Negima Neo: Wrath of the Androids
Chapter 2: Teacher and Student
Class 2-A continued glaring up in shock, confused and horrified that Gragon was back and now floating overhead. The evil warlock glared down at them, spotting a few new faces. Two he took interest in was Shade and Brianna.
"What's he doing here?! Isn't he supposed to be dead?!" Makie exclaimed.
"Actually, he was only sealed away in another dimension. Wonder how he got out." Yue corrected. Gragon laughed.
"I must say....you've all grown. How fortunate that I don't have the same brats before me." Gragon said. Asuna growled and summoned her blade. But before she could attack, Negi whispered to her to stand down.
"So why are you here Gragon? Didn't pester us enough last time?" Evangeline asked.
"On the contrary, I felt there was a LACK of communication between us. So, I came to issue a little warning to you." Gragon said. Shade groaned. Negi asked what kind of warning, ready to draw his staff. Gragon smirked and turned away. But quick as a flash, he turned around and fired a black sphere at them. The girls gasped as Asuna and Negi countered. Their two attacks caused the sphere to explode before contact with the bleachers.
"Oh yeah?! I got a warning too! You're DEAD!" Asuna shouted. She charged for Gragon and lunged up for him. But without even budging, a barrier fired back at Asuna and knocked her down. Gragon smirked.
"How rude. I was talking." Gragon said. The others hurried to Asuna as they were being looked upon by Gragon.
"In exactly one week from today, your precious academy will be no more! I've returned with a much more powerful army than last time! And my new forces will finally rid this world of your pestering ways once and for all! So, beware girls!" Gragon shouted. He then laughed and vanished in a flash.
"In one week....we're doomed?" Sakurako asked.
"No way. He....He has to be bluffing." Akira stuttered. Asuna agreed, stating that he KNEW how powerful they really were. Negi couldn't help but worry, even more that the monster was back in their world again. And Negi knew for sure that Gragon was looking to settle this once and for all.
"Great. Our first day as high school students and that warlock is out and about again." Evangeline groaned. Konoka suggested they should inform the dean about this and she hurried back to school with Setsuna. They found the dean in his office and told everything they saw.
"It....can't be. That maniac is back?" Takahata asked.
"This is grim. Very grim indeed. We all know what that evil warlock can do. I only fear what this new "army" of his is this time." Konoe said. Setsuna gulped.
"What should we do grandpa?" Konoka asked.
"Well, for the time being, we must NOT let anyone else in the school breath word of this to anyone. We don't need a panic starting up. Girls? Until we can identify what Gragon wants this time around, just act like you never saw him. Understood?" the dean asked. Konoka and Setsuna nodded.
"We probably should tell the others. Come on Konoka. Let's start with Asuna and Negi." Setsuna said. Konoka agreed and followed her friend out the office. As they left, the dean heard the window behind him open. He saw Nagi Springfield sitting in the window.
"So....he's back?" Nagi asked. Back at the dormitories, Asuna and Negi were given the word from Konoka and Setsuna.
"All right. So the dean just wants us to ignore it until it gets serious. No problem." Asuna said. She asked Negi if he would be able to forget about it and Negi figured it would be all right and nodded.
"So...what ARE we gonna do if we're ignoring that psycho?" Chamo asked. Konoka looked over at the calendar and noticed something circled in red, making her giggle.
"Huh? Konoka? What's funny?" Asuna asked. Konoka pointed to the calendar.
"Do you guys realize what today is?" Konoka asked. They both looked back at the calendar and both automatically blushed.
"Oh....y....yeah. Tonight.....is....." Asuna muttered. Anya took a closer look at the date on the calendar.
"Wait. You two are.....DATING?! Is that what this says?!" Anya exclaimed. Negi blushed bright red.
"When did THAT happen?! Answer the question Negi!" Anya shouted, staring Negi directly in the face. Setsuna sighed.
"Geez. We might've known Asuna and Negi are good friends, but they're still too embarrassed to say." Setsuna thought. Asuna glared up at the clock and nervously chuckled, grabbing Negi by the wrist.
"Uhh.....no comment!" Asuna exclaimed. She then darted out the door with Negi, leaving Anya still rattled with shock and Konoka and Setsuna relieved. Negi and Asuna started to calm down outside.
"That was close. I swear....Anya sometimes acts like she's our mom or something." Asuna said. Negi sighed.
"Well, she is a good person. You just have to look past her "demeaning" qualities." Negi said. Negi and Asuna laughed and started turning away slowly, blushing red afterward.
"So......you ready for a little fun tonight? It's a good way of celebrating our first day going well." Asuna said. Negi turned to Asuna and nodded. Asuna smiled and blushed more.
"Shall we?" Negi asked. Asuna nodded and the two walked off together. Negi glanced down at Asuna's hand and was rattling, unsure if they should be holding hands like this.
"Negi? Something wrong?" Asuna asked. Negi stuttered.
"No. I'm....I'm fine Asuna." Negi said. Asuna merely shrugged and figured it was nothing. As they passed through campus, some of the other students saw them and Asuna saw them gossiping.
"Oh my gosh. Isn't that Asuna and Professor Negi? When did they hit it off?" a girl whispered.
"Yeah. It is. They really look close." another said. Asuna had an uneasy feeling about everyone looking.
"Sheesh. You can't keep any secret a secret here." Asuna said. Back in the dean's office, Nagi was given full details from Dean Konoe and Takahata.
"Well, this IS troublesome. I thought we finally finished Gragon last time." Nagi said.
"So did we. But now we've got a problem. If he's back, it could spell trouble for the school and the students." Takahata said. Nagi thought for a moment, thinking back on the last time Gragon tried to destroy everyone.
"I'll do what I can to help keep an eye on him. Count on it." Nagi said. Konoe and Takahata nodded, thanking Nagi for his aide. Meanwhile, back in Mahora City, Asuna and Negi were browsing around downtown.
"Just think Negi. We made it through middle school. Wonder what being a high school teen will bring?" Asuna asked. Negi smiled.
"I'm sure it'll open the doorway to amazing new adventures Asuna." Negi said. Asuna blushed slightly.
"Yeah. Maybe. You know how things are for us." Asuna said. After browsing for an hour, they went into a nearby restaurant and took a table. The whole time, they seemed a bit anxious about talking with each other. All they did was blush.
"Hmm. Taking them a while, isn't it?" Asuna asked, finally breaking the silence. Negi blushed and nodded, slowly looking away. Their waitress brought them their drinks and set them down. Asuna twirled her straw around as she glanced at Negi.
"What is WRONG with me?! Negi's just a kid. How can I have this much trouble talking to him?!" Asuna thought "Come on Asuna! You're a big girl! Just spit it out already!" She looked to Negi, who was patiently sitting in his chair.
"Hey Negi? There's......something I wanted to ask." Asuna said. Negi glanced at Asuna.
"Yes Asuna?" he asked. Asuna glanced away.
"Well, we've.....we've known each other for....a while now. And....I think I figured out...." Asuna muttered. Negi gulped.
"Professor Takahata is a nice guy and everything, but now that I think about it, he's too old for me. I'm a high school teen, got my whole life ahead of me." Asuna said. Negi asked if she was trying to point out something with this.
"I guess....I just wanna say.....I really love having you as a friend." Asuna said. Negi seemed a bit surprised, but he smiled.
"I am too Asuna. At first, I thought you were someone I wouldn't get along with. But after all we've been through, I....can't think of anyone else that I'd rather be with." Negi said. Asuna blushed.
"So....does that mean we're.....boyfriend and girlfriend? Or something?" Asuna asked. Negi glanced away and scratched the back of his head.
"If.....If you want to..." Negi said. Asuna smiled.
"I would. If....If you want to." Asuna said. Negi blushed and thought it was all right with him too. Both of them started to chuckle, shortly growing into a friendly laugh. But before they could talk more, they realized someone was watching. Asuna looked back and saw Konoka watching with Setsuna.
"What the?! Konoka?! Were you peeking at us?!" Asuna exclaimed. Konoka giggled.
"Come on Asuna. We all KNEW you two had to be closer than that. I was just making sure my doubts were right." Konoka said. Asuna stuttered and her face turned beat red. Fire began burning in her eyes.
"And what DOUBTS were they Konoka?! Don't you know any privacy?!" Asuna exclaimed. Setsuna tried sneaking away, but she was spotted.
"And don't think YOU'RE getting away scot free Setsuna! I see you there too!" Asuna yelled. Negi continued to watch Asuna yell at Konoka and Setsuna, slowly reaching into the pocket of his jacket. He had a small picture of him and Asuna from one year ago in his pocket.
"I wonder what Nekane would say....if she ever knew?" Negi thought. He looked at Asuna grabbing both of them by their shirt collars.
"I think....she'd be happy. Happy that I found a great friend like you....Asuna." Negi muttered, slowly blushing.
TO BE CONTINUED....
