The Secret Behind Setsuna's Ponytail

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. Otherwise, this story would've been part of the Negima manga.

Chapter 3- Secrets Revealed

Setsuna walked in and noticed the group that had gathered. "I see there'll be a big group for your dinner, Ojou-sama," she said.

"Secchan, stop calling me that!" she snapped. "Call me Kono-chan, or Konoka at least."

"Sorry, Ojou-sama," Setsuna replied. "I am honor-bound to call you Ojou-sama."

"Whatever," Konoka muttered. "Its time for dinner!"

The seven of then sat down to the lovely dinner and began to eat.

"Evangeline, I know how Sayo-san is capable of eating, but how in the world is Chachamaru is capable of consuming food?" Asuna asked.

"Simple," Evangeline responded. "Satomi installed a special device where Chachamaru's 'stomach' is suppose to be. It converts organic matter, or food, into magical energy, which Chachamaru runs off of."

"Oh," everyone else said. "Interesting."

As dinner came to a close and everyone (except Evangeline, of course) was cleaning up, Konoka decided to ask Setsuna the question that what was on everyone's minds.

"Secchan, I have a question for you," said Konoka.

"What is it, Ojou-sama?" replied Setsuna.

"Kono-chan, Secchan," said Konoka. "As for my question, here's what I wanted to ask. Secchan, why do you wear your hair in a ponytail off to the left side of your head?"

Everyone intensely stared at Setsuna, awaiting an answer from her. At the same time, Setsuna was severely blushing. After a minute, she said, "You don't remember at all, do you, Ojou-sama?"

"Would you please stop calling me that and what do you mean?" Konoka asked.

Setsuna closed her eyes, took a deep breath, thought for a moment, and opened her eyes again. "It was years ago. Back when we were kids, when Ojou-sama and I first met. One day, Ojou-sama mentioned that she liked people with short hair. In an effort to get more into her graces, I attempted to cut my hair by myself. Unfortunately, I did a horrible job and my hair was all messed up. I spent the better part of a day trying to fix it and to hide from her. Sadly, Kono-chan… I mean Ojou-sama found out. She then spent the rest of the day trying to help me fix my hair into something decent. At the end of the day, the only thing that was half-decent was wearing my hair in a ponytail off to the left, which is how it is right now. I've always worn my hair like this most of the time since then, even after my became normal again, because Kono-chan said that my hairstyle was lovely and unique…" Setsuna blushed deeply. "Uuhhhh… forget that last part, would you?"

Everyone glared at Setsuna and Konoka, like they had just gotten confirmation of something they've wanted to know about for a long time now. Setsuna and Konoka, to a lesser degree, were blushing feverously. After this went on for about 2 minutes, Konoka finally broke the silence. "Secchan, can I please talk to you alone?" she asked.

"Yes, Ojou-sama," said Setsuna. Konoka grabbed Setsuna's hand and they walked out of the room.

"Should we follow?" Asuna asked.

"No need to," answered Evangeline. She muttered a few words and a hand mirror appeared in her hand. "We'll just use this to watch and listen in." They all crowded around Evangeline and peered into the mirror.

Konoka led Setsuna to a tree just outside the dorm. Konoka motioned for Setsuna to sit down and they both did.

"Secchan, you've been wearing your hair like this for all these years because of all that and I said it was lovely?" Konoka asked.

"Y-yes," Setsuna murmured, looking down at the ground, blushing badly.

Konoka grabbed Setsuna in a tight hug. "That makes me so happy!" she yelled to the heavens. "You were always thinking about me, even in the years we were separated! I feel relieved now."

"Why do you say that?" Setsuna said.

"Because, Secchan," replied Konoka. "I've been thinking about you everyday for the last 10 years, ever since you ostracized me." ("She knows what ostracized means and used it properly?" Negi thought.)

Setsuna's blush deepened. "Ojou-sama, that's quite flattering."

"Thank you, Secchan. And it's Kono-chan." They were both quiet for a minute or so, blushing. Konoka then broke the silence. "Secchan, after hearing all this, I have to ask you: Secchan, do you love me? Many people, including Asuna-chan, Eva-san, and even Negi-kun say you love me!"

Setsuna immediately jumped up. "What!? What are you talking about? Its inappropriate for you to say stuff like that!"

Konoka immediate stood up. "Shut up, Setsuna!" The secret observers and Setsuna were taken aback by the change in attitude, even Evangeline.

"Ojou-sama…" Setsuna muttered.

"Stop calling me that!" she yelled. "I hate being called Ojou-sama! That title's too stiff for me! Why is it that you're so oblivious? You don't listen to me and you can never seem to take a hint! I've been dropping hints for a long time now, ever since the Kyoto trip. And whenever I bring up the subject of us, you freak out and think it's a joke! Well, guess what? I'm not joking! There's something I've been needing you to know for a long time now and I'm going to tell you right now, seeing as how you won't figure it out any other way and you're too proud to do something about it! I am in love. I am in love with you Setsuna!"

Konoka fell to her knees, weeping in her hands. All were shocked at her surprise confession. After standing in pure shock for a minute, Setsuna also fell to her knees, right in front of Konoka. She moved Konoka's hands from her face and looked into her eyes.

"O… Kono-chan, I'm so sorry," Setsuna started as she hugged her. "I've been so concerned with fulfilling my duty, I've completely forgotten to consider you. I am such a fool. I don't deserve to be friends with you. But before you decide to permanently remove me from your life, there's something you need to know. Kono-chan, I'm also in love. I'm in love with the perfect girl. I've always been in love. Do you know who this person is? I have fallen completely in love with you, Kono-chan, and I'm sorry that I didn't say it sooner. I allowed my foolish pride and honor blind me."

Setsuna got up and turned to leave, but Konoka grabbed her hand. Setsuna stopped where she stood. They turned to face each other. "Silly Secchan," Konoka whispered as their faces came closer. The next thing anyone knew, Konoka and Setsuna's lips met in a perfect, harmonious, soft, passionate kiss. When Kasumi saw this, she started snapping photos of the images in the hand mirror. They kept it up until they needed to come up for air. "I'm the happiest I've ever been," Konoka commented. "Same here," said Setsuna. "We should do something about your hair. I don't want it to be lovely and unique. I want it to be gorgeous." "Okay then, Kono-chan. I trust you."

The next day, Konoka and Setsuna walked into class, hand in hand. Everyone noticed them come in. What caught the class' attention was definitely not the hand holding, but Setsuna's hair. Instead of it being in its signature side ponytail, her hair was French braided, made into a ponytail coming off the back, not the side, of her head. Immediately, the class began saying how much they loved Setsuna's hair.

After a couple of minutes, Chisame Hasegawa, secretly the net idol Chiu, approached them, holding a newspaper.

"Apparently, the two of you are quite photogenic," she commented.

"What are you talking about?" Konoka asked.

Chisame handed them the newspaper and walked away. Konoka and Setsuna unrolled the paper. It was the school paper. On the front page was a giant photo of Konoka and Setsuna in a lip-lock. Their faces quickly turned red. Overcome with embarrassment, the two of them fainted. Ako Izumi and Chisuru Naba went over to check on them. Over at Negi's desk, Negi, Asuna, Evangeline, Sayo, and Kazumi were laughing. Chachamaru just stood there.

"Was it really alright to do that?" Negi asked.

"Its okay," Kazumi said. "They'll live."

"I hate to admit it, but this little adventure left me rather amused," Eva added.

"Yeah, we should do something like this again," said Asuna.

"Odds of a similar adventure occurring: 78 percent," Chachamaru commented.

"I happen to have a few ideas we could explore, if that's alright," Sayo interjected.

The six of them talked like that until the bell rang and Negi started his lessons.

"Man, what else could 3-A have in store for me? And to think, as a mage, I've seen everything…"

And so, a KonoSetsu romance begins! What did you think of my first fanfic? Please R&R!