The abandoned place fell silent.
The man head was thrown violently across the room, his body collapsing away from Yuno,the man head hitted the wall and landed near Asta's feet.
Yuno could barely process what had happened.
His entire body trembled.
Then he looked toward the doorway.
Asta stood there.
His expression was completely different from the cheerful, loud boy Yuno knew.
There was anger in his eyes.
But underneath that anger was something else.
Fear.
Fear for Yuno.
Yuno stared at him in disbelief.
Yuno: Asta...
Asta immediately dropped the weapon and rushed toward him.
Asta: Yuno! Are you okay?!
He knelt beside him.
Yuno tried to answer, but his voice wouldn't come.
Asta quickly removed his long black coat.
The coat he never allowed anyone else to touch.
The coat he always kept close.
He gently wrapped it around Yuno's trembling shoulders.
Asta: Here. Put this on.
Yuno stared down at the coat.
It was warm.
It smelled like Asta.
For some reason, that made the tears come.
They rolled silently down Yuno's cheeks.
Yuno: I...
His voice cracked.
Yuno: I was scared.
Asta's expression softened immediately.
Yuno: You were late...
He swallowed hard.
Yuno: He... he almost...ra...
Yuno couldn't finish the sentence.
Asta understood.
His hands tightened into fists.
For a moment, anger flashed across his face.
But he forced himself to calm down.
Yuno needed him.
Asta gently placed his index finger against Yuno's lips.
Asta: Shhh...
Yuno looked into his eyes.
Asta: It's okay, Yuno.
His voice was quieter than Yuno had ever heard it.
Asta: You're safe now.
Yuno's eyes trembled.
Asta: Whatever happens...
Asta smiled faintly.
Asta: I'm here for you.
Yuno's heart stopped for a moment.
Those words.
I'm here for you.
No one had ever said them to him like that.
Growing up as an orphan, Yuno had always wondered what it would feel like to have someone who would stay.
Someone who would choose him.
Someone who would say
You don't have to face everything alone.
And now Asta was saying exactly that.
Yuno's stomach suddenly felt strange.
His heart fluttered painfully.
Yuno's thoughts: Why does my heart feel like this?
He looked away, embarrassed.
Asta: Can you stand?
Yuno slowly tried.
His legs shook.
Nothing happened.
His arms barely moved either.
Yuno: I... I can't.
Asta immediately examined him.
Asta: Looks like he used some kind of magic on you.
Yuno looked toward the fallen enemy.
Yuno: But he's gone...
He looked confused.
Yuno: Shouldn't the magic disappear?
Asta frowned.
Asta: It should.
He looked around the ruined place.
Asta: But we're not staying here to find out.
Without hesitation, Asta slipped one arm beneath Yuno's knees and the other around his back.
He lifted him.
Yuno's eyes widened.
Yuno: A-Asta?!
Asta carried him effortlessly.
Asta: I've got you.
Yuno stared at him.
For the first time, Yuno really looked at Asta.
Not as his rival.
Not as the loud idiot who was always challenging him.
But as the person standing between him and danger.
Asta looked stronger than Yuno had ever realized.
And somehow...
He looked incredibly handsome.
Yuno immediately looked away.
His cheeks became warm.
Yuno's thoughts: When did he become like this...?
Asta noticed the silence.
Asta: Why are you staring at me?
Yuno: I'm not.
Asta: You definitely were.
Yuno: Shut up.
Asta smiled.
Asta: There you are.
Yuno looked at him again.
Yuno: Why are you helping me?
Asta looked genuinely confused.
Asta: Why wouldn't I?
Yuno didn't answer.
Asta smiled softly.
Asta: Because rivals don't leave each other behind.
Yuno's heart skipped again.
Yuno: Rivals...
He quietly repeated the word.
Asta nodded.
Asta: Always.
Yuno looked down at Asta's coat around his body.
Then he looked at Asta's face.
Something inside him changed.
Not suddenly.
Not loudly.
But permanently.
This wasn't simply admiration.
It wasn't just gratitude.
It was something deeper.
To be continued...