Negima Neo: The First Halloween

Part 1: Halloween in Japan

It was Mahora Academy, sometime towards the end of October, about the last week or so. And our story begins within Mahora Academy's large dormitory, where all the students reside. In her bed, Asuna was still asleep after coming back from delivering papers. Since it was the weekend, Asuna took the time to get more sleep. But she would not expect the surprise when she woke up.

"Hmm? Ehh?" Asuna moaned. She peered at a crack of light in the window nearby. She yawned and sat up.

"Oh...I must've slept longer than I thought. What time is it?" Asuna yawned. She looked over to ask Konoka what time it was, but saw someone sitting at the table. She then saw that person look at her, wearing a bright red demonic mask on his face.

"GAH!" Asuna screamed, falling out of bed. The masked man gasped, pulling it up to reveal Negi underneath it.

"D'oh! Asuna! Please forgive me. I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean to scare you like..." Negi said. But before he could finish, Asuna grabbed Konoka's pillow and started to swat Negi frantically with it.

"Get out! Get outta my room ya freaky fiend you!" Asuna yelled. She kept swatting until she recognized Negi's painful cries.

"Wait. What the...? Negi!" Asuna shouted. Negi groaned, spitting feathers from his mouth. Soon after, Negi took the chance to explain to Asuna about the mask.

"What? Halloween?" Asuna asked.

"Yes. It's a holiday that Nekane told me about in her last letter. It's mostly celebrated outside Japan, but it seemed so intriguing that I asked Nekane if she could send me anything she thought was related to it." Negi said. Asuna eyed the mask.

"So...THIS is what she sent you? Heh. I don't know whether to say it's an improvement or makes you even uglier." Asuna teased. Negi chuckled.

"Oh Asuna. You really don't mean that, do you?" Negi asked. Asuna smirked and scratched Negi's head.

"Nah. I'm only kidding teach." Asuna said. Asuna suddenly saw Negi's laptop by his side, displaying more information about Halloween.

"What's that?" Asuna asked.

"Oh. This? I've been researching the holiday while you were taking your nap. I thought that if I wore the mask, I could get into the spirit of things. Then you woke up and...ehh..." Negi said. Asuna slid the laptop to her side of the table and peeked at the webpage.

"Huh. So this is what people do on Halloween?" Asuna asked.

"Yes. It actually sounds like fun. On the last day of October, everyone gets together for parties. They wear costumes, go out for nightly walks collecting candy...some even watch scary movies. Ummm...actually, I didn't like that last part of it though." Negi said. Asuna lightly snickered.

"So what? Were you gonna tell this to the rest of the class too?" Asuna asked. Negi froze.

"Uhh...actually I was. I...told the dean about it and he thought it would be a different change of events at the school this year." Negi said, rubbing his head. Asuna looked on at the page, growing a smirk herself.

"Well, if the others will want to, count me in. I like the idea of dressing up for a little fun." Asuna said. Negi chuckled, betting Asuna would have the moment he told her about it.

"Okay then. Why don't we? I'm guessing Konoka isn't back from her shopping trip with Setsuna. So...let's go see who else wants in." Asuna said. She quickly got dressed and joined Negi in telling everyone else on Class 2-A's roster about Halloween.

"What? A holiday that has candy and costumes? Cool!" Makie exclaimed. The twins' eyes shined brightly.

"Oh! That sounds fun Professor Negi!" Fumika cried.

"Yeah. The Walking Society can really benefit from this! Count us in!" Fuka added. Kaede also seemed intrigued by it.

"Well, this certainly is something different. But that's why it sounds like a lot of fun. I'll gladly come Professor." Kaede said. Negi and Asuna also passed on the word to Kazumi.

"Huh? Oh. This'll be a riot. I'd LOVE to see what everyone dresses up like. I bet anything...Chisame would be PERFECT for it. She loves dressing up after all." Kazumi chuckled. But when Chisame did hear about it, she groaned.

"Let me guess. Kazumi thinks I'd be stupid enough to dress up? Maybe I'll come. But don't get me to dress up stupid or nothing." Chisame said. Afterwards, Negi and Asuna went to find Konoka and Setsuna.

"Isn't this fun Asuna? We've already gotten most of the girls to participate." Negi said. Asuna chuckled.

"Negi, if you haven't figured out that Class 2-A loves to have fun, you ain't been our teacher long enough." Asuna said with a grin. Negi chuckled.

"Apparently not. And I thought I was doing quite well." Negi chuckled. They found Konoka and Setsuna in the town square. They had just finished and were taking a break.

"Oh. Hey Asuna. Hey Negi. What's up?" Konoka asked.

"Hey Konoka. Say, did you two ever hear about a holiday called Halloween? It's gonna go down on the last day of this month." Asuna said. Setsuna paused to think for a moment.

"Hmm. Oh yeah. I think I heard something about that. It's some kind of holiday where everyone dresses up mostly, right?" Setsuna asked. Negi nodded, saying that Class 2-A was going to have its own party to celebrate the holiday and to bring some of its spooky cheer to the school.

"Really? Oh wow! Count us in Negi!" Konoka cheered. Setsuna stuttered.

"W...Wait. Miss Konoka. You're not SERIOUSLY gonna dress up in some kind of ridiculous costume, are you?" Setsuna asked. Konoka giggled.

"Of course I am silly. And you too. We can be a pair." Konoka said. Setsuna gasped and started to turn bright red.

"A...A...p..p...p...pair?" Setsuna stuttered. Konoka nodded, showing an estatic smile on her face. But all Setsuna could do was stutter and stare. She suddenly felt her hand grabbed by Konoka.

"Come on! Let's go and decide on our costumes!" Konoka giggled. Setsuna blushed more, turning beat red.

"Wha..? Miss Konoka! Wait!" Setsuna exclaimed as Konoka pulled her away. As Asuna watched them run, she and Negi looked at each other.

"All right then Asuna. I believe we've told everyone. So what do we do now?" Negi asked. Asuna smirked.

"What do ya mean? We've got work to do. We ought to find some cool costumes too." Asuna said. Negi suggested that everyone could simply come in their pactio forms. Asuna sighed.

"Yeah. We could. But that would wear us down, wouldn't it? We only use our pactio for emergencies, right?" Asuna asked "If they wear out, it'd be party over. No. We gotta keep this party going for a while." Negi thought about the concept and agreed with her.

"Yes. I see what you mean Asuna." Negi said. Meanwhile, at Mahora Academy's library, Nodoka and Yue were busy reading old ghost stories, trying to get ideas for their costumes.

"So Nodoka, you excited about this?" Yue asked. Nodoka nodded.

"Yes. I especially can't wait to see what Negi will dress up as." Nodoka giggled. Yue looked away with a smile.

"Let's just hope...you two somehow match." Yue thought. Elsewhere, Kazumi had told Sayo all about the Halloween party.

"Wow. You guys are having a party?" Sayo asked. Kazumi chuckled and winked.

"Yep. It's for a holiday called Halloween. It's all about ghosts, witches and vampires. So...hey, you'll fit in no problem." Kazumi said. Sayo chuckled.

"Yes. I...probably would. But how would the others know I'm at the party? With so many people..." Sayo said. Kazumi smirked.

"Simple. We'll just make you a cute costume that...ehh...hmm. How DOES a ghost wear a costume? This is gonna be tricky." Kazumi said. She started to wonder how they would get Sayo a costume so she could participate. Meanwhile, Kotaro was getting word of the party from Natsumi.

"Heh heh. Finally. My kind of party. This is gonna be sweet!" Kotaro sneered. Natsumi nervously chuckled.

"Just no rough stuff, okay Kotaro? I know how much of a jokester you are." Natsumi said. Kotaro smirked and gave a wink.

"Sure. I'll BEHAVE." Kotaro said. Natsumi sighed.

"Yeah. You'd better. Otherwise, Chizuru will have a fit." Natsumi thought. Eventually, word of Class 2-A's party caught the ear of Evangeline.

"Hmph. So the little fools are all playing dress up? What nonsense." Evangeline said.

"Master...would you not participate? It sounds like something you would likely enjoy." Chachamaru asked. Evangeline huffed.

"Absolutely not. I'm not a fool Chachamaru." Evangeline said. Just then, she felt a tug at her arm. She looked and saw Jennifer and Julie.

"Aw! Come on Evangeline? This'll be fun!" Julie cried. Evangeline growled.

"What part of "absolutely not" was not clear to you?" Evangeline asked. Jennifer chuckled.

"If you think about it, maybe you could show off your vampire talents as a party gag. I heard Halloween IS for vampires and witches." Jennifer said. Evangeline seemed surprised by what Jennifer spoke of. She looked away with a sly smirk.

"Hmm. Yes. I could give those girls a real "treat" when I scare the daylights out of them." Evangeline sneered. Chachamaru seemed a bit worried, but Jennifer and Julie weren't. And as word kept traveling of the party, something else also took ear.

"Ooh! A Halloween party? Oh. How delicious." it said before sneaking off. The creature remained in the shadows, laughing as he crept away.

TO BE CONTINUED...