The morning after the party Ayaka woke up with a hangover. Chizuru was sitting reading her astronomy book.

"I feel like crap!" said Ayaka softly.

"Oh my you are up after all that you drank? Here take this," said Chizuru giving Ayaka a couple of aspirin and water.

Ayaka took the pills into her mouth and gulp the water.

"You do not look so swift either," smiled Kotaro said.

"Cram it boy," said Ayaka.

"Oh my!" giggled Chizuru.

"Did I make a fool of myself in front of the professor," said a worried class rep.

"No you just stripped naked and pranced around the room," kidded Chizuru.

"No I did not. Wait could I have been that drunk to do something so beneath my family?" said Ayaka now sitting down.

Chizuru and Kotaro did not say a word. Natsumi opened her eyes and heard what was going on.

"No you did not do those things which those two want you to believe," yawned Natsumi.

Ayaka eyes widen and grabbed a pillow and threw it at Chizuru as Kotaro stood in front of her to take the hit.

"We better get going before she really throws something harder," said Chizuru as she and Kotaro left the dorm room.

"Those two better...," said Ayaka as she was interrupted by Natsumi.

"You were pretty drunk though," said Natsumi.

"I...well...just hope that the professor does not look at me as a lush now. Blame it on the twins," said Ayaka.

"Sure blame it on the twins," said Natsumi as she rolled her eyes.

Hidden somewhere within Mahora Academy the rose thief sits and writes a little note in English this time.

"They will come to me. I am done waiting and teasing them," said the rose thief.

"You sure? You think they are ready?" said the other voice near the thief.

"Yes they are ready. This is a test for her more then him. If she cannot handle this she will never be able to be by his side," said the rose thief.

"If you say so. But, I think even if her doubts surface in a battle, she will rise to the occasion and surprise everyone," said the other voice.

"We will see very shortly," said the rose thief.

Within Eva's cabin, Negi's partners discuss the after effects of the party.

"You know the class rep got drunk," said Haruna.

"Typical Ayaka-san trying to act all mature for the professor," said Asuna.

"Well have to hand it to her that at least she did not make a fool of herself," said Yue.

"True but I can tease her though if she does not remember what she did," smiled Asuna.

"You would not do that," said Nodoka.

"Sure I would," giggled Asuna.

"Did you have fun Set-chan?" asked Konoka.

"I guess," replied Setsuna.

"She had fun even though she watching over you," said Asuna.

"Well it is my job to watch over her," replied Setsuna.

"One of these days girl you will have to loosen up like you did with Negi-kun at the festival," said Asuna.

Setsuna blushed.

"Did you have a good time Nodoka-san?" asked Asuna.

"Yes I did thank you," replied Nodoka.

"She had a great time especially dancing with Negi-kun at the end," giggled Haruna.

"Yeah it looked so cool and very romantic with you two out on the dance floor," said Konoka.

"Well it was just one dance girls. With everyone staring at them how romantic could it be?" replied Yue.

"Bet you wish you were out there instead of Nodoka-san," said Haruna.

Setsuna and Ayaka looked at each other and said, "Huh?"

"Nothing you two. Haruna-san just babbling nonsense," said Yue.

Haruna winked at Yue. Yue shook her head but to herself at least it was true what Haruna said. Yue did wish it was her out there with him.

"So where is the professor?" asked Haruna.

"Have not a clue. He was there when I did my paper delivery," said Asuna.

"I woke up and he was gone," replied Konoka.

"You do not think the thief took him again," said Setsuna.

Asuna shrugged.

"So where is boya this morning?" asked Eva.

"Good morning Eva-chan," said the girls.

"I see you all are up early and damn cheery for my taste," sighed Eva.

"Master please behave this morning," said Chachamaru.

"Fine then! Since boya is not here I will not be training today. Who else is not here?" asked Eva.

"Chisame-san, Kaede-san, and Fei Ku-san had to work this morning," replied Chacha.

"Chisame-san is useless anyway. The other two are pretty strong so no need of my training anyway," said Eva.

"She is not useless Master. She just does not know what to make of all this. She got pulled into this because of Chao-san," said Chacha.

"She is useless as long as she will not make an effort of coming," responded Eva.

"I will go get her," said Chacha as she left the cabin and headed toward Chisame's dorm room.

"Anyway, you all may go inside the resort if you want," said Eva.

The girls went downstairs and vanished within the tiny magical resort.

A solid knock on Chisame's dorm door was heard.

"WHO IS IT?" yelled Chisame as loud music was playing within the dorm room.

"It is me Chisame-san," replied Chachamaru.

"WHO?" yelled Chisame.

The door was unlocked as Chisame once again forgot to lock it. Chacha tried to knob and to her amazement the door opened. There standing in the middle of the room was Chisame dressed provocatively in just a bikini and without her usual glasses. Chisame spun around to see who approached. She feared it was Negi.

"Good morning Chisame-san," bowed Chacha.

"Oh it is morning?" asked Chisame.

"Yes it is," replied the girl robot.

"Why are you here bright and early?" asked the net idol.

"I am here to take you to the training area this morning," said Chacha.

"What training area? And for what?" asked Chisame.

"My master's resort to train with Negi-sensei. Since you are one of his partners now," said Chacha.

Chisame blushed, "It was only for the festival and against you. I do not want to associate with those freaks."

"Are you not one of those freaks?" asked Chacha.

"I am most certainly not. Thank you very much," said Chisame putting away camera equipment.

"May I help you with that?" asked Chacha.

"I suppose!" replied Chisame as she sat and watched Chacha put away the equipment.

"So you are coming. Get ready and we will leave immediately," said Chacha.

"Did you not hear me the first time? I am not associating with those people ever again," said Chisame.

"Must be boring all alone here by yourself. You looked so happy after the festival too," said Chacha.

"Well...um none of anyone business what I do," said Chisame.

"You were worried about the professor too. You sure you do not love him?" asked Chacha.

Chisame almost snorted, "That pipsqueak? He is just ten years old. What girl in her right mind would fall for him?"

Chacha almost answered her question but stopped.

"Anyway, I am going to take a nap and then go get lunch by myself," said Chisame.

"Master told the other girls that are partners with Negi-sensei that you were worthless," said Chacha.

"What did Eva-chan say about me? I am worthless because I will not participate in this fantasy world of theirs?" replied Chisame.

"Yes! My master feels like they do not need your skills at all. And you would not be a benefit to Negi-sensei at all," responded Chacha.

"Oh she did say that did she?" asked Chisame.

Chisame quickly got changed as Chacha grabbed her by her arm and dragged her to Eva's.

Taking a lunch break from training as Eva sits in her lounge chair reading a book, the three library exploration girls were sitting around and eating.

"So how was Kyoto?" asked Haruna with a mouthful of food.

"It was...great," replied Nodoka.

"Really? Did he treat you well?" asked Yue.

"Yes he treated me exceptionally well. People were staring at us since we are only kids after all," said Nodoka.

"Did you two kiss?" giggled Haruna.

"Stop teasing her. So what did you two do?" asked Yue.

"Well we went to the Gion district to eat. The waiters at the restaurant looked at us funny. But, Negi told them he was a professor at Mahora Academy and showed them he had money. Then after the meal we went to the Kyoto Modern Art Museum. After viewing such great works of art, we headed to Nijo Castle before visiting one last spot. The Jishu Jinja deity statue," said Nodoka.

"Sound like you had a great time with him," replied Yue.

"Yes it was fun. Just being by his side was enough. But to go back to where we first...kissed," said a blushing bookworm remember the pactio kiss.

"Yes so did you kiss again? This time a romantic kiss and not some falling on him kiss?" asked Haruna.

"She does not have to kiss and tell Paru-san," said Yue.

"Thank you Yue-san," said Nodoka.

Well Yue did not want to hear anymore details because she was getting a little jealous.

"So should we get back to our training?" asked Yue.

"Sure!" replied Nodoka.

After the training the three girls decided to head toward the resorts beach since Negi has not shown up.

"Where could the professor be?" asked Haruna wanting to see Nodoka would react.

"Probably getting himself into mischief," replied Yue.

Nodoka shook her head, "Yue-san why would you say that? He is probably doing something that professor tend to do."

"Um bookworm you do know it is the summer break almost?" asked Yue.

"Yes I do know silly. But maybe since he is new he has to do something else," said Nodoka.

"Anyway, I think Eva-chan is not to please with the professor. She keeps checking in to see us when we were practicing. She did not even use Chacha-san," said Haruna.

"Can it be that she is worried?" asked Nodoka.

"Me? Worried about the boya! You do not think highly of what I am capable of I see," said Eva as she appeared above them in her adult form in a bathing suit.

"Sorry no disrespect," replied Nodoka softly.

"It is alright...this time. I am a little concern that he did not even have the courteousy of telling me or Chacha-san that he would miss the day. I would have planned to do something else outside," said Eva as she sat by Nodoka.

"I bet Negi-kun's father loved seeing you in a bathing suit," said Nodoka.

"His father hardly took me anywhere. I had to follow him. He was not the type anyway to lay on the beach and lolly around. I did try and seduce him, but I think he was too busy fighting the good fight as they say," sighed Eva.

"Has the professor seen you in that swimsuit?"asked Yue.

"I...why would I let...him see me in this? He is just a kid," responded Eva.

"Just thought...oh nothing," said Yue.

"For your information, that brat hardly compares to his father," said Eva as she got up.

"You leaving?" asked Haruna.

"Yes I am suddenly bored to death," said Eva as she vanished.

"What did I say?"asked Yue.

"Should have never said anything about Negi-kun's father," smiled Haruna as she ran down to the water dragging Nodoka.

Yue stayed where she was and was deep in thought now.

"So who else is worried about the professor. Where is he and what is he doing? And why am I all the sudden scared to think I will never get my chance with him," thought Yue.

"THE WATER IS GREAT. COME PLAY!" yelled Haruna.

Yue got up and walked down to the water by the other two girls.

Hours later back at the girl's dorm, Nodoka was getting ready to read a book before bed. Haruna and Yue were off somewhere so she did not know when they would be back. A knock on Nodoka's door was heard by her. She carefully opened it and saw the class rep standing there.

"May I help you Ayaka-san?" asked Nodoka.

"May I come in and speak with you for a bit?" replied Ayaka.

The dorm door opened as the blond class rep went inside.

"Can I get you anything to drink?" asked Nodoka.

"No thank you," replied Ayaka as she sat down on the couch.

"What can I do for you?" asked Nodoka.

"I would like to ask you a question if that is alright with you?" said Ayaka.

"Sure!" replied the bookworm.

"What is your relationship with Negi-sensei? You confessed your love I guess," said Ayaka.

"My...relationship? We are just good friends even after my so called confession," said Nodoka.

"So it is true that you told him how you feel?" asked Ayaka.

"Yes! I think I am the only one so far. I know there might be others who like him though," said Nodoka.

"Well I am not like that. I just have to protect him from most of our class and Asuna-san," blushed Ayaka.

"She is not that bad," replied Nodoka.

"Oh she is. She keeps him away from me and will not let me have a one on one time with him. Like she does not trust me. But, you do trust me?" said Ayaka.

Nodoka almost said what was in her thoughts but lied, "Sure I do, but you tend to be overly protective like when we got squished making the haunted house and you yelled at me to move."

"I did not yell. You were hurting him," said Ayaka.

"Anyway, there is no romantic relationship between the professor and I. He just wants us to be friends first. He is just ten years old after all," said Ayaka.

"Yes but he is adorable ten years old. Very mature for his age," smiled Ayaka knowing that she may still have a shot at Negi.

"That is partly why I think I fell for him," smiled Nodoka thinking no way in hell Ayaka has a shot at Negi.

"Well it is all I wanted to know. Have a great night," said Ayaka as she got up and open the dorm door to leave.

Haruna and Yue came inside.

"What was that all about?" asked Yue.

"She wanted to know about the relationship between the professor and me," said Nodoka.

"Did you tell her?" asked Haruna.

"Yes! Told her the truth that we are just good friends," said Nodoka.

"So you lied to her," said Yue.

"Did not lie to her," said Nodoka.

"You did not tell her the complete truth either. You two been spending time together more then just friends and pactio partner. You could say you were in the stage of dating," lectured Haruna.

"It is not dating. Just two friends getting together for a nice time," replied Nodoka.

"Whatever you say," replied Yue.

THE BATTLE BEGINS...