Period 10: Baka White

"Good morning Mero-chan." Konoemon said as the mysterious girl walked into his office.

"You wanted to see me principal sensei?" She said.

"Yes. Please have a seat." After a moment of hesitation, Mero pulled out the chair and sat.

"I won't keep you long." He said. "I'm sure you'll want to get to the closing ceremony."

"Not particularly." She said flatly.

"Oh, okay then. How are you adjusting to Mahora so far? I know it must be difficult transferring in right before the end of the term. Is there anything we can do to make you more comfortable here?"

"No."

Konoemon scratched his head. This conversation was not going the way he had hoped.

"Well, I don't wan't to take up any more of your time. Just one more question before you go. Have you ever heard of library island?"

"Yes. I explored that island last week."

"What?!" Konoemon jumped up in shock.

In hindsight it may not have been a good idea to reveal to the leader of the Kanto magic association that she had broken into his library. She made the same mistake when she told Asuna she knew latin. If this mission was going to be successful she would have to be more clever with her deceptions.

"You mean to tell me you actually managed to get in and out of library island all by yourself?!"

"No."

"What . . ?"

"I have never heard of library island."

"Huh . . . O . . . kay" Konoemon was at a loss. She clearly just admitted she broke into the library. She immediately denied it, but it was technically a confession . . . right? Either way he didn't have any actual proof.

"Am I free to go now?"

"Er, yes of course."

"Well," He said to himself after she left. "What are we going to do about this?"

X

The closing ceremony was fairly short. Konoemon gave a speech and officially introduced Negi as the newest teacher to the school, then they were all released for spring break.

"Ahh finally!" Sakurako said stretching her arms above her head. "Spring break is here!"

"Lot's of stuff happened this semester." Konoka said. "Negi-kun became our new teacher, Mero-chan transferred in, and we even managed to score first place in the finals."

"Let's have an end of year party to celebrate!" Makie suggested.

"Yeah that's a great idea!" Yuna agreed.

"Negi-kun, have you ever done Sakura viewing?" Makie asked Negi.

"Oh you mean japanese cherry blossoms right?" Negi said. "No I haven't. I think they're in season now right?

"Then it's settled!" She shouted. "Let's have a sakura viewing topping the year party!"

"Yeah!" Her classmates cheered.

"You're coming right Mero-chan?" Yuna said.

"No." She said. "Sorry, but I have something to do today."

"Come on!" Yuna exclaimed. "It's spring break, what could you possibly have to do? Just hang out with us!"

"Mero-san," Nodoka said quietly. "You traveled with us to library island, and helped us study for the final. You contributed to this day just as much as any of us. Won't you come and celebrate with us?"

". . . " She seemed to consider it for a moment.

"Hey Mero-chan," Makie said. "It's not just the view, we'll bring snacks too." She flinched just a little.

"Snacks? Like anmitsu?" She asked.

"Sure! We can make some mochi, and taiyaki too!"

"Well, I suppose I can join you for a short while." She mumbled.

"Ha ha, if you want to get Mero-chan to go somewhere, all you need to do is bribe her with sweets." Makie chuckled.

"Makie-san what exactly do you mean by that?"

"Don't mind it Mero-chan! Right now let's party!"

That afternoon most of 2-A had gathered under a sakura tree on a hill overlooking the campus. The cherry blossoms had already began to bloom. A gentle breeze carried the pink petals up into the sky, where they shimmered in the sunlight.

"It's so beautiful!" Negi breathed.

"Heh, I knew you would say that." Asuna said.

"What is this?" Mero asked holding up a sweet bun.

"Hm? It's manju" Yuna answered.

"Manju? I see." She said before biting into it and filling her mouth with sweet bean paste. "Mmmm."

"Hey Mero-chan why don't take a look over here?" Makie said gesturing to the horizon.

Reluctantly she looked up from her food out to the sakura trees. It reminded her of the view from the grave keeper's palace in the magic world. Sitting on the hill above the massive city-like campus was akin to standing over the ruins of the destroyed capital of Vespertatia, only in this case the city was full of warmth and life.

"It's beautiful isn't it?"

"Yes." She said softly.

"What's with that serious look?" Yuna said. "This is supposed to be a party!" She slapped her on the back. Mero jumped up and instinctively raised her hands. She had to physically stop herself from attacking the other girl. The result looked more like she just flailed and fell over clumsily. The two girls just stared at each other awkwardly. A moment passed and Yuna burst out laughing. Mero slowly sat back down.

"Don't . . . do that."

"Come on loosen up a bit!" Yuna said chugging her drink. "We're all here to have fun!"

"Actually," Makie said, "I think she just came for the food." Mero glared at her.

"Don't be like that Mero-chan. After all we've been through we're close enough to joke around with each other. You're practically a baka ranger yourself!"

". . . What?"

"That's a good point." Konoka said. "She has been spending a lot of time with the rangers hasn't she?"

"So would that make her baka white then?" Haruna wondered.

"Oooh, I like that!" Yuna said.

"Somehow that kinda fits." Asuna said turning to Mero. "'Baka White'"

"Don't call me that." Mero said wrinkling her forehead.

"Now that I think about it, even though she's really smart she can act surprisingly silly at times." Makie said. Asuna was trying her hardest not to laugh. A muscle above Mero's eye twitched involuntarily.

"Were only kidding Mero-chan." Makie reached out a hand to pat her on the shoulder, but Mero grabbed her wrist and held it like a vice.

"Hey don't be so rough." She winced, and tried to pull her hand back. She couldn't break Mero's grip and lost her balance. She latched on to the other girl for support and pulled her down with her. They both tumbled down the hill landing in a tangled heap.

"Hey are you guys okay?" Asuna called.

"Ugh, yeah." Makie replied. She had collapsed on top of Mero, and when she tried to push herself up with her hands she felt something soft under her palm.

"Ah." A soft voice moaned. Makie looked down and went bright red when she saw her hand cupped around Mero's left breast.

"S-Sorry Mero-chan." Her classmate made a face that might have been anger or annoyance. "It's surprisingly soft." Makie said involuntarily giving her breast a another squeeze."

"Mnnth."

Their other classmates reached the base of the hill just as Mero launched the pink haired girl into the air.

"Uwaaa!" Makie tumbled through the air before landing in a summersault and rolling to safety. "What was that for Mero-chan?!"

"Wow. Mero-san is quite strong isn't she?" Negi observed.

"Yeah you could say that." Asuna said scratching her cheek.

"Oooo, that was a great throw aru!" Ku shouted. "Come on, Mero let's have a match!" She raised her hands in a kung fu stance.

"No." She answered bluntly, but it was too late. Ku ran up to her and threw a punch. At such a close range it sailed straight through her magic barrier and hit her square in the jaw. Ku froze in place.

"Oops . . . " Clearly she hadn't been expecting to actually hit her. "Uh sorry Mer-Gwaah!" Before she could finish Mero thrust her open palm into her skull. "Ha ha, thats more like it aru!" She laughed happily exchanging blows with her classmate.

"Ten meal tickets on Mero!" Yuna Shouted.

"Twenty on Ku!" Makie shouted back!"

"No, please girls you mustn't fight!" Negi pleaded.

"Rather than 'fighting' this seems more like a playground scuffle." Said Asuna.

"R-Really? He wondered.

Give it your all baka white! I've got fifteen meal tickets riding on you!" Haruna cried.

"I told you not to call me tha- gah!" Distracted by her new nickname, Mero took another blow to the face.

X

"Ugh." Mero sighed after the party. "These fools are exhausting." She opened her book as she walked down the street. She had been reading up on the world tree, and what she discovered confirmed her suspisions. Veins of magical energy intersected and pooled together in that spot. Probably for centuries. If she could access it she would have a direct line to the Earth's mana supply. Once she entered the plaza she immediately spotted the tree. It was massive, easily towering over the surrounding buildings. There was no way an ordinary tree could grow that large without magic. In hindsight, she should have started her search here in the first place. She put her hand to the tree trunk and concentrated. "Yes." She felt the mana tingling her fingertips, spreading out into the tree and reaching down into the earth. All she had to do was prepare the right spells, and everything would be ready for their final operation in six months. But wait, something was wrong. She could sense the mana yes, but why was it so weak? Energy from all over the planet was flowing to this point. It should be overwhelming, but she barely felt anything. She began to panic. This couldn't be right, she had to be missing something! She frantically ran around the tree searching for the power.

"Oh, this is where you went Mero."

She turned toward the voice, and was approached by two of her classmates; the twins Fuka and Fumika Narutaki. If not for the fact that Fumika had her hair tied up in buns and Fuka had her's in pig tails, she doubted she would be able to tell them apart.

"Narutatki-sans, sorry to be rude but please leave. I am very busy right now."

"Busy?" Fuka snickered mischievously. "Could it be you know about the legend of the world tree?"

"Onee-chan don't tease her." Fumika scolded her older sister.

"Legend?" That caught her attention. "Please tell me!"

"Acording to legend," Fuka explained. "Anyone who confesses their love under the world tree will have their wish granted!"

"Haaa . . . ?" Mero tilted her head in disbelief. "But what about the magic?!"

"Yeah, some people say it's magic, but no one really knows."

"Onee-chan, that only applies during the cultural festival."

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"Oh, I guess you wouldn't know about it. There's a big culture festival in July. On the third day of the festival the tree glows, and that's when your wishes come true."

"It glows?"

"Yeah, something about luminescent moss I think."

Mero didn't believe that for a second. Maybe the magic power took time to accumulate. It would explain the glowing, and that amount of magic could certainly respond to strong desires.

"I see . . ." She stroked her chin.

"So, who are you planning on confessing to?" Fuka chuckled.

"Huh?"

"C'mon, don't deny it. The only reason people come here is because they're in love!"

"Onee-chan you're being rude!" Fumika said. Her older sister ignored her.

"So who's the lucky boy huh?"

"There really isn't one." She answered.

"Oh, it's a girl then?" She snickered.

"The two of you have given me a lot to think about. Now if you don't mind I'd like to be alone for a while."

"Yeah sure. Sorry for intruding. Come on onee-chan." Fumika said pushing her sister down the path.

Mero spent the rest of the afternoon casting empathetic spells to link her to the world tree. She bound herself to it so she could sense any fluctuations or increases in it's magic. Of course it was still as low as it had been when she first checked, but if what the Narutaki's had said was true that should change just in time for the eternal garden to activate. She had to contact cosmo entelechaia. It seems her job as still not over