Chapter 23: Returns

"I'm home," Izuku called out.

Asta had been reading "The Hobbit" (recommended by Ichigo the last time he had been in the town). It was a slow read, very dense, but the concepts were interesting enough. "Welcome back," Asta yelled. "How was your trip?"

Izuku entered the living room. He wore his traveling clothes that Tsuna had gifted him. He placed his bag on one of their tables. There were rings under his eyes and Asta had hoped that Izuku would get to sleep without nightmares, but it looks like he didn't. "Uneventful. And everyone tells me to stop looking too deep into this place."

"And I suppose that you aren't gonna stop," said Asta, grinning. "Come and sit. I've got snacks. Made tato chips."

Izuku smiled gratefully and plopped himself on the couch. He grabbed several chips and began eating. "So, what are you reading?"

"Something about short people with hairy feet," said Asta.

"Oh! The Hobbit! I watched the movies," said Izuku.

"Movies are like plays, right," asked Asta.

"Similar, but they're recorded and you can rewatch it whenever," said Izuku patiently. "I've letters for you. And I have several leads about finding out how this world works."

Asta smiled at Izuku. "Great. I do have leftover dinner if you want to eat."

"No, I'm good. What part of the Hobbit are you on," asked Izuku.

"Um, this Gollum thing appeared with a ring," said Asta. "And there's riddles. I'm not the best at riddles."

Izuku leaned closer and said, "Read it!"

Asta laughed. "Sure, sure." As Asta read, he didn't feel as lonely as he had been when Izuku was away on his trip. Asta didn't know what to make of missing Izuku so much. It was a comfortable friendship they had with each other. Asta hadn't felt as ease with someone like this ever. With Yuno, they had their rivalry and there always had been tension between them. With Noelle, there was a different kind of tension between them, especially at first when Asta often put his foot in his mouth and she overreacted. Izuku was the easiest friend he ever made, even easier than Yuno and he had been with Yuno his entire life.

"You're good at this," Izuku said, interrupting. "I missed you." Izuku smiled easily.

"I missed you, too," said Asta.

"But there's something I have to tell you," said Izuku, slowly.

"Hmm?"

"I found out who Noelle married," said Izuku. "Fanzell told me."

Asta's heart dropped. "Oh?"

"She and Yuno got married," Izuku stated. "It's probably gonna be weird for you to hear that but I needed to tell you before you found out from someone else. I'm really sorry, Asta. I know that you loved them both."

Asta sighed in audible relief. "Thank God! They'll take care of each other. I was worried that Noelle settled for some loser. Yuno's a good man. Gosh, their children are going to be so overpowered and pretty. I hope the wedding was good. You know I thought that Yuno and Mimosa were gonna get married a long time ago, but then Mimosa wound up marrying a pretty woman."

"You're a motormouth just like me," said Izuku. He gave Asta a concerned look. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," said Asta. "I mean it sucks. I missed it. I hoped that Nozel walked Noelle properly down the aisle. I bet they got Lord Julius to perform the wedding ceremony."

"For sure you wanted it to be you, one of them was marrying," said Izuku.

"I will never be able to choose," said Asta, simply. "I loved them both in different ways, but no less important than the other. If I had known something was happening between them, well…"

"A trio relationship is a thing in my world," said Izuku.

Asta looked shocked. "Really?"

"I mean it's not widespread," said Izuku. "But my friends Shouto, Yao-momo and Kyouka are in one. It works for them with good communication."

"Well, that's not what the Church allows in my world," said Asta, with a sigh. "But that would have been nice. I'm happy for them. Thank you for telling me."

"Of course. I wouldn't keep anything like that from you."

"You're the best, Izuku. Are you sure you don't want to eat?" I'm turning into Miss Charmy, trying to feed Izuku all the time. She really was right, the easiest way to anyone's heart was through their stomach, Asta mused to himself.

"You're just as bad as my friend Sato! I'm fine with tato chips," said Izuku. "Promise. Continue the story!"

Asta laughed, "Alright, alright!"

He read.

And then, eventually he trailed off from tiredness and they both fell asleep on the couch side-by-side.