After Negi Springfield stopped Chao Lingshen from fulfilling her plan to expose magic to the world during the Mahora School Festival, she decided to return to her home a hundred years in the future. The only people who managed to see her off were Negi and her closest friends Kū Fei, Satomi Hakase, Chachamaru Karakuri, and Satsuki Yotsuba.

"So she's finally gone," said Satomi.

"Yes," said Chachamaru.

"I'll definitely miss her," said Kū Fei.

"So will I," said Satsuki.

Negi sighed for a moment, but then stood firm and turned to Satomi and Chachamaru. "Hakase-san, Chachamaru-san, I'm sorry to have to do this, but as your teacher I must punish you for taking part in Chao-san's operation."

The two of them, including Kū Fei and Satsuki, gasped.

"Trying to reveal the existence of magic, especially to the entire world no doubt, is a serious offense. Also, Forced Recognition Magic is too great of a spell to be casted that the Magic Council has forbidden it to be used except in a state of emergency. And finally, this operation put the lives of not just the mages but also of your fellow classmates and the entirety of Mahora Academy at risk. Even if there was a bright side to Chao-san's plan, the outcome would have been too great to handle. Since Chao-san has already left, you two, as her co-conspirators, will have to be held responsible for her actions."

Satomi knew what Negi had said was true, but she was scared of what could possibly happen to her and Chachamaru. "Negi-sensei, you're not going to erase our memories, are you?! That would mean we would forget everything about magic, including ever meeting Chao-san in the first place!"

Kū Fei and Satsuki gasped.

"No, I won't do that," said Negi. "I know your friendship with Chao-san was important. I could never do something that drastic."

Kū Fei sighed. "That's good."

Negi said with a smile, "Instead, you'll receive a penalty of seven days worth of detention."

"Ehh?!" said Satomi. "Why seven days?!"

"Think of it as penance for sending me and some of your classmates seven days into the future. That should be punishment enough, don't you think?"

Satomi knew there was no point arguing, so she sighed and said, "Oh well. Guess I'll have to take responsibility then."

"I will take responsibility as well, Negi-sensei," said Chachamaru.

"Good," said Negi.

"Negi-sensei," said Satsuki.

"Yes, Yotsuba-san?"

"I must ask that you punish me as well."

Satomi and Kū Fei gasped.

"Why's that?" asked Negi.

"Because I knew about Chao-san's plan and told no one about it before. Even though I knew there would be risks involved, I couldn't betray my friend. You can understand that, can you?"

"You don't have to do that, Satsuki-chan," said Satomi. "Only Chachamaru and I took part in helping Chao-san. You only looked after us during the development phase. You don't have to be held responsible for this."

"Yes I do. Even though Chao-san is my friend, I turned my back on my other friends as well, including Negi-sensei. I should pay penance just as much as you, Hakase."

Negi pondered for a moment and then said, "I understand, Yotsuba-san. You shall receive the penalty as well."

"Thank you, Negi-sensei."

"Now if you'll excuse me."

Just before Negi made his leave, Satomi said, "Negi-sensei, I'm sorry for turning against you."

"I apologize as well, Negi-sensei," said Chachamaru.

"That's alright," said Negi. "In the end no one was harmed, so I think the mages will let you off with a warning." He then made his leave.

"Are you three alright with this?" asked Kū Fei.

"Well, I will admit what we did was strictly illegal," said Satomi, "but it was worth it. Even getting punished for it is worth it."

"I agree," said Chachamaru.

Satsuki nodded.

"That's good," said Kū Fei.

Negi managed to find Mana Tatsumiya, who was tired out after fighting Kaede Nagase. They were both resting near a tree. "Tatsumiya-san!" he called out.

"Negi-sensei," said Mana, "I believe I owe you an apology for turning against you."

"That's alright, but I'm afraid I'll have to give you a penalty of seven days detention for taking part in Chao-san's operation."

Mana snickered. "I understand."

"Good. Now if you'll excuse me." Negi made his leave.

"Seven days, huh?" said Kaede. "You sure you can handle that?"

"I have no regrets," said Mana. "It's worth it."

"Ehh?!" said Kasumi Asakura. "Seven days detention?! Come on, Negi-kun. Can't you cut me some slack? I did end up helping you out in the end."

"Sorry, Asakura-san," said Negi, "but this is the penalty for taking part in matters that aren't of any of your concern."

"But just think about it! The exposing of magic could have been big juicy news!"

"As I said, matters that aren't of any of your concern."

Kasumi disappointingly said, "Ah man."

"I'm afraid you'll have to be punished as well, Sayo-chan," Negi said to ghost student Sayo Aisaka.

"Ehh?!" said Sayo. "Why me?!"

"Because you joined up with Chao-san alongside Asakura-san, thus making you an accomplice as well."

"No way!"

After talking to the other mages about the situation regarding Chao, Negi walked with Asuna Kagurazaka.

"So no one will be prosecuted?" asked Asuna.

"No," said Negi. "All that will be done is give a penalty to anyone who assisted Chao-san."

"But seven days detention? Isn't that a bit harsh?"

"Well, I didn't want to erase their memories, but I have to assert my authority as a teacher whenever my students get into trouble. Even if Chao-san had stayed, I would have done the same thing to her as well."

"I guess you have a point there."

"By the way, Asuna-san, what happened to that family tree Chao-san had?"

"I destroyed it. No one looked at it, but it could have been a fake anyway. That thing caused nothing but trouble. If anyone found out about Chao's family tree, it would've been bad not just for you but for our friends as well. If would have torn them apart just like it did before."

"I see."

When school started back up, Negi went to his class.

"Good morning, everyone!"

"Good morning, Sensei!"

"Alright. To start things off, we will…"

"Excuse me, Negi-sensei," said class representative Ayaka Yukihiro as she raised her hand.

"Yes, Īncho-san?"

Ayaka stood up. "We understand that Chao-san caused some trouble during her time here at Mahora Academy and had to leave because of it."

"Yes, that's correct."

"We also know that a penalty was issued to those who assisted her in her mischief."

"Yes."

"Well, we've talked about it and decided that we, the students of Class 3-A, shall take Chao-san's punishment in her place."

Negi was surprised at what he'd just heard. He figured that Asuna must have mentioned the penalty to Ayaka, and that the students must have made the decision before he'd arrived. "But why?"

"Despite what she's done," said Makie, "Chao-san's still our friend."

"Any trouble caused by her, we'll accept responsibility for it," said Yūna.

"It's the least we can do for her since she's no longer here," Konoka.

Negi gazed upon his students with unbelievable eyes. After all that had happened, they still looked out for Chao. "And all of you are okay with this?"

"Yes!" said the class.

I don't really care, thought Evangeline.

Why do I have to be part of this? thought Chisame.

Negi pondered for a moment, and then he said, "Very well then. The entirety of Class 3-A shall receive a penalty of seven days detention. Do you all understand?"

"Yes, Sensei!"

"Good. Now let's begin class, shall we?"