Chapter One

"Neh, Diana!"

The sound of a book closing and a gentle "ahem" replied.

Akko continued. "At your house, did you have animals? I noticed it was really big and had lots of open spaces."

Diana set her book down and nodded. The two were in the library, studying, well, Akko was, Diana was reading a novel.

"Yes. We have dogs, cats, some chickens and horses-"

"YOU HAVE HORSES?!"

"SHHHHHH!" The sound of the librarian hissing loudly nearly made Akko jump out of her seat while Diana softly sighed.

Once Akko finished bowing and saying sorry, they returned to their conversation. Akko's eyes were bright and cheery. "You have horses? How many? What kind? What color?"

Diana softly chuckled at Akko's earnestness. "Yes, four, they're all quarter horses and three are brown and one is black. Does that answer all of your questions?"

Akko was too busy reacting to the answers before asking more questions. "When did you learn how to ride them?"

Diana briefly thought before answering. "I would say...a little after I turned seven. I was very eager to start learning but my parents were concerned about my safety."

Akko's eyes widened even further. "Was it scary? Do you remember your first time riding?"

Diana paused again. The blonde was so used to riding and the act was familiar, that trying to remember the first time was quite difficult. Her brows furrowed but nothing was coming.

"I...don't remember. But I do enjoy riding. I never thought of it as scary." Diana finally answered.

"I see, I see. Hmm...I've never rode a horse but it looks really fun!" Akko answered, while laying her head on her hands on the table. Her eyes drifted upwards, as if imagining.

Diana didn't realize what she said until a moment later. "Wait, Akko, you've never ridden a horse?"

"No?"

"Is it...not common in Japan?"

"Well...I mean we have horses and there is horse riding, but it's considered to be traditional and only old families really do it..." Akko glanced at Diana. "Like yours!"

Diana nodded but was still shocked. "Huh...I've read that there is horseback archery done within Japan but I suppose that in its self is considered archaic as well..."

Akko hummed. "Yeah, only shrine maidens do it. I saw it one time when I was little. It was pretty great!"

Diana put a hand to her mouth, looking quizzical. Akko watched her, enjoying the sight of Diana clearly wondering about something. Diana noticed the stare and turned away.

"Akko, would you be interested in learning how to ride a horse?" Diana finally asked, her face still turned away.

"Ehhh?! Really?! You mean it?!" Akko half-yelled, half-whispered, remembering the past reprimand of the librarian. The brunette scooted closer to Diana, her chair squeaking. Their shoulders touched and Diana blushed, finally turning her head towards Akko. "Yes, I mean it, otherwise I wouldn't have asked you."

"At your house? When?" Akko continued, her face moving closer and closer to Diana's.

"Y-Yes: How does this weekend sound? Or is it too soon?"

"That works! YAY!"

"SHHHH!"

Two days later and it was Friday. Specifically, 15:03. Akko was humming happily, carrying a small backpack full of things ready for a weekend trip. And possibly more, Akko noticed, the heft of the backpack more heavier than usual.

She swung her legs, waiting on a bench in the campus square for Diana, enjoying the bright sunny day

"Akko." Diana appeared, calling out softly, making her way across the square. Akko jumped up and ran to her, close to her side. "Diana! I was so excited; I think I packed like three times! …Maybe four."

Diana smiled. She had been doing that a lot more lately. Maybe it was the burdens lifted from her shoulders that made the blonde much more expressive and honest. The family mantle and the Seven Words and all that. Akko wasn't too sure but was nonetheless happy to see the change. To think she would be going on a trip with Diana Cavendish! Half a year ago the two were at each other's throats and even Akko herself struggled to see Diana as a potential friend.

And now they were bumping shoulders and chatting (Akko was anyway, Diana was mostly making noncommittal noises). Akko noticed Diana's broom then. It was different.

"Diana, is your broom longer?"

"What? Oh, um, yes. I mean—you're beginning to get better at broom riding but I thought it would be a good idea to practice during the weekend. This broom is for two riders. I…if it's all right with you. If you brought your own broom that's fine, you can—" Diana was beginning to babble at bit and Akko intervened. "That sounds like a great idea! That's really nice of you Diana. Its probably easier than taking a bus, that's for sure."

Diana nodded and the girls kept walking, towards the edge of the campus, near the forest line of trees barring the outside world from the academy. It was still bright out, since it was summer, and Akko was thankful she didn't need to bring her cape. Diana stopped and started tying her bag to the broom and swinging her leg over, preparing for the ride. Akko, without thinking, jumped on the broom as well, causing Diana to shriek a bit.

"Sorry! I just got excited!"

"…Tell me, next time, when you're boarding."

"Heh…heh…" Akko awkwardly laughed.

The lift off was smooth, so smooth in fact that Akko didn't realize they were in the air until the tops of the trees could be seen. "Ehhhh! Diana, you're really good at taking off! Do you have any tips?"

Diana shuffled a bit and cleared her throat. "Concentration. Try not to think about anything distracting."

Akko huffed. "Even though the view is so amazing!"

Diana was quiet, and then spoke again. "I do agree that the view is quite nice."

Akko nodded, and leaned a bit. The broom leaned towards the side and Diana gently righted the broom. "Akko. Steady."

"Yes, Diana."

They rode in silence for a while, as the sun began to set, different colors bleeding into the sky. Akko quietly watched, and as her gaze drifted towards the ground, she shivered instinctively.

Diana noticed. "What is the matter?

Akko gulped. "No, its just that—I'm still a little scared of heights."

It had been different the past times. When she was on the super fast Shooting Star, her thoughts were entirely concentrated on winning, and she hadn't paid attention to the heights she had reached. She remembered falling. If Diana wasn't there…or the time they had went into space (Akko was still having a hard time believing that actually happened but news casters were happy to prove it to her). Both times, Akko suddenly realized, Diana was there to help. No, to save.

Akko laughed hollowly. "Kind of silly, isn't it?"

Diana paused before answering. "Not at all. In fact, I would find it much more strange if you weren't scared. It's normal to be scared. Rather, you should turn that fear into caution, that way, you'll be able to do things safely."

"Ah, that's a good idea."

Diana coughed. "In that case, if you need to hold on to me, you may."

"Eh?" Akko asked, not quite understanding. "Do you mean holding on to the broom, because I'm already doing that…"

Diana coughed again, making Akko worry if the blonde was sick. "Akko, I meant, hold onto me. Its fine."

"Really? Thank you." Akko breathed, and then carefully let go of the broom handle. She quickly shuffled her body towards Diana's, and carefully laced her arms around Diana's waist, making sure not to hold onto her too tightly. It had been a quick movement that would've normally made Akko nervous if it was anyone other than Diana, as they were hundreds of meters above.

"If you need to hold on tighter, that's fine." Diana replied. "But please don't suffocate me." She said, in her usual dry manner. Akko giggled. "Alright."

Akko scooted closer, and was able to relax her body. Truthfully, she was a little worried about the broom trip. But hearing Diana's voice and feeling her body made it safer. As she relaxed, she watched the sun finally set, and darkness enveloped the landscape. A chill came, but the close contact between the two kept Akko, and hopefully, Diana warm.

Diana then murmured something illegible, and a soft, yellow light grew from the end of the broom—a small lantern was perched, enough to awash the pair in soft light, but didn't do much to light the way.

Akko wondered how many times Diana had made this trip, that the girl was skilled enough to remember the route, even at night.

It made Akko smile.