Originally, I didn't intend to write a "day after" scenario, but as I was writing I got an idea and then it had to be done. Remember I wrote this entire fic in just a day, so I just did whatever I thought of at the time aahah

Disclaimer: I do not own Little Witch Academia.

Epilogue. Sunrise

Morning comes, and it's quiet.

But for the first time in three years, it isn't cold anymore.

Diana wakes with a sharp gasp as everything comes flooding back to her. Eyes wide, she's about to scour the room-

But she doesn't have to look far.

Akko is here.

She's right here.

Right in her arms.

Just like she promised.

Diana can hear her bubbly little snores, feel her loose embrace around her back, smell her familiar scent. Her clothes and hair are slightly ruffled, and there's a little bit of drool hanging off the side of her mouth.

It's truthfully like she'd never left at all, like Diana had never slept a single night without her.

It's all so much...

Diana feels the hiccups popping in her stomach, and gradually working their way up her throat. Her body jolts from them, and her breathing hitches as she locks her arms around Akko's back. She tries to stifle her sobs, wanting to let her rest longer.

But it's only a moment later when Akko subconsciously senses something is amiss with her wife. Her eyelids shift and lift up, and a small moan escapes her as her senses all return.

Diana is warm in her embrace, but Akko can feel her shaking, hear her choppy little gasps.

"Mn... Diana...?" Startled, Akko eases herself back and quickly scans her wife, eyes wide. "Diana? Are you okay?"

Frantically, Akko begins wiping Diana's tears one by one, then rests her head against her collar to check her pulse. It's a little fast, but nothing dangerous.

It takes Diana a moment to find her voice.

"Am I... okay, she asks..."

She runs her fingers up and down Akko's back gently, holding her as though she's made of glass – as though she's the most precious and beautiful thing in the world.

"Of course I am... You kept your promise, Akko... Thank you..."

"Of course I did." Akko sighs into her neck. "I'll never leave you like that again, Diana. I swear it with all my heart. I-If there was a spell or something I could cast to make a vow, I'd do it-"

"There is no need." Diana rests her forehead against Akko's, gazing deeply into her eyes. "I trust you, Akko. I believe you."

Akko breathes a sigh of relief and brings her in close once again.

The room is just beginning to fill with pale morning light, indicating the early hour.

Akko shifts her weight a little, lying Diana down on her back and carefully resting herself on top. She nuzzles her chest, then begins to trail kisses up from her collar to her neck, to her cheeks and her forehead, then back down to her nose and her lips.

Diana loops her arms around her shoulders and pulls her down to deepen it, kissing back with a soft but ardent desperation.

They kiss many times, and for a long time.

Sometimes, they are still, letting their bodies press together, sharing their warmth, their breathing, their heartbeats.

Diana cries, but it is out of joy, out of relief.

Akko cries less from regret now, and more out of happiness, as well.

But just to be safe, they ask one another anyway.

Akko brushes her cheek along Diana's and kisses her ear.

"Why are you crying?"

Diana sighs against her shoulder.

"Because I... I have not been this happy... in three years..." She threads her fingers through Akko's hair, idly making tiny little braids. "Why are you?"

Akko chuckles and sniffles.

"Because you're just... so beautiful..."

"Flatterer."

"No! I mean it, Diana-"

Diana silences her with another kiss.

Akko slips one hand behind her wife's head, placing the other on her side.

She just wants to feel every part of her. She wants to breathe her in.

Akko can feel the soft rise and fall of Diana's stomach beneath her own, feel the excited thrum of her heartbeat, feel the way her breath fans out across her lips...

And then, another small gasp.

Akko pulls back.

"What is it?"

Diana's eyes have gone wide, but not in fear or distress.

Instead she seems genuinely... perplexed.

"Akko..." she murmurs. "What exactly are we... going to do about you...?"

"...Ah..."

They hadn't considered it until now.

There'd been so much else to focus on last night, immensely better things.

But now, with the new day arriving, they'll have to go back to Luna Nova, back to their students and colleagues...

Akko stutters again.

"U-Uhh..."

"In any case," Diana says. "Let us get dressed. We can discuss this as we go along."

"R-Right!" Akko climbs off of her, then helps Diana sit up. But before she can get out of bed, Akko hugs her again, giving her an extra tight squeeze. "I love you so much..."

With a smile, Diana pats her back.

"I love you too, Akko. So very much..."

Just one more moment.

Just one more heartbeat.

At last, they bring themselves apart, but not entirely. They hold hands as they get up from the bed, and make the blankets as neatly as they can without letting go of each other.

Only when they pick up their clothes do they realize they have to let go for a moment.

They discuss what they're going to do, and come to a mutual agreement promptly.

Diana makes a call request for room service, and Akko hides herself as the food is being delivered.

They share their first meal together after all this time. Akko still all but gorges herself when she eats, while Diana daintily takes her time. Akko notes that she doesn't eat much, and remembers what Diana had told her last night.

When Diana can't eat any more, Akko leans softly against her shoulder and takes her left hand, bringing it to her lips to kiss her ring. She hugs her one more time before putting on her disguise as per usual, only this morning, Diana braids her hair for her.

When they are ready, they leave the room, mentally preparing themselves for what's to come.

Diana makes a surprise announcement this morning.

She cancels the first classes of the day and invites all students and staff to the main auditorium.

Of course everyone is shocked and excited.

Some are still mumbling about their concern for their headmistress, fearing she will be making the announcement that she can no longer use magic.

But Diana dashes those fears right from the start, lifting her wand and casting a spell that fills the air with golden glitter and light, putting on an extravagant display that surprises and delights every person in the room. Hannah and Barbara squeal in relief and start crying long before anyone else does.

Everyone is filled with joy and pleasant surprise to see their headmistress once again vivaciously and effortlessly casting magic.

But what astonishes them even more now is when she addresses them all-

"Good morning, students and staff of Luna Nova."

-with a smile.

Most of the students have never seen their headmistress smile before. Only some of the older staff have ever seen such a wonderful sight, but not in recent years.

Everyone's got a million and one questions on their minds and on their tongues, but Diana calls for silence.

"It is with great pride and even greater joy that I introduce you all... to a very special person..."

There's so much emotion in her voice, in her expression, and in her eyes. Everyone holds their breaths in excitement to know more.

But heads start turning when Professor Ophiuchus appears onstage. After all, she's been here for three years already. They can't understand why the headmistress is presenting her now, at a surprise assembly.

But as they watch their red-haired professor take a bow, when she next pulls her hat over her face...

...she looks very different.

The students don't understand right away. Most of them have only ever heard of Atsuko Kagari, but have never seen her.

However, the witches who had once been her classmates can't keep quiet.

A certain Lotte Yanson, who runs a local magic shop with her wife, blurts out her old friend's name.

"Akko?! S-Sucy! It really was her, Sucy!"

Sucy's eye widens a little at the revelation. She smirks.

"I always knew it..."

Nearby, matching shrieks of surprise split the air from where Hannah and Barbara are huddled together, still crying happily.

"Akko?!"

"It's Akko!"

With their professors and seniors all crying out and applauding, the students begin to realize what's happening.

Atsuko Kagari.

'Akko.'

The witch they've heard about in so many lectures.

The witch who once studied here in hopes of following in Chariot's footsteps.

The witch who had succeeded, and then disappeared.

The witch who had unlocked the seal of the Grand Triskelion alongside their headmistress over half a decade ago.

The witch who had saved the headmistress after she'd been viciously attacked.

The witch who had fallen in love with her many years ago.

This is the headmistress' long-lost wife.

Now they understand.

And one by one, the students burst out into tears, crying and wailing and clinging to one another.

They've all dreamed of this day, even those who had never known Akko. They've all wished the day would come when their headmistress would be reunited with the person she loves so dearly.

And it's arrived.

Akko's finally come home.

The entire room is filled with raw emotion, an unbridled, messy, but still beautiful chorus of sobs and cheers and laughter.

Akko takes Diana's hand and faces the crowds, with tears in her eyes, but a smile in her voice.

"Hi, everyone! My name is Professor Atsuko Kagari-Cavendish! Nice to meet you!"

She arcs her free hand high above her head, casting a new wave of pink glitter to join the golden light Diana had cast.

The crowds shriek and squeal, clapping and crying. One student gets and idea and spreads it to her classmates, until every student has raised her wand and joined in with their own magic.

Together, they shift the glitter into shapes, characters, letters.

Until Akko can read it from her standpoint onstage:

Welcome back!

Akko lets her tears flow freely. Her eyes scan the room, over the faces of all her beloved students, painted with gleeful tears and smiles.

Then to her own professors who have stayed. They are also wiping their eyes, even Chariot, who had known all along. She meets Akko's gaze with a smile, and dips her head.

Then Akko looks to her old friends.

Something tells her Lotte and Sucy always knew. She can't wait to run to them later and throw her arms around them both.

But for now, she simply laughs and waves. They smile and call out for her.

"Akko! Welcome back!" Lotte cries.

"I know you've always been a little slow," Sucy calls. "But it's about time!"

"Hey- Sucy!"

Akko bursts out laughing. They haven't changed a bit.

She sweeps her gaze over every person in the room.

Until there's only one left.

Diana's eyes are shining, as though there are entire galaxies reflected in them, the sparkle of nighttime stars in the blue of the daytime sky.

The tears slip down her cheeks, but pass over a heartfelt smile on the way.

Akko turns to her, and for a moment, the rest of the world disappears. She takes hold of both of her wife's hands now and steps close.

And they kiss.

For all of Luna Nova to see.

The crying and the applause increase tenfold, tiny magical fireworks shooting up into the air in celebration.

From this moment forward, Diana doesn't have to oversee Luna Nova alone any longer.

She doesn't have to do anything alone anymore.

Akko will be by her side, just as she'd promised.

There is so much they have taught the magical world, and so much they have left to teach.

But there is perhaps one thing they have taught above all others.

Something a famous witch had once said.

Something they have proven innumerable times through their love for one another.

"A believing heart is your magic."

A/N: I can only imagine this is how Akko's revelation to the school would go. She'd make it a big performance/announcement like one of Chariot's shows.

All the students love Diana and have known about her lost wife, but since Akko has been gone for 3 years, some of the current students have never even seen/known her before she'd gone. But even though they didn't know her before, there's still a connection of sorts they feel, because they know all about her from Diana and from history. Luna Nova only feels complete to them now that their headmistress has her beloved wife back.

Neon and I had discussed the reunion idea in the past, but the recent episode's revelation that Diana had once lost her magic gave me the push I needed to add that into this idea and get it done! Though now we know the canon reason she lost it is different... we didn't know that at the time we came up with this idea ^^;

Please review!