Disclaimer: I do not own Black Clover. It belongs to Yuki Tabata.

FLASHBACK CONTINUES - DAY 1 OF 3 BEFORE HEART KINGDOM MISSION START

It was currently evening in the Clover Kingdom. The sun was gradually going down, as the sky was slowly but surely turning color from deep orange to pure black. An event that takes place once everyday. An event that many like to call: Sunset.

And while for many people this is a sight to behold. Something they don't want to miss. Something that calms their mind and body from the stress they've endured all day. Something that washes away all their worries, as if they were suddenly the most insignificant of matters. This was not the case for one person..

This was not the case for one person right now. In fact, it was actually quite the opposite. Just as the sky was currently turning pitch black, this person's heart was also, slowly but surely, turning pitch black at the moment.

This person's name was Noelle Silva. A Clover Kingdom royal. As she was currently on her way back to the base of her magic knight squad, the Black Bulls.

Noelle was currently, on top of feeling down, very deep in thought. She was thinking about all the events that had taken place today. About all the new information that was dropped on her like an absolute bombshell. About all the different people she interacted with and/or ran into today.

'This whole day's been a mess' thought Noelle, a sigh of sadness and frustration escaping her lips, as she recalled all the horrible events that took place today, a deep frown forming on her face.

'Basically I'm told my mom was killed by a devil, by my own brother no less, and if I talk about it out loud then I'll get cursed and die too'. 'Then there's...'

'Then there's that mess with Mimosa earlier' 'Ugh! That girl, she may be my cousin but she really gets on my nerves sometimes.. actually no, who am I kidding, she always gets on my nerves!' thought Noelle, now recalling that encounter between Asta and Mimosa from earlier today, her frown quickly disappearing as she did so. As she was currently biting her lower lip in anger.

This was simply not Noelle's day. If she had to say, this was definitely the worst day of her life. And that was including her awful childhood days with her siblings too. Yes. It was that bad.

What she needed right now is a way to relieve all this stress. Somewhere for her to just dump it all out. Something or someone to throw all these emotions and feelings onto.. If only there was something or someone that would do a better job than this tree she was currently next to..

Noelle was currently near a flower field. This was very odd. As this was not the route she usually takes to the Black Bulls base. Perhaps her legs had carried her there on their own? As if this beautiful sight of nature would calm her down, even when the sight of the setting sun failed to do anything? She simply did not know.

Though one thing was for sure. She was currently next to a tree. A very big tree. A poor, unsuspecting tree that was about to be blasted into a million pieces.

Noelle, having not found anything to relieve herself on, was about to Sea Dragon Roar this poor, unsuspecting tree, and turn it into ash. Though as she was about to do so, she noticed something, or, more precisely, someone..

Noelle, who was about to destroy the tree next to her, noticed Asta. Currently lying on a bench near her. While she did not see his whole body, she immediately recognized it was him after seeing a head full of spikey, grey hair, with one weird flick of hair sticking out like a sore thumb in the middle of it.

Then, it finally hit her. Though subconsciously, though she did not even know Asta was here, her body knew and had carried her here on it's own. Having probably done so because of her unhealthy habit of always blasting Asta with her magic.

Yes. This habit of hers had gotten this bad. So bad to the point where her body magically finds it's way to Asta. No matter how far. Or where. Asta was, her body always finds it's way to him when it's in need..

Her body always finds it's way to him. Especially when it's bottle cap is about to pop. Like right now for instance.

Noelle did not like doing this, she really didn't. But whenever she's flustered or an emotional mess, she had to admit that blasting Asta with water always felt good. It was messed up. She always hates herself for doing it afterwards. But all that hating herself does is simply continue this vicious, never ending cycle.

As she was now approaching Asta. About to do just that. Start a conversation, find any excuse, blast and run. She was suddenly stopped in her tracks, as she now noticed Asta, from her POV, with no context, crying.

This scene of Asta crying really hit Noelle deep. As she now realized that despite how Asta seems all the time, he is a human. A human just like her and everyone else. Someone who does have emotions, inner thoughts, and all other qualities humans possess.

And as much as her body still urged her to beat the shit out of him right now, her mind refused to do so, as she was now lowering her wand, a deep frown forming on her face for the millionth time in just this one day.

Though she did not know this of course, yes Asta was currently crying, but he wasn't crying out of sadness. Asta was currently crying tears of joy, as his whole day up until his encounter with Mimosa had been an absolute mess. Noelle wasn't the only one.

Her wand now lowered. Grimoire back in it's rightful place. She turned around and started walking back to her usual route back to the Black Bulls base, so that Asta wouldn't notice her passing by, as she did not want to face him right now. If she did she would probably just blast him with water, since her body still urged her to do so.

'Damnit.. I'm so pathetic' thought Noelle, as her frown grew even deeper, eyebrows following suit as they furrowed deeply as well.

After that whole mess of a day, Noelle was now back at the hideout. She didn't even bother to have dinner and instead just headed off to her room, immediately crashing on her bed as she got there.

Though as she lay there, waiting for the guardians of dreamland to come get her, she had not expected what came instead..

FLASHBACK END - AT LEAST FOR NOW

It was currently early morning in the Heart Kingdom.. or, actually, should be. Though instead it was currently dawn, the sun itself still asleep, not to mention the entirety of the Heart Kingdom's population. Emphasis on 'Heart Kingdom's'.

As Asta, a 16 year old buff visitor-boy from the Clover Kingdom, was currently waking up. Actually he was the first to wake up in the whole entirety of the Heart Kingdom, that including all the birbs, fish, and animals too.

Asta was currently looking and feeling extremely depressed. Though unlike how it usually goes, this time he knew why he was feeling this way, as he was currently also deep in thought.

Asta finally got up from his bed, though only after five minutes of being trapped in a sitting stance by some, for him, unknown force.

After he finished putting on his blue top, grimoire holding belt, and, well, his grimoire of course. He now started writing some sort of message or note on a piece of paper he so happened to have at his disposal, also using a pen he just so happened to have found in his room.

Said note/message saying this: I went on ahead. Asta.

It was short, sweet, simple, and to the point. Something unusual for Asta, as when he usually writes notes or messages, usually to his family back at Hage, he doesn't hold anything back.

He wrote this, for him, unusual message for his fellow friends and Clover Kingdom visitors. As he had decided he wanted to head back to his kingdom right now, not bothering to have breakfast if they were to be offered any.

Again, also something unusual for Asta. As he would usually not hold anything back in terms of eating food. Especially free food. And especially, especially, if it was actually good food.

However, before he left and put his message on his borrowed room's door, he decided to ask his self-invited room mate if she had wanted to come too.

"Hey Nero, you coming?" he asked Secre, as she, on her own, had decided that she wanted to sleep with Asta, despite being offered a room of her own.

Secre, instead of saying anything, simply just sat on top of Asta's bushy head. As if saying 'yes', only without the talking part.

Not wasting any time, the both of them immediately took off into the sky. Asta using his black form, and Secre using her birb form.

...

Meanwhile, somewhere off into the distance, a certain black haired magic knight was soaring through the sky. Seemingly using a gust of wind to do so..

...

CHAPTER 9: END

A/N: Hey everyone, thanks for reading if you've made it this far. I don't actually have much to say, so, since BC 270 will be releasing soon, please be sure to support the official release on Manga Plus and/or Shonen Jump or any other official source for this stuff out there! Let's support our GOAT Yuki Tabata and his amazing story!

Please review, favorite and/or follow if you liked it. Next chapter coming soon!