"Alright I am off," declared Nodoka as she opened the door of Library Island and stepped outside.

Nodoka was carrying her vase with the pink rose as she was heading back to the girl's dorm after a few hours working in Library Island. Makie Sasaki spotted the bookworm and raced over to her.

Makie stopped her and asked bashfully, "Is that the rose that was in class? Did Negi-sensei give you that rose?"

Nodoka did not know quite how to respond. "Yes to both!" said Nodoka.

"I am so jealous of you," said Makie.

"Why?" asked Nodoka bluntly.

"Because you are special to him more then any of us, and more special then maybe Asuna-san," said Makie.

"We are just friends Makie-san, nothing more to it," said Nodoka.

"But still you got a rose from him and none of us did," said Makie.

"Yeah I did," said Nodoka proudly.

"Can I smell it and hold it?" spouted Makie.

"It is very delicate so I should not," responded Nodoka.

"Fine be that way," said a mad Makie walking away.

Nodoka put her vase that contained the pink rose on a table in her dorm room. She gazed at it for almost an hour. Visualizing a date with Negi-sensei, Negi telling her how he is falling in love with her, and then a deep kiss that made Nodoka blushed.

"What are you daydreaming? Something steamy I bet," asked Haruna jokingly.

Nodoka was startled by Haruna's appearance before her and said, "No just thinking."

"Sure you were. Why are you blushing then?" asked Haruna.

"Just...that...I was thinking...is all," replied Nodoka nervously got caught fantasizing.

"Be careful to not daydream in class or else everyone will ask you about the steamy dream," said Haruna with her big evil grin.

"Paru-san, Can I ask you a question?" asked Nodoka.

"Sure shoot," said Haruna.

"I know people are going to be jealous even more now that they will know I received a rose from Sensei, but should I be worried about any repercussions," asked Nodoka.

"Worried about what others may do?" replied Haruna.

"Guess that even though Negi-sensei gave me the rose, nothing has changed between us beyond friendship. And maybe the other girls that like him will be encourage somehow to steal him away from me. I guess I am saying that the others may fear they are losing him to me and might somehow do something to sway that," said Nodoka.

"Well maybe Nodoka-san. Could you live with yourself if Negi-sensei did choose someone other then you without you making a move forward? Most likely not. With the rose, Ayaka-san knows what it meant getting that rose because of her knowledge of flower arranging. She will be jealous since she fawns over Negi-sensei a lot. Chisame-san, who probably you are the most safe from out of the pactio group besides me, knows what a pink rose means from her cosplay and Internet. All I can say is you better make a move sooner rather then later if you want a chance with the cute professor," said Haruna.

"I know it does not mean that he is falling for me or anything I think, but he gave me a rose nevertheless. If I make a move after this, he might get the wrong idea that I thought he was falling for me when he did say we should start out as friends," replied Nodoka.

"I can understand that, but I am not saying you have to make a big substantial move on him. Just nudge the relationship more along then it has before anyone can ahead of you," exclaimed Haruna.

"Alright," said Nodoka as Yue entered the dorm room.

"That idiot gave her a rose. How could he? That is unforgivable. At least it was not a red rose and she does not have big breast," said a voice in an alley.

Pacing back and forth within the alley, "He will regret it. He is not ever falling for her or anyone at Mahora Academy if I have my way," said the voice.

A trash can was knocked down and people who were walking by stopped to look.

"Damn it, betting get out of here," as the voice disappeared from the alley.

"Alright any of you seen the brat lately?" asked Asuna with her arms crossed.

"No have you secchan?" said Konoka.

"No I have not seen the professor," replied Setsuna.

"Sorry have not seen him today," replied the perverted ermine.

"Typical Negi-kun making us worry. Probably ran off again on his own," replied Asuna.

"Maybe he is with Nodoka-san making out with her and having a romantic night after giving her that rose," said Konoka giggling.

"Doubt it since he is only ten," said Asuna.

"Jealous?" asked Chamo

"NO I AM NOT JEALOUS," shouted Asuna.

"Calm down Asuna-san. It does not help in getting mad," said Setsuna.

"But he started it," said Asuna furiously.

"It was just a simple question," said Chamo.

"Well they are only friends and I have not seen otherwise by bookworm and Negi-kun," said Asuna.

"Never know, maybe the rose was a start of something more," said Konoka.

"He is just ten years old. So I also doubt anything will begin with them," replied Setsuna.

"Who wants dinner?" asked Konoka.

Two hands and a paw went up in the air signifying their desire to eat.

"How could he give Nodoka-san the rose and not me?" said a bratty class rep.

"Maybe he likes her more then you," replied Natsumi.

"I will not allow it," said Ayaka stomping her foot to the floor.

"They do look cute together," added Chizuru.

Ayaka glared over at Chizuru.

"Come on Ayaka-san, you do have to admit at least he did not go for someone who is not bright," said Natsumi.

"True but still why her," said Ayaka.

"Would not even guess Ayaka-san," replied Chizuru.

"Anyway it is unacceptable for a teacher to give a student a rose," said Ayaka.

"Oh come on Ayaka-san, be a romantic. If you do squeal on Negi-sensei, he will not be here," said Chizuru.

"Oh yeah you are right. Could always force him into giving me a rose," said Ayaka while plotting.

"That is not going to work either. Face it girl, you are not even on his radar," said Chizuru.

Ayaka was going to say something, but could not find the words.

Negi was sitting down behind an oak desk in Eva's resort that was in her cabin.

"Boya, what are you doing?" asked Eva as Chachamaru was behind her.

"Reading Master," replied Negi.

"I can see that you imbecile. I am asking what are you reading?" said a mad shinso vampire.'

"Dragons," replied Negi as he continues to read.

"Dragons? As in the one down under Mahora Academy?" asked Eva.

"Yes those," said Negi calmly.

"What do you want to know about them? Besides being not well mannered, filthy, and very temperamental," said Eva.

Negi looked up at his Master and said, "Well its not just about the dragons itself. More of as a magical creature. They are hard to defeat so I would imagine hard to control and even summon. Just wanted to research everything related to them."

"You are not at that level in your magic," said Eva.

"I know that I am still a novice, but it is good to investigate and learn. So by the time I am able to summon a creature, I will be prepared," said Negi.

"Why did you go to Library Island by yourself?" said Eva with one eye open.

"For books Master," replied Negi.

"You did not ask for help and why not?" asked Eva.

"Because I wanted to do this on my own. I did not want anyone to get involved and get injured in the process." replied Negi as he went back to reading.

Eva slammed her palm on the oak desk and said, "Listen boya. And listen carefully, for the last time I will say this. You still have not accepted those girls as your comrades I see. They are willing participates in magic and in this lifestyle. It was their choice to help you."

"I am their teacher first though," said Negi.

Eva flicked Negi's forehead with her finger and said, "Until you do accept them as equals, you will never come close to your father. No matter how much power and training you acquire."

"I do not want anyone to get hurt," said Negi rubbing where Eva flicked him.

"You could have even had Chachamaru help," said Eva.

Chachamaru simply smiled behind her master.

"No training today, I am so disgusted at you for missing this weekend as well. And you call me your Master. I am disappointed in calling you my disciple. Chacha, bring me some tea into my bedroom," said Eva walking away.

Chachamaru looked at Negi with a disappointed look and walked behind Eva.

Nodoka finally ducked into her dorm room without having to answer about the rose.

"Ah you are home late," said Yue.

"Unfortunately yes. I stayed to help the others," replied Nodoka as she yawned.

Nodoka put her vase that had the pink rose on a table.

"So he did give it to you after all," said Haruna.

"After class he gave it to me," said Nodoka.

"Did you read the card?" asked Haruna.

"What card?" replied Nodoka.

"Must have dropped inside your coat," said Yue as she handed her the card.

Earlier inside Library Island, Nodoka put the vase down and the card fell on the ground. Someone must have seen the flower and put the card inside Nodoka's coat knowing that the card was with the flower.

Nodoka opened the card and it read as follows:

Dear Nodoka-san,

Thank you for all that you have done for me. It seems you have been depressed as of lately. So what brightens some girl up, a flower. This means I am so happy being friends with you. I wish it will never change being friends.

Yours, Negi

"Well what did the card say?" asked Haruna.

"He wrote that he is happy being my friend is all," replied Nodoka.

"So no love theme. Definitely written by a ten year old," replied Yue who was jumping for joy inside.

"Well I am going to sleep," said a tired bookworm as she stared at her rose.

As Nodoka awoke from Asuna screaming at Negi next door, she yawned and immediately felt something was wrong. She looked over to where she put her vase. There was no rose inside that vase. She closed her eyes and opened them to look again. Still no rose. She leaped out of bed and looked around the room.

"Oh my God, oh my God where is it?" said a frantic Nodoka.

''What is it Nodoka-san?" said Yue waking up.

"My...my...rose...it is gone," said Nodoka starting to weep uncontrollably.

"What happen now?" asked Haruna.

"Nodoka-san's rose is missing," replied Yue as she looked at the empty vase and then to Nodoka.

"What will he think of me? He gives me a gift and I lose it in less then a day," said Nodoka in-between crying.

"Nodoka-san calm down," said Yue.

"A mystery of the missing rose," said Haruna.

"I did not touch it and doubt Paru-san did. Means the only way it could have been taking is by magic," said Yue.

Nodoka still crying softly this time said, "Who would then take it?"

"We have suspects that desired the rose. Can start with the class," said Yue.

Nodoka took the empty vase and glanced inside. She hugged the vase to her chest. She closed her eyes wishing that her rose was here inside the vase.