Chapter Text
Yuno was in his room, thinking about what he said to Asta previously. He didn't understand why he was being so pessimistic concerning Asta's future but Yuno didn't want to see the fall out when Asta realized that he couldn't be Wizard King.
It was better now that Yuno tried to get across Asta's head that he wasn't his rival, that they weren't equal.
At least that's what he thought when those words left his mouth.
You aren't my rival.
Seeing that dejected face on Asta's face almost made him want to take back the words he just said. He wanted to make it up to him. Wanted to hold Asta's face in between his hands and try to stop the light of hope from leaving his eyes.
But he didn't.
Instead, he just walked away from Asta and everyone in the room. Others might think he was oozing smugness over the fact that he just got the Four Leaf Clover grimoire but in fact, he was just trying to leave so he wouldn't look at the face of rejection that blossomed on Asta's face.
And maybe that's why he didn't notice the mage that attacked him. Maybe his thoughts of regret and self-hatred made him lose track of his surroundings.
For a moment Yuno thought that this was it. He barely proved to everyone that despite being a poor orphan that he still had a shoot. He was gonna prove to everyone that Asta and he could have a future, even if Yuno had to do it for the both of them.
And then the impossible happened.
Asta came running in, his loud voice giving away his position immediately. For a moment a surge of fear filled his heart and he thought that he was going to see Asta die a horrible death caused by his inability to understand how underpowered he really is.
But Asta will always be Asta.
Just like when they were kids Asta surprised him. A grimoire appeared before him and he defeated the mage in one move.
How could Yuno think that Asta was weak? Didn't Asta protect him from a robber? Wasn't Asta his best friend since birth?
So the only way Yuno could express his thanks to Asta was to admit that Asta was his rival, and maybe Asta could understand that he was also his closest friend.
But maybe that feeling included another emotion, an emotion that began to take root as they were heading home.
Yuno reached toward his lips, grazing them with his fingers.
He didn't know what to feel about it.
~~~
Asta was skipping back to the orphanage, a wide grin on his face and starry eyes.
He finally had a grimoire! He knew he was going to get one it was just shy to come to him that's all.
And as an added bonus Yuno admitted to being his rival, which Asta knew the whole time but it was nice for Yuno to feel the same way.
Asta looked to his side, head tilted as he gave Yuno a wide grin.
And Yuno smiled back.
But instead of feeling like always Asta felt little butterflies twist in his stomach as if they were trying to fly out.
Asta's smile almost fell from his face but he kept it in place. He didn't want Yuno to think that Asta was feeling bad.
"Hey Yuno, isn't great that I have a grimoire now!" asked Asta, his voice slightly pitched.
Yuno side-glanced Asta a little bit. Asta kept a smile on his face, trying not to let his awkwardness show.
"Yeah it is great, you are finally equal in me in something."
"Hey what is that supposed to mean," yelled Asta.
"Well," Yuno began a smirk playing on his lips, "In the height category we can agree that you are nowhere close to my level."
"It's not my fault you are freakishly tall and handso...ummm"
Asta hesitated, his cheeks aflame as he let that word almost get out.
Yuno, however, wasn't noticing the turmoil that Asta was going through. He kept walking, stopping only when he felt the absence of Asta's body next to me.
"Asta?" Yuno asked as he turned around.
Asta was looking anywhere but Yuno. His legs playfully kicking up the dirt.
"Hey Yuno," Asta began, "I haven't gotten congratulations for my grimoire and neither have you. Wouldn't it be nice if we gave each other our gifts of congrats?"
Asta smiled up at Yuno, but his smile was less sure than usual.
"Asta what are you talking about?" Yuno asked in exasperation.
Before Yuno had a chance to register what was happening Asta stepped forward and rose up on his tiptoes, his lips grazing Yuno's cheeks.
Yuno froze, unable to actually believe what was happening. It has been years since Asta and he have kissed, and those kisses were childhood kisses that held no deeper meaning.
After a second Asta returned back to the ground, a shy smile on his face.
"There you go, just like Sister Lily used to do to us when we were little kids," Asta nervously rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks bright red as he stared at the ground.
Yuno noticed Asta's awkwardness, but he wasn't one to let himself get won so he leaned down and kissed Asta's cheek.
However, Asta turned around half way so instead of kissing Asta's cheeks Yuno kissed his lips.
Both of them had their eyes opened in shock and when they pulled away both had their cheeks bright red, Asta more than Yuno.
"We should head home, Father and Sister Lily will be waiting to congratulate us," muttered Yuno as he tried to compose himself.
"Ye-yeah" croaked Asta as he nervously touched his lips, a smile fighting its way out.