Reborn as Asta

A/N:I was keeping this chapter as back up so that when i made the other chapter i could post them back to back so yeah enjoy

It started as most things in the Black Bulls did: impulsively and with no warning.

Vanessa was lounging on the couch, a bottle of her favorite wine in hand. Her usual carefree grin was firmly in place as she watched, Magna and Luck bickering over who'd stolen the last meat skewer.

But Asta's focus was on Vanessa. Bottle after bottle, she kept pouring herself another drink, laughing it off like it was nothing.

"Vanessa," Asta called out suddenly, standing up and pointing at her like he was issuing a challenge.

Vanessa glanced at him, amused. "What's up, kid?"

"You're always drinking," he said, crossing his arms. "How about a bet?"

Vanessa quirked an eyebrow, intrigued. "A bet? This should be good. What's the catch?"

"If you can go an entire day without drinking," Asta declared, his eyes shining with determination, "I'll buy your drinks for the rest of your life. But if you drink even once during today, you have to stop drinking forever."

The room fell silent. Even Magna and Luck stopped arguing, turning their heads toward the pair.

Vanessa's lips twitched into a grin. "You're serious, aren't you?"

"Completely!" Asta said, his voice loud and confident.

Vanessa leaned back, thinking it over. Free drinks for life? It was a tempting offer, and she wasn't one to back down from a challenge. One day without alcohol couldn't be that hard… right?

"Alright, Asta," she said, extending her hand. "You've got yourself a deal."

Cheers erupted from the Black Bulls, with Magna shouting, "This is gonna be hilarious!" and Luck grinning like he was ready to bet on the outcome.

Vanessa's smirk widened. "Hope you've got deep pockets, kid. Free drinks for life? That's a dangerous promise."

Asta grinned back. "I'm not worried."

Next Morning

Vanessa woke up the next morning to the sound of birds chirping and Asta's voice echoing down the hall.

"Vanessa!" he shouted, banging on her door. "The bet starts now! No backing out!"

Groaning, she rolled out of bed, rubbing her temples. "He's way too energetic for this early…"

After getting dressed, she found Asta waiting for her in the common room, a bright smile on his face. "Ready for the first drink-free day of your life?"

"Don't push your luck, kid," Vanessa muttered, stifling a yawn. "Let's just get this over with."

But as the morning went on, Vanessa grew restless. Sitting around the base with nothing to drink felt… wrong.

"I can't do this, Asta," she said, standing up suddenly. "If I'm not drinking, I need to be doing something. Let's go out. Anywhere but here."

And just like that, they set off.

The journey to the capital city was longer than Vanessa had remembered, but she didn't mind. The countryside was peaceful, filled with rolling hills and the soft chirping of birds. It was the kind of quiet that let her think—something she didn't get much of in the Black Bulls' base.

Asta, however, couldn't stay still for long. His energy was boundless, and he seemed incapable of just walking by without getting involved in something.

The first stop came when they passed a small farmstead. An older man stood outside, struggling to lift a sack of grain onto a wagon. Before Vanessa even realized it, Asta had bolted ahead.

"Here, let me help with that!" Asta said, grabbing the heavy sack like it weighed nothing.

The old man blinked in surprise. "Oh, thank you, young man. My back isn't what it used to be."

"No problem!" Asta replied, lifting several more sacks with ease and arranging them neatly on the wagon.

Vanessa hung back, leaning against a fence post as she watched. She wasn't sure what surprised her more—the way Asta jumped into action without hesitation or the massive grin on his face while he worked.

"You're a lifesaver," the farmer said, patting Asta on the shoulder.

"Happy to help!" Asta said, waving as he jogged back to Vanessa.

"That was sweet of you," Vanessa said with a teasing smile.

They continued down the road, but it wasn't long before Asta found another opportunity to lend a hand. This time, it was a group of children trying—and failing—to pull a kite out of a tall tree.

The kite's string had snagged on a high branch, and the kids were taking turns jumping to grab it, their shouts of frustration filling the air.

"Hey, need some help?" Asta called out as they approached.

The kids turned, their eyes lighting up when they recognized him. "It's Asta! From the Black Bulls!"

Asta grinned. "That's me. Alright, stand back—I've got this!"

He crouched low, then leaped into the air with impressive strength, snatching the kite from the branch with ease. As he landed, the kids erupted into cheers.

"Whoa! That was so cool!" one of them shouted.

"Thanks, Mister Asta!" another said, clutching the kite tightly.

Vanessa chuckled as she watched. "Mister Asta, huh? You're moving up in the world."

"Hey, respect the title!" Asta joked, puffing out his chest dramatically.

They walked a little further before coming across a woman struggling to fix a broken fence. The wooden slats were warped, and she was wrestling with a hammer and nails that refused to cooperate.

"Need a hand?" Asta offered, stepping in before she could respond.

"Oh, you don't have to—" the woman started, but Asta was already working.

He straightened the slats with surprising precision, hammering them into place with quick, practiced movements. Vanessa watched in silence, noting how serious he looked as he worked.

Within minutes, the fence was fixed, and the woman stood there, stunned. "Thank you so much! I didn't think I'd get it done today."

"No problem at all," Asta said, giving her a thumbs-up. "It's important to keep your fence strong, right?"

As they continued their journey, Vanessa found herself watching him more closely. He didn't just help people; he wanted to. It wasn't about showing off or earning praise—it was just who he was.

"You really don't stop, do you?" she asked after they'd walked a while in comfortable silence.

"Huh?" Asta looked up from where he was brushing dirt off his hands. "What do you mean?"

"You're always moving, always helping people," she said, her voice softer than usual. "Don't you ever get tired?"

"Not really. It's just… I like seeing people happy, you know? If I can help, why wouldn't I?"

Vanessa stared at him for a moment, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You're something else, kid," she said, shaking her head.

"Is that a compliment?" Asta asked, tilting his head.

"Don't let it go to your head," Vanessa replied, smirking.

But as they walked on, she couldn't help but think about how rare it was to meet someone like him—someone who didn't just talk about making the world a better place but actually went out and did it.

By the time they reached the city, the streets were alive with activity. Merchants called out from colorful stalls, their voices blending with the chatter of the bustling crowd. Children darted between the legs of shoppers, their laughter ringing through the air, while street performers entertained clusters of onlookers with mesmerizing acts.

Vanessa looked around, her usual swagger returning as her eyes scanned the vibrant marketplace. "Alright, kid. Let's see what kind of trouble we can get into."

Asta grinned. "Trouble? I'm pretty sure I'm here to keep you out of it!"

They started with the food stalls, their noses leading them to a vendor selling spicy skewers that sizzled on an open flame. Asta ordered two, insisting on paying before Vanessa could even reach for her pouch.

"You don't have to do that," she said, raising an eyebrow.

"Nah, it's my treat," Asta said, handing her a skewer.

Vanessa smirked but didn't argue. The spicy flavors exploded on her tongue, and she glanced over at Asta, who was eating with gusto. "Good, huh?" she asked.

"So good!" he said, already reaching for a napkin to wipe the sauce off his chin.

Next, they wandered past a stall selling sugary pastries. The smell of cinnamon and honey was irresistible, and Asta didn't hesitate to buy a couple for them to share. Vanessa bit into one, the sweetness melting in her mouth, and gave Asta a playful nudge.

"You're gonna spoil me at this rate," she teased.

"Good!" Asta said with a grin. "Everyone deserves to feel special sometimes."

Vanessa didn't respond right away. She just watched him as they walked, his infectious energy pulling her along like a current.

They soon stumbled upon a small shop filled with odd trinkets and magical artifacts. The air inside buzzed faintly with magical energy, and Vanessa couldn't resist browsing through the shelves.

"Look at this!" Asta said, holding up a strange orb covered in glowing runes.

The moment he touched it, the orb began vibrating wildly. Asta yelped nearly dropping it, to the floor.

"Careful, you idiot!" Vanessa said, doubling over with laughter. "

"It was moving on its own!" Asta protested, his face red as he quickly set it back on the shelf.

As they left the shop, Vanessa was still chuckling, and Asta was mumbling about "cursed objects." They continued wandering through the city, stopping every so often to watch performers or peek into interesting stalls.

Eventually, they came across a street musician playing a lively tune on a lute. The sound was captivating, drawing a small crowd around him. The musician's fingers danced across the strings, creating a melody that made the air itself feel lighter.

Asta stopped in his tracks, his face lighting up as he turned to Vanessa. "Come on, let's dance!"

"What?" Vanessa said, blinking in surprise.

"Dance with me!" Asta said, grabbing her hand before she could protest. "It'll be fun!"

Vanessa laughed nervously, looking around at the crowd. "I don't know, Asta… I'm not exactly a dancer."

"That's okay—I'll teach you!" he said, pulling her into the open space near the musician.

The musician caught on quickly, smiling as he shifted into an even livelier tune. Asta started moving to the rhythm, his energy and enthusiasm making up for his lack of finesse.

Vanessa hesitated for a moment before giving in, letting Asta guide her through the steps. At first, her movements were awkward, and she stumbled more than once, but Asta just laughed and encouraged her to keep going.

"Loosen up! Feel the music!" Asta said, spinning her around.

"Oh, now you're an expert?" Vanessa shot back, but she was laughing now, her inhibitions melting away as she let herself get caught up in the moment.

They danced together, their laughter mingling with the music. Asta's unpolished moves were contagious, and soon Vanessa found herself moving freely, her usual grace returning in full force.

"See? You're a natural!" Asta said, grinning from ear to ear.

"Yeah, well, you're not half bad yourself," Vanessa admitted, surprising herself with how much fun she was having.

As the song came to an end, the crowd clapped and cheered, and the musician tipped his hat to Asta and Vanessa.

"Thanks for the show!" he said, his voice warm.

"No, thank you!" Asta replied, slipping a few coins into the musician's collection box.

Vanessa brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face, her cheeks slightly flushed from the exertion—or maybe something else. She glanced at Asta, who was already chattering excitedly about how fun that had been, and felt an unfamiliar flutter in her chest.

"Come on," Asta said, holding out his hand to her again.

Vanessa took his hand, smiling despite herself. "Alright, lead the way."

As they walked on, the music still lingering in her ears, Vanessa couldn't help but wonder: when had Asta started having this effect on her?

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, Vanessa led Asta through a winding path that opened up to a secluded overlook. The world seemed to pause as they stepped into the clearing. Below them, the city stretched out, bathed in the warm hues of twilight. The glow of lanterns and the distant hum of activity made the scene feel alive yet peaceful.

"This place…" Asta's voice trailed off as he took in the view. "It's incredible, Vanessa."

Vanessa smiled faintly, sitting down on the edge of the grassy cliff and gesturing for Asta to join her. "I found this spot years ago. Whenever things got… complicated, I'd come here. It's quiet. Peaceful. It gives you space to breathe, you know?"

Asta plopped down beside her, stretching his legs out as he gazed at the horizon. "I can see why you like it. It's like the world just… slows down here."

They sat in silence for a moment, the soft breeze carrying the scents of the city below. Vanessa leaned back on her hands, her eyes drifting to Asta. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, his expression unguarded and full of wonder.

"You're really something, you know that, Asta?" she said, her voice quieter than usual.

He blinked and turned to her, caught off guard. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"You have this way of making people feel better about themselves," Vanessa said, her cheeks tinged with pink. "I don't think you even realize it. You don't judge anyone. You just… believe in them. It's rare."

"I don't know about all that. I just try to do what I can. Everyone's got their own stuff they're dealing with, you know? I guess I figure if I can help someone smile, it's worth it."

Vanessa studied him for a moment, her usual playful smirk replaced with something softer. "You're not wrong about people having their own stuff. I know I do."

Asta tilted his head, sensing the shift in her tone. "What do you mean?"

She hesitated, her fingers absentmindedly picking at the grass beneath her. "Why do you think I drink so much?"

Asta didn't say anything, letting her continue at her own pace.

"It started years ago," Vanessa said, her voice distant. "When I was trapped in that cage. My magic—my threads—kept me bound, but they also kept me alive. I was stuck, alone, for so long. I thought I'd never get out." She paused, swallowing hard. "Even after Yami freed me, the memories didn't just go away. They lingered, like a shadow. Drinking… it numbs that. Makes it easier to forget."

Asta's expression softened, and he leaned forward.

"Vanessa…"

She waved a hand, forcing a chuckle. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for pity. The Black Bulls gave me a family, and I've come a long way since then. But some nights, those memories still creep in, and it's hard to face them without… you know."

Asta was quiet for a moment, his hands clenching slightly as if he was trying to will away her pain. "I get it," he said finally. "You've been through a lot, more than I can imagine. But you're stronger than you think, Vanessa."

She blinked, caught off guard by the certainty in his voice. "What makes you so sure?"

"Because you're here," Asta said, meeting her gaze. "You made it through all of that, and you're still standing. You didn't let it break you. That takes real strength. And now, you've got people who care about you—who believe in you. You don't have to face it alone anymore."

Vanessa stared at him, her chest tightening. There was something about the way he spoke—so genuine, so unwavering—that made her feel seen in a way she hadn't in years.

"Thanks, Asta," she said quietly, a small smile tugging at her lips.

As the stars began to dot the sky, Vanessa stood, stretching her arms above her head. "Well, Asta, you win. No drinks for me today, which means I'm done with it forever."

She smirked, and hopped on her broom to get back toward the Black Bulls' base. But as she flew back her mind wandered, her heart uncharacteristically unsettled.

Do I… have a crush on Asta?

She shook her head, laughing softly to herself. "No way," she muttered under her breath. "He's just a kid."

But the blush on her cheeks lingered, and the memory of his words stayed with her long after they returned to the base.