June 5th, 2010 
AstroNerdBoy 魔法先生 ネギま！Volume 32 Chapter 290 (manga)
Mahou Sensei Negima! Manga Chapter 290
Negima! Manga Vol 32 Ch 290 Review
SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:
Negi is still struggling against Magia Erebea and not doing well. As he attempts to recover, his pactio cards emerge and he things of the recent words from the Sports-4 girls and finds encouragement.
At the Gravekeeper’s Palace, Fate contemplates Jack’s words to him when Tsukuyomi comes up spoiling for a fight and expressing a new found interest in Fate and ponders if the “doll” has had an effect on him. Fate isn’t interested in this conversation, so Tsukuyomi takes his head off, only to discover it is a stone statue. Since Tsukuyomi is very keen on fighting, Fate decides to humor her and fight her as he has nothing else to do.
As their battle continues, Fate notes Tsukuyomi’s enjoyment of the fight. Tsukuyomi wonders aloud if Fate’s mind is on the him (Negi). With that, Fate launches a big attack but is surprised that he’s attacked Tsukuyomi’s shikigami copy, which returns to its paper form. The real Tsukuyomi takes advantage of Fate’s surprise and removes his arm. He’s surprised that she was able to penetrate his defenses, something she says is worthless to her “Zanmaken: Ni no Tachi” technique. She notes Fate’s deep interest in Negi and to force him to admit the truth, she says she will take Negi. This results in Fate instantly destroying the tower they are in and telling Tsukuyomi that Negi is his.
Having brought Fate out of his funk, Tsukuyomi leaves and Fate’s girls arrive because of the sounds of destruction. They work on saving Fate’s arm. Fate finds himself touched by their efforts and uses his severed arm to pat Koyomi on the head in what the others see as an attempt at physical comedy. After thinking of his past with these girls, he thanks them and his words stun the girls who’ve never seen him like this. Now that their plans are in the final stage, he asks if they have any regrets and they assure him they don’t and that they won’t lose to some junior high girls.
Outside the palace, Fate decides there is some truth in what Tsukuyomi was telling him in that he finds his one true desire is to battle Negi.
Thoughts/Review: I’ve been asked why I don’t post some of the spoiler texts that I see on 2CH when I (sometimes) get translations for them. Well for starters, there are a lot of lying so-and-so’s on 2CH and as Hata on AQS said in response to a similar question, you could just make up anything and claim it to be a spoiler. Frankly, I’ve no interest in that so I’ll keep to the spoiler images. ^_^
That said, there were two big rumors out of 2CH before 290 came out. The first was Akira would score a pactio. The second was that Tsukuyomi would attack Fate and battle him. Now, if you saw these two rumors, which would you believe? Me, I figured the Akira pactio would be true since Ako, Yuuna, and Makie just scored their cards. I did NOT expect Tsukuyomi to fight Fate. *lol*
So, Tsukuyomi shows how skilled she is in that she was able to remove Fate’s arm. That means that Setsuna should be able to do the same thing and overcome Fate’s defenses. I think that may well come up in the upcoming fight.
Fate, on the other hand, always calls himself a tool but Akamatsu-sensei appears to be setting him up to have evolved beyond his original programming. His desire to fight Negi is so powerful that he effortlessly destroyed that tower he and Tsukuyomi were battling in. So don’t mess with an aroused Fate. ^_^;
Regardless, I loved how Akamatsu provided some interesting action sequence with the battle between Fate and Tsukuyomi and infused it with character development for Fate and even Tsukuyomi to an extent. Just another reason why I enjoy Negima! so much.
Only two pages dedicated to Negi and scroll-Eva’s training showing Negi apparently coming to a decision that he can count on his battle harem (at least, that’s how I interpret the moment when his pactio cards all emerged). That scene kinda reminded me of something similar in Cardcaptor Sakura when Sakura-chan communed with her cards. Well, some themes are just common and that’s OK. ^_^
I’m looking forward to seeing how things go in the next chapter as I expect us to resolve the Magia Erebea element before volume 32 ends.
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i really liked how this chapter developed fates character. it really showed how complicated he is, and i had always wondering since we first saw those girls of his, if he was just lying to or using them for his plan. this chapter made it clear that not only is he not using them, but he does care about them to some extant. very interesting, cant wait tiill negi finishes his training and we can get back to some good fights.
After i read this chapter made me think that the girl might possibly be Godels daughter based off her technique and that i look she has similar features that Godel does. When Negi pulls up all the pactios i think he finally realized he doesn’t have to fight alone he has friend to be there for him, this is the best chapter in a while next one is sure to be even better.
The one thing I found curious about the Tsukuyomi fight is why does she know the Zanmaken: Ni no Tachi technique when according to Setsuna in Chapter 256 only people with a direct connection to the founding Aoyoma clan? Though I suppose its possible Tsukuyomi learnt it in a similar way to Rakan through observation, or Setsuna is mistaken about its importance.
If Setsuna is correct though it raises the question of what is Tsukuyomi’s connection to the Aoyoma clan, and is it possible that she is actually a “deep cover agent” and actually on Fates side?
The panel with the pactio cards has Shiori/Luna’s card missing. Do you think this means Negi hasn’t trusted Shiori/Luna enough? Or that she isn’t an official battle haremette yet? Or that she isn’t one of Class 3-A and is therefore not as connected to everyone else? Or is this an oversight?
Ok something i forgot to comment on earlier and kinda just realized it, as you see Negi is using his spear ALOT and i think the reason why is due to his teacher Ku and shes good with spears(she used a cloth spear during mahora tourny) so im thinking once we get back to Mahora in further of his ME training with Eva we will also see spear training with Ku
@Anon — the more interesting villains are more 3-dimensional and Akamatsu-sensei has certainly made Fate that way (though I’ve found him interesting from his introduction in Kyoto).
@Nick — The idea of Tsukuyomi being Kurt’s daughter is an interesting one. She had to come from somewhere and have some sort of connection to get the kind of training she has.
@Mister Random — Well, if Nick’s theory is correct, then that would explain Tsukuyomi’s knowledge. I don’t think that Setsuna would be mistaken about the importance of that technique though.
If Setsuna turns out to be a deep undercover agent, that would disappoint me. I don’t get the feeling Akamatsu-sensei will go that way though.
@Kirbstar — I would say that Luna is not part of Ala Alba, nor is she one of Negi’s students. She is a stranger who’s potentially dangerous and who could turn on them. She hasn’t done anything for Negi beyond giving up the location of Asuna and Anya. So Negi doesn’t have a special connection with Luna at the present (that could change though) but he does have a special connection with his class and the pactiones add to that bond.
@Nick — I could see that happening. It will be weird for them all to be back at Mahora though, won’t it? *lol*
“Negi is his… don’t mess with an aroused Fate.”
(O_o)
Breaking news, more details at 10: In a completely unexpected development, ANB goes fangirl and starts scripting Fate/Negi slash…
(Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
@arimareiji
It gets worse, Negi Returns Fate’s feelings, he wants to be “Friends with him” and everyone who watched Nanoha knows what that means. I bet the current “Research Break” is all about Akamatsu laughing his ass off about this New fascinating Pairing he created XD
@Hubert: Oh my. You mean something like this? (^_~)
I have to admit that it bothers me that Akamatsu-sensei went with a “I’ll show you how much I care about you by beating you into submission” plot, though. I know it’s standard for the genre, but on principle it creeps me the $@## out.
@arimareiji
Exactly! Well I’m a big fan of Nanoha franchise so what Akamatsu showed us in that chapter amuses me to no end XD What I worry about is the reaction of Negi’s and Fate’s harem, they won’t be happy about their “Men” getting “friendly” with each other XD
Breaking news, more details at 10: In a completely unexpected development, ANB goes fangirl and starts scripting Fate/Negi slash…
*LOL* Not a chance. ^_^;;;
@arimareiji — That Nanoha image is so wrong. *lol*
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