Hello again everyone, and after such a long time without posting. Well, I'm going to start posting chapters and working on this story again, so I hope you enjoy the latest chapter!

- - Duet - -

Thellin's meetings with the girls in class 2-A had, as of yet, been fairly uneventful. It had been a little over a week since classes began and he had had meetings with six students already, after having someone suggest that he puts off the meeting with student number one until the end of the meetings and he finally was sitting face to face with the student that he was most worried about talking too.

Asuna Kagurazaki sat sitting across the desk from Thellin with an awkward expression on her face. Normally, for most of the students Thellin had been able to come up with a decent ice breaker; about sports or club activities they were in for example. However, this was proving much more challenging, as Thellin didn't know what Asuna had figured out or inferred about him from Negi and so on and with the strange look he was getting from her he finally asked, "Strange, huh? Having a counselor that's your age?"

Taking a deep breath first, Asuna asked, "Do you believe in magic?"

Thellin did a slight face vault and then he recovered saying, "Negi, huh?"

Asuna sighed, "I knew it. Ever since you two showed up things have gotten even stranger."

"Hey now," Thellin said putting his hands in the air, "you've barely seen any of me. Blame the squirt, not me." His tone was half-serious, half-joking, hoping to lighten the mood some. "I think it would probably be best if we didn't talk much about it though," Thellin said attempting to divert the subject. "Anyways, I was looking over your grades and such, and between that and what I've heard about you form Negi I wanted to start off saying that while I see you aren't getting the best of grades I understand that at least you are trying."

The conversation picked up and went off as Thellin got Asuna to tell him about her hobbies and things like that, and after that first little part magic was never mentioned until the very end when, as Asuna was about to leave, Thellin said, "Oh, please keep the whole magic thing under wraps and feel free to come ask me if you have any questions about it that either Negi won't or can't explain, or that you don't want to ask him." Asuna just sort of half heartedly nodded.

After Asuna left the office Thellin sighed and said to himself, "One day, I will seriously get revenge on that kid for making my life more complicated at every turn."

At the end of the day Thellin received a knock on his door and to his surprise found the headmaster standing there. "Hello, is something wrong?" The headmaster let himself in and sat down in one of the seats.

"Oh, no, no, nothings wrong. I was just wondering when you were going to make your second appearance, as well as when you were going to get your next analysis done. Would hate to have a mentally unbalanced teacher walking around, you know." His words sounded more curious and distracted then serious and prodding.

Sighing, Thellin said, "I have a session scheduled tomorrow for a crazy test, and I suppose I can make an appearance this Friday. That should give me enough time to prepare, alright?"

The headmaster nodded and stroked his chin, "Well, at least Negi-sensei should be able to help support your story."

Thellin shook his head violently, "No, Negi has no idea about this and there's no way in hell I'm telling him. The entire class would know on the first day!" The principle raised an eyebrow at his statement at which point Thellin said, "Don't worry about it, but I'm not telling Negi. And neither are you." He said the last part with a little bit of emphasis to voice his slight distrust of the headmaster.

"Alright, alright. I understand." Then in his curious tone he asked, "So have you spoken with my granddaughter yet?"

A chill ran down Thellin's spine, "That is going to be so awkward." Then after a moment added, "And she has no idea about any of this, right?" The headmaster nodded and Thellin sighed. "If it's like this in middle-school I can't even imagine the high-school drama."

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The mental evaluation had gone fine and Thellin was, at the moment, considered legally sane. That day he had done interviews with four more students, and the only one that was of any special interest was Chachamaru to whom Thellin wondered whether or not he should bring up the topic of her being a robot until he ultimately decided not too and to just treat her like the other students, which proved easier said then done. Finally, though, on Thursday morning it was Konoe Konoka's turn for an interview.

She came in like all of the other students and introduced herself, leaving Thellin still a little jumpy. As he reintroduced himself the jitters didn't go away and Konoka once again sensed that something was slightly amiss, like back in the principle's office. Using her typical tone and expression, the slightly airheaded ones that didn't let on to the fact that she was actually rather intelligent, Konoka asked, "Is something wrong, Thellin-sensei?"

Snapping himself out of it Thellin replied, "No, no, nothing's wrong." However his mind kept wandering as he asked, "So, I was wondering if you take part in any club activities?"

Smiling Konoka listed off, "The library exploration club and the fortune telling club." Thellin wrote down the two clubs, staring rather blankly when Konoka asked, "Have I met you before, Thellin-sensei?"

Thellin nearly jumped out of his seat before saying, "No, no. We've never met before."

"But you recognized my name back in grandpa's office." Konoka's expression was a combination of innocence and confusion, which made Thellin feel bad about not telling her the truth.

So, in compromise he decided to tell her half of the truth, "I know your grandfather and father, actually. I don't think we've ever met though."

Looking excited, Konoka asked, "You know my daddy?" Thellin nodded and Konoka excitedly asked, "How did you meet him?"

Thellin visibly shrunk back in his seat and began stuttering as he spoke saying, "Um-I-Uh, I mean I, well what I want to say is," then stopped, took a deep breath and said, "a giant government conspiracy keeps me from being able to tell you." He paused and nearly face vaulted as he thought 'that's so stupid! No matter how airheaded she is or acts she'll never even pretend to believe that!'

Konoka used both hands and covered a wipe opened mouth with a look of surprise saying, "Oh my, I didn't know that you and daddy were involved in something so dangerous. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." This time Thellin really did face vault at which point Konoka said, "Don't worry! I'm kidding, kidding!"

Thellin sighed and sat up straight in his chair as he said, "I thought you were being serious there for a moment." He looked a little dismayed and Konoka just stuck out her tongue and apologize with a sorry. Regaining his calm and collecting himself Thellin said, "Well, anyway, I know your father from when I was very little. I met him while I was in Japan for a period of time." 'Alright, that was far more believable, and not completely untrue.'

"Is he a friend of your parents?" Konoka asked curiously.

There was no cringe of pain, no visible sign of distress as Thellin lied saying, "Yes, my parents are friends of his. Anyways, I had a few more things to talk to you about." The conversation continued after that and was directed back at Konoka and her activities, hobbies, grades and such things. Finally as the session was approaching the end Thellin asked, "Can you do me a favor, Konoe-san?"

"Sure, what do you need?"

Flipping to the list of the class Thellin asked, "Can you ask Sakurazaki-san and Sasaki-san to come next Monday instead of Friday? Something's come up and I'm afraid I won't be able to be here this Friday. I just don't want to forget to have someone tell them."

Smiling, Konoka said, "Sure, I can tell Set-chan and Makie-san to come Monday." Then, as she left Konoka said, "See you later."

With a half smile, Thellin said, "See you later." After Konoka was out of the room he let his posture drop and felt himself relax and began to recollect himself for the second meeting he was going to have that day and for the upcoming task appointed to him for this Friday.

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Thoughts? Opinions? Scalding reviews meant to do nothing but destroy my self esteem? I'm interested in hearing your opinions and ideas on the story so please drop me a review if you can.