Eva sat on her cabin's step reading a book and getting some fresh air for once instead of being cooped up inside. The wind blew Eva's long blond hair back behind her.
Chachazero, Eva's little foul mouth doll, was sitting next to her master watching butterflies zoom around.
"So boring. Let us go hunt something or someone," said Chachazero.
Eva looked over to her little doll and responded, "Geez if you are that bored go inside and tackle cleaning then."
"You do not ever have fun anymore since you been stuck here. And now with him you are mellowing," said a bored doll.
"I AM NOT MELLOWING!" bellowed the dark mage.
"Sure you have. I saw the kiss you planted on the kid on the beach," said Chachazero.
"You saw what? I only kissed him...never mind," blushed Eva.
"He is so like his dad," said Chachazero.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Eva.
"Well besides his looks and little of the Thousand Master's personality, he has you hooked," said a smiling doll.
"Hooked? I never will be and never was with his dad," replied a still blushing vampire.
"You are his master and have trained him very hard like you are taking it out on him since you cannot with his dad. Negi-kun does not complain much about your training methods. He simply wants to become strong enough for his father. I wonder sometimes if the Thousand Master had this planned ten years ago when he trapped you here with that awful curse," said Chachazero.
"Do not fret about it, soon I will get my freedom from this place. As far as boya is concerned, he is powerful enough to be like his father, but being that young he might not have the killer instinct that one needs in battle. That being said, I do hope he can find his dad so I can rip his throat out," said Eva.
Negi and Nodoka next plan was to interrogate the sports girls as they seem to be together a lot after their individual practices. Nodoka also thought Makie Sasaki has feelings for the professor. As far as Yuna Akashi, Ako Izumi, and Akira Okochi, bookworm does not have the foggiest of ideas on their feelings for the professor. Ako does like the mature version of Negi though.
"So professor where do we go first? We have the soccer field, the gymnasium, the swimming pool, or the basketball court," asked Nodoka.
"Well let me see! We can start with the field first," replied a pondering professor of English.
The duo set out for the soccer field to find Ako. Ako is a soccer manager after all.
Satomi Nakase, whose nickname is the mad scientist, was tweaking Chachamaru's newly designed robotic body.
"This cannot be right. Chacha, have you been experiencing any fatal errors of late? Any other 'feelings' toward the professor?" asked the glass wearing scientist.
"The database is uncorrupted. No new emotions toward Negi-sensei beyond the previous recorded feelings," said the robotic girl.
"Interesting you are developing more into a human then previously. Great new data I can research and um exploit," said Satomi.
"But, you cannot do that. My master needs me immediately after this checkup," said Chacha.
"Oh well some other time. But, you do know every time I bring up the professor all your gears and internal workings start to go fast. I know you like him but I did not know how much until now," said the little scientist.
"But...I...just..." stuttered Chacha.
"It is alright. Like before, nobody will know about it," smiled Satomi.
"Thank...you," replied Chacha.
Mana Tatsumiya, the daughter of the Tatsumiya Shrine and former magical gun marksman, was meandering through the school patrolling the grounds. After all she needs to get paid this week to recover a lot of money spent during the Mahora festival.
"This is so tedious but the money makes it worth it," replied the sharpshooter.
"Ah was wondering where you went to," said the tall squinty-eyed ninja Kaede.
"Figures you would be around. You are not training today?" asked Mana.
"Maybe later. Thought I would hang out with you and see your work," replied the ninja.
"Twins gone off somewhere?" asked Mana.
"Yes they are off somewhere around campus," said Kaede.
"As long as you do not get in the way. You may follow me," said Mana.
"We still need our rematch," smiled Kaede.
"Yeah I know anytime and any place," said Mana with a soft smile.
The duo continue to walk down toward World Tree plaza.
"So...um the class rep hired me for a job," said Mana.
"Did she now?" responded Kaede.
"The job is small but I did not think she would pay the price even when I suggested to her that it was going to be expensive. I was hoping that she would leave but she agreed to the price I specified," said the priestess.
"Figured she would since she has money. Bet it had to do with Negi-sensei," said Kaede.
"Good guess as usual with her obsession with him. The rose as you probably know was stolen from Honya-chan's possession. Ayaka-san wanted me to find the rose and give it to her so she would get credit in finding the rose," smiled Mana.
"Really she is that devious? I know her possessiveness toward the professor can be somewhat disturbing and her desire to help find his father for him is legit. I really could not fathom the idea of her being that devious," said Kaede.
"Well I bet when I find that rose and hand it to her, she will ultimately change her tune and do something kind," said Mana.
"Hope so for her sake and Negi-sensei's," laughed the ninja.
Negi and Nodoka arrived at the soccer field without much talking between each other. Both were so nervous being alone together that they almost got lost heading to their destination.
The boys soccer team was practicing on the field while Ako Izumi was sitting on the sideline bench.
"Pass it here," said one boy.
The ball came to the boy as he directed his kick at a open area of the goal with precision that the goalie could not save. High fives were given by his teammates to him as the goalie picked himself off of the ground.
"That is the way to do it," spouted Ako.
"Thank you manager," said the goal scoring boy blushing.
Ako spotted her professor and her classmate with him.
Negi waved as both him and Nodoka approached Ako.
"Hello professor!" said Ako not seeing Nodoka.
Negi waved hello to Ako.
"Oh sorry hello Nodoka-san," said Ako in an apologetic tone.
"Hello!" smiled the bookworm.
"Can we ask you questions? It is about the missing rose from Nodoka's room," asked Negi politely.
"Sure!" responded the soccer manager.
"Where were you on the night the rose was stolen?" asked Negi.
"Sleeping in my dorm room," responded Ako.
"Do you know if your roommates left your room during that night?" asked Negi.
"No I slept through the whole night," responded Ako.
"Do you know who would want to steal the rose?" asked Nodoka.
"Um...the usual girls that fawn over the professor I guess," shrugged Ako.
"Yeah we have those are possible suspects, but we are talking with all the girls in class," said Nodoka firmly.
"Professor? Have you talked with your cousin since he return to England?" asked Ako blushing.
"Cousin? Negi does not have any male cousin's that we know of," said Nodoka to herself.
"No sorry Ako-san he has not replied back," lied Negi.
"Alright," said now a depressed soccer manager.
"Well thank you for your time. We should be off," said Negi.
The investigative duo now went off to the basketball court to find Yuna Akashi.
The girl's basketball team was just finishing up when Negi and Nodoka appeared on the court sidelines.
One of the girl's on the team spotted the duo behind the court lines and motion to Yuna.
"Is that the little professor that fought in that Mahora tournament?" asked the girl.
"Yeah he is my English and homeroom professor," responded Yuna.
"He is so cute," giggled the girl.
"I guess," smiled Yuna as she was walking away toward the professor and bookworm.
"Hello professor and Nodoka-san. What brings you out to the court?" pondered the basketball player.
"Just want to ask you a few questions," responded Negi.
"Ah fine! Should I go change?" asked Yuna.
"Will not take that long Yuna-san," said Nodoka.
"You know about the rose being missing?" asked the professor.
"No I have not professor. But, who could have done that to bookworm?" asked Yuna.
"Alright since you seem like you do not have a clue, I will tell you what we know. Nodoka-san went to sleep as the rose was in her dorm room. When she awoke the rose was gone. Apparently there was no sign of a break in or anything to dictate that someone other then Ayase-san and Haruna-san was in the room. So we are questioning all the class if they have information about who took the rose. There will be no punishment if they just told us why they did what they did," said Negi.
"Well I do not have a clue to who would have taking the rose. Could ask Makie-san," replied Yuna.
"Well guess we are abruptly done with the questioning then," smiled Negi.
Negi and Nodoka headed out of the basketball court and to the gymnasium.
Makie Sasaki was practicing her rhythmic gymnastic routine when she spotted Negi sitting next to Nodoka in the stands.
One of the other gymnast walked over to Makie and asked if that was the infamous kid professor.
"Yup that is my professor," said Makie.
"He is kind of cute. No wonder you like him," said the other girl.
"Me like him?" blushed Makie.
"You do like him?" asked the girl.
"He is only ten years old," responded Makie.
Makie meandered her way toward Negi and Nodoka.
"Hey professor," shouted Makie ignoring Nodoka.
"Hello Makie-san, I see you are improving," responded Negi.
"Not really, but thanks for saying. What brings you to my practice? Watching all the cute girls in tights?" asked Makie smiling.
"No...just would...like to ask you some questions," said a flustered Negi.
"You are so cute when you get that way professor," giggled Makie.
"My rose was stolen from my room. So we were questioning the class to see if they have any information on who could have taking the rose," said Nodoka.
"Hi bookworm, did not see you there," said Makie.
"Yeah I bet you did not because you are so hung up on Negi," said Nodoka to herself.
"Well do you have any info you could share? Yuna told us to talk to you," said the kid professor.
Makie was now fidgeting because she was liking the professor too much for her liking, but at the same time she did not want the other girls to take him away from her. Makie instantly was falling for Negi, but had the common sense enough to know his age that he would not be liking girls yet.
"Well not really. All I know is the class rep was upset and maybe a couple others might be," said Makie hiding the fact that she wanted that rose.
"Anything else?" asked Nodoka impatiently wanting to leave.
"Nothing else guys. I have to get back so I will let you know if I can think of anything else," said Makie.
Makie scampered off toward her teammates.
"Another dead end professor," sighed bookworm.
"Do not give up hope. I believe that sooner or later the thief will be found," said Negi smiling.
"Right!" said Nodoka as they headed to the indoor swimming pool.
The indoor pool was bustling with the all girl swim team that Akira Okochi belong to. She is a powerful swimmer that has been recruited highly. Also, the quietest of the sports girls.
"Do you see Akira-san?" asked Nodoka.
"No she must be somewhere here though," replied Negi.
One of Akira's teammates came over to Negi and asked what he wanted since it was a close practice.
"I am here to talk with Miss Okochi-san," responded Negi.
"Ah she is doing laps so it may be awhile," said the swimmer.
"It is fine that we can wait," said the professor.
"Are you the one who fought in the Mahora festival tournament?" asked the swimmer.
"Yes!" said Negi.
"Akira-san speaks highly of you ever since she saw you fight. She hardly ever talks about much, but she said you were a good teacher as well," said the swimmer.
Negi just smiled. The swimmer went to do her laps before she was going to get yelled at.
"I wish I had a body like that," mumbled Nodoka.
"What?" asked Negi.
"Nothing professor," said Nodoka knowing if she had a body like Akira's or other swimmers that she could entice Negi into falling for her.
Akira sat down next to Negi and looked up at him from the step below in the stands.
"Hello, just wondering if you knew the rose was taking from Nodoka-san," said Negi.
Akira, still beautiful wet, smiled and shook her head no.
"Do you have any info to who would want to take the rose," asked Nodoka.
Another shake of Akira's head no.
"I wonder if Negi grows up that he would be attracted to her," said Nodoka to herself now worrying.
"Alright thank you Akira-san. If you have any new information, you let me know," said the professor.
Akira smiled and nodded her head for a yes answer this time.
"Well it is time for a break. You have to work soon Nodoka-san," said Negi.
"Oh I forget," said Nodoka.
They left Akira sitting there in the stands.
A/N: Sorry it has taking me this long to update this story. Been busy with the holidays and researching for the upcoming stories.