Nodoka peeked through the door of Music Room 3, home of Ouran Academy's famous host club. The club was made of ridiculously handsome seniors but one in particular had stolen her heart, a red-headed foreigner who was sitting at the couch closest to the door across from two female students.
It had been a chance meeting, bumping into the young man on her way back to Library Island. He not only saved her from a nasty fall but was well versed in Greek and Roman mythology along with a fellow love for literature in general. It was love at first sight and Nodoka was already head over heels in it.
"Negi-sempai…" She breathed.
"Go get him!"
Nodoka squeaked, quickly turning around and closing the door behind her. "Haruna! They could have heard us!" she whispered.
"Yeah, so?" Haruna said. "You would've gotten a chance to have a session with your dear Negi-sempai."
"But we're not even supposed to be here." Nodoka stammered. "I mean we got into their Winter Dance thanks to class rep's help but to come here now…"
Yue took a large slurp from her juice box. "We'll be fine. I asked the host club's vice-president during the Dance. We're free to come and go since it runs after school and all."
"But still I…" Nodoka looked back at the door behind her. "It's just so...I don't know. What if he's just being nice to me because he's a host? I just…I want to know how he really feels about me."
"Oh really…"
"BWAH!"
All three girls jumped back as a figure in a black cloak seemingly emerged from the shadows. Oddly, on his hand was a cat hand puppet.
"Who are you?" Haruna demanded.
"I am Nekozawa, president of the Ouran Black Magic Club, and I have the answer to your little dilemma."
Nodoka perked up slightly. "You do?"
"You want to know your sempai's feeling or rather, his feeling towards you. You want your sempai to love you." His cat puppet disappeared into his cloak to emerge holding a small round bottle. "This potion will be the answer to all your problems."
Chapter 4 – The Love Potion
Smoking was far from the healthiest of indulgences but Takamichi couldn't really care any less. It helped build his rugged cool guy aesthetic, something that was often useful when dealing with unruly teenagers. If he appeared casual and approachable, then it was more likely that the students would listen to him. Besides, it was unlikely that he would live long enough to deal with consequences of this habit. Gateau hadn't.
Takamichi drew another drag and leaned over the balcony. The view of Mahora Academy over sunrise was always something to behold. Despite the early hours, there was still a decent amount of people awake and active below. Owners setting up their shops, paper routes being run and martial artists running through their kata. Above it all was the World Tree, its outspread branches glistening with sunlight and ambient magic.
Then there was a sudden crash and clatter followed by the tinkling of bells.
He held back a light chuckle and put out his cigarette on the nearby ash tray. Apparently his new roommate was awake as well.
Takamichi entered the kitchen/lounge to find Negi on floor surrounded by an upturned chair and a variety of pots and pans.
"Ah! Ta-Takamichi!" She squeaked, pulling a saucepan off her head. "I'm really sorry about the mess! I just thought that…uh – maybe I could cook breakfast today and well…"
Takamichi gave a gentle grin and helped the fumbling girl to her feet. "Don't worry about it Negi-kun. Just ask for some help next time something out of your reach." He picked up a frying pan from the pile. A least he didn't have that many to begin with.
"But I…I wanted to surprise you." Negi sniffed. "You've already done so much for me, not just now but ever since I was little, and I wanted to do something nice for you in return and-"
Takamichi placed a hand on her head. "You still cry just as easily as you did before and you're still just as little." He teased.
"No I'm not!" Negi protested but a smile was growing on her face. "I'm bigger and stronger and almost there to become a Magistra Magi!"
"Sure you are but you still have a lot of growing up to do." Takamichi said. "Now go get ready for the day, I'll deal with this here."
Negi looked reluctant to leave but he was able to get her going with another smile and a slight shooing motion.
After putting away the remaining fallen items, Takamichi started a breakfast of eggs and toast. Not the most extravagant meal but it was an upgrade over his previous diet of cup ramen with the occasional splurge at the Chao Bao Zi. While he had no qualms with that, it wasn't something that he wanted to pass onto Negi.
"Need any help there Takamichi?"
"Don't worry I'm just about done Ne- NAGI?!"
The pan and its contents clattered on the ground. It was a mess that he would have to clean up later but right now he was more focused on the supposedly dead mage before him.
"Great, now I've ruined breakfast too. Sorry Takamichi…"
"Negi-kun?" Takamichi looked again, still not quite sure. He had seen Negi using the Age-Deceiving Pills several times before, all of which she was a healthy mix of Nagi and Arika's features and still very much a girl despite the uniform she was give. The Nagi doppelganger before him was a different story.
The young red-headed man dressed in an Ouran High uniform sheepishly nodded. "Since most the Host Club thinks I'm a boy, I might as well look like one too. It'll avoid any mishaps in the future. Do I really look that much like Father?"
"Very much so." Takamichi said, still slightly dumbstruck. This new aged up form was so scarily similar. Oh the troubles an older Negi would have in the Magic World had she been a boy. "But the pills only alter age, not sex so how…"
"Well there was this time Xan and I were playing a pran- uh doing a project and well, we needed to brew up a sex-changing potion. I just happened to have some leftover."
Takamichi chuckled at the stumble. Apparently, Negi wasn't such a model student at Meridiana that everyone was led to believe. But…
"It's not particularly safe to be mixing various potions together. That potion, the Age-Deceiving Pill and those magic supplements could affect your body in adverse ways. Ouran isn't like Meridiana or even Mahora, it's not likely you'll run into another mage there. You can lay off the supplements for a couple weeks-"
"No! I'm not giving them up!" Negi shouted. Then she looked down, slightly ashamed. "I know what could happen but…but I need to take them if I'm going to complete this assignment. I'm not going to let that stupid 'condition' get in my way of becoming a Magistra Magi."
"I know it's not the same but I got by without incanted magic…"
"But that's for you. How am I going to get as strong as Father or as skilled as Mother if my magic refuses to act like magic?"
And there were the tears again. Takamichi knew that this was a touchy subject, especially with the legacies of her parents to live up to. Nathan had been silently disapproving and the Headmaster of Meridiana had turned a blind eye but he couldn't let her keep doing this. Today, though, wasn't the day.
"Hey, why don't we eat out today? There's a pretty good student restaurant under the World Tree and we could head there for breakfast."
Negi looked up and grinned pass the tears. "Sure, let's do that."
{~~~}
Chao looked over her notes again.
There were minor things that were different in this past. Like Ouran High being closer to Mahora than it should being one of them or activation keys appearing at both the start and end of some incantations. However, there was one thing that couldn't simply be overlooked.
Kagurazaka Asuna doesn't exist.
Chao had scoured the every possible source from both the Mundus Ventus and Mundus Magicus but there was not mention of her anywhere. Neither Kagurazaka Asuna nor the Twilight Imperial Princess. A person that was so key to the timeline couldn't simply just cease to exist.
2-A was completely oblivious to all this. There was another girl who had taken seat number eight and was Konoe Konoka's roommate, Fujioka Haruhi. She aspired to be a lawyer like her mother and showed no magic capability or even complete lack of it. She was completely and utterly normal, something that was distinctly abnormal in the craziness of 2-A.
It wasn't that Chao had anything against Fujioka, it was just her existence meant the disappearance of someone who was vital for the future.
In addition, it had already been two weeks since Negi was supposed to become 2-A teacher and Chao had seen no hide or hair of her ancestor. She could have gotten the dates wrong and the boy could be on a plane to Japan but considering everything else that was different, there could be a distinct chance that he didn't exist here either.
Pulling up the list of Meridiana's latest graduates, she quickly scrolled through the names. Her eyes fell on two in particular.
Alexander Cocolova and Asuna Springfield.
So apparently Anya was a boy and Asuna had been adopted by the Springfields. Or Negi had been born a girl and just happened to be named Asuna. Or Asuna was born into the family and Negi was still studying at Meridiana. Or Arika gotten de-aged and dyed her hair. Or Nagi had gotten de-aged and sex-changed.
The possibilities of this revelation spun in Chao's head as she took breakfast orders at her restaurant. The only place that she had ever expected to see the name 'Asuna Springfield' was on a marriage certificate, not a graduates list. Who knew what these changes would mean for her plans? Not that it would stop them, she just had to plan for more variables.
With her mind preoccupied and her body on autopilot, Chao wasn't paying particular attention to who she was serving. She could rely on her passive listening skills and muscle memory to get herself through the shift while she thought on more important matters. That left her completely oblivious to most of her environment. Including what was directly in front of her.
"Pleasure to meet you Chao-san."
Chao snapped out of her thoughts at that voice. She knew that voice. "Negi-sensei?"
Lo and behold, there was the missing child mage. Negi Springfield, dressed in a brown overcoat and significantly older than ten, sat across from Takahata-sensei at the table she had been absent-mindedly serving.
"Sensei? Takamichi, I thought you kept that a secret!" Negi said.
Takahata-sensei held his hands up in surrender. "I haven't told anyone Negi-kun."
"Oh sorry, that's my bad ne." Chao quickly said. At least some things would stay the same. "I just assumed that you were a teacher as well, given that you're with Takahata-sensei no ne."
"Then that was quite the accurate assumption then." Takahata-sensei said. "Negi-kun will be starting next school year and will be taking over my position as 2-A's homeroom teacher. I am getting on in the years after all."
"You're still plenty young! You're not even thirty yet." Negi interjected, a bit more defensive than Chao would have expected.
"But I'm an old man when compared to a spring onion like you."
Chao couldn't help but giggle at the exchange.
But with 'Asuna Springfield' having recently graduated, the appearance of a teenage Negi seemed to create more questions than answers.
"So how old are you, Negi-san?" Chao asked. "You have to be twenty-one at least but you look so young no ne."
Negi blushed. "Oh, thank you Chao-san but I'm only…sixteen."
Sixteen. He could be lying and be under an age illusion, which would create even more questions, or he could be flustered for being quizzed by a girl. It could go either way if this Negi was the same one she knew of.
"Sixteen?!" Chao said with fake shock. "You're barely older than me yet you're qualified to be a teacher? That's amazing ne. But why don't you start straight away? I'm sure the school would want such a bright young man immediately on staff no ne."
"There are some…let's say personal circumstances delaying my employment." Negi said. "My onii-chan was…very vocal about me jump straight into teaching in a foreign country, so I got put on a probationary period as a student." He sighed and gave a tired but charming smile that was sure to get him mobbed in the future. "I just graduate and then I get stuck as a student again."
"Well, you can never stop learning ne. Pick up some good teaching techniques as a student and maybe you might have a chance against our class no ne." Chao winked and swept away with their orders. "Best of luck, future sensei."
After giving Satsuki their order, Chao retreated back into her speculation-and-work mindset, keeping a particular eye out for anything happening on Negi's table.
A student probationary period? Ha! They were already planning on having an underage teacher so the period was useless. Delaying a graduate's assignment though, now that was something. Western mages took whatever was written on those magic diplomas as law, regardless of how ridiculous the assigned task was. For Nekane to delay that, even by a couple of months, it showed that she had decent amount of influence. Was she even still a she in this timeline? Negi did say 'onii-chan' but that could be blamed on him still learning the language.
Looking back over at their table, Chao couldn't help but notice a poorly hidden love struck look in Negi's eyes. Maybe it would be more obvious if the person opposite him was a boy or girl around his age but looking at it now, Negi definitely had a crush on Takahata-sensei. Wouldn't that be a heartbreaker for the rest of 2-A to find out. 'All the cute guys are either gay or taken' indeed.
Speaking of crushes, Chao saw the Library trio practically jump at the table, Haruna and Yue sitting Nodoka next to Negi before sitting down opposite each other. From the bookworm's glowing blush, it seems like some things never change. Chao pitied whatever poor girl that was now the regular victim of the Springfield strip-sneeze.
She saw Haruna leave the table and make her way towards the trailer counter. "Morning Chao-chan!"
"Morning Haruna-chan." Chao smiled. That girl was scheming something, she always was. "What were you after today?"
"Just the regulars for the three of us and…" Haruna pulled a potion, or at least something in a proper mage potion bottle, from her pocket. "…a little bit of this in whatever the redhead cutie with Takahata-sensei is having."
"Oh? You want me to spike a customer's meal, ne? That's highly unethical, even for you."
"It's just a love potion." Haruna said. "And by 'love potion', I mean a mix of random juices some magic weirdo gave to us. It'll probably do nothing but Nodoka needs the confidence to confess to that guy. She's like seriously in love with him and you know Nodoka. She's going to keep retreating back into her shell until the guy's taken. This Negi-fellow seems like a decent guy and I don't want her losing a catch like that. So please?"
Chao gave a slight grin and took the bottle. "Just this once ne. But I'm directing any lawsuits your way, got it no ne?" She contemplated telling her that this Negi might not be romantically interested in girls but Ala Alba was already missing one of its key powerhouses, it couldn't risk losing another one.
"Thanks Chao-chan, I owe you one." Then Haruna retreated back to their table, trying to squish the potential lovebirds closer together by sliding in next to Negi.
Examining the bottle closer Chao was surprised to find that, surprisingly, it was a love potion. Not a particularly strong one but it would amplify any romantic feelings the consumer has for the opposite sex and ignite them if they aren't present. It wasn't anything potent or long-lasting but it would reveal if there were any pre-existing feelings. Besides, it was Negi. He was sure to get spiked with a love potion at one stage or another so it was best to start building up resistance now.
{~~~}
Negi's morning had been okay so far. That is, if it counted when enough good things had happened to balance out the bad. She made a mess in Takamichi's kitchen twice and yelled at him first thing in the morning. But she had found her new favourite restaurant and met five of her future students, though she recognised three of them from the Host Club's Winter Dance.
Though meeting some of her students now, and them knowing that she would be their future teacher, meant that she would have to use this male aged-up form during her tenure as at Mahora. Not the worst situation she could be in but it meant she either have to learn to brew Age-Deceiving Pills or get a part-time job. Those things were expensive and she didn't want to keep burdening Nat with expenses. She wanted to send him souvenirs, not more bills.
Miyazaki was acting weird at the end of their meal. She was blushing and stuttering more than usual but seemed rather adamant about her not leaving. Her two friends, Ayase and Saotome, looked a bit redder than normal and Saotome had been sitting so close she might as well been on her lap. Negi sincerely hoped that none of them had a crush on her. That was another problem she definitely did not want to deal with.
Making her way to Ouran, Negi had the constant feeling of eyes on her. It lessened once she had gotten out of the girls' district but there was still that prickling feeling that someone was staring at her. Was her outfit too weird? No one had paid attention to her before in her overcoat with her staff but maybe now people were noticing how weird it looked. Or maybe it was her new appearance. She thought she looked good enough after taking both the pill and potion, maybe slightly different from her regular aged up appearance but she still looked similar enough for Miyazaki and her friends to recognise her. Were the different formulas clashing now? Negi had been feeling a bit woozy after breakfast but woozy was pretty much normal given her cocktail of magic potions. Whatever it was, she could deal with it after club activities. Maybe she could ask Takamichi if there were any potion experts on campus.
"Hey there, handsome."
Negi stopped in her tracks as a trio of girls stood in her path. From the black dresses and white colours, they had be students at St Ursula High. All three had a hungry lustful look in their eyes and every instinct was yelling at her to screw niceties and run in the opposite direction.
"Morning ladies." Negi said, steeling herself and getting ready to flee. "Lovely day we're having, isn't it?"
"It's lovely now that I've seen you." The leader grinned, taking a step forward.
Instinctively, Negi took a step back. They were blocking the main pathway but if she casually walked by then the worse she could do was brush their shoulders. She could also run across the road and hope she wouldn't get hit. There was also her staff if she decided to screw the rules and just fly off. But she had manners dammit. A proper lady wouldn't run off when confronted, she would stand her ground.
"Meeting new people can always brighten a day up." Negi said, keeping her head high and eyes trained pass the girls as she walked forward. "Now if you excuse me, I need to get to class."
But just as she was about to pass them, she was grabbed by the shoulder and dipped down by the trio's leader. The girl was pretty but plain with no particularly outstanding features save for the predatory grin painted across her face.
"I've seen you pass by here for the pass week, in the opposite direction of the boys' high school." She said in a low voice that was trying to sound seductive but just came off as scratchy. "Pray tell where you're going?"
"I go – go to school off campus." Negi stumbled. She tried to regain her balance but the girl's grip on her waist was too tight. As soon as she was out of this mess, she was going to figure out what the hell was going on. "I'm from abroad and the closest place I could find accommodations was Mahora."
"Oh really? Well how about you spend a day with us girls, all down to our socks." The girl said leaning closer. "I'm sure your teachers won't mind."
Luckily, for Negi at least, when the girl leaned closer her hair started tickling the mage's nose. Letting out a large sneeze, the girls were disarmed of their clothing and their shock gave Negi enough time to escape.
Not taking any more chances, Negi mounted her staff when no one was looking and flew the rest of the way to Ouran Academy.
She arrived just in the nick of time, taking her seat between the Hitachiin twins in the homeroom. To her dismay, she felt the hungry eyes of every female student on her as she sat down. They were all too sophisticated to jump her now but Negi was certain that if she didn't make a quick escape from class, she would find herself at the centre of a much larger mob.
"You look rather bummed out." Kaoru said.
"Miss the train or something?" Hikaru asked.
"Something like that." Negi groaned. "If you don't mind me asking, does the school have any magic clubs or anything of the sort?"
"Well…"
"There's the Black Magic Club."
"But they don't really do much."
"Yeah, just mostly occult and superstitions."
"But the Boss is convinced that they've got some magic."
"But that was just a string of coincidences."
"Otherwise they're just a bunch of creeps." The twins finished together. "Why do you ask?"
"Let's just say I want to have a little chat with this Black Magic Club." Negi mumbled as she straightened up as the teacher walked in.
Though it was more likely that whatever was causing her wild morning was from the Chao Bao Zi, potions with delayed effects were just as common as delayed spells. She might as well eliminate her suspects while she had the time.
{~~~}
There was definitely something off with their little mage. Negi made sure to leave each class promptly, avoiding any crowded hallways and always sticking with a teacher should crossing the more common hallways became necessary.
There was also the new attention that Negi was getting. Every girl seemed to turn her head as the rookie host walked and some had taken the tailing the mage until Negi disappeared into a classroom. There was also that one time Negi was surrounded by girls and had to magic-sneeze their skirts up to create a chance to escape.
"Should we tell the Boss?" Kaoru asked.
Hikaru scoffed. "And have him freak out and make things worse? Like I know he means well and all, but sometimes his enthusiasm causes more trouble than its worth."
"So we follow the mage?"
"We follow the mage."
The twins trailed after Negi, making sure to always stay just out of sight. As soon as classes were over, Negi didn't head towards the music room like normal but towards the north wing and down to the basement. The pair watched as the mage disappeared into the Black Magic Club's room.
"Hey Hikaru?"
"Yeah Kaoru?"
"What if Nekozawa and his gang could do real magic?"
"Pshh. No way they can. You know that their all just a bunch of hacks."
"But Negi-kun seems really concerned about them. What if they had been cursing the whole school this entire time?"
"Negi-kun will be fine against them."
"But it'll be five to one."
"Yeah but Negi's a magic school graduate. I'm sure there's some super awesome combat spell that could knock all those creeps out."
Then there were several thuds.
Silence.
Then…
"You do know that love potions are ILLEAGAL!" Negi's shout came through loud and clear, not even muffled by the door. "I should report the lot of you to the Kanto Magic Association!"
Then there was more silence.
The doors of the club room violently blew open and a furious Negi stormed out, staff completely unwrapped in hand and a gust of wind blowing with every step.
Hikaru and Kaoru pushed themselves against the wall as the mage walked pass. Then the mage stopped and turned to the pair with a look that was downright murderous.
The wind suddenly dropped. "Tell Kyoya-sempai I won't be at the Host Club for the rest of the week."
"Will do." The pair squeaked.
And then the mage was gone.
"Remind me never to get on Negi-kun's bad side."
"Only if you remind me."