(Hi guys welcome back to another installment. Last time Negi, Dustin, and the girls were heading off to Kyoto for a class trip, while the boys had other important matters to attend to.)
"All right everyone! The fifteenth annual school trip is about to begin!" Shizuna announced, "Please make the most of these five days and four nights!"
"Okay!" Everyone cheered together.
"There will be a lot of free time for the groups, so I think it'll be a fun trip for everyone," Dustin explained.
"Please try not to get hurt, lost, or cause anyone else any trouble! You should all take responsibility for yourselves! In particular, you should take care not to get hur…" Negi was cut off when a lunch cart ran over him. "Eh…Bento…Ah! I'm so sorry!" The attendant said in surprise.
"You know you didn't have to give an example of this to prove your point?" Dustin chuckled as he helped his friend up.
"Yes, sorry about that." Negi chuckled sheepishly while rubbing the back of his head.
"No matter, let's make the most of the train ride." Dustin said as the two started walking amongst their students.
"Um Negi-kun?" Sayo's voice came from the Sayo doll in one of Negi's pockets, "Is it safe for me to come out now?"
"Well we're past Mahora grounds, so we should be in the clear." Negi approved as Sayo emerged from her doll form.
"Oh yes, it feels good to move again." Sayo stretched her arms up.
"Well now Sayo join the others." Dustin sent her off.
"Of course." Sayo said going over to mingle with her fellow students as the boys continued monitoring their students.
Something caught their attention as they saw some of the girls playing a type of card game.
"Oh that looks fun! What are you playing?" Negi asked as the two leaned over.
"It's a trading card game! They're popular these days, and especially here!" Yuna explained as she battled Haruna.
"No kidding." Dustin admitted seeing how some of his favorite card games originated from Japan.
"It's a game where you duel with magic!" Yue explained as she crushed Sakurako.
"Muu…No fair Yue!" the cheerleader cried as she handed over one of her rare cards.
Dustin smirked, "Yo Sakurako! Mind if I take a crack at it? I'm actually good with cards."
"Only if you win me back my rare card from Yue!" she spoke.
"Done and done!" he answered, "In fact I'll get you more than what you lost!"
"Then beat her for me Dustin-kun!" Sakurako cheered before kissing him on the cheek. "For luck."
"Alright time to get my game on!" Dustin rubbed his hands while taking Sakurako's seat.
In a matter of minutes, "I-I lost…" Yue muttered in disbelief. "And, this is the fifth game in ten minutes…"
"Sorry Yue, but never underestimate a guy with a Poker face as good as mine," Dustin apologized while gathering his collected cards. When they were formed into a deck he leaned over tucking them into Sakurako's uniform vest, "There you go sweetheart."
"Arigato Dustin-kun, I knew you could do it!" she started kissing his lips multiple times.
After her barrage of kisses Dustin was wide eyed, "Smokin!"
Negi laughed, "Dustin's really enjoying himself already. Though Yue-san's looking a little TO'd."
"Hey! Hey! Aniki! Don't get distracted!" Chamo scolded. "You need to keep an eye on your surroundings!"
"Eh? What do you mean?" Negi asked confused.
"Didn't you hear the old man? He said there might be people trying to make trouble for us on the way," Chamo explained sharply. "There might be spies from the West! You never know!"
"Wha? Spies?" Negi gasped in shock.
"He's right Negi." Dustin appeared behind them surprising them.
"I thought you were still playing." Chamo said.
"They're not confident enough to challenge me, at least not yet," Dustin answered, "Come on let's keep our eyes peeled." The two then moved to the next compartment to check for any unusual activity.
"All right! I'm going to cast 'Spell of Flames' on you for five points!" Yuna said happily.
"Aaan…You got me! I'm dead!" Haruna cried sadly. "Damn! And I had you where I wanted you with my 'Horrible Frog Perdition' card too!"
"Okay! I'll be taking your rare card AND those five chocolates you wagered," Yuna said greedily. Haruna pouted and pulled out the box with them. However, when Haruna opened she had a surprise she was no way prepared for: a frog was sitting in it.
"Huh?" Haruna said stupidly, but jumped back in shock when it hopped out. "KYAAA!"
"F-Frog!" Yuna gasped.
"W-What happened?" Kaede asked but jumped in shock when she saw a frog on Yuna's head, "F-F-F-Frog?"
"A…A frog?" Fumika squeaked when a bunch came out of her bento. Shizuna promptly passed out as an army of frogs hopped out of her thermos.
"KYAAAA!" Everyone screamed together getting Negi, Dustin, Chamo, and Domino's attention.
"Aniki!" Chamo called.
"The girls!" Negi cried.
"Guys come on!" Dustin called and rushed back to the compartment. They were shocked to see an entire army of frogs hopping around all over the place.
"What…What are all of these frogs doing here?" Negi cried as he tried to capture them.
"They just appeared out of nowhere from Haruna's box!" Rin explained as she tried to catch them.
"Negi-kun! Dustin-kun! Help!" Makie cried out in disgust.
'An explosion of frogs…could this be…magic?' Negi thought quickly. 'So, someone really IS trying to sabotage us!'
"Negi help me!" Dustin called as they started collecting the frogs.
"Let me help!" Ku called as she started collecting some.
"Kaede we could use…" Negi spotted Kaede sitting in a fetal position rocking back and forth mumbling frogs in a traumatized tone.
"She's a ninja but she's afraid of frogs?" Chamo did a face fault.
"Who knew?" Domino asked.
Dustin grabbed one before it could hop away, "Gotcha Kermit." He chuckled.
"We've managed to capture one hundred eight of the frogs-aru…" Ku laughed holding them in a bag.
"Sh-Shizuna-sensei fainted!" Makie said panicking.
"Get the health committee officer to look after her!" Dustin ordered.
"Round everyone up and do an emergency roll-call Iincho," Negi also ordered quickly. "No one leaves the compartment! Understand?"
"Y-Yes sensei!" Ayaka squeaked in surprise of what just happened.
"The health committee officer also fainted!" Asuna cried out.
"Then lay them down on the seats!" Dustin ordered as the two gathered.
"There's no mistake about it! This is the work of the Kansai Magic Association!" Chamo said seriously. "This is the kind of thing they'd do."
"B-But…Why frogs?" Negi asked nervously.
"Probably for a delay and distraction or to tell us that they can get under our guard." Dustin explained seriously.
"AH!" Negi said and started to pad his coat down. "Huh? It's gone! The letter the headmaster gave me is gone!"
"WHAT?" Chamo and Dustin shouted together.
"Wh…Oh, it was in my bottom pocket," Negi said pulling it out.
"D…Don't scare us like that Aniki!" Chamo scolded. Their relief was short lived when a speedy creature flew in and took the letter right from Negi's hand.
"Ah! A bird!" Negi exclaimed as it soared out the compartment.
'Damn! They've got the letter!' the four thought together as they made chase.
"W…Wait!" Asuna cried as the trio passed her.
"You make sure everyone's still here Asuna!" Negi called over his shoulder.
"Asuna, Konoka, Sakurazaki-san from your group is missing," Ayaka said seriously.
"Se-chan?" Konoka asked nervously.
"Hey you! Please give that back!" Negi demanded.
"I don't think it's listening." Chamo said.
"Domino go!" Dustin ordered.
"I'm on it!" Domino called taking flight catching up with the bird, "Pull over let me see your flyers permit!" the bird however flew faster forcing Domino to amp up his speed.
"Aniki that thing is a shikigami!" Chamo explained.
"Shikigami?" Dustin and Negi asked together.
"Yeah! It's a familiar type magic they use in Japan!" Chamo said. "That thing is nothing more than paper! It's basically the same as a paper golem."
"I'll blast it!" Dustin pointed his finger getting ready to charge his spirit energy.
"Wait Dustin! Your spirit energy is too flashy and could for all we know blow part of this train up. Let me handle this!" Negi explained.
"Good! The person controlling that thing must be close by!" Chamo said.
"All right!" Negi agreed and he pulled out a small wand and started his magic until…
"Bento…Kyaah?" The attendant exclaimed in shock as the boy she ran over and Dustin nearly crashed into her again.
"Sorry about that!" Dustin called as he pulled Negi out of the way. "Damn! It made it to a crowded car!"
Negi reluctantly hid his small wand to avoid suspicion. The bird finally made it to the end of the compartment only for it to encounter Setsuna holding a long sword. Faster than the eye could see, Setsuna cut it down without damaging the letter.
"Wait!" Negi called and was shocked to see Setsuna holding his letter. It seems the four actually missed the awe inspiring use of the sword.
"Negi-sensei? Dustin-sensei?"
"Setsuna? You mind giving us the letter?" Dustin asked politely.
"Is it yours then?" Setsuna asked stoically.
"Y-Yes! It's my very important letter!" Negi said.
"Then by all means." Setsuna assured and handed him the letter.
"Th-Thank you Sakurazaki-san! You saved us there!" Negi cried joyfully.
"It would be wise to be careful Negi-sensei, Dustin-sensei…especially when we arrive on the other side," Setsuna said mysteriously. "If you'll excuse me."
"Ah...Thank you again!" Negi said scratching the back of his head as Setsuna walked away.
"H-Hey! What are you thanking her for Aniki?" Chamo whispered. "That girl is suspicious as hell! You'd be better keep an eye on her."
"What do you mean?" Negi whispered back.
"Just look at her Aniki," Chamo said simply. "And, if you look down you'll notice it's that same damn bird we were just chasing! She must have been controlling it!"
"Eh…Th-Then…"
"She might be a spy from the west!" Chamo declared.
"What?" Dustin and Domino asked.
"EHHHH?" Negi shouted in surprise. 'N-No way…seat number fifteen Sakurazaki Setsuna a spy from the West?'
"Hmm…Chamo I have to strongly disagree with you." Dustin said.
"Wha…? How can you say that Dustin?" Chamo asked wearily, "Can't you see how suspicious she is?"
"I do," he agreed, "And, that is exactly why I know she isn't a spy."
"I'm afraid I don't follow Dustin." Negi said but was hoping his friend was right.
"Mana told me about Setsuna said they both worked jobs for the headmaster even together on tasks." Dustin explained.
"And how much does she know about Sakurazaki-san?" Chamo asked.
"Plenty to know she's not a spy." Dustin answered.
"So then what was she doing just now?" Negi asked.
"I would assume she's also on guard for what the headmaster warned us about." Dustin believed.
"So what do we do now?" Domino asked.
"We wait and see if something else turns up." Dustin explained as they headed back to the girls.
The rest of the trip was thankfully uneventful and before they knew it they were almost at the station.
"We will be arriving in Kyoto shortly," the engineer said over the intercom, "Please ensure that you do not forget your bags or any other personal items you brought with you."
"We're finally arriving in Kyoto!" Negi said pleased. "Now we might actually be able to find some clues about the Thousand Master!"
"Hm? What was that Negi-kun?" Konoka asked appearing behind him.
"Eh…Don't worry about it Konoka," Dustin said while giving Negi a noogie, "Negi just says random stuff out of the blue."
"Hehehe…You two sure are close!" Konoka giggled. "It's so adorable!"
"So we've been told." Dustin answered.
Soon enough they've gotten off the train and were at the station, "We've arrived Negi-kun!" Fuka, Fumika and Makie cheered together.
"Ah, yes! Sorry!" Negi said nervously.
"All right everyone! Off to Kyoto we go!" Dustin yelled pumping his arm excitedly.
"YEAH!" Fuuka, Fumika and Makie excitedly agreed.
Suddenly Zyphon landed on the ground, "Whoo, gonna need to refuel my jets after a long flight like that."
"You ok though Zyphon?" Dustin asked.
"I'll be fine once I get all these flattened bugs off my face." Zyphon said.
"Let's take a picture to commemorate the event," Kazumi said and everyone readily agreed minus Chisame who was annoyed by their energy.
Zyphon stood in the back with Negi and Dustin on his shoulders along with Domino perching on his head. Rin was up front in between the twins each putting an arm around her. After the picture was taken they finally arrived at their first stop: Kiyomizu Temple.
"KYOTOOOO!" Shiina cheered with a fist pump.
"This must be that place where you jump off! I've heard about this!" Yuna said gleefully. "Someone try to jump off!"
"I'll do it." Zyphon said approaching the railing until Dustin slid before him.
"How about 'no' Zyphon I don't wanna have to put you back together if something goes wrong. Besides you said so yourself your fuel's almost out."
"Oh right, sorry about that." Zyphon apologized.
"This is Kiyomizu Main Temple's famous Kiyomizu Stage, isn't it?" Yue stated plainly. "They use it for dancing and enacting Noh plays in honor of the Buddhist god Kannon-sama. It's listed as a national treasure now. This is where the famous phrase 'I'm going to jump off the Kiyomizu Stage…' came from. During the Edo period, there were two hundred and thirty four recorded cases of people actually jumping off…The survival rate was eighty five percent…Surprisingly high, isn't it?"
The girls were wide eyed at Baka Black seeing her explain all of that, "And she's a baka why?" Yuna asked.
"Laziness." Haruna laughed.
"Ah…What nice weather…" Madoka said with a nice stretch.
"You're right!" Misa agreed readily. "Hey! Asakura, you should take a picture of this!"
"Already did!" Kazumi said with a thumb's up.
"Ain't that a pretty sight," Dustin said leaning on the railing and letting the wind gently blow into his face. A lot of his admirers from his class went beat red from seeing his mature calm face.
"Amazing! You can see the whole city from up here!" Negi shouted in amazement and just like that the girls went from blushing to giggling.
"Hey Negi! It's okay to have fun, but don't fall over the side." Kaede warned him while pulling him off the railing.
"I'm so glad Negi-sensei is enjoying himself!" Ayaka said with a fond glance at said boy.
"Ah…This breeze does feel nice," Akira said with a small smile.
"It does doesn't it?" Zyphon asked.
"How can you feel it aren't you made of metal?" Ako asked.
"Of course, I'm just saying if I did have a sense of touch I'd agree with Miss Akira." The robot answered and the two girls chuckled.
"You know if you go a little further from here, there's a fortune telling place for your love life! It's very popular with the ladies." Yue explained.
"Eh?" Makie yelled with hearts in her eyes.
"Love fortune telling?" Rin and Ayaka asked in surprise and in a flash Ayaka had Negi's arm in hers.
"Let's go together Negi-sensei."
"S-Sure…" Negi stuttered.
"Ah! I want to go to!" Makie said cheerfully.
"We'll go as well." Yue stated as she grabbed a blushing Nodoka's hand to pull her along.
"Why don't we go as well Dustin-kun?" Chizuru said with a smile that for some reason made Dustin feel all warm inside, and yet a little terrified.
"Delighted." Dustin admitted as they walked.
"Just below where those stone steps are the famous Otowa Waterfall," Yue continued to explain. "If you drink from those three streams, you'll stay healthy, do well in school, and even get married…"
"Married?" All of the girls exclaimed together. "That's it!"
"Come on Negi-kun, let's go!" Makie said as she and Fuka pushed him along.
"You too Dustin-kun." Chizuru said as she pushed a smirking Dustin along with Yuna, Sakurako, Chao, and Mana trailing along very closely.
"Ah! Hey, Makie-san…You guys!" Ayaka called out in shock. "No flirti—I mean, group activities should be…!"
"Negi-kun! Naruto-kun! Over there! Over there!" Makie yelled pointing to her right once they got down the street as the girls ran and cheered.
"Don't run too fast, okay?" Negi called back before turning to Chamo and Dustin. "It sure is nice here, isn't it?"
"Yeah, but that's Kyoto for you," Domino said basking in the warmth of the sun.
"These old buildings made out of wood are amazing." Negi said with a small smile.
"Hey don't talk like an old timer Negi," Dustin chuckled, "But I get what you're saying."
"Hey-hey! Don't lower your guards you two! We're on the enemy's home turf you know!" Chamo called. "Even if Sakurazaki isn't a spy…' he then thought 'Though I still think she is'," he continued, "There are still enemies lurking around every corner!"
"Hurry up Negi-kun! Dustin-kun!" Makie called from the top of the stairs. "This is the stone that foretells your love life!"
"We're coming Makie!" Negi said but had a bad feeling he wasn't looking forward to it one hundred percent. When they reached the top their girls were standing around a couple of rocks looking at them reverently.
"So, let me get this straight," Dustin began looking at the two rocks. "If you can get from one rock to the other without opening your eyes you'll find success in love?"
"Yup!" Yue confirmed plainly.
"That looks to be at least twenty meters!" Negi exclaimed in amazement.
"W…Well, as Iincho I shall…" Ayaka began using her position to gain authority over the matter.
"Ah! That's not fair! I'm going too!" Makie retorted.
"So will I…" Rin piped in.
"Me too!" Yuna pumped a fist.
"And me!" Sakurako cheered.
"Go for it girls!" Madoka cheered.
Dustin watched in amusement seeing the girls trying to make their way to the stone without opening their eyes. Although most of them were taking the wrong turns and what not while the others were placing bets.
"Aniki, Sakurazaki is missing," Chamo whispered making sure no one heard him.
"Huh?" Negi asked and quickly looked around. "You're right…"
'Huhuhu…I feel so sorry for those other girls, but for one such as I who is trained in the various forms of martial arts, this won't even be a challenge!' Ayaka thought seriously. 'Now to use my ultimate technique! Ayaka Yukihiro Style: The skill of seeing with the Mind's Eye of Love!'
This unknown technique allowed Ayaka to not only locate where she was, but where her goal was. Though what the untrained eyes didn't know was that she peeked quick enough to not get caught.
"Target acquired! I'm going for it!" Ayaka announced and made a dash straight for the stone.
"Ah! What's that?" Rin asked opening her left eye reflexively, "That's not fair Iincho!" she called.
"That's not fair! You peeked didn't you?" Makie yelled as she ran with her and had one eye open.
"Hohoho! I would do no such thing! This is to ensure the success of the love between me and a certain teacher's who name starts with an 'N'," Ayaka denied.
Suddenly the girls fell into a pit trap, "What the?!" Yuna called as she untangled herself form the others.
"Is this a joke?" Sakurako asked.
"F-F-F-F-Frogs!" Rin screamed as they hopped around.
"Not again!" Ayaka screamed.
"What happened?" Chao asked with a laugh.
"I don't know!" Ayaka screamed as Asuna helped pull her out. "Who would build a pit trap here?"
"Jeez are you okay Sakurako?" Dustin asked as he helped her.
"I-I-I'm fine Dustin-kun…" Sakurako said with a deep red blush.
"Cool," Dustin smiled, "I wouldn't want you to get hurt."
Sakurako could only stare at him lovingly and a deep blush while Madoka scowled as her fellow cheerleader was getting closer to Dustin.
"Are you okay Makie-san?" Negi asked as he helped her pull her out.
"Help me Negi-kun! These frogs are so slimy!" Makie cried and Negi finally pulled her out.
"Here Rin, I gotcha." Negi pulled Rin out.
"I did not come to Kyoto to be harassed by frogs." Rin panted.
'C-Could this have been the work of the Kansai Magical Organization too?' Negi thought worriedly until he spotted Setsuna watching from the side suspiciously.
'Sakurazaki-san…She's looking this way again,' Negi thought nervously.
"Come on let's go to the Otowa Waterfall." Asuna ordered.
Soon they reached the three separate falls seeing the water pour down, "Whoa! It's really crowded!" Yuna said in amaze.
"Yue! Yue! Which one is which?" Fumika asked excited.
"From right to left, they are health, career and school, and marriage," Yue stated like a textbook.
"The left one! The left one!" Fuka cheered as she held out a cup.
"Ah! I want some too!" Fumika yelled.
"H…Hold on everyone! We should form a line…!" Ayaka scolded as she tried to cut through and get her own cup full.
"Um…Everyone…Do not disturb the public." Negi said with a sweatdrop.
"How about you Negi want a cup?" Dustin offered preparing to get some.
"D…Delicious! Another cup!" Yuna cried out enjoying the drink.
"Phew! What is this stuff?" Makie asked with a strange blush but she was enjoying the drink.
"I-It does look rather effective…Is this the taste of miracles?" Ayaka asked but for some reason she felt her vision start to turn blurry.
"Sakurazaki-san is missing again." Negi noted starting to believe Chamo over his best pal.
"H-Hey Aniki! This looks really bad!" Chamo shouted looking at the girls who started acting tipsy.
"It seems they are all dead drunk," Yue stated with a sweat drop.
"Get a hold of yourself Iincho!" Asuna said and tried to wake said girl.
"What's going on?" Negi screamed in shock.
Dustin hadn't even drank his cup poured it out and went atop the falls to check it out, "Whoa, hey Negi there's sake on top of the waterfalls!"
"Who would do such a thing…?" Negi was shocked.
"Hm…Do you smell wine?" Nitta-sensei asked when he passed the falls with Seruhiko-sensei.
"Seems someone spiked the falls." Dustin said and the sober students panicked.
"WHAT?" Nitta yelled furiously.
"Whoa jeez Nitta-sensei don't loose your head over a stupid prank." Dustin said.
"We have to cancel the trip immediately if this kind of thing is going to happen!" Nitta yelled furiously.
"Uh let me and Negi think about that… No!" Dustin said while Negi looked scared knowing Nitta wasn't the type of sensei you'd want to start an argument with.
"I'm afraid you don't have that kind of authority Dustin-san." Nitta said with a glare.
"Says you? Just because you've been a teacher longer than I have doesn't mean you have the right to treat me or Negi like we're underlings!" Dustin retorted surprising the sober students.
Negi inspired by his confidence spoke as well, "I agree 3A is our responsibility you're here just as a counselor. It's not fair to the girls because you cannot prove it was a student who spiked the falls. I had to do a lot of convincing to the headmaster to get the ok the go on this trip and you can take that away be my guest, but all you're going to get is more hate than you already have by reputation."
Nitta's eyes glared at the two boys challenging his authority as Dustin continued, "You can go ahead and act like a total jerk to everyone, but you seem to do it because you think a teacher needs to be one. I don't know if you were brought up this way or you just lost all sense of the need to have fun, but that's no excuse to deprive others of having a good time. Nuh-uh that is not how I roll!"
"And it's not my style either." Negi added putting in his cents.
"And I further back their words up." Zyphon added standing behind the boys.
Nitta watched as the three stared him down with no sense of fear as all the students he ever crosses paths do. He knew they weren't going to back down and he couldn't risk himself making a scene with two little boys.
He started walking before turning back, "What are you waiting for? We have to get these kids to the hotel so they can sleep it off." Nitta called back.
"Eh?" The non-drunk students asked.
"How did you do that?" Chizuru asked Dustin in amazement.
"I just say it like I do. You can't take a step back from a guy like him." Dustin answered.
"You and Negi-kun are very brave." Akira admitted.
"It's what we do." Negi rubbed the back of his head.
"It looks like I have no choice." Setsuna said seriously as she stood on the roof watching everyone.
Meanwhile at the hotel Negi and Dustin were having a meeting with their familiars and Zyphon.
"There's no mistaking it! It has to be Sakurazaki!" Chamo declared to Negi.
"It is a bit weird, but…" Negi started.
"Negi I think your weasel is a few brain cells short." Dustin said.
"I'm an ermine!" Chamo rebutted.
"Point is, I have faith in what Mana says," Dustin began, "She never lied to me before, and I doubt she would now."
"Negi! Hey Negi!" Kaede called as she, Mana, Kasuga, and Rin walked in together.
"A-Ah…hello girls." Negi stuttered.
"We finally managed to get all of the drunk students to their rooms," Mana said sighing in relief, "It wasn't easy bringing them here."
"So this was all the work of the Kansai Magic Association?" Kasuga asked.
"That's what we believe." Dustin answered.
"They've spared no expense in their traps." Kaede admitted.
"That's how they work." Mana replied.
"But we should be ready for them if they strike us from within." Negi said pumping a fist up making Dustin nod in assurance.
"Hey! Hey! Anego (Term for Big Sister)!" Chamo motioned to Mana, "Do you know anything about Sakurazaki Setsuna? I think she's a spy."
"How many times do I have to tell you Chamo that Setsuna is not a spy?" Dustin asked angrily, "I swear Mana he does not listen to me!"
"But…But, she was always missing whenever one of the events happened!" Chamo retorted.
"Ugh! Believe what you want Chamo, but when you're wrong I'll be waiting to tell you 'I told you so'!" Dustin warned him.
"Sakurazaki a spy?" Kaede wondered. "Hmm…I heard she was a childhood friend of Konoka's, but they've never talked to each other as far as I know…"
"Hold on, if she was a childhood friend of Konoka's then that means…" Chamo muttered in wide eyed realization.
"Ah! That reminds me," Negi said as he rummaged through his backpack and pulled out his class dossier. "Look right there!"
Dustin looked where Negi was pointing and found him pointing to a word under Setsuna's name. "Look it says 'Kyoto' right there!" Negi said in surprise.
"So she IS from Kyoto!" Chamo said reassured.
"Eh! Then that means…" Negi started.
"There's no doubt! Sakurazaki Setsuna is…" Chamo interrupted.
"Completely innocent!" Mana finished seriously.
"What?" Chamo and Negi asked together.
"Setsuna and I have worked together countless times she is not a spy but a loyal allie." Mana explained.
"Exactly what I've been trying to hammer into him." Dustin replied.
"But what connection did she have with Konoka?" Kasuga asked.
"That I cannot say, I promised Setsuna." Mana answered.
"Keeping secrets now? And you said she told you everything." Chamo rubbed it in Dustin's face only for the boy to click his teeth making the critter crawl back to Negi.
"Even Setsuna has her reasons I'm sure." Dustin replied sticking to his own belief.
"Negi-sensei, Dustin-sensei…It's almost time for the staff members to finish their baths," Shizuna said from the doorway.
"Ah! Thanks for reminding us Shizuna-sensei!" Dustin called.
"It's almost time for Group Five's bath, so we'll talk about this during free activity time, okay?" Kaede asked.
"O-Okay." Negi agreed.
"Sure thing." Chamo said readily.
"Right, come on Negi let's get our soak on!" Dustin said as the two left.
"This is amazing…" Negi said as he leaned against a rock in an outside bath. "Is this what they call an open air bath?"
"Pretty nice huh?" Dustin asked with a relaxed sigh, "This is just like in mangas."
"It's too bad we have to worry about Sakurazaki being an enemy."
"What does it take to get through to you that Setsuna is no spy?" Dustin asked annoyed.
"No comment," Chamo muttered. "IF she is an enemy though Aniki is in trouble by himself since he wouldn't stand a chance against her shikigami and sword's style; she'd kill him before he could ever chant a spell."
"Thanks Chamo, you really know what to say." Negi said in sarcasm.
"Huh?" Chamo said suddenly. "Somebody's coming in! Is it another male teacher?"
But, it wasn't. It was seat number fifteen Sakurazaki Setsuna in the buff, "Wh-What's going on?" Negi stuttered. "The men and women's entrances are different so why do they both lead here?"
"It's a mixed bath Aniki!" Chamo whispered not even trying to hide the fact he was looking.
"Huh, she's short but she's beautiful isn't she?" Negi said as he watched Setsuna. "Her skin is so white."
"She's what you call the 'Ideal Japanese Woman' Aniki." Chamo explained.
"No kidding." Dustin agreed.
"Guys what do we do, this isn't the ideal place to get a jump on her." Domino said.
"And who says we're going to jump her?" Dustin asked and before Chamo could speak the boy shut his mouth with his hand.
"How troublesome," Setsuna said absentmindedly. "If Negi-sensei really is a mage and Dustin-sensei is a spirit warrior then I should take some action…" Suddenly Negi whipped out his small wand while Dustin powered up a spirit gun. However Setsuna has sensed their essences and suddenly grabbed her sword. She quickly jumped up and ran to where she sensed it coming from. "Who's there?"
'Did she notice us?' Negi thought trying to hurry to get some cover.
'Oh boy this could be bad.' Dustin thought.
"You won't get away! Shimeiryuu Secret Technique: Zan Gan Ken!" Setsuna yelled and cut the stone Negi was hiding behind a mere two centimeters from his head.
'Whoa she cut that stone in two just like that.' Dustin thought while sweating.
Setsuna was caught off guard when her sword was sent flying out of her hands due to Negi using his magic. Setsuna just smirked at the foolishness of thinking she had lost just because she lost her sword. Before her attacker could even make a move she grabbed him by the neck and a much more private area. "Who are you?" Setsuna demanded. "Tell me now or I'll crush your balls!"
When the steam cleared she saw the one she was pinning to the rock was Negi while Dustin was off to the side readying a spirit gun until the girl spoke, "N-N-Negi-sensei! Dustin-sensei!" Setsuna stuttered with a blush as she realized what she just did. She quickly let go of him and backed away waving her hands around frantically, "I didn't know it was you two! I'm so sorry!" she apologized.
Dustin lowered his spirit gun seeing she wasn't going to continue attacking while Negi was still traumatized at how she attacked him while Setsuna realized who's balls she was gripping, "Um yes going for the delicates is one theory of attack in my line of work. Sorry you had to be the example."
"I knew it! I just knew it!" Chamo called, "You Setsuna Sakurazaki are a spy from the Kansai Magical Organization!"
"I don't believe it." Domino gasped.
"Wha? No I'm not!" Setsuna denied.
"What's not true? I'm on to you so just fess up!" Chamo argued. "Don't underestimate me because I'm an ermine!"
"I…I'm not your enemy!" Setsuna stated once again seriously. "I, number fifteen Sakurazaki Setsuna, am Negi-sensei and Dustin-sensei's ally!"
"Knew it!" Dustin cheered with a fist pump and he turned toward Chamo. "I told you so."
"Y-You mean…What do you…" Negi stuttered in disbelief.
"Well you see… I'm Konoka-ojou-sama's…" Setsuna began to explain but an ear piercing scream interrupted her.
"That…That scream!" Negi cried in alarm.
"Sounded like Asuna, Rin, and Konoka!" Dustin gasped.
"Konoka-ojou-sama?" Setsuna yelled in fear.
"Come on let's go!" Dustin called as they hurried to find the source.
(And that's the chapter. Only one day in and the boys ran into more problems than they thought, and now they've joined forces with another student to combat certain danger. Can they truly trust Setsuna? Tune in next time guys.)