The arena buzzed with murmurs. After all the chaos Asta caused during the Magic Knights exam, not a single captain raised their hand.
He stood in the center, chest heaving, eyes darting between them.
Seriously? No one wants me?
Then—
"Oi."
A deep, gruff voice cut through the noise.
Yami Sukehiro stood, his imposing figure radiating raw, unfiltered energy.
"I like your style, kid. Join the Black Bulls."
Gasps echoed across the arena. Asta's heart surged.
Let's go.
---
The Black Bulls base looked like a drunken architect's fever dream. Slanted floors. Broken furniture. A punching dummy on fire.
"Welcome to the madhouse," Yami said, throwing the front door open.
Inside, chaos reigned.
A shirtless guy with goggles—Magna—was hurling fireballs for fun. Luck ran laps around the base, challenging passing birds to fights.
And then came her.
Vanessa walked into the room like the laws of gravity didn't apply to her. Loose pink hair, half-lidded eyes, barely dressed. She looked like a fantasy... and a problem.
She stopped when she saw Asta.
"Oh?" Her lips curled into a smirk. "A new face."
Before he could say anything, she closed the distance and—squish.
She pulled him into a tight hug, her tit's pressing fully against his face.
Asta short-circuited.
His arms froze, his face turned red, and a soft mmph escaped from somewhere in his soul.
"Oh no," Vanessa cooed, teasingly messing with his hair. "Is this too much for our poor little newbie?"
She leaned down slightly to whisper, "You're cute when you're flustered."
Then she let go just as casually as she hugged him, her smile smug as she turned back toward her wine.
Asta staggered back like he'd been hit by a spell.
Okay. She's Definitely dangerous.
---
Noelle entered next, arms crossed and frown in place.
"You must be the new idiot."
Asta blinked, still reeling from the hug. "Nice to meet you, too?"
She looked him up and down, scowled again, then stormed off.
...Also hot, he thought. Why is everyone here ridiculously attractive?
---
Later that night, in his room, Asta collapsed on his creaky bed, brain still fried.
He stared at the ceiling.
Vanessa's hug… That was…
His mind wandered. His face burned.
A knock came at his door.
He opened it.
Vanessa leaned in the doorway, swirling her wine.
"Sweet dreams, rookie," she said with a wink. "And don't fantasize about me too much."
She walked away.
He didn't sleep much that night.
---