Negima 3: The Most Magical Christmas
Chapter 7: Asuna's Helpful Hand
The next day, Asuna was just beginning to wake. She yawned and stretched her arms out widely, scratching her back shortly after. She looked to her side, seeing Negi still asleep. This year, Asuna and Negi chose to bunk with each other again.
"Heh. Guess he's still asleep. Whatever. Just proves that the early bird, which is me, gets to wash up first." Asuna said. She slowly crept out and went into the bathroom. She took a quick shower and brushed her teeth. When she stepped out, Negi had already woken and went downstairs. She took the time to get dressed and head downstairs.
"Good morning everyone!" Asuna called. Downstairs already was Negi and Nekane.
"Morning Asuna. You're up early." Nekane chuckled. Asuna smirked.
"Hey. I can't help it. That's just me." Asuna said. Negi could also bet it was because of her part time job back home that keeps her so active.
"Whatever. All I know is I'm really hungry." Asuna said. Nekane chuckled.
"Well, you're just in time for some breakfast. Would you like some pancakes?" she asked. Asuna thanked her and took a seat as Negi slid a plate of pancakes to her. After breakfast, the other girls began to wake and they all met in the kitchen.
"Girls, it looks like we did it again." Negi said. Sakurako asked what he meant, but Asuna cleared it up when she pointed out they didn't bring any school stuff.
"So, I guess we won't be having class while we're here. I thought I should tell all of you that." Negi said. Haruna chuckled.
"Sweet! So we've got another holiday off! Score!" Haruna cheered. Nodoka giggled softly as Yue just sipped on a juice box.
"But, I guess we only naturally deserve it. Heh. Right Negi?" Asuna asked. Negi chuckled.
"I suppose." Negi said. Asuna raised an eyebrow and asked what he meant by that, hearing the others laugh.
"Well, that's all girls." Negi said. The girls all thanked Negi and then went back to their plans. Late that day, Asuna went out for a walk and wrapped her scarf around her neck. It was much colder today than before.
"Ooh. It's chilly today. Am I glad I got my scarf." Asuna said, rubbing her hands together. She walked through the snow, hearing the crunching with each step. On the lightposts, the tinsel was wrapped around the poles and wreaths and Christmas trees were set in all of the shop windows.
"I just love this time of year." Asuna thought. As she looked at all of the windows, she started thinking about who she had to get for Christmas presents. She had already picked out the cards, now she just had to find gifts to go with them.
"Now then...let's see how much exactly is in the old wallet." Asuna said. She reached into her wallet and opened it, sad to find there wasn't much in there.
"Dang it. I thought those cards weren't cheap. I better find a part time job." Asuna thought. She looked around for a "Help Wanted" sign, but she did not have any luck. Just when she about gave up, she spotted a newspaper blowing in the wind. She didn't really notice it until it blew into her face.
"Gack! What the? Oh. Want Ads." Asuna said. She decided to take a quick peek and spotted something she could do. It was an ad looking for some help down by the edge of town.
"Huh. I guess this couldn't be so bad." Asuna thought. She tossed the paper into the trash after tearing out the ad and followed the address on the paper. Following the directions the best she could, she found herself somewhere she didn't expect. She was at Jennifer and Julie's orphanage.
"Hey. I know this place." Asuna said. Just then, Asuna saw Catherine coming outside with a heavy bag of garbage. She almost slipped but Asuna was able to hurry over and catch the bag.
"Huh? Oh! Asuna. Thank you so much." she said. Asuna smiled.
"No problem. This looks heavy." Asuna groaned. She helped her bring it to a nearby dumpster and toss it in.
"Phew. Thank you. Now then, can I help you with something?" Catherine asked. Asuna showed her the ad and Catherine smiled.
"Oh. Are you here to apply for the job? Thank goodness we found someone. I put that ad out a while ago and we needed someone as soon as we could." Catherine said. Asuna smirked.
"Well, I'm your gal." Asuna said "How can I help?" Catherine welcomed Asuna inside and as Asuna strolled, she saw all of the orphan kids. There must've been enough to fill a fourth of their classroom.
"Wow. I never thought there would be so many kids here." Asuna thought. She followed Catherine to the back and sat down. Catherine explained that she really need help with most of the common jobs around the orphanage and told Asuna she would try her best to pay Asuna.
"Oh. D...Don't worry about it. You....You don't have to worry about pay." Asuna said. Catherine could tell Asuna didn't want her to worry, but she tried to not show it.
"All right. Then...welcome aboard Asuna. Thank you for replying to my ad." Asuna said. They then shook hands and Asuna was given her "uniform", a white apron that she tied around herself. Asuna then headed back out to the other kids with Catherine.
"So, does anyone else work here with you? Or..." Asuna asked. Catherine shook her head, saying this was a family business and she had no luck with finding any additional help. Asuna gasped.
"Uhhh....how long have you been working alone for?" Asuna asked. Catherine chuckled.
"Well, I've been running this orphanage for ten years now. The children help now and then, so you see how hard it is for me to find anyone permament to help." Catherine said. Asuna fell silent after that. She looked around at all of the kids, either playing, arguing or crying for help. Asuna couldn't believe that Catherine was working all by herself for this long.
"Then....let me help you. I'll do what I can to help you out." Asuna said. Catherine smiled.
"Thank you Asuna." she said. Asuna smiled and decided to start working. However, she was being spied on from a window by Brick and his gang, hiding in a bush.
"Oh great. Who brought HER here?" Brick asked, watching through binoculars.
"It's that crazy lady. What's she doing here?" Toad asked. Scratch figured it was because of the want ad they saw in the paper lately. As Brick lowered his binoculars, a big grin came to his face. A large red bruise was also on his face, still there since Asuna punched him.
"Know what boys? It's PAYBACK time." Brick said. Asuna soon was at work around the orphanage, picking up the children's toys, helping them when problems arose and cleaning up their spills. Asuna sighed.
"Wow. I can see why Catherine has it so rough. Well, she's gonna need all the help I can give." Asuna thought. She looked back at Catherine, folding the children's laundry. Somehow, as she was folding them, Asuna thought Catherine reminded her of Rose, the girl from the future. Asuna shook her head.
"Wait. Could....nah. That couldn't be it." Asuna thought. Just then, she heard the laundry pile fall over. She looked back and Catherine was buried under the clothes.
"Oh geez! Catherine! Are you all right?!" Asuna asked, helping her out.
"Yes. I'm....I'm fine. Oh. That....That happened again." Catherine said. But just as she stood up, Catherine felt her back begin to ache. That fall had hurt her back to the point she had trouble standing.
"Oh man. Your back must hurt. Here, you should take a break." Asuna said. She helped Catherine to a chair and sat her down.
"Thank you Asuna. I'm...I'm terribly sorry. This back of mine isn't what it used to be." Catherine said. Asuna picked up a pillow and set it down behind her.
"Well, you take it easy. You shouldn't do everything yourself. That's a good way to hurt yourself if you take too much on." Asuna said. Just then, Asuna heard a bunch of the children crying. She hurried in to see what was wrong.
"Oh geez. Hey kids. Can you keep it down? Catherine is trying to....." Asuna said before gasping. She saw Brick and his boys at the front, snickering and scaring the kids.
"You again?! I thought I told you creeps to never come back!" Asuna shouted. Brick huffed.
"Sorry doll. I don't listen to girls who just got a lucky shot. Toad! Scratch! Grab her!" Brick shouted. His boys laughed and grabbed Asuna, holding her arms back.
"What the?! Hey! Let go of me!" Asuna shouted. Catherine heard Asuna struggling and hurried into the room, but she froze up when she saw Brick.
"Oh no. Not them again." Catherine muttered. Asuna looked back and gasped.
"C...Catherine! Don't worry about me! Just get some rest. I'll handle this!" Asuna called. She suddenly looked at Brick cracking his knuckles.
"Heh. I think this is a good time for a little "payback", don't you think boys? A bruise for a bruise girlie. You gave me THIS, now I'm gonna give you one to match!" Brick shouted. But just as he was ready, he felt something zap him in the behind.
"Gah! All right! Who did that?!" Brick shouted. He turned around and saw Evangeline, holding a finger up by her face.
"Hey. I know you. You're that little...." Brick said. But he took one look at Evangeline's gaze and froze.
"Whoa. That....That's one mean glare there boss." Scratch said. Evangeline approached Brick and somehow was causing them to back away.
"I see someone didn't heed a warning. Very well. If you won't listen to her, maybe you'll listen to me." Evangeline said. She suddenly grabbed Brick by his ear and without much effort, she threw him out into the snow. The sight of Brick flying caused Toad and Scratch to release Asuna. Evangeline soon gave them the same glare.
"Now if you don't want to have the same problem, I'd suggest you leave." Evangeline said. The boys nodded and fled, grabbing Brick once they rushed outside. The kids all looked up at Evangeline and gathered by her.
"Thank you miss. Thank you very much." a little girl said. Evangeline huffed.
"It was nothing. Those boys are nothing but..." Evangeline said. She stopped when she felt something hugging her leg. She saw the kids were hugging her.
"Hey! What are you...?! Stop that! Let go of me!" Evangeline shouted. Asuna chuckled.
"What? The kids are showing how much they like you Evangeline. I find it kinda cute." Asuna said. Evangeline groaned, not being able to make them budge.
"Oh my. Asuna, I'm....I'm very sorry about that. That was another reason why I wanted help around....egh." Catherine said before her back started to hurt again. Asuna gasped and hurried Catherine back to her seat.
"Sorry Asuna. I was worried about the kids and...." Catherine said. But Asuna told her to take it easy. She then looked back and asked Evangeline why she was here.
"What? I was out for a walk and I happened to pass by, seeing those boys here." Evangeline said. Just then, Asuna got an idea and asked Evangeline if she was looking for a job.
"Why? And WHY are you glaring at me like that?" Evangeline asked, seeing Asuna give a smirk at her. Soon, Evangeline found herself working by Asuna's side.
"I did NOT sign up for this!" Evangeline growled.
"Listen Evangeline! Catherine runs this whole place herself, so the least she deserves is a little additional help. Besides, the kids seem to like you." Asuna said. Evangeline glanced at the children and started to remember how she felt when Brick was threatening Jennifer.
"Ugh. Fine. But if I have to suffer, I'll make sure Chachamaru and Jennifer suffer as well." Evangeline said. Asuna smirked.
"More help the better. Thanks Evangeline." Asuna said. Evangeline looked away and huffed. But Asuna could tell that Evangeline was feeling all right with helping out. The two continued to finish up Catherine's work and then headed back when it was all done.
"Thank you so much girls. Will I see you tomorrow?" Catherine asked. Asuna looked at Evangeline, turning away with her arms crossed. But Asuna gave a wink and a smile.
"Count on it." Asuna said.
END OF CHAPTER
