Sometime before Fate-FULL Encounter and several months after Asta's started working at the Black Bulls Bar and Grill

15-year-old Asta rushed out of the Black Bulls Bar and Grill because he accidentally stayed too long at his new favorite place and now he had to catch the bus so he would be able to make it to his group home by curfew at 11pm (for it was Saturday night). Asta did not relish the thought sleeping on the back porch of the group home in the roughest neighborhood in the city (again). The bus stop was down the block from the bar and grill.

In his rushing to get to the bus, he spied something unusual across the street and Asta's kind-heart slowed him down. Across the street on one of the benches that the city put up for people, mostly for the Festival days, was a girl no older than him with soft silver hair, hunched in the fetal position. Asta knew that the bus would be there in five minutes and he had to get back to the group home.

Asta checked the street for any passing cars and sprinted across the road and straight towards the girl.

Sitting down the girl made no indication she knew he was there, so Asta asked, "Are you alright?"

The girl, definitely a girl and not a boy (probably), looked over at Asta, eyes red from crying and Asta's heart hurt for this poor person. And then she spoke, "What's it to you?"

She spoke clearly and formally. She must be from uptown.

"Well, it's late and this is not the safest place at night," said Asta, scratching his cheek in his nervousness. "Do you want me to call someone for you?"

The girl tensed. "No. I'm, I'll be fine. I just don't want to go home right now." And then realizing what she just admitted, she looked startled at her own statement.

Asta's been in the foster care system in every shape and form and usually it was never good when someone wanted to spend the night on the streets and not at home. Home was supposed to be the safe place. "I'm Asta, by the way. And if you don't want to go home, I think you should at least get off the street. We can go to the bar and grill over there and pretty sure Miss Vanessa or Miss Charmy will let you stay on their couch."

"Why are you helping?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

The next day…

Leopold: Noelle, where are you? You didn't come to school today?

Mimosa: Please, Noelle, what happened last night?

Leopold: You're scaring me. If things were bad at home you should have come over to ours. You're family.

Mimosa: Or mine. Noelle...

[Ten minutes later]

Noelle: I'm fine. With it being the anniversary of my mom's death and my birthday, things go rough. You know that Solid, Nebra, and Father….well, at least Nozel didn't say anything…but he never does…

Mimosa: Where did you sleep? You only took your phone?

Leopold: Me and Big Sis are coming to pick you up! Where the hell are you?

Noelle: Well, I think I made a new friend last night. Anyway, I'm at the Black Bulls Bar and Grill, right now, eating some breakfast.

Mereoleona: WE'LL BE THERE IN TEN MINUTES!

Later…

THE BLACK BULLS GROUP CHAT

Vanessa: The girl you brought by is soooooo cute

Charmy: She's got a good palate. Anyway, her name is Noelle Silva.

Asta: WAIT?! As in the Silver Eagles' Silva?! Her brother is frigging NOZEL SILVA?!

Vanessa: Yep. Anyway, I managed to snag you her number for you.

Asta: Oh thanks, but no. I'd rather her be the one to give the number to me. I don't want to bother her.

Vanessa: [heart explodes from Asta's cuteness]

A couple of weeks later…

Noelle Silva, age 15, walked into the public library. It was one of the places she liked to hide out on Saturdays and Sundays during the day. It was mostly quiet; she got her studying done and even picked up a few books to read here and there. She went to find a table in the back of the library to hunker down for the day.

But her normal table was occupied.

The boy who helped her a couple of weeks ago (Asta, if she remembered correctly) was there, books all over the table and looking quite dumfounded. It looked like he was studying.

Noelle was not the best with new people and he was so nice, but she did need to thank him for making a shitty birthday and anniversary of her mother's death just a smidge better than it would have been had she slept on that bench.

"You look confused," said Noelle, sitting down in the chair next to him.

Asta looked startled and near tears, probably frustration. "I'm bad at school. Oh, you're Noelle, right?"

"I wanted to thank you for helping me that day. It was a hard day for me, so thanks," said Noelle, looking at the notes and the books. "Geometry? I'm really good at math. I can try to help."

Asta's eyes lit up. "Really? Would you?! You're so nice."

Noelle nodded. "Not really, but yeah, I'll help you."

Later…

Asta: I got a B- on my geometry pop quiz! Highest grade yet! Thanks so much Noelle. You're really smart.

Noelle: That's great. Glad I could help. How was history?

Asta: Got a C, so that was not bad either. Pretty sure I spelled some names wrong and maybe got a few dates, but all good. I really appreciate your help, though. Oooh, you should come over to the Black Bulls Bar and Grill? I get free food since I work there. I'll share with you!

Noelle: Yeah? Sounds good. When? Oh, I should bring my cousin Leo to meet you. I think you guys would get along.

Asta: How about this Sat? And yeah sure, bring your cousin, more the merrier!

Later…

Noelle: Oh, no, what have I done?!

Leopold: Asta and I buddies now!

Asta: Pfft, yeah. I'm glad to have met you guys. I don't have friends my age, mostly their older, so this is great! And Leo, we still on for me going to your sister's gym?!

Leopold: Heck yeah!

Noelle: You two are so ridiculous.