When Yuno and Asta left the place ,
Yuno said he doesn't wants to go orphanage,
Asta understood, so he took yuno to his hide out .
Asta carried Yuno for what felt like hours.
Eventually, they reached a small hidden shelter deep in the forest.
It was simple, but surprisingly comfortable.
There was a bed.
A small table.
Food.
Extra clothes.
Blankets.
And just a short distance away, a clear river flowed between the trees.
Yuno looked around.
Yuno: You have a hideout?
Asta: Yep.
Yuno: You never told me.
Asta: You never asked.
Yuno sighed.
Asta carefully placed him beside the riverbank.
Asta: You should wash up.
Yuno glared at him.
Yuno: I know.
He tried to stand.
His legs immediately gave way.
Asta caught him.
Asta: Okay. Let me help you.
Yuno: I can do it myself.
Asta: You couldn't stand five seconds ago.
Yuno frowned.
Yuno: You're annoying.
Asta: And you're stubborn.
Asta grabbed a clean towel and wrapped it securely around himself, then another around to Yuno.
Asta carefully helped him toward the shallow part of the river.
The water reached around their chest .
Yuno's body was still weak, so Asta kept one arm around him.
Yuno: Don't let go.
Asta looked at him.
Asta: I won't.
Yuno wrapped an arm around Asta's neck for support.
Asta steadied him.
Asta: Hold on.
Yuno rested his head against Asta's shoulder.
Asta began gently washing the dirt and dried blood from Yuno's arms and shoulders.
Neither spoke for a while.
The sound of the river filled the silence.
Yuno slowly relaxed.
For the first time since the place, he didn't feel afraid.
He felt safe.
Asta carefully cleaned a small marks on Yuno's shoulder.
Asta: Does this hurt?
Yuno: A little.
Asta immediately became more careful.
Asta: Sorry.
Yuno looked at him.
Asta's face was unusually serious.
His eyes kept moving away whenever they met Yuno's.
Yuno noticed.
A small mischievous smile appeared.
Yuno: What?
Asta: Nothing.
Yuno: You're acting strange.
Asta: I'm not.
Yuno raised an eyebrow.
Yuno: You're staring Asta.
Asta immediately looked away.
Asta: I'm trying to make sure you're okay!
Yuno smiled.
Yuno: Sure.
Asta continued washing his shoulder.
Yuno couldn't resist teasing him.
Yuno: Like what you see?
Asta froze.
Asta: Shut up.
Yuno laughed quietly.
It was the first genuine laugh he'd had since the place.
Asta glanced at him.
For some reason, hearing that laugh made his heart feel lighter.
Yuno noticed the look.
Yuno: What?
Asta: Nothing.
Yuno sighed dramatically.
Yuno: If you were a woman, I would've taken advantage of you right now.
Asta stopped.
Yuno immediately realized how ridiculous the sentence sounded.
Yuno: I was joking.
Asta looked at him.
Then he smiled.
Asta: If it's you...
Yuno blinked.
Asta's voice became quieter.
Asta: I'd probably let you.
Silence.
The river continued flowing.
Yuno's entire brain seemed to stop working.
Yuno: ...What?
Asta suddenly looked embarrassed.
Asta: I mean..
He rubbed the back of his neck.
Asta: You're my best friend.
Yuno stared at him.
Asta smiled awkwardly.
Asta: So if it's you, I trust you.
Yuno's heart pounded.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
He looked away quickly.
His cheeks were burning.
Yuno's thoughts: He can't say things like that.
Asta returned to washing his shoulder as if he hadn't just destroyed Yuno's ability to think.
Asta: Why are you so quiet?
Yuno: Shut up.
Asta: Are you angry?
Yuno: No.
Asta: Then why are you red?
Yuno: The water is warm.
Asta looked at the river.
Asta: It's freezing.
Yuno glared at him.
Yuno: Asta.
Asta: Okay, okay!
Yuno hid his face against Asta's shoulder.
Asta became quiet.
Neither of them noticed how close they had become.
Yuno closed his eyes.
His heart was still racing.
Asta gently rested his hand on Yuno's back.
Asta: You're safe here.
Yuno opened his eyes.
Yuno: Asta...
Asta: Hmm?
Yuno hesitated.
Then he whispered
Yuno: Don't ever disappear on me.
Asta looked at him seriously.
Asta: I won't.
Yuno smiled.
To be continued...