Still Waters Series

The Still Waters Series is a group of stories set in an alternate version of the Mahou Sensei Negima universe written by Redpbass.

Still Waters Run Deep - In the city of Mahora in early June of 2003, a stranger appears, looking for a certain girl. The initially minor changes brought about by this new presence quickly create a ripple effect, and the story takes a path divergent from canon as things rapidly go out of control.

Still Waters 2: Another Turn - Now that the incidents from before have been dealt with, the school tries to fall back into its old rhythm. However, miles and miles away in a secret location, a team of scientists and engineers are poring over the remains of a certain robot with potential military applications...

Still Waters 3, Book 1 - The year is 2009, and Negi's old class has graduated from high school. Still a teacher at Mahora, Negi has had many students over the years, and has achieved a reputation among the faculty for being the perfect teacher for all of Mahora's less ordinary students. After taking a year off to recover and help out at an archaeological site in Tibet, Negi returns to Mahora, ready to take the reins again as a new class waits in his old classroom. But, due to events at the end of Still Waters 2, Negi's old class is coming back to town, older, wiser...and more powerful. This story is different from the others in the series. Much longer, it has been split into individual books, with the second just having been started at the time of this writing.

Still Waters 3, Book 2 - With the vampiric intruder to Mahora dealt with, life returns to normal as the city prepares for the upcoming Mahora Festival. But with summer, and the time for Negi to answer Fate's challenge from so long ago, rapidly approaches, hard decisions must be made, and those who wish to go must finish what they can on Mundus Vetus before the time comes.

In addition to these, there are a number of shorter stories and story collections (found along with the main stories of the series on the author's profile page at fanfiction.net) taking place during and between the three main entries in the series.

Tropes used in Still Waters Series include:


General

  • Academy of Adventure: Mahora, without a doubt. From psycho fire mages to robot armies invading to vampires enslaving delinquents, it seems that the campus can hardly go for more than three months without some weirdo showing up.
  • A Day in the Limelight: Several examples in the main stories, especially the first, which is largely A Day In The Limelight for Akira.
  • All There in the Manual: Much of the information about character backgrounds, newly developed powers, certain events, and other things can be found in the various short stories and story collections. The writer encourages the readers to ask questions, and will confirm or deny anything asked short of major spoilers.
  • Alternate Timeline: Starting with the arrival of Max in Mahora to Akira's kidnapping prompting the delay of the magic world arc as everyone decides to rescue her to the events of Still Waters 2 pushing things further...yeah, it's a full blown alternate timeline by the time Still Waters 3 rolls around.
  • Amusing Injuries: Happens from time to time, often to Konoemon by Shizuna via flying clipboard.
  • Apocalypse How: Class Z, type 2: the Utter Annihilation of Everything. This is what Chisame is fighting against, as revealed in Still Waters 3: Book 2, in the early chapter Intermission: Chisame's Story. Exact details are notably lacking, but it appears that some being called "The Adversary" is literally eating reality, and the job of Chisame, and the people in Hodge's Bar before her, is to fight it. Exactly why any of reality still exists is a good question at this point, one that the author swears will be properly revealed in due time.
  • Backstory: Most of the side stories serve as backstory for various characters.
  • Bash Brothers: There are several examples through the stories.
    • Max and Jennifer are hinted to be like this in Still Waters 2.
    • Taro and Possum are like this in Still Waters 3, as shown in various instances, usually in the side stories.
  • Darker and Edgier: All three of the main stories have elements of this, with several people in each dying horribly or suffering terrible fates.
  • Delinquents: They show up all the time, and are treated like Mooks.
  • Elemental Powers: This is an important aspect of the series, especially in Still Waters 1.
  • Elemental Rock-Paper-Scissors: The interaction between elements shows up quite often among Elementals (people who have a special connection with an element) and the way they interact with each other.
  • Fantasy Kitchen Sink: Naturally (considering the source material), but expanded even further.
  • Fictional Document: There are several; Dog Boy Koujirou and Magical Teacher Onion-sensei are both manga written by Haruna, and The End Time Prophecies, an enormous collection of prophecies with dozens upon dozens of volumes compiled by Merlin IV, hundreds of years ago.
  • Inn Between the Worlds: A place called Hodge's Bar; only Chisame can open the way there.
  • Killed Off for Real: Happens several times throughout the series, often in horrible ways.
  • Loads and Loads of Characters: In addition to the canon characters, each story contains a number of original characters. Still Waters 3 contains a whole new class. The writer is aware of the problems with keeping up with so many characters, so has started another short story collection, Meet The New Class which is meant to serve as an easier way to help readers keep up.
  • Mega Crossover: So far, the stories have featured characters, ideas, and groups from Mahou Sensei Negima, Tsukihime, and Love Hina, with hints of things from other continuities as well.
  • Slave Race: The Oni certainly have this going on, at least in Japan and especially in Kyoto.
  • Super-Powered Robot Meter Maids: Chachamaru of course, though Rally also counts, what with being loaded with more artillery than some small countries.
  • Swivel Chair Antics: Pretty much any time a character's sitting in a chair of this type throughout the series, they'll kick off the floor and spin around a few times.
  • This Is Reality: Used quite a few times throughout the series, with various characters telling each other "That only happens in manga, this is real life" or similar things.
  • Training from Hell: Usually implied rather than shown, though short scenes are presented here and there such as Akira's training with Max in Still Waters 1.
  • True Companions: The entire first class is like this, as well as smaller groups within it; as the series goes on, other characters are added as well.
  • Vagueness Is Coming: Occurs a few times throughout the series.

Still Waters 1

  • Armor-Piercing Slap: Oscar Marshall is on the receiving end of one of these in Chapter 18. He deserved it.
  • Bag of Holding: Kaede uses one to carry the unresponsive Arvel after Madoka's attack on him.
  • Bloodless Carnage: Justified twice: first, they were all drowned, and second they weren't real people.
  • Blood-Splattered Innocents: Misa, in a certain scene in Chapter 18.
  • Catgirl: One shows up briefly at the festival.
  • Cave Behind the Falls: In the secret valley near Kyoto; there's no hidden treasure, just a shrine to the spirit guarding the valley.
  • Crash Into Hello: How Max meets Akira.
  • Cry Into Chest: Akira does this with Max after a particularly intense spar session; it turns into a prolonged Security Cling, and finally into the two of them lying in the grass, and Akira's First Kiss. Max promptly shoves her off after realizing that it might be a bad idea.
  • Curb Stomp Battle: The qualifying round for the tournament at the festival, in chapter 8.
  • Deer in the Headlights: Max's reaction upon realizing he's just been forcibly turned into a P.E. teacher.
  • Dirty Business: What Max thinks of his mission.
  • Dirty Old Man: Played straight by Konoemon, averted by Max
  • Dueling Hackers: It looks like one of these is brewing between Nilren and Chachamaru, but the scene cuts away and the next time Nilren is shown, he's looking at the remains of his computer lying underneath an I-beam.
  • Dynamic Entry: Madoka pulls off a rage-filled one fist-first on Arvel in chapter 19.
  • Elemental Shapeshifter: Akira develops this at the end. Word of God says pretty much all of the more powerful elementals can do this.
  • Evil Former Friend: Okay, Max Linell was childhood friends with the other members of his section of the American Division. Of his childhood friends, two could be considered "evil": Arvel (who is more psychotic than evil), and Guy, Max's rival all the way from childhood on through adulthood. Guy's intense jealousy of Max's time with Rikki combined with his own constant failures at one-upping Max all through his life have pushed him over the edge, ultimately resulting in a duel to the death during the climax of Still Waters 1.
  • Fingore: Only a brief mention in Chapter 18 (happens via baseball bat), but considering the detached horror of the scene, it's still effective.
  • Flash Back: How Max knows about the Shinmeiryu and their secret valley is shown via flashback in Chapter 13.
  • Fountain of Youth: Max takes an age changing pill, turning him 18 again and revealing him to have surprisingly looked like a bad boy at that age.
  • Friendship Moment: Between Madoka, Misa, and Sakurako. When they find the scene at the bridge to Library Island, Madoka snaps and heads off alone into the city. Rather than escape across the bridge to Library Island where there is confirmed safety, Sakurako and Misa both decide to follow Madoka back into the city, where they've seen terrible things and even been attacked rather than let her go alone.
  • Genre Shift: It starts out as a mostly lighthearted romantic comedy, then Max's old friends show up...cue switch to survival/thriller.
  • Ghost City: This is what Mahora has become by the time everyone returns in chapter 17. Everyone's hiding from the crazy guy.
  • Glomp: Akira receives a "flying tackle hug" almost into a lake by Yuuna when she finds out Akira's all right.
  • Goofy Suit: Max is forced to wear one during the festival as part of the security team. No one can seem to figure out what it is; it was described as a dog, a frog, a badger, a bear...
  • Harmful to Minors: Many of the girls come across scenes of horrific violence (bodies, scenes where people fought and died, blood splashes) starting in chapter 18; how they react depends on the individual character when pushed to their psychological limits by what they've just seen.
  • Hell Is That Noise: In-universe. Again, from the scene in Chapter 18; Misa will never forget the sound of a baseball bat hitting Marlin's head.
  • I Am Not Left-Handed: Pulled by Oscar Marshall, of all people, on Akira.
  • I Don't Think That's Such a Good Idea: This is Max's reaction to Negi inviting Max (a man in his 20s who Negi barely knows, fellow mage or not) to come into an all-girls middle school; Max's intention was to point out how bad it might look for anyone who didn't know what was going on (meaning pretty much everyone else) to see him hanging out there. He does it again moments later when he finds out the girls are making a Maid Cafe. Negi just thinks it's nice to see them so energetic.
  • I Have Your Wife: Guy kidnaps Yuuna for the purpose of using her to get Akira to do what his boss wants.
  • I'll Kill You!: Arvel uses this when he falls into Kaede's trap and ends up immobilized with a couple dozen kunai sticking in him. Cue Dynamic Entry.
  • Inevitable Tournament: It's the Mahora Festival, of course there's a tournament.
  • Instant Cosplay Surprise: Happens to Akira, resulting in a Megaton Punch for Max.
  • Kill'Em All: Averted. Guy sweeps the whole class (minus a handful of girls) off the bridge to Library Island and drowns them, but it turns out they're all magic-based BodyDoubles.
  • Love At First Sight: More like 'Elemental attraction at first sight' when Max and Akira meet up for the first time and, in Max's eyes, she changes instantly from "Mission Target Who Just So Happens To Be A Girl" to "Okochi Akira"; for Akira, he immediately becomes someone she just can't leave alone. It helps that they're actually very compatible with each other.
  • Naked on Revival: Akira
  • Not Quite Dead: Several characters, notably Max and Yuuna in chapter 20.
  • Oh Crap: Pretty much every remaining villain's reaction upon Eva's arrival.
  • Panty Shot: By an unsuspecting Akira in Chapter 5, standing in front of Max seated on the ground, because of a gust of wind. Naturally, Kazumi snaps a quick picture of the scene to use for blackmail.
  • Playboy Bunny: Akira finds herself dressed up as one; the fact that Max is there at the time earns him a Megaton Punch.
  • Rage Breaking Point: Several characters are pushed this far.
    • For Madoka, it was, after making their way through the ruins of Mahora, approaching what they thought would be safety on Library Island, but instead seeing the bodies of her friends and classmates floating in the lake in Chapter 19. For Misa and Sakurako, the incident was more of a Despair Event Horizon.
    • For Negi, it wasn't someone kidnapping a student, it wasn't even people running around trying to burn down Mahora. For Negi, it was when he finally realized that the enemy was going to use his students as bait and kill them in front of him to draw him out. What follows is a magically-enhanced punch, and a quick retreat by the enemy in question.
  • Regime Change: Occurs within the Max's section of American Division after Max is sent on his mission; the old leader, Wilder, is forcibly retired and the new leader, Oscar Marshall, takes over and immediately begins to change everything.
  • Save the Princess: Justified; Oscar Marshall has very good reasons for kidnapping her. They aren't quite sane, but she is necessary for his plans. He can't help but indulge in a little I Have You Now, My Pretty, however.
  • Shout-Out: There are several in this story.
    • Max's "Hero Unit" costume in the festival, first mentioned in Chapter 10, is based heavily on the character Balmung from the .hack series, complete with wings. Max's reaction? "I look ridiculous."
    • The character design of Marlin is based heavily on the character "Bear Walken" from the Gungrave anime.
    • Guy Sculler's character design is very similar to Dante from Devil May Cry.
  • Tap on the Head: Used by Akira on Marlin, via swimming trophy.
  • Things Get Real: Happens for Negi and some of the others in Chapter 17 when they realize the extent of what's going on in Mahora, happens for Misa in Chapter 18 when she freezes up and has to watch Madoka protecting her and Sakurako; for Konoka, she realizes the seriousness of the situation when she finds an abandoned teddy bear in the middle of the road.
  • Throwing Your Sword Always Works: From the infamous scene in Chapter 18; Sakurako pulls this off with a Tire Iron. The victim gets a bad case of Blood From the Mouth.
  • Vomit Indiscretion Shot: Yet again from the scene in Chapter 18. At the very end after the burst of extreme violence, Misa finally snaps out of it and vomits on her shoe.

Still Waters 2

  • Beam-O-War: Max briefly tries this against a dragon.
  • BFS: Briefly discussed in-story. Max Linell's pactio weapon vs. Asuna's; Max's is bigger, but neither one can be considered small.
  • Cranial Processing Unit: This is how the first prototypes of the Tanaka copies are built. This design decision is quickly changed when its disadvantages become apparent.
  • Every One Remembers the Stripper: Takane suffers from this. Again.
  • Not What It Looks Like: In chapter 6, caused by Ayaka forcing Asuna into a bathroom stall, going in after her, and locking the door behind her. Ako walks into the bathroom just in time to see them come out together, turns, and flees the scene. Ayaka just wanted to know what secret Asuna was keeping from her.
  • Replacement Goldfish: Rally Wheeler, to replace the real one who died.
  • Storming the Castle: This occurs several times, simultaneously, with different "castles".
  • Yakuza: Several Yakuza groups play a large role in the story.

Still Waters 3

  • All Guitars Are Stratocasters: Averted. Ayumi plays a Gibson SG, Kara plays a Rickenbacker bass, and the members of Dekopin Rocket are shown to own a wide, wide, WIDE variety of guitars and basses.
  • Atop a Mountain of Corpses: This is the way Asuna makes her intro; local Vigilante Man Urashima Taro is told that a stranger is in town beating up all the delinquents, so she goes to put a stop to it, only to find Asuna seated comfortably on top of a pile of unconscious street kids and delinquents. Cue Hopeless Boss Fight.
  • Bad Future: This is what the multitude of groups working desperately to fulfill various prophecies are trying to avert.
  • Battle of the Bands: Chapter 15 of Book 1. It features Ayumi's band (The No Name Band) and Misa's band (Dekopin Rocket).
  • Big Bad Ensemble: There are quite a few named characters mentioned who may count as a "Big Bad", and there may be more yet to be revealed.
    • Lucian Ramenthy: A powerful young demon from an old family looking to overthrow the current Demon King (Queen Kelory Omeris).
    • O Masashi: A gold fox youkai looking to become the new king of the youkai.
    • Ocali: Fate's mysterious boss, who is a hugely influential figure in the Megalomesembrian Senate and may or may not have his hand in all sorts of shady dealings.
    • Great Vampire Lord Zeph Castor: Leader of a group of massively powerful vampires in Mundus Magicus.
  • Can't Hold His Liquor: Akira, at the impromptu party celebrating Asuna's return to Mahora.
  • Cast Herd: Several groups are forming as the story goes on, though there are still many characters roaming around unattached or in twos and threes.
    • Dekopin Rocket/Dead Man's Hand: Kakizaki Misa, Kugimiya Madoka, Izumi Ako, and Shiina Sakurako
    • Cerulean Shields: Max Linell, Okochi Akira, Jennifer Minindry, Akashi Yuuna, and Sasaki Makie
    • White Wing Kyoto Branch: Kagurazaka Asuna, Konoe Konoka, and Sakurazaki Setsuna
    • Black Wing: Naba Chizuru, Yukihiro Ayaka, Murakami Natsumi, and Inugami Kotarou
    • No Name Band: Kobayashi Ayumi, Kara Stride, Kondo Kai, and Watanabe Miyako
    • Eva's Training Group: Urashima Taro, Possum Cade, Nakamura Sachiko, and Mochizuki Kagami
    • Max's Training Group: Abe Aiko, Yamamoto Kimi, Kondo Kai, Sato Gin, and Mako Sylvester
    • Ninja Group: Nagase Kaede, Narutaki Fuuka, Narutaki Fumika
    • Friend Group 1: Sasaki Rina, Mori Kumiko, and Inoue Ai (and sometimes Tanaka unit 1125)
  • Catgirl: This is Chisame's disguise in the magic world during Misora's arc at the end of Book 1. There is also a cat girl featured in the class trip to Kyoto.
  • Chase Fight: Several in the climax of the Misora arc of Book 1.
  • Class Trip: In Book 1. They go to Kyoto. Again.
  • Death of a Thousand Cuts: Used by the Great Vampire Lord Chaser Felix against Misora in Misora's arc in Book 1.
  • Fantastic Arousal: While this is the case with the Little Bit Beastly and Petting Zoo People (especially cat people's tails), it is also the same for oni people and their...horns, which are extremely sensitive to touch and are the source of their power.
  • Fantastic Racism: By the Youkai against the Humans, by the Demons against the Humans and Youkai, and by everyone against the Oni and the Demons.
  • Future Badass: Word of God says this will be happening in a very big way.
  • Gambit Pileup: A careful reading of the prologues, epilogues, and everything between will reveal a handful of large organizations, each with their own plans and featuring several powerful members with their own plans. Who comes out on top or becomes the biggest bad or even survives the next book is still up for grabs, though.
  • The Grim Reaper: Sophie sees a vision of Death in the form of a giant vulture with a skeletal neck and head protecting Maple Birdsong.
  • Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: Max with Akira, Max with Makie, Max with Jennifer...Max with just about anyone in the cast.
  • I Have the High Ground: Kagami does this with a street light during the defense of Mahora in the Intruder arc of Book 1 in order to get a good angle to Twilight Breaker the current bad guy through the ground.
  • I Like Those Odds: hinted at during the second prologue of the first book (Chapter 0, Time) at the preview of the final battle, as well as several times during the series as a whole.
  • Innocent Cohabitation: Negi and Asuna, and (possibly) Max, Jennifer, and Akira.
  • Knife Fight: Features quite a fight between Sociopathic Hero Gilles and Knife Nut Raddyn Sayard high up on a rooftop in Chapter 32a and 32b.
  • Lying in the Dirt Together: This is how Madoka's fight with Lucy Cade ends in chapter 26 of Book 1.
  • Modesty Towel: Asuna is seen several times in one; in Chapter 3 of Book 2, it almost wasn't big enough and she nearly lost it.
  • Skinship Grope: Several of the characters like to do this. Yuuna in particular can't seem to keep her hands to herself, and neither can Ayumi when it comes to her extremely attractive bandmate Kara.
  • Starter Villain: Jonus Hart
  • Story-Breaker Power: It is implied that Sakurako and Ako, of all people, possess this.
  • Took a Level in Badass: Virtually the entire original class has done this by the beginning of Still Waters 3.
  • Vulnerable Convoy: Misora's group ends up guarding one in the latter part of the "Misora In The Magic World" arc in Book 1.
  • Worf Effect: Fate suffers this at the hands of Chisame, of all people. When she first froze him in place with a bizarre form of magic and then dropped a mountain on him.
  • Worthy Opponent: Shows up several times, notably between Madoka and Lucy and later between Kagetaro and Sarah Mc Dougal.
  • You Are Not Alone: Happens to several members of the new class. This being a Mahou Sensei Negima fanfic, many of them have special powers, but few had found anyone else that did up until they met their classmates, and several of them had been on a downward spiral until it happened.

Ace of Spades

With Negi's class now in high school, the insanity has only begun. Sentient masks that can seize control of a person's body? Attempted blackmail? Fights? It's all here, and Madoka is the only one who can deal with it.

  • Abandoned Warehouse: Featured quite often in this story; the final showdown happens in one.
  • A Friend in Need: Nelle's situation puts her in this position, and her friends Liliana and Reiko must decide what to do.
  • Anti-Magic: Nelle sets up an anti magic field around her base. That mask isn't just old, it's also picked up a few things over the centuries. This one is so well made it even stops ghosts.
  • Big No: By Madoka in chapter 4, when after viciously beating Misa and knocking out Reiko with ease, Nelle is about to kill Misa. Nelle gets her turn in chapter 4 when Madoka starts trying to forcibly remove the mask.
  • Curb Stomp Battle: Madoka, well known now as a fighter, gets owned by Nelle, who is wearing the mask.
  • Demonic Possession: Via evil mask.
  • "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight: Chapter 4, Madoka does this while beating the tar out of Nelle.
  • It's Personal: After what Nelle does to her in Chapter 3, defeating her becomes personal for both Madoka and Misa. Madoka, because Nelle disrespected her in a very major way, and Misa because Nelle hurt Madoka. Misa is willing to let Madoka go first, however.
  • Kogal: What the villain uses as an insult in an attempt to goad Madoka into a fight. It almost works.
  • Schoolgirl Lesbians: Madoka and Misa show heavy hints of this in chapter 4.
  • Squick: In Universe. This is Liliana's reaction when she learns that the easiest way to get the evil mask off of her friend Nelle is through continuous intercourse for seven days. Straight. Without any stops. Naturally, she is horrified.
  • This Is Something He's Got to Do Himself: This is what it all boils down to in the end: Madoka versus Nelle, one on one.
  • Unwilling Suspension: This is what Nelle does with the people she's collecting while the mind control powers of the mask take effect on them.
  • Vitriolic Best Buds: Reiko and Liliana are a Type 2 example, to the point where they're almost always fighting.

For Absent Friends

Set some time between Still Waters 2 and 3, this tells the story of the original character Max Linell's journey to America, with Negi, Takahata, and Shizuna, to say goodbye to the past.

  • A Magic Contract Comes with a Kiss: Between Rikki and Max. Also happens to be a "Shut Up" Kiss and a First Kiss for the both of them.
  • The City Narrows: Where Max, Rikki, and the others lived before they became involved with the American Division. Max and Negi go there in the present day.
  • Flash Back: Each chapter contains several flashbacks, helping to flesh out several of the original characters.
  • Libation for the Dead: Max does this at the gravesite of an old friend, the first of the group he used to run with as a child to die.
  • Personal Effects Reveal: Many years delayed from the owner's death. The character wasn't even out of the teens at the time of death, and the items in her "treasure box" reflect this.
  • Stranger in a Familiar Land: Max went home...and found it to feel strange.
  • To Absent Friends: The title of the story is a direct reference to this.
  • True Companions: This story is all about this.
    • Max considers the group built around himself, Akira, Jennifer, Yuuna, and Makie to be this.
    • Max used to belong to another group of these as a child that included such people as Guy and Rikki, among others. Now only he and Byron are left on Earth (Nil and Marlin are in the ermine camp in the magic world), and they've been out of touch for years.

The Queen of Light

Negi's class has graduated high school, and Ayaka, Chizuru, and Natsumi are as close as ever. So close, in fact, that when Chizuru receives a letter calling her home, Ayaka insists on coming with her, and dragging Natsumi along for the ride. But when they arrive, they find a big creepy castle, disturbingly efficient servants, and a sharp tongued acerbic woman who seems to have raised Chizuru after her parents died.

How to Fight Zombies

Negi's class has finally graduated high school, and everyone is moving on to bigger and better things. In the midst of all this, Misora is left hanging around the church in Mahora, until she receives a message calling her back to Rome...

  • Badass Creed: The Code of the Defenders
  • I'd Tell You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You: Said almost word for word by Teresa when Misora asks what sort of things are kept in the secret vault.
  • It Seemed Like a Good Idea At the Time: Misora's reason for her many, many bad plans.
  • Our Zombies Are Different: Type V, magic based zombies. In the setting, they're called "ghouls".
  • The Church
  • The Order: Several of them are mentioned by name, though they are called "agencies" rather than "orders".
    • The Burial Agency: The same group from Tsukihime, modified slightly. This is the agency Misora is being volunteered for.
    • The Guardian Agency: A group whose purpose is to guard specific items, people, or places from any number of things.
    • The Special Exorcism Agency: A group whose purpose is to remove dangerous unnatural beings.
  • Things Get Real: Misora's "Ghoul Test" goes far beyond what she was expected to face, and being forced to face the horror of the situation nearly gives her a breakdown.
  • This Is Reality: Used in chapter 4 by Nina.
  • What Were You Thinking?: It's fairly obvious that Isabella and Nina are wondering this every time Misora comes up with another insane idea.

A Robot's life

Set during Still Waters 3, A Robot's Life follows the story of Tanaka unit 1125, Hakase's personal hand-built prototype, long thought lost and destroyed during the battle at the festival back in 2003, when it reactivates and is found by a member of Negi's new class, Inoue Ai.

  • Abandoned Warehouse: The Professor's laboratory was built in one.
  • A Boy and His X: A girl and her robot.
  • Barbie Doll Anatomy: Referred to as "Anime Anatomy" when Inoue Ai is inspecting the deactivated F9A with Gotokuji.
  • Break Out the Museum Piece: Chachamaru is forced to do this after a precision hit by F7D does severe damage to her current body.
  • Creating Life: This was the Professor's aim in creating the robots; he succeeded with FX8-a but realized he had created a monster and refused to activate her. The other robots only work because they have souls attached, and thus don't count.
  • Disproportionate Retribution: Chapter 4, "You hurt my onee-san...!" followed immediately by a robot-on-robot No-Holds-Barred Beatdown and capped off with More Dakka to a ridiculous extent. There Is No Kill Like Overkill and Beware the Nice Ones indeed.
  • Flawed Prototype: Most of the Professor's robots are this; each one is built by hand, and each generation improves on the problems and fixes the mistakes of the previous.
  • Personality Chip: All of the Professor's robots are built with an "emotion center", which is what makes them different from normal robots. Turns out they're souls.
  • Ridiculously-Human Robots: Accomplished on the newer models with the help of a certain type of synthetic skin, as shown by units F7D, F9A, M9H, and finally the FX8-a prototype, "Sarah", as well as a large amount of unactivated prototype units. Tanaka unit 1125 fits in here as well.
  • Robots Enslaving Robots: This is FX8-a's intent toward F9A and Tanaka unit 1125.
  • Shout-Out: Mostly to Terminator 2.
  • Tin Can Robot: The older models are big, bulky, and in no way can be mistaken for a human, as shown by units M2A, N2B, and the vast majority of their shut down former companions.
  • You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Why FX8-a killed N2B and M2A. M9H just got in the way.

Short Story Collections

  • Abandoned Warehouse: Shows up from time to time.
  • Abandoned Warehouse District: It's actually called by the characters "the Warehouse District", and seems to be used strictly for gang fights or for the various ridiculously powerful kids to settle their complaints via combat.
  • Barbie Doll Anatomy: Chachamaru stubbornly clings to this in her character story, much to Hakase's chagrin.
  • Sentai: The Baka Rangers make a return, with Sasaki Makie as the wise mentor bringing the legend back to life with a new generation of idiots, as shown briefly in Sasaki Rina's character story.
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