.

“See how Diana practically undre-” Lotte successfully clapped a hand over Sucy’s mouth, nervously chuckling as Akko continued to look confused.

“What Sucy meant to say,” Barbara cut in, nodding at Lotte’s grateful look directed her way. “Is that we all thought you were already dating.”

…

“what?!”

“Enough to probably be screwing behind our bac- A-AH! MY BACK! JASNA, HANNAH, MY- MY BACK-”

Akko would have felt sorry for Amanda for what had happened to her- or maybe incredibly angered and flustered at what she said- if she had actually registered anything after the word ‘dating’ dropped from Barbara’s mouth.

Akko turned to Hannah once more, a shaky finger raised up and pointing to herself. “Me?”

A nod.

“A-and Diana?”

Another nod.

“…DATING?!”

“Well, we also thought you were fuc-”

Amanda would contribute no more to the present conversation after that, resting peacefully in her soup bowl (courtesy of Lotte).

Akko, meanwhile, didn’t know what to do with that information, now sinking onto her spot on the bench, head falling on her arms atop the table. The girls felt worry seep in, Lotte reaching over to pat Akko comfortingly and asked if she was troubled by those rumors-

Akko suddenly lifted her head up, a mix of determination and curiosity sparkling in her gaze despite the anxiousness veiling it. Sucy had to reel back slightly at the brightness of her demeanor.

“W-what made you guys think we were dating?” She stuttered out so quickly, waiting for the response intently, teeth worrying her bottom lip as she did so. “I mean, she’s never really treated me any different than you all right? A-and… I don’t think… we’ve ever said we l-lo-like each other a lot… or anything… But…”

Akko looked down at her hands, clenched atop the table, thinking of how to say her next words.

“There’s no way she likes me… right?” She met Hannah’s gaze with a sad smile. “At least not in the way I like her…”

Hannah sighed as she rested her cheek against her knuckle, leaning on the table. “Really?”

“What?”

“You really haven’t noticed?”

“Noticed?”

Akko’s brows scrunched together even more than they already did as she listened to the frustrated groans coming from Diana’s roommate. She barely picked up the quiet muttering of, “I can’t just tell her outright, or Diana will kill me, but this is such a pain-”.

“Hanna-”

“Akko.” Hands slapped onto the table, Hannah mimicking Akko’s actions from earlier. She earned her own frustrated glare from Constanze as another piece of her cake went to waste. But that wasn’t important to Hannah at the moment. The idiot pair they considered their friends needed some serious pushing else they all wither away irritated at their constant dancing around each other without just coming out and saying the obvious. “Kagari Atsuko.”

“Hannah England?”

“No, idi- whatever. Akko.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know anything about love languages?”

“…huh?”

//-//-//-//-//

Akko never quite liked long lectures. Not if they involved getting her ear talked off with topics she couldn’t care a rat’s ass about.

But this… this was interesting… and a little nerve wracking.

She didn’t mind having to try to follow up the knowledge she was supposed to gain from these lecture with practical application, but the knowledge she had just acquired might just make hertoo conscious to really focus on the application that might be going on. It wouldn’t be much trouble to track herown progress- or lack thereof- in terms of integrating her learning, but in this case, she was supposed to observe someone else apply what she had just been told.

And Hannah had spent a good chunk of yesterday after class ‘educating’ her while a certain someone was off doing her usual duties, unable to spend time with Akko in the meantime.

And yes, that someone she was supposed to observe was Diana. Diana Cavendish.

Akko could still hear Hannah’s voice as she pointed to a crudely drawn hand on the board in Professor Pisces’ classroom that they had borrowed for their meeting.

“Do you understand? You, for example, love physical touch right? Why do you do it? Because you want all your friends to know you care, right?” Hannah went off on a tangent, not even allowing Akko to reply to her questions. “That’s your love language. The way you show love.”

Akko could only nod, her hand having stilled from note-taking long ago.

“I’m not too sure myself, but I would like to believe that Diana’s love language involves words of affirmation and acts of service. Maybe some quality time. I mean,” She turned to Akko, tapping the edge of her wand against Akko’s desk. “You must have noticed that she always puts aside time in her ridiculously busy day to be with you in the library, right?”

“I-”

“Don’t answer.” Hannah held a hand out, not wanting to hear another, ‘there’s no way she likes me’ denial from Akko after everything she had pointed out as they went on with their ‘lesson’.

Akko kept mum, sucking her lips in, as she crossed her arms in front of her. Despite having been friends with Hannah for two years already, she still didn’t like getting ordered around by her.

“Okay. Since you now know all of this, but still won’t believe me…” Hannah began, clearing off the board before anyone walked in on them and saw all the scribbles written there. “It’s time for an assignment.”

She heard Akko groan, tutting her immediately. “Uh-uh. No. You don’t get to complain about this.”

“Hannaahhh-”

“You,” She poked a finger on Akko’s forehead, ignoring her displeasure. “Are going to observe Diana.”

Akko blinked. “That’s it?”

“While keeping all we talked about in mind.”

Akko immediately flushed. “Come on, Hannah. What if I overthink things? This is Diana. She’s always like… helpful and nice and stuff. And sweet and kind. What if I do take it as this ‘love language’ thing, but to her it’s just… normal.”

Hannah wanted to roll her eyes, but knew Akko’s concerns were very well valid. She had been there as well. Kinda. She chanced a glance at Barbara waiting outside the door, chatting with Lotte excitedly. Probably about nightfall. She sighed, holding back a smile.

“You’ll know. I can promise you that.”

//-//-//-//-//

And here Akko was now, standing in front of Diana’s door, bright and early. Hannah and Barbara had talked Diana into getting Akko to come along with her on her daily routine, telling her that she was starting to look tired and stressed, and could use the help-whichwas probably true. Diana had been getting busier and busier as graduation day approached, and Akko was concerned herself.

She didn’t know how they convinced other faculty and staff that Akko was assigned to do monitoring as well, but she could safely assume that her favorite teacher had something to do with it.

Akko held up a hand, ready to knock on the door- but it quickly swung open before she could make a sound, a frazzled Diana greeting her sight.

“My sincerest apologies, dear Akko. I- I realized I’d overslept, and on the day that you were going to join me even! I can’t believe I-”

Akko snorted, her still-outstretched hand laying a finger on Diana’s lips to quiet her down. “Diana.” Akko felt her own heart flutter at the way that name rolled off her tongue. “Good morning.” She softly greeted and smiled her gentlest possible smile.

Diana was momentarily frozen, worrying Akko somewhat but that was quickly dismissed as she breathed a relieved sigh, giving Akko her own smile in return.

“Good morning.” She whispered. “Akko.”

And Akko could’ve sworn Diana had kissed her finger before taking Akko’s hand and leading her down the corridor to have an early breakfast.

This was going to be a long day for Kagari Atsuko.

…not that she minded.

//-//-//-//-//

Akko stared at the same board Hannah had written on about a week ago, zoning out of Pisces’ class on the Ethics of magic involving life, reincarnation, and necromancy. While it certainly was interesting enough to arrest the entirety of Diana’s attention, the same could not be said for Akko.

There was a matter of greater concern for her at the moment.

And that was, quite obviously, Diana Cavendish.

Hannah’s list of ‘Diana’s love languages’ floated about Akko’s mind, linking themselves to all that had transpired while they were together this past week.

During that first breakfast when it had all began, Diana had constantly offered to help Akko grab whatever she wanted for her meal, even going so far as to carry both their trays to their usual shared table. She had also went back to the counter to grab Akko a mug of hot chocolate to go with the rest of her breakfast.

After that, she took the emptied trays to the drop-off counter and came back with some wipes to offer to Akko who accepted in embarrassment after realizing she had remnants of food around her mouth (She made a mental note to work on her table manners).

Diana had then extended a hand to her and escorted her to all their locations for the morning patrol.

Akko knew Diana worked hard, but seeing how much work she actually managed for the school made her heart swell in pride, watching her dearest person talk with academy staff to resolve issues from simple things such as calling up plumbers for leaking pipes to reviewing security measures of the school. Diana truly was all sorts of amazing.

As they continued on with Diana’s long to-do list, she had also allowed Akko to help her out with itand take charge at times, and each time they accomplished a task, Diana would compliment Akko and tell her she’d done a great job. This went on throughout the entire day, throughout the whole week.

Those weren’t the only instances that Diana had showered her with genuine praise. When they had their usual study sessions in their own little corner of the library, Akko realized just how much Diana tended to compliment her and give her positive feedback. Sure, the girl would still point out any mistake Akko had made but it was always done with gentlest of criticisms.

Akko had also noticed that whenever she voiced her own admiration for the heiress, Diana practically glowed, showing Akko a beatific smile comparable to that of an angel as she thanked her. Thanked her. Akko wanted to thank Diana for making her feel this blessed.

If they made her that happy, Akko should really let Diana know more often how much she looks up to her, and well looks at her, in general. If only for that smile.

And speaking of smiles… Akko… wondered how she’d never noticed before, but Diana seemed to… smile at her. Well, she smiled at everyone, yes, but-

…

It just… feltdifferent.

She’d first caught it while they were quietly reading in the library. She had looked up from her book to ask a question, but was immediately flustered as she met Diana’s eyes, and the small tip of her lips, her entire expression seemingly veiling Akko with a kind warmth.

She had asked a simple, “Yes?”, but Akko had already forgotten what she wanted to say, opting to return to her book as she mumbled, ‘nothing’. Diana did this as they ate, continued to smile as they walked the halls hand in hand, letting Akko know she was paying attention to whatever chatter the smaller girl had going on by squeezing her hand as she kept her eyes focused on where they were going.

Akko also realized that Diana tended to do a lot of other little things for her that went beyond the common greeting and courteousness she showed towards other students and peers. Even towards their friends.

While Diana would sometimes leave a door open after her if she knew many more students would follow after her, she always held one open for Akko to walk in first. When she could, she’d help Akko carry her materials to their next class, despite possibly having more of her own. Diana would even sometimes have small snacks and bottles of water prepared to offer to Akko if she ever needed a break during their study sessions and patrol.

Akko was beginning to see what her friends had said that they saw. That maybe- just maybe- Diana liked her back to-

‘No.’

Akko flinched, reeling back slightly in her seat, earning her a concerned glance from Diana. She waved it off with a smile, gesturing to the girl to go back to focusing on their lesson, pretending to take down notes as well. She hoped she was at least a little convincing.

‘You’re not enough.’

Akko could feel her face pull into a frown, grip on her pen tightening slightly.

‘You’re not good enough for her. She’s too high up, and you couldn’t even take to sky in the beginning.’

Akko shook her head, ridding herself of the thoughts she had constantly pushed down throughout her years of growing to like Diana. She had allowed those ideas to consume her for a while, pushed her feelings to the side and convinced herself that she was satisfied with staying Diana’s friend if it meant that she could be by her side forever.

But then on a spur of the moment, she had thought that maybe there was the smallest possibility that she had a chance. Maybe she could get Diana to like her.Fallfor her even. What a silly thought.

[“How do I get Diana to fall for me?”]

Would it have been better if she’d never asked?

//-//-//-//-//

“You.”

Akko didn’t even want to look up, already knowing who it was.

“Don’t make me slap you.”

“You do it anyway.” She groaned. Regardless, she gave Hannah her attention, her dull eyes meeting the fiery orbs of her friend. “What.”

“That’s what I’m asking. What. Just what do you think you’re doing?”

Akko winced at the shrill voice, not having enough sleep lately to be able to deal with it at the moment. “What are you talking about?” She asked, rubbing her eyes tiredly.

She yelped as Hannah flicked her forehead with spite, rubbing the quickly reddening area.

“I’m asking why you’re avoiding our Diana, idiot. Enough to come to the class incredibly early, before anyone else.” Hannah sighed, taking a seat in front of Akko. “What happened?”

“Nothing happened.”

“Well, I had hoped something good did, but with how you suddenly left her all high and dry-”

“Did you know that that phrase means ‘helpless or abandoned’?”

“What?” Hannah didn’t get why Akko was cutting her off mid-scolding, but she better have a damned good reason because she had been holding back quite well.

“Diana is amazing.”

“Yes, I know. Obviously.” Hannah didn’t know where she was going with this.

“She’s so capable. She can do everything. Teachers trust her so much.”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

Akko looked out the window, just in time to catch the subject of their conversation taking off for her morning patrol, the early morning sun caught up in her light tresses, coating them in golden glows.

“She’s beautiful and talented. Everyone looks up to her. Underclassmen, classmates… professors…” Akko sighed. “She’s everything anyone could ever want.”

“Yes, and?” Hannah was growing impatient.

Akko turned to her, looking annoyed, as if she had hinted at a universal truth that she should have already known. “And I’m not.”

Hannah blinked.

“Well, of course not.”

Akko blinked, eyes widening as she hadn’t expected Hannah to deny it so frankly. Akko would have said something, but Hannah returned the earlier favor of being cut off mid sentence.

“But you’re everything Diana seems to want, no-” Hannah shook her head, getting up and confusing Akko with her action. “You’re all she really wants.” Hannah said, giving Akko a lighter flick on the exact same spot before walking towards the door.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Akko questioned, but not really meaning to keep Hannah with her there.

“Just gonna give you two space to talk things out. If Diana keeps me up one more night, Iwillget you for it.” Hannah waved, beginning to leave behind a still perplexed Akko. She paused in her steps for a moment to say one last thing. “For the record? I think you’re pretty amazing yourself.”

“Wait, what do you-”

As Hannah reached the classroom door, she opened it a little wider to reveal a Diana stepping in, the sheepish smile on her lips betrayed by the conflicting hurt in those ocean blues Akko loved so much. She felt a weight in the pit of her stomach, regret and a sudden fear of what Diana was here to do triggering her fight or flight response.

“H-hello.” Diana had got out, both witches surprised that Diana had grabbed Akko by the wrist, preventing her from leaving. “So-sorry.”

“It’s… okay.”

Diana still hadn’t let go.

Akko didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know… why she was even feeling this way. Just over a week ago, she had woken up one morning determined to finally make the object of her admiration and affections look her way, and maybe move a step further from the friendship they’d always had.

But why did she suddenly get scared? What had changed? Had Diana? No. She’d always been the same, probably. So was it Akko? Was it because she saw a possibility in something she didn’t actually think was possible? That Diana could like her back? What was so bad about that? Wasn’t that what she wanted?

Someone as amazing as Diana, and someone as… mediocre as her.

What would people say? Would they talk about them? Would they talk about Diana? Would her family terrorize her again? Would the teachers lose faith in the one they had the highest hopes for? Would all the students lose their admiration for the Diana Cavendish all because she accepted love from someone as lowly and unqualified as Akko?

Love?

Did she… oh. She loved her. Akko loved Diana Cavendish. Akko felt the corners of her mouth shakily tip up, before falling.

It was because Akko loved Diana then, that she couldn’t bear it if anyone thought badly about the heiress because of her. Diana was amazing in every right. But what if Akko was the stain to that sparkle, the one who would bring a star down from her place in the night sky?

What if Diana…

What if-

“I’m in love with you.”

Huh?

“Huh?” Akko looked up at a bewildered Diana, hands shifting from covering her mouth to frantically waving about. “Wait… I- I’m sorry, I wasn’t supposed to… what I meant to say was… no, no! This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. I was supposed to… I mean… well, you know now, but I know that there’s no real way that could love, or even like me ba- Dear Beatrix! Why are you crying?!”

Akko reached up, feeling a wetness against her fingertips. “Huh.”

“Huh???”

“Huh…ha… hahaha… HAHAHA!” Akko began to laugh aloud, rubbing her eyes as she continued laughing through the tears.

“Akko?” Diana didn’t know what to make of this.

“Diana.” Akko wiped a final tear away, laughter dying down.

“Y-yes?”

Diana squeaked as Akko pulled her into a tight embrace, nuzzling her nose against the taller girl’s shoulder, calming down with her scent.

“Diana.”

“Yes?”

“Diana,”

“Yes?”

“Diana… you love me?” Akko whispered so soft, Diana almost didn’t catch it. Yet she did.

“Yes.”

Akko squeezed tighter, head light and fighting against whatever voices were trying to ruin this moment. “Why?”

“…Why? What do you mean ‘why’?” Diana pushed Akko back enough to see her face stricken with dried tears, forehead still red. She chuckled, swiping her thumb gently against the area before placing a kiss there, making Akko blush. “Because you’re all sorts of amazing.”

Akko felt a quiver in her lip, barely managing a weak, “How”?

Diana smiled. Smiled that same warm, admiring, loving smile she had always used with Akko. “With how you see the world and magic with such an innocence; with how you smile so brightly and light up every room you enter; with how you teach people to dream; how you try your best in all that you do.”

Akko’s hands unconsciously balled up Diana’s uniform, listening.

“You’re amazing in how you reach your goals through unconventional means. You’re innovative, and creative. You’re a little too excitable at times for me to keep up, but you use all that energy to help everyone around you. You’re so kind. And… you have such a beautiful believing heart.” Diana leaned her head down to nuzzle her nose against Akko’s. “And I love you.”

Akko released a shaky breath. “What if people talk?”

“Hmm? About me? Liking women? What of it?”

“No, no. Like…” Akko looked into Diana’s eyes, searchingly. “I’m not like you. I… what if they talk badly about you because you’re with… someone like me?”

Diana looked adorably confused by those words, and Akko couldn’t help but smile.

“As in… jealously? Because I’m with the hero who saved the world?”

Akko pinched her side and Diana laughed. “You know what I mean.”

Diana grinned. “I do.”

“And?”

“Must I care about it?”

That actually made Akko’s negativity come to a halt.

“That’s right.” Diana said, pulling Akko back into her embrace, speaking as though she’d read her mind. “I didn’t think you were one to care about such things. You always seemed to go off on your own regardless of what anyone thought, braving the world with your small but reliable form.” Diana placed a gentle kiss to her temple. “What makes this time any different?”

Akko asked herself the same question. She’d always done all she could to defy other people’s expectations, to prove their words against her wrong. But…

“Maybe I was just afraid that you’d be affected by it. That maybe if your reputation went bad, maybe you’d have to… um…with me…” She pulled away from Diana for a bit, putting up two fingers together and pulling them apart.

Diana was still smiling, but Akko could see that she was a little hurt. “Do you really think I’m a person of such character?”

Akko had made a mistake.

“N-no! I… I…” Akko peered down at her shuffling feet against the marbled lecture hall floor. “You’re not. I just… I-I don’t know. I’m just not… I might not be as amazing as you say.”

She heard Diana sigh, flinching as she was ready for any negative reply, or reprimand. Or maybe a comment of how Diana was getting tired of this and had made a mistake of saying that she loved her-

“Are you free this weekend?” Akko nodded slowly, unsure of what was going on. Diana grinned. “Perfect. Then I guess I’ll have to just show you.”

“Show me…?”

“How amazing you are. And hopefully one day, you’ll know it too.”

Akko’s heart warmed, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. “Thank you…”

“Ah, but before that.” And back was Diana’s sheepish smile. Akko cocked her head to the side, urging her to go on. “You didn’t really… reply? To uh… my confession? It was a confession, I suppose. Aaahh, this was not how I planned it. I was only supposed to take you out to that new Shiny Chariot movie, then maybe go for dinner and then maybe, possibly, probably tell you how I felt, but since I already blurted it out, I guess you could say I’m just expecting an answer, and I’m not telling you that you have to return my feelings or anything like that, or that you should um, I wouldn’t like it if you turned me down either, but-”

As Diana continued her rambling, Akko placed both hands on the heiress face, squishing her cheeks together to get her to stop long enough for Akko to express herself.

“Ohkoh-?”

Akko grinned against Diana’s soft lips, giggling as she felt the heiress go stiff before she pulled away, taking in that dazed expression.

“Someone taught me that people have love languages, and mine was physical touch- or so I was told.” Akko carressed Diana’s face still cupped in her hands. “Do you… get what I mean?”

“…way…”

“Huh?”

“No way.”

“Um, Diana?”

“There’s no way! Did you- you just… you… you kissed me!”

“I-I did!” Akko responded in surprise.

“You kissed me!”

“Y-yes!”

“You kissed-”

“STOP BROADCASTING YOUR INDECENT ACTS TO THE WHOLE SCHOOL, THANK YOU!” Hannah’s voice cut in, making both freeze in place, gazes turning to the door before they burst out laughing.

Maybe they owed Hannah an apology. Or two for all that they’d put her through recently.

As they calmed down, Diana nuzzling Akko’s temple once more, she repeated the words more quietly. “You kissed me.”

Akko nodded against her shoulder, squeezing around her waist, pulling her ever closer.

“So I suppose it’s safe to say that… you love me too?”

“There’s no way I couldn’t.”

//-//-//-//-//

“Awww, so you do care about your friends.” Sucy remarked dryly as she and Hannah peeked in on the scene unfolding while they guarded the classroom entrance from any new arrivals.

Hannah rolled her eyes fondly, shrugging. “Not really. Maybe I just wanted to make my eyes bleed from their insufferable flirting. Who knows.”

Barbara giggled against her hand, the other intertwining with Hannah’s. “Of course.”

Hannah looked away to hide her flushed cheeks, grumbling to herself as they watched over their friends taking the first step to a new relationship.

“If your eyes ever do bleed, can I have some of your blood? For science.”

“No.”

A/N: This wasn’t supposed to be like this :<. It was supposed to be just…. fluffy and cute. I’m sorry. Weeee

~Shintori Khazumi