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Today was a relatively average day in Luna Nova.
The temperature was warm, for England, classes were relatively simple with no upcoming tests to worry about and the school wasn’t even on fire yet or in the midst of a coup. On top of that, it was the day of the week when they had no classes with Finnelan.
And even Amanda O'Neill, notorious for all the chaos and havoc she wrecks on the school, could get behind that.
Yeah stealing brooms from Nelson’s private collection and doing dangerous tricks on them was fun, but so was actually relaxing for once. Even the hard working Lotte wasn’t using her cauldron or listening to whatever twisted potion Lukić was introducing, rather talking to Jasminka about the different types of desserts she liked and which book in Nightfall she was re-reading.
It was chill, but that only made Amanda suspicious.
Days like these never happen, getting a calm day here was as plausible as Finnelan giving her a kiss on the check and an A+ in Ancient Languages. When they do, they are normally cut short due to certain-
“I’m on time!” Yelled the infamous voice, as a brunette came barreling in through the door, narrowly missing the poor student settling down nearest to the entrance as she ran into the classroom.
…Disruptions.
And there she was, the walking disaster herself, Miss-
“Atsuko Kagari. The next time you do that again, you will be testing my latest potion in front of the whole class,” Lukić cackled with a dangerous grin, swirling her latest creation in her hand that had just turned the most unappealing shade of greenish red.
Akko paled, nodding profusely at the teacher as she made her way to where Amanda and the rest of their gang were seated, chuckling nervously. The class quickly forgot the scene, chatting away as Lukić continued with her explanation, however something caught Amanda’s eye.
“Wow, new look Kagari?” The red head whistled, looking pointedly at Akko’s hair.
The brown locks were woven into a single, simple braid that Akko must have carefully laid over her shoulder at some point after entering the classroom. Her signature ponytail was gone, used for the braid, but the uneven bangs at the front weren’t, giving some familiarity to the look. Amanda had to admit, she didn’t look half bad, and there wasn’t a hair out of place even after her loud entrance.
Akko beamed at the comment. “Isn’t it amazing? I definitely pull it off!” she stated proudly, lifting the braid up for emphasis and a closer look.
“It is very pretty!” Lotte agreed in awe, reaching out a hand to the new braid.
Akko stepped back, face twisting up into a frown as she protectively held the braid close. “Sorry Lotte, but you can’t touch it.”
Lotte pulled back her arm in confusion. “Eh? Why not Akko?”
“You just can’t.”
Lotte just nodded, sitting back down as Amanda squinted suspiciously at the brunette, watching the interaction unfold with a piqued interest. When Akko relaxed enough to release the braid, she quickly sprung up out of her chair, leaning over her desk and making a grab for the hair. Akko gasped, managing to step back again in time before Amanda could reach the braid, now cradling it like a child.
“Amanda!”
“What gives man? It’s just hair,” Amanda said, refusing to back down as she made another grab. “I’ve seen you let Jasminka braid your hair before.”
She could feel the whole class silently watching the commotion, Lukić giving up trying to teach anything in favour of messing around with the vials on her desk, but she stared down the brunette, who was staring angrily back.
“Well, this time it’s different!” Akko barked defensively, taking another step away, just in case.
“And why is that?”
“Amanda…” Lotte tried to plead, worriedly watching the two as Amanda lunged again.
“Why?”
“It’s special! Ok?!” Akko yelled, face red as she turned on her heel and strutted away, taking a seat on the far end of the classroom.
Amanda let out a ‘tch’ and sat back down, letting the tension die down and the classroom fill up with bored chatter before turning to the girls next to her, eyebrow raised.
“Ok, it can’t only be me who thought that was weird, right?”
“Maybe, it’s because you pushed her, Amanda,” Jasminka scolded, looking over at Akko sympathetically. “It seemed important to her.”
“Yeah, but why? Her hair never meant this much before.”
“Maybe she wants to take better care of it?” Lotte added, bringing her finger to her chin.
“Amanda’s got a point though,” Sucy hummed, watching Akko as well, one eyebrow raised in contrast to her usual unimpressed stare. “She doesn’t even act half as worried when I try to poison her.”
Lotte paled at the implication, beginning to give a nonchalant Sucy an ear full off whilst Amanda turned away, the scratching of chalk catching her attention. Constanze’s hand scribbled quickly across her chalkboard.
‘What if she’s proud of what she braided?’
Amanda hummed, considering it. “You mean like, she braided her hair and doesn’t want to ruin it?”
Constanze nodded, but Sucy just laughed, shaking her head with a grin as her eyes didn’t leave her friend.
“Akko couldn’t accomplish something so neat and well done.”
“Sucy! That’s mean!”
“It’s true.”
As if on cue, a shout from the other side of the room signalled that Akko somehow set fire to Avery’s hair, and was trying desperately to put it out. Sucy gave a smug look and Lotte didn’t try to retaliate further, sighing but ultimately seeming to agree with the statement.
“Perhaps she used magic?” Jasminka suggested.
“With her magic ability?” Amanada scoffed. “No offence to her, I would be majorly impressed.”
The other witches fell silent, nodding in agreement, each one watching as someone else had managed to calm down the sudden panic. Akko could barely transform herself into an actual animal, let alone make a perfect braid all by herself.
A tap was felt on Amanda’s shoulder.
‘She must have had help?’ she read off Constanze’s board.
Amanda held her chin, nodding at it. “You’re right, and we’ll,” she gestured to her friends. “Get to the bottom of it!” Amanda declared, grinning at her friends.
The other five looked at her in doubt, but soon Constanze was nodding her head and gave a thumbs up, sticking her hand in the middle of the group. Jasminka and Lotte voiced their agreement shortly after, nodding and admitting to being curious whilst laying their hands on Constanze’s. Shortly after, and with a bit of persuasion from the fiery leader, Sucy dramatically sighed but half heartedly hovered her hand above the rest.
Amanda beamed, placing her hand at the top, earning a grumble from Sucy. “That’s the spirit! Mission, spy on Akko and uncover her new look, ago!”
Lotte cringed.
“That title needs to be reworked.”
“Hey, it’s a work in progress!”
Day two went by and the braid turned into two small braids that wrapped around the crown of Akko’s head and finished in a small ponytail, similar to her old one, with all the rest of her hair being let down underneath it.
They had made no progress.
Even with Lotte trying to spend more time with the brunette, Jasminka always offering up a snack to her or Amanda watching Akko’s every movement so closely that she crashed her broom during flight practice, they found out nothing.
Akko had still managed to slip away at some time during the day and return with a new hairstyle and a goofy grin to accompany it, showing it off to anyone who’d listen.
Amanda became increasingly annoyed, how could she just disappear without anyone seeing it? By dinner time, she decided to try and bring in some familiar faces.
“What are they doing here?” Sucy narrowed her eyes at Hannah and Barbra, the blue team duo looking out of place standing next to their table. “Don’t tell me you two want to make up with us, power of friendship or what not.”
Hannah scoffed. “Trust me, we wouldn’t be here willingly.”
Barbra nodded in agreement. “Amanda actually brought us here.” She gestured to the redhead standing confidently behind the two, arms crossed with a grin.
“Don’t worry guys, for these two are going to help us in our search for Akko's changing style!”
The six other witches gaped at her.
“What?!” Hannah and Barbra wheeled around to face her, hands on their hips and an annoyed look on both of them.
“Is this what you brought us here for? Really? I’m leaving.”
“I thought it would involve nightfall…”
“Are you sure that’s wise Amanda?”
‘Didn’t they bully Akko?’
“Did you just say nightfall?”
“What are they even going to do? Stand on the sidelines and be useless as always?”
Hannah gritted her teeth, staring daggers at Sucy for that last comment, opening her mouth to argue back. Amanda quickly pushed her way between the two.
“Wow guys, chill for a sec.” She held up her hands. “Listen, more people means more pairs of eyes observing Akko, right? And that means, this secret is uncovered faster!” She reasoned.
“Amanda this is starting to sound extremely creepy,” Lotte sighed.
“Starting??”
“Can’t we just ask Akko ourselves?” Jasminka suggested sceptically.
“Tried that, she won’t budge.” Amanda raised an eyebrow, motioning to Akko eating with the purple team, chatting happily and gesturing to her hair. “Plus, is no one curious how this is happening? Who even are those people?”
Hannah sighed, shaking her head. “This was a waste of time.”
“I mean, I am just a bit curious,” Barbra confessed, and when Hannah gave her a dumbfounded look, she hastily added. “I mean, it’s definitely not her doing it! It’s way too pretty for that! Right?”
Amanda smirked, slapping Barbra on the back. “See! This is why Barbs is my fav of you two lap dogs.”
“Excuse me?!” The two yelled in union, and Amanda received two smacks to her face.
It took some more back and forth, lots of arguing, and Lotte trying to calm everyone down before the blue team duo reluctantly sat down with the rest, sharing what information they already knew. Suggestions were tossed around and by the end of dinner, everyone agreed to meet there again at the same time tomorrow, and with that, the odd group disbanded.
Before she left, Amanda tossed one more glance at Akko, furrowing her brows as she left the dining hall with Jasminka and Constanze, promising to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Day three and the braid was replaced with a high bun and a small, beautiful flower pin holding it in place.
Amanda was going to go insane.
It was nearing the end of the day, and yet they still had nothing.
“I don’t know why you’re so hung up about this,” Lotte kindly admitted, as Jasminka patted a distraught Amanda on the back, who was currently face down on their table and grumbling. “It seems more trouble than what it’s worth.”
Amanda tilted her head to the side. “It’s so the people can know the truth, Lotte!” she declared, banging her fist on the table in a burst of frustration.
“The people don’t seem to quite frankly care, you idiot,” Sucy said through gritted teeth, looking seconds away from murdering the annoying red haid. Lotte nodded in agreement.
“What if we just let it go-”
“We’ve got a lead!” Hannah yelled, slamming her hands triumphantly on the table and startling the other five witches sitting around it, making Amanda jolt up her seat. It seemed she wasn’t the only one overly invested in this.
“Would it kill you to be more quiet?” Sucy hissed. “Or would I have to shut you up myself.”
Hannah ignored the jab. “We have a potential suspect.”
Amanda instantly perked up, leaning forward. “Go on.”
“Diana.” It was Barbra that answered this time, appearing from behind her teammate.
Everyone else stared at the two, Amanda even blinked and pinched herself just to be sure she heard it right, but they remained serious.
“I’m sorry, Diana? Diana Cavendish? Miss cold and perfect with the stick up her-”
“Yes! By Jennifer, is anything that comes out of that mouth of yours helpful?” Hannah raised her hand when Amanda started opening her mouth. “Don’t bother answering that.”
“Still, are you sure?” Lotte asked with wide eyes, and Amanda swore she could hear the gears turning in her head.
“Obviously, her hair smelled like Diana’s shampoo,” Barbra stated matter-of-factly, like it was common knowledge.
“I’m sorry what,” Amanda asked, any shock soon leading to a shit eating grin that was plastered on her face. “No way. You two don’t actually-?”
Lotte gasped dramatically, clutching her hands to her chest and squealing something about it being just like her favourite book, and Sucy had a grin not unlike Amanda’s, snickering to herself as she realised the implication. Even Constanze found this amusing, a small smile on her face as Jasminka hummed in amusement.
Hanna snapped her head at her friend, her eyes wide with fear. “Barbra! You weren’t supposed to say that part,” she hissed out through gritted teeth, her face turning a deep shade of red as the Lotte and Amanda ‘oooed’.
“No need to be ashamed ladies, we all have our weird secrets.” Amanda threw her arms around the two’s shoulders. “Yours just happens to be sniffing Dish’s soap.”
“Agh, I knew helping you idiots was a waste of time!” Hannah seethed, throwing Amanda’s arm off her and spinned around. “Come on Barbs, we’re leaving.”
Barbra yelped, shrugging Amanda off as well before running after Hannah, spewing out apologies. Amanda cackled, turning back to the witches at the table with a big grin.
“Well ladies, we have our lead. Now, let’s go pay our Top Student a visit, shall we?”
It didn’t take Amanda long to find the blonde haired witch, comfortably seated at a desk in the corner of the library, head in a big, thick book. Typical Diana. She wasn’t surprised at all, it was the first place she thought to look. The other four weren’t with her, but she could definitely catch them up, this wasn’t a chance for teasing she was passing up
Sauntering over to the table, Amanda plucked the book out of Diana’s hands and snapped it shut, tossing it carelessly behind her back.
“O’Neill,” Diana deadpanned. “I was interested in reading that.”
“Oh I know, but I think you would be wayyy more interested talking about a certain brown haired witch, wouldn’t you?” Amanda winked, grinning as Diana’s cheeks turned a light pink.
Bingo.
She’d known there was something going on between the two for a while, but until now, she didn’t have a reason for believing it was anything more than close friends.
“I have no idea what you are insinuating.”
Amanda sighed. Oh gay little cabbadge, do I really need to use forceful tactics on you?
“Oh you know what I mean, the long glances during class, the blush whenever there is any physical contact.” She tutted, pointing at Diana’s reddening face. “Then, Akkos got a new hairdo and it smells like your shampoo?”
“I can- wait, how do you know that?” Diana furrowed her brows in suspicion.
“Irrelevant.” Amanda waved her hand. “What I’m insinuating is, at this point you should just make out in front of the class.”
“O’Neill!”
“Or atleast, tell me why you have been doing Akko’s hair these past few days?” She leaned in, a hopeful glint in her eyes. “You two finally together?”
Diana sighed, looking unnaturally nervous as she looked away. “Well, no.”
Amanda’s face dropped, but let Diana continue.
“You see…”
Diana stared wistfully out the window, cup of tea in hand as she enjoyed the rare, nice day England seemed to be having. She hummed, bringing her cup to her lips before the door swung open, bashing roughly against the wall.
“Diana!”
Diana jumped in her seat, tea sloshing around in her cup as her hand jolted in surprise from the familiar, and really loud, voice.
“Akko,” she sighed, setting down the cup. “Please knock before you barge into my room.”
The aforementioned witch, who’d just invaded Diana’s room and marched up to said person, stopped in her tracks, taking both of Diana’s hands in hers, staring up at her.
“I’m sorry Diana, I just… have a problem that I really want help with…” she mumbled, seemingly losing confidence as she fidgeted with Diana’s hands. “I mean, now that I think about it, it’s kinda silly…”
Diana could feel her face heating up, but willed it away in favour of helping her friend with her predicament.
“It’s fine Akko, I’ll try my best to help with whatever it is,” she said reassuringly, giving Akko’s hands a squeeze. “We are friends after all.” God that hurts to say.
Akko looked away, biting her lip as she considered her question.
“Diana, do you know how to braid hair?”
“W-what?” She was taken aback by the almost childish question, but seeing Akko’s hesitant expression was all the convincing she needed. “Well, I do know some styles, but why?”
“It’s my Okaasan’s birthday today, and every time it is, she braids my hair the way she did when I was a child, a single, simple braid.” Akko’s eyes shined brightly as she relived the memories. “I wanted to do it this year too, but I’ve always been bad at braiding hair, so I wondered if you could help me out?”
She put on her best pleading face, eyes droopy and sad to fully convince Diana to help her. Like Diana wasn’t already head over heels for the dork and would do anything for her.
“Of course I’ll help you Akko.” Diana smiled warmly at her crush.
“Yay!” Akko exclaimed, beaming as she brought Diana into a grateful hug. “You’re the best.”
Diana smiled, laughing as Akko led her over to her bed, sitting down on the ground with her back to it, patting the space eagerly behind her. Diana hummed in amusement but complied, setting herself behind Akko, taking her cute little ponytail out of it’s band, letting it fall down with the rest as she gently combed through it.
Akko’s hair was surprisingly soft and well kept, Diana only finding a few small tangles in the otherwise smooth blanket of brown hair.
She jerked her hands away, realising she had been petting it for longer than normal.
“So, one classic, single braid?” Diana laughed nervously, trying to dispel the rising blush that was repairing from earlier.
“Yup!” Akko bopped her head up and down.
The blonde took in a deep breath, and nodded. She could do this. She could totally braid a cute girl's hair and live to tell the tale, right?
Just then Akko decided to lean her back against Diana’s legs, and she knew it was all over.
Somehow, despite being barely able to function properly due to gay overload, Diana managed to create a neat and beautiful braid that even she could be proud of. Akko was over the moon, twirling around in front of the mirror and showering Diana’s work in compliments and hugs, to which Diana definitely didn’t protest.
“Thanks a lot Diana, it’s amazing!”
Akko hesitated for a split second, before leaning on her tiptoes and giving Diana a quick peck on the cheek. Diana felt like she was going to combust, gawking stupidly at Akko who’s face matched the colour of her eyes.
Quickly, Akko turned around and bolted out the door, shouting one last word of thanks before disappearing.
Diana touched her cheek.
Wow.
“And every day since, she has found me, asking for a new style.” Diana smiled wistfully, lost in her own little world.
Amanda laughed, shaking her head as she eyed Diana’s smitten expression. Now she knew why that braid was so special.
“You know Dish, I think ya should ask her out. After that, I just have the slight feeling that your feelings are reciprocated.” She winked. “Plus, if ya don’t, I might snag her.”
Diana’s eyes narrowed at the red haired girl, but Amanda just simply rolled her eyes and pushed Diana out of her chair, leading her to the library’s exit.
“Go get your girl, you useless lesbian.”
With one finally shove, she shooed Diana out of the library and watched her walk off, sighing and smiling to herself.
These witches gay, good for them.