note: next one. . .
The sun had begun to peek over the horizon when the silence of morning was suddenly broken by the sounds of laughter and bells mixing with the heavy pounding of feet hitting concrete. A young girl and a young boy came running through the neighborhood full of identical houses. They were rapidly tossing newspapers into the mailboxes of each house. The girl laughed as they sprinted across the neighborhood, each trying to rush in front of the other.
"You can't beat me at my own game, kid!" Asuna yelled as she pushed her legs to go faster than Negi's. "You gotta go faster than that to win!" She grabbed the last newspaper from her bag and with a powerful lunge forward, tossed it towards the mailbox of the house at the end of the street. At the same time, Negi threw his last newspaper to the house across the street from Asuna's house. As the papers landed in their destinations, Asuna and Negi raced past the houses without checking who had won.
Negi glanced sideways at Asuna and smiled gently at the laughing, pink-cheeked girl. She was running with no indication of stopping, so he kept up with her, not intending to stop running either. Negi willed himself to go faster as he felt the cool air biting his skin. This is so much fun...
With determination, Asuna flew ahead of Negi, marking the river as the finish line.
As soon as she saw that she was the undisputed victor, she began to slow down. She stopped near the railing of the man-made river and bent over with her hands leaning on her knees, trying to regain her breath. Even with the fast race they had just finished and the heaving she was doing, Asuna still managed to let out a loud, joyous laugh. Negi slowed to a steady walk as he reached the panting girl.
"That was some morning jog," Negi said as he saw Asuna's wide smile. He took in gulps of air to catch his breath and slowly let it out. "I really needed that."
"I've never finished my paper route so early before," Asuna said between gasps. "I should bring you with me more often." She looked at Negi who had taken off his suit jacket and tie. "But next time you should skip the fancy clothes. Doesn't look like you're enjoying running in that new suit of yours, eh?"
Negi smiled. "Yes, next time I will wear more appropriate clothing." He unbuttoned the first two buttons of his dress shirt. "It's awfully uncomfortable running in a suit." Beads of sweat had started to slide down his face. Negi wiped his sweat with the sleeve of his shirt. "But I wouldn't mind coming with you once in a while. This is quite the exercise regimen."
"Look at you. I didn't think it was possible but your way of speaking has become even more elegant," Asuna said lifting her head high, mimicking Negi's speech pattern. "I was almost certain it could not become anymore formal than it had been but, yet again, I am proven wrong."
"Asuna-san, I don't mean it like that. My words just come out this way. I don't mean to be prideful in anyway!" Negi shamefully lowered his head. "It. . . I. . . the way I speak-"
Asuna cut him off. "Yeah, yeah. I know, you little brat. I'm just teasing you." Asuna gently patted Negi's head. "Come on, let's start walking back to the dorms. Konoka is probably up by now making food!" Asuna laughed. "Still, I can't believe you kept up with my running all the way. That's a first. No one can keep up with me without a little help." And instead of turning to walk towards the dorms, Asuna leaned on the railing and rested her chin on her hand. "You weren't cheating were you?"
"Well, to be honest, during the last part I was. You're just too fast for a normal person to follow." Negi said as he took out a handkerchief to dab away his forehead sweat.
Asuna smiled as she watched Negi lightly wipe his sweat with his handkerchief.
She studied his smooth, glistening face for the second time that morning.
It had changed very little but the air around him felt completely different from when she had first met him. He was turning into a proper young man under her very eyes. Her smile got wider when she saw how Negi's cheeks started to grow pink as he realized that she was watching him.
"You know what?" She finally said breaking her calm silence. "I actually think I'll be able to go back to the way things were. Even with all the things that have happened, with who I am and what I've done in the past, I feel like I can live an ordinary life again." She turned and smiled at the rising sun. It transformed Asuna's orange hair to a bright, glowing red-yellow liquid flame. "I don't mind doing these normal everyday things. I feel ready to to live in peace with the people I love. With the only thing on my mind being how fun each day will be with the people I care for." She turned to face Negi with the same smile meant for the sun.
Seeing Asuna's peaceful smile made Negi's heart skip a beat. He closed his eyes and turned towards the sun, feeling it's warmth on his face. "I'm glad you feel that way, Asuna-san." A small breeze rustled his hair and made Asuna's bells jingle. "I wish. . . I wish. . ."
Negi heard Asuna suck in her breath. He opened his eyes and turned from the sun to look at Asuna. His eyes widened with surprise as he saw Asuna's misty eyes.
"Asuna-san? What's wrong?" Negi asked as he quickly recalled their conversation to see if he had said something that could have upset her.
"Negi, is there anything you want to tell me?" Asuna said as she tried to fight back her tears. Here it comes. . .
"What?" Negi was stunned.
Did he have anything to tell Asuna?
Almost instantly, he remembered about the letter he had received the day before. He had forgotten all about it during his time with Asuna.
So he did have something to tell her, but what would happen after he told her?
"Negi?" With every silent second that passed, Asuna's body felt heavier and tears were threatening to spill over. "Will you please say anything, Negi."
"Ah, it seems that there is something I need to say." He said his words slowly and deliberately, pausing to let everything sink in, but making Asuna flinch in return. "I had planned on telling the Ala Alba first, then the rest of the class later," he paused again, making Asuna's body stiffen. "But I felt that I had to tell you personally, Asuna-san." He paused yet again, making Asuna go crazy with the suspense.
"Just tell me what the hell you have to say!" She grabbed Negi's collar and started to violently shake him. "God dammit, Negi! You're killing me with all those pauses!"
"What? Uh, okay, Asuna-san! I'm sorry!" Negi stammered quickly as Asuna shook him. "I got a letter the other day from the magic association." Asuna released her hold on Negi's collar. "It stated that, with my role in saving the magic world and Mahora Academy, they promoted me to a magister magi." He lowered his eyes from Asuna's face. "I have to go to England to receive my diploma." He didn't say anything else.
"Oh, alright, it that all?" Relief was clear in Asuna's voice.
"Uh, no, Asuna-san." Her heart almost stopped when he said this. "It also stated that I was no longer required to stay teaching at Mahora Academy. I am allowed to go to England to receive my title and after that I may go on to fulfill my duties as a magister magi. So. . . the reason for my staying here has disappeared."
"Oh." Was all Asuna could say.
"Oh?" Negi looked at Asuna with sad eyes and smiled softly. "I thought you would have something more. . . more meaningful to tell me."
"Will you really be leaving us, Negi?" Asuna said avoiding Negi's gaze.
"I don't know. I'm torn, Asuna-san. I want to stay here with everyone, but I want to. . ." Asuna looked at Negi. His eyes caught hers and were begging her for an answer. "Please, Asuna-san, please tell me, what should I do?"
"Negi, I. . . I wish I could tell you want to do. I wish I could tell you what I want you to do, but I can't. It's not my place to decide for you." Asuna started to walk back to the dorms.
"Wait! Asuna-san, wait!" Negi said as he started to follow her. "What do you want me to do?"
Asuna ran when she heard this question.
"Asuna-san!" Negi yelled as he ran after her.
"I can't, Negi!" Asuna ran at full speed to keep Negi from seeing her tears.
I am sorry, Negi.
She didn't know why she was acting this way. Doing something like this wasn't what she would normally do. Running away, crying, was something Asuna would never, ever do! She knew exactly what her answer to Negi would be without a single moment's hesitation. Her first instinct had been to say what she had always said, that she would go where ever he went, whether that be heaven or hell, but instead she couldn't find her tongue.
She couldn't say anything.
And so she ran.
Negi. . . leaving. . . Negi. . . gone. . .
Negi ran after Asuna as fast as he could.
He couldn't believe she still had so much energy to run like this when they had been running all morning. He pushed his tired legs to their limit. He didn't know why he persisted that Asuna answer his question. Maybe he knew what she would say and he just wanted to hear it from her mouth. He wanted to have a happily ever after.
Was that so unacceptable of him, to want that? His father never got his, his mother never got hers, would he never have a happy life as well?
Was peace impossible for people like himself?
Negi was beginning to lose sight of Asuna. I have to know what she thinks!
He pumped magic to his feet. With a sudden burst of abnormal speed, he flew past houses and around the corner he had seen Asuna turn.
He could see her now.
He could see her hair streaking behind her now.
He could hear her bells jingling with her fast movement now.
Then Negi threw himself forward, betting it all on grabbing Asuna's wrist. "Asuna-san!"
Asuna turned slightly, causing Negi to miss her wrist by a margin. The loss of balance made him lose control, sending him crashing face-first into the floor. He skidded forward a few feet before he could stop himself. Dazed, he lifted his face off the concrete just in time to see Asuna pause to look at him. Tears were streaming down her face as she panted for air.
Negi heard her say sorry and watched her run out of sight.