Ah! Megami-Sama was created by Fujishima Kosuke, and while I might wish I owned the series, I don’t.

I wouldn’t mind owning Negima, either, but I don’t. It belongs to Akamitsu Ken.

Exchange Student

Lesson Four: Visiting Friends

Belldandy looked around the back yard. There were several scorch marks on trees and rocks, a few books lying about, and both Yue and Skuld looked rather winded.

"It appears as though there has been some studying going on."

"Ummm...yes." Skuld looked a bit abashed.

Belldandy sighed, and closed her eyes. "Re-trace and re-spin." Her hands moved in circles, and the damage, slight as it was, faded as though it had never happened. Belldandy opened her eyes again.

"Yue, I told your mother that there would be no studying."

"But you didn’t promise her." Yue was getting wise in the ways of Goddesses.

"None the less, I would feel remiss if I did not stop it now." She paused. "I ignored it for the first hour, but I think you and Skuld have reached your limits."

- - - - -

"Mom gets results by screaming," said Yue. "Your sister just has to say something quietly."

"She has that knack," chuckled Skuld.

"So your friend Sentaro," said Yue. "How far away did he move?"

"Just across the river."

Yue stopped, and turned to look at Skuld. "Just...across the river?"

"Well, that puts about ten city blocks between us," said Skuld. "But I don’t have the money to go visit him, nor a bicycle of my own, so..."

"And you can’t walk?"

"I could. But..." Skuld sighed. "I’m a bit nervous about leaving Nekomi in general."

"Ah."

"You see, I’m on Midgard on a student visa, and I’m not sure how far I can travel on that. Most of Nekomi is considered part of the university grounds, so I think I’m safe as long as I stay here."

"You could ask."

Skuld came to a full stop. "Ask...whom?"

"How about your sister?"

Skuld smacked her forehead. "Duh!" She looked up. "But I’d really rather not...well, I don’t feel...right...talking about visiting Sentaro."

"Does she disapprove?"

Skuld shook her head. "Not at all. In fact, she told me once that meeting Sentaro was the best thing that could have happened to me."

"Then ask her," said Yue. "If needs be, just ask her how far you can travel without violating your visa."

"Now I feel like an idiot," grumbled Skuld.

"The smartest of people sometimes don’t see the perfectly obvious," said Yue.

- - - - -

"So across the river is no problem?"

Skuld gave Yue a thumbs up. "Nope! In fact, my visa covers the entire Northern Hemisphere. Sis didn’t tell me why the Southern wasn’t included, but..."

"This is great!" gushed Nodoka. "So when are you going to visit him?"

"Just after lunch," said Skuld.

"Well, I’m sure we can find ways to amuse ourselves here," said Yue. "We don’t want to be in the way between you two."

Skuld’s face turned bright red. "It’s...not like that."

Nodoka raised her card. "I think it is."

"Crap." Skuld sighed. "I’m starting not to like that book."

There was a knock at the door. Grateful for the save, Skuld turned and opened it.

Belldandy smiled down at her. "Lunch will be ready in ten minutes. You might not have gotten engine grease on your hands today, but still, please remember to wash them before eating."

"Okay, Sis."

"And I made an extra-large batch of brownies today. When you go to visit Sentaro, can you take him some as a present?"

Skuld’s jaw dropped. "You knew--?"

"I’m your sister. I know you quite well." She smiled a bit more broadly. "And you never were very good at hiding things."

"Oh."

"Are you able to take the other two girls as well?"

Yue broke in. "Actually, Belldandy, we wanted to stay here, if it’s all right with you."

Belldandy paused. "I certainly would not mind, but I think Skuld would prefer you to go with her."

"Sis--"

"After all, friends should spend time together!"

Skuld rolled her eyes. "Yes, I wanted to take them with me. But they’re insisting I should spend time alone with Sentaro."

"Skuld-sama," broke in Nodoka. "We’re not trying to force you to do something you don’t want. We’re offering to give you the space, should you feel you need it."

"Well, thank you for offering, but I’d be just as happy to take you with me," said Skuld. "I don’t know if I have the nerve to face him alone."

"Okay!" Nodoka grinned. "So how are we getting there? Train?"

"Train?" Skuld scoffed. "How Human. No, we’re going to teleport."

- - - - -

"Skuld?" Keiichi stuck his head into the dining room. "The furo is full, and nice and hot."

"Thank you, Keiichi." Skuld jumped to her feet. "Are you two ready?"

"We’ve been ready for half an hour," said Yue. She glanced down at the table, where six juice boxes of assorted flavours sat. "Well, except for one little detail..."

"I’ve got the brownies, got the automatic wheel trueing jig I built him...anything else I need? Do I look all right?"

Nodoka giggled. "Just a friend."

"Well, I don’t want my friends to think I’m some kind of slob."

"Should we tell her about the chain grease on her cheek?"

"What?" Skuld turned and looked in the mirror, then scowled back at Yue. "That wasn’t very nice."

"You need to calm down, Skuld, or we’ll never get there." Yue examined the juice boxes on the table, then picked up two and stuffed them in her backpack. "Okay. Ready to go."

"Why did Keiichi tell you about the bath, if we’re just before leaving?" asked Nodoka.

"I can only teleport through hot water," said Skuld.

"Yes, you mentioned that," said Yue. "Are you sure it’s safe to just jump into his house?"

"No. That’s why we’re aiming for a park nearby." She led the two Mortals to the bathroom, then held out her hands. "Each of you, grab a hand." She waited until she had a firm grip on both girls. "Okay, on the count of three, hold your breath and jump into the furo."

Nodoka’s hand was like a vise around her own, but she ignored the discomfort. Yue seemed much more relaxed.

"One...two...three!"

As she expected, the Mortal girls were slow off their feet in the jump, but she’d planned it that way. Her toes touched the water, and charged it with the energy of the Gate. It opened beneath them, and they fell through the Gate.

The sensations of Gate travel are at best difficult to explain to those whose senses are bound to only four dimensions. When they jumped in, they were travelling feet first; when they emerged, they were travelling straight up. Skuld alighted on the pavement with the confidence of long practice. Yue pitched forward onto hands and knees; Nodoka fell over backwards, her skirt flipping up over her belly. She pushed it down hurriedly, blushing, then sat up.

Yue pushed herself back on her heels. "Well, it’s a park," she observed. She glanced over her shoulder, to see an old man, gaping at them, and a cup of tea, spilled on the ground. "I assume we came in through that gentleman’s tea?"

"Yep." Skuld helped Nodoka to her feet.

"Sure that’s safe? Just teleporting in like that? What if he tells someone?"

Skuld turned to help Yue, but the long-haired girl was already getting to her feet. "Think about it, Yue. We just popped into existence over his tea, and carried on like it was an everyday occurrence." She grinned. "Would you tell anyone?"

- - - - -

Skuld knocked hesitantly on the door. Someone said something from inside, then the door opened and a young woman looked out. "Oh. Skuld-chan! A pleasure to see you again."

"Good evening, Fujishima-san." Skuld bowed to the woman.

"I take it you’re here to see Sentaro. He just left, but you might catch him at the--"

"The bike park." Skuld grinned. "Well, it’s not far from here. It was nice to see you again."

"And you."

- - - - -

"Got all worked up, and he wasn’t even there." Yue rolled her eyes.

"We’ll find him," said Skuld stubbornly. "Even if we have to walk all over this town."

"Still, the name seems familiar...Fujishima Sentaro...and he’s into bikes in a big way?"

"Very much so," said Skuld.

"I think I know him," said Yue. "I think we were in the same primary school."

"Really?"

"Well, I knew someone named Sentaro who was into bikes, but I don’t remember his family name...It might have been Fujishima..." She trailed off as she realized that Skuld was looking at her oddly. "What?"

"Nothing." Skuld sniffed, and turned to face forward.

"Oho? A bit jealous?" Yue leaned forward, so that she could see Skuld’s face.

"Not in the slightest!"

"Well, that’s just as good," said Yue. "Because I can only barely remember him, and he wasn’t that interesting a person to me."

"That’s not very nice!" exclaimed Nodoka.

"I don’t think you quite understand what I meant," said Yue. "I mean that he and I didn’t have much in common, didn’t talk much...he was just a kid in the class. How much time do you spend with Hakase, or Kasuga, or Rainyday?"

"Oh. But it sounded so harsh."

"Hey, there he is!" Skuld pointed towards a bicycle trick ramp.

He was in the midst of a complicated trick. Yue knew little about bikes, but she was certain that they were not meant to be upside down. The boy brought it around, his nose wheel catching the ramp at just the right angle, and rolled out, turning off the trick ramp.

"Sentaro!" She waved.

"Hey, Skuld!" He rode over to her, hopping off the bike and grinning. "How’ve you been?"

"Pretty good. You?"

"Well, I finally managed to pull of that five-forty, three times in a row." He glanced over at Yue and Nodoka. "Who’re your friends?"

"Ayase Yue and Miyazaki Nodoka," said Skuld. "Two of my new classmates."

"New classmates? Did you transfer to another school?"

"Yes," said Skuld. Her face was suddenly troubled-looking. "And I don’t know where it is exactly..."

"Mahora," supplied Yue.

"Mahora?" Sentaro wrinkled his nose. "That’s clear across the other side of Tokyo...a bit far to cycle. But it’s an escalator school. Plus, its reputation is kinda sketchy..."

"But it’s the only school that offers the courses I need to take," said Skuld. "I wasn’t very happy about having to go, but Sis insisted."

Sentaro glanced over at Yue and Nodoka. "Is this for the...well, the cool stuff you and your sisters can do?"

"Yes. And these two know all about it, so you don’t have to talk around them."

"Oh. But it’s kinda crowded here." Sentaro grinned. "Did you bring your bike?"

"I still don’t have one of my own," admitted Skuld.

"Banpei-kun is cool, but we need to get you something muscle-powered," said Sentaro. "What about you two? Do you cycle?"

Yue shook her head. "Never got into the habit."

"I don’t have the co-ordination." Nodoka seemed more at ease with Sentaro than she did with most males.

"You don’t need co-ordination," said Sentaro. "Bikes are self-balancing."

Skuld sniffed. "You told me once that bikes were fun because they can crash, and now you’re telling me that they can’t?"

"They can. But a person determined not to crash, won’t. Since you learned the trick to riding a bike, have you crashed?"

"Well...no."

"There you go, then." He grinned, then reached into his pocket. "I’ve got a bit of money..." He pulled it out, and his face fell. "But not enough to buy four drinks."

Yue smirked, and pulled out her own wad. "I can manage all four. In fact, let’s go get some ice cream."

Skuld’s face lit up.

- - - - -

"So I was almost upside down," said Sentaro, "and feeling pretty good about myself because I’d just nailed that five-forty, on a steeper angle than I’d ever done it before. And Skuld yells out at me."

"What did she say?" asked Yue.

Sentaro blushed a bit. "I...didn’t really catch it."

"She yelled out, ’You’re so cool!’" supplied Nodoka. "He didn’t really want to admit it."

"How do you keep doing that?" scowled Sentaro. "Anyway, I blew the landing, nearly taco’ed the front wheel, and I’m seconds away from becoming a red smear on the pavement."

"I yelled out for Banpei-kun," supplied Skuld. "But I’d forgotten that he was in overhaul."

"Overhaul?"

"He’s a robot."

Yue nodded. "Okay."

"And suddenly, a wave of water came crashing up and caught me," continued Sentaro. "I had no idea where it came from. When it stopped, I was sitting on the ramp, soaked, and Skuld was running up to me." He paused. "I could--well, I thought I saw something."

"Wings," supplied Nodoka.

"Yes, wings." Sentaro scowled again. "She’d told me that she was a Goddess, but I didn’t really believe her."

"And why not?" Skuld asked. "Goddesses can’t lie, you know."

"No, but us mere Mortals have no problems with it," said Yue. "What’s the difference between a Goddess who can’t prove it, or a Mortal who claims to be divine?"

"So that’s how I came to learn that she was really a Goddess." Sentaro paused. "What about you, Yue?"

"She didn’t really do anything herself to give it away," admitted Yue. "But when Belldandy changed right in front of me--"

"What? Do they have some kinda tattoo?"

Yue waved a hand. "That wasn’t it. It was the fact that she just glowed, and her clothing changed. Like magic."

Sentaro frowned. "But that could have been magic, right?"

"It was magic," admitted Yue. "But not a sort that I was familiar with. And I am familiar with just about every kind of magic out there."

"Should we be discussing this with him?" asked Nodoka.

"He already knows more about the magical world than most mundanes," said Yue. "Besides, I doubt he’s going to tell anyone that his Goddess girlfriend brought two Mages over to have ice cream with him."

"She’s not my girlfriend," muttered Sentaro.

Nodoka glanced down at her book, but for once, chose not to blurt out what was in it. Skuld, on the other hand, darkened.

"Then what exactly am I?"

"Well, you’re a really good friend," said Sentaro. "But it’s not like we’ve ever gone on a date or anything."

"We’ve spent a lot of time together," argued Skuld. "And I’d like to think that--" She stopped.

Yue leaned forward. "Tell me, Sentaro. Do you want her to be your girlfriend."

Sentaro scowled again. "I think that that’s not something for you to be asking me." His head turned to Nodoka. "Close that damned book!"

Skuld leaped across the table, but Nodoka quickly muttered "Abeat!", and the book vanished.

"That’s not fair," whined Skuld. "Asking him that so you could read his thoughts!"

"That wasn’t why I was asking," said Yue. "I’m not interested in peeping on my friends’ thoughts. I just want to help my friends stop being idiots."

Skuld sat down again, scowling.

"I swear," muttered Yue, "You two are as bad as Nodoka and Negi."

"Or you and Negi?" asked Skuld.

"Or me and Negi," admitted Yue. "Or for that matter, me and Nodoka."

"What about me?" Nodoka looked even more nervous.

"We’re supposed to be rivals, remember?" asked Yue. "But not only do we remain friends, we even help each other with chasing him, and for that matter, help other girls with it too. Like Ako, Asuna, Setsuna...hell, even Konoka."

Sentaro picked up his can of cola. "How many girls are actually chasing this guy?" Yue paused to add them up on her fingers before answering.

"Twelve."

She scowled as she wiped cola off her face.

"Twelve?"

"At last count. I may have missed a few. Of course, Ako is more interested in his ’cousin’, and I’m not sure what Evangeline is really after."

"There are twelve girls chasing him, and you want to throw your hand in that pot? Are you two insane?"

"Quite possibly," said Yue.

"He’s worth chasing," mumbled Nodoka.

"He’d have to be," said Sentaro. "He must be very handsome."

"Fair to middling," allowed Yue.

"Really smart, then?"

"Yes," said Nodoka. "Plus, he’s got drive. He knows what he wants, and he’s not going to let anything get in his way."

"Twelve girls," muttered Sentaro. He glanced over at Skuld. "I’m really glad that this school is an all-girls school. I wouldn’t want you to start chasing him, too."

"I wouldn’t," said Skuld. "He’s too young for me."

"Too young...?" Sentaro frowned. "How old is he?"

"Ten."

"...Ten."

Skuld nodded.

"Well, he’d be in a different school anyway, then."

"He’s our teacher," said Nodoka.

Sentaro set down his cola can, lest he douse Yue once again. "Teacher."

"Yes."

"And he’s a Mage, I take it?"

"Yes."

"Is there anything normal about him?"

Nodoka considered this, then said, "Not really, no. That’s why we like him."

OMAKE

"Fujishima?" Skuld chuckled. "Your family name is Fujishima?"

"Hey, Kosuke-san never gave me a family name," objected Sentaro. "So I figured I’d just take his!"

"Or maybe he’s an author avatar," said Nodoka.

Yue nodded. "That must be it. He’s a self-insert!"

"No!" Sentaro waved his hands. "That’s not it! Besides, if I were a self-insert, wouldn’t I be chasing Belldandy?"

"Belldandy?" Skuld blinked.

"Of course! She’s the star of the comic, right? Not to mention way more attractive. It’s obvious that Kosuke-san spends more time on her than on you. Just look at her—" Sentaro paused, noting for the first time that Skuld was quite obviously pissed.

"...I mean, it’s a pity...Oh hell."

"DIE!"