I. First Mysteries

5) Game On, Mystery Club!

Part 1

It is another bright and sunny day shining over at Mahora Academy. The sky is clear blue, and white puffy clouds floated in the air. Inside Negi's class of 1-A, Negi and his students were just listening to Ayaka, the class representative, making her announcement to everyone.

"Listen up, girls," Ayaka said in a commanding voice, "Oh, and you too, my dear Negi," she said in a loving voice with her hands clasped together. She clears her throat and turns to her classmates. "Tomorrow is the biggest event of all. It is the annual Mahora Academy's Spring Wrap-Up Sports Games. As usual, all participants from all different classes of the academy, from kindergarten to high school, are participating in this event, and so are we. Last year, we came in fourth place of the junior high school rankings. We were very close, but this year going to be different." Ayaka raises her arm and makes a fist. "We are now in high school, and we will succeed in first place of the high school rankings. So let's make class 1-A the first place winning team!" Everyone agreed and shouted with joy.

As the whole class cheered on, Asuna and Konoka are talking to each other. "I know Matt Oda still has the gynophobia," Konoka first talks to Asuna, "but I think we should inform him about the games."

"Yeah, you're right." Asuna agreed. "Matt should see how determined we Mahora girls are."

"I agree with you Asuna, and I would think he should meet the other students in our class as well."

As soon as Negi's lecture is over and Ayaka's announcement is over, he and the members of the Mystery Club got their school stuff and start to head over to Matt's club. Asuna and the girls walk up to Negi, telling him something.

"Negi, we should tell Matt Oda about the Mahora games," Asuna suggested leaning on Negi's head. "He should see the excitement and cheer us class 1-A."

"I was thinking the same thing too," Negi responded with a grin. "Let's go meet him right now."

Asuna and the other girls nodded for Negi as they all walked towards their destination, Matt's Mystery Club.

Ayaka and Natsumi, who were both a few feet away from Negi and the girls, watched the group as they exited the class. "Hmm…" Ayaka thought. She turned back to look at the whole room to see it was almost completely empty. She only sees the cheerleaders chattering to each other, Zazie quietly standing in the back of the class, and Kazumi and Sayo talking about a report they scooped up.

"I see that our class is almost empty," Natsumi commented. "All of them are heading to Matt's Mystery Club ever since they joined."

Ayaka puts her right thumbnail in her mouth and makes a worried look. "Just who is this Matt Oda?" Ayaka said in a concerned mood. "Every day, our classmates are always heading into that Mystery Club, and so is Negi. How can he be so important?" Then Ayaka widens her eyes. "(GASP)… Could it be that… Matt Oda is really a man who is rich and wealthy like me!?" Ayaka clasped her hands together and stands in agony. "What if Matt is really a girlfriend, loving thief!? Or worse! Matt is bribing my Negi so he could always be Matt's slave. OH, WHY!?"

Natsumi sweatdropped. "Ayaka, I don't think Matt is really that bad," Natsumi said to prove her point to Ayaka.

"And why would you say that?" Ayaka replied with a glare at Natsumi.

Natsumi twitched her mouth and right eye. "Well, from what I heard, he's really just an honest and kind gentleman. I'm sure maybe our friends are just seeing him because he's friendly."

"Well, whether he is a friendly gentleman or not," Ayaka said calmly. "I will one day see this Matt Oda myself."


One hour later, Negi and the members arrived at the Mystery Club and discussed Matt Oda about the annual Mahora Games. They gang gave every detail about the games to Matt Oda.

"Hmm, the annual Mahora Spring Wrap-Up Sports Games…, sounds interesting," Matt said as was intrigued by this news.

"You're gonna like it, Matt," Fei Ku said. "Every girl out there is going play in these games to celebrate the coming of summer."

"There will be lots of athletic girls out there who are determined to win the games," Setsuna explained. "And our athletic classmates are competing in these games as well."

"We were hoping you would come and cheer us on," Konoka asked politely.

Matt paused and looked up. "Well…" he said while he was thinking. "I haven't gotten over my phobia yet, but a gentleman should at least cheer someone that's a friend to Negi." Matt took a deep breath and exhaled. "Alright, I'll come and watch the games, and I'll support Negi's class." The girls and Negi smiled as they were happy to have their best gentleman friend tag along. "It's going to be a little bit tricky for me to get over my phobia with all those girls out on the field, but I have to overcome my fear soon."

"Don't you worry Matt-san," Satsuki called to him. "We have your back in case you get timid."

"Thanks, Satsuki."

Evangeline and Chisame weren't quite sure that if this is going well with Matt. "You think this is going to be okay?" Chisame asked Evangeline in a little troubled mood.

"It's difficult to say," Eva replied. "But Matt has to do this on his own to overcome his phobia problem, and we can't let him stay in this lonely club forever."

"Yeah… you're right."


Somewhere out in the city, not far from Mahora Academy, a black van is parked in an alley. On top of its roof contains an antenna dish intercepting a signal. Inside the van are four young women, two in the front and two in the back.

One of the women has a laptop on her that displays Mahora Academy and the Sport Games. After a few minutes of study of what's on her laptop, she makes a report to another woman in the back of the van.

"Ma'am, everything's all set for the operation," said the woman with the laptop.

"Very good," said the other woman in the back inside the van. "Once the operation is complete, Mahora Academy's Sports Games will cease to exist. You girls know how it feels to get rejected?" The other three women nodded in agreement. "You'll pay Mahora, and my revenge will be complete."


That afternoon, Negi and some of the girls, Asuna, Konoka, Nodoka, Yue, Haruna, Satomi, and Chisame, guided Matt to where the Games are being held. They arrived at a huge park, just close to the gymnasium, where all the staff members are setting up the hurdles, courts, and stands for the games. They also saw a bunch of girls, from junior high to high, working out their athletic skills and getting ready for the competition.

"I can see the staff people are working hard, getting ready for the games that are starting tomorrow," said Matt stating the fact.

"No doubt Matt," Konoka responded. "We may not be in any of the games, but we wanted to cheer on our class to fight and go for the win."

"We always love the annual Sports Games, because it's so honorary and peaceful," Satomi stated.

"What do you mean by that?" Matt questioned.

"Right, I have forgotten you were not with us last year," Negi commented. "You see, the Mahora Spring Wrap-Up Sports Games is not only just a bunch of athletic events, but it's to celebrate and make peace to all the students that had been struggling and working hard over their school years."

"Every participant competes in games with equality and also wanted to make friends," Yue stated as she was sipping her cocoa and strawberry juice. "Because summer is coming up soon, everyone wants to get along together before the break begins. It's a way to say summer will be here soon, and we should all celebrate."

"Hmm, very interesting," Matt said. "Kind of like the Olympic games, if you put that way."

"Sort of Matt," Haruna said, "But the Mahora Games consists of students instead of athletes from around the world."

"Negi-kun!" a girl shouted as Negi, Matt, and the girls looked around the vicinity to find where the shout is coming from. Then all of a sudden, Negi was grabbed by three girls from behind. "NEGI-KUN!" shouted the three girls. Matt and girls turned around to see who it was, and it none other than the three cheerleaders, Sakurako, Misa, and Madoka, hugging Negi so tightly.

"Are you here to support and cheer our class Negi-kun?" said Sakurako with loving glee.

"If you do," Misa continued, "we'll be very happy."

"Yeah, you can be on the cheerleading team with us," Madoka said.

"I even made a cheerleader outfit for you, Negi-kun." said Misa as she pulled out a men's cheerleader outfit, smaller than average. Negi gasped as other girls sweatdropped.

Matthew Oda, however, is confused. After seeing this lovey-dovey scene, Matt makes an awkward thought. "You students must really like Negi a lot," Matt said in a sarcastic mood.

"Not quite all of us…" Chisame noted in little exasperation.

The cheerleaders heard Matt's voice and looked up to him. As the three saw Matt's face, they smiled. "Matthew Oda!" Sakurako said. "What's brings you here?"

"Hey Sakurako," Matt greeted, "I'm here to cheer Negi's participant students in the games."

"Really, Matt?" said Misa in little astonishment, "that's really nice from you, from an honest gentleman."

"Mm-hmm," Madoka agreed. "We also heard from Kazumi that you solved the killing incident and the clock tower case. Great work, Matt-san."

"Oh, thanks girls," said Matt as he blushes a little. "But I didn't do all the work," Matt opened his arms and points to his loyal members. "My members, or my friends, also helped me with the cases. So we are the ones who did great work."

"Well then, great job, Mystery Club guys," Sakurako said and winked at them.

"Oh, there you are cheerleader," said a strong girly voice. Negi, Matt, and the girls looked to see who said that.

Coming towards the gang are five girls. The first girl had pink hair with ribbons in her hair, creating pigtails on the side of her head, and she was wearing a pink gymnastics leotard. Next to the first girl is another girl with black hair with a ponytail sticking out to the right side of her head, and she wore a basketball uniform. Behind the basketball girl is another teen girl with long brown hair with a long ponytail tied to the back of her hair and hanging to the shin leg level, and she wore gymnasium clothes. Next to the brown-haired girl is a girl in the same uniform except she has light blue short hair. And finally, a girl with short ash brown hair comes from behind in running clothes. As the five got close, they spotted Negi and grinned.

"Negi-kun!" shouted the girl with the leotard.

Negi blinked and realized who they were. "Makie, Yuna, Akira, Ako, and Misora." he said in surprise.

"Ya-Ho! Negi-kun! What's up?" asked Yuna, the girl in the basketball uniform. "Are you here to cheer us in the games?"

"Oh, yes I am," Negi happily replies, "I will do my best to help you with spiritual support."

"That's great Negi-kun," said Ako, the girl with light blue hair.

"It's really nice of you to come and cheer us," said Misora, the one with ash brown hair.

Sakurako stepped forward to the five girls, "Hey, perfect timing girls. There is someone that you want to see."

"Really? Who's that?" Akira questioned, the girl the long ponytail.

"Well, you five, I like you to mee–" as Sakurako waves her arm to show Matt Oda, she saw that Matt Oda disappeared. "Huh?"

"Uh… Meet who?" Misora questioned with her right eyebrow raised.

Sakurako looked around to find Matt, but Asuna and Konoka pointed for the red hair cheerleader that Matt was right behind the two. Sakurako sighed knowing that he hasn't overcome his phobia yet.

"It's alright, Matt," Asuna said, calming Matt Oda. "Those girls are our friends."

"Don't be scared, Matt," Konoka followed and tries to cheer him. "Say hi to them."

Matt both looked at Asuna and Konoka's honest faces, and then he looked back to Chisame, Satomi, and the librarians showing their honest faces as well. Matt stood up and took a deep breath as he walked towards Sakurako and the other cheerleaders. Sakurako put her arm around Matt.

"Don't be afraid," Sakurako said with a wink. "They are really nice girls." Sakurako then brings the five girls closer to Matt. The athletic students spotted Matt.

"Whoa, who's this guy?" said Ako with a smile.

"Girls, I like you to meet, the one and only, Matthew Oda," Sakurako stated.

The five girls gasped in an astonishing surprise, and Matt jolted a little in fright.

"Oh my god! Matthew Oda?" said Makie with her hands on her cheeks. "The Matthew, who solved the last four mysteries?"

"Woah! So this is the great Matt Oda we read from the news reports," Yuna said with a cheeky and delightful mood.

"Wow, we get to see Matthew Oda, in person," said Misora.

"It's really nice to meet Matt Oda-san," Akira said with a bow to him.

"Oh, uhh… N-n-nice to meet-t-t you t-t-too," Matt said while he was shivering with fright.

"This is great to meet Matt Oda before the games start," Ako said with joy. "Are you going to be in the games?"

"No, n-n-not me," Matt replied. "But I will t-t-t-try to cheer on for Negi's class and the t-t-team."

"How nice of you," Makie responded and smiled. "We're participating in the games, and we are working very hard to win."

"Well, I'll be r-r-r-rooting for you girls," Matt said with a grin. "You can count on that, and good luck."

"Thanks Matthew-san," Misora said with a thumb up. "We will guarantee to win the games."

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure." said a female voice with a haughty mood. Everyone turned to see who said that.

Coming to Negi's team, are a group of seven girls, tall as Akira's height, wearing their own athletic outfits. One of the girls in the front had brown hair with her bangs hanging on the side of her head and a ponytail in the back of her head. "You silly class 1-A will never stand a chance against us," said the brown-haired girl in the front of her group. "You pathetic weaklings won't even make it into the top three. Ah-Haha!" she and her team laughed out haughtily as a mockery to Ako and the other athletic girls in Negi's class.

This made Makie, Ako, Akira, Yuna, and Misora mad never felt this badly of being mocked. Matt, of course, got scared and hid behind Asuna and Nodoka. Asuna heard and saw this insult, and she made a mean face.

"Hey! Just who do you think you guys are, making fun our friends!?" Asuna yelled at the opposing team.

The front girl smirked, "Hmph, well, we are athletes from class 2-C. We are the best athlete team that won the Mahora Sports Games last year in many events, and we are doing it again."

"And just who do you think you are?" Misora said in an angry mood.

"If you must know, I'm Chika, and I'm the leader of my team. As you can see my team and I are strong and well-coordinated for any game we participate in." She stood up tall and crosses her arms. "We will do everything we can, even the impossible and unthinkable, to win the games. So I would say you give yourselves up while you still can."

"Never!" Yuna shouted and waves her arm. "You may be one grade higher than us, but we will come out top and succeed the games with our teamwork and determination. It's you who's going to lose this year."

"We'll see about that. Girls move out!" Chika and her team turned and walked away from Yuna and the others. Yuna, Akira, Ako, Misora, and Makie were still staring madly at Akira and her team.

Matt raised his head from behind Nodoka and Asuna's back. "Gee, isn't she rude or what," Matt said in little stun.

"Well, she is definitely rude," Haruna said with hands on her hips. "Thinking she is so mighty."

"No doubt," Yue followed, "I really don't like her attitude at all."

"Who cares," Chisame said in exaggeration. "She's only saying that just to make other competitors angry and weak."

"I agree with you on that," said Satomi straightening her glasses.

Then Matt's cell phone was ringing, and everyone heard. Matt grabbed his phone and answered the call. "Hello?" he asked on his cellphone. "Oh Dean, it's you. Yes. Mm-hm. Right, be right there." Matt ended the call and makes an announcement to his team. "That was the dean; he said he wants us mystery club members to see him."

"Grandfather wants us?" Konoka asked.

"Yeah, said it's urgent." Matt turns to the five athletic girls. "Well, it's nice to meet you, but we got to get going. We got a call from the dean and said he needs us. Take care of yourselves."

"You too Matt," Makie responded. "It was really nice meeting you." Negi, Matt, and the girls left the area as they headed towards the dean's office.

"Bye, Negi-kun!" Yuna shouted. "Keep rooting for us."

Ako quietly stares at Matt as he was running away towards his destination. "That Matt Oda-san sure is a nice guy. He looked so honest."

"I know," said Akira next to Ako. "I wish we get to know more about Matt Oda."