Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners, particularly the characters taken from the manga, Mahou Sensei Negima. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Kiri saw a flash of something familiar; a girl in a junior-high uniform like hers. She quickened her pace, not running mind you, to catch up to the figure she had seen. She quickly caught up to the girl, who had walked up to another girl. All three startled at seeing one another.

"Well, Mina-chan, when did you pick up the stray?" asked the girl they met up with.

The girl, Mina, turned around to Kiri, shrugged her shoulders and replied, "haven't got a clue. So, what's your story?"

Kiri replied, "I got lost and you were the first familiar thing I saw, so I followed you."

"Oh," was Mina's reply. "Say, I recognize you; you're in our class."

Kiri cocked her head a moment, remembering. She wasn't the most sociable person in the world normally; since coming to Mahora a month and a half ago she had become positively reclusive, so really didn't know anyone in her class.

"Kiri Mishima," she said after coming up blank, "and you are..."

"Mina Tamazaki," Mina replied, "seat 18. This is Kathy Tanaka, seat 17 and my roommate."

The other girl, Kathy, nodded her head and said, "hi; don't hate me because I'm gaijin."

Mina was Japanese, like Kiri, but about half a head taller than her. She was also just a little more developed than Kiri, with the beginnings of curves to her hips and a slight rise to her chest. Her face was more oval than Kiri's, with no glasses and no zits to speak of. She was a pretty girl; the only thing marring her looks were the braces in her teeth.

Kathy, on the other hand, looked perfect. She was tall, slender and curvaceous, with breasts about as developed as the librarian Kiri had just met. She was definitely a foreigner; the only thing that vaguely looked Japanese were her eyes, and even then, only a little. She had long, blond hair that seemed to stop about half way down her back. And the girl thought Kiri would hate her at first sight. No, if anything, Kiri envied the girl her exotic and mature looks.

"Okay, don't hate me for barging in," Kiri replied with a half smile, "so, you wouldn't happen to know where in the library we are? I'm lost."

Mina reached into her blazer and pulled out a paper. Looking at it a moment, she replied, "Reference 1-C, University-level."

"Just how did you get here, Mishima-san," Kathy asked.

"I just got to the library and literally ran into one of the librarians. I helped her bring her books over the counter there and was trying to find my way back when I saw Tamazaki-san. So, what's your excuse?"

"Oh, we're just doing a little reconnaissance," Mina replied, "you see, there's a lot more to Library Island than most students realize."

"Oh?"

"Well," Kathy said with a sly smile, "if you're interested in finding out more, come on with us. Otherwise, head down that row of bookshelves and turn left and you'll be back at the main aisle."

Kiri thought about it for a moment. She could leave, but the invitation was enticing. She didn't know anyone, didn't have any friends, and the school was concerned about that. It wasn't until this moment she realized that they were right in their concern; she missed having friends. And the thought that this massive, wonderful library had a secret tantalized her imagination.

"You know, I think I am interested," she replied, "lead on."

The new trio of girls walked to a close by alcove. It featured a large window that looked out over the lake that surrounded the island, and had couches and seats situated around, along with a couple of study tables and chairs. Mina and Kathy went over to one of the couches and sat, settling themselves in and pulling their legs up under them. Kiri went and sat in a seat somewhat close by.

"C'mon and sit over here, with us," Kathy said, "we don't bite and we can't be co-conspirators if you're sitting all the way over there!"

Kiri got up and joined them, sitting next to Kathy.

"Now," Kathy continued, "this is what we're doing. Like I said, there's more to Library Island than most people know, and Mina and I are going to find out what it is."

"What are we talking about," Kiri asked, "smuggling, drugs, that kind of thing?"

"No, no," Mina said, "something a lot better. I've heard that this library has a book that if you read it, you become super smart!"

"Well, duh," Kiri said, "you do tend to get smarter by reading things, like books."

"Yeah," Kathy said, "but this book makes you, like, super smart!"

"I heard that years ago, five girls found that book," Mina said, "they tested out of every class and by the end of the year, the school had to give them PhDs."

"All from reading one book," Kiri said with obvious disbelief.

"Okay, that may be a bit over the top," Mina continued, "but I did hear that the girls came here, found the book, then went back and passed their finals."

"So, in other words, you're saying that they studied," Kiri said.

"No, no; they got this book and got smarter," Mina replied.

"Okay; the only book I know of that can make you smarter is a textbook," Kiri said, "there's no magic book that can make you super intelligent."

"There's another part of the story," Kathy said, "the girls found a room, deep in the library, that gave you everything you needed; books, food, whatever. They say that people who find that room never come back; they just stay down there reading forever."

"Well, obviously, someone came back to tell that story," Kiri said, "and by your own admission, five girls went there and came back."

"Yeah, they came back," Mina said, "that doesn't mean they wanted to."

"Well, this sounds all fine, well and good," Kiri said, "but, so what? How could you even find this place, or that book?"

"That's where this comes in," Mina replied, holding up the paper she had pulled from her jacket, "this supposedly is a complete map of the library. Take a look."

Kiri took the paper that Mina handed her and looked. The first couple of pages looked like the guide that one could get anywhere in the library. The rest of the pages were a different story. There were levels and levels below the basement of the building, and all of them marked "Off Limits to the Public," or "Library Exploration Only." Not only that, there was something funny about the paper the map was printed on. There was some kind of funny watermark embedded in the paper, and it almost seemed to glow, if you looked at it the right way.

"This library is deeper than it is tall," Mina said, "not only that, it spreads out beyond the edge of the island, so that means part of it is under the lake. Now, what do you suppose is down there?"

"I don't know, but it's off limits," Kiri said.

"That's why we're going to sneak down there," Kathy said, "this weekend, we're coming back and we're going down there to find out what the secret is. You in?"

Kiri thought about it a moment, then replied, "sure, why not. I've got nothing better to do."

That evening, Kiri settled down in her dorm room for the night. She had talked with Mina and Kathy for about an hour, then the trio left the library and went to dinner. After that, Kiri returned to her room, did her homework and called it a night. Having the dorm to herself helped; she wasn't distracted by the comings and goings of a roommate.

As she faded off to sleep, Kiri reflected on what happened today. She had actually made some acquaintances and it felt good to be in a group again. Maybe the teachers were right after all, was her last thought.