Mahou Sensei Negima! is the creation and intellectual property of Akamatsu Ken and Kodansha.

All other characters and franchises mentioned herein are the intellectual property of their respective trademark and copyright holders.


Eleonore's Heart and Other Stories.


A Mundus Magicus Anthology.


With special thanks to Darkenning.


Relatable.

Mundus Magicus:

Louise approached Chisame as the latter sat in the bath.

"We need to talk," the small pink haired girl said, folding her arms and standing on the edge of the pool.

Chisame looked blandly at her. "What is there to talk?"

"We haven't talked on the subject yet," Louise grumbled, undoing her towel and stepping into the water with her, "but we must. You are, as I understand, the first magical partner of my Familiar..."

"Well, yeah, since we're on that subject," Chisame said, "I didn't want to confront you about this yet, but he's not a Familiar, he's a human being, and so-"

"He was sent to me during a Familiar summon ceremony! He's my Familiar!" Louise said loudly. "That, in turn, makes you my Familiar as well!"

"What?! That's insane!"

"I'm a noblewoman," Louise said haughtily, with a hand on her flat chest, "and you're nothing but a commoner! Worse than a commoner, a fugitive with a bounty on your head! You're fortunate I consider you my Familiar and not a slave to be sold to the authorities!"

"Why, you little...!" Hasegawa bristled. "Don't think so highly of yourself! Ayase's told me everything about you, you're just an academic failure and the laughingstock of your school!"

Louise blushed and pulled back. "D-Don't say that! It's just that my whole school mistreats me badly! They're envious of me!"

"Uh-huh..."

"H-H-Hey!" Louise whined, red faced. "You wouldn't understand! You are respected among everyone in your party, just because you're Negi's first partner!"

"Respected? Me!?"

"Well, you certainly don't have to deal with a classroom, no, a school full of weird vapid airheads always getting on your nerves!"

"..." Chisame frowned, glaring at her.

After a moment, Louise blinked. "... don't you?"


Asuna winced as she and Yue watched, from afar, how Chisame and Louise chatted almost excitedly in the bath.

"... this is an unexpected most foul team-up. I'm actually starting to get scared for some reason," Yue commented dryly.

Asuna raised an eyebrow. "I almost pity Iinchou now. It's going to be hard for her when we find her...!"


The Exorcism of Aisaka Sayo.

Louise sighed while brooming the front of their latest hideout.

"I have no idea why they say I'm a stuckup..." she grouched to herself. "My sister and mother would never do house chores like this..."

Then she saw a tiny, beaten up doll with long white hair staggering its way over to the doorstep. Louise tensed up immediately.

The diminutive thing raised a hand. "Hellooooo!" it said in a high pitched, tired voice. "I'm looking for Negi Springfiiiieeeeld...!"

After a moment of shock, confusion and fear, Louise began slamming her broom down on it. "AAAAAHHHHH! THE DEVIL'S DOLL!"

"AAAAIIIIIEEEEE!" it shrieked. "NO, DON'T DO THAAAAAT!"


"Well, how was I supposed to know?!" Louise argued while Asuna, Yue and Nodoka all glared at her. "You mentioned your ghost friend, yes, but you never said she was living inside of a doll!"

Rito sighed while sitting nearby, sewing Sayo's back after pushing the stuffing back into her.

"I... It took me weeks to make my way here...!" Sayo lamented. "For my next body, I want longer legs...!"


The Key of the Matter!

Lucy held the Key up again and sighed. "Aquarius!" she called once more.

Finally, in a large splash of water, the Celestial Spirit manifested herself. "What do you want?" she asked curtly.

"Ah, you finally showed up," Lucy said flatly. "I was about to just put the Key away and try again tomorrow..."

One of Aquarius' eyebrows twitched. "What's with that tone now?! Also, tomorrow?! You called me for something that can be left for tomorrow?!"

Lucy nodded. "Of course, I'd rather tackle the issue today, as it's something that concerns our ongoing relationship and your performance. In the light of recent events, I've been reviewing your contributions to our association, and-"

"You are trying to get smart with me?!" Aquarius growled, almost lunging at Lucy. "Go to the point right now before I drown you!"

"Okay, if that's what you want," the blonde said. "You're fired."

"WHAT?!"

Lucy nodded. "I've got myself another Aquarius."

"ANOTHER WHAT?!"

Lucy held the Key up again and said, "Aquarius!"

Sayo floated in from the next room, wearing a mermaid costume, complete with false tail and seashell bra. "Did, did you call, Master?"

Somewhere in the Old World, Ookuchi Akira sneezed.

"That... That thing is an Aquarius?!" Aquarius pointed at Sayo, outraged. "She isn't even manipulating water!"

Sayo blinked. "Oh... Oh! I'm sorry, you're right! Please wait a second!"

She quickly floated out of the room, then floated back in, holding a jar of water in her hands. "Is, is this better?"

"Like hell it is!" Aquarius said, then yelled at Lucy, "What can this small, clueless weakling even do?!"

"Well, she can possess people and bodyjack their actions, that's always useful," Lucy said. "Can you do that?"

"Uh, no, but-!"

"And mostly, she always shows up when she's summoned," Lucy added, holding a pointer finger up, and then bracing herself for Aquarius' furious blast of seawater directly on her.

But much to her surprise, when she opened her eyes again after some waiting, she only saw the Celestial Spirit fleeing the room, wailing and promising, "You'll regret thiiiiiiiiis...!"

Lucy and Sayo blinked.

"So, um," Sayo said after a moment. "Can I go back with Virgo-san now? I really was enjoying our card game..."


Meanwhile, in Gotham...

"Lucius," Bruce said, entering Fox's office and slamming a folder on his desk, "what is the meaning of this?"

"Hm?" Lucius flipped through the folder. "Ah, yes, while you were in your latest trip and couldn't be contacted, the board of executives voted on investing in the Good Smiles company."

"That... That is a company owned by the Joker, Lucius!"

"Well, yes, he started it in a completely legal fashion. Even if he's a criminal, he's still got rights to his own image and name, and he has registered them properly. It's not like the situation with the laughing fish, he actually had a valid point here..."

"What?!"

Lucius nodded. "He's a celebrity after all, Bruce. That biopic they released starring Joaquin Phoenix, his role in Mortal Kombat 11, the lunchboxes, the action figures... He's making millions, which the company needs badly in these times of crisis."

"...!"

"More than half of his income goes to the Support Fund for the Joker's Victims, so the board of executives thought you'd approve. Since you have never said no to a charity effort..."


With his hood down, the Batman sat in the darkness of the cave, just staring ahead with hollow, traumatized eyes.

"Um, Alfred?" Robin asked their butler. "What's going over with Bruce now, he looks like he's-"

The old man sighed and put a hand on the youngster's mouth. "Please don't ask right here, young sir. He can hear from here..."


Do you Remember when Hikaru Used to be in Unequally?

Hikaru blinked, finally noticing the way Yue was looking at her.

Hikaru looked back. "Yue-san? Is there something the matter?"

"Ah, no, no, sorry," Yue said. "I was just thinking about how much you remind me of Haruna's dad."

"..." Hikaru said.

"I mean," Yue quickly added, "when he's a girl!"

"Ah... All right..." Hikaru said slowly.

Yue facepalmed, blushing. "It's a long story I should have told you about, long before this..."


Well, She is Again, Now!

Negi approached her with a smile. "Shidou-san, right? Sorry, we haven't really had a chance to talk after being introduced. I'd like to thank you for looking after Kikuk-"

"Ah!" Hikaru gasped, extending a hand ahead. "No, sorry! Please keep your distance!"

"Eh?" Negi said, stopping.

"Yukino-chan's told me about you, Sensei!" Hikaru said. "Somehow, you charm all girls who approach you, so they become your girlfriends!"

"That... That's not right!" Negi gasped.

"Are you calling Yukino-chan a liar?"

"What? No! But, but it's not like that, she must be mistaken! Let's see, there's Asuna-san, and Ai-san, and... and... well, you don't know Suzumiya-san yet, but I'll introduce you to her once we're back home..."

Hikaru crossed her arms before herself, in the form of a shielding 'X'. "My father and brothers are very protective of me, and they'll get mad at you if you become my boyfriend! And for reasons that I don't fully understand, I don't like the idea of my father and brothers getting mad at y-" She broke off, spent a moment in silent consideration of these sentiments, then shook her head rapidly in a way that made her look like she had cat ears. "Never mind that now! Just stay back!"

"... I'm not going to become your boyfriend, though."

There was a pause.

"Why not?" she asked at last. "Is there something wrong with me?"

"Of course not!"

"It's because I look like this Haruna-san's dad, right? Do I actually look like some middle aged man in drag for some reason...?"

"Oh, for the love of God...! It isn't drag, didn't Yue-san and Nodoka-san explain it to you?"


What Makes a Good Person?

"We're sorry," Kujou Rin said, standing on the doorstep with Aya. "Saki-sama isn't receiving anyone today."

"Ah," the visitor said. And then, pushing their luck, "Is this about the disappearance of Lala Deviluke?"

Rin frowned. "Yes," she said icily.

"I was under the impression that she disliked her."

"She is in mourning, regardless," Aya said, even more coldly.

"Right... Right, I think I understand now. She misses the chance of never besting her, instead being handed her victory by a stroke of luck-"

Rin closed the door on the visitor's face.

In her bedroom, Tenjouin Saki held a framed portrait of her most despised enemy and, despite herself, wept.

This acute sense of loss was not the one she had been expecting to feel at first, but it did hurt just as much.


You Smell Familiar.

Kotaro squinted at the small furry animal held in Hikaru's arms. "What's this?" the boy asked.

"Oh, she's Kirara, our traveling companion!" the redhead said, smiling. "Guru Clef gave her to us so we could move across Mundus Magicus!"

"A thing this small? How can she help you with that?" Kotaro grumbled, sniffing in the direction of the tiny creature. Kirara sniffed back at him.

And then she made a loud, joyous mewling sound, and jumped from Hikaru's arms and onto Kotaro, turning into her giant form in mid-leap and squashing him down with a strong hug.

Hikaru giggled. "Awwww, just look at that! She really likes you...!"

"Yeah, I think so," he said from under the purring, tail-wagging Kirara. "The more I think about it, the more I feel like I should remember her from some place, too... but that might just be the lack of air talking...!"


Chisame and Louise.

After dinner, Chisame had retreated to read some books Nodoka and Yue had lent her. Books weren't a replacement for the Internet, but they at least helped her not to think about it.

Or about Sora.

Or about Tsunetsuki.

Somewhat.

Louise approached her, frowning. "Hasegawa..."

"What do you want?" Chisame asked, without looking back at her.

The younger girl rasped loudly, closing her eyes. "I need to return a favor to you!"

Now Chisame did look at her, annoyed. "A what?"

Louise made an irritated sound. "Out of all of your stupid companions, you're the only one who has treated me with a modicum of the respect a scion of the La Valliere house deserves!"

Chisame blinked. "I have?"

"Ergo," Louise said proudly, "I am morally obligated to do somethiing to repay you! I've decided I'll teach you some manners of the nobility so you can be in my company!"

Chisame returned to her reading. "I don't think there's anything you can teach me."

"Yue told me you can't dance."

Chisame glared at her. Hostile. "And you do?"

"Of course I do!" Louise humphed, with a hand on her chest. "I have been invited to many balls! Come here," she said, extending a hand towards her. "Trust me."

After a moment of annoyance, without knowing why, perhaps just to get her off her case, Chisame stood up and held her small hands.

Louise began guiding her across the room, with far more patience than Chisame had been expecting. She spoke little, only instructing her when necessary, so she moved her feet the correct way, and they took breaks every so often, Louise only talking about what she should do next and how.

They danced this way for a couple of hours, until Louise finally smiled up at her. A very rare sight. "Not too bad," she allowed. "You are better than Negi, at the very least..."

"You've done this with Negi already?!"

Louise huffed. "He is my partner after all! Why wouldn't I?!"

Chisame felt upset at this, mostly at Negi for not telling her before, but she didn't want to appear jealous for no good reason. Still, Louise realized, and smirked evilly, in a rare instance of being allowed an edge over another. It was very enjoyable. For Louise, that is.

"That will be all for now!" the pink haired girl said happily, bringing her hands together. "I'll teach you a more advanced technique tomorrow! Have a good night!"

She turned around on her heels and began walking out of the room, chuckling to herself.

Chisame stared after her long trail of wavy hair for a moment, and then said, quietly, "Good night."

Louise was about to reach her own bedroom when she saw Kagurazaka leaned on a wall indolently, her arms folded. "That," Asuna said, "was a mistake."

And Louise scowled. "What?"

"Matoi-senpai will see you as a rival now," Asuna said, wagging a finger. "I won't tell her, but someone else will. Tsukuyomi, most likely. And then she'll get really mad at you."

"Let her try!" Louise scoffed loudly, seeing Asuna depart with a shrug of shoulders.

Louise the Zero entered the room, closed after herself, and plopped down on the bed, crossing her arms under her chin. "Let her try..." she repeated.

She was well used to having rivals anyway.

Not that she should be thinking of this person that way.

But, regardless.


The Demon in the Details.

Zazie sat on a bench of the lonely park, absently feeding the birds. She would put her hand in a bag of seeds, then lazily throw them before her.

The afternoon sky was starkly red, almost like during the years between the Second Impact and the Fourth Heaven's Feel. The HiME Star was a crimson point at the middle of that scarlet extension. A dry, acrid breeze flew from the South, making the heat even more unbearable.

Eventually, the other two women arrived. Both were older than Zazie. One of them was a very shapely big breasted blonde, with fair skin and blue eyes, a true beauty in a tight white dress and high heeled shoes. The other one was a hulking, wide middle aged lady with white hair, pulled back into a small bun. She wore a gray short sleeved blouse with a matching long skirt, plus very shiny black shoes.

Both of them bowed their heads respectfully. "Princess," they said.

"Merku, Umeyo," Zazie said softly, without looking at them. "I want to hire your services through the next few years."

"But, Princess," the bigger woman said. "We are working for Lady Miku..."

"Mother will approve and seal your transfer papers," Zazie replied. "I'm going to need a matron and a nurse."

The blonde blinked. "Ara? D-Don't tell me that... Ma'am, that's beneath your station!" she gasped, scandalized. "What will your mother say!"

Zazie threw another handful of seeds at the birds. "Merku, you are into little boys, aren't you?"

"Eh?" the lower ranked demon pulled back a little, and then laughed and blushed, taking a hand to her cheek. "W-Well, I don't hate them, exactly...!"

Zazie pointed upwards, towards a specific spot in the sky, and told them, "My current teacher is there, breaking the seals that hold Ialda Baoth. Soon, it will be necessary to take special measures."

Umeyo's eyes widened slowly, while Merku choked and coughed briefly. "I-Ialda Baoth...?!" the latter said, nearly panicking.

Zazie finally looked aside at them, smiling vaguely. "Negi-sensei will be back shortly. At least, I hope so. In the meanwhile, we need to find you a place where to stay. I'm afraid I can't bring you to my apartment just yet..."


Always Someone Worse.

Luffy D. Monkey grinned widely, walking towards the town's board of announcements with his hands on his hips.

"Ah ha ha ha!" he laughed. "Let's see how high I rank now!"

He leaned towards his Wanted poster. There it was, under a clear closeup picture of his smiling face.

" 400,000,000 Berries! Alright!"

Then he casually looked next to a new bunch of posters placed next to those of the Straw Hats.

'Negi T. Springfield- 1,000,000,000,000 Berries'.

Luffy's jaw literally dropped to the floor.


"What's wrong with the Captain?" Sanji sneered, looking at Luffy, who sat in silence with his face slammed down on the kitchen's table. "He's never been that worried about that kind of stuff before!"

"It's not so much that there's someone outdoing him, " Zoro said. "It's that the guy is a complete newbie...!"


Better Ways.

"Ahhhh!" Illya sighed. "Now I feel much better! Good thing I found you soon enough…!"

Tsukuyomi, Gray and Juvia walked in on the scene of Skuld running a domestic blood transfusion from Negi to Illyasviel.

"Why are you doing that?" Gray asked while Tsukuyomi's attention was instantly snared by the blood running the tube. "Is she ill?"

"Sort of," Skuld said. "Illya is a homunculus, so she wasn't designed to have a long lifespan. To develop proper growth patterns and extend her life to normal levels, she needs to receive frequent supplies of genetically compatible body fluids carrying mana matching her own. As Negi is her half-brother, he is suited for the task."

"Ahhhhhh," Tsukuyomi said, not having listened to a single word but entranced by the sight of blood regardless.

"… and why don't they just have sex?" Juvia asked.

Gray, Skuld and Negi all tensed up in horror.

"I mean, she wasn't going to say it, so someone had to," Juvia argued, pointing down at Tsukuyomi, who was licking her own lips all over.

"NO, NOBODY HAD TO!" Gray roared.

Illya sighed. "Hear, hear! Who knows, maybe someday… I mean, at some point, he's going to have to grow as tired of being needled as I am…"


Our Prince.

"You know, Chisame-han," Tsukuyomi said as she, Chisame, Louise and Yue relaxed in the bath, "now that you know that Negi-han is a prince, what does that mean for your future together?"

Chisame frowned. "What are you babbling about now?"

Tsukuyomi shrugged. "Think about it! Even if he's the scion of a deposed family, he's still nobility! He can't just marry anyone! Certainly not a commoner like you..."

Chisame frowned, and then punched the water, sending a large splash on the blonde's face. Tsukuyomi only laughed. "Reacting like that won't change the truth! He needs to marry another noblewoman, of course! Even Suzushiro-han or your Class Rep won't cut it..."

"What, what makes you think that I want to marry Negi?!" Chisame growled.

Yue and Louise only rolled their eyes in silence.

Tsukuyomi smirked shiftly at the pink haired girl. "On the other hand, you, Louise-sama, have the status and pedigree for it. You DO intend to marry Negi-han, don't you?"

"Of course I do! I need to!" Louise said. "He stole my first kiss and took me on the run with him, after all!"

"You followed us," Yue said. "And he stole the Vice President's lips before yours, if anything she's got a better claim than you..."

"The psycho said it better than I could," Louise sneered, "she just doesn't have a rank comparable to mine."

"Psycho? That isn't a very polite thing to call someone who sounds just like you?" Tsukuyomi said, amused.

Louise, for once, decided to ignore her, choosing to look at Chisame instead. Seeing how the taller girl was sulking in silence, she felt sorry for her, and patted her on an arm. "There, there," Louise said. "Don't feel bad about it! I'll let you be his secretary and mistress, you always were by his side after all..."

Now THAT not only shocked Hasegawa herself, but also Yue AND even Tsukuyomi, all three of them choking and gagging violently in their saliva.

"Is, is this your notion of a joke?!" Yue could say at last. "YOU of all people approve of Sensei having a lover...!?"

"Well, if he's really a prince, then it's inevitable!" the pink haired girl said, throwing her hands up. "I'd never put up with this from someone at my own level, or below it! But rulers are supposed to have several women, in the event their wife can't deliver an heir, or the heir isn't fit to rule! I'm certain I'll be plentiful, of course, but even so, it's been the tradition for centuries! I'd be accused of sabotaging the Ostian bloodline if I acted otherwise!"

Chisame got out of the water making a very loud and rough sound, quickly toweling herself half-dry in a careless fashion, then wrapping the towel around herself and stomping out of the bath.

Louise pouted. "What is her problem?! I granted her such an honor...!"

Yue sighed. "Where we come from, being a mistress is considered a dishonor. An insult, even."

Louise gave her a bewildered look. "Even to a king?!"

"Even to kings!" Tsukuyomi said. "But, it's complicated, you'll see. Many women offer themselves to be lovers, but generally they aim to make the man divorce and take over as the new wife. It's not supposed to be a permanent status, although... there are people for everything!" She shrugged.

"Basically, you have just insulted Chisame, telling her that she's beneath your station and that she only can be a second class mate, while you are by Sensei's side always."

"I... I never wanted to insult her!" Louise protested. "That is, she is beneath my station, yes, but neither of us could prevent it! Any commoner would be honored to be the mistress to a king..."

"You'd better go and apologize to her." Tsukuyomi giggled. "But adjust your attitude while doing so! Keep in mind where she comes from!"

Yue raised an eyebrow. "Wow, sage advice for once?" she asked while Louise pulled herself up from the water and began drying herself. "Where is the trick?"

Tsukuyomi licked her own lips all over. "I want to be left alone with you, naturally."

Yue's eyes widened. "LOUISE!" she cried, reaching out for La Valliere. "Wait for me...!"

"Sorry, Yue," Louise said firmly, not looking back while marching out. "But this is between Miss Chisame and me."

"No, no, you aren't understanding!" Yue said, trying to pull out. "Don't leave me with-!"

Louise was gone already, though, and Tsukuyomi had grabbed her from behind and pulled her back.

There was a scream of "NODOKA!"

Louise reached Chisame's room soon enough. She'd expected to have to blow the lock up with Void Magic, but she tried to open it the normal way first, and she was surprised to see it wasn't locked.

Chisame was sitting before a mirror, with her back turned on her, wearing a robe and tying her hair back into the ponytail. "I have this stupid habit of forgetting to lock," she groaned. "That's how Negi found out I was Chiu."

"You were what?" Louise asked.

"That doesn't matter. What do you want?"

"I... I want to apologize," Louise said reluctantly. "Yue said I'd insulted you..."

"Yes. Yes, you did."

"So... Do we have to compete for Negi, then? Is there no way we can share him? Or do you expect me to be the mistress? I'll never put up with that, my pride as a-"

"Marry him if you want!" Chisame scoffed. "Like I care!"

Louise scowled. After a moment in silence, she said, "I don't want to be your enemy. You, among all of them, are the only one I want to call my friend."

Finally, Chisame looked back at her. "Excuse me?!"

Louise nodded. "I... I like you, Chisame. You are serious and you speak honestly, as long as your feelings for Negi aren't involved in-"

"What kind of stupid feelings are you talking about, woman?!"

Louise sighed and ran two fingers down her own nose. "See, that's what I mean, you idiot! I like you regardless! You don't mock others for what they are, but you don't suck up to anyone, either. Listen, all through my life, I've been surrounded by two kinds of people. Those who would flatter me for my birthright, and those who would laugh at me because I couldn't meet the standards of said birthright. You have no idea of what it is like, to be an outsider among everyone. To never click with anyone..."

Chisame winced.

Louise gestured at her with a clenching hand. "You don't treat me for what I am, or what I should be! You and Negi treat me for who I am! Do you understand it?! Or it doesn't translate well!?"

Chisame paused. "I... I think I understand the basics..."

"That's what I said I'd be willing to put up with your being Negi's mistress," the smaller girl said. "You're pleasant to have around. It... It's not like I really like you or anything! But even if you're weak and nagging, one still feels safe around you for some reason! And, and you make Negi feel good too, okay?!"

She looked down and admitted in a miserable tone, "Better than I can ever make him feel..."

Chisame blinked. "Louise..."

Louise sniffled and threw herself against her, hugging her tightly. "Please don't be my enemy, you moron! I have too many of them, anywhere I look! After losing Cattleya, and being separated from Henrietta, you... you are the only friend of sorts I have...!"

Chisame blinked several times, and then, slowly, she hugged her back. "I don't want to be anyone's enemy either... Not even yours..."

They held each other, not saying anything.

"We'll figure something out, eventually," Chisame promised at last. "Negi's still a brat, anyway, isn't he? It's not like you can marry him right away..."

"Y-Yes... I mean, no... I suppose..."

"And besides, there's still the whole matter of clearing our names and taking these creeps out," Chisame grumbled, rocking her back and forth softly. "Who's got time to worry about romance nonsense while that's going on?"

Louise only nodded, saying nothing.

Chisame patted her back almost maternally.

A sharp, nearly roaring cry, in Nodoka's voice, of "TSUKUYOMI-SAN...!" broke through the night.

Chisame smiled. "I've got to warn you," she told Louise. "Negi's not even the most devoted guardian knight and 'charming prince' we know..."


Cat and Mouse Game.

Collet, who was washing the dishes after dinner, smiled as she saw Happy and Jean-Luc enter the kitchen, running around and playing with each other.

"I'm glad you've made such good friends!" she said. "Please keep taking care of Jean-Luc, Happy!"

"Aye!" Happy stopped to raise a paw at her. "It's such a new experience for me, too! This is my first time befriending a bunny!"

Collet blinked. "Ah? But, Happy, Jean-Luc isn't a bunny..."

"Oh, no? What is he, then?"

"Well, from what Chisame and Asuna say, he's actually some kind of mouse."

Happy was taken aback, falling silent. For a few moments he just stood there, completely quiet and staring ahead.

Then he turned ahead and bit Jean-Luc in the face, starting to try and eat his head.

"PIKAAA-CHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

Happy exploded back in a massive electric discharge, smashing against a wall while Collet gasped loudly.


Lucy blinked, seeing Happy stagger into the library while completely wrapped on bandages.

She put her book down. "Happy!? What happened to you? I thought you were just playing with-"

"A BUNNY...!" he cried, doing a full body shudder and, once again, just staring blankly ahead of him. "He's absolutely just a bunny, and no kind of mouse at all...!"


A Bit Overboard, Aren't You?

"Ayase, we need to talk," Louise said, showing up in Yue's bedroom. "This is serious. The Lady Erza and Miss Heartfilia are pushing for Wendy to pursue a romance with Negi!"

Yue looked up from the book she'd been reading. "Huh? What makes you think that?"

Louise back outside, towards the hall, where Erza and Lucy smiled while making a groaning Wendy turn around, wearing a bridal gown. Carla stood aside and nodded stoically.

"Just a hunch, you complete idiot!" Louise snapped at the librarian.


My Fair Lady.

Chisame grabbed Louise by the shoulders. "Louise-san," she told her. "If we're going to be friends, there's something you need to know about me."

"What is it?" the pink haired girl asked.

Chisame breathed in. "There's this girl, my senpai, named Tsunetsuki Matoi. Odds are we'll find her before long."

"Oh, that girl behind you in the Gateport!" Tsukuyomi said from where she sat by the window, reading a book lazily. "I liked the fire in her eyes, I really did."

"…" Chisame said. "All right. Louise-san, listen, Tsunetsuki may be a bit… hard to deal with… when she learns you're my friend."

"What do you mean by that?" Louise frowned.

Chisame sighed. "She's my Juvia."

Louise recoiled.

Tsukuyomi raised an eyebrow. "Well! That would explain a few things!"

"I… I see," Louise stammered. "Then, ummmm. Why don't you hire Iwai to deal with her?" she asked, pointing at Tsukuyomi.

"What? No!" Chisame said.

"Are you sure you want to discard the idea?" Tsukuyomi asked. "I don't say this for the pay, it's just for your best too. Juvias are best dealt with before they harm you. Why, if I were Kono-chan, I'd have hired someone to deal with me long ago…"

"Don't you dare comparing Tsunetsuki with yourself!" Chisame seethed.

"Okay, okay, I also find it hard to believe she could ever be anywhere as bad as Iwai," Louise said, raising her hands to placate Hasegawa. "I'll be okay, all right? I can take care of myself now that I'm learning Void Magic!"

Chisame paused. "Right. Fair enough. I just wanted you to know, just in case. One never knows. Ummm. I think I'll go see what's taking Rito-senpai and Collet so long with the dinner," she said uneasily.

And then she left the room.

Louise and Tsukuyomi waited a few moments.

"She kind of returns those feelings, doesn't she?" Louise asked at last.

"Oh, totally!" Tsukuyomi went back to her book. "I was just messing with her. You could just see it back at the Gateport!"

Juvia's head peeked in from the door opposite the direction Chisame had taken. "What is so wrong about anyone having their own private Juvia, anyway?!"


Eleonore's Heart.

They almost had caught up with Negi-sensei, but he had to escape in the heat of Sextum Averruncus' attack, and thus Keiichi and Chamo were forced to see him flee before even being able to tell him they were there.

So they were almost back to square zero, now, but in the other hand, they had stumbled into Natsumi-chan and that new friend of hers who stylized himself after Vigilante. And of course, there was Eleonore-san, too.

"I… I… I'm sorry over my earlier outburst," the bespectacled, flat chested blonde said uneasily, all of them now sitting around the campfire. Her eyes were closed and her tone was remarkably stilted, so it was clear that she wasn't used to apologize to commoners. "It would seem that I went overboard punishing your clumsiness."

"It's fine," Keiichi said, still wincing at the pain in his swollen cheek. And his swollen eye. And the right knee. And all over the left shoulder. And the butt, where he'd been kicked so many times. "I should have called out before approaching the lake. And I get that you've been under too much stress lately."

"Yes," she admitted distantly. "Foolish or not, there's no greater treasure than family."

"Senpai understands," Natsumi said, trying to advocate for him. "He has a little sister, as well."

Eleonore blinked at Morisato. "You do?"

Keiichi smiled and nodded. "Yeah. Megumi-chan. She can be a real handful at times, but I wouldn't change her for anything in the world."

Eleonore paused. "I'm sorry to hear that. I mean, you must have spent months without seeing her by now…"

"I do have a little sister too," Chamo sniffed dramatically.

Natsumi grimaced. Oh God, it was the same pity-catching lie he told every other time. The one Nekane, Anya, and even Negi himself had rebuked time and time again…

"She is very sickly and constantly bedridden!" Chamo wailed for extra effect. "So I had to do whatever I could to gather money for her! My poor widdle sis! I only hope she hasn't died yet, in the cold hills of Wales…!"

Eleonore and Drake stared blankly at him while Natsumi and Keiichi shared a groan. Luckily, no one had ever been dumb enough as to buy that right off the—

Eleonore began crying loudly. "I… I didn't know that!" she burst, blushing and vigorously rubbing her eyes with a sleeve after pulling the glasses up. "It's true what they say, even deviants have loved ones…!"

"How much money do you need?!" Drake sobbed, reaching into the breast of his jacket. "Do you accept gold pieces? I still have a few left…!"

Natsumi and Keiichi sweatdropped.

The sooner they found Sensei again, the better.


Inner Voices.

"… I… I can't believe you!" Chisame finally snapped at her. "Don't you have a conscience?!"

Tsukuyomi blinked. "What's a conscience?"

Chisame paused, unsure of what to do out of that. "You… You are just toying with me, right?"

Tsukuyomi only stared at her with large, round curious eyes behind the thick glasses.

"You really don't know?! Everyone knows!" Chisame said. "The conscience! That small voice of sorts in the back of your mind, that scolds you when you're doing something wrong!"

"Ah! No, I don't have that!" the little blonde said peppily. "What I have is this invisible demon who sounds a lot like me, constantly yelling 'You're evil! You're dirty! You're worthless! You only are good for killing!'"

The taller girl gawked.


Chisame sat at the dinner table, shell shocked and holding her head in her hands.

Natsu-san walked by, and then stopped. "Ah. Did she already tell you about the demon?"


Let it Flow.

Louise walked up to Rito.

"Mr. Yuuki," she told him. "Forgive me."

"Over what?" He blinked at her.

"I've just grown rather furious at Negi and Chisame," she said. "But Negi is just a child, I cannot possibly hit him."

"Of course not, what is there to apologize for?"

The pink haired girl raised a hand to slow him down. "And I can't pick a fight with Chisame either, that wouldn't be ladylike!"

"Yeah, and...?"

She began hitting him with her riding crop. "BUT I STILL NEED TO VENT OUT SOMEWAY...!"

They really needed to find Chamo soon, Rito realized. This was supposed to be HIS job!


Sleep Well!

Visit hours were limited, and since Tosaka didn't trust Negi, Kotaro, Rito or Tsukuyomi around the slaves, they'd sent Yue today, to deliver some snacks and answer the assorted questions.

"So, I forgot to ask the last time," Misa said while she and Madoka chewed on some sweet buns. "How is Negi-kun coping with the nightmares? Still sneaking into a different bed every night, right?"

"Um, not exactly," Yue said.

Madoka blinked. "Oh, so he's cured of the habit already?"

"No," Yue said. "Louise says a Familiar needs to sleep in the same room as its master every night, and Chisame doesn't trust them to be in the same bed, so they've been sleeping together all through these weeks."

Misa clenched a sudden hideous grin, and then she took a hand to her collar. After a pair of strong, firm tugs and a massive jolt of electricity, she crushed the thing between her fingers.

"AHHHH!" Madoka gasped. "It was THIS easy the whole time?!-?!"


Wash your Worries Off.

"Slave girls, go take a bath!" Tosaka barked. "You reek again!"

"Eh?!" Madoka said. "But sir, we took a bath just two hours ago!"

"I don't care! I can't have you smelly girls stanching my place up!" the man argued. "Look at yourself, you sweat more than my gladiators, and I don't even make you work that much! Vetus girls, sheesh!"


Misa and Madoka now sat in the bath, completely naked, washing themselves.

Madoka leaned towards Misa, eyeing the closest wall, and whispered in disgust. "Does that perv really think that we haven't found the peephole by now?"

Misa smiled and threw a bucket of fresh water over her own head. "I don't care! As long as it means more rest and less work…!"


Re-Paru-cement.

Nodoka and Yue approached Lucy, who was chatting with Negi at the time.

"Heartfilia-san," Nodoka said. "Do you like BL? You know, Boys Love? The genre of boys being intimate with boys?"

"W-What? NO!" Lucy gasped. "Why, why do you think I'd like something like, like that!"

Yue frowned a bit, pulled a piece of paper out, and began reading aloud from it. "Natsu's hands began roaming all over Gray's hard, well oiled bare chest..."

Lucy's nose exploded in a burst of blood.

Yue and Nodoka looked at each other, then smiled.

"You're approved!" Nodoka told Lucy happily.

"A-Approved for what?!" Lucy cried, wiping the blood off her nose with a fist.

"You're big breasted, taller than us, fond of books, and with a taste for BL," Yue said. "Until we find Paru, you will be the replacement Haruna for our trio..."

Lucy looked at Negi, bewildered. "Should I feel insulted or flattered?"

The boy hewed. "Well, it's a complicated thing, sort of..."


Re-Paru-cement, Part 2.

"I can't believe it!" an exasperated Lucy said, sitting on the porch with Rito and keeping her distance. "Just because I like books, I'm taller and older than them, I may not be completely adverse to Boys Love, and my chest is a bit big, Nodoka and Yue already believe I'm a shoo-in for this Haruna of yours in their group dynamics!"

The blonde sighed. "You, of course, know Haruna better than anyone, being her boyfriend, don't you think that's just plain prepos… terous…"

She realized how intensely Rito was looking at her now, with eyes as wide as saucers.

"Oh, for the love of God…!" Lucy screamed.


Fanfiction. Not.

Haruna slapped Rito. "You spineless worm! I'm tired of your wishy-washy attitude! At this rate I'll die an old virgin! I'm leaving you for Negi-kun, a real man!"

"Likewise!" Nodoka said, slapping Kotaro. "This just isn't working, boy! All you can think of is fighting and going away to have selfish macho adventures to stroke your ego! I'm going back to Negi-kun, my first love!"

"They are right, Shirou!" Saber said, slapping Emiya. "You only care about your father's misguided ideals, and you will destroy yourself! I shall not ruin my own life again! I shall be joining Professor Negi's side!"

"What they said!" Skuld said, slapping Keiichi. "Keiichi, you idiot! I can't stand you anymore! You'll never get a clue! Makie and I are joining Negi's collective!"

"I'm sorry!" Ai said, slapping Itoshiki. "I'm sorry!" she repeated, slapping him again. "I'm so sorry!" she sobbed, slapping him a third time. "But you'll never be happy, and so you'll only make others around you miserable! You didn't even care I loved you, you still want to kill yourself and leave me behind! I'm sorry for being so selfish, but I'll follow Matoi's example and marry Negi-sensei, too!"

"And if you're wondering how he'll be able to satisfy us all," Haruna huffed, "that's why he always has the loyal Chamo-kun by his side! His dick is much longer and thicker than any of yours!"


Eleonore frowned in utter disgust at the tiny notebook open in her hand. "What manner of sick person would write something like this?! You are not well at all!"

"Gaaaahhhh!" the ermine screamed. "Give that back! Where did you find it?! It was never meant for any of you to read…!"


Seduction of the Innocent.

The boy was still wet and toweling dry from the shower, clad only in black pants, when Tosaka approached him.

"Hey, kid, you were great back there," the older man said.

Kotaro grinned. "Am I not always?"

"You should stay here after you're done with the tournament," Tosaka proposed. "You clearly love it here. You can work the crowds, and they love you. And I hate to admit it, but you're good. I can mold you into something great, if you'll let me."

Kotaro blinked. "Why aren't you telling Negi this? Or you already did?"

Tosaka waved a hand. "Forget 'im! He's not like you and me. His heart's not into it. He doesn't have the passion, and he'll leave us as soon as he can. Whaddya say? Aren't you interested?"

Kotaro frowned. "I dunno… I'll admit I love this, but I promised Nodoka-neechan we'd go home together…"

"Home? This is your home!" the man said. "Are you gonna throw your life's dreams and talents away for a first love? She'll tire of you and leave you, boy. They always do."

"She… She's not my love…!"

Tosaka advanced towards him, grinning. "All the more reason then. You know you want to do this, Kotaro. Let me be your—"

They looked aside, blinking wildly, as they heard a loud gasp coming from the open door. They saw Misa standing there, bewildered and blushing, having just dropped several trays while passing by.


Yue blinked. This was the last thing she'd expected hearing during visit hours, although in hindsight… "Tosaka-san did what?" she asked, just to be sure.

"I told you, you've gotta warn Honya!" Misa said, grabbing her by the arms. "He's seducing Kotaro-kun! This is no joke…!"


Hold Me.

Yue gulped softly as she approached the door of the small library in the rented manor. She really didn't want to do this. But it couldn't be stalled any longer.

Nodoka deserved much better than her cowardice.

Yue rapped her small knuckles tenderly on the white wood door.

"Please get in," said the meek voice from the inside.

Yue gulped as she entered. "Nodoka," she told the figure who sat at the table, reading a book and facing away from her. "There's… There's something I need to tell you. I… It's about Kotaro-kun. Misa said that… How should I put this…"

"If it's about how he's considering staying here to pursue a gladiatorial career, he… he's already told me about it, Yue-Yue," Nodoka said tightly, still not looking at her. "Thank you, but… I really didn't need to be told."

"Oh… Oh," Yue said, looking down. She seemed to be taking it remarkably better than Yue had been expecting. But then again, she'd grown so much stronger over the last year. Some of Illya had probably rubbed on her, too. "Well, then… Maybe you need to be left alone, but if you need me, I'll be in our room…"

"Yue-Yue," Nodoka said. "There's something else I need, though."

She spun the chair around, threw herself onto Yue, and clung onto her tightly, without rising from her sitting position. She pressed her face against Yue's chest and began weeping in silence.

After a moment of silence, Yue hugged her loosely, giving her just enough room, and held her there.

Happy passed by the open door, took a peek inside, and then closed the door before walking away.


From Hero to Zero.

She arrived one afternoon, grinning under a concealing cloak.

"Hey there, dolls," the mysterious stranger said, stopping before them while Madoka was mopping the floor and Misa pretended to be wiping a window clean. "I thought I'd seen you in the market. Now I see I was right..."

"Who the heck are you?" Misa asked.

The stranger chuckled and pulled the cloak back, revealing a grinning head topped by short, very light brown hair.

"Ah! Misocchi!" Misa said.

"Whoa, that disguise's much better than the Mysterious Sister one!" Madoka said. "You should have used this one from the start!"

"I don't know any Mysterious Sister, what are you talking about?!" Kasuga Misora growled. She reached into her robes and pulled a purse out. "Anyway, I've made some money doing odd jobs while traveling, so I'll buy you guys out so we can be on our way. Here, this'll be enough, right?" she said, placing several silver coins in the hands of Tosaka.

"Misocchi, you're the best!" Misa gushed. "I'll never doubt you again! You're my heroine...!"

The former gladiator counted the coins. "This will be enough for one only."

"I see, what a pity," Misora said. "Let's go, Kugimin, and good luck with your new life, Misa..."

"Kasugaaaaa!" Misa complained.

"What a pain!" Misora said. "What else do you wanna me to do? You're just too expensive for some reason!"

"There's a way you can double your money and buy them both," Tosaka proposed.

"And that is...?" Misora asked.

"Bets," Tosaka said, pulling a set of dice from his jacket's breast pocket. "Are you lucky, kid?"

"Am I...!" Misora snickered. "Okay, pops, by the time I'm done plucking you, maybe you'll be my butler, too!"


"Hello, Yue," Misa said blandly during the next visit. "We've good and bad news. The good news is, we found Misocchi."

Yue blinked. "Misora-san? Oh, that's good indeed. Sensei will be so happy. And the bad news is...?"

Misora walked by, with a shock collar around her neck, wearing a maid uniform, and holding a huge basket of dirty laundry in her hands. "The bad news is that the rules of dice are very different in this place! Never get in a game of chance here, and I mean it!"


Everyday Routines.

Chisame slammed a hand on the table. "It's always the same thing!" she said. "Whenever I say anything, you do or say the exact opposite! It's like you do it only to undermine me!"

"No, I never do that, and I'd never dream of undermining you!" Negi protested.

"See? You're doing it again!"

"No, I'm not! I'm only defending myself!"

"No, after all I've done for you, you keep going against me just because!"

"No, I don't!"

"Yes, you do!"

"I don't!"

"You do!"

"Well, fine, maybe I do! Sometimes!" He tossed his hands up.

Chisame made an irritated noise. She chewed on her lower lip. "And that's another thing I can't stand! Those little mental games of yours…!"


Kotaro's Heart.

Negi approached him behind the stage.

"Kotaro-kun, before we start the fight, we need to talk about something," the Welsh one told him. "Yue has told me about Tosaka's offer…"

"Ah, yeah, that," the wolf boy glanced aside. "Don't worry, I've thought long and hard about it. I won't be taking it, I couldn't possibly break Neechan's heart like that."

Negi paused, refusing to accept the notion of Kotaro thinking long and hard about something. Then he added, cautiously, "Are you sure? I'm nobody to dictate your life one way or another, but…"

"No, no, it's not even just about that," Kotaro said. "Earth is my home, too, and Mom's waiting for me back there. And, and, and of course…" he hesitated before adding, "part of the fun fightin' here is fightin' with you. If you're gone there's no point."

"Oh, come on," Negi said, shaking his head.

Kotaro laughed nervously. "Ah ha ha ha, I'm an awful liar, right?! Truth is, w-well, other than Neechan, there's another person I… I care a lot about, and… and I wouldn't be happy leaving that person behind, right?!"

Negi smiled. "Ah, Kotaro-kun, you scoundrel…!"

"S-Shut up! You're nobody to talk, with the way you feel about Chisame and Chao and Louise and even Lala-nee all at the same time, you cad…!" the other boy seethed.

Negi blushed. "Chao?! Lala-san?! What are you even—"

Kotaro pointed to his own nose and growled. "I can smell your extra sweat when you approach any of them, smartass!"

Negi blushed harder and glared aside. "You're imagining things! Ah, um, it's Ako-san, right? Or, I know, Kobushi-san! No, Kaede-san! Kaede-san, of course!"

Kotaro hewed. "W-Well, Kaede-nee's certainly the type I'd like, the type who can take care of herself in a fight, but… but…"

"I'm sorry I couldn't see it before, or I'd have invited her to this trip," Negi said in a solemn way, placing his hands on Kotaro's shoulders. "Then again, perhaps that was for the best. But don't worry. Once we're back, I swear I'll do my best to root to for the three of you, even if it's a bit improper. Nodoka-san will understand, I'm sure…"

Kotaro nodded mechanically. "Y-Yeah… She sure would…"

"Nagi and Kojiro, to the arena!" Tosaka called out. "It's your turn, blockheads, so move it!"

"Coming up!" Negi said with a driven smile, stepping ahead.

Briefly left behind, Kotaro supported himself on a column and slumped for a moment. "Oh God, he's so dense! And this, what am I gonna do about this? It's just not manly…!"


Traveling with Iinchou and Lala!

In our restless quest for Negi-sensei, the gorilla girl and the others, Lala-san and I have spent weeks navigating through endless, gray wastelands only interrupted by war torn villages, full of zombie-like poor lost souls warning us against the People of the North.

We have witnessed horrors and the miseries of what decades of conflict can do to a civilization. However, nothing of that could have prepared me for this…

Ayaka woke after a long night of deep sleep.

"Good morning!" Lala smiled at her.

"Ah. Oh. Yes, good morning, Senpai," the blonde yawned, remembering. This town was so small and miserable that it didn't even have any hotels, and they'd been forced to sleep together in a barn. "Did you rest well?"

"Yes," Lala nodded. "I also want to tell you that I accept your proposal!"

"Which proposal?" Ayaka asked, and then shrieked, realizing in horror that her right hand was wrapped around Lala's tail.


Childhood's End.

Negi closed the door after himself, and the pills ran out of effect, shrinking him back to the size of a child.

"Whew!" he said. "That was close…!"

Lucy looked up from where she was writing at the table. "Oh, welcome back. Did you have fun in your stroll?"

"Yes, I ran into the most adorable little girl with glasses," Negi laughed softly. "The poor girl was lost and asked me for help, apparently she's new in the city. I showed her around and eventually she said she recognized her street, so she ran off. Odd, she didn't seem to want me to follow her to her doorstep."

"Maybe she was afraid her parents would scold her," Lucy said with a casual shrug.

"Yes, that must be it. Anyway, I hope she's okay. She was very fun to be around…"

Then he blushed and waved his hands. "Ah, anyway, please don't mention this to Master Louise, Chisame or Yue, okay?! They're bound to misinterpret…"

Lucy smiled. "I wouldn't dream of it. Why don't you go take a bath? Yukino and Nodoka will have dinner ready any moment now."

"Yes. See you at dinner, Miss Lucy!" he said happily, and then moved off for the bath.

Lucy looked at the top of the nearby shell, and the bottle of red and blue pills and the disguise glasses on it.

She giggled to herself.


The Art of War, The Art of Seduction.

"Hey, Natsu-han," Tsukuyomi commented idly, as they both sat on the porch of the manor along a napping Happy. "Are you a virgin?"

"Um, no, I was born in a July 7th, so I'm a Cancer," the young man said.

She giggled. "I don't mean that, silly! That's Virgo, like Lucy-han's sexy spirit! I mean if you've ever been with a woman!"

"What kind of question is that? Of course I always am with women! I'm with Erza, Lucy and Wendy all the time, and I'm with you now, am I not?"

Tsukuyomi flew off the handle, seething. "Are you taking me for an idiot?! I mean, have you ever fucked?!"

"Ah, that!" Natsu said. "Yeah, I've been a few times with paid girls in taverns and stuff. Why, you wanna fuck?" he asked casually.

She stood up, threw her hands up, and stomped back inside. "You're no fun at all! I'm going to try this with Rito-han instead!"


Faster, Pussycat! Breed! Breed!

"We have a very important announcement to make!" Happy said proudly at the dinner table. "Carla and I are going to have kittens!"

Carla blushed, glared aside, and rasped under her breath.

Wendy and Negi began choking violently in their mouthfuls of meal.

Erza, Lucy, Natsu and Rito blinked, and then smiled widely. "Ahhhh! Congratulations!"

Tsukuyomi slapped the table. "Oh, come on! Over two weeks of coexistence here, and the cats are the only ones who have had any sex?! Really?!"


Out on a Limb.

"Woooww, Sensei!" Sayo gushed, looking up and down at Negi's arm. "It was cut off and then reattached, seriously?! I can't tell the difference!"

Negi smiled and nodded. "Yes! Medicine in Mundus Magicus is truly advanced, isn't it?"

"And to think, if only you hadn't foiled my plans and Chao's, that very same tech would be available for thousands if not millions around Earth right now!" Skuld mused aloud, passing by their open door. "C'est la vie...!"

Negi slumped miserably, looking about to cry.

Sayo pouted and patted him tenderly on a knee. "There, there! It's not that good an arm anyway, it's a bit bent at the elbow!"


Escape.

They were camping outside of the small village, as every other night through the last week.

"We should be leaving tomorrow," Konoka mused as they tucked into their sleeping bags. "I can't wait to see Setchan again!"

"My leg has healed enough by now, so I think so, yeah," Yuuna nodded. "All the same, these little guys seem so deadset on us staying! I wonder why…?"

Then there was a tiny voice coming from the nearby grass, pleading and desperate. "Tonight…! Please leave me tonight…! And take me with you…!"

Konoka and Yuuna blinked and squinted through the darkness. The diminutive blue female in the white dress, cap and shoes stood there, trembling.

"What's the problem?" Yuuna asked. "This is your home, isn't it? Why would you wanna leave?"

"I'm the only female in the village…!" the miniature blonde all but sobbed.

"Well, yes, that must be difficult, since you have nobody you can relate to," Konoka reasoned, "but the travel ahead of us is dangerous and—"

"You don't understand…! I'm the only female in the village…!"


In one of the little mushroom shaped houses, five little blue men approached a bed.

Hefty grabbed the bundle wrapped in blankets. "Smurfette," he said, his voice husky and needed. "It's time. It's our turn tonight. Hey, are you—WHAT THE SMURF?!" he gasped, as shaking the blankets revealed only a crude Smurfette ragdoll, 1/1 scale.

"… oh. Oh, I smurfin' see," Grumpy grouched. "It's all clear now! See, this is why I hate outsiders!"

Another of the tiny men hummed at the decoy. "Well, she's very well done. Close enough to the real deal for me…"


A visibly perturbed Konoka and Yuuna made their hasty way through the woods.

"Oh, thank you!" the small voice sobbed from within Konoka's backpack. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"In hindsight, leaving like this is the best," Yuuna confided them quietly. "Just between the three of us, Greedy had started giving me these weird looks…"

"I wonder if that's how Negi-kun feels about us?" an unusually pensive Konoka mused aloud.


Happiness is a Wet Puppy.

"Hey, Negi-han," Tsukuyomi said. "I saw a filthy black mutt lounging in the living room, and Louise, Yuuki-han and Erza-han said they didn't bring it in, so I stuffed it into a bag and threw it into the river."

"What? Tsukuyomi, no!" Negi gasped. "That was Kotaro-kun, he was wounded in the last fight so he took that form to recover!"

"Ah, Kotaro-han can do that?" she asked. "Ah ha ha ha ha! Good thing for him, then, I didn't think of just stabbing the bag before throwing it out!"

Kotaro stomped into the room, soaking wet from head to toes. "Yeah!" he growled. "Yeah, I'm thankful, but did you have to fill the bag with rocks too?!"


To be Continued.