Chapter 16: Asta
"How are you feeling today, Asta," asked Father Orsi, handing Asta a small bottle of orange juice.
Asta sat in Father Orsi's cramped office. Today he returned to school after having a big panic attack that kept him out of school for more than a week. Whenever this happened, Asta always had to meet with Father Orsi when he returned to school. He took the orange juice bottle, but just placed it on the floor in order to open his tablet to write.
"I'm fine."
Father Orsi sighed. "Asta, there's no shame in not being fine."
Asta scowled and quickly wrote, "I'm sorry that I scared and worried everyone. But really I'll be okay. I always am."
"Miss Enoteca told me that you spoke to your therapist and that she okayed it that you come back to school," said Father Orsi. "My door is always open for you, Asta. If you feel off about anything in class, tell a teacher."
"You tell me this every time, Father Orsi."
"Because it's important for you to know that you are not alone and you don't have to be strong all the time," said Father Orsi, patiently. "There's nothing wrong with asking for help or leaning on others when you need it."
Asta stared at Father Orsi. He quickly wrote down, "Tell that to my brain."
Father Orsi smiled, sighing gently. "Asta, try your best today. Make sure that you eat lunch. Do you have a meetup with Leopold for your literature assignment today? Make sure you tell Gauche when and where to pick you up."
"I'll try. I will. Yes. Leo and I will be working at the library today. Gauche is coming with us to work on his own senior project, so we'll be at the library together." Asta refrained from rolling his eyes. Everyone always got protective and smothering after Asta had an episode. Gauche was the worst offender. Asta knew that he hadn't even wanted Asta to meet with Leo this afternoon but the Literature Assignment was still very important to finish. Asta and Leo finished the shared journal and the Powerpoint presentation. Asta and Leo were working on the papers, which took a lot longer since both Asta and Leo had a hard time actually writing papers.
"Good, good," said Father Orsi, pleased. "Go off to your homeroom, Asta. I'll catch up with you later. Drink your orange juice."
Asta nodded. He picked up his drink and bag and waved goodbye to Father Orsi, as he headed out of the office to get to his homeroom.
"Yuno's been asking after you," said Secre, when she sat down at the lunch table with two trays of food, one for her and one for Asta.
Asta didn't respond to her statement.
"I should deck him," said Gauche, protectively.
Asta glared at his foster brother.
"Down, you nutjob," said Zora, rolling his eyes at Gauche. "Anyway, there's special lunch practice for the basketball team today. Dad said that the team is worried about the upcoming match against the Dark Disciples. But I think Yuno would like to talk to you." Extra practice explained why Magna and Luck weren't here at the table with the rest of their friend group.
Asta shrugged. He didn't feel like speaking to Yuno, because what could he say? Surely, Yuno had been worried, that's what Secre told him, but Asta felt strange speaking to Yuno. Yuno was amazing and everything he wanted to be and he admired Yuno. He didn't want Yuno's pity.
"Hey, none of that," said Charmy, scolding, as if sensing Asta's mind going down a dark rabbit hole.
"It's going to be okay," said Gordon, supportive as always.
Finral thankfully changed the subject. "But! No worries. You'll talk when you talk. You missed some drama, Asta. Catherine started rumors again…"
Zora snorted. Everyone knew Zora's very strong opinions about Catherine and the fan club.
Asta's eyes widened, he used his phone to text Finral. "Obsessed fan trouble again?"
"Hmm, yeah. But it's not just Catherine. Now that the basketball teams switched up," said Finral, shaking his head. "And the Winter Festival is coming, even if it's three weeks away."
The first Saturday of December was the day that the school hosted the Winter Festival. It was a popular festival to bring dates, especially since the Winter Festival had the reputation of being the place where you took your true love. According to school lore, people who had their first date during the Winter Festival got married when they were older. Granted, it did happen, but it wasn't a guarantee, but that was the thing about traditions, they got out of hand quickly via word-of-mouth.
"I take it that the ask-a-thon began?" It was a running joke in the school that people went on date-asking sprees in hopes of getting a date to the Winter Festival.
"Yeah. Langris had to turn down four offers just today," said Finral.
"Um, aren't Mimosa and Langris dating again," asked Grey, hesitantly.
"Mimosa's face turned a particular shade of red when one girl asked Langris out right in front of her," said Finral, grimacing.
"Catherine's targeting Yuno," said Zora, scowling. "According to Dad, they had to double-down on the ban of any onlookers from practice. It's getting out of hand."
Asta frowned and texted to his friends "Surely, everyone learned from last time when it happened to Kirsch, right? I'm sure that Coach Ideale and Coach Vangeance won't let anything happen."
Secre read it out loud for him. And she added, "Catherine's parents have a lot of money and prestige amongst the nobility. She should have gotten expelled after what she tried to do to Kirsch."
"As it usually is," said Zora, scoffing.
Changing the subject yet again, Finral asked, cheerfully, "Speaking of the Winter Festival, who has dates?"
Everyone groaned.
"Practice went well, thanks for asking," said Leo, as he sat across from Asta at the school library's old wooden table where Asta had his tablet out and working on the five-to-seven page synopsis of the book. He already finished the 2-3 page opinion paper while he was out of school. The assignment was due just after Holiday Break at the end of December for Christmas and New Year's, so it was progressing. "We have some good strategies planned for the Dark Disciples match."
Asta nodded. He knew that the Dark Disciples were fierce opponents. He typed in another file to ask, "How's the new team lineups working?"
"Better than we hoped. We're going to win," said Leo, grinning.
Asta grinned.
"Oh! Right, I need to ask you, Asta. Can you please talk to Yuno," asked Leo, rolling his eyes. "He's...worried about you."
Asta awkwardly smiled. And he typed out, "Sure, I'll text him later."
Leo smiled in relief. "Thanks. He's got a hard time showing people he cares, so I know that you're a really important friend to him."
Asta hoped it was the case.
Over-anxious and over-thinking, Asta did not text Yuno until the day of the match against the Dark Disciples, nearly a week later after he said he would text Yuno.
"Good luck! I know you guys will win!" He hit send before he could change his mind. He sat on his bed and held his breath. He hoped that Yuno wouldn't be mad at him, but also that Yuno wasn't still worried.
Immediately, he got a response.
Asta's phone read:
Y: Thanks. I know we will. How're you feeling?
A: I'm okay. Been busy with the lit papers. Writing academic papers is hard.
Y: Are you coming to the game?
A: Maybe? Idk. I'd like to but Miss Vanessa hasn't given me permission yet.
Y: Oh. Well, will you watch it on stream?
A: If I can't go, I definitely will. It's always great to see you and the others play so hard and so well together.
Y: We'll win. But, hey, could I see you after the game if you can't come?
The question gave Asta pause. Miss Vanessa wasn't likely to give Asta permission to go to the game after what happened last time. And Asta missed Yuno, so Asta agreed.
"Hey," said Yuno, standing awkwardly on the front stoop of Asta's home.
Asta signed, "Hi! It was a good game."The teams lost. Only the Varsity girls' basketball team won their game.
"I hate that we lost to them," said Yuno, sounding a bit frustrated. "But we have a rematch after the break. We won't lose again."
Asta signed, "That's the spirit! Come in!"
It was late. It was nearly ten. Gauche wasn't home, being out with Zora and Finral. Marie was already in bed. And Miss Vanessa was at work. Technically, Asta shouldn't let Yuno inside, but Asta hadn't seen or spoken to Yuno in what felt like forever.
In the living room, Yuno and Asta sat next to each other.
Asta thought it was going to be awkward.
But Yuno asked easily, "So, do you have any bright ideas for the rematch against the Dark Disciples? I could use a different perspective."
Asta grinned. "I do!" He pulled his phone out of his pocket where he had notes.
Basketball was fun. Basketball was easy to talk about with Yuno since they both loved the sport so much.
It was easier than talking about anything else.
~to be continued
Notes:
One chapter next month
Good news! I figured out how to put Liebe in the story
As always let me know what you think!