Negima 3: The Most Magical Christmas

Chapter 10: Julie's Beliefs - Part 1

All was jolly and happy at Nekane's home as the sun was shining above. The girls were all eagerly overfilling with holiday cheer. The only two not with them was Asuna and Evangeline, working for the orphanage. In her room, Julie and Jennifer read a book together. The book was Jennifer's old book, titled "Twas the Night Before Christmas" in gold letters.

"To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall. Now dash away, dash away, dash away all." Jennifer read as Julie sat by her side.

"Wow Jennifer. Your reading really improved." Julie said. Jennifer chuckled.

"Well, that's what it's like when you have friends like the girls in Class 2-A." Jennifer said. Julie asked if Santa was ever real, hearing the girls mention him before.

"Santa? Of course he's real. I saw him. Twice even!" Jennifer said. Julie gasped.

"Really?! That's so cool!" Julie shouted. Jennifer smirked.

"Maybe we'll see him this year. I bet that would be cool." Jennifer said. Just then, the girls heard Nekane calling from downstairs. They rushed downstairs as Nekane was bringing out a tray of gingerbread cookies from the oven.

"The cookies are ready girls. You want to help decorate them?" she asked. The girls nodded and Nekane could easily tell, seeing both of them smiling.

"All right. Let me just find the frosting and we can get started." Nekane said. As she searched, Chisame passed by while adjusting her lenses.

"Hi Chisame." Julie waved. Chisame glanced at Julie but then just walked off. Jennifer sighed.

"Don't worry about her. That's how she usually is." Jennifer said. Julie figured so, giving a slight shrug. Anya was outside, throwing snowballs against Fuka, Fumika and Kaede. Anya threw one at Kaede, but Kaede was quick to strike, avoiding Anya's snowball completely and nailing her with her own.

"Sorry Anya. But you'll never be able to hit someone like me if that's the best you've got." Kaede said. Anya groaned.

"This isn't fair. Why aren't you on my team anyway?" Anya asked. Fuka chuckled.

"Because, don't you remember? We agreed for two on two. So you got paired with Fumika. Remember?" Fuka asked. But as Fuka was boasting, Fumika was sneaking up from behind. Anya gave a wink, signaling to her.

"Yeah. Come on. When are you guys going to strike back? You've hardly hit us." Kaede asked. Without a warning, Fumika suddenly threw two snowballs and nailed both girls in the back of their heads.

"Whaddya say now Kaede? We got you!" Fumika exclaimed. Kaede and Fuka sighed, figuring their gloating got the best of them. Back inside, Julie and Nekane were decorating the cookies as Jennifer put on gum drops for eyes.

"Like this?" Jennifer asked. Nekane nodded.

"Yes. There we go. Another one done." Nekane said. With this cookie, the three of them had already done half the bake sheet. But as Jennifer reached for another, Julie turned to Nekane.

"Nekane? I....I know this sounds strange. But....do you believe in Santa?" Julie asked. Jennifer sighed.

"Come on Julie. Not that again." Jennifer said. Nekane chuckled.

"Well, maybe I do. But I think the question is if you believe in him." Nekane said. Julie turned away, blushing bright red and shifting her gaze away.

"Oh come on Julie, I just told you what happened to us last Christmas. Do you not believe us or something?" Jennifer asked. Julie shook her head.

"No. It's not that I don't believe you or nothing. It's....It's just...." Julie stuttered. Nekane peeked down at Julie's face and began to think.

"Sheesh Julie. If you keep feeling that way, it might be hard for you to believe anything." Jennifer groaned. Just then, Nekane had an idea.

"I think I know someone who can help. I heard that Santa was actually going to be appearing at the shopping center downtown today and maybe....you girls would like to go see him." Nekane suggested. Jennifer and Julie both smiled.

"Yeah. That would be great. We can tell Santa what we want for Christmas too." Jennifer said. Nekane chuckled.

"Then....I'll ask Negi if he can take you. I want to make sure to finish the cookies before I forget." Nekane said. Jennifer figured that was fine and the two girls rushed off to find Negi. Telling him everything, Negi agreed to bring the girls down to the square. Upon arrival, they saw other people with their children.

"I guess we'll have to wait girls. Maybe you'd like to look around the stores?" Negi asked. Jennifer and Julie glanced at one another.

"Fine by me. How about it Julie?" Jennifer asked. Julie figured it was all right and nodded. They walked into the nearby store, seeing Christmas decorations all around them.

"Wow. Just look at this place. It's so beautiful." Julie said, looking around at everything. Negi picked up a basket and started to browse. As they strolled, they didn't expect to run into Asuna and Evangeline, browsing the boxed goods.

"Asuna? Evangeline?" Negi asked. Asuna gasped.

"Negi? Whoa. What an odd coincidence that you're here." Asuna said. Negi figured the same thing. Jennifer asked why Evangeline was down here too.

"Hmph. Catherine asked us to go grocery shopping for the kids at the orphanage. I tell you, being surrounded by all those kids makes me feel sick." Evangeline said. Asuna groaned.

"Yeah. THIS is the work attitude I've been having to put up with as Evangeline's working buddy. You can tell how enthusiastic she is." Asuna said. Evangeline groaned.

"Don't worry. I'm sure you two will be working well together. Right?" Julie asked. Negi and Jennifer slightly chuckled.

"Well, why are you guys down here?" Asuna asked.

"We came to see Santa. But there's so many people out there that we came in here until the line died down." Negi said. Asuna looked out the front windows and could see the line.

"Yeah. Good idea." Asuna said. Negi also whispered to Asuna that Julie was having a hard time believing in Santa also, the real reason they came.

"Oh." Asuna whispered. Julie looked away, figuring Negi was talking to Asuna about Santa.

"Uhh...don't get discouraged Julie. You'll get to see Santa. I guarantee it." Asuna said. Julie looked up at Asuna.

"I hope so." she said. But as time marched on, the line didn't seem to shrink as more people came and lined up. And each time Julie thought now was a good time, her friends had to disagree. And the more she waited, the more Julie's smile turned to a frown. By the time afternoon came around, Julie lost all hope.

"This was a bad idea. Maybe we should just go home." Julie said. But just as they were leaving, Jennifer pointed out that everyone seemed to be leaving.

"Well Julie, now is your chance." Negi said. Julie gulped and slowly approached the perching Santa. But as she did, he got up and left. The store clerk came out and thanked Santa for coming. Julie gasped.

"Wait! Where's Santa going?" Julie asked.

"Oh. His time today is over. But don't worry. He'll be back in a couple of days." the store clerk said. Negi and Jennifer gasped, looking at a tear eyed Julie.

"Julie....I...." Jennifer said. But Julie looked away and started to run. Jennifer tried to grab Julie, but missed.

"Julie! Wait! Come back!" Negi called. But Julie only continued to run, not stopping for an instant.

TO BE CONTINUED...

END OF CHAPTER