Chapter Text
“I’ve got to say, everyone’s been so much more inviting than last time!” Akko remarked.
“Well, that is to be expected considering you were an uninvited, rowdy guest at the time,” Diana responded.
The two of them were currently in Diana’s room at the Cavendish Manor, sitting on her bed while chatting together.
Akko was currently at the Cavendish Manor for the first day of winter break. While Akko intended to return home to Japan that day, her flight ended up being cancelled, citing bad weather being the reason. Her new flight wouldn’t be until tomorrow, so Akko was looking for a place to crash for the night. Luckily for her, Diana offered to let her stay at the manor in one of its many guest rooms.
“Hey! What do mean rowdy?” Akko pouted.
“I mean that compared to last time, your manners today have been a considerable improvement.”
“…I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Diana smiled. “As you should.”
After a moment, Akko smiled again.
“Thanks again for letting me stay over for the night, by the way.”
“Do not mention it. If anything, you have done much more for me since we met. It is only fair I at least do this much.”
Akko blushed with a grin. “You say that like I changed your life or something!”
“No really, I mean every word,” Diana responded, also blushing.
Both flustered by Diana’s sincerity, an awkward silence filled the room for a few moments.
“Alright, well…” Diana began, breaking the silence. “This has been lovely, Akko, but I must be getting to bed now.”
Diana walked over to her desk and reached her hand into the bag containing her belongings she brought from Luna Nova. However, she then paused in confusion before feeling around inside, looking for something, with visible distress on her face.
Seeing Diana’s expression, Akko got up from the bed and walked over to her.
“Uhh, is something wrong?”
“The Alcor plush!” Diana exclaimed. “I left it at Luna Nova!”
“Oh no!”
“How did I manage to forget about it?” Diana said in disbelief.
“Are you sure you didn’t just drop it anywhere?”
“Akko, I did not open this bag until we had entered my room.”
“Well, why don’t we just call Luna Nova’s staff and have them send it over?”
“It is too late in the night. By the time it would arrive it would be well into the morning.”
“Um…maybe you can just use a replacement in the meantime?”
Diana sighed. “Akko, not any plush will do.” She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts. “…both the teddy bear I received from my mother…and the Alcor plush you gave me…they both hold a special meaning to me, and I believe that is why they are able to comfort my mind. A random plush simply cannot replicate that.”
“Diana…” Akko didn’t know what to say.
The room went silent once again. As Diana is faced with the prospect of being terrorized by more nightmares, Akko racked her brain trying to think of any possible solution to Diana’s problem.
Finally, like a lightbulb being powered on, an idea flashed in Akko’s mind.
“Diana!” Akko shouted, grabbing the blonde by her shoulders.
“W-what is it, Akko?”
“I can be your plush!”
“What?!”
“If you need something to cuddle with at night, then you can just…cuddle…me…”
Wh-what did I just say???
“Ehehehe…I, uh, didn’t really think that through…” Akko said in embarrassment. “…um, s-sorry for suggesting something weird like that…”
Just when Akko was about to step away, Diana stopped her.
“W-well, Akko…if…if you are truly okay with such a thing…I would not be opposed to that idea…” Diana said, sporting a large blush.
An equally large blush appeared on Akko’s face. “Oh, um…ok!”
“…right.” Diana stiffly replied.
Seeking an escape as the conversation was getting awkward again, Akko ran over to the door. “I’ll go get my stuff from my guest room.”
“Very well, and I shall get changed in the meantime.”
As Akko left the room and began running through the manor’s halls, her mind began racing thinking about what she just agreed to.
Come on, Akko! It’s totally not a big deal. I’m just having a sleepover with Diana!
Where we sleep in the same bed.
While she cuddles me.
And she looks so pret- NO! Stop it weird thoughts! We’re just two girls sharing a bed! Typical bestie behavior!
Eventually, Akko returned to Diana’s room in her pajamas and with her own belongings. Diana herself had changed into a light blue nightgown and was sitting on her bed reading a book.
“Ah, there you are Akko,” Diana greeted, a small blush returning. “You may place your belongings on one of the chairs to the side.”
Akko simply nodded and placed her stuff down, too flustered to respond properly, as Diana got up and returned the book to her bookshelf before walking back and climbing into bed. Akko awkwardly stood next to the bed, unsure how to proceed.
“…come over here, Akko,” Diana requested as she opened up her arms towards Akko. Her blush deepened but she remained firm.
“A-alright!” Akko proceeded to climb into bed herself. As she did so, Diana wrapped her arms around her and pulled her in close, placing Akko’s head against her chest which made the brunette even more flustered.
“Are you comfortable, Akko?” asked Diana.
“Y-yeah! How about you?”
“Yes, this…this is quite nice…” Akko was unable to see Diana’s expression, but she could hear Diana’s frantic heartbeat.
Gradually, however, Diana’s heartbeat slowed down, until it seemed to completely calm down. In fact, it seems Diana had fully relaxed with Akko in her arms.
“…good night, Akko.”
“N-night, Diana!”
With that, the room fell silent yet again, leaving Akko alone with her thoughts.
A-alright, just calm down Akko. Sure, you’re in bed with Diana Cavendish, and she’s cuddling you, and she looks cute in her nightgown, and she smells nice, and-
You know what this line of thought really isn’t helping me calm down.
Let’s think of something else…like what all my friends are doing right now! Let’s see…Lotte’s visiting her hometown again…Sucy’s staying with Hannah of all people…and I’m staying with Dia-nope! Not thinking about her…Amanda’s is on a “flight-trip” around England…Constanze is working on a new Stanbot design back home…Diana is cuddling me-DANG IT!
“…Akko…”
“Y-yes?!”
“…be careful with that spell…”
Oh, she’s talking in her sleep. And she’s dreaming about me.
That…makes me happy, for some reason.
“…Akko, that was beautiful…”
She’s…she’s praising me?!
I-I’m getting way too happy about this!
“…come over here, Akko…”
Diana’s arms became tighter around Akko.
Is she hugging me in her dream?
“…Akko…”
“…I love you…”
Wait.
WHAT?!
Akko suddenly wanted to know what the heck Diana was dreaming about for her to say something like that. Unfortunately for her, Diana just so happened to stop sleep talking after saying that.
Okay, think Akko! Why did she say that…
S-she probably meant it as a friend! I mean I’d definitely say I love her in a friendly, platonic way!
Or m-maybe I’m like, a sibling in her dream, so she’s saying she loves me as family! Makes sense to me!
Oooor, she misspoke! She meant to say that she loved my magic but just said it wrong! I do stuff like that all the time!
Akko continued to list off other reasons Diana would say that, with each excuse having flimsier reasoning than the last. Eventually, however, Akko calmed down and thought more about what Diana said.
…is that true Diana?
Do you love me?
…
Finally, Akko closed her eyes and wrapped her own arms around Diana.
“…I love you too, Diana.”