Nodoka opened her eyes and stared up at what appeared to be a ceiling. There was a certain smell that was very familiar to her as she once smelled it before. It was very quiet around her surroundings.
"Do not tell me I am back in the infirmary," mumbled Nodoka softly.
Ako happen to pass by and responded, "Yes that is where you are. Mister Gandolfini brought you in."
Nodoka remembered Gandolfini was drunk when her and others rescued Negi when they went back in time.
"He was very concerned about your injuries according to the nurse," said Ako.
Nodoka remembered how she got her injuries and how painful it was. She touched her arm where Negi's spell hit her.
"Where is professor Negi-sensei?" asked Nodoka.
Ako shrugged, "Do not know. He has not been in to see you if you are asking that?"
Nodoka was perplex now. According to her they became close so why would he not come to see her? Could it be that he is taking all the blame for her getting injured? Those were two questions Nodoka wondered.
"I am sure he will come," smiled Ako.
Nodoka tried to smile herself. Ako wandered off to do her tasks that were given to her by the nurse.
Asuna was steaming still at what happened between her and Negi. Chachamaru walked up behind her and asked, "What is wrong?"
Asuna jumped in the air and turned around. Asuna responded, "Ah...it is nothing Chacha-san."
"Then why do you look like you lost something?" asked Chacha.
"It is Negi for your information," responded Asuna.
Chacha was not one to pry but asked, "Did he...um do anything to you...again?"
Asuna blushed and said, "No it was not like that. Just...that!"
"Say no more. Do you want me to go and look for him? Master is busy so I have some free time," asked Chacha.
"Say Chacha-san, do you like Negi-kun?" asked Asuna.
Chacha blushed, "No...it is not...like that."
"Not like what?" asked Asuna smiling.
"Just concern for him because of Master," replied Chacha.
"Ah is that right? Because of Eva-chan," said Asuna.
"Yes!" bowed Chacha.
"Well if you must and I can have your help. You can help find the twerp," said Asuna.
Chacha did not say a word as she walked away. Asuna was smiling again as she thought how Negi is affecting Chacha.
Negi secluded within the labyrinth of Library Island just sat in a dark area all by himself staring out at nothing. Negi had tears in his eyes after crying silently.
Negi pondered how much he is hurting inside because he was reckless during the fight with fake Hermann. He injured one of his students and the girl who said she loves him.
That shook Negi so bad that it may affect his progress as a magi. Eva would be laughing at him and would have told Negi that Nodoka would be considered collateral damage because she should not been there with him. His father would be disappointed in seeing how his son endangered others. And now Asuna was very mad at him. How could he face any of them again? Those were the thoughts running through the ten year old kid professor's mind.
"Professor? Are you here?" said a low tone girl voice.
Negi looked around and tried to wipe his tears with his sleeve of his shirt.
"Professor are you alright?" asked the girlie voice again nearer to Negi.
Negi looked up and saw Chachamaru standing there looking down on Negi. Chacha bent down and looked at her professor.
"What is wrong?" asked a concerned robot.
"No...thing!" responded Negi trying to smile.
"There is definitely something wrong. Your eyes are leaking," replied Chacha.
"There is nothing wrong," repeated Negi.
"Mind if I sit here with you?" asked Chacha.
"Would Master be mad at you that you are with me?" asked Negi.
"No she is busy and she does not need my company at this time," said Chacha.
There was a moment of silence as Negi looked away.
"Is this something to do with Nodoka-san?" asked Chacha.
"I...well...," stuttered Negi trying not to cry in front of Chacha.
Negi felt exhausted from crying and also from the earlier battle. He looked like he was about to pass out as Chacha extended her robotic arms to catch Negi and laid his head on her lap. Chacha looked content at having her professor's head on her lap. She caressed his cheek with her hand. What a gentle boy Negi is she thought.
"If I was a real girl. Would I be 'feeling' happy or be embarrassed by this situation? Would he like me more if I was a real girl? Master sees him as a tool for her plans beyond the school, but I think of him as someone special to me," said Chacha softly.
Negi immediately woke up and looked up at Chacha and realized where he was. He blushed as he lifted his head off of Chacha's lap.
"Professor, I am sure Miss Miyazaki-san will be fine. After all she is one of your partners," smiled Chacha.
"But, but I...," said Negi as Chacha placed a finger on his lips.
"Believe in her professor," said Chacha as she removed her finger from his lips.
"Thank you!" responded Negi.
"You will not be so reckless next time that you have a magic battle. You learn from this mistake and will not make it again," said Chacha.
"Yes, but this is precisely why I did not want anyone to get involved with me," said Negi.
"Everyone needs someone professor. Even you," said Chacha.
"Just that maybe next time I might kill someone close to me," said Negi.
"Nature of battle professor. But if everyone is properly trained and follows direction, the risk of deaths decreases," said Chacha.
"I...," said Negi as he just went silent.
"You all are fairly new to these kind of battles professor. Injuries will occur even with the best. I bet even your father was never injured free despite how great he was," smiled Chacha.
"I am not my father. That is why I must become strong," said Negi.
"Imma told you when he became Nagi-san to walk your own path. Professor please heed those words seriously," said Chacha.
"I will," responded Negi.
"Should we leave here professor and find Asuna-san? She was concerned about your well-being," said Chacha.
"I guess!" said Negi as he got up the same time as Chacha. They made their way outside and collided with Chisame.
Walking back to his dorm with Chacha by his side, Negi did not say a word after leaving the library. Chacha just kept her eyes on her professor.
"So that is who you been with," replied a familiar voice to both Chacha and Negi.
"I...just...that," replied a confused Negi.
"People are worried about you professor," said Chisame as she walked toward the other two.
"Ah Chisame-san, watch your step," warned Chacha.
Chisame took another step as a root from a tree stuck out above the ground. Chisame was falling until Negi caught her in his arms. Chisame readjusted her glasses and she was on an angle looking up at Negi. Chisame blushed.
"Are you alright?" asked Chacha.
"Yes, I am fine. Can you let go of me?" asked Chisame.
Negi helped Chisame to be perpendicular now.
"I...just...thought," said Chisame as her mind drifted having a vision in her head of her in Negi's arms. That made her blush even more and yet mad at the same time. "How could she be like the other girls?" Chisame thought.
"Do not tell me you too?" asked Chacha.
Negi looked confused as ever at what was going on.
"No it is not like that," replied Chisame.
"Sure!" said Chacha dryly.
"Just here for Asuna-san's sake," said Chisame.
"Asuna-san's?" asked Negi.
"Yes she was worried where you went off to," replied Chisame.
"Ah alright," said Negi.
"Well I will tell her that you are in the dorm," said Chisame as she hurried away.
Yue quietly slips into the infirmary to visit Nodoka. Nodoka was sleeping as Yue hit a chair with her foot. Yue mumbled under her breathe as Nodoka opened her eyes.
"Professor is that you?" asked Nodoka softly.
"Sorry just me bookworm," replied Yue.
"Sorry Yue-san, I just...thought you would be the professor," said Nodoka.
"So he has not been here to see you? He went off somewhere. Asuna-san and Chachamaru-san was going to look for him," said Yue.
"What? He ran off?" asked Nodoka.
"Yes! He is blaming himself for you getting injured and probably blaming himself for getting all of us involved in magic," said Yue.
"That is silly. He should never blame himself. He was just trying to protect me," said Nodoka.
"What did happen?" asked Yue.
"Well we went into another void I think you can call it. It looked like a Swiss village like in the books. A fake Hermann showed up and fought Negi-sensei. I hid the best I could but...," said Nodoka.
"How did you sustain an injury?" asked Yue.
"The professor tried his best to eliminate the spell and you know me. I am clumsy and tripped and his spell sliced into my arm and leg. But if he is taking all the blame that is wrong. I need to see him," said Nodoka as she tried to get up.
Ako raced over and held onto Nodoka. Yue shook her head. "So that is what love is?" thought Yue.
"You should not get up Nodoka-san. You could reopen your wounds." replied Ako.
"I am alright. I need to see the professor," responded Nodoka.
"You might as well let her go Ako-san. I will take responsibility. If the wounds reopen I will rush her back," said Yue.
"Fine, but you were warned," replied Ako.
The nurse peered through her office and smiled.
Nodoka got dressed and Yue helped her walk.
"I am so scared that he will never use magic again," said Nodoka.
"Doubt it. When push comes to shove, that kid will defend his life and others," replied Yue.
"But you should have seen his face Yue-san. It made me want to just hold on to him and tell him it was alright to cry on my behalf. But, the pain was so great I could hardly stand it," said Nodoka.
"You really do love him," said Yue.
"More then he knows," replied Nodoka.
Asuna was so tied from her searching as she sat at the Chao Bao Zicounter. Satsuki was cooking for her customers as usual. Konoka and Setsuna meandered beside the tired Asuna.
"So any luck on finding Negi-kun?" asked Konoka.
"No luck. It is like he just disappeared from the face of the Earth," exaggerated Asuna.
"He will show up," said Setsuna.
"He better. We need proper answers as to what happen with him and bookworm," said Asuna.
"Did Chacha go look for him?" asked Konoka.
"Pardon me if I am interrupting. Chacha-san has not been in today," said Satsuki.
"Then either she has found him or still looking for him," said Asuna.
"Most likely she found him," replied Satsuki.
Chisame showed up behind the three girls at the counter.
"Hi Miss Idol," smirked Konoka.
Chisame shook her head and said, "Found Negi-sensei. He was going to the dorm."
"Yeah he was found," smiled Konoka.
"That is good to hear," replied Satsuki as she handed Chisame a glass of water.
"Well I am off. You two can stay with Chisame-san. I want answers," said Asuna dashing off toward the dorm.
Asuna arrived at the dorm in just minutes as she opened her dorm door and found it empty. She looked up toward where Negi usually sleeps and nothing. She inspected it even further and saw some of his things missing.
"That brat took off again," replied an angry Asuna.
Nodoka made her way inside of the room as Asuna forgot to shut the door.
"Is the professor here?" asked Nodoka.
Asuna spun around in a fury and shouted, "NO THE IDIOT IS NOT HERE!"
Nodoka recoiled as Yue held her.
Asuna shook at what she did. "Sorry bookworm," replied Asuna.
"Well if he is not here. Why are we here standing around?" asked Yue concerned.
"Damn if I know," responded Asuna.
Asuna made her way pass the other two girls and dashed off.
"Why could he not stay here and let me talk to him?" asked Nodoka shaking that she will never see her beloved Negi again.
"Do not fret. He would never abandon us," winked Yue.
Haruna passed by and stopped. "What are you two doing in Negi-sensei's room? Waiting to pounce on him and make him all yours in between the two of you?" snickered Haruna.
"No and this is serious Paru-san. He is missing yet again," said Yue.
"What? I thought he was found," said Haruna.
Nodoka shook her head no.
Negi awakens with the sound of chains rattling. He rubs his eyes and focuses on a shadow in the distance.
"Ah you are awake. All this time I thought perhaps you were seriously injured. Or worse...dead," said the voice in the distance.
"Who are you?" asked Negi.
"That should be very obvious Professor Springfield. I am the rose thief you have been searching for all this time. I got kind of bored watching you take your sweet time finding me. So, I came to you," replied the rose thief.
"Where am I?" asked Negi.
"That is a good question indeed. Where are we? I can say your darkest nightmare or I can say anywhere I choose you to be. Even I can say I am home," replied the rose thief.
"Are you using voice manipulation? Because you do not sound familiar," said Negi as he got up.
"Precisely professor. What good is a mystery without a mysterious person?" asked the rose thief.
"Why am I here?" asked Negi.
"Do you not want to retrieve the pink rose?" asked the thief.
"I do, but why am I here?" asked Negi again.
"You are here because I desire you to be here," replied the thief.
"Where is my belongings?" asked Negi.
"Oh well they are safe and secure beyond your reach at this time," said the thief.
Negi recited, "Centum telum of Lux lucis..."
"I would not do that. We are after all in a metal incased room," said the thief.
"What do you want from me then?" asked Negi.
"You! And to hopefully learn something about yourself in the process," said the thief.
"No evil intentions?" asked Negi.
"Hey this is an evil intention. Stealing the rose. Making you roam around the campus suspecting your students. Fighting evil doers that you have fought," replied a mad thief.
"So you are the one that sent the fakes after me and Miss Miyazaki-san?" asked Negi.
"That girl irritates me because of her damn pactio item. This was also a lesson for her as well if she wants to continue to try and be with you. She has to see how dangerous it is," said the thief.
"Why just her and not the other partners of mine?" asked Negi.
"He-he, well professor because she did confess her love to you? The others have their own motives. Miss Kagurazaka-san wants to simply protect you, but there may be something in her past that connects you two. Miss Ayase-san has hidden... well just say one day you may find out. Just say she cares about your welfare. Miss Sakurazaki-san as well is concern about your welfare and may develop a fighting bond with you that she enjoys. Miss Konoe-san will protect you like a brother like her father did with your father. Miss Saotome-san despite being selfish and liking her magical abilities will protect you for both Miss Miyazaki-san and Miss Ayase-san. Miss Hasegawa-san is very cautious yet I expect her feelings are growing and someday she may play an important role in your life. Miss Ku-san and Miss Nagase-san are not your partners, yet anyway, but they are willing to sacrifice their lives for you," lectured the thief.
"They are just my students," replied Negi.
"Sad that you still have not realize they are your equals. Your true partners like your father had," said the thief.
"But...," said a confused Negi.
"But nothing. They were willing to follow you without hesitation. Each granted has their motivation and other reasons. But you will need them to be strong sometime in the near future perhaps," said the thief.
"So are you just going to lecture me on what I already know? Give me the rose," said Negi.
"Do you really know? Or is that because you are blinded by one goal. To find your father no matter what cost it has on others? Miss Miyazaki-san truly loves you professor. Why? I have not the foggest of ideas to why she chose you. But she will give up her life to simply protect you. Why are you afraid to let anyone inside your heart?" said the thief.
Negi just stood there frozen and could not reply back.
"Is it that you have seen too many people get injured that you care about and if you were with her or any of the other students, that they would be a target?" asked the thief.
"Yes!" simply said Negi.
"They were targets when they made a pactio with you. No! They were targets when the dean put all the girls in your class. Each were chosen for a reason professor," said the thief.
"Huh?" said a confused Negi.
"Do not worry now about it. Just know when the time is right each girl will play their part," said the thief.
"Now the rose?" asked Negi.
"Sorry professor not just yet. I am afraid you will have to wait a little longer," said the thief as a light blinded the room. Negi felt dizzy and passed out.
"Is he going to be alright?" asked a new voice.
"Yeah he will be fine," said the thief.
Nodoka and Yue sit at the Mahora fountain just outside of the Academy buildings.
"How are you holding up?" asked Yue.
"Just fine," smiled Nodoka still worrying about Negi.
"We will find him for you," replied Yue.
"Um how about if we find him for us. After all I am not the only one who loves him," smiled Nodoka again.
Yue blushed, "No that...is not."
"You have to be honest to yourself. Be there for him when he asks. I admit I will be a little jealous, but you have more magical ability then me," said Nodoka.
"Bookworm honestly your love prevails over my magic any day," said Yue.
"Maybe, but if you love him as you say you do, both will trump even my love for him if he choses you," said Nodoka.
"He will pick you. I know in my heart he will," said Yue.
"We will see someday," laughed Nodoka.
"Well you stay here. I will head to the library to see if anyone there has seen him," said Yue as she got up and headed toward the library.
Nodoka sighed as thought about what Yue said about Negi choosing her. She blushed beat red at thinking out his public acknowledgement of her being his girlfriend. Then she visualize an engagement to him after she graduated from a college. Nodoka suddenly heard a loud thumping noise behind her in the fountain as water splash on her back. She turned and saw a little figure at the bottom of the fountain. The water stabilize as Nodoka realized it was Negi. Despite her bandages and wounds, Nodoka got into the fountain and hurriedly got to Negi. She pulled him up to the surface as he was unresponsive. She carried him with all her might toward the edge as she climbed out of the fountain. She picked him up with her strength and placed him on the ground. No one was available to help so she did CPR on him. She looked at his lips.
"This is no time for that," thought Nodoka as she made sure she was doing the CPR right that she read in a book.
After a minute, Negi opened his eyes as Nodoka lips were on his lips. Nodoka looked toward Negi's face because she felt Negi stir. Their eyes met as both began to blush. Nodoka released her lips on his lips.
"Are you alright?" asked Nodoka.
"Yes!" said Negi softly spitting out water.
"Thank God!" said Nodoka as she hugged him tightly.
"I am so sorry Nodoka-san," said Negi as a tear ran down his cheek.
"Ssh! Please professor do not say another word on it. Do not be sorry. It was my fault as well. I tripped trying to get away. I do not want you to blame yourself," said Nodoka.
Negi looked at the soaked bandages as one wound was starting to bleed on her arm.
"The wound reopened," said Negi.
"I do not care. I simply want to stay like this for a while," said Nodoka still hugging him.
"But you will lose a lot of blood," said Negi.
Nodoka pulled back slightly so Negi could try and close the wound. The wound stopped bleeding.
"We need to change those bandages and I should get out of my wet clothes," said Negi.
All of Negi's stuff was lying on the ground near the fountain. His staff came to him as he called it.
"Would you like a ride back?" asked Negi.
"Would that be prudent? Everyone might see us," said Nodoka.
"Right now, I do not care if they did. Remember barrier up," smiled Negi.
Negi got on the staff as Nodoka sat behind him holding him by his waist as they flew toward the dorm. Nodoka put her head on his back and closed her eyes relieved that Negi was still here with her.