5) Game on, Mystery Club!
Part 2
At Dean Konoe's office, every club member is in the room. Matt, Negi, Chamo, and the students are all in the room in front of the dean's desk. Dean Konoe is sitting at his chair laying his arms on his desk and hands on his chin.
"There is a reason why I called you here," The dean started talking to the group. "Lately, my security people saw suspicious intruders prowling about on-campus lately these last nights. Our team did their best to investigate this activity but hasn't come up with any evidence."
"So, you want us to fill us in," Matt stated to the dean.
"Exactly, Oda-san. I want you and your team to investigate this mystery and get to the bottom it at once. Last we heard they were sneaking around where the Mahora Sports Games are."
"Then tomorrow we'll do a scan around the vicinity to check and see any interlopers that might be doing odd activities. There might be some of the criminals already hiding within the area."
"How are we going to do that?" Fei Ku asked. "The Mahora Games is a big area."
"Not if we split into groups," Matt confirmed. "Since we are now a big team, we'll split into smaller groups, covering every corner of the Mahora Games area. That way, we can have a better advantage of tracking down odd suspects all around the Mahora Games."
"Not a bad idea, Matt," Negi said. "You know how to think smart."
"Aw…, don't mention it." Matt blushes a little.
"We are going to need something in order for us to communicate close when we are far apart," Yue noted.
"Like walkie-talkies?" Matt answered.
"Yeah, that's right," Chao responded. "We can invent some at the lab."
Satomi nodded. "How many do we need?" she asks Matt.
Matt thought carefully. "Hmm, about five or six should be fine," Matt answered.
"Gotcha Matt," Satomi replied with a circle from her thumb and index finger.
"Alright everyone," the dean announces, "your job starts first thing tomorrow as soon as the games start. Get all a good night's rest."
"Thanks, we will," Matt said as he and his team bowed at Dean Konoe.
Later that night, at the dorm and in Asuna and Konoka's room, Negi and Matt are getting ready to take a bath and wash up. They got new clothes, and Asuna got the bath detergents.
Before they head out, Matt sees Konoka watching an ad on the television. On the screen shows a woman in a fitness outfit, two pieces, with a well-developed figure. She has blonde hair with two ponytails on each side of her head, and she has pink heart earrings. Matt and Konoka listened as the ad went on.
"Hello there, sweeties. I'm Mako Sayaka." she said in a charming voice from the TV. "Ever wonder how I keep myself in good shape and in good health? Well, it's all because of this," She showed her viewers a candy bar in her hand. "the 'Vita-bar,' the one of a kind healthy treat that will make you energizing and healthy. It will help you stay active and keep yourself in tiptop shape. Just one bite and you feel like a whole new energized self again. The Vita-bar also gives good vitamins and minerals to make you feel strong and powerful. So try one now, available at your local retailer."
"Vita-bars? (Sigh)… just another one of those silly ads," Konoka said sarcastically,
Matt kind of agreed on Konoka's point of view after he saw the ad. Then Asuna called out to Matt, saying she and Negi are ready to go to the bathhouse. Matt called out back to them, and the three left the room.
Once Negi, Matt, and Asuna arrived at the bathhouse, Asuna was on the lookout again while Matt took a shower and Negi washing in the bath. Matt is almost done finishing washing as he rinses the last soap off of him. Negi was still in the bath relaxing in the warm water. After Matt turned off the shower, he grabbed his new clothes and puts them on.
"Alright, I'm done," Matt calls out to Negi and Asuna. "So hurry up Negi, or will be late for dinner."
"Alright," Negi replied. "Just give me a sec, and I'll be right there."
Matt kept staring at Negi, who is still washing. "He sure is taking his time," said remarked.
"Yeah, well, Negi isn't always like that," Asuna responded as she appeared next to Matt.
"What do you mean?"
"At first, when he came to the academy, Negi hates to take baths. But he now enjoys them sometimes and cleans himself really well. I used to do all the dirty and cleaning work, but it looks like that's past aside."
"Huh, it seems to me Negi sure has changed a lot after he arrived at the academy."
"He did. When he first got here, he was a little bit uncoordinated and inexperienced to fit in with the class, considering that his task is a teacher as part of his magic training. But as time went by, Evangeline, the Kyoto trip, the festival, and the magic world, he began to change fast and became more of an adult. Negi may be a kid, but he sure has a lot of spunk. He knows how to lift someone's spirit high, and that's why a lot of the girls in our class love Negi so much… including me."
"Sounds like Negi's not a kid anymore," Matt stated. "He is becoming a young man that can reach out and achieve his goals." Asuna agreed with Matt, and both of them giggled.
Negi called out to Asuna and Matthew, "Alright, I'm getting out."
"Okay, I'll get a towel," Asuna responded.
But as she was about to grab one, Matt and Asuna heard some voices on the other side of the entrance doors. Matt and Asuna jolted when they heard it was girl voices. Matt and Asuna quickly turn towards the doors, and on the other side are five girls in silhouette coming closer to the doors. Matt and Asuna panicked.
"What the…!? Girls!?" Matt quietly shouted. "But Asuna, you said –"
"I know! I know!" Asuna immediately and quietly replied. "I don't understand why now?" She looks at Matt. "If they see you here, it's going to be a total nightmare for you, especially with that phobia of yours."
Matt shifts his head left and right, figuring out how to get out of this mess. "What do I do!? What do I do!?" Matt panicked.
"Hide somewhere where you won't be seen." Asuna commanded.
"What about Negi!?"
"He's already used to this. So don't worry about him."
Matt stopped and raised one of his eyebrows. "Wait, you mean Negi met these girls in the –"
"Never mind about that! Just hide!"
Matt nodded and looked around the whole bathhouse to find a good place to conceal. He then spotted trees in the back of the bathhouse and carefully rushes behind them. Asuna saw where Matt is hiding and quickly turns back at the entrance doors, seeing that the girls are right close to them.
Asuna then calls out to Negi, "Negi! Will keep them distracted so Matt can escape. Just play along."
"But Asuna!" Negi cried. "I'm still in–"
"Do it, or I'll give you another bump on your head, little brat!"
Negi shivered and nodded as he was continuing fiddling around in the huge bathtub. In desperate measures, Asuna took off all her clothes, from her shirt to her shoes, and tosses them to the side. She grabbed one of the shower heads and turns it on.
As the entrance doors open, in came the five athletic girls Ako, Makie, Misora, Akira, and Yuna all wrapped around with towels on their bodies. They were also each carrying a basin with bath detergent inside of it. Then the five girls heard water running coming from the showers. They walked over towards the sound, and they see Asuna rinsing herself with warm water.
"Hey Asuna," Makie calls to her. "What's up?"
"Oh, hey girls," Asuna replied. "I'm just taking a late-night shower, that's all."
"So I see," Misora replied.
"So… why are you guys here at this hour?" Asuna asked.
"Well, we've been practicing and working out for a long time for games coming up tomorrow that we didn't pay attention to our time," Yuna answered.
"We were so hot and sweaty the moment we got back to the dorm that we all decided to get together and wash up at this hour," Ako followed up the statement.
Then Akira looked up and sees Negi in the huge bathtub. "Negi, is that you?" Akira asked as she got the other athletic girls' attention and spotted at Negi.
Negi sees the girls and shyly smiled and waved at the girls. The girls stare at Negi for a few moments, then…"NEGI-KUN!" the girls shouted. They leaped into the air with their towels taken off and landed on Negi. SPLASH! The girls cuddled close to Negi with laughter and excitement.
"Negi-kun, what's brings you here in this warm bath night?" Makie said with glee.
"You want me to scrub your back?" Yuna asked with excitement.
"I can wash your hair Negi-kun," Misora said.
"Girls, please!" Negi cried, "I don't want any–"
"I brought my special skin conditioner Negi-kun," Ako said with glee.
While Negi was in a pickle, Matt, hiding behind the trees and bushes, watches Negi awkwardly, seeing in this odd situation. Matt, in a confusing statement, looks back to Asuna, and she answered him back with a shrug. Matt looks back at Negi, and the young man scratches his head.
While the athletic girls aren't looking at Matt Oda, he waves his arms to get Negi's attention. Negi noticed and sees Matt's hand and arm gesture, telling him to get the girls to look away from Matt while he makes his quiet escape. Negi nodded.
"So girls," Negi says to the athletic girls, "do you think you could win the games?"
"Well Negi-kun," Akira replies, "I thought you never asked. You see…"
When Akira started talking away, Matt quietly came out from behind the trees and bushes and sneaks behind and pass the girls who aren't looking. Negi and the girls continue to talk away as Matt was halfway towards the doors. Asuna watches Matt closely, seeing Matt sidestepping closer to the doors.
Matt took another step and lands on the tile floor, but then…
SQUEAK!
Matt flinched, and the girls in the bathtub heard the sound. Asuna and Negi panicked. When the athletic are about to turn to the sound, Asuna quickly moved into the bath and splashes to the girls.
"Hey! What was that for!?" Makie complained.
"Ah! Uh, Umm…, Negi started it!" Asuna replied as she blamed it on the timid boy. "I saw it with my own eyes."
"B-b-but Asuna you–" Negi muttered.
"Oh, Negi-kun," Yuna said in a cheeky mood, "you're playing naughty, huh?"
As Negi tries to protect his innocence, Asuna waves her hand to Matt, telling him to keep going. Matt nodded and continues to sneak out quietly.
Matt was just about a few yards away from the doors, making it home free. He kept looking back at Negi, Asuna, and the girls hoping the athletic team didn't notice his presence. Within inches, Matt was at the door.
But while Matt wasn't looking where he was going, he stepped on a soap bar that's next to a basin. He then flung himself up into the air and… BAM! landed on the floor hard. He also kicked the basin into the air, and as it heading straight down on Matt… "Aw man," Matt groaned, "That really hu –" DONG!
The basin landed on top of Matt's head creating a loud noise. Negi and Asuna flinched from the loud sound as the athletic girls suddenly turn to see what it was. There they see Matt on the tile floor with the basin covering Matt's head. Matt gains his consciousness and partially lifts the basin away from his head to see his view around him. Then in a complete and scary surprise, Matt sees the athletic girls watching him and vice versa. Matt became so red, and he suddenly…
"DAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
After everything was calmed down and everyone relaxed after a few minutes, the sport girls continue to bathe, and Negi and Asuna dry themselves and put their clothes on. Matt Oda is on the other side of the shower wall where he's looking at the entrance doors, and the other side is the athletic girls cleaning and taking their showers. While the athletic girls were washing, Ako spoke up.
"So Matt," Ako speaks, "you came all the way from America, as in the United States of America?"
"Yep, that's right Ako," Matt responded while he isn't looking back.
"That must be a long trip," Yuna called out to him. "To think a young man like you would come all the way here to Japan."
"Well, I wanted to come here Yuna. I heard rumors that Mahora Academy has many mysteries around the vicinity, and I'm the type of person who likes to solve mysteries."
"Well, besides that," Makie followed, "Congrats on solving four mysteries in a row."
"Four?" Matt wondered with an eyebrow raised.
"Yeah, the kidnapping, the angry mob, the clock tower, and the killer."
"Oh, those? yeah, well, I couldn't solve those mysteries without my loyal members." Matt turns to Asuna and Negi who were right by the entrance doors. "Asuna and Negi are one of my members, and I give great gratitude to them."
"Really?" Yuna questioned with a little surprise.
"Negi-kun, I didn't know you're with Matt's Mystery Club," said Makie in little astonishment.
"Yes well, I couldn't let Matt do all the dangerous work by himself," Negi responded.
"Me too," Asuna followed. "He's our great and kind friend, and we would never leave him alone and behind."
Akira makes a concerned look on her face while she's rinsing the soap off of her body. "Alone…" Akira said quietly. Then she spoke up. "Hey Matt, I heard through the grapevine that you're an orphan."
Matt jolted a little when he heard Akira's words. Negi and Asuna flinched a little too, but the other athletic girls were bit confused.
"How did you know about that?" Matt asked.
"Well…" Akira responded as a memory came to her.
A couple of days ago, Akira was checking out some books from Library Island and was about to head to the front desk. As she was about a few feet away from the desk, she spotted Nodoka and Yue talking to their selves.
"I'm really glad we're in his club. Don't you think so too, Yue?" Nodoka asked with a smile.
"No doubt," Yue replied as she was checking the list of books. "I can't believe that Matt Oda's parents die so suddenly."
When Akira heard this, she hid to the side of the front desk and listened carefully to the two librarians.
"That poor young gentleman," said Nodoka in concern. "He came all this way just to fulfill a dream, but he never thinks about finding a good family."
Yue closed her eyes and sighed. "I'm worried too, Nodoka. That's why we became Matt's mystery club members to help his pain, not just going on these amazing adventures and solving these mysteries."
Nodoka drops her head, making her hair bangs cover her eyes. "I wonder if Matt will ever find his new family to avoid his pain. Sometimes I think, when he's all alone in that one empty room when we aren't around, I feel like he's sad and lonesome."
"We're doing everything we can to keep him company." Yue put her hand on Nodoka's shoulder. Then she smiled, "Let's go, Nodoka. Matt's waiting for us at the club." Nodoka nodded, and the two librarians left the desk.
Akira crept out from the side of the front desk and watches Yue and Nodoka walking out the entrance doors. She then made a worried look.
"And that's what happened and how I heard about you," Akira said as she was drying herself. "I didn't know who this Matt Oda looked like until I met you."
"So that's how you got to know my late parents," Matt replied calmly. "I'm surprised those librarians still think about my late parents and me."
"Wow, that's… really sad, Matt," Ako said mournfully as she wrapped a towel around her body. "I never expected to hear something so miserable like that."
Yuna got her basin with her bath detergent in it, and she wraps a towel around her. She then walks to Matt Oda. He was a bit startled by Yuna's appearance due to his phobia. "Don't worry, Matt," Yuna says with a smile and wink. "It may be all of a sudden, but you're our friend now."
"Count me in too," Akira followed. Makie, Ako, and Misora also agreed and tagged along with Yuna's compassion.
"You mean it, girls?" Matt questioned. "This popped out of nowhere."
"It's not that you're nice," Makie commented, "but we can at least try to help you of recovering your pain of your late parents."
Asuna smiles, "Well, what do you think, Matt?"
Matt smiled and shrugged, "I just met you five, but… thanks."
Everyone smiled as they exited the huge bathhouse and headed straight to their dorm rooms.
