3) For Whom the Haunted Bell Tolls

Part 1

One sunny afternoon in the hallways of the English department, Negi and Asuna, along with Chamo on Negi's left shoulder, are walking down and heading to Matt's Mystery Club.

"I was really astounded that Matt Oda apprehended that Nami girl last week," Negi said. "He was incredible."

"No doubt about it," Chamo replied. "Solving the kidnapping and the mob incident is a true talent."

"If Matt keeps this up, he's bound to attract and get more members into his club," said Asuna as she smiled.

Negi and Asuna were about to come across another hallway and make a turn around the corner. BONK! Of a sudden, Negi crashed and fell to the ground. He scratched his head and books started to fall everywhere on the ground. He looked to see who he bumped into, and it was none than the shy and bookworm Nodoka Miyazaki.

"Oh Nodoka! I'm sorry it's my fault!" Negi apologized

"Ah! Professor Negi," Nodoka replied in shyness. "No, it's my fault that I bumped into you."

Then along came in Yue and Haruna carrying about eight books in their hands and checking on Nodoka's condition.

"Nodoka, are you alright?" Yue asked.

"Yes, I'm fine," Nodoka replied as Yue pulled her up off the floor.

"Negi, Asuna," Haruna said and noticed them. "Well, what a surprise to see you. What brings you here in this building?"

"Oh, hi Haruna," Asuna replied as she picked Negi up off the ground too. "We were on our way to see our good friend Matt and his Mystery Club."

"Matt, you mean Matt Oda from the news?"

"Yes indeed, Haruna," Negi replied. "We are the members of his club, and we are going there right now."

"You're in his club too, Negi?" questioned Yue as she was helping Nodoka collect the books on the floor.

"Yes, the dean says it was okay for me to be in his club as long as I don't have any other lectures to teach."

Nodoka collected all her books, but then she starts to drop her head down a little and put her right hand on her chest. "This Matt Oda," Nodoka quietly speaks, "is he… really kind and smart from what the news says?" Haruna and Yue turned at Nodoka.

"No doubt about it," Asuna replied as she puts her hands on her hips. "If you meet him, you can see how a great gentleman he is."

"We wish we could," Haruna replies, "But we have to get these books back to Library Island. But don't worry, when we have the time, we will meet this Matt Oda guy. I'll bet he's so handsome that Nodoka might actually fall in lo–"

"AAH! Haruna!" Nodoka shrieked.

Yue moaned and slapped Haruna in the back of her head. "Haruna, let's not do any dirty tricks again," Yue noted.

"Aw c'mon, can't a girl have some fun around here," said Haruna as she scratches her head where she got hit. "After all, we are high school students."

"No!" both Yue and Nodoka answered in unison. Negi and Asuna smiled and sweat-dropped.

"Well, we have to get going now. We'll see you later," said Yue.

"Alright girls, take care of yourselves," Negi replied.

The trio girls walked away down in the hallways. Negi and Asuna continued on to visit the Mystery Club.

Negi, Asuna, and Chamo arrived at the front doors of the Mystery Club. Negi knocked, and Matt, the club leader, called them to come in. Negi, Chamo, and Asuna went inside.

There they see Matt standing right next to Chisame with her laptop, and Satomi and Chao hooking up to a projector. Satsuki is passing out her cooked buns to her friends Konoka and Setsuna for snacks. Asuna and Negi got closer to Matt.

"Hey Matt, what are you doing?" Asuna asked.

Matt turned to Asuna. "Oh, hey Asuna and Negi," Matt replied, "you came in just in the nick of time."

"Why is that, Matt?" Negi questioned.

"Well, we got another mystery in our hands. Take a seat and I'll explain." Asuna and Negi did what Matt told them. Matt then asked Satomi and Chao if the projector is ready. "Is it all set to go?"

"Hold on Matt," said Satomi, "I just need to screw this cable in and… there!" Satomi wiped her forehead and crosses her arms. "She's all yours."

"Thanks, Satomi." Matt turns to Chisame, who she was checking on her laptop. "Chisame, are you ready?"

She stood up and adjusted her glasses. "All set Matt," Chisame calmly replied.

"Great." Matt turned to the members and clapped his hands. "Attention! Attention! Take your seats, please. We're about to start." Everyone did.

Matt asked Chisame to dim the lights of the room. Matt turned on the projector, and Chisame opened a slideshow. Using the projector, it shows what is on Chisame's laptop screen onto the projector screen on the blackboard. It shows a news article that was posted to the public about four days ago. The headline stated: Mysterious Events Happening at the Haunted Clock Tower. Everyone paid attention to the headline.

Matt clears his throat and begins to speak, "Alright, listen up. Chisame read this report yesterday, and she reported me of this strange event. This article stated that some witnesses saw people in the middle of the night walk into this clock tower and never came back out again. And they reported, after the victims went into the clock tower, bells were rung at that night time too… at exactly midnight."

"Midnight?" Chao wondered. "That's very strange."

"Huh? Why?" Konoka asked.

"Well, usually clock towers never ring at midnight."

"That's my exact theory as well, Chao," Matt agrees without looking back at her. "The article also stated the investigation team did a thorough search in the whole clock tower, but haven't found any of the missing victims that were dragged into the tower. The police are still on the case, and they have reported suspicious activity coming from the top of the tower."

"Did the police checked at the top?" Satsuki asked.

"They did, what they reported is some shadow-like feature gliding and hiding in the tower's bells. Half said it may be a crow, while the others say it may be… a ghost."

"Ghosts!?" Negi screeched.

"Yeah, Negi. What's wrong with you?" Matt watches Negi shaking and hiding behind his chair. "Don't tell me you're afraid of ghosts."

"Well, I may be a high ranked Magister Magorum, but I'm still a little bit scared of ghosts."

"C'mon bro," Chamo complained as he is standing on the club's table, "How can the son of the Thousand Master and the savior of the magic world still be afraid of ghosts?"

"Not to mention you have Sayo Aisaka," Asuna stated as she crossed her hands and stared in an annoying look at Negi. He was still shimmering a little and made small tears from his crybaby's face.

"Uh… Sayo Aisaka, Thousand Master, magic world… what's that?" Matt asked as he raised his eyebrow.

"We'll explain about those later," Satomi replied, "right now, continue with the news."

Matt cleared his throat and started to speak again. "Right, so we all know that the clock tower is haunted and mysterious. But I think there is a reason behind this." Matt told Chisame to turn the lights back on, and Matt turned off the projector. He then looks back at his members. "And that's where we come in. As the Mystery Club leader, I say we get to the bottom of this and figure out what's happening to those victims and that clock tower. I don't want to see another person suddenly go into the tower and just disappear. As a mystery-solver and gentleman, I will do everything in my will to crack down this case and save those victims once and for all. But I can't do this alone, ergo I will need your help. If you help me solve this mystery, I'll bet our club will be more popular and make more news on the front page. You members might become famous like me if we all solve this case. So…, are you with me?"

Everyone looked at each other, agreeing they should take the case. Satomi and Satsuki were the first ones to turn back at Matt.

"I'm in," said Satomi as she grinned. "I like to solve this mystery before another victim gets abducted."

"Count me in too, Matt Oda," Satsuki replied.

"If Satomi and Satsuki are in, then I'm in too," Chao said with glee. "And I think it's wise to help those people, before more start to disappear."

Chisame raised her hand, and Matt looks at her with her eyes closed. She firmly says, "I'm in too, Matt. I can't let you do this on your own."

Konoka and Setsuna raised their hand as well.

"I'm in Matt," said Konoka.

"Me too," said Setsuna with little confidence.

Negi is still a little bit scared of going to the clock tower and thinking it has a ghost. Asuna has an annoying look as she watches Negi shaking up in his chair. "Oh for god's sake Negi!" Asuna complained. "What are you so scared about? You're a highly-skilled Magister Magorum. You'll have no trouble defeating or running away from a ghost."

"But Asuna, I'm still just a preteen!" Negi complained.

"Oh c'mon, and suck up that wimpy look," said Chamo giving Negi a commanded voice. "You have your partners and Matt Oda at your side, so therefore you should not need to worry about fighting or deal phantoms on your own."

"Chamo's right Negi," said Matt with a positive attitude. "As long as we stick together as a team, nothing, not even ghosts, will stop us in our tracks. I am true to my word that you will be safe." Matt smiled at Negi with sheer confidence.

Negi's whimpering look started to fade away. He shook his and slaps his face, then he looks at Matt with a small grin. "You're right, Matt. I'm with you on this mystery, and I won't let you down."

"Well, that leaves me to decide," said Asuna. She gives the club leader a thumb's up. "And I'm in Matt. You can count on that."

Matt clapped his hands together and grinned at his members. "Alright, it's settled," Matt declared. "All of us are going to investigate the clock tower. Here's how it goes, tonight will get ourselves prepared for the investigation and get a good rest. Starting tomorrow in the afternoon, we're gonna come in here again and make a plan. Then tomorrow night, we will investigate the tower." Matt looks at the clock in the club room that says 5:56 in the afternoon. He then turns to members, "With all that said, this club is over for today. I hope you have a good night."

Everyone bowed at Matt Oda and all said, "Thank you, Oda-san. Have a good night."