The Knight Of Mahora Academy

Period 26: The Haunting of Class 3-A

This was a fun little chapter to write. These decompress stories between the big arcs are some of my favorite to write. Just a chance to breathe and give these characters a moment to laugh and have fun. A lot easier than trying to write the stuff that has an impact or big emotions.

This was just an especially fun one to write.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

What was the loneliest you could be?

By yourself? No friends? No family?

But perhaps there could still be interaction. Just walk around and acknowledge the people you passed as they did the same to you.

But what if you couldn't even have that?

No one…no one in this world…wanted to be abandoned and ignored.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"Okay, so Seruhiko-sensei needs me to check out some reading materials from Library Island for his English class. Shizuna-sensei wants some references for ethics. And a few of Nitta-sensei's students couldn't come to class because of festival activities so he needs the day's topics delivered to their rooms." Naruto said confidently while looking down at his schedule with a smile, "I can handle that."

"I can't believe this." Kyūbi grumbled on his shoulder as they walked down the hall, "The fact that the job Takamichi got you were being the errand boy for the teachers, or the fact you're excited about doing it."

"Hey, this is nothing compared to what the teachers do on a normal basis." Naruto wagged his schedule around with a paper bag in his other hand, "You've seen the workload and effort Negi deals with every day. This is a cakewalk in comparison." The whiskered blond chuckled, "Besides it's…kinda fun helping around in a school. A bunch of other people my age. Helping them and the teachers how I can. It's way different from all the other jobs I've ever taken. It's…just fun."

"I thought mortals your age hated going to school and learning things?"

"Well, it helps that I'm just assisting teachers and not doing homework or studying."

"Ah, there's the lazy little shit I remember."

Naruto blew a rush of air aside and into Kyūbi's snout, causing the fox demon to lurch back and rub his nose. And it also shut him up as they arrived at the door for 3-A and pulled it open, "Hey everyone! How's it going?"

"Hey!" The class cheerfully responded as their favorite TA stopped by to check on them. They all looked to be in the middle of constructing their contribution for the Mahorafest.

"Hi, Nii-San." Negi pleasantly greeted his friend with a smile, "What are you doing here? I didn't think you had to come to help me today."

"I don't. Just wanted to check in on my favorite class. Don't tell anyone." He said with a grin before holding up a brown bag, "And I brought buns!"

"Yay favoritism!"

"Way to go, Naruto-kun!"

Some of the more social girls immediately swiped the bag out of his hands and started to partake. As they did Naruto looked around at all the work getting done. Construction paper and paint and 2x4s spread out all around as the girls endeavored to create their exhibit that would hopefully get a ton of visitors and earn them the praise of their school.

Naruto smiled as he held out his arm for Kyūbi to scurry off onto Negi's podium, "So how are things going?"

"Very well so far." Negi answered, breaking up his meat bun to offer it to Kyūbi and Chamo in return, "I think we should be on track to having everything prepared in time for the festival."

"If we're lucky!" Yuna piped up while furiously hammering away on her part of the project, "Our fingers will have to peel and bleed at this rate!"

"Naruto-kun!" Makie called out to the older boy in desperation, "Can you tell us what some of the other classes are doing? Y'know, just so we know and stuff!"

Naruto raised his brow, "Why? What they're doing isn't gonna do much for your exhibit."

"Girls," Negi spoke up sternly, "You're not planning to sabotage the other classes, are you?"

"Gah! Negi-kun!"

"How could you suggest something like that?!"

"We're your young and impressionable students! We might end up doing that just because you - our trusted teacher - suggested it!"

"O-Oh no!" Negi quickly started to fret and trembled in shock before crying out, "I'm sorry girls! I never should have doubted you! Please don't go down the bad path because of me!"

Several people had to roll their eyes at the sheer magnitude of his gullibility. Naruto gently bonked his head to make him stop apologizing before asking, "What are you girls doing for your class anyway?"

"We decided to give the people a little scare!" Sakurako answered while putting some vampire teeth in her mouth, "We're doing a haunted house! Blegh!"

Eva scoffed, "Stereotype."

It wasn't until they noticed that the blond assistant hadn't made any response to the cheerleader's answer that they looked his way. And when they did they saw the whiskered blond standing ramrod straight and with wide, trembling eyes. Konoka spoke up, "Naruto-kun, are you okay?"

"Y-Yep!" He quickly responded without blinking, "Totally - totally fine! Hey, why that thing? Why not something better? More worth your time?"

Misa shrugged, "Well we were gonna do a maid cafe first-"

"Do that! I bet you girls would make a killing in a maid cafe!"

"Yeah but we couldn't decide on an outfit and Nitta-sensei got angry about how loud we were and everyone else was doing one and we were price-gouging apparently."

"Negi-bozu, you still owe ¥40,000 by way-aru!"

"S-Still?! I didn't even get to do anything! You girls just showed me your outfits!"

"And that's the kinda sight you'd usually have to pay for! And you are! Welcome to the real world, kiddo!"

"S-Still, that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it." A nervous, weirdly giddy laugh slipped through Naruto's mouth as he tried to appear nonchalant, "I mean you're running up costs and corrupting the youth but who cares! Do the cafe!"

"Oh, someone seems anxious~." Kazumi said with a sly smile as she stopped in the middle of her craft work to look over at the fretting blond, "Something wrong, Sensei~?"

Naruto cleared his throat, "No, nothing's wrong exactly. Just…I think there are better things to do then - well-"

"A scary house?" The young reporter gave a cheeky laugh, "Is there a reason you seem so antsy?"

"None. None whatsoever."

"Heh," She snickered as he walked over to her desk, "You know I can tell when there's a story just waiting for an answer. And I'm guessing there's one here too." Kazumi mused while she put on the finishing touches for her mask before looking back up at him, "My only question is how is that even possible? You deal with a bunch of other stuff with your 'part-time' job, right?" She subtly referenced while in the classroom, "How are you scared of a haunted house?"

"I-I'm not scared." He answered, not very convincingly mind you, before shrugging, "And besides, this and that are two completely different things. I can handle one and the other - is - is just unmanageable."

"Heh, if you say so." Kazumi pulled out an elastic band and glued it to the top of the mask before testing out its elasticity. She then motioned for Naruto to lean down and he did as she secured the papier-mâché mask around his forehead, "Maybe what you need to do is deal with it from a different perspective? Instead of being frightened, maybe you should try being the one that scares people?"

He lifted the mask up, "You want me to scare people?"

"We'll need a ton of help working the haunted house during the festival. And you can probably work through some of your 'not afraid at all' mindset by scaring a few hapless chumps that walk on by?" Kazumi offered, "What do you say?"

He looked up in thought for a moment before looking at the reporter dryly, "This sounds like a pitch."

"The other girls might have needed some help and I offered to float the idea. Not hearing a no by the way."

Naruto sighed before looking at the window by her desk. He pulled the mask down over his face. A creepy, distorted visage of a dying man with a gaping maw. A little rough for a first try but still a pretty good idea. The whiskered teen smiled and pulled it back down his face.

Maybe it would do him some good to scare people and have some fun instead of being scared.

He turned sharply to practice his performance, "Boo!"

"Kyaahh!"

And recoiled in shock when he scared a frightened white-haired, red-eyed girl that hadn't been expecting it. She trembled in her seat and looked up at him in surprise as he pulled off his mask, "Oh, sorry. I-I didn't think that would be so effective." He tried to smile to ease her worries, "Are you okay?"

"H-Huh?"

As she just stared up at him with wide, disbelieving eyes he realized this might not be the way to deal with his problems. With an amused sigh, he pulled the mask off and walked over to Kazumi's side of the table before handing her the mask, "Sorry Kazumi, but I don't think the whole scaring thing is for me either. Just leaving a cute middle schooler frightened gets my stomach in a knot."

She stared at him in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

"I said I can't be a scarer-"

"N-No, I mean what girl did you leave frightened?"

"I scared the girl next to you. You didn't hear her scream?" Naruto answered before he noticed the whole room was quiet. He looked around and saw everyone looking over at him in confusion before he looked aside.

The seat next to Kazumi was empty.

A cold sweat started to drip down his face as horrified realization started to set in. His teeth quickly started to chatter and his body trembled. No. No, don't do that. Don't say it. Don't-

"What girl?"

"AAHHHHH-"

Naruto tripped and broke through a section of poorly prepared scaffolding before he ran out of the room.

"-HHHHHHHHH!"

Everyone watched the TA run out for dear life with a bloodcurdling scream following after him.

"Oh cool! That took us a whole hour to make!" Yuna laughed sardonically while dropping her hammer and throwing her hands up in the air, "Woohoo! What a waste of time!"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"Woohoo! What a waste of time!"

She couldn't pay much attention to what her classmate said as she just stared at the door the blond boy rushed out of in a frightened panic.

Even though she felt horrified that she had scared someone into a response like that…

He noticed her.

Outside of the sparse times Negi-sensei counted her attendance in class, that was the first direct interaction she had in…so, so long.

Sayo Aisaka couldn't help the welling up of tears in her eyes as she took a small gasp of air.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"You're…scared of ghosts?"

"Shut up!"

Naruto's curt and irritated answer came out along with a furious blush and the slight grinding of teeth. The usually confident blond Mage sat at the table with his head hung low and ears nearly burning in shame. Negi and Setsuna were trying to help his embarrassment and tell him it was okay.

Asuna and Konoka on the other hand were struggling to stifle their laughter while he sulked.

"Aniue, I'm surprised man. I thought you were a tough guy that wasn't scared of nothin'! But to see you all freaked out over a ghost…" The little ermine sighed disappointedly, "I expected more outta you."

"Don't you think I'm ashamed enough?!" Naruto groaned and slammed his head down on the table, "Dammit all, why did this have to happen?! I thought I'd be safe from crap like this in a middle school!"

Asuna and Konoka got the last of their giggles out and wiped their eyes before rejoining the conversation, "But Naruto-kun, don't you deal with a lot of scary stuff in your job? When you guys faced those demons in Kyoto you didn't seem all that worried. Or that fancy pervert from the other day."

"Yeah but I can punch those things!" The others looked at him in confusion as he explained, "Demons? Punch 'em. Monsters? Punch 'em. Bad guys? Oh, I can punch 'em. Ghosts?" Naruto shuddered, "You ever tried punching a ghost? I have! It doesn't work!"

Asuna looked up in thought before nodding, "Yeah, I can see you being the guy who swings at the ghost as it kills him." He groaned and she picked up her drink before sipping on it, "But beating ghosts can't be much worse than fighting those other things, right?"

"That's true, Sensei." Setsuna nodded in agreement, "The Shinmei-Ryū specializes in techniques to exorcise not just demons but specters and otherworldly spirits that still haunt this realm. I have exorcised many ghosts in many years of work."

Naruto frowned at his partner, "Cool Setsuna. Really useful stuff. Do you mind teaching me those amazing techniques from your secret school?"

"I-I -um," The ponytailed girl was suddenly flustered and turned her attention to the side as she mumbled, "W-Well, it's not allowed for us to teach our techniques to people outside of our school. A-And I am just a student still learning her craft, plus an outsider who was accepted into the school, so I don't have the authority to-"

"See! Setsuna can't help me! She's too good to break the rules!"

Asuna patted the swordswoman's shoulder as she hung her head dejectedly, "Y'know most people would call that having integrity, Whiskers."

"Yeah, and Secchan is super good at her job." Konoka nodded as well, hoping to ease the older boy's tension with a smile, "If there was a ghost in our class I'm sure she would have sensed it. Or maybe Eva-chan? And Negi-kun has been teaching here for months. I'm sure he would have-"

Before she could finish, Negi placed his class roster down on the table for everyone to see before pointing at a picture, "Depending on the seating chart, the person by the window seat by Asakura-San is…her."

They all leaned in and looked at the profile on the roster. A cute white-haired, red-eyed girl at the beginning of the list.

01. Sayo Aisaka

1940-

Don't change her seat.

"Sayo Aisaka," Asuna read her name and gulped nervously, "Did - did we ever have anyone in our class with that name?"

"I-I don't think so." Konoka shook her head, "But has anyone ever sat by that seat next to Asakura? Don't you remember when we first came to middle school and someone tried but they'd always get chills?"

"I-I always thought that was our survival senses telling us to steer clear of Asakura!"

"Sensei," Setsuna looked at the picture pensively, "I have heard you call out the name Aisaka during the roll and in class."

"I-I have?" The young boy nervously looked down at the picture, "I-I don't remember doing that at all."

"W-Well," Asuna shrugged, "There has to be a good reason-"

"Oh how original! Something weird and unexplained involving a ghost and you try to rationalize it! Great job!" Naruto spat in scorn before tapping Sayo's picture, "It's funny to point and laugh at the guy scared of ghosts until it turns out his fears are founded! Then everyone's scared!" The blond boy grew pale as sweat dripped down his face, "She'll haunt us and twist our bodies and crawl out of the well and toilets and say we have seven days-"

"You're mixing up the plots now!"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Sayo hadn't interacted with anyone in decades. She had always had such a weak and unnoticeable presence that most people never noticed her. Not even exorcists and spiritualists had ever seemed to sense her.

She wasn't much of a ghost. She couldn't scare people and could only poltergeist things if she put her entire focus and energy into moving it. And probably most pathetically was that she got scared very, very easily.

And yet somehow, for the first time in many years, people were noticing her existence.

Since Naruto had noticed her and left the room, some of the girls looked in her direction curiously. She wasn't certain any of them noticed or recognized her, but this was the first time in so many years people were trying to even acknowledge her. It felt so wonderful to think people could see her if they tried hard enough.

And she couldn't sit by idly waiting for them to do all the work! This year! This year she would help and be noticed and make friends with her classmates!

It was after dark when many of the 3-A girls snuck into the classroom to try and help finish their class exhibit. They didn't want to draw too much attention to their unsanctioned activities after hours so they were only focusing on costumes and determining where their construction would be placed.

"I think we're going at a pretty good pace." Akira said as she brought over some fabric for their costumes, "We should have most of the costumes ready before the festival starts."

"But we need all of them!" Haruna exclaimed, her glasses glinting dangerously as she spun around to the sewing team, "We have so many plans and ideas! So many terrifying scenarios to make other students wet their pants! And for that, we need all of the costumes! Come on team! Double time!"

"H-Haruna," Nodoka looked up at her friend, "It takes a while preparing this many costumes for everyone."

"Also," Yue held up the mask she had been sewing for several minutes and looked disappointed at the result, "We are not the best choice for this task."

"You're the best we got!"

"That's upsetting."

"Damn," Yuna cursed, "This would be so much easier if everyone in our class was breaking curfew and sneaking in here with us too!"

Misa nodded, "Yeah! Solidarity! Is that too much to ask for?!"

Many of the girls laughed as they concentrated on their tasks. Sayo floated over to their side and watched them diligently work on their project. She knew that many of them weren't the most extraordinary students so that they still felt engaged enough to help in their class project meant this was a very important experience for all of them.

It was time she pulled her weight too!

"Okay, I think I have the setup prepared." Ayaka nodded with excitement as she imagined where they would be placing each piece of their haunted house around their classroom, "I just need to mark it down while I still have the image in my head. Makie-San, can you pass me that colored tape?"

"You got it, Iincho!" The peppy gymnast responded before quickly looking around. She tilted her head and scratched her head, "Huh, where is it? I can't find the tape."

Sayo spotted the roll of adhesive and focused intently to lift it in her hand. Once she grabbed hold of it she raised it to Makie's eye level, "Here, Makie-San."

"Oh!" Makie happily took the tape out of midair, "Guys, I found it! It was floating right here in front of my face!"

Their eyes all widened as big as plates.

"Yep," She mechanically nodded, "I just heard it."

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Everyone screamed and rushed out of the class in a hurry.

Sayo looked on with teary eyes and sighed, "Darn it."

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"You girls experienced a poltergeist last night? Oh dear."

"It was so scary, Negi-kun!"

"We felt the cold, icy hand of death upon us!"

"R-Really?" Negi gulped frightfully as his teeth chattered, "W-What did you experience?"

"The ghost moved a roll of tape in front of Makie-chan's face after she lost it!"

Asuna leaned towards Konoka, "That sounds pretty helpful." Her roommate nodded in agreement before the bell-wearing girl spoke up, "Maybe you guys shouldn't be sneaking around class after hours?"

"Then help us build the haunted house now! Dammit, we're only human!"

Many girls in the class didn't see a need to speak up in protest.

Sayo sat in the corner and hung her head sadly as her first attempt to reach out and make friends hadn't been very fruitful. She thought that helping the others with the haunted house would be a good way to establish a meaningful bond but it hadn't gone as she'd planned.

Well…looks like she'd have to try a different approach.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Chisame happily typed away as she created a new, immersive UI for her website. Making the process of traversing the front page both easier and more enjoyable for her fans. A better collection of all her cosplay photos and an easier connection to reach her stream and vlog.

It was perfect. It damn near brought a tear to her eye. She just had to save it and implement the-

A faint chill rushed up her back and caused the bespectacled girl to shiver as she looked back. There was nothing there in her room so she didn't know why she felt like that. So with a shrug, she turned back to her monitors-

In time to see a faint image on the computer screen that looked like a girl. However, her visage was twisted and looked agonizing as she dragged across the screen. Chisame could only look on in flabbergasted horror as she heard a scratchy voice come through her speakers.

{H-H-Haseg-g-gawa-San. S-S-So c-c-c-cute-}

The monitors flashed and everything turned off.

Chisame clicked her mouse a few times hoping for a response but got nothing.

Did she save?

"DAMN! THIS! SCHOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"Man, we should be working on the haunted house right now."

"Yuna, we can't." Akira placed a hand on her excitable friend's shoulder and tried to calm her frayed nerves, "We got a lot of attention for causing such a panic last night and they increased the security patrolling the halls. We can't go back to the class so easily."

"Y-Yeah," Ako stiffly nodded in agreement, "And also…there might be a ghost in there."

"Oh, no worries!" Makie said with a bright and warm smile, "We'll probably get to go back to the class soon."

"Makie, how can you be so calm about this? You're the one the ghost contacted first."

"Yeah, but if there was a ghost I'm sure Negi-kun and Naruto-kun can take care of it."

"Why would they handle it?" The little pink-haired gymnast flinched and sweated under their gaze as Yuna hummed, "Y'know, you've been acting weird about Negi-kun recently. You didn't want a part in that kissing game."

"You seemed super intent to help Negi-kun with that sparring match he had with Chachamaru-San," Ako added.

"And you keep stuttering whenever you bring him up." Akira nodded, Makie lowering her gaze and sweating profusely as her friends interrogated her, "What-"

"H-Hey! That's not what I asked you guys here for!" She screeched, deflecting from the topic of conversation before holding up her makeup kit, "I wanted to show you guys that I've gotten better with my makeup!"

"R-Right…" Yuna and Akira looked to Ako, "What's this about?"

"She thinks if she keeps practicing with applying makeup that she'll get better with it."

Akira nodded, "Well yes, that is how it works. Practice makes perfect."

"It's working, right?" She asked her shortest friend as the light blue-haired girl solemnly shook her head.

"Okay," Makie clapped and looked at her assortment of care products, "Time to get started!" She looked around curiously before tilting her head, "Where's my lipstick?"

"Why would you start with lipstick?"

"Oh Makie, there it is flying over your-"

The sports girls froze in horror as they saw the lipstick hover in the air before pressing it to the mirror. It slowly scrawled out a message in the cherry red coloring.

HELP

"Kyaaaaaa! The ghost!"

"It's come for us!"

"It wants our help getting through the mortal coil!"

"Girls! It's awful!" Makie cried out in anguish as she pointed at her messed-up face, "The ghost ruined my makeup! It was going so well!"

"…"

"O-Okay, I did it, but it looks better now, right?"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Satomi Hakase's fingers danced over the keyboard at blistering speeds as she looked between the reference material of a dozen ancient, magical texts and the live stream feed coming from Chao's camera, "Chao-San, don't you think we could have asked Chachamaru to take care of this matter?"

("Can't have Chachamaru do everything for us. Have to get our hands a little dirty.") To emphasize her point the super genius on the screen clapped her hand clean after digging in the dirt, ("Okay, that should do it. How does it look?")

Satomi checked between the circle Chao carved in the ground to the one detailed on the paper by her side. She nodded, "Looks identical." She rotated her chair before looking at the container a few meters back, "Girls, what do you think?"

"It's fineeeeeeeee."

"You got what you wanteddddddddd."

"Can we get some crawling room pleaseeeeeeee?"

"Maybe after we're done." She turned from the captured slime girls and looked at the screen, "Chao-San, are you sure this is safe?"

("Nope! But we have to take risks if we want to fulfill our missions, Hakase!")

"I suppose you're right." The bespectacled engineer shrugged in reluctant agreement, "But we're not going to try and catch them tonight?"

("Oh no, we need tons of power to snag these babies. It's going to take a while to generate that much energy so for now, we'll make the other 5 circles ready and prepare-")

The feed started to freeze and break sporadically as Hakase started to type away, "Chao-San? Chao-San are you okay?"

("Yeah, I'm fine. Can you hear me?")

"Yes, but it looks like the video is stalling. I'm not sure-" Satomi stopped when she heard a faint moaning through the lab. The young genius looked around curiously, "Chao-San, there's some strange groaning echoing through the lab."

"I think that's a ghosttttttttt."

"You're being haunteddddddddd."

"Hard to think whyyyyyyyyyy."

("Oh, is it Sayo-chan?")

"Who?"

("Oh, forget I said anything. Coming back Hakase! See you soon!")

"Your boss is weirdddddddd."

"You should think about changing jobsssssssss."

"That's enough out of you, or no more strawberry jello snacks."

"No! Those are the highlight of our dayyyyyyyyyyyyy!"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Naruto's steps were heavy and far more reserved than they normally were as he walked alongside Negi towards 3-A's classroom, "A-And the girls said they experienced a poltergeist last night?"

"That's right." Negi nodded, "There was nothing that happened in class during the day so there's a chance that Sayo-San's influence is strongest at night."

"Which is why we're going there at night. Of course. Makes sense." Naruto spat mockingly as his teeth couldn't stop chattering, "We are so going to die."

"Nii-San, wasn't this your idea? You wanted to find out if there was a way to help Sayo-San pass on and leave the room."

"Yeah, because I don't know if I can keep coming back to a haunted classroom." Naruto nodded, "Don't you think we should have brought Setsuna along with us? She is an exorcist."

"W-Well yes, but I don't think Sayo-San is a vengeful spirit. I think we should approach her and try to communicate with her without any forceful methods."

"And that may very well end up killing us," Naruto muttered horrifically.

"Hey, Aniue!" Chamo emerged from Negi's collar and looked up at Naruto, "If you're so scared of this stuff, why did you come along? Couldn't you have just stayed back in the room with the others?"

"I'm not letting Negi come here all by himself. And even if I'm afraid, I'm not going to let that fear control me." Naruto stated with determination as he clenched his fist, "I will conquer my shame tonight."

Negi smiled and reached over to grab Naruto's hand. The older boy looked down at him in surprise before showing a small smile in return. Both boys didn't say anything but continued to hold hands to support the other as they finally arrived at Class 3-A.

They opened the door and stared into the dark classroom in total silence.

"Negi?"

"Yes?"

"I can feel your hand shaking."

"Y-You too, Nii-San."

"You're scared, aren't you?!"

"W-Well so are you!"

"We've established I'm scared of ghosts! You were the one who bravely charged ahead to confront the ghost!"

"I'm 10!"

"Boys!" Chamo yelled to stop their argument, "Focus! We got a ghost to bust!"

The two boys separated with a grumble and walked into the classroom. Negi had his staff nervously gripped in his hands and Naruto had his hands raised offensively in preparation for an attack.

He couldn't punch a ghost but damn if his instincts weren't telling him to try.

They approached the seat by the window in the first row. With a wary step forward both boys tried to initiate some kind of response from the wayward specter. However, no matter what they did Sayo didn't make herself known.

Negi relaxed first and looked at the seat in confusion, "She's…not answering?"

"Huh," Naruto stood up and walked over to the seat. With a little nervous shake, he waved his arm through the space above the chair and didn't feel any response from it. A hesitant grin grew over his face before he laughed, "H-Hey, she's not here."

"That's odd. Where could she be?"

"Maybe she already left?" Naruto sounded a lot more confident as he bellowed, "Oh man! Now that's a relief! There's no ghost-"

"O-Oh, did you come to find me?"

Naruto slowly turned around to find the white-haired ghost floating by the door they had come through.

"AAHHH!" Negi yelped.

"AAAHHHH!" Naruto screamed.

"KYYAAA!" Sayo screamed as well.

"AAAHHHH!"

"AAAAHHHHH!"

"KYAAAAAHHHH!"

All the screaming caused Sayo's frayed nerves to lift objects with her power. Which caused the boys to freak out.

"AAAAHHHH!"

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

Which caused Sayo to freak out more.

"KYAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

Suffice to say this went on for a while.

We'll save you time and skip to the end.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

The two Mages and ghost were all kneeling on the floor and trying to catch their breath after so much screaming.

Sayo was the first to recover, floating over to her teachers' side as they sat up, "Are you both okay?"

Naruto flinched and scooted back as Negi nodded, "Yes, I think so." Negi politely nodded to the ghost girl, "You're Sayo Aisaka-San, correct?"

"Y-Yes, I am."

"I'm your teacher, Negi Springfield. And this is Naruto Uzumaki, the teacher's assistant that helps me very often."

"O-Of course." Sayo nodded, "I know you two very well."

"Sayo-San," Negi looked to the ghostly girl, "Why are you appearing now? Were you perhaps stirred awake? Or revived to this plane?"

"O-Oh no, not at all." She shook her head, "The truth is that I've been in your class the entire time. I've… been here since I died many years ago." Sayo looked between the two boys, "It wasn't until you two started to notice me that people started to recognize my existence."

"W-Well what do you want?" Naruto asked hesitantly, "Is there something keeping you here?"

"I'm not sure, to be honest. I can't remember much of my past life. But if there was anything I wanted right now…" Sayo cupped her hands together and nervously rubbed them, "I'd like to be a part of the class with everyone else. I just went around visiting some of them but I didn't do a good job. This is the first time in years I've gotten to interact with people and…I'd just like to have some friends."

Naruto and Negi shared a look before easing up on the suspicions and looking at the downcast ghost girl across from them.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"So you don't remember how you died? Or what regrets might be keeping you here?"

"No. I'm sorry." Sayo shook her head as she looked between the two boys. After some discussion, Sayo returned to her seat with the two teachers taking up the seat beside her and dragging one over to face her at the table. She kept her excitement about finally being able to converse with them bottled up as she answered their questions, "I don't remember much of anything about when I was alive."

"And in all the years you've been here, no one has seen you or noticed you?" Naruto asked the poor ghost. He was keeping up a conversation but had his chair a little bit away since he didn't want to risk anything.

"That's right." Sayo sadly nodded, "I don't think I ever really had much of a presence so people don't notice me. Or hear me. Or anything."

"Dang," Chamo moaned, "That's upsetting."

"W-Well maybe, but my classmates are starting to notice that I'm here! And it's all thanks to you two!" Sayo gave them both a cute smile as a small tear came to her eye, "I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am! How were you able to see me?"

"Well, dealing with spirits was one of my specialties when I was studying to graduate. Even if your presence was faint then there was a chance I could notice your ethereal trail just by habit." Negi theorized before looking at Naruto, "As for Nii-San, I believe he has a strong spiritual presence that allows him to be more attuned to spirits. Along with his connection to Kyūbi-San, the spirits can reach out and contact him more easily-"

"Negi…" Naruto grumbled out the boy's name and made him flinch, "You understand nothing you just said made me happy, right?" The little redhead faltered and lowered his head shamefully before the blond looked at Sayo, "H-Hey, so…you're not going to curse anyone, right? O-Or drag their souls to hell? Or any of the horror movie stuff, right?"

"O-Of course not!" Sayo immediately replied, "I-I'm not good with that scary stuff either!"

"A ghost that sucks with horror? Now that's super sad." Chamo sighed before pointing a paw at Naruto, "Aniue! This is a pretty pathetic showing! Didn't you want to come here to conquer your fear?!"

Naruto flinched under the ermine's accusatory declaration. And he didn't say anything because he knew Chamo was right.

"You're scared of ghosts, Naruto-sensei?" Sayo asked innocently, "D-Did I do that?"

"No," Naruto muttered lowly with a red face, "I've been like this for a long time."

"Why is that, Nii-San?"

Naruto struggled to look them in the eye due to his embarrassment. But when he did he found Negi, Sayo, and Chamo all looking at him with curious eyes. He closed his eyes and forced out a long groan before relenting, "I've never been good with horror and ghosts and stuff. Even since I was a kid the idea of spirits lingering around me left me unsettled. But it wasn't a crippling fear until…"

"Until what?"

"Until Nagi decided to help."

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"You're scared of ghosts? Pfft, that's so lame!"

"S-Shut up! I'm a kid!"

"That's no excuse!" The red-haired hero of a generation snapped back at the child now in their care. He palmed Naruto's head and jostled it around, "You wanna go through the rest of your life afraid of creepy ghouls and white sheets in the air! I thought you wanted to be tough like me and the others!"

"I-I do!" The whiskered child responded petulantly, "I will be!"

"Not if you're afraid of ghosts!" Nagi smirked before turning off the lights and flipping on the TV, "So we're going to watch some horror movies to help you get through your fears!"

Naruto shivered in his chair but firmly nodded his head, "B-Bring it!"

"Haha, there's the man!" Nagi chirped mockingly as he ruffled Naruto's hair and played the movies, "I got all the scariest ghost movies ever made! We'll play 'em in a marathon and if you can get through them, you'll have conquered your fear!"

"F-Fine Nagi! Bring it!" The redhead hit play and the blond boy shuddered, "Y-You're gonna stick around, right? Watch this with me?"

"Pfft, still a kid." Nagi patted his head, "Don't worry brat, I'll stick with you if that's what you want. Oh!" Nagi stood up, "We need popcorn!"

"I-I thought you weren't gonna leave!"

"I'm just getting popcorn! Don't be a - oh, no popcorn. That's okay, I'll go get some! Be back soon Naruto!"

"Nagi-"

The door slammed as the redhead left to go shopping and the young blond had to watch the movies alone.

A few hours later Nagi finally came back in a slightly drunken daze. He chuckled as he walked down the hall, "O-Oh man, those locals know how to party." He pulled off his shoes, "Naruto, you here? I'm hungry - can you cook? Do you know how to cook? You might need to learn how to cook?"

He heard a faint sound in the back room and walked in to see a horror movie in the middle of playing as the little blond boy watched. Nagi smiled proudly, "Oh right, the ghost thing. Seems you're doing pretty well with it." He walked over and clapped the boy on the shoulder, "Way to go kid. I'm proud of you-"

Naruto toppled over, white as a sheet with his eyes rolled back and foam coming out of his mouth.

Nagi looked down at the kid that was scared unconscious and sweated slightly, "Oh shit. This might be a rare misfire for the Thousand Master." He picked Naruto up and put him on the couch, "Okay we'll close your eyes, wipe your mouth, and tell nothing of this to the princess? Okay? Okay."

"…"

"You're still alive, right?"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"After that, I've had tons of people try to use their surefire method of helping me get over my fear." Naruto shuddered in disgust, "Kinda ends up compounding the trauma though so no answer there."

Sayo nodded after hearing his story as Chamo looked up at Negi.

The redhead Mage looked to have lost all the color in his body as he hung his head sadly.

"Y'know Aniki, the more we hear about him the more I find out your dad was kind of a dick."

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

The two boys and ermine continued to speak with the ghost girl into the night. It was almost midnight when a yawn slipped out of Negi's mouth and he smacked his lips, "Oh, sorry about that."

"Negi-sensei, you must be tired."

"Yeah, you went all-in on training today before coming here."

"I-It's okay." Negi rubbed his eyes, "I don't mean to-"

"Negi, go to bed. There's nothing to worry about here." Naruto said confidently, "It's pretty clear that Sayo-chan doesn't mean any harm or malice. I don't think we have to worry about anything anymore."

Negi rubbed his eye, "What about you, Nii-San?"

"I'm gonna stay a little bit longer." Naruto answered before looking to Sayo, "If that's okay."

"O-Of course!" Sayo nodded happily, "Nothing would make me happier!"

Negi and Chamo bid them goodnight and started making their way home. After they were gone Naruto pulled his chair in a little closer as he and Sayo continued to talk.

They talked about many things. Sayo's years at the school. Some of Naruto's adventures before he came to Mahora. What 3-A had been like in the first 2 years when no one saw her. What happened during the Kyoto trip.

Sayo giggled before smiling at the whiskered blond, "Naruto-sensei, you seem to be a lot calmer now talking to me. Are you over your fear of ghosts now?"

Naruto grimaced, "I wouldn't go that far. I'm not looking to share a drink with Sadako or Hanako-San anytime soon, but you're easy to talk with, Sayo-chan. You're like Casper in comparison to them."

"Oh," Sayo lowered her head dejectedly, "But ghosts are supposed to be scary, not friendly and approachable."

"Do you want to scare people?"

"Uh…no, not really I suppose. I accidentally scared some of my classmates today and it didn't feel very good."

"Yeah, I figured. You seem too nice for something like that." Naruto chuckled at her answer, "So what do you want instead, Sayo-chan? If you can't scare people is there anything else you'd like to do?"

"Well…" Sayo looked out the window and smiled fondly, "I'd like to help my classmates with the haunted house, even though I'm not good with scary stuff. And I'd like to make friends with them, even though they can't see me. I'd like to apologize for any frights I may have caused them. I'd just like to be more of a part of my class."

"Well, it might take a while but if you keep interacting with the students they might be able to see you." Naruto offered, "Is there anything else?"

"I'd like to say hello to people and have them say hello back. Oh, a-and at the convenience store there's this tasty bread that I always had my eye on and coffee milk. I wish I could try those but I can't eat anymore." Sayo smiled wistfully and shook her head, "I think I'm going to have to accept that some things are beyond me being able to do anymore."

An idea popped into Naruto's head that he immediately dismissed. But it came back again and he shook it away. It kept happening again and again but he refused to listen to it. The fearful, terrified voice in his head that said it was a terrible idea and should not even be entertained kept screaming at him to remain sane and avoid the horror that would come with that idea.

But then he saw Sayo's longing expression as she looked out at the night sky.

"What if…you possessed me?"

Sayo turned back to him in surprise, "Huh?"

"Well, you're a ghost, right? Can you possess people?" Naruto asked, "What if you possessed me and tried to do some of the things you wanted to do? Say hello. Eat and drink. Walk around. The works."

"I-I," Sayo stuttered and blanked, "I don't even know if I can possess people. I-It seems so intrusive."

"W-Well, you wouldn't have it forever." Naruto sternly clarified, "The working with class thing is something you'll do yourself but if you want to walk and eat you need a body." He tapped his chest, "I think you can work with mine. Negi said I'm pretty spiritually aware so that might help."

"B-But Naruto-sensei, I-I thought you were terrified of ghosts?"

"I am!" The fear bled through into his voice as his eyes trembled and hollowed out, "I'm seriously even regretting making the offer! I-I don't know what it would feel like being possessed but it probably sucks!" He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before smiling at the ghost, "But between my fear and my desire to help you out, helping you edges out. If only a little. J-Just a little. You'll give it back quick, okay!"

"B-But how can I eat? I don't have any money-"

"Just use mine." Naruto pulled out his wallet and showed her the inside, "Use this to treat yourself. Consider it a gift after years of having to sit in class." Naruto stood up and opened his arms wide, "C'mon Sayo-chan, give it a shot."

Sayo muttered nervously as she floated out of her seat and faced Naruto. Her hands folded over each other as she stuttered, "I-I'm not sure if I can do this."

"You might as well try."

"A-And you're sure this is okay?"

"Less sure every second but give it a go!"

"I-I-"

Naruto looked down at the fretful ghost as she tried to muster up the courage. He couldn't help but giggle at her response, "Aw c'mon, look I'll make it easy. I da-"

"HAAA!"

Sayo mustered up the courage and dove into Naruto's body before he could finish his sentence. The blond boy stumbled back as the ghost's form disappeared forever. Naruto's body nearly coiled inward before the tension slowly left his body.

When his eyes opened again they had a faint blue light around the pupil that faded into a steady ring. His eyes looked at the window and stared at the reflection.

"O-Oh my." Sayo whispered in disbelief as she moved her hands and watched Naruto's body respond. She put her hands through her spiky blond hair before dragging them down her face. Sayo lowered her hands down to her chest and felt Naruto's heartbeat under his suit.

She…she did it. She had possessed his body.

She made to move closer-

Her feet tripped up and she fell to the ground, "Ow!" She cried out in Naruto's voice as she rubbed her face, "I-I have to get used to walking with legs again, I guess." She patted his legs for emphasis and felt the strange sensation of touch when she did. She picked herself up and carefully walked towards the door-

Only to slam directly into it.

"Ow! O-Oh, I don't phase through stuff anymore."

This was going to take some getting used to.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

As Sayo walked around in Naruto's body she realized how odd it was to have weight and mass again. And that Naruto was much heavier than she anticipated.

Sayo made sure to take careful steps forward while in his body to avoid falling over and crashing again like she had a few times since leaving the classroom.

As she walked along the pathways and streets of Mahora at night she saw many older students from the high school and college courses walking around. She also saw adults and teachers going about their nightly activities even though it was so late. Pushing down her nervousness and not wanting to waste the gift Naruto had given her, she called out-

"G-Good evening."

The college couple she called to looked her way before smiling, "Oh, good evening."

"You're the new teacher assistant everyone is talking about, right?"

"Make sure you don't stay up too late."

They waved to her and Sayo could only watch them walk away in silence.

Tears nearly filled her eyes! T-They noticed her!

She finally arrived at her favorite convenience store and stepped on the black welcome mat. The electronic door slid open, finally recognizing her presence and weight before she walked in. While she was a ghost she liked to comfortably stay around here and watch people go about their day. But now-

"Welcome!" The cashier happily greeted her and she gave a quick bow in return. Sayo quickly went around the aisles and found what it was she wanted to eat. She quickly snatched them up and stepped up to the counter, "Did you find everything you were looking for?"

It was a lot more than just coffee milk and some tasty bread. And the ghost girl couldn't help but feel guilty as she pulled out Naruto's wallet and made to pay for it. She promised someday she would pay him back for the amount she was taking from him.

Once she was done she took her bag of candies and drinks before heading for the door. The cashier called out to her, "Have a nice day."

Sayo quickly turned back and graciously bowed her head, "T-Thank you for running this place! A-And thank you for everything!"

The cashier looked at her like she'd grown a second head before she walked out.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

It was all so full of flavor!

The bread! And the candies! And the drink! It was all so good that Sayo couldn't help but melt with every bite!

She happily sat on the bench with a mouthful of delight as she stared out over the beautiful lights illuminating the horizon of Mahora.

As she did, a faint gust of cooling wind rushed over her and caused her yellow locks to sway slightly.

Tears filled her eyes as Sayo quietly wept with joy.

She never thought…she could ever feel this content.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Sayo made her way back to the classroom. It had been a couple of hours since Naruto had allowed her control of his body as she had gotten to do what she wanted.

She got to say hello to many people and they said hello back. She got to try all the delicious foods and drinks she had her eye on. And she got to see Mahora from a whole new perspective while alive.

Sayo couldn't begin to compare the swell of joy and relief in her heart to anything she had felt before.

She stood before her seat, calmly closed her eyes, and laced Naruto's hands over his heart, "Thank you, Sensei. Thank you so much for this gift and your kindness. I'll never be able to repay you for what you've done for me today."

She let go…and released her hold on his body.

She closed her eyes and laced her hands, "T-Thank you, Sensei."

She let go and released her hold on his body.

Sayo turned to look at the window…

And saw Naruto's panicked expression looking back at her.

Sweat dripped down her face, "Oh dear."

[[[[[[[[Omake: Reaching Out]]]]]]]]

Negi went about his lecture with his class listening intently while Naruto took notes for his binder.

Sayo looked around and decided this would be her chance. Negi and Naruto had inspired her to reach out and engage with her class in new ways. And that was exactly what she would do!

How to do it? How to do it? S-Something fun. Something that showed she wanted to be a part of her class and their goofiness.

And just like that, it hit her. The perfect way to break the ice. She channeled the thought of the movie in her mind and reached out to her class-

[Later]

"You need to get in there and help them." Kyūbi warned the headmaster and Takamichi as they approached Class 3-A, "Save them or put them out of their misery! One or the other!"

"Kyūbi-San, you haven't even told us what happened to the class yet."

"I can't. It's just too awful. Look for yourself."

Takamichi and Konoemon shared a look before taking the step forward. They opened the door-

"~Come mister tally man, tally me banana~"

"~Daylight come and we want go home~"

Negi nodded from the front as he and Naruto danced in sync, "~ Come mister tally man, tally me banana~"

His entire class called out in unison as they danced like a well-oiled machine, "~Daylight come and we want go home~"

"~Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch~!"

"~Daylight come and we want go home~"

"~Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch~!"

"~Daylight come and we want go home~"

The two teachers watched in disbelief as the entire class danced and sang like a popular Jamaican-American singer. Takamichi scratched his head, "How long has this been going on?"

"In the time to find you and get back - more than 30 minutes!"

"Which means by the lyrics and at a length of 3:05, this should be the 11th iteration of them singing this song." Konoemon expertly deduced.

Kyūbi and Takamichi could only turn to look at him oddly.

"What? I love me some Harry Belafonte."

"Okay…so how do we help them?"

"Well, I think we'll need an exorcist to exorcise the ghost's influence over them. We need to call Tatsumiya-kun and Sakurazaki-kun as soon as possible."

"Sir." Takamichi pointed into the class where Mana and Setsuna were shaking their butts to the beat of the song.

"Ah yes, then we'll need to contact some other help. I'll make some calls." Konoemon pulled out his phone and started dialing. As they waited for the call to connect they listened to 3-A sing and tapped their feet, "I love this song."

"I love Beetlejuice."

"I love watching people in misery."

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Done

Okay, I don't know how long I've had to omake in my head. I just saw the scene one day and thought it was funny and then thought…man, I wonder if that would ever happen in my story.

Bam! Here we are!

So, looks like Naruto wanted to give Sayo an experience she could remember. And Sayo was more than happy to take it! Alls well that ends well!

Heh, yeah right. Would never miss this chance to cause chaos.

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Thank You and Bye