Negima 3: The Most Magical Christmas
Chapter 21: Anya's Sole Wish
In Wales, today was December 21st and it was the final four days before Christmas. Everyone was exploding with anticipation and excitement for the upcoming holiday. But even as the others cheered, one girl was hiding feelings of sadness. It was Negi's childhood friend, Anya.
"Well....it's almost Christmas. I wonder what'll happen next.....like it'll ever change." she thought. She was thinking about how her life went after she and Negi would always part after Christmas with Nekane. Every year, they had Christmas and then parted ways. But Anya always felt so lonely after she and Negi went back to training.
"It's going to be the same this year too. I know it." Anya muttered. Shade was passing by with her coat when she spotted Anya.
"Anya? What's wrong?" Shade asked. Anya looked back at Shade and said nothing.
"I hope nothing's wrong. Please. What's wrong?" she asked. Anya sighed.
"It's.....It's nothing Shade." Anya said. But suddenly, Anya saw Haruna glaring at her.
"Yeah RIGHT. With a face like that, it sure ain't nothing." Haruna smirked. Anya groaned.
"Fine. But promise you won't breathe a word about this to Negi?" Anya asked. Shade nodded before Anya looked back at Haruna. She asked Shade to talk to her in private, leaving Haruna.
"Oh fine. I get it. Haruna can't keep a secret. Nice." Haruna said. Outside, Shade and Anya sat down together on the porch.
"Shade....you probably don't know this. But...I don't exactly have much the same life as Negi does. While he's a teacher at Mahora Academy, I'm a lonely street fortune teller in London." Anya said "I'm very happy to see him when the holidays. But when they pass, I just feel pretty lonely." Shade nodded.
"So, you're really lonely without Negi?" Shade asked. Anya nodded.
"And....actually, I feel a little envious of Negi. While I've been doing fortune telling, he's off having big battles and world threatening situations. I wish....I just want to be there at his side." Anya said. Shade asked why she can't just ask to be relocated to Japan then.
"I can't do that. Once you get an assignment after the academy, you've really got to stick to it." Anya said. Shade looked away, thinking for herself.
"Well, I think the only way things are going to change...is for you to tell Negi exactly how you feel. You can't keep it all locked away." Shade said. Anya gasped.
"B...But..." Anya stuttered.
"I mean, I hid my love for this planet from my father when he wanted me to do nothing more than to help him destroy it. Negi gave me the courage to finally face him and reveal my true feelings." Shade said. Anya said nothing and looked away, slightly blushing more.
"But...what if Negi...?" Anya asked. Suddenly, Shade grabbed Anya's arm.
"Come on. You have to tell him. You'll feel better when you do." Shade said. The two then darted off, Shade dragging Anya close behind.
"What?! Shade! Wait! You don't get it! I can't....!" Anya shouted. But that didn't stop Shade. They dashed off for town, remembering Negi was going out shopping with Nekane for Christmas dinner. They were just arriving at the town plaza and entering the grocery store.
"All right Negi. Now, if you'll cover half the list, I'll do the other. All right?" Nekane asked. Negi nodded.
"Okay Nekane." he said. Nekane smiled.
"Just like the old days. Negi, everyday with you is like a trip down memory lane." Nekane thought, watching Negi walk off. Outside, Anya finally broke free from Shade.
"I told you to stop half a block ago! I CAN'T just tell Negi!" Anya shouted.
"Well then, if you won't, I could....." Shade said before Anya stopped her.
"No! If anyone is going to tell him, it....ugh. It's gotta be me." Anya said. She took a quick look around and she saw Negi by the nearest window.
"All right. Here....Here goes." Anya said, taking a quick breath and gulped. She walked inside and found Negi looking at magazines.
"Uhhh....N...Negi?" Anya asked. Negi turned around and saw Anya beginning to blush.
"Oh. Hello Anya. I thought you were wrapping gifts back home. What brings you down here?" Negi asked. Anya started stuttering, not able to find the right words.
"Well....I....I....I needed to get more paper....and uhhh....." Anya said, looking at Shade in the nearby window. She was trying to convince her to tell Negi, making weird and strange signs in the window.
"Actually.....Negi......I was.....I was.......that is to say I....." Anya said. She wasn't looking at Negi but when she turned to face him, she saw he was closer to her than before.
"What is it Anya?" Negi asked. Anya suddenly lit up bright red and fainted. Negi exclaimed from fright.
"ANYA! Are you all right?!" Negi gasped. At the window, Shade groaned.
"Oh no. Anya can't do it. I need someone to help me. But who?" Shade said. That was a question quickly answered when Shade brought Anya to talk to Asuna at her job in the orphanage.
"THAT'S what you wanna tell him? Well, what's the problem then? Just say it." Asuna said. Anya groaned.
"Are you thick headed or something? I can't just say that openly like you can!" Anya shouted. Asuna huffed.
"Sheesh. If you're gonna act this way, maybe I WON'T help." Asuna said. But Shade was quick to start begging Asuna for help. Asuna glared at her and stuck her tongue out with a wink.
"Relax Shade. I was only kidding." Asuna said. Asuna looked down at a worried Anya.
"Listen Anya. You and Negi are just kids. It shouldn't be this hard for a girl your age to tell someone. Right?" Asuna asked. Anya glanced at Asuna and then away.
"When you've known Negi like I have, to be childhood friends, you find how hard it is to really tell a good friend anything very important." Anya said. Asuna sighed.
"Well, I guess you're right. Negi and I haven't known each other for as long as you guys have. I get that. But, if you can't tell him, why not at least write it down as a letter and give it to him. Would that help?" Asuna asked. Anya looked away, twittling her fingers before looking at Asuna again.
"Okay. I suppose." she said. Asuna smiled and found Anya a piece of paper and a pen.
"Here you go." Asuna said.
"Thanks." Anya said. She took the pen and started to think of what to say. She started off with Negi's name before pausing. Asuna and Shade let Anya write out her letter and went back to what they were doing. Anya stayed at the orphanage and was offered a snack from Catherine.
"Just take your time Anya. No need to rush it." Catherine said.
"Thank you." Anya said. She took a glass of milk and sipped it, but it fumbled from her hand and fell on the paper.
"Oh no!" Anya cried. Catherine gasped.
"Oh my. Here, let me get that." she said. She quickly cleaned up the milk and got Anya a new glass and piece of paper.
"All right. Let's try this again." Anya said. She started to write again and was able to finish it within half an hour.
"There. It's finished. Now.....I just have to make sure Negi reads it." Anya said. She started to blush red again. Asuna noticed her and asked if she would like her to give it to him. Anya spoke not a word but handed the letter to her.
"Okay. Don't worry. I'll make sure Negi reads it." Asuna said. But now, Anya was worried about how Negi would react if he read the letter. Later that evening, Asuna sneaked into Negi's room while he was taking a nap and placed the letter by his desk. Negi didn't notice it until Nekane woke him for dinner.
"Uhm....thank you Nekane." Negi mumbled. He woke with a big yawn and stretched his arms out. He then noticed Anya's letter by his side.
"Hmm? Anya?" Negi thought. He picked it up and looked over the entire message. As he read it, he saw how Anya chose carefully how she wanted to word her letter. When he finished, he went downstairs to find Anya. She sat by the fireplace, roasting chestnuts over it with Fuka and Fumika.
"Anya? I read your letter." Negi said. Anya turned to Negi and the twins realized then that Anya probably wanted to be alone. So as they left, Anya looked away blushing.
"Why didn't you tell me? Maybe we can talk the dean into letting you come to Mahora Academy with the other girls. I'd love to have you be with us too." Negi said.
"But.....do you really think it's possible?" Anya asked. Negi put his hand on her shoulder.
"We never know unless we try, right?" Negi asked. Anya gave a small smile and blushed more before she and Negi hugged each other tightly. Asuna watched from the doorway, shedding a small tear of her own.
END OF CHAPTER