Arc 4: Chapter 21
“...?”
“Because none of the teachers will think to check outside for students, especially once the others start getting caught.”
“...”
“Of course they will. Kaede may be a ninja, but the rest of them lack any sort of stealth or subtlety. They’ll begin dropping like flies almost immediately. I’d be thoroughly surprised if no-one has been caught yet.”
“!...”
“Exactly. With Nitta guarding those in the lobby, we can’t afford to take the shorter route in front of the hotel. So we’ve got to go around the back.”
“...?”
“Honya and Yue are both Library Exploration Club members. If I know them, they'll be taking the balconies around the outside. We’ll meet them at the fire-escape and work our way in from there.”
Zazie nodded as she continued to follow Sunset. They’d snuck out their window almost immediately after the game had started and were now approaching their target destination, Zazie carrying a single pillow while Sunset had two hastily modified ones tucked into the sash of her robe. Upon reaching the far side of the hotel, Sunset stared up at the third-story door, a frown on her face.
“I can get up there easily,” she muttered. “I guess I could pick you up and jump with you, but...” Sunset trailed off when she saw Zazie run at a nearby tree. She leapt up, grabbing one of the lower branches and using the momentum to swing her body around once. Twice. Thrice, and she let go, launching herself further up. She landed on another branch, one that stretched out towards the hotel. She walked along it confidently, her arms out to either side. Just as the branch started to sag, she leapt forward, somersaulting twice before landing perfectly before the fire-escape.
Sunset rolled her eyes as she channeled her magic, leaping up to join her. “Show off.”
“Eh?! N-Nichi-chan? Zazie-san?” Sunset and Zazie turned to see Yue and Nodoka cautiously approaching them. “Wh-what are you doing here?” Nodoka whispered.
“To be honest, I was going to ask you the same thing.” Sunset crossed her arms and gave Nodoka a concerned look. “You realize what's probably going to happen, right? Springfield's pet is probably stalking this little event and waiting to make contracts with anyone who succeeds in kissing him.”
Yue shared a glance with Nodoka, who nodded. “We know,” Yue said. “Nodoka wants to do this.”
“I-I want to get to know Negi-sensei better,” Nodoka said, stammering at first but growing in confidence as she spoke. “He still doesn't know that we know about magic, right? I can't get closer to him if there's such a big secret between us. And… I want to help him if something else happens. I… I don't want to just sit on the side if something like Evangeline-san happens again!”
Sunset took a step back, surprised at her friend's conviction. I've never seen her this confident about anything! She sighed and nodded, smiling. Springfield, you don't know how lucky you are. “Alright, I'll keep everyone off your back, then.” Her smile morphed into a confident smirk as she grabbed her modified pillows and slipped then over her fists. “Let's do this!”
The hallway beyond the door was dark and quiet, with no sign of anyone’s presence. Sunset half worried that Kaede might be hiding in the shadows before recalling who she was paired with; Baka Yellow was almost as loud and unsubtle as the rest of the class.
“No-one’s here yet,” Yue whispered as they crept along. “This is our chance. Negi-sensei’s room is just down this hall, number 304.”
“Great,” Sunset whispered back. “Let’s hurry up an- wall!” At the familiar command, Yue and Nodoka flattened themselves against the walls and began looking around for any traps. Sunset put a finger to her lips from where she hid beside them and pointed up at the ceiling where a small part of it was beginning to shift. Sunset looked around for Zazie and was surprised to find that the other girl had vanished as well. She turned her attention back to the ceiling just as a hole appeared and a rope ladder dropped through.
“No-one is here yet,” a young-sounding voice whispered from above. “Now’s our chance!”
“Auuu, I’m scared,” an equally young voice wined back. Yue and Sunset shared a brief glance before Yue held up her pillow, along with the one she had taken from Nodoka. Sunset nodded, turning to Nodoka and gesturing along the wall. They began making their way along as silently as possible while Yue stepped out into the middle of the hallway just as Fumika began climbing down the ladder.
“Ah!” she cried, looking down. “Yue-kichi of team 5!”
“Damn it!” Fuka hissed, staring down after her. “She must be scouting ahead. Eliminate her, Fumika!”
Sunset smirked as she and Nodoka hurried along, unnoticed by the twins. “Don’t worry,” she hissed into Nodoka’s ear. “Yue can handle them. And I’m pretty sure Zazie’s keeping a close eye on them just in case she needs to step in.”
“A-a-are you sure?” Nodoka whispered back, constantly turning to look over her shoulder.
“Aah! Yue-kichi! Using books is against the rules!”
“If the books are inside of the pillows, then it’s allowed!”
Sunset repressed a chuckle as she hurried them along. “I’m sure. So long as no-one else shows up-”
“Oyo! We’ve found them!”
Damn it, Murphy! Sunset grit her teeth as Ku Fei and Kaede stepped around the corner, their eyes instantly spotting Sunset and Nodoka despite their efforts. Sunset stepped out into the open, bringing up her pillowed fists and thanking whoever was listening that they’d made it to Negi’s door. “Go, Honya,” she hissed, squaring off against the martial-arts duo. “I’ll take things from here.”
“N-N-Nichi-chan!” Nodoka cried, looking from the door to her friend. “I- but- you-”
“Ohoho.” Ku Fei grinned at Sunset, a pair of pillows held in her hands. “I see you’re using the rules to your advantage aru.”
Sunset grinned, faking confidence. “What can I say? Go with what you know.” The two pillows fit over her hands almost like boxing gloves, letting Sunset fight in her usual style. It was a small advantage against a martial artist like Ku Fei, but she hoped it would be enough to give Nodoka some much needed time.
“Get in there, Honya,” Sunset hissed out the corner of her mouth. “Now! Before someone else gets here!”
Nodoka finally seemed to snap out of her panic. She quickly opened the door and slipped into Negi’s room, closing the door behind her.
“Are you sure about this?” Ku Fei asked, looking from Sunset to the trio fighting behind her. “I know that you’ve been learning to box, but I don’t think-”
Sunset darted forward while Ku was distracted, throwing a right jab straight for her face. Ku dodged easily, her attention immediately snapping back to Sunset in time to easily block the follow-up strike.
Crap! Sunset thought, striking out with quick jabs which were easily blocked or dodged, though Ku didn’t seem to have enough time between strikes to counter. Speed’s the best thing I’ve got going for me, and she’s outpacing me easily. Come on, Honya; just one kiss, and-
“HYAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!”
Sunset immediately disengaged, leaping back and rushing for the door to Negi’s room, Yue and Ku close behind her. She threw it open, all thoughts of being quiet shattered by Nodoka’s scream. “Honya!!!”
Nodoka lay on the ground, obviously dazed. Zazie knelt beside her, fanning her face with her own pillow. The room was vacant apart from them, the window behind them flung open.
“Damn!” Ku shouted, rushing for the room’s balcony. “He escaped through the window!”
“After him, Fumika!” Fuka shouted, leaping over the edge without a second though. Fumika, Ku, and Kaede followed immediately afterward, the last one wearing an amused smile that had persisted throughout the contest.
“Nodoka!” Yue shouted, kneeling down beside her friend and shaking her shoulders. “Get ahold of yourself! Nodoka!”
“Uuun,” Nodoka moaned. “Five Negi-sensei…”
“Five?” Sunset asked, looking up at Zazie. “What does she mean, five.”
Zazie stared blankly at Sunset for a moment. She opened her mouth. Closed it. Considered for a moment. Finally, she shook her head and held up one of her hands, all five fingers extended.
Sunset blinked before turning to stare out the window. “Damn it, Springfield.”
*****
“Five Negi-sensei? And they’re confessing to everyone simultaneously!?”
Sunset sighed and massaged the bridge of her nose. She’d snuck back to Group 6’s room and switched on the TV, turning quickly to the channel where Asakura was streaming the War of Lips. She’d watched as the rest of the competition split up in their search for their wayward teacher. And now she watched as five Negi-clones declared their intentions to kiss five of her classmates.
“Well,” Sunset muttered, smirking slightly as she saw Yue smack one of the clones across the room with one of her book-pillows, “at least one of them realizes that something strange is going on.” The fake burst in an explosive cloud of smoke, and Sunset turned to leave, checking the hallway quickly before slipping out. Now, let’s see if we can’t bring an end to this farce before it gets even more out of hand.
Dodging Nitta was easy, as the sounds of commotion from downstairs soon drew him away from the third floor. From there Sunset went from room to room, testing anything with a lock. She finally found what she was looking for; the women’s toilet was locked. Sunset did a quick search for security cameras and, finding none, slipped out her wand. A couple of quick taps and a whispered incantation unlocked the door, and Sunset made her way inside.
“It seems all of the Negi-sensei were fake! Does this mean the proceeds from the betting pool go to me?”
“I suppose,” Sunset said, closing and locking the door behind her, “if you want to get the entire class on your back.”
“N-N-Nichi-chan?!” Asakura dropped her mike, grinning nervously and trying to hide a massive bag of meal tickets behind her back. “Wh-what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be chasing down Negi-sensei for Honya?”
Sunset raised an eyebrow. “Rather hard for Honya to kiss someone that isn’t here.” A flash of movement caught her eye and she shot a glare at Asakura’s laptop. “I knew you were involved in this somehow, rodent, but I never thought you’d go so far as to drag another student into your machinations. Especially after my last warning.”
“Y-you’ve got it all wrong, Ane-san!” Chamo peaked out from behind the computer, grinning nervously. “Y-you see, Asakura nee-san found us out on her own. See, there was this truck, and it was about to hit a cat. But-”
Sunset held up a hand, cutting him off. “Yeah, let me guess. Springfield blew it once again. I guess you get to live another day, then.” She switched her glare back to Asakura, who had been trying to sneak around her towards the exit. “So I guess that means this whole ‘War of Lips’ was your bright idea after all?”
Asakura chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of her head. “W-well, it seemed like a good idea, you know? More partners, more power. And the fact that Chamo-chi gets a pretty good payday per card is a nice bonus.”
“Of course he does.” Sunset sighed and looked back to the laptop. “Well, at least it’s all over no-” Her eyes went wide. “Hello? What’s this?”
One of the outside cameras had caught another Negi making his way towards the hotel. Unlike all of the others, this one wore a familiar staff across his back. “That’s him!” Chamo shouted. “That must be the real Aniki!”
Asakura quickly switched the feed to the outside camera and scrambled for the mike. “I-It seems the real Negi-sensei has made an appearance! And group 5 is the only one in the area! Is Honya going to go for it?!”
Sunset couldn’t help but watch in anticipation, and she found herself wishing the hotel’s cameras could capture audio. Both Nodoka and Negi seemed nervous as they met in the lobby, but Nodoka didn’t seem to be pressing anything or moving forward. Their conversation was quick, and they began moving away from the lobby. Guess she decided to save that conversation for later, Sunset thought. Can’t really blame her, with everything that’s-
And then Yue stuck out her leg.
Nodoka tripped, Negi just managing to catch her as their faces collided, their lips meeting each other briefly before they hurriedly pulled apart, no doubt stammering apologies.
It was enough for Asakura, and for the pactio.
“Honya-chan won!!” Asakura shouted into her mike as a card appeared in Chamo’s paws. It featured Nodoka in her uniform and a light duster, an open book hovering before her. A spread of six books floated behind her head, two more open ones hovering at either side. Asakura quickly swiped up the card, stuffing it into her pocket.
“Alright,” she hissed, grabbing the bag of meal tickets. “Not quite the result I expected, but it looks like we’re still making a profit. Let’s split, Chamo-chi! Nichi-chan!”
Sunset nodded, checking a couple more of the cameras. “Looks like the way back to the dorms is clear,” she lied, smirking as she slipped her wand out of her pocket. “I’ll see you two tomorrow.”
“Eh?” Chamo asked, surprised. “What are you doing?”
Sunset smirked, focusing her magic and sneaking a peak at the computer feed which showed a rather irate Nitta-sensei approaching the restroom they were hiding in. “Just taking a shortcut. Ianuae Magicae." She vanished in a flash of light just as the door started to open.
*****
Setsuna sighed and massaged the bridge of her nose. “So, let me get this straight,” she said. “Kazumi-san found out about magic and started working together with Chamo-san. They organized a ‘War of Lips’ in the hopes of getting several pactio for Negi-sensei. Meanwhile, Negi-sensei made several faulty paper clones which caused havoc when the competitors got to his room, resulting in everyone except for the two of you getting caught by Nitta-sensei and forced to squat in the lobby. And because Nitta-sensei thought Negi-sensei was in on it, he has to squat there too.”
Sunset and Zazie shared looks before nodding. “Pretty much,” Sunset said. “Though you missed the part where Nodoka managed to nab a kiss and a pactio from Springfield thanks to Yue.”
“Of course.” Setsuna sighed. “This isn’t good. Negi-sensei is becoming far too conspicuous. If it gets out that he’s a mage-”
“Yeah yeah,” Sunset said, waving her off. “Back to England. Turned into an ermine. Blah blah blah. Honestly, if his cover hasn’t been blown after tonight, I doubt anything will get through our classmates’ thick skulls.”
Setsuna pondered that for a moment before nodding. “You… may be correct. Our class is strangely accepting of the unusual and impossible. I only worry because Kazumi-san is doubtless going to give Nodoka-san her pactio card. If she happens to activate it somehow…”
“Don’t worry about that,” Sunset said. “If she activates it, it’ll be entirely intentional. She and Yue already know about magic, after all.”
Setsuna’s eyes went wide. “What?! You told them?!”
“Didn’t have much of a choice after Evangeline attacked,” Sunset said. “I had to tell Nodoka something, and I knew it would be impossible for her to keep it from her best friend. Besides, if she’s going to keep getting closer to Springfield, do you really think she won’t find out about it sooner or later?”
Setsuna groaned and went back to massaging the bridge of her nose. “You’re taking this entire situation entirely too casually.”
“Blame my upbringing,” Sunset dismissed with a shrug. “When you grow up in a world of constant magic, you fail to see the horror of the secret getting out.” She stretched a bit before walking over to her bed and lying down. “In any case, we’d better get some sleep. Tomorrow’s another full day, and I doubt that monkey-woman is going to let us rest any more than she already has. G’night.”
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Thank you for continuing this story. It will be interesting to see what Sunset does when facing a threat like Fate Averruncus, who would likely give even the Equestrian Princesses a hard time.
9231616
Oh, I've got plans. *grins evily*
Was hoping that Nodoka would somehow end up forming a contract with Sunset. As a fan of SunsetxScitwi, I fully support her crush on Nodoka. And, if my recollection of the manga is accurate, after she starts to get over Negi, Nodoka will not be as against the idea as sunset seems to think.
Fei
Honya
Looking forward to seeing Sunset in the Budokai
, of course given how complex the whole School Festival Arc is, I don't envy you trying to deal with it.
9231616
Eh, Fate was never a real threat to an unlocked Evangeline, so I doubt he'd be any more to Celestia or Luna.
9232386
Actually, that arc will be pretty straightforward, since I don't plan to get her involved in the time-travel bits. But yes, her performance will be rather spectacular.
Can't Sunset just find out what the words for wellspring and unlock is in Latin to unlock her wellspring?
9232520
Spellcraft is not nearly so simple. Besides, she still doesn't know exactly how it's locked up. She'll want to make sure she understands the lock before she goes about trying to pick it.
Nice. Sunset managed to get involved in the shenanigans wothout consequence. She's good at that.
Now, there's just that small, ongoing matter of local magical politics. Sunset may not want to have anything to do with it, but she may not have a choice.
9232006
I still hold hope that they will yet.
Same here.
Hmm... I wonder if Negi will learn her magic door spell. Either way, this is awesome. I love this story so much. And your angle is awesome. With a cast this size you didn't need to focus on the Negi. Just work around his main story to make Sunset's.
9232968
Probably not. With everything else he eventually gets, I think instant, long-range teleportation would just be stacking overkill on overkill.
9232980
His finally form is stacking two OP power-ups to make an even more OP on.
I can totally understand that. Granted, Negi's fighting style is all about stacking stuff on stuff
Still, magic door is a cool name for it
9232986
Believe it or not, that's what Google spits out when you try to translate "teleport." Thought it was cool and it fit so... *shrugs*
Nice to an update.
I don't remember Sunset having feelings for Nodoka before though...I might need to reread this again.
Considering Sunset's statement about a world with open magic, I wonder if the school festival arc will see our first true divergence from canon?
9232986
Might as well be the DND Spell Dimension Door.
https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Dimension%20Door
So, Chao Lingshen means "anything" in Chinese?
The joke worked better in Italian.
9233079
I've hinted at her feelings before. As for the school festival, well, I'm still deciding.
9233084
Basically, yeah, though with a much further range.
9233111
How did I know that someone would do that?
9232198
Thanks for all of the edits!
Let's see how Sunset is going to deal with the battle soon to come. And maybe find some unexpected buddies from her foes just like Mana does.
Sunset really enjoys threatening chamo doesn't she?
Nooooo! I love the manga, not here! Ugh thank you for the awesome story.
9270718
Thanks for giving it a look!
Hmm i dont see nichi chan with our spring onion so which of the girls would you think she would get with?
9290777
I guess we'll just have to see.
9290792
Yep cant wait had to read the whole manga and watch both anime ( the anime still suck) just to get ahold of myself
9347344
...an interesting idea, but it unfortunately doesn't work with the backstory I have planned for Sunset.
9347915
don't worry. t'was but a joke
I really do enjoy your story though. planning to re-read it for the second time now.
9386852
I wrote think, not say.
... more please
9390248
Doooo eeeettttt....
9233111
And even then, only for a select few... up until the Greater Martian Disaster, of course.
9390373
It could well be possible-after all, that series ended with the Great Kanto Earthquake, plenty of time for them to have great-grandchildren.
I am here... finally
9414892
And what do you think of it?
9415080
Pretty good. Though I gotta ask if Sunset is bi or just gay? Also many points to her for (most) of her judgement.
9415087
Bi, though shedoes have a preference for the fairer sex.
9415193
Thought so after the chapter where she arrived and thought of both in poses to check.
Okay, full honesty? Snarky Sunset and Silent Zazie is the best part of this entire fic, flat out.
Also Zazie Best Girl FIGHT ME!
9462540
No arguments here on either point. Thanks for giving this fic a shot!
Interesting.
I just started reading this. I'm working on something like this myself. There some differences in mine though.
Including, but not limited to,
1. I'm using the SHAFT version of Negima!? , The one with 1000% as the opening song.
2. Sunset can still speak her native language just fine. Ponish and English being the same thing. Just using different symbols for the letters.
3. Sunset keeps her magic.
4. My Negima!? universe is a bit AU in that Konoka and Setsuna are already openly dating.
5. When Sunset learns that Eva is a vampire, she practically begs her to turn her.
Anyway, enough about my stuff.
On your fic, I find it to be quite interesting and good. What I've read of it so far is quite entertaining. I look forward to more chapters in the future. ^_^
9533180
So, more slice-of-life comedy based than action based? I might have to look into it.
Thanks for giving this story a shot! Let me know if there's anything I need to improve on.
After re-reading this, I've picked up a few suggestions. I also would love to see the 'tournament' arc done, and UQ Holder as well.
The one thing, that is easy to fix, is I would turn the hiragana/kanji into romaji in the early chapters. Yes, unless you know Japanese, you don't know what they're saying but as a character they still hear what is being said. It wasn't too big of a deal to me, since I can read some Japanese, but in general I'd change it to romaji.
The rest are... complicated and a lot of work.
Nevertheless, i'm looking forward to more!
9541966
I'm still considering whether or not to do UQ Holder. It really depends on where that story goes and what Sunset being there would influence, if anything. As for the tournament arc, are you talking about Mahorafest, or Mundus?
As for the Japanese script, I do see your point. However, I think it adds to the effect of demonstrating how utterly alien their language is to Sunset. That's what I was going for, anyway.
If you have further complicated notes, I'd love to hear them. Write them here or send me a PM. I'm always open to constructive criticism!
9541990
I think it would depend how the story is set up. It wouldnt be the most seamless transition compared to other crossovers that I've thought of shameless plug, but I know several who agree with it and have yet to be written on this site, or just at all (which is kinda surprising cause they are so obvious...).
Anyway, it all depends on the initial setup. Definitely can't be related to this. Though. Unless you really branch out with the ending with this, which can be done... but, yeah.
... Yes.
I do get that reasoning. But she still hears it, even if it isn't understood. I'd either show how she hears them but doesn't understand at all, or change the spoken stuff into romaji. You can keep the written stuff as kanji though.
I really should, and probably will. I like talking SunnyShim crossovers with people, and even through its flaws, I love the idea and can't wait for more. I'm only on my phone though, so long messages are... painful. also, feel free to PM me too, I'd love to help if I can. Won'tbe able to edit or anything, but I can give pointers and/or ideas. (It is also easier since phone) Shameless plug x2.
If I have time tomorrow, I will. I just started my new school term, and, just. All of the writing. Like. All of it.
9542021
Sunset will definitely be participating in the Mahorafest tournament. As for Mundus, there are two major paths that I'm considering, one of which leads to the tournament.
I look forward to your eventual notes, and I'd love to have another voice of feedback! I totally understand that school thing. I'm lucky this semester to have virtually no homework... with 16 credit hours! I have NO idea how I got that lucky.
Will Sunset become Mister Fried Chicken student?
9573120
Article 732 of the Japanese civil code: "A person who has a spouse shall not enter into another marriage". So no, I mean wife. Singular.
9573883
Magi literally have their own world with their own rules.
9415087
Also is been only a year, wouldn't she feel weirded out by liking aliens?