December 18th, 2011 
AstroNerdBoy 魔法先生 ネギま！Volume 38 Chapter 346 (manga)
Mahou Sensei Negima! Manga Chapter 346
SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:
Negi finds his magical abilities gone and realizes Yuuna has done this. Making his escape, he wonders how Eva manages to do this since she has no powers while at Mahora, yet is still powerful. Negi’s escape is cut off and he’s saved by Kotaro. Takamichi and Akashi join Negi, who informs them of what Yuuna did to him. The trio is sure that they can protect Negi, but Kotaro, Takamichi, and Akashi disappear. Negi realizes this is a combination of Kaede’s artifact and Natsumi’s artifact. As such, Negi ducks into a building to hide out, only to be snared by the three cheerleaders.
Initially, they appear to want to help him but quickly reveal they too are in on the game, wanting a pactio kiss. Misa is not happy to have been ignored when Negi has kissed so many other girls and they want their pactiones as well. Negi protests that this can’t happen without Chamo, who then turns up on cue. Chamo makes the preparations but when Misa asks Negi whom he is interested in and he eventually seems to indicate that there is someone he’s interested in, the cheerleaders eventually decide that they will support him, no matter whom he’s interested in. Negi takes his leave and Sakurako asks if they should bet on whom Negi likes. However, the others won’t take the bet because anyone Sakurako bets on is sure to be the one.
Negi escapes into another building where he finds Ku Fei. She takes the opportunity to confess to him and after she gets things off her chest, she wants to mark the occasion by challenging him. Naturally, Negi is worried about this because this could kill him.
Thoughts/Review:
This could cause a lot of hate to come my way, but I rather enjoyed seeing a powerless Negi having to make do with only his wits. ^_^ One thing I hope that comes out of this is that Negi trains on improving his martial arts skills sans any magical abilities. The shundo technique should be non-magical in nature, as should all of Kaede’s ninja skills (and Kotaro’s). So my thinking is that Negi should start learning as many non-magical special techniques as he can get his hands on as well as continuing to train in his magical abilities.
I find it interesting that Akamatsu-sensei decided to give a pass to the cheerleaders scoring pactiones. I wonder why. I figured that Akamatsu-sensei would take this time to have most of the rest of the class score a pactio but I guess not.
As to whom it is that Negi likes, I’m going to play the “oneechan” card and go with Nekane. Obviously, most folks are going to go with Asuna and even Sakurako initially thinks that before deciding that would be too boring. Akamatsu-sensei wisely makes sure she doesn’t bet on whom the person is (and even cracks a joke about that). While some have speculated that her poo-pooing the idea of Negi liking Asuna is a red herring, I think not. For Negi, I think Nekane is the second most important person in his life, after his father. His whole snuggling up with Asuna was because she smelled like Nekane and looked similar to her. With all of the other girls, he’s just not interested, even if he admires or respects them greatly. However, as I see it, he loves his “oneechan.” We’ll see if I’m right. ^_~
Ku’s confession was cute, complete with the “I’m going to hit you…” remark. *lol*
Finally, the updated class image showing everyone moving forward was really nice. I especially loved that while everyone else is mostly looking or reaching forward, Eva is just being carried along, arms crossed, and obstinately refusing to look forward. Although she was in the background, I liked seeing Chao there with her crew. Plus, Akamatsu-sensei did a nifty job of having everyone with their partner or small group.
So for me, it was a fun chapter and I’m just enjoying the ride for now. ^_^
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No hate here; I thought Negi having to use his wits instead of just powering up OVER 9000 was a really nice change of pace.
Probably no surprise that I’d say this, but my bet is on Honya. Akamatsu-sensei draws some very noticeable parallels between Negi’s reaction here and his reaction way back when, in the confession booth when the person who came to mind was Nodoka.
So Sakurako’s first thought was that it would be Asuna. Wasn’t she also the one who correctly guessed what the floating castle was?
Personally I would prefer if the one he liked was Nodoka, but I’m not gonna hold my breath all that much.
if you liked this you’ll love what comes next.
chiu vs chachamaru=win
Well, according to Kotaro, he, Kuu, Setsuna and presumably Kaede use “chi” for their abilities. I don’t think Negi has any need to train in something like that.
SPOILER WARNING TO ANYONE WHO HASN’T READ 347 He already shows his skill is fine with his 10 year old strength and like Kuu says, he’s a mage; that’s where his strength is supposed to come from.
>but I rather enjoyed seeing a powerless Negi having to make do with only his wits.
Lol no hate from me. It would have been cool to see him evade the students in some clever way but all he does is run aimlessly and get captured by the most unskilled girls in the class by a rope and a pillow XD
About the Nekane theory. I hadn’t thought of her. That would feel like a huge cop out to me though. He makes us think “Negi likes someone!” then “duh, he’s still 10(12?) of course he likes oneechan!”
I’m still hoping against hope it’s Chiu, Eva or Chachamaru =\
Agree with the copout if it’s Nekane.
Also, Negi can only do so much with non-magical training. It’s easy to forget, but as Asuna is oh so fond of reminding everyone (albeit for an entirely different reason) he’s only 10 years old. Training can help him perfect the moves, but his physical strength and toughness is still going to be limited by his own lack of physical maturity. Negi’s magical ability may be a bit of a crutch, but his training has likely already taken him close to the limits of what his body can realistically do without magic.
I’m going to second Nodoka being the one Negi likes. It was hinted at in this chapter (the confessional flashback panel arimareiji alluded to), plus the general nature and degree of the ship tease between the two.
My runners-up would be Eva (esp. considering he’s now immortal), Chachamaru, Chisame, Luna, and Yue. Or maybe Akamatsu-sensei could hit us with the Tenchi Solution and have him hook up with multiple girls (Nodoka wouldn’t object, as we’ve seen).
I actually wish that the magic seal lasted longer, so we could see him flop around like a fish out of water a little longer. I agree with Ultimaniac about the three hopefuls. Eva, Chachamaru, and Chiu would be the most interesting, in my opinion, although those three, Nodoka, Yue, and, of course, Asuna are all the most likely. I think even Negi, after facing several confessions now, can understand what the cheerleaders are talking about, and wouldn’t have thought of Nekane, but even then, Akamatsu could use her if he wants to.
As a side note, I love how Chamo is *always* there when he’s needed (for Pactios).
Tenka: As a side note, I love how Chamo is *always* there when he’s needed (for Pactios).
Hadn’t really thought too much about that before… maybe he’s actually a physical manifestation of Negi’s split personality, and represents all of the perversion Negi represses? He does kinda look more like a disembodied *cough* you-know-what than an ermine. And he did pop up for the first time in the middle of what Chisame called a sexual harasssment party…
No hate here; I thought Negi having to use his wits instead of just powering up OVER 9000 was a really nice change of pace.
Exactly. ^_^
So Sakurako’s first thought was that it would be Asuna. Wasn’t she also the one who correctly guessed what the floating castle was?
She was also the one who was able to figure out where Negi and company had gone when they left to go to the magical gate. Sakurako also bet that Nodoka would win the kissing contest and that their class would end up tops. That’s why they don’t let her make a bet because story-wise, it would have to come true whereas how it is done now, she’s not betting but just asking and then saying, “No, that can’t be it.” Asuna is the easy pick though.
if you liked this you’ll love what comes next.
chiu vs chachamaru=win
I do like their odd friendship. ^_^
Well, according to Kotaro, he, Kuu, Setsuna and presumably Kaede use “chi” for their abilities. I don’t think Negi has any need to train in something like that.
Well, Asuna can also use chi as well, IIRC. As Eva once said, no learning is wasted and Negi learning special techniques would put him on par with Eva for times when he couldn’t use magic for whatever reasons.
Basically, I see what Yuuna did to Negi as a possible flag for something that will happen to Negi down the road, only on a wider scale.
About the Nekane theory. I hadn’t thought of her. That would feel like a huge cop out to me though. He makes us think “Negi likes someone!” then “duh, he’s still 10(12?) of course he likes oneechan!”
Well, he is only 10. ^_~ That being said, I do have other reasons for “oneechan” being the choice, but I’ve chosen to be more low key about that. ^_~
Training can help him perfect the moves, but his physical strength and toughness is still going to be limited by his own lack of physical maturity. Negi’s magical ability may be a bit of a crutch, but his training has likely already taken him close to the limits of what his body can realistically do without magic.
True, but Eva is the example here. Look how she handled herself in the Mahora Budokai. But, if he masters chi, then he would be even more powerful. ^_^
I’m going to second Nodoka being the one Negi likes. It was hinted at in this chapter (the confessional flashback panel arimareiji alluded to), plus the general nature and degree of the ship tease between the two.
Well, for Nodoka fans, she IS the first one to confess to Negi way back in Kyoto. ^_^
Or maybe Akamatsu-sensei could hit us with the Tenchi Solution and have him hook up with multiple girls (Nodoka wouldn’t object, as we’ve seen).
Well, battle-wise, the Tenchi Solution is the best ’cause Negi and company would be nigh unbeatable. ^_^
As a side note, I love how Chamo is *always* there when he’s needed (for Pactios).
Heh!heh!heh!
Hadn’t really thought too much about that before… maybe he’s actually a physical manifestation of Negi’s split personality…
I believe the Twins, who do not read ahead except for what they are given to translate, speculated a few months ago (after retranslating all of the early Negima! volumes), that since Chamo is an ermine and mages have been turned into ermine as punishment, maybe Chamo is actually some very famous but currently missing mage. That was something I’d never considered, but I do like the idea at a certain level.
ANB: Basically, I see what Yuuna did to Negi as a possible flag for something that will happen to Negi down the road, only on a wider scale.
Ahhhhhh, I hadn’t thought of that, although I should have. Akamatsu-sensei rarely does things that aren’t plot-related later on. For some reason, I see Negi having to fight Asuna (for fun, I’m sure) being likely. Like Fate pointed out earlier, Magic Cancel + Kanka = pretty damn broken. These current chapters would be good practice, considering he’s fighting against not just his class, but specifically those with artifacts (and three with a rope and pillow XD).
That being said, I do have other reasons for “oneechan” being the choice, but I’ve chosen to be more low key about that.
I’ve formulated a few theories about Nekane, myself, after following this blog. She, to me, is one of the more mysterious characters of the series, especially considering how little attention Akamatsu-sensei gives her. I think that’s deliberate.
…maybe Chamo is actually some very famous but currently missing mage.
I had always wondered about Chamo, since the very beginning. Obviously what he claims to be his back story, something about stealing panties to keep his sister warm, is a lie. Not that I’m saying he wouldn’t steal panties to keep warm, but I doubt he would share! Early on, there was a Chamo=Nagi theory that was pretty popular on some sites, but now a Chamo=famous mage seems pretty likely. I wonder….makes me want to backtrack to see if I can find any references to missing mages.
Akamatsu-sensei rarely does things that aren’t plot-related later on.
Yeah, that’s the pattern so far. That’s what makes things so interesting though. ^_^
I’ve formulated a few theories about Nekane, myself, after following this blog. She, to me, is one of the more mysterious characters of the series, especially considering how little attention Akamatsu-sensei gives her. I think that’s deliberate.
I agree. I think Nekane has been pushed to the side on purpose and that she’ll have a role to play before the manga is out.
Early on, there was a Chamo=Nagi theory that was pretty popular on some sites, but now a Chamo=famous mage seems pretty likely. I wonder….makes me want to backtrack to see if I can find any references to missing mages.
I think the Twins were implying that they thought Chamo was Nagi.