Chapter 3: Bittersweet Coffee

I felt elated! For once, my plan seemed to be working! I definitely raised Minne's opinion on Diana, and I'm sure I brought out Minne's good side to Diana as well. Up next was the last step: for them to meet up in person. Now that they like each other, they should be able to kiss and make up once they see each other face to face.

As my eyes glazed over the wares of a random novelty shop Minne dragged me into, I thought about the plan in an effort to ebb away a bit of the anxiety still gripping me. If everything was going well on the Diana side of the plan, then Sucy, Lotte, and the others should currently be dragging a satisfied Diana to lunch at some deli that was on the route I was subtly maneuvering Minne towards.

"Akko." I felt a hand grip my shoulder. I turned my head towards her, almost surprised by how close my Japanese friend was. She held up a wooden carving of a bunny, polished to a sheen. It looked handcrafted; it must have taken a lot of effort and a lot of heart to come up with something so beautiful. For some reason, it reminded me of my magic, and the thought warmed my heart. "Doesn't it look cute?"

"Yeah, it looks great!" I give her a genuine smile. That smile quivered a bit as Minne slid her arm down my shoulder, the gesture tickling me a tad until she held my hand. Her hand was soft, just like the times she held my hand back in middle school, but there was something off. They were clammy too, even though the rest of her didn't seem to sweat. She didn't give me the chance to process why, however, since she raised my hand and placed the bunny in it.

She drew back her hand, her voice softening. "Here. I got you this because it reminds me of you."

"I don't know what to say." I flushed, embarrassed, as I slipped the gift deep into my tunic's pocket. "First the coffee, now random, thoughtful gifts? You haven't spoiled me this much since-"

"Since your sixteenth birthday, yeah." Minne had a look of nostalgia on her face, and I was sure that I had the same look on my face. "It was going to be your last birthday with the gang for a while, so of course we had to go all out."

"Mhm. I still use that coat you gave me."

Minne held the tips of her fingers to her lips, giggling. "Why am I not surprised that it still fits you?"

"Hey," I huffed out of fake frustration, "my height's still a sore point missy!"

"Anyway, Akko," Minne said, our conversation adopting a slightly more serious tone, "Something at another store caught my eye, so I'll mosey on over there."

"Okey-dokey, let's go-"

Minne held up a hand, a sheepish expression gracing her face. "Ah, I want you to stay here. Shopping should only take a few minutes."

Huh. Minne was the type of girl who always wanted to be with her friends. Heck, almost every time we went to hang out, she'd drag either me or Setsuna to the restroom whenever she had to go. It disconcerted me to hear that she wanted to go on without me. "You don't want me to come with you? Kinda weird. You usually aren't like this."

She shot me a cheeky grin in return, and it irked me a bit. It made me realize that Diana should have chucked me out of a window ages ago with the amount of cheek I showed her on a regular basis. "Hi-mi-tsu!"

"Hey, keeping secrets from your best friend isn't fair," I said as I puffed my cheeks. I crossed my arms, hoping to sell how annoyed I was with the blue-haired girl. All she did was stick her tongue out at me.

"Anyway," Minne said, waving goodbye as she stepped out the door, "I'll see you in ten minutes, Akko."

"Alright, alright. See you." I would have talked more banter with her retreating form had I not felt a vibration in my tunic pocket. I reached into it and pulled out a blinking crystal orb. I kind of wished I could use my phone instead, but there were a few issues with that. Sucy was like a hundred times better at not catching Diana's attention than Lotte, so she was my designated messenger. However, Sucy didn't own a cell phone, so we had to make do otherwise. That's the reason a rather large ball was pressed against my side. Holding the huge hunk of glass, I tapped it, opening Sucy's message.

"Diana's here. Go to the deli. You know which one."

"Wonderful," I pecked out onto the orb's "screen" if you could even call it that. I plopped it back into my tunic pocket and lied in wait for Minne's return.

After what felt was seven dog years' worth of waiting, Minne returned to the novelty shop, though it didn't look like she got anything big since she wasn't carrying any shopping bags, so it had to be something small enough to fit either in her clutch or in her pocket. Hm, I wondered what it was?

...Oh well; it's none of my business.

"Thank goodness you're back! I almost died of hunger!" I said, making a show of clutching my stomach. It seemed like my insides wanted to help me out since my stomach let out a bellowing grumble.

It looked like Minne had a hard time holding back her laughter. With her hands on her sides, her sides were bursting at the seams. "Alright, alright, let's go get some brunch for that black hole of yours."

After walking out of the store - and taking a deep breath of fresh air I was deprived of when we were inside that stuffy novelty store - we started our hunt for lunch, though I made sure to steer us towards that deli Sucy mentioned in her message.

I felt Minne gently swing her hip into mine as we walked. I exaggerated how rebuffed I was, allowing myself to drift a meter away from her. She giggled at my antics, and I gave her a toothy grin in return. "Hey, Akko, what are your other friends like?"

It was going to be a little awkward telling her all about my friends when she was going to meet them in less than three minutes, but it wasn't like I could tell her that. Doing my best to keep their imminent meeting a secret, I looked away and put on what I hoped looked like a pondering look. "Hm, where to start? I guess I'll go with my roommates, Lotte and Sucy."

"Lotte's the orange-haired one, right?" I saw Minne put a finger to her temple - a tic that showed she was wringing out her brain. "And if that picture was of your dorm, then Sucy must be that sullen-looking girl with the grey complexion."

"Bingo. Sucy acts a little creepy sometimes, and Lotte can get too soft-spoken for my taste, but those two have always backed me up, even when the situations I dragged them in were a little selfish."

"They sound like a reliable pair," Minne said, "I'd like a chance to meet them along with Cavendish."

"And it looks like that chance is here," I said, suddenly jerking my head towards where my friends were sitting in order to feign surprise. After a quick count to eight, I realized that the rest of Diana's team was with them. While meeting eight new people was kind of overwhelming, I was sure Minne was outgoing enough to be able to meld with the group unless another "unjustifiable loathing" incident were to occur again. Oh well, a believing heart was my magic, so I had to believe nothing was going to go awry. "They're eating lunch right now! Wanna go join them?"

"Um," Minne said, and you could see the nerves caked onto her face, "I still haven't thought of what to say to Cavendish."

"But this is the perfect chance to talk it out with her!" I said, hoping to appeal to her opportunistic side. It wasn't there all that often - outside of her areas of passion, Minne was more a conservative than someone "lying in wait" - but I had to stoke her flame. Luckily for me, it seemed that she started to see my point.

"Well, we were going to eat lunch anyway, right?" Minne said, taking her first step towards the group. I made sure to follow closely, hoping that my close proximity would give her a bit of extra courage.

As we drew near, I saw Lotte's head shoot up a bit, and she waved me over soon after. The others followed suit soon afterward, greeting the two of us with warm smiles. The only ones that didn't were, unsurprisingly, Diana's trio. Neither Hannah nor Barbara were the type to greet me with anything other than a glance and a nod, so I wasn't too dismayed by them. Diana, on the other hand, was acting a little out of character, her lips pressed into a firm line instead of a smile as she looked back and forth between me and Minne. Sad. She looked so vibrant whenever she'd give me her small grins.

"Room for two?" I said, pulling up a seat next to Amanda, whose smirk could blind. While Amanda had a tendency of stealing small bites and sips of my food and drink, it was better to let Minne sit next to someone less volatile. Said bluenette took the free seat in between me and Lotte. The fact that it meant she had to sit across Diana was pretty sweet too. "I'm surprised you guys got such a huge table. Seems like this place's always full."

"Never underestimate Jasminka's vast amount of culinary connections." Said girl simply took another bite of her foot long. "And thanks to those connections, she's gonna treat us all to lunch! You game?"

Before I could say "Hell yeah!" like I usually did when offered free food, Minne said, "Oh, I was gonna treat Akko."

The talk seemed to die down as everyone heard the sound of Minne's voice, everyone's attention now squarely on her shoulders. The Japanese girl didn't look perturbed by this. "Anyway, my name is Mitsune Yagami. I'm Akko's friend from middle school. It's great to finally get to meet her new friends."

I stepped in and started to introduce everyone to Minne. Eventually, I got to Diana, who had cut me off before I could start and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you once more, Ms. Yagami."

"The pleasure's all mine, Diana," Minne said, finally using Diana's first name for some reason.

"Eh, you guys met before?" Hannah said, her eyes open so wide that it was kind of difficult for me to hold back my laughter. Luckily, the gravity of the situation kept me from doing so.

"Yes, and it pains me to say that I wasn't very amicable when we first met." Diana stood up and bent at the hip, bowing in front of Minne. "I sincerely apologize; my dislike was unfounded."

Minne quickly followed suit, and I noticed that she made sure to bow at the exact same angle Diana was at, and I found that incredibly adorable. "Ah, I was being unreasonably belligerent as well. I'm sorry, and I hope that we can put this behind us."

Diana's tense expression softened. "I'd love to."

As the two sat down with smiles on their faces, I couldn't hold back my glee. I turned to my right, arms wide open, and glomped my blue-haired friend. Cheek-to-cheek, I said, "Aw, I'm so glad you two made up! Your feud was eating away at me."

"Oi, you're squishing me!" I let go and had to hold back laughter at how flustered Minne looked. I guess she didn't appreciate me doing something so embarrassing in front of people she had just met.

"Let's just go get something to eat, you goober," Minne said, tugging not-so-gently on my collar. Annoying grin still plastered on my face, I relented, allowing myself to get dragged away from the table towards the entrance of the deli.

The deli itself wasn't anything special. It had the look and feel of a quaint place thanks to its decor, but judging by how colossal the tables were, it didn't receive the traffic of a quaint place. This was reflected inside; the place was absolutely packed with people munching on sandwiches. Luckily, the line didn't zip all the way around the place, so after a few minutes of twiddling my thumbs, I finally got to order my footlong.

"That'll be four ninety-nine," the clerk said as she punched in the numbers into her cash register.

After I stuck a hand into my pocket to fish out a bill, Minne slid in front of me, pulled out some cash, and said, "Here you go. Keep the change."

"Eh!" I was stunned as the blue-haired girl dropped my sandwich into my free hand. "You didn't have to do that!"

Minne's grin was cheeky with a capital C. "Hey, I wasn't lying when I said I'd cover your meal."

Okay, her sudden burst of generosity was starting to get a little out of hand. "You never did tell me why you're giving me so much. What's up?"

"It's nothing, Akko. I just haven't seen you in forever, and I don't know when the next opportunity will crop up, so I might as well spoil you rotten right now." Her statement sounded suspicious enough to file a warrant over, but I didn't feel like pressing because of the way she looked me in the eye as she said it. I didn't think she was lying.

So I let it drop. "Alright, alright. Let's just get back to the others."

We returned in the middle of a story Amanda was telling. She had her hands up, and she said in a falsetto tone, "P-public displays of a-affection are frowned upon in these halls. Unhand me a-at once!"

"Wow, who're you talking about? Sounds like a total square!" I said, taking my place next to the redhead. In response, she guffawed, tears and snot pouring like a torrent as she tried and failed to rein back her laughter. Didn't really make sense to me; I didn't think I said anything funny. I looked around, hoping to find answers to my unspoken question. The only noteworthy reaction was Diana's. The statement somehow caused blood to flood her cheeks, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get her to make eye contact with me. Oh boy, I hoped I didn't offend her. "Oh, was that your friend, Diana?"

Amanda lost it. She fell over, her laughter not stopping even as her cheek pressed against the hard pavement. Gasping for breath, the girl said, "A-akko, please do me a favor and never change!"

I got the feeling she was insulting me. Puffed cheeks, I said, "Hmph, no one ever tells me anything."

"Amanda's talking about the time you hugged Diana in the hallway two days ago," Sucy said, her voice ever monotone. I racked my head. I had a foggy memory of doing so. If I had to say, I hugged her because I had finally gotten a good score on one of Professor Finnegan's quizzes, and my success was all because of Diana. Oh, and because Diana's soft and cuddly and warm.

"Huh, I guess I did do that," I said. "Don't know why you guys are pointing it out. I do it all the time-"

"Please refrain from telling others about our tutoring time," Diana said, her voice sounding straight-edged in contrast to her visibly distraught expression.

"I only do it when I make a breakthrough though."

"That's enough," I heard from both Diana and Minne at the same time. The mood dropped instantly at the harshness of the latter's voice. I wondered why Minne was so cranky all of a sudden, with her furrowed brow and her deep frown. Maybe it was because she couldn't get to learn more about the others since they were too busy either laughing their hearts out or holding back their winces, though Minne wasn't the type to lose her composure over something so small. Minne said, "Akko, I was going to save this for later, but I think this it's better for your friends to hear this too."

"Oh, what's cookin'?" I said, taking a bite of my sandwich. Minne rose from her seat and got behind me. I made sure to pivot in order to face her. She audibly gulped. Her hand quivered as it hovered around her pocket. If I had looked closer, I would have seen the faint outline of what she had purchased when she left me at the novelty shop. After a moment that she had expanded into ten hours, she finally reached her hand into her pocket and fished out...

...a box.

She knelt in front of me.

"I know we're only sixteen," she said, my heart starting to race as sweat poured down my brow, "but after my exchange program, we'll be back to being leagues apart once again. I don't want to risk losing you. So Akko-"

"Minne."

She opened the box. Inside was a band of what seemed to be silver. It caught the sunlight about as well as how my throat caught that frog. "It's just a sterling silver promise ring - it's all I could afford - but I hope this shows you how much you mean to me. I love you, Akko, and I promise to stay devoted to you for as long as you'll allow."

I was floored. Quick glances to my left and right told me my friends were struck speechless too. Holy moly. My best friend since diapers was in love with me. It was all so sudden. I didn't know what to say. However, I didn't have to say anything since whatever I said would have been interrupted by the sudden loud thud from behind me. I craned my neck towards the disturbance. Diana, looking royally pissed, had her hands on the table, knocking over everything on it.

Diana spat, "I think I now understand why I instantly held a distaste towards you, Ms. Yagami."

"I think I know the reason behind my disdain as well." Minne closed the box with a harsh clap and stood up. "Speak now or forever hold your peace, Cavendish."

"You're forcing her into making a critical decision on such short notice. Hardly respectable."

"Akko," Minne directed at me, gesturing towards the ring box, "we can start by just being girlfriends if you think I'm being too forward - we don't need to go steady right away. It's just that it'll become a long-distance relationship soon, so I wanted a part of me to always be with you."

"Cheesy."

"No one asked you." Minne's voice was laced with venom: a harsh turn from how soft and velvety her voice was when she "proposed" to me. "So, Akko, what do you say?"

Minne was a constant for a lot of my life. She was there to lend an ear when I rambled on and on about my dreams, she was there when my studies had me waving the white flag; she was by my side, through thick and thin. I wouldn't know what I'd do without her.

...but if I searched my heart for my deepest, darkest desires, I knew I couldn't date her. She was physically attractive, and her personality was alluring, but since I had known her for so long, as much as it pained me to admit it, I saw her as a sister.

Besides, there was something I couldn't deny any longer.

I turned to look at Diana. I loved her. After hearing Minne expressed how she loved me, I realized I felt the same towards the platinum blonde. I wanted to hug her when she was stressed from her duties. I wanted to comfort her when she was tormented by memories of her past. I wanted to whisk her away when she described her parties and suitors.

When I thought of Minne, I remembered what she wanted to do for me. When I thought of Diana, I remembered what I wanted to do for her.

...But did she like me back?

I didn't know. She didn't return my hugs. She hated opening up to me. Outside our study sessions and fleeting glances and smiles, she never showed me obvious affection. Diana being in love with her duties was more likely than her being in love with me.

Minne, on the other hand, loved me. It felt a little scummy to think this, but if I threw myself into her arms, I could grow to love her; she was certainly charming and endearing enough. Plus, it might crush her to reject her in front of all my friends. If I became hers, maybe that would make us both happy.

I whispered a goodbye to Diana in my head. I turned back to face Minne. Her eyes caught the sunlight just like the ring. They were absolutely radiant. Licking my lips, I committed to my decision. "Minne, I-"

"I love you, Akko." Four words gave me goosebumps. Looking back at the blonde, her face was flushed, but her eyes held a fire I wasn't used to seeing the normally cold girl have. "I don't show it often, but I need you. Please, stay with me."

It warmed me to the core. She loved me back! However, slowly, the gravity of the situation hit me. If I put that ring on my finger, I would have crushed Diana, and if I rejected Minne, she'd be devastated as well.

Was there a way to leave this with both of them happy?

If there was, I wasn't smart enough to figure it out. I was going to have to send one of these girls home with a broken heart. I looked back and forth between Minne and Diana.

"You two," I said, mustering all my courage, "are both so important to me. I wouldn't know what to do without either of you. Man, you really put me on the spot, Minne."

I was met with silence. My attempt to lighten up the situation fell flat on its face. Minne's lips remained pursed, and looking behind me, I could still count the veins on Diana's forehead. Shaking that failure off, I stood up, causing Minne to flinch.

Looking her straight in the eyes, I said, "I'm sorry, Minne."

I rushed forward and gave her the warmest hug I could. After a few moments, I felt her slowly snake her arms around me, returning the hug. Her face sunk into the crook of my neck. She shivered. I felt tears soak my shoulder. My heart sank into my stomach. While I was sure of my decision, it didn't make me feel any better about Minne. She whispered into my ear, "I-I'll always have your back, Atsuko."

"And I've got yours, Mitsune." She backed away, and aside from a slight red tint in her eyes, she showed no signs of crying. "Still friends?"

"You betcha. I'll keep in touch. It's been nice meeting your friends." Facing away from me and the others, Minne walked away, her head held up high. "I'll see you around, Akko."

"See ya, Minne," I said, waving even though she couldn't see it. I didn't want to have to hurt her. I turned around and was met with somber looks all around. Even Hannah and Barbara looked sorry for me. I tried again to liven up the mood, flashing a weak smile as Diana made her way over.

I cried in her arms.

Hi. And so ends the story. I hope my train of thought wasn't too convoluted near the end; it's three AM here, so that may have affected me a little. If some parts were confusing, I'll try to rewrite those bits within the week. More importantly, I'm not sure if I should add an epilogue, but I'm considering it since the ending is a bit unsatisfying. (To be honest, my first idea was even worse; I was going to say that Akko's straight and crush both Minne and Diana, but I decided against that.) Oh well, I hope I don't get burned too hard by this ending. Anyway, if you want an epilogue, please say so in a review or something. Not sure when that's coming, since it isn't even outlined, but it should be out within a month if you guys still want one.