A Caputal Report And A Capital Crush

"Don't talk about boring stuff in front of my goddess sister's image!" Gauche interrupted, polishing the framed photo of his sister Marie. "Let's talk about cool things. I have 3,214 conversation topics ready."

"Three thousand…?" Finral sighed. "She's your sister, man…"

BOOM. The door to the cafeteria burst open.

"Good morning, weirdos," Yami yawned, walking in with a cigarette in his mouth.

"Captain Yami, good morning!" Charmy chirped with a full mouth.

"Morning, Captain!" Magna stood up and gave a salute.

"Eat up," Yami grunted, collapsing into a seat. He looked at Asta. "Next time you do some crazy training method, warn me first. From the outside it looked like I was overworking you. People might start calling me abusive again."

"Haha, sorry to trouble you, Captain!" Asta replied between mouthfuls.

"Chew your food, idiot! You'll choke!" Noelle shoved a glass of water toward him.

"Thanks!" Asta drank it down with a smile.

"Really… such a glutton," Noelle muttered under her breath, but there was no heat in her words.

"Gotta refuel after all that training!" Vanessa said, raising her bottle in a toast.

"Eat well, everyone! It makes the sheep chefs happy!" Charmy added with her usual food-fueled passion.

Yami leaned back and stretched. "By the way, Asta, Noelle — you're due at the Magic Knights Headquarters today. They want your report on the Demon Palace raid last week."

"Oooh, the Headquarters? Can I go too? So many strong mages!" Luck was practically vibrating with excitement.

"No," Yami deadpanned. "You'll try to fight someone. Go with Magna for your assigned mission instead."

Luck deflated for a second but immediately sprang back up. "Then let's go, Magna!"

Magna recoiled. "Back off! You're scaring me, man!"

Meanwhile, Grey stood nearby in her transformed form as a tall man, nearly invisible as always.

"Grey… you're not alone," whispered Gordon, tears running down his cheeks.

"Wait, Gordon was here the whole time?" Grey blinked.

Gordon was struck by emotional damage once again.

"I'll go! I'll take Asta and Noelle!" Charmy volunteered brightly — visions of the food at the noble city already dancing in her mind.

"No, you'll just eat everything!" Yami waved her off without even looking.

"Ahhh—!" Charmy wailed dramatically and fled the cafeteria.

"I'm writing to Marie. I'm busy," Gauche said, already pulling out parchment.

"No one asked you." Yami rolled his eyes.

"…I-I don't want to go either," Gordon mumbled, unheard again.

"Fine. Finral, you take them."

"Understood, Captain!" Finral nodded.

Noelle shifted nervously. "Is this really okay?"

"Don't worry. Think of it as a beginner's trial," Yami said, flicking some ash from his cigarette. "Not like you're going to war."

"Noelle, you know Royal Capital etiquette, so you'll be fine," Finral added with a smile.

"R-right…" Noelle muttered, cheeks tinged pink. Wasn't this basically going alone with Asta?

Yami stood. "Alright, that's it. I'm going back to sleep."

"I'm heading out too. You two be careful in the Royal Capital, yeah?" Vanessa waved her bottle.

"Hey Magna, hurry up and eat!" Luck was back in fight mode, eyes blazing.

"Back off!" Magna grunted, scarfing down the last of his food.

Gauche left to write his creepy letters, Gordon faded into the background again, and Charmy was nowhere to be seen (probably in the kitchen).

"Asta, Noelle — let me know when you're ready," Finral called.

"Yeah!" Noelle nodded, then looked at Asta. "Eat slower."

"I've learned that if food's in front of you, you eat fast," Asta said, leaning back with a grin. "Because tomorrow, it might not be there."

"…You had it rough growing up, didn't you?" Noelle's heart ached.

"Eh, it's fine! We had sweet potatoes," Asta grinned sheepishly. "Father tried his best."

"Well then…" Noelle stood. "Let's go."

"Right!" Asta joined her, and together they followed Finral out.

Finral opened a spatial portal, and they were instantly teleported into the bustling streets of the Royal Capital.

"…Whoa." Asta looked around, jaw dropping. Seeing the city from a distance was nothing compared to standing within its grandeur.

"It's a lot, right?" Noelle smiled, then suddenly snapped, "And don't embarrass me in front of the nobles!"

"Wha— I haven't even said anything yet!"

"Just saying."

"Don't worry! I'm not the type to embarrass myself!" Asta declared, confidently placing his hands behind his head, grinning like always.

"Wait—hey, isn't that Mimosa and the others?" Noelle asked in surprise, eyes narrowing as she spotted the familiar group approaching.

"Is that Cousin Noelle's voice?" Mimosa turned around instinctively, only for her gaze to land directly on Asta—his smile radiant under the sunlight. Her heart skipped a beat. Oh no… not again...

"Oh hey, it's the Golden Dawn squad!" Asta beamed, walking over enthusiastically to greet them.

"I haven't seen you in a week, Asta!" Klaus said with more warmth than usual, adjusting his glasses. "You've… grown stronger again, haven't you?"

"Haha, well you know what they say—after three days apart, treat a man like a new person!" Asta replied, scratching his head.

"You've gotten stronger again, Asta," Yuno said coolly, but there was a hint of warmth behind the words.

"You're still such an iceberg!" Asta teased, punching Yuno lightly on the arm. To his surprise, Yuno let out a small chuckle.

"By the way, thanks again for your healing magic that day, Mimosa!" Asta turned toward her, smiling sincerely.

"Ah!" Mimosa gasped, flustered. Her thoughts scattered, her face flushed, and before anyone could react—she bolted.

"Huh? Did I say something wrong?" Asta blinked, scratching his cheek.

"She's… just shy, that's all," Noelle said quickly, frowning. Something's not right… "I'll go check on her."n

Noelle found Mimosa behind a nearby tree, clutching her cheeks.

"Cousin Mimosa, what's going on with you?" she asked.

"H-Huh… I just…" Mimosa took a shaky breath. "Whenever I see Asta, my heart races, and ever since the battle at the Royal Capital… I haven't been able to stop thinking about him! Noelle… I think I… I might like him!"

"W-What?!" Noelle shouted, her entire body jolting. Her hair stood on end. "You—you can't be serious! He's loud, reckless, totally unrefined—he's Asta!"

"I know, I know! But those things are… kind of cute…" Mimosa admitted, swaying side to side dreamily.

"No, no, no! That muscle-headed fool! You shouldn't fall for someone like that!" Noelle shouted in panic, fists clenched. Why is my chest tightening too? Why do I care this much?!

In the distance...

"Why are they screaming?" Klaus muttered.

"Maybe… a headache?" Yuno replied blandly.

"Hmm… I think they're just obsessed with me," Asta said, rubbing his chin with a big smile.

"Ugh! Can you stop being so full of yourself?! They're both princesses! Why would they fall for someone like you?" Klaus snapped. "Unbelievable!"

"Alright, everyone okay now? Let's keep moving!" Asta called out cheerfully.

"Ahhh! Asta just put his arm around me!!" Mimosa squeaked internally, wobbling slightly as she blushed down to her neck.

"Don't faint now!" Noelle growled through clenched teeth, feeling like her heart had just exploded.

Klaus, meanwhile, was having an existential crisis. Why do they act like normal girls with me, but turn into blushing messes around him?! Is this heartbreak?!

"People from the Magic Knights Headquarters should be waiting for us," Yuno reminded them coolly.

"Right! Let's go!" Asta said, pulling his hand back.

Both girls quickly straightened, Mimosa stepping away with a sheepish smile, and Noelle fixing her posture with a huff.

"By the way," Asta said, tilting his head, "does anyone actually know where the headquarters is?"

"The Magic Knights' HQ should be in this district," Klaus said confidently, walking ahead… only to pause. "Though… I've never had much reason to visit myself."

"So even glasses doesn't know everything," Asta smirked.

"I told you not all people with glasses are walking encyclopedias!" Klaus snapped.

"Still... I'm glad my squad's getting along better with Asta," Mimosa thought to herself with a dreamy smile.

Noelle noticed and instantly bristled. What's with that face?! Am I… jealous? No!

Suddenly, a sunny voice called out to them.

"There you are! I figured you might get lost, so I came to meet you."

Everyone turned to see a tall man with short blond hair and a striking cloak adorned with stars—the man's smile was relaxed, almost too casual.

"U-uhhh…" Klaus froze mid-step, his eyes going wide. Then, with a choked gasp, he dropped to one knee. "I didn't expect you to come meet us, sir!!"

"M-M-Magic Emperor?!" Mimosa and Noelle both gasped, immediately bowing.