Chapter Twenty-Eight: Stuck in the Dorms Part 2

Haruna:

A new enemy. Yuki didn't want to tell me. He went and told Asuna and Professor Negi, but he didn't come to tell me.

Now he's stuck here. In this janitor's closet with me, because he decided to meet with them this late. Why this late?

"Evangeline insisted I come here and tell them!" Yuki nervously spat out. "I know how you were when Kaito was here, and I-"

"So this was Eva-chan's doing?" I repeated.

He nodded. "Yeah."

I took a deep breath. "I should've known! This was an urgent message for you to convey to Professor Negi himself. But shouldn't you have told Konoka?"

His face went red. "Not tonight."

"What do you mean not tonight?"

"It's obvious. She's with Setsuna."

Oh. Yeah. Those two obviously.

"Makes sense," I said, "but I'm still here. Yuki, I have faith in you. You've proven that you could have fought Kaito off and even learned new fighting strategies from the toughest of the girls in our class. You also have a way of stopping the enemy. I know you can fight."

He may not be a mage, but at least he's got superpowers to assist the mages if there ever is a fight against Fate and that Hoganji faction.

Yuki's eyes moved away from me at this point. "I honestly thought you'd be worried."

I shook my head and smiled. "Honestly, I'd be more worried about Professor Negi and Konoka after Fate killed Kaito then and there. I'm surprised he didn't even bother to kidnap Konoka."

"She's supposed to become the eventual head of the Kansai Magic Association."

"With Setsuna at her side. Am I right?"

Yuki chuckled and nodded. "And I remember reading about what comes after, but I'll spare you the spoilers."

Spoilers. He knows me too well by now and how much I hate hearing how a book ends before I even get to it. And he's even stopping me from knowing about my future based on what was written in his universe.

"How was the talk with Asuna?" I asked. "Her and Professor Negi must have been surprised to hear about Tsukuyomi."

The smile left Yuki's face. "Yeah. They're going to figure out a plan tomorrow."

"Tell me that you're coming over next time," I said. "I could have went with you and escorted you out. Ayaka wouldn't throw much of a fit if we explained we were in Asuna's room with Professor Negi."

And now we're stuck here in the second-floor janitor's closet. Of all things we could be doing it had to be figuring out how to sneak Yuki out. Him transforming into a superhero running around the dorms was not the idea either. Too late to even think of that idea.

How could we sneak him out unnoticed? There had to be a way out of here. One that could get him out here unnoticed.

All of a sudden, everything went pitch black.

"What's going on?" I asked. "I can't see!"

"The electricity must've went out!" Yuki said. "Turn away for a sec!"

I quickly turned away. "Gotcha!"

Flash! A blinding white light briefly took the entire closet, and I seconds later, I could hear the lock unlocking. Yuki then took me by the hand and led me out.

"Trust me Haru," he whispered. "I have nightvision installed in my mask."

Yuki had a lot of unexplainable scientific devices in his possession. Way too early in history to explain on this Earth, which makes me wonder what his Earth is like. More advanced in our time than we ever will be. That's for sure!

"Okay," I said, allowing my future husband to take the wheel at getting us out. "Let's hurry though. It could just be a blown fuse."

I know how that goes. Blown electrical fuse. Only takes a few minutes to repair. Dad showed me how to fix it in our house once.

Down the hallway we went. It took several minutes before we could reach the staircase, but I could feel the door as we went through that exit. Yuki was really good to inform me.

"We're about to go down steps. You ready?"

"Yes."

"Actually, I have a better idea. Hop on."

Yuki:

It's better if I let her piggyback on me. From what I could see through my mask, there was no one in the staircase. I needed to get us out of there quickly and calmly. Undetected.

Wait a minute. Why was I trying to escape with Haruna?

"Shouldn't I be trying to take you back to your room?" I asked her.

Haruna snorted. "I'll just walk back in. It's not a big deal."

"Is your window open?"

"It's winter."

"Don't you have a phone or anything?"

"I don't have it on me."

"Damn it."

I wish she had her phone. She could have had Yue and Nodoka open the window and I could just fly her in once we were outside. Then again, it was risky enough to turn around and carry her back upstairs to the third floor just to release her to her room.

"I'm not letting you go back upstairs," Haruna warned. "You need to get out of this building before the lights go back on."

Unfortunately, she was right. We had to get out of here before the lights came back on. Even with my superhero getup, this was bad. Not only would I be caught, but I'd also be discovered as the mysterious unnamed superhero.

Moreover, I better not try to risk any noise. Walking down steps usually came with the noise. Allowing my feet to leave the floor beneath me, I now hovered downward.

"What are you doing?" Haruna asked.

I snickered. "I think I just figured out a cheat code to this dilemma."

My night vision still didn't pick anything dangerous up. Thankfully. All we needed to do was get outside, and once we got down the stairs it was all about clearing the first floor hallway.

Whoever decided to design the dormitories really wasn't kidding when they wanted to keep all the girls safe. Stairs far away from the entrance was one way to do it, but how exactly would an emergency worker get up floors if they were to assess one of the residents.

Once we reached the bottom of the stairs, I opened the door, but to a rather distressing sight: Everyone in the rooms were in the hallway. For some reason.

"These are the lower years," Haruna said. "I'm surprised they got all the easier rooms to access."

"If I were still a girl, I'd rather have a higher floor. Lower floors are dangerous in some places."

"True. What do you think we should do?"

"Walk like normal people."

I lowered my feet to the ground and Haruna got down off me. However, I pulled her arms to where they around my shoulders as I continued. We didn't say a word as we began bumping into other students.

"Pardon me," Haruna said, prompting the people we came into contact with to shrug it off. "Excuse me."

"Who's that?" asked a tall girl. My nightvision was the typical green screen at the moment so I couldn't tell what her hair color was. However, it was long, and she had a rather stern face. Her voice was also snarky when she spoke. "I'm Class Rep of 1B. Answer me!"

"Haruna of 3A," Haruna answered. "I'm trying to go outside."

"Okay. For the rest of you in 1B, stay in the hallway until I've called all your names out."

We manuevered around her. Accidentally bumped into a couple other girls as we did so, but I had to hurry around them. If she were calling names out, that would mean she'd have to take out a list and use a flashlight or something.

"I got a flashlight!" exclaimed one of the girls with a deep voice, and soon enough the girl turned it on. It was behind me, but it was close enough to where everyone could make out Haruna. "Wait a minute! I know you! You're Haruna Saotome!"

We stopped. Sweat now dripped down my face as Haruna continued to hold onto me. However, she was moving. Probably to look at that person.

"At your service!" she answered. "Now get back to your business!"

"Wait a minute!" that girl replied. "Who the hell is that?"

The light flashed behind my head, and everyone gasped.

Class 1B Rep was the first to react. "Oh my gosh! Haruna! Is that the mystery superhero that's been flying around Mahora!"

Next thing I knew, we were surrounded by a crowd of excited first-year students. Several cell phone screens illuminated the room as everyone began texting their friends like crazy. I turned to look at Haruna, who's face was now red.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean for this to happen."

"It's okay. We'll talk about it later."

Haruna then turned in their direction. "Kazumi had an interview with him earlier. I'm sorry. We were a little over our stay and I needed to make sure he properly left the dormitory!"

"It's cool!" Class 1B Rep replied. "Kazumi's an amazing reporter, so I think the stay should be totally worth it."

"But don't you fly?" asked that deep voiced girl. "We wouldn't have noticed."

"I didn't want to cause too much of a scene for your neighbors to bicker about."

"True," Class 1B Rep said, smiling without a care in the world. "I couldn't imagine the dean getting mad over it if a ton of nearby residents sent their complaints up. Anyway, Saotome, don't worry. I'm not saying a word to your class rep about this. Just take him out the rear exit and you'll be fine."

My telepathy could easily tell that she was for real, so I turned around and led her to the back. Away from being discovered. Down the hallway and out one door clearly marked "Exit" without any "Do not exit" sign on it.

As soon as we could both see again, Haruna let go, and I faced her.

"Listen Haru," I told her, "I'm obviously the mystery superhero everyone's been clamoring to hear about. You might just want to go back inside and say that I flew off. Since you've already been seen with me."

Not to also mention she just threw herself back into the spotlight for academy gossip. I've only showed up here and there, but I never gave out my name. Only to Kaito and that was it.

"You still going by Atlas?" Haruna asked. "It suits you, so that's what I'll call you."

Shortly after that conversation, we parted ways and I flew off into the night.

Class 1B has a pretty chill class rep if you ask me.

Haruna:

The next morning, Class 1B's rep was waiting for me at the school gate. Ayaka did see us, and she did irately glare at her for a moment before walking past. Class 1B Rep just smiled and waved, which was probably why she stopped glaring and walked on.

"His name is Atlas," I explained. "He's been protecting Mahora from an influx of strange activity. I had a hard time trying to figure out what he was trying to explain, but I'm starting to believe that aliens do exist."

"Like the Chupacabra?" Class 1B Rep asked. "That theory's been going around too."

"Yes. It's very likely possible at this point. Like, how do we have people who could fly in existence around us. If there is any rumor that should go up, that's the one then and there."

"And I heard your fiancé was at the dormitory last night too."

"I heard. He needed to see our professor over an assignment."

"You're lucky. You got a cutie teenage boy for a teacher."

"I am aware. All the other classes are jealous."

Her face changed from cool to assertive. Something was on her mind, and I could tell by the look on her face that she was determined to either know something or get something done. I knew this morning meeting was too good to be true!

"Anyway," she began, "I'd like to talk to you about the meeting. I bet Asakura from your class is going to have a big scoop for the papers."

I coolly nodded. "Yeah. What do you want?"

Best cut to the chase. For starters, I don't want to be late on the morning following my fiancé's sighting in my dormitory without my knowledge. Nor do I want Ayaka hounding me for this little chitchat with a lowerclassman class rep.

"To make sure that if your little superhero friend shows up again, I'd like to be the first to know." She pulled out her phone. "Numbers please?"

We exchanged numbers and then that was that. The end of the discussion. Much to my surprise and relief, all she wanted was to have access to that superhero.

I shouldn't have been too worked up when she stopped me like that, but there was no telling what she was going to do. Anyone could have blackmailed me following last night. If she were that devious, but all she wanted was to meet "Atlas" and get to know him.

That was a relief. Haven't had to do much of these scene cuts lately because it's been all about the POV shifts. However, I still want to put more of Haruna in the story now that the two main characters in question are engaged.

Made it to class on time. Yuki was there, but I fought the urge to turn around and start a conversation with him. Mainly because Class Rep took the floor this morning.

"Graduation is upon us!" She began. "Class, before I forget to tell all of you this, you must know that it has been an honor for me to be your class representative through all these years."

"You make an outstanding class rep!" Yuna yelled, prompting the rest of us to cheer and clap our hands.

Ayaka bowed. "Why thank you!"

Professor Negi took over from there. "Class, I must say that all of you have been extraordinary! When I first arrived in Japan to teach, I did not know what I was getting myself into. I thought that I was going to have a typical group of school girls then move onto a new batch each year."

Konoemon didn't want him to split from the class. According to Konoka. We all knew why too.

"But," he continued, "I was later informed during my first year with the lot of you that I would as a matter of fact, be your instructor throughout the rest of grade school! Imagine that!"

Everyone clapped.
I'm glad he stayed. He also handled Yuki's addition to the class so well. Even the girls were okay with Yuki being here. Despite turning into a boy.

"I also didn't expect to be teaching a boy at one point." He then added, prompting the class to turn in our direction. "I'm thankful every day that Yuki has graced us with his presence."

The class clapped and cheered. Makie whistled and Ako gave Yuki her thumb up. Mana hand gestured a pistol while Ku Fei winked. The Narutaki twins put their fists to the air as Natsumi blew a kiss.

At that moment, a blushing Yuki turned to me. All I did was smile and tell him how I felt. "I'm glad you joined us too."

Yuki:

Even in a room where all the attention easily turned to me, I still had a fiancé who could take all the embarrassment of being the center of attention away. It didn't matter if everyone was looking at me, because my chain of thought had immediately shifted to her.

Haruna. My future wife.

When I started out in Class 3A, I didn't think I'd stay in the Negiverse. I thought I'd be able to go back to my universe and continue my life as the high school student who had just lost her best friend. Nor did I think I'd ever become a guy this quickly out here.

Thanks to Evangeline, she made my life even better. Not only did I transition to a male, but I now had the body of a supposedly natural-born male. I had the functions of one to be specific.

But there were the downsides. When Haruna and I started sleeping with each other, she had a couple of pregnancy scares. Thankfully none of them came out positive. Unlike my other male friend in the other class.

Masuyoshi. Shizuna-sensei's secret fiancé, already built a series of baggage on his own. He should have already been kicked out of the academy for his actions, but no really came forward. The students throughout the classrooms knew, but no one identified it with school faculty and staff.

Lunch consisted of me going it alone, so I took my food with me and ate out at World Tree. Haruna never showed up, but I found myself in the midst of none other than Kazumi herself. Sayo was there as well.

"Sorry," Sayo confessed. "She wanted me to find you."

There was a look of anger on Kazumi's face as she crossed her arms and started her piece. "So your fiancé kind of got you into a little bit of a mess. Last night, you were briefly seen at the girl's dorms. Shortly afterward, Haru-chan was seen with the superhero Atlas trying to sneak out of the dormitory."

The memory of last night came back at the moment, and my face went red. "Yes. I had a reason to be there."

"To talk to Professor Negi about something important."

"And Asuna."

"I'm expected to do a scoop on Atlas. Like, what am I even supposed to write? I never gave Atlas an interview in the first place!"

Oh. That.

"Everyone's talking about the scoop!" Sayo said. "I've been passing by people left and right talking about Atlas!"

"Oh great," I remarked. "Looks like we have the rest of lunch to come up with the 'scoop' and alleviate the suspense!" I then jumped off the branch that I was on back to the ground. "Well, I may have a story. Let's get started with it. Shall we?"