Still Waters 3, Chapter 00, Graduation

March 27th, 2007

St. Ursula High School, Mahora

It was a somewhat chilly day in late March when the doors of the gym were pushed open from inside, releasing a flood of new high school graduates.

Asuna blinked in the light as she stepped outside and the enormity of what had just happened struck her as she looked around at her surroundings. She had graduated. She was no longer a student. She was no longer a student...!

"So, are you gonna stand there all day, or what?" one of the others asked, smirking.

Asuna grinned and glanced back. "Nope!"

The initial trickle of became a flood, and soon the wide, empty space in front of the gym became full of young women. There was a general sense of milling around as the ex-students tried to figure out What Comes Next, but a small group was forming off to one side.

Asuna stood beside a tree off to the right, watching the other students pass by. After a moment, Ayaka moved over and joined her wordlessly. The two nodded at each other, and were soon joined by Misa as well. Chizuru and Natsumi showed up a moment later, Natsumi looking around expectantly, and Satsuki arrived immediately after with a basket of meat buns to pass out.

"Oh hey, can I have one?" Madoka asked as she arrived, soon followed by Mana. Satsuki nodded and handed a meat bun over.

The group watched the other students pass by solemnly as they ate, and were soon joined by the Narutaki twins and Kaede, among others.

"Yo," Misora said as she jogged up. "What's everybody doing?"

"Waiting," Mana said. "Has anyone seen Ku Fei?"

"I think I saw her heading for the bathroom inside the gym," Fuuka said. Mana nodded and went off in search of the other girl.

"Hey, is that Makie? That's Makie, right? Why is she crying?" Misora asked, confused, as she pointed out the pink-haired girl on the other side of the clearing. Makie was standing there with an unfamiliar boy and a woman who was probably her mother, judging from her unusual hair color. Everyone turned to look, just in time to see Max-sensei walk up and say something to her. Makie abruptly latched on to him and began crying in earnest. The awkward teacher's confused response lent the situation a strange levity it wouldn't normally have had.

"Eh...she'll be all right. She always liked Max-sensei," Asuna said, brushing it off.

They stood in silence for a moment, watching in quiet amusement as Makie's mother looked on in shock at her daughter hanging on to the big American P.E. teacher.

"Hey! What's everybody so gloomy for?" Yuuna said loudly as she strolled up alongside Akira.

"Gloomy?" Misora asked, grinning as she saw an opportunity for mischief. "Just watching Makie try to stake a claim on Max-sensei, is all," she said, surreptitiously watching Akira's suddenly shocked expression with glee. Akira had the best expressions~!

"B-but what-wait, no, she can't, she isn't-she wouldn't-I don't think she would do something like tha-" Akira babbled, freezing mid word as her eyes locked on the girl in question.

"Hey~!" Sakurako said, walking up to the group energetically with an arm slung around an extremely reticent Chisame's neck. "What's going on?" she asked as Akira abruptly left the group, heading through the crowd toward Makie and Max.

"Uh hey, wait a minute Akira...!" Yuuna said as she plunged in after her.

"Just waiting to see the catfight," Misa said cheerfully. "Heya Chisame, how ya doin?" she said, slinging an arm around said girl's neck from her other side.

"Swell," Chisame replied, deadpan.

"Hey, Ako! What are you doing hiding over there? Come on, let's all give Chisame a group hug!" Misa said. Ako shook her head and backed away as Sakurako let go of Chisame and snagged her arm, dragging her over.

"I swear, if you don't stop-gak!" Chisame said, interrupted as Misa laid a big, sloppy kiss on her cheek while Madoka stared, slack jawed in mingled fascination and horror.

"Has anyone seen Kotarou-kun?" Natsumi asked, looking around.

"What the hell was that?" Chisame screeched while Sakurako and Misa laughed wildly and dragged Ako closer, trapping her against Chisame in a group hug.

"Hey! Get off of me! Hey!"

Asuna eyed the identical bottles Misa and Sakurako held, and sighed. Who had decided it was a good idea to give the two of them sake? Anyway, where was Negi...?

Kazumi showed up a moment later and began snapping pictures of the two drunkards.

"So, who's still missing?" Misora asked, looking around at the growing crowd.

"Er...Eva-chan, Chachamaru, but they aren't supposed to be here anyway...Nodoka and the rest are probably waiting for Negi to finish whatever he's doing in there," Asuna said, hooking her thumb toward the gym.

"Yeah..." Misora said absently as she looked around. "What about Hakase?"

"She has an appointment at the university," Ayaka said.

"Huh, who's left? I feel like I'm missing somebody..." Misora asked herself.

Sayo, who was floating around behind Kazumi, grinned hugely. Finally, some recognition...!

"Oh yeah! Zazie!"

Sayo fled in tears.

"Here," Zazie said from directly behind Misora.

"Gyaahh!"

Misora pouted while the others laughed until someone said "Here comes Negi-sensei!" and all eyes turned toward the young teacher as a hush fell over the plaza.

He had grown over the past few years. His childish features had changed into something quite different, and he looked much more mature than his fourteen years would suggest; a product of extensive training in Eva's resort. Every girl that spotted him there found her throat going dry at the sight of him, and most shot jealous glances at the small group of girls walking with him and making small talk.

"Wow, Nodoka's really working it, isn't she?" Misa asked after a moment.

Asuna nodded. Sure enough, Nodoka was right there beside him, blushing faintly as she looked up at him (when had he gotten that tall?), with Haruna beside her urging her on and Yue following along a little behind. Konoka was on his other side, smiling cheerily at some joke while wrapped around a blushing Setsuna's arm.

His gaze turned from Nodoka and met hers across the intervening space, and he smiled. Asuna grinned toothily and began making her way through the crowd. The others followed, and even Akira, Yuuna, and Max-sensei, with Makie still clinging to him, started to make their way over.

Asuna and Negi walked up and stopped, facing each other across perhaps five feet of concrete.

"Heya Negi," Asuna said.

"Hello, Asuna-san," Negi said, beaming at her. Nodoka looked back and forth between the two of them, hesitated a moment, and stepped back to give them some space.

"I haven't seen you in weeks," Asuna said accusingly, that toothy grin still on her face.

"Ah...sorry about that, Asuna-san," Negi replied, rubbing the back of his head nervously.

"...what are you, ten? Stop that, you look like an idiot," she said as she stepped forward and hugged him. Nodoka let out a sudden gasp and Negi went tense for a moment, then abruptly relaxed and hugged her back.

"...thank you, Asuna-san," Negi said into the side of her neck.

"For what?"

"Being there for me, helping me all the time...just...thank you, Asuna-san."

Asuna turned her head and looked him in the eye, incredulous.

"A...Asuna-san?"

"Puuhhh...Bwahahaha!" She reached up and pulled the sides of his face. "Hahaha! Look at you, acting all mature! Yeah right!" She let go and stood back a step, her hands on her hips as she looked him over. Negi, for his part, moved back a step or two himself, not knowing what to make of Asuna's sudden display of...something he couldn't quite find a name for.

"...are you okay, Asuna-san?"

Apparently satisfied, Asuna closed her eyes and nodded. "It's decided, then."

"What's decided?" Negi asked, keenly aware of the crowd of students that had surrounded them.

"Looks like you can take care of yourself now, huh?" Asuna asked cheerfully.

"Asuna-san?"

"It would be pretty bad if you couldn't by now, you know," she continued, nodding to herself again as she ignored his questioning tone.

"...Asuna-san?" Negi asked again, suddenly worried.

"Well, I guess I'll be seeing you around. Come on Konoka, Setsuna! Let's go!" Asuna said with false cheer as she darted over and took the two girls' hands and began dragging them away.

"Asuna...?" Nodoka asked.

Asuna paused in her escape, but didn't turn around. "Hey, Nodoka...take care of him, okay? He's stupid and simple and acts like a little kid even though he looks like that," she said.

"Asuna-san?" Negi asked yet again.

"Is it a confession?" Haruna asked dramatically, grinning as she waited for Asuna's inevitable reaction.

"What? No!" Asuna said, whirling around to face the crowd, unwittingly exposing her blushing face and the tears building at the corners of her eyes. She saw Negi's eyes widen and abruptly turned away. "It's nothing like that! Now come on, we have to go~!" she said to Konoka and Setsuna, her voice hitching even as her tone became light and playful again.

"Looks like it's time to go," Konoka said. "Take care, Negi-kun!"

"Y-yes, please be careful, Negi-sensei," Setsuna said.

"A-Asuna-san...!" Negi said, starting forward. Someone grabbed his hand, and he turned around to see Nodoka looking at him worriedly. He looked back at Asuna, who was dragging Setsuna and Konoka with her, then back at Nodoka. "I have to go..."

"She told me to take care of you," Nodoka said apologetically.

"N...Nodoka-san..." Negi said as the other students closed around the two. He looked back toward where he had last seen Asuna, but the girl was lost from sight among the other graduates.

Ayaka stood in the back of the crowd for a long moment, watching Asuna as she dragged the other two away. 'What is going on here...?' she thought as she frowned. Then Misa grabbed her by the hand and dragged her over to Negi, and her mind turned to other concerns.

"Asuna? Are you sure that was the right way to do it?" Konoka asked pleasantly as they sat down to wait for their train some time later.

"Of course!" Asuna said, her tone of voice carefully crafted. She didn't have to ask what Konoka was referring to.

"I will miss him," Setsuna said after a moment.

"I will too, but I haven't been home to see daddy or the others in a long time," Konoka said, slipping her hand into Setsuna's, who looked at her shyly.

"Yeah, I guess that's true. I don't think you visited your home since we got into high school," Asuna said, grasping at any chance that presented itself for distraction. Stupid Negi...

They fell into a heavy silence as each mulled over their thoughts. Leaving Mahora...it wasn't as easy as it had first seemed. Kyoto was by no means boring, not to those involved in the underworld of magic, demons, and the like, but...

Asuna sniffled.

Konoka looked over at her. "Asuna?"

Asuna's sniffling increased and she wrapped her arms around herself.

Konoka put a comforting arm around her, and Setsuna went around to the other side and did the same thing, albeit much more awkwardly.

"It'll be all right, Asuna. We'll come back when you've been released from your training, okay?" she said.

"Oh Konoka, I miss him already!" Asuna wailed as she leaned over and grabbed Konoka in a big hug and burst into tears. Setsuna just watched, slack jawed. 'So that is what it looks like...' She had been a victim of the same attack countless times before from Konoka, though without the tears.

"There there, it will be okay Asuna...your training will be over before you know it," Konoka said confidently as she held the other girl and patted her back.

"Yes, you are already very skilled," Setsuna said, recovering quickly. "I do not believe you will have to undergo training from the very beginning. You will probably be accepted by one of the masters as an apprentice rather than just another student."

Asuna just continued sniffling.

"Yep, and then we can all go out on missions together!" Konoka said happily.

"Oh? So what is this all about?" Ayaka asked from behind them.

"Gyahh! What are you doing here Iincho?" Asuna said, her voice nearing a screech as she whirled to face the sudden interloper.

Ayaka crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "I am trying to find out what made one of my..." She paused a moment, searching for the right word. "...what made one of my friends run away crying from her own graduation ceremony."

Konoka smiled up at her. "Asuna is going to join the Shinmeiryu!" Setsuna nodded.

Ayaka just gaped for a moment before turning her accusing gaze on Asuna again. "Is this true?"

Asuna nodded, looking miserable.

Ayaka just blinked for a moment. Asuna was really leaving? It was an oddly disquieting thought. "How long?"

Setsuna and Konoka looked at each other for a moment.

"Most likely a year and a half, perhaps two, but I can't say for sure," Setsuna said carefully.

Ayaka looked down at Asuna, towering over her imperiously. "And you were just going to run away for two years and not let anyone know?"

"It's just easier that way!" Asuna said defensively. "I was going to go over there and then send everybody an email or something. Besides, it's not like you guys can't visit or anything..."

"Oh trust me, I will," Ayaka said. Asuna flinched. "Are you doing this for Negi's sake?" The three Kyoto-bound girls froze and looked at each other.

"Er...yeah..." Asuna finally said. Gah! Why was it so embarrassing to say?

"Most of the others are leaving as well," Ayaka said after a moment.

"What? What about college?" Mahora was an escalator school, all the way up to college. Once you graduated high school, getting into college was virtually guaranteed; she had assumed most of the class would continue with their education.

Ayaka shrugged. "Everyone wants to become stronger in order to accompany Negi when he goes to face that brat Fate," she said, crossing her arms again, her face darkening as she recalled that early morning in their third year of middle school, when she had been forced to watch helplessly as Fate beat up her friends and challenged Negi to meet him in the magic world in six years' time. Well, time was almost up...there were only a couple years left in which to prepare. And Ayaka herself certainly hadn't been wasting time...much to her mother's disgust. Now that she had graduated, she would have to go home and face her parents; that would not be easy.

"But why leave? Couldn't they just keep...training..." Asuna said, trailing off as her mind caught up with her mouth. She sighed. 'Self, I'm an idiot. Did you know that?' 'Why yes, yes I did.' Of course they were all leaving; it was the same as her own situation. Everyone had spent the last few years growing stronger first under Negi's tutelage, then moving on to other teachers more suited to their particular skills. But while Mahora was overflowing with mages and fighters, true masters were few and far between in the city, and most weren't taking students. Everyone had learned as much as they could in Mahora, and it was time to branch out.

"Half of them are already gone, or will be shortly," Ayaka said absently as she moved to sit on the bench, forcing the other three girls to scoot over and make room as she sat down, crossing her arms and legs.

"That was quick," Asuna said. Ayaka nodded and sighed irritably.

"Who is staying?" Setsuna asked after a moment's pause.

"Madoka-san, Misa-san, and Sakurako-san of course," she said. "Ako-san too. Kazumi seems to be planning on staying around the city as well; I think she found a master seer to train her. Nodoka-san and Yue-san will be going to the university, but some of the others...did you know Makie's mother has prepared for an arranged marriage for her?"

"What?" Asuna asked.

"I hope she isn't taking it too seriously, is she?" Konoka asked. Arranged marriage in this day and age? Honestly...! All Makie had to do was hit her mother with a hammer and everything would be solved, obviously.

Ayaka shook her head, more irritably than ever. "She is convinced the boy is a monster, but she loves her mother too much to say it."

They sat in silence as everyone thought about the cheerful girl and the way she had been crying earlier. Everyone had thought it was just Makie being Makie and overreacting to the high school graduation ceremony—Makie should know better, everyone had a much more important connection than just school—but now it suddenly made sense.

"Nah, she won't stand for it too long. Makie may be stupid, but she's not that stupid," Asuna said, shaking her head.

Ayaka raised an eyebrow as she looked over at her. "You are calling someone else stupid?" she asked.

Asuna rolled her eyes and lightly punched Ayaka in the arm.

"That's more like it," Ayaka said. The four of them sat there in silence for a moment. "So I take it you three will be coming back?"

Asuna just blinked for a moment. What the hell? WHAT. THE. HELL. "Of course we're gonna come back! What, did you think we could just abandon him?"

Ayaka smiled and nodded to herself. "Very well. It's a promise. I believe that's your train," she said, gesturing toward a train that had just slowed to a stop. "Take care," she said as she stood up.

Asuna, Konoka, and Setsuna stood up as well. Asuna paused a moment, looking back at the class rep.

"Don't go molesting any little boys, Iincho," she said, drawing a few concerned looks from the other travelers.

"Don't go kidnapping any old men, violent monkey," Ayaka said, waving lightly as she walked away, not looking back.

"I'm not a monkey!" Asuna shouted after her.

"Come on Asuna, it's time to go," Konoka said, taking her arm.

"Yeah...yeah," Asuna said as she tried to get her thoughts under control. "Okay, off to Kyoto~!" she said with a cheer she did not feel. '...I hope he'll be all right...'

Author's Notes: Okay, so here's the first chapter of Still Waters 3. Note the date at the top of the chapter; the dates will become important as the story progresses, so don't forget to check them as you read. Anyway, as for this chapter, it's more of a prologue sort of thing really, but...eh... Anyway, it's class 3-A's high school graduation, and they are now unleashed upon the world. What will happen? Where will they go? What will they do? Some of this has been answered in some of my shorter stories, but as for the rest... Well, you'll just have to catch the next chapter to find out, won't you? Enjoy.