Chapter 11: Asta

Asta cried, but not tears of sadness.

No, today, Asta cried tears of happiness.

Though he was in his safe place at home with Vanessa, Gauche and Marie, the words wouldn't come out. It happened every birthday when his family and his best friend showered him with gifts (that he appreciated) and love. Charlotte and Yami were giving him fond looks, while Secre clutched Asta's hand. Gauche looked irritated, because he didn't like it when Asta cried (he especially didn't like it when Marie cried). Marie sat in Asta's lap, giving him hugs.

"Asta, you're such a big sap," said Vanessa, fondly.

On the day of his birthday, Vanessa always threw a small dinner party for him. It was always small—just Secre, Yami, Charlotte, Vanessa, Gauche and Marie. He had a bigger party planned by Secre, using Lumiere's black card to pay for it, with help from Vanessa. Secre told Asta that Lumiére encouraged using it for Asta's birthday, as Lumiére "appreciated Asta's friendship with her." It was gonna be at a nearby park to view the autumn leaves and a picnic with Asta's other friends, including Gordon, Grey, Henry, Zora, Luck, Magna, Charmy, Finral and Leopold. He hadn't the courage to ask Noelle, Mimosa, or Yuno to join, even if Leopold said that they definitely would come but Leo didn't push it.

Sometimes everything was just too much and he had to remember to pace himself like his therapist and Father Orsi said.

"Do you like your clothes, Asta," asked Charlotte. She bought him seven new outfits. "You're growing so quickly."

Asta nodded and smiled.

"My gift is the best! It's a picture of our family," said Marie. Marie, an inspiring little artist, drew Asta a picture that would be going into the folder of all the pictures that Marie him.

Asta leaned his head on Marie's hand. She was such a good girl.

"Hmph," said Gauche. He still got jealous when Marie showered Asta with affection, but now it was more that he wanted to show Asta he cared too but it was too hard for Gauche to communicate it. "Well, I think the new phone is much better. Bigger screen and easier to use for writing in notes."

Asta also got a new phone, which was a combined gift from Gauche, Marie and Vanessa. His old phone had seen better days as he often dropped it. Vanessa already pre-programed all of Asta's contacts and favorite apps in his phone. He already saw that he got many happy birthday texts from his friends and acquaintances.

Asta signed, using one hand (since Secre held his other), that "everything is great, thanks."

"You're very welcome," said Vanessa. "We love and appreciate you."

"Don't make him cry again, Miss Vanessa," said Secre, shaking her head amused. "But it's true."

Asta pouted. He really was loved.

After dinner, cake and presents, Charlotte and Yami offered Secre a ride home, leaving Gauche to tuck Marie into bed while Vanessa and Asta began on clean-up. Asta insisted he help clean-up, despite it being his birthday. There wasn't much to clean-up, except the dishes and garbage from the wrapping paper.

While Vanessa washed the dishes and Asta dried, his mind wandered. Asta was a little preoccupied with the text that Yuno sent him, telling him happy birthday again and telling Asta that he got a new phone. Asta wanted to reply. He had been speaking with Yuno via text for a few weeks now, but why was he so nervous replying this time? Just because he had the tiniest of crushes on Yuno didn't mean that he was gonna be a disaster the way that some people he knew were with their crushes.

"Did you have a good birthday? Next year, you're gonna be eighteen, so I have big plans for that," said Vanessa.

Asta nodded, pausing in his drying task, and signed that "I always have a good birthday."

Vanessa cooed and gave him a quick hug, despite the fact that her hands were covered in soap from washing the dishes.

Asta chuckled.

Vanessa went back to washing when she, then, asked, "Your origins still on your mind?"

Asta made a maybe motion with his hand. He signed, "Yuno was left at the same fire station as me, on the same night, and found by the same people." It took a bit longer to sign since he needed to spell out the words.

"Ah, I knew that," said Vanessa, sighing. "His adoptive parents are friends with Yami and Char. They told me it since your caseworker didn't. I don't think you two were left by the same people. I think that one of you was left there and whoever left the other felt it was safe to leave the other there. Two babies were easier to find than one."

Asta nodded. He knew that—after all, he and Yuno were completely different in looks, build and so forth.

"But if you ever wanted to try to find your birth parents, I'd help you," said Vanessa.

Shaking his head, Asta managed to speak, "I was left for a reason and I'm better off not knowing."

"If you're sure," said Vanessa.

Asta pursed his lips together and didn't want to talk anymore. Vanessa dropped the subject, but he was sure that he was gonna have to speak with his therapist about how he felt about his birth parents now.

It was about eleven at night as Asta laid in his bed, still in his day-clothes, staring at the text chat he had with Yuno. He managed to text back with Gauche's help. By Gauche's help, of course, it meant that Gauche pressed the send button after the fifteenth message Asta wrote and then erased.

Yuno had a good birthday too and that made Asta happy. It was nice sharing a birthday with someone as awesome as Yuno.

Asta's phone read:

Y: (a picture of a fancy pocket watch) I don't know what to do with this

A: ^_^ just keep it in the box and safe at home

A: only old men use pocket watches

Y: true

Y: so, leo said that he's going to your birthday picnic sat

A: yeah

Y: that park has a basketball court, maybe I can stop by and we can play a game

A: You'd want to play with me? But wait your wrist…

Y: You said you liked to play. I can bring noelle and mimosa, they play too…oh and Klaus…my wrist is almost healed and I can play just using my non-dominant hand. I'll ask my parents beforehand...

A: Well, magna, luck and zora will all be there too…if you're not busy, I'd like you, noelle, klaus and mimosa to come. We'll just make sure to be careful!

Y: Are you sure? we wouldn't want to impose.

A: lumiere is paying for it, by which secre went ham with his black card, so there's plenty of food and it's a park so there's room

Y: great. I'll tell noelle, mim and klaus, we were gonna hang out that day anyway. Happy birthday again, Asta. I'm glad that you were born.

A: Happy birthday, Yuno. I'm glad that you were born too.

Asta giggled, heart-pounding. Saturday was gonna be so much fun! He'd never think of asking Yuno to play a game of basketball with him. No one really played with him, unless he was helping Magna and Luck practice. He'd get to see Yuno on the weekend and play basketball with him. What more could he want?

He felt like screaming in joy but didn't since it was too late and Marie was already sleeping.

"Go to sleep!" Gauche pounded on their shared bedroom wall.

Asta giggled again.

Gauche pounded against the wall. "I will take your cookies away if you wake up Marie!"

"Brother! Stop yelling!"

"Marie! See what you did, Asta."

"CHILDREN! MAMA NEEDS HER BEAUTY SLEEP!"

"SHUT UP HAG!"

"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME, GAUCHE?!"

Asta laughed louder.

Truly, it was a great birthday.

~to be continued


Notes:

I've finally brought it back to basketball! fair warning, the only reference I have for basketball is the og Space Jam.

let me know what you think

there's 2 chapters next month