The Three Brothers: Black Clover x Male OC(Harem)

by EternalOG

Blake didn't have magic for most of his life, but he tried his best to not let it get under his skin. His family at the Hage Church helped keep him upbeat and positive. At 15, he attains a powerful grimoire, with some sort of unknown entity attached to it. At 19, he takes the exam with his brothers, Asta and Yuno. What goes from there?

21. Page 20 - The Mixer

Black Clover - The Three Brothers

"—Frankly, shit went wild that day."

Currently, Blake was regaling the tales of his battle against Mereoleona just a week ago to one of his Black Bull comrades, describing the ferocious match he had against that beast of a woman—who'd play hide'n'seek with monsters that would no doubt send plenty of Magic Knights running back to their mamas with soiled pants—in the colorful way that was only natural to him.

"I was getting rocked every which way in that forest. Trees and beasts were flying all around the fucking place once I put out my tornado spell—and then when it collided with my fire and lightning spells? Horrible, just horrible. The most unnatural disaster to have ever happened in that place. The little miss gave me an earful about it, I'll tell you what!

"Unfortunately, despite my amazing efforts, I took the loss—even with the little miss assisting me." Blake caps off with an exaggerated shrug and sigh of defeat, dropping back into the chair behind him. "She's not a Royal for no reason. Even then, there's no doubt she's in a league of her own."

Blake gazes down at one of his hands, staring for a moment, before tightening the loose red bandages, and clenching it into a fist with a smirk. "She better be ready to make some room in that spot, I don't plan on playing catch-up for long."

"Wooow...sheee...surrre...doeees...souuund...poooweerfuul...buuut...I'm...surrre...yooou...caaan...dooo...iiit...Blaaake..."

The confident smirk on Blake's lips shifted into an appreciative smile, looking up at the man practically confined to his bed and just barely being able to see those yellow eyes beneath his unkempt and tangled bangs, along with his reassuring smile. His eyes trail down and he lets out a small snort of amusement, seeing Nero softly petted by Henry. Spoiled little bird.

Blake took an active interest in something a few weeks after joining the Black Bulls—how the magic that enveloped the Black Bulls base, caused it to do all that shifting around the place, it all stemmed from a source that was no doubt a person by the shape of it. He tried to find the spot that they were at within the convoluted mansion, but he always ended up at a dead end, reaching a wall or a room he already passed by.

Whatever or whoever it was, Blake got the sense they didn't want to be found. Since nothing seemed malicious about it, the other members had been here for years and nothing ever happened to them, Blake figured it wasn't necessary to figure out, so he left it all to its own devices.

Only a few days later, his questions would be answered when Asta led him through the base, reaching a door that Blake never seen before, and beyond it was the man in front of him now.

Henry, a young man born with frail vitality—only able to live by reinforcing his body with a surplus of magic—and a cursed body that absorbs the magic of others around him. The one who, by all accounts, owned the mansion that the Black Bulls used as their base—though, instead of rent money, they paid by giving Henry a small fraction of their magic to help sustain his life. If only Yuno was as generous...

Asta already knew about the man, having been told about him by Yami, and took some time now and then to talk to Henry about his missions or the antics their brigade members were getting up to. It made perfect sense to Blake—don't have to worry about absorbing someone's magic if they don't have any to begin with, and Asta was definitely a good choice for keeping someone company.

"I know you wanted to wait until you had better control over your curse, but Blake's my big bro and he's got plenty of magic to spare! I had to tell him!" Asta said with stars in his eyes as he repeatedly slapped Blake on the back.

It was just like Asta to do that, Blake knew. His little brother would never want someone to feel alone. It was similar to Blake's past situation with Grey, and he couldn't help the swelling, prideful feeling in his chest.

That was the start of this small friendship, Blake supposed. He'd come by once in a while to check in, offer him some snacks he requested from Charmy that would be easy on Henry's digestive system, and spend some time telling him anything exciting, just like the topic at hand—and with his surplus of magic, he could hold a conversation with the guy for a long while before feeling even a little drained.

Henry was a good listener, and Blake could tell every little comment and reaction he gave was an earnest interest in hearing about his friend's tales, he meant what he said.

"But oh man, you should've seen Captain Yami's face. I'd woken up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom—and of course, he was just coming out of there after taking a fucking "Dynadump". The very damn moment I brought up her name, he was like—" Blake transforms into Yami, with the look of a man who was trying to hide the fact he was this close to dumping his internal organs into the toilet.

"YOU MET THE GREAT BEAST IN THE WILDERNESS AND LIVED TO TELL THE TALE?!"

Half the brigade woke up to the sound of that shouting, and they were told to get the fuck back to sleep before Yami decided to put them to work on early morning laps. From then on, Yami always looked at Blake in a way he wasn't sure if it was some sort of unspoken respect or if he just thought he had some screws loose.

A quick gasp escapes Henry's throat before his laughter emerges, its speed just a bit faster than usual. It would take a hit on Henry's energy, which was already below average to begin with, but he didn't care. Joyfulness...will always be worth it.

Blake was all too pleased with the sight. Henry seemed in need of—Blake would bet plenty that Henry could count the number of times he's laughed on one hand, and he'd make damn sure that number would end up through the roof.

Their conservation continued for a little longer. Among other things, Blake tells about how Noelle's taken Grey under her wing a little. How'd she guide her in displaying confidence even in small actions just through the use of her body language, showing her how small changes to her posture and stance could project such an assured elegance.

It didn't take much effort to get Noelle to agree; Grey simply told her what she told Blake, echoing the qualities she admired about the young girl, and Noelle seemed all too ready to assist.

"You have good judgment! I suppose I am the best person for this after all, so I'll go ahead and give up some time for you. No thanks necessary."

Such a damn softie. Blake thought with an adoring smile. She couldn't fool anyone. Speaking of her...

Finishing off the conversation, Blake gets up from his seat; It's about time to leave. "Parting is such sweet sorrow but we are sure to meet again and all that good stuff," Blake says with a flippant gesture, earning him a happily amused smile from Henry. "No worries, though, I'll come around if anything interesting happens. Any snacks you'd like next time?"

Henry lifts his chin, humming as he thinks of his answer. "Maaaarshmellooooows...woooould...beeee...niiiice."

"Fine choice. You got it!" Blake nods, before gesturing Nero over. "Come on, little buddy, I'm sure Ellie would be more than happy to indulge you."

Henry moves his hand off Nero's head. The anti-bird turns, nods at the man to show him thanks, then crosses the distance and sets itself on Blake's shoulder.

Blake turns away, giving Henry a wave—doubling the gesture as an activation of Spatial Magic and creating a portal. "In the meantime, do all you can in controlling your curse. Telling you about the shenanigans is one thing, but you should be able to experience the craziness for yourself for once. Don't keep us waiting long!"

Henry slowly nods. At first, he'd been apprehensive to Blake, not wanting his curse to impact his opinion of him. Yet again, however, a member of the Black Bulls has proven his self-deprecating thoughts wrong, and he couldn't be happier for it.

"Yoooou...goooot...iiiit. IIIII'll...doooo...myyyy...beeeest...!...!"

---

When Blake sensed where Noelle was, he popped through a portal and got her with a good jumpscare; He was all too satisfied with himself for doing it and the look on Noelle's face was worth the would-be assault from her. Afterward, they'd taken to the field near the base; Blake's been wanting to set some time aside to see Noelle's progress in her magic and today's relaxing morning seemed like the best time to do so.

Vanessa had been guiding Noelle through using her magic as well, focusing on her ability to stabilize and maintain her usage of it. It's certainly improved in that aspect—notably, her ability to concentrate and fuel magic into her Sea Dragon's Nest. It's gotten stronger, it can even handle a few hits from some of Blake's stronger spells. However, the same improvement couldn't be said for her offensive use and she's yet to develop an attack spell. Against his Ignis Columna, all of Noelle's blasts of water evaporated on contact.

Blake's gaze narrowed after the last attack. Noelle's magic...something was off with it. Her control over her nest spell was good, steadily improving since she first learned it, but developing anything with offense in mind was a challenge. Something was holding it back.

"Come on, Ellie," Blake half-heartedly taunted, peeling away his pillar of flames, and moving to her. "That ain't all you got, I know that much!"

"Don't you even," Noelle muttered through her breath, not even batting an eye at the nickname. "That's Captain Fuegoleon's spell, I don't have the strength to beat that! Maybe I'm just not suited to offensive magic—!"

"No way! Have you forgotten you're a Royal too? Jeez, this thing up here holds you back in so many ways!" Blake says, knocking his knuckles against the girl's forehead. "Hello! Hello! Work with me here!"

"Ouch! Stop it!" Noelle whined, trying and failing to swat the hand away. "What are you even talking about?"

"Your magic!" Blake says, patting the girl's head. "I can see the way it radiates off of you, it's insane!"

Noelle's quiet for a moment, before softly pushing Blake's hand off her head, "Obviously, it does. That's just the way things are for Royalty—."

"But you excel even beyond that," Blake cuts her off. "Back at the banquet, I got a good read on everyone's mana—blame my curiosity. Your amount of magic blew everyone else's out the damn water! Even the Captains!"

"That..." The words fell off her tongue, unable to believe it. "That can't be true, you must've been mistaken. Captain Fuegoleon and...B-Big Brother Nozel, their magic is certainly—!"

"Captain Hardnose and Featherface got you beat in overall power, obviously. They've got years of control and refining under their shiny, golden-buckle belts." Blake's hands quickly held onto Noelle's shoulders, centering her focus. Her eyes—filled with doubt, but wanting to reach forward for hope—met Blake's gaze, filled with an unwavering belief. "But when it comes to reserves, you beat them out, Ellie! Give yourself the time they've had to train, and you'll surpass even them! You have the potential, we all know you do!

"And bringing that out starts with up here." Blake finishes, knocking against Noelle's forehead one last time, and smirking at the half-hearted glare she gives him. He turns away, walking back to his spot.

Noelle watched him walk away with uncertain eyes and a slightly furrowed brow. She believed in herself, certainly, but why was it everyone in this brigade believed in her even more so? It was a double-edged sword; while it certainly boosted her resolve, it made anxiety creep upon her even more.

"Every time you channeled your magic and shot an attack at me, there was a disconnect in your concentration, something interrupting your magic at the last second that made you unable to follow through at its full strength." He turns around, swiping a hand across him to manifest his Ignis Columna once again. "Realize what that is and smack it out the way, don't let it stop you!"

With pursed lips and hesitance, Noelle raises her wand again. As she flowed her magic through her wand and generated an attack, she kept Blake's words in mind; The idea that she could one day surpass Fuegoleon and her siblings, even Nozel, it latched onto her and made her yearn. Yearn for hope, for that acknowledgment she wanted from him, from all of her family.

Her family. Noelle's thoughts drift back to the times she'd hide behind the corners of the halls and walls—fearful that she would be ridiculed for being a bother if seen by her siblings—to hear the tales of how strong her mother was. Acier, The Steel Warrior Princess.

If...If I can surpass them, is it possible that one day I could reach the heights she—

"A disgrace to Royalty."
"The Silva Family's Failure."
"They should've stopped at Solid."
"Wasn't killing our mother enough? "

Noelle flinched out of instinctual habit, eyes wide and filled with a silent panic, and her magic attack is extinguished by the pillar of flames just as it's done every other time. Blake waits, not saying anything just yet.

They were finally clear. Whispering words that held no shape until now, pulling at her to give up, to stop her from following through in her goal. But, that's what Noelle hadn't understood, as she stared at the wand in her hand. To prove her siblings wrong, to show them there was worth in her birth, that was her goal...wasn't it?

But repeating that goal to herself, something felt...incorrect. Like the essence of it was right, but the way she was looking at it was wrong, that something needed to change.

She raises her wand.

Think back to before, at the village. When I manifested Sea Dragon's Nest, what pushed me to reach that step so quickly...?

Her magic flows through it, remembering the faint chill prickling along her skin because of Heath's magic, how his men and he overwhelmed Asta, Magna, and her. The fear that held her for a moment, that made her consider running away to save herself. But that stopped, when a young girl, shivering from the cold and in tears, reached a hand to Noelle and pleaded for her to save them.

I...wanted to protect them.

Steadily, Noelle concentrated more and more magic into her wand. Her magic flared out; It was vast, but there was control. Blake could feel the slight shift in the area from it, with a smile slowly growing.

Born as peasants or not, they were Citizens of the Clover Kingdom. I needed to make sure they were safe! Not just that...I needed to support my teammates!

Without them to worry about, Magna and Asta grasped victory against the Ice Mage and his allies.

The Black Bulls, they never cared about my status. They've always encouraged me, believed in what I could become...

Through his translucentblack and blue flames, Black saw the water generating from Noelle's wand that...seemed to take the shape of something, just barely.

So, I'll keep going...

I'll keep growing stronger...!

So I can continue to fight...! To support them...!

To protect them!

Wordlessly, she launched her attack and Blake's eyes widened. Something within him stops as he sees what the attack took the shape of more closely. Swirling water forms around the body like a cyclone and an opening in the spell that almost seems like...something is unhinging its jaw, ready to devour whatever gets in its way.

Has this girl...?

Within moments, Blake's arms have to grip onto the magic attack—gripping the top and the bottom of what would be its head—having to use plenty of his strength to counteract the force of this magic, making his feet drag tracks into the ground. By the time the spell finally dissipated, Blake still stood—though his hands were much worse for wear. The bandages were ripped through and, even with Reinforcement Magic, quite a bit of the skin on his hands had been torn through.

It hurt enough to make him laugh. Damn, should've used the gauntlets. Need more than a band-aid for this.

But if Blake was being honest, he really didn't care, his Water Recovery Magic would cover the damages. Besides, he was too excited.

He looked up. The distance between him and Noelle had grown considerably—proof of not just the sheer force behind her attack, but also what that meant she did in the first place.

"You broke through it," He laughed, clapping his healed hands as he rushed over. "You broke through it, Ellie! I told you, your magic's incredible!"

Noelle couldn't even give her usual, 'Of course it is, I'm Royalty after all'. She almost didn't believe it herself. Catching her breath, she puts a fist over her chest; It took all the magic within her to fire that off but...she still did it—she overpowered a spell belonging to a Captain. To Fuegoleon.

"Hey, take a look at your grimoire."

Noelle's eyes glanced up at Blake for a moment, then did as he said. On her side, her grimoire gave a low glow, almost humming, before it stopped.

"Doesn't look like you've reached a new spell just yet, but you've grasped onto something. It'll take some more time for you to take hold fully." He said, pondering for a moment. Once he sees Noelle looking up at him though, he just smiles and holds his hand up. "But I'm sure my little sis' has it in the bag, right?"

Beyond her wish to protect her teammates and the rest of the Clover Kingdom, what drove Noelle to push herself further and further. It wasn't that she wanted to prove her siblings wrong. Not anymore.

She wanted to prove the Black Bulls right, that their faith in her wasn't misplaced.

So with a beaming smile, so proud of herself that she couldn't hide it, Noelle high-fives Blake.

"Yeah...I got this!"

---

A little while after finishing Noelle's training, Blake ran into Finral after returning a book he finished reading with Grey and Nero to the Black Bulls Library—something he'd never thought was a thing but he'll roll with it. The Spatial Mage seemed rather focused on something so Blake decided to check in on him. It led to Finral asking Blake for a favor...

"You want me to go to a...what?" Blake asks, leaning his back against the wall of one of the base's hallways, with his hands in his pockets.

Finral, appearing a bit nervous, says, "A...A mixer?"

Blake blinks, furrowing his brow. "The hell is a mixer?"

Finral sighs, Everybody in this brigade is hopeless.

He goes on to explain what it is, a social event to get acquainted with others and, more often than not, an attempt at matchmaking and allowing relationships to bloom. This one in particular was a three-man, three-woman event.

"Mhm, mhm, I see." Blake nods, getting the gist of it, then immediately turns his head back to Finral, with a darkening glare. "Man, are you out ya damn mind?!"

"I don't have a lot of options, okay?!" Finral said back, sounding like he was about to cry. "Half the guys in this brigade are more likely to scare the girls off more than anything! You're at least approachable and decent!"

"Ah, yes, my two redeeming qualities. Approachable and decent." Blake says, letting out a sigh of his own.

"In this brigade, that puts you miles ahead..." Finral mumbles to himself.

Blake hums, looking off to the side.

Captain Yami ain't the type to be interested in this sorta thing, plus he'd probably end up just hurting their feelings if anything.

Gauche's adoration for his sister would be endearing if it wasn't so...overbearing. I can only imagine the ways he'd tell them to clean up their act so they could have even the smallest chance of comparing to his little sister.

Gordon's a cool guy, though I guess it's true he's hard to read on a first impression. Suckers, they don't know what they're missing out on.

Magna's my bro, but I can admit he's a lot to handle...

Blake stops there and sighs, conceding that Finral may have a point, but, "Even with that being the case, I'm also the only one already in a relationship—"

"You don't have to remind me, you lucky jerk!" Finral says through gritted teeth.

With an amused smile, Blake continues, "—so doesn't that take me off the table for this sorta thing?"

"Normally, yes, but...you don't have to go there for that!" Finral says, shooting stiff finger-guns at Blake.

Blake tilts his head, "...You're starting to lose me again."

"Just hear me out. You don't have to come with us to actually do anything with the girls, I just need you to tag along and help keep the girls interested in the whole thing! Hype us up a bit, you know, like a wingman! Hell, once their interest is secured in me and the third member, you can head on back and say something came up! Perfect plan!" Finral remarks with a thumbs-up, making Blake chuckle.

Seeing it like that, I guess my coming along could be a better alternative than one of those guys coming along and completely flushing Finral's shot down the drain. Plus, with me off the table, leaves more of a chance for Finral and...

"You said this was a three-person thing, right? Who's the other member you're having come with?" Blake asks.

Seeing his chance increase, Finral relaxes a little and says, "How about Asta? He's a firecracker. With you two being brothers that should make things—"

"Nope, absolutely not. Choose someone else." Blake commands, crossing his arms in an X shape.

"H-Huh, why?" Finral questions.

Blake looks around the hall, then quickly throws an arm around Finral's shoulder and whispers to him.

"...Her?! Seriously?!"

"Yep," Blake pats Finral on the shoulder. "Keep that between us though, it's supposed to be a... secret." He says, putting air quotes on his last word.

"I...r-right, gotcha." I guess Asta has more charisma than I gave him credit for, he thinks."If Asta's off the table, Luck it is then..." Finral says, a bit disappointed.

Hearing that, Blake laughs, "Oh man, Luck? That's gonna be interesting to see."

"Interesting is a polite way to put it." Finral remarks, before opening a spatial portal to find where Luck is. If anything, he's probably still out training.

"Well, you go take care of that, and I'm gonna check in with my girls if I got the go-ahead. If they're not comfortable with it, you'll have to count me out and choose someone else." Blake remarks, flicking his wrist to open a portal of his own to the lounging room.

Finral shrugs, "Fair enough."

---

Seems like someone up top wanted to give Finral a break for once.

Blake had gotten the go-ahead from his girls. Vanessa owed Finral a favor or two so it was only fair, Charmy didn't mind it as long as Blake remembered to get some take-out from the place for her, and Grey just hoped he had a nice time with their teammates, all while they relaxed on the couch, amongst the usual rowdiness of the base.

Blake's arms were secured around Grey's waist, holding the girl close. Vanessa dangled her legs over the couch's arm, using Blake's and Grey's left thighs like a pillow to rest her head, loosely intertwining her fingers with Blake's. Charmy lay against Blake's side for support—humming along to a tune while she snacked on a big bowlful of fruit, shared between the four of them.

Vanessa's eyes glaze up at Grey, who halts the motion of her fingers absentmindedly working through the witch's curls.

"Hey, come on," Vanessa says, sounding playfully disappointed, "I never said to stop."

Grey blinked, hesitant for a moment, before continuing on with a small smile that Vanessa couldn't help but find more and more adorable the more she saw it.

Blake couldn't help a smile of his own, because dear lord did he feel like the luckiest guy in the world. He'd be lying if he said it didn't fill him with immense pride, spending his days with these three, all so awesome and amazing and beautiful in their ways, and...he had them all to himself.

And then he remembers, that feeling of intense...possessiveness as Asta tried to bring up the possibility of the girls growing feelings for someone else, just as he had between them. He...fuck. He didn't like it, not a single damn bit.

"B-Blake, is something wrong?"

The hum he gave to Grey's question was muffled, having done it into her shoulder. A second later, Blake realizes he'd tightened his hold around Grey.

"You were all smiles a second ago. Now you just look like a pouty little cat," Vanessa remarks, reaching past Grey's shoulder and poking at Blake's cheek. "What's the matter, darling?"

"You need some sweets to lift you up? I could whip up some Eggy Bread in a snap; I even have the fruit toppings ready!" Charmy says, shaking up the bowl of a fruit in her hands.

"It's..." Blake has to stop for a moment, a sorry excuse of a chuckle leaving him. All so caring in their ways. "Well, it's not nothing, I suppose. That's easy enough to tell."

He loosens his hold on Grey—giving her room to breathe so she can turn around a bit to look at him—then grabs a handful of grapes from Charmy and pops them into his mouth. He gives his thanks, then goes on.

"About a week ago when Asta and I were training, he was curious about the relationship I have with you all. After I gave him my best explanation, he asked some questions that...I think would probably be good to talk about—so things don't get messy later on." Blake explains, moving his gaze between the three.

"That s-sounds like a good idea. I...I'd want to avoid any problems happening between us." Grey says.

Charmy makes a noise of agreement, with an apple halfway shoved in her mouth that she chomps straight through before saying, "I concur, la!"

Vanessa hummed, before lifting herself off Blake and Grey. With a lazy spin, her legs went from dangling over the couch's arm to being crisscrossed, with her laying against the couch's back. "I have a feeling I know what those questions may be, but no point in keeping it in suspense," she looks to Blake, "Let's hear them, Blake."

Blake sighs, scratching an irritating itch on the back of his head. "Well, the two questions are pretty much the same, just differing...perspectives, I guess. The first one is what happens if any of you end up...growing feelings for another guy," He says, having a hard time finishing that sentence. By the looks in his partners' faces, it was easy to see.

They were silent, processing it, before Vanessa spoke up, "What do you feel about it, Blake?"

Blake's brow furrowed in thought, his teeth digging into his tongue in subtle frustration with himself.

"Being 100 percent honest? It's not something I like to think about. I'd...Yeah, I'd rather be able to keep three amazing girls to myself. Who wouldn't?" He admits, before adding on, "But frankly, that'd be pretty damn selfish and hypocritical of me, considering the circumstances. You were all willing to share me so if...if any of you wanted to be with someone else too, I could—AGHF?!"

Before he knew it, Blake was getting forced fed a loaf of bread by the Smug, Gluttonous Queen.

"Silence, Prince! Strong Bread!"

"—Charmy what the fu—Why are yo—Can't I finish my—?!" Blake gargles in between munching on the bread so he doesn't choke on it, forced to drop his torso down onto the couch as he's assaulted. His breathing is uneven after finishing, Jeez was that dry, she make it with pot potatoes or something?

But before Blake could ask, Charmy plaps her hands onto Blake's cheeks and makes his head turn to look at her, landing a big ol' kiss on his lips—one she pulls away from only after a good minute with an exaggerated smacking sound. "My Meal-Saving Prince is the only one I need! No ifs and or buts about it!" She declares, sounding ready to duke it out with Blake if he suggested any different.

While his head was spinning just a bit—a mild understatement—Blake still has enough grasp of his surroundings to hear what Charmy said. He smacks the palm of his hand into his forehead to bring himself back fully. "U-Understood, Little Miss."

Charmy nods sternly, then returns to singing a dainty hum as she snacks on the fruit.

Blake feels Grey's delicate fingers reach for his and Blake instinctively reciprocates, clasping her hand in his. She looks at Blake so softly, but only for a moment before she looks away. These warmly suffocating feelings in her, all tied to the connection she built with Blake, the first person she let herself be...herself around since the day she ran away from her home.

...Right, The day I ran away from home. The day I first met him...

Grey's eyes drift a little, hearing Gauche yelling death threats at Magna because one of his stray fireballs hit the life-size wooden figure of his little sister, setting it on fire.

His words that day helped me find the strength to keep going, to push forward and survive. Me being here in this brigade, it was thanks to him.

She would never forget that day for as long as she lived; Someday, she'd be sure to tell Gauche of what he did for her.

However, she could also feel it within her. Despite the gratitude and admiration she had for Gauche as well, it was only Blake who gave life to these feelings inside her...what felt like the rising sun's gradient warmth washing over her every time she saw him, a feeling she could lose herself in and never want to be pulled away from.

"I...I don't think there's...anyone who could make me feel like you do, Blake. I'm...I'm happy to be only yours."

She says it quietly and means every word. Despite the intense flustering embarrassment she can feel welling up inside, she's happy to have let the words leave her lips. She's even happier when, just barely after the words have left her mouth, Blake's arms wrap tightly around her. He embraced her so closely, wanting the same as she did.

Turning just a bit so her face isn't smothered by the fabric of his shirt, her gaze ends up meeting Vanessa's, looking at the girl with a smile that felt so much from seeing her happy. That's where everything in Grey becomes so confusing and complicated—not in a way that she's uncomfortable with, just...she needs a bit more time with herself to fully understand it all.

...She'll think through everything later. Right now, she just wants to close her eyes and...stay like this for a while, until Blake leaves with Finral.

Having gotten his answers from Charmy and Grey, Blake turns to Vanessa, the beautiful bombshell who let all this happene to begin with, and waits with bated breath for her answer.

She hums at first, simply swaying her head a little as she thinks through it. She can't say what the future may hold for her—something she's perfectly fine with, thank you very much—but for what she felt in the here and now...

"Nah, I think I'll be just fine with you as my one and only man," Vanessa says, spinning in a half-circle before ending up with her head leaning into Blake's shoulder. "I mean, I did have a thing for Captain Yami a while back, but it's clear there's not a chance of that happening," She says, having realized after a while that the Captain simply didn't see her in that way at all, no matter how'd she try to portray herself.

"Captain Yami? Damn...wow, okay." Blake says, taken by surprise, making Vanessa giggle.

"What can I say? Wild guys with muscles are my weakness, I suppose." She remarks, throwing up a one-handed shrug in admittance. "Even beyond that, you're something special, Blake. I get plenty of what I'd want out of a guy just being with you, so if that's the way it stays I'm plenty satisfied with it," She explains, finishing it by giving him a playful smile, walking her index and middle finger up along his chest. "Congrats then lucky stud, you got three gorgeous babes all to yourself~"

The feeling of such selfish relief that things would stay the way they are mixed with Vanessa's hot-blooded words working their way into Blake's very veins...he would have long passed away before he could ever properly describe just how fucking good it felt.

Even still, that didn't stop the blush from forming on his face, making it practically blend into his irises.

"Fuck, Vanessa...that's gotta be attempted murder right there," He says, a hand over his smile that portrays just how satisfied he is from hearing those words. It doesn't do much to hide it from Vanessa and she couldn't be any more entertained at the moment.

"Now then, if I were to guess the second question," She begins, raising a finger, getting Grey and Charmy's attention. "It would be about what happens if you and another girl caught each other's eye, yeah?"

"La?" Charmy says, her attention now fully caught.

While Grey was silent, Blake could feel her arms wrap around him more tightly after Vanessa said that.

"That's...yeah, that was it." He admits. "I went first last time, fair you do the same this time, right?" He admits, definitely not trying to see how things play out before he lets his side known, of course not.

Like before, the first to action is Charmy, who hops onto the top of the couch's back, pacing back and forth on it all while looking down at Blake—who tilts his head back to follow her movement—as she ponders deeply in thought, hands behind her back.

Eventually, she bends forward to look down at Blake, holding one of her signature smug smiles. "Well, well, well, so three delicious dishes haven't been enough to satisfy the appetite of your love, la? My prince yearns for an all-you-can-eat buffet?"

Holy hell did that take Blake out of this existence for a good second.

"A buffet's a bit much in this context, don't you think...?! It's not like I—"

Charmy put a finger to Blake's lips, shushing him.

"La, It's alright, my sweet prince. Those gluttonous cravings of yours are one of the reasons I fell for you after all!"

Again, so not the same context... Blake thinks with an awkward chuckle.

"In any case, it's of no issue for me however many dishes you wish to have on your plate," She states, holding her arms out at her with a cute, honest smile, placing one of her hands over her chest. "As long as I'm one of them and we enjoy each other's taste to the fullest, I'm not worried about whoever else gets involved...as long as they have a proper appreciation to nummies! Got it?" She points a stern finger right at Blake.

Blake chuckled, filled with equal parts disbelief and joyfulness. "Of course, Little Miss, that'd be a given." He says.

"Come on, sweetie, time for your answer now," Vanessa says sweetly, lightly poking at Grey's arm.

Grey is silent at first, just shifting around in Blake's hold, and the other three wait on her without worry, even Charmy warmly patting the girl on the back and telling her to take her time to say what she needs to say.

Then, she answers, "If...If someone makes Blake happy, the same way he makes us feel, I'd...be okay sharing him with them too," nodding against him.

Such a precious girl. A thought is shared between the three, while Blake pushes Grey's bangs away to place a soft kiss on her forehead.

To end it all off, Vanessa pours herself a drink. "Honestly, if someone else catches Blake's eye and doesn't mind the thing we have going, sounds like they could be a fun person to spend time around." She says, taking a sip of her wine that eventually ends up with her downing all of it in one go. "There may be some things that still need to get brought up and discussed eventually, but we'll work through it all when it comes up. For now, I ain't got no complaints about it either!" She says with a laugh. "Just remember you're there to be a supportive wingman to good ol' Finral first and foremost, got it sweetie?"

With a smile, Blake nods. "Of course. I'll be doing my best to get a five-star review."

In all seriousness though, Blake was simply at a loss for words. Being able to keep these three gals to himself was already such a crazy blessing, he'd be perfectly happy at just leaving it at that, but then there's the fact that...they're all so unbothered with others joining this thing they have going on too? There's...Fuck, yeah, he really doesn't know what to say.

He...He won't play this fast and loose, he'll make sure of that. Even if a girl truly did catch his attention and vise versa, if anyone in the relationship felt uncomfortable then that was the end of it, nothing would go further.

He doesn't expect anyone else to get involved anyway but...it felt nice to know that it wasn't off the table, he guessed.

---

As easy as it should've been, Rebecca just couldn't get herself out her home, so Luca had to push her along and make her.

"But are you sure you'll be okay?" She asks her little sister, for what must've been the 15th time in the past 10 minutes, earning her an exasperated laugh.

"Yes, I'm sure!" Luca reassures. "Pem's been laid down and I've got Marco and Isabelle getting ready for bed too."

"And then you and Oliver will be in bed in an hour, right?" Rebecca asks. She repeats herself when Luca looks away, whistling. "Right?"

"Yeah, totally..."

"Luca...!"

"I've got things handled, quit worrying about the small stuff!" The girl says, trying to wave off Rebecca's worries and demands, before smiling at her. "Just go have some fun with your friends, you haven't had much time for it recently and you've been stressed out way too much."

"I..." Rebecca can't even say anything against that, just sighing. Taking care of her family's restaurant was always stressful, but things were even more hectic recently. It wasn't bad, business being busy meant her expenses were covered and her siblings were taken care of—something that she would always choose over an alternative.

But, if she was being honest, it'd begun to take its toll. By the time she's been closing up shop, she's almost dead on her feet. She'd even had to close the shop a few hours early today to get a nap in for some energy. Even then, Luca and Isabelle had to shake her awake so she actually had time to get ready.

Her sigh soon became a smile, turning around to aim it at Luca. "When did I get such a watchful little sister?"

"Well, when the big sis has a bad habit of exhausting herself, said little sis has to make sure to look out for the poor woman," Luca responds with a shrug and a proud smile.

Rebecca chuckles, "She certainly doesn't hold back on her words either."

"Rebecca! You forgot something!"

Rebecca sees Oliver—the oldest of her younger brothers—come around the corner of the hallway, calling out and reaching for her.

"This is for your outfit, right?" He asks, holding his hand out to give her a hair comb accessory. "You left it in the bathroom."

"O-Oh, I see. Thank you, Oliver." Rebecca says, taking the comb and setting in on the left side of her hair. "I...suppose that's everything then."

Luca hums and nods. "You look really beautiful in that dress! Whoever the lucky guy is, they're sure to think you're a knockout!" She says with a clap.

"And if they don't treat you nice, tell me and I'll knock them out!" Oliver promises, raising a fist.

Right, that's what she was heading off to partake in with her friends. Why she was even in this frilly red dress and all dolled up to begin with. A mixer.

Come on, Rebecca, It'll be fun! You should have a good guy by your side. For your siblings' sake, at least!

Rebecca internally sighed. It was only because of that last part that made her even consider going, and she was sure Erika knew that. I played right into her hand, I suppose.

Though, maybe that wasn't all true. There may have been...another reason she decided to come as well.

Setting that aside though, she smiled at her siblings' words, taking a step forward and embracing them in a quick hug while her hands ruffled the back of their heads. "I appreciate it. Love you guys."

"Love you too, Rebecca!" Luca and Oliver responded, patting their big sis' on the back.

With that, though still hesitant, Rebecca heads out the door home, away from her siblings, off to meet with Erika and Helene for a night of "fun".

---

The chill of the breezy night was skirting the edge between refreshing and uncomfortable, and Rebecca found a little more appreciation for how layered her dress was. The short hood over her shoulders helped as well. Her friends weren't as well suited to the cold, so as they walked toward the restaurant, they conversed to distract themselves from it.

"Erika, you said the guys we're meeting are Magic Knights, right?" Helene asks, patting down her blue dress to make sure it's as presentable as possible.

"That's right! I wonder which brigade they'll be from," Erika wonders, fixing up the dark strands of her hair put out of place by the wind.

"It's a long shot for it to be any of the big names, but I think someone from the Coral Peacocks or Aqua Deer would be nice."

"Yeah, someone from there would definitely have a good income," Erika nods along. "As long as they aren't from the Purple Orcas or the Black Bulls, I won't complain."

Rebecca, having been quiet for most of the walk, speaks up. "Even if they are, is that something to complain about? They're still Magic Knights."

"I mean, yeah, but it's like..."

"It's their reputation that follows them," Helene finishes, getting a nod of affirmation from Erika. "I've heard there might be some seedy stuff with the former and the latter tends to make things worse before making things better..." Helene says.

"Forever with the gossip, aren't you?" Rebecca remarks with a smile, to which her blonde friend shrugs. Her job lets her get some nice tidbits every so often, might as well make use of it.

Rebecca's smile slowly fades back into neutral as she ponders, Luca...she said the man who saved her was a Black Bull, didn't she?

Nearly two months since the attack on the kingdom; It was a day Rebecca never wanted to experience again.

When she realized what was happening, she'd rush her siblings to the church and begged Sister Theresa to let her go find Luca, but the older woman forbade her, told her it was too dangerous, and that she would go off to find her as soon as possible.

But then even more of those horrid monsters came. Sister Theresa needed to help fend them off or else they would've been overwhelmed and even more people would've gotten hurt or worse. That didn't stop Rebecca's shaking, how her body overflowed with the fear that within the fires and smoke that covered the town and sky, her little sister was left all alone, crying and pleading for her big sister to find her, for anyone to save her.

The only words that left her mouth within all that time were begging prayers that Luca would come back to her safe and sound. All her siblings joined her, even Pem who only knew a few words. They already lost their parents only two years ago, what right did the world have to take another of her loved ones away? What right did it have to make her feel this helpless again?

The relief that washed over her body was too much when she saw Luca run through those church doors, without a single injury. Rebecca had almost collapsed to her knees as she ran toward her—and didn't do so only because Luca kept her upright. She doesn't remember how long she spent holding onto the young girl like a lifeline as if she'd disappear the moment she'd let her go, nor when the rest of her siblings surrounded them in an embrace. All she does remember is whispering a quiet 'thank you' over and over again to whoever got her little sister back to her.

It wasn't long before Luca told her and her siblings about what happened. How a Magic Knight with long hair as white as snow and eyes as red as her hair saved her from falling debris and extinguished the fires all around the area with just a single spell. How he comforted her, made sure she felt safe, assuring her everything would be alright.

By the time she stepped outside the church, hoping to thank the Magic Knight, he was nowhere to be found—told by Sister Theresa that a spell sent the man away, but was sure he'd be fine.

It's been stuck in the back of her mind these last two months. It was the only other reason why she'd bother coming to an event like this, some bit of hope of crossing paths with him, just so she could finally give her thanks and lay it to rest—that was it, no matter what some other part of herself says.

"Hellooooo? You still there, Rebecca?"

"H-Huh?" Rebecca is snapped out of her thoughts by Helene. "Sorry, were you saying something?"

Helene hummed suspiciously but let it be, chalking it up to Rebecca worrying over her siblings as usual. "I was asking about what kinda guys we're hoping to meet tonight," She says, then pointing a finger over to Erika, "You know how she is, she wants someone rugged."

"What's wrong with that?!" Erika says back defensively. "Excuse me for wanting a bit of roughness in my man!"

"Nothing wrong at all, just messing with you girl!" Helene says, backing away with her hands up. "I just prefer a partner with a softer touch is all, a cute smile can go a long way."

Then, she turns her attention back to Rebecca. "So what about you?"

Rebecca hums lowly. This wasn't something she'd given much thought, never bothered to give herself the time to think about it.

Trying to think of what she'd want in a partner...nothing in particular came to her. Around her age and in decent shape would be nice? She'd care more about their actions than anything.

Like comforting a scared, young girl? Making sure she felt protected and got her back to her family?

She slaps those thoughts out of her mind.

"I don't know. Someone...reliable, I guess?"

"...Boooring!"

"Shut up, Helene...!"

---

Compared to the quiet and chilly atmosphere outside, it was warm and bustling within the restaurant the Mixer was being held in. Every table was filled with a handful of people, most civilians who'd gotten out of work an hour or two ago and were taking the night to share a drink with a few friends. To laugh and relax, leaving their everyday worries and troubles for tomorrow.

At one of the tables in the center is where Finral, Luck, and Blake sat, having arrived a bit earlier than scheduled to have the food ready for when the girls arrived. Finral was going on about...something—probably running through some pick-up lines and the like—and Luck was innocently sizing up everyone in the place to see who could give him the toughest battle. Blake wasn't bothering to listen, his thoughts were on something else. Two things, actually.

The first was where this restaurant was. The town of Nairn.

This was the last place I took care of before that Spatial Magic pulled me away. Where I saved that young girl with the red hair, that woman's little sister...

He hadn't thought of it much, always other things that took precedence in the two months since that happened, but he hoped they all made it out alright. He almost laughs, thinking the possibility of...nah, forget it, that's unlikely.

Then there was the other thing, the two figures sitting just behind them at another table. Their features may have been obscured and any passerby would've just assumed they just came in from the cold, but the signatures of their mana—or lack thereof in the case of one—were too familiar.

Blake rests his head in one of his palms, with a small smile of amusement. Now what are they doing here? He wonders and decides to use his Reinforcement Magic to pick up on their whispers.

"So...what are we doing here again?" Asta asks, like-minded with his brother.

"Do you not listen to a word I say?" Noelle questioned, annoyed.

"Not a single word left your mouth...! You just dragged me by my robe and made us follow after those three!" Asta shoots back.

Blake snorted. Yeah, typical Noelle.

Noelle huffs a sigh. "I overheard Blake talking with Vanessa, Grey, and Charmy before he left with Finral and Luck to come here. Apparently, those three don't mind if they end up sharing him with even another girl...!" She explains, the exasperation clear in her voice, even as a "whisper". "But, whatever. We're here to make sure that, if something does happen, we can see if we approve of this girl before anything further can go with them." She declares. "In the case that she doesn't walk away immediately after he tells her, of course."

Ah, so that's what it is. Blake realizes. She was looking out for the girls, making sure the potential fourth one wouldn't cause problems for her teammates.

Vanessa's pretty much her older sister, Grey's her student now, and Charmy is just a ball of warmth that makes sure every meal served to her is served with love and care—makes sense she wouldn't want someone involved in this if she didn't believe they'd get along with them.

It looks like Asta thought the same. Blake could hear the smile in his brother's voice as he said, "That's sweet of you, Noelle."

It wasn't much but it didn't have to be, it was enough to make Noelle look away, mumbling a "shut up" with no real bite behind it underneath her hand, her eyes pulled away from Asta.

He didn't pay it much mind, instead saying, "I just wish I knew we were going to be at a restaurant when we took off. I didn't bring my pouch and all the food looks really good..."

Noelle's eyes drift back to Asta, hearing the disappointment in his voice, and—oh my god, he looks like a sad puppy.

The words leave her mouth before she even realizes she said them, "Order what you want. I brought enough." She says, pulling the pouch out of her pocket, and watches as the shocked joy fills Asta's eyes, doing terrible things to her heart. "It'd...It'd be out of place to just sit here and not eat anything, we need to blend in."

"Oh, you're right, that's smart!" Asta compliments, before looking through the menu, then quickly back up at Noelle. "I'll be sure to pay you back!"

Noelle just waves the words away, "Don't bother, it's no big deal. Just send it off to that family of yours in Hage like you usually do."

Asta was speechless for a moment, before saying, "A favor then! If you ever need anything from me, just let me know and I'll do my best to help out!"

Noelle hums frustratingly at just how sincere this boy was. She's sure he would've done so even without the favor, it was just the way he is.

But...she supposed the insurance was nice to have, just in case.

"Fine then, I'll keep it in mind..."

All the while, Blake hid a smile while a tear threatened to drop from his eye. Their first date...oh how they grow up so fast. He's telling Vanessa all about this when they get back.

"Ah, here they come, the fair maidens have arrived!" Finral whispers, before raising a hand to guide the three ladies over to them.

Ah. Alright, it's go time then.

Blake sits up straight, ready to activate Wingman mode and work through the ways he can help hype these two up—

But that track in his mind grinds to a disorienting halt as his eyes gaze up at the three girls making their way over, and immediately shift straight to the young woman with flowy red hair, wearing a beautiful red and pink dress. Her blue eyes seem reserved, mostly uninterested in being here, until they meet Blake's red ones, and something...changes, making them widen and dilate slightly.

It's...It's her.

---

It's...It's him. Rebecca realized, her mind barely focused on the menial tasks of sitting in the chair and having her posture proper. It has to be, right?

His features all lined up with the man Luca spoke about with wonder in her eyes and voice. White hair, long and pure of color. Red eyes, smoldered in warmth, with bandages of the same color wrapped around his...rather defined arms. Tall as well, the tallest out of their group.

Rebecca blinks, realizes she's been staring at him, and quickly shifts her gaze elsewhere. There was the hope she had of being able to come across him, she already understood that, but for it to actually happen in this way...it was an unexpected reality.

Now that she thought about it, was this really the time or place for that? She'd rather not make a scene of it, sure that the man across from her was here to get away for the night and relax with his friends. Her thanks here may be the wrong timing.

Bring him back home and thank him there— SHUT! UP!

The poor girl was too focused on her thoughts to notice how Blake looked at her in return. Something that her friends took notice of, as well as Finral.

Have they met before? Finral wonders, before shrugging. In any case, one of them is interested so that should help keep the other two interested as well.

With the food and drinks arriving just after the girls settled in, he decides it's time to get the show rolling, beginning with a little Spatial Magic. Pulling his hand from out the portal, he presents to the girls three purple flowers and quickly works his way around the table to hand one to each of them.

"These are fresh-picked Moon Blossoms, only during the night at Mount Anahu do these flowers bloom." He details, before returning to his seat. "Please, accept them as a gift from my two friends and I."

"That's so nice, and how pretty!" Helene says.

"So pleasantly sweet!" Erika remarks, taking in the flower's unique aroma.

"Hm...? Oh, thank you..." Rebecca half-mindedly thanks, still not completely here, something that Helene and Erika mentally chastised her for.

Excellent, I can definitely work with this. Successful love life, here I come!

"With that out the way, we should introduce ourselves," Finral says with a small smile. "I'm Finral Roulacase, 21 years old and from Touta. As you saw, I'm the Black Bulls' Spatial Magic user." He offers, before turning his head to Luck and giving him a nod.

My turn then? Okay, just say what I like to do!

"I'm Luck Voltia, 18 years old and from Ibon! I'm from the Black Bulls and I use Lightning Magic!" He began with an energetic smile and tone, one that piqued Helene's initial interest. "I love nothing more than fighting others to the death, the bloodier the better! Glad to meet'cha!"

And with that, the interest began to wane.

Blake leaned past Luck's head to give an unconvinced smile at Finral. Was he really your best option besides Asta?

Finral already understood what Blake was questioning and just gave him a short sigh, Too late to swap him out now.

Blake returned the sigh, before remembering it was his turn to go. His eyes glance back at Rebecca for a moment—and see how her eyes shift rather abruptly, trying to hide that she was looking at him again. He has no doubt there's something she wants to say to him—he's been debating about doing something similar himself—but, for now, he'll just let it be for the moment. Have things play out as they do.

Offering a smile, he says, "Nice to meet you all, name's Blake. I'm from Hage and a member of the Black Bulls as well. Besides going on missions, I like training and spending time with my teammates. I'm..."

Blake stops himself before he can finish, confusing the entire table.

"It's December...December is after October so..." Blake mumbles, before blinking. He realizes, "Oh damn, I'm 20."

That? That's what made you stop? Finral questions internally. I mean, he was surprised the guy was younger than him too but—

"Ah, damn it!" Blake shouted, slamming the palms of his hands into his face. "So much stuff has been going on, I completely forgot about Asta and Yuno's birthdays! Fuck, the hell's wrong with me?!"

Finral looked away from Blake to the girls. Such an over-the-top reaction wasn't exactly winning them over. Simmer down a bit, Blake!

"Blake, it's alright! As you said, things have been busy and stuff got forgotten. It's not like Asta or this Yuno guy have—"

Finral stops himself as he realizes none of his words even registered to Blake, who had been mumbling to himself over what he should get them to make up for the fact, writing all the ideas down with a pen and a little notebook that he pulled out of his Cloud of Holding while munching on some of the snacks at the table.

It's always the most random stuff that comes out of that thing!

"Definitely need to brainstorm a bit. Not just those two, I need to get something for Ellie too. When's her birthday? ...When's any of this brigade's birthdays?" He questioned frantically to himself amid his munching and chewing. After a hard swallow, he looks to his anti-bird on the table, quietly pecking at some of the food Blake was snacking on. "Nero, when's your birthday?"

Nero stops eating, then slowly turns their head to give him the deadest of deadpan stares.

...

A solid three seconds of complete silence goes by at the table before Blake turns to his teammates. "Luck, when's your birthday?!"

"October 11th!" Luck happily offers, raising his hand.

"A week after me and my brothers? You shoulda told me sooner!"

His...brothers? Rebecca repeats in her mind, a part of her latching onto that little tidbit.

"Finral, what about you?" Blake asks, leaning back in his chair once again.

"February 6th—but could we please save this for later?" Finral asks—pleads—with a smile that's too stressed to be jovial.

Blake hums a questioning tone before enough of himself finally comes back down and he realizes where he's doing all this, the way he's got the three across from them looking.

Ah...not the best Wingman moment...

"S-Sorry 'bout that, everyone..." Blake apologizes, setting his pen and notebook back into his Cloud of Holding with an embarrassed smile.

An earnest apology, easy to fix!

"Please don't hold it against him, ladies," Finral asks, "He cares a lot about his family and fellow brigade members, it's really flattering how thoughtful he is of us!"

"I see..." Erika says.

"No worries, it's not a big deal." Helene reassures. Though it was certainly a bit much, his smile was cute.

Rebecca only hummed, any words she'd have to say stuck in her mind. She hadn't really minded any of it; Like the other guy said, it just meant he cared a lot about the people close to him.

"Oh right, my magic," Blake remembers, he hadn't said anything about that yet because he got sidetracked. "I have Copy Magic. If I see a spell or type of magic being used, it gets copied into my Grimoire and I can use it as my own."

That certainly reeled in their interest.

"Seriously? That's incredible!" Erika says.

"It sounds super powerful too!" Helene added.

Rebecca's eyes widened in surprise. The longer this went on, the more she reaffirmed her thought that this was the man Luca told them about.

Luca...

What was she doing? She's been so wrapped up in all of...this that the thought of her siblings had been pushed to the back of her mind. That didn't happened often and Rebecca never liked it when it did.

"Being able to copy all types of magic sounds amazing! How many do you have right now?" Helene asks with a vested interest.

43 spells and 24 types of magic! Blake immediately knows, having checked through his grimoire just today. Though, before he could vocalize that, his eyes caught Rebecca's expression, one of subtle unease, and it immediately made him stop. Is she alright? Did he say something wrong? Did he sound like he was bragging because if so, anyone can feel free to punch him.

It's certainly what the girls just a few tables over were thinking of doing to the guy in the Preying Mantis robe who just continues to talk...and talk...and talk. His friends weren't any better either.

"...Quite a few, I haven't checked my grimoire recently." Blake lies, giving a simple showcase of a variety of elemental magic types. "But I think I've taken up enough of this time for myself, right?" Blake joked, before glancing over at Finral.

"Ah, yes, right!" Finral remarks, clearing up his throat before addressing the girls. "Your turn, then? We'd love to hear about yourselves and what you do!"

"O-Oh. Sure, of course! My name is Erika, we're all friends." She says, smiling and gesturing to the two over to her. "Unfortunately, none of us have as exciting jobs as being Magic Knights. I myself work as a Dressmaker."

"Nonsense, that sounds lovely," Finral says, seizing his chance. "I've been looking to add a bit more flare to my style, perhaps that's something you could help me with?"

"If you could help him shift away from the green, that'd be great," Blake remarks with a teasing smile, "He gets compared to a leprechaun way too often, you'd be doing all of us a favor."

You're the only one who says that about me!

Before the angry leprechaun could tell Blake off, he noticed the giggles coming from the girls and decided to hold off. He can use this.

Settle down, Finral. Girls love a guy who can laugh at himself!

"It's true, unfortunately," Finral says with a shrugging smile, "All this and still no pot of gold at the end of a rainbow for me. Maybe I need another pair of eyes to help me look. I know some beautiful places we could go see if you'd like."

"That...sounds nice," Erika says, a small blush finding itself onto her cheeks.

When I saw that they were Black Bulls, I didn't have much hope left for this. But, even though they're a bit much, they all seem nice enough, and he's the most normal out of the three. Not really my type, and a bit flashy, but he's considerate and kind. If he's from Touta then he's most definitely a Noble, right?

Underneath the table, Finral gives a thumbs-up to Blake, who nods back.

With her friend seemingly finished with her introduction, Helene goes next. "I'm Helene, I work as a Hairdresser." She says to Luck.

"Is that so? What kind of magic do you use for that? Could you show me?" Luck asked with an interested smile, one that Helene wasn't expecting.

"O-Oh, sure."

She uses her magic to create a pair of scissors. Though basic at first, she shows off her ability to manipulate the shape into other types of scissors, whatever was needed for the style her customer would like. It wasn't something she put a whole lot of pride into, compared to what others could do, but Luck seemed to think otherwise.

"Oh wow! It doesn't take much magic but your control and technique is really good! I'd love to see it in action some time!" He'd says, imagining the ways one could subtly cut into a person's vital organs with that kinda spell.

Though, that certainly wasn't the way Helene took his words. "You could...come see me at work and watch me, I-If you'd like?" She offers shyly.

"Sounds great, count me in!" Luck says, his smile growing just a bit.

His eyes and smile are so genuine. There's something dangerous behind it all too but...I don't mind it though. Oh gosh, what kind of type am I developing?

"You said you use Lightning Magic, right? I'd love to see it if that's okay." Helene asks, beginning to match Luck's energy just a bit.

"Sure, I'm happy too!" Luck says, before getting out of his seat. "It's a bit cramped in here. Let's head outside and I can give you a real show!" He says, happy to show his magic off.

"Okay, let's go!" Helene agrees, getting out of her seat and following after the blonde boy.

Finral and Blake were positively surprised. Aside from his introduction, Luck's handled this rather well.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to follow up after him, Finral thought, focusing back on his conversation with Erika. "You know, there's a field with a beautiful view of the stars at night not from here. It'd be my pleasure to show you the sight if that's alright with you?"

Erika hums pensively, unsure at first—until she glances at Rebecca and Blake, the awkward looks and how there's clearly something both of them want to say, yet seem hesitant to do so. It was strange to see Rebecca act in such a way, especially since she wasn't interested in this kind of thing initially. There really is something special about that guy, huh?

"That sounds lovely, actually. Sure." Erika says, giving Finral a nod. Maybe she'll actually get somewhere without us around.

"W-Wonderful!" Finral replies with a smile, a bit surprised but happy to roll with it, seemingly relaxed on the outside as he leaves his seat and creates a portal.

LET'S GO! TONIGHT'S GOING GREAT! He shouts internally, bunny hoping within every corner of his mind.

He looks back at Blake, giving him a quick thumbs-up while Blake looks quietly betrayed.

Hell you going? I thought I was supposed to be one who left?!

Have fun needing to break a beautiful girl's heart!

Meanwhile, Rebecca looked at her friend with a slighty panicked expression in her eyes and Erika just winks at her. Good luck, Rebecca, feel free to owe me one later!

She takes Finral's hand and lets him lead her through the portal.

Blake left a half-hearted glare at the spot Finral left through for a second or two before sighing.

"...I'm sorry."

His eyes widened, looking back to the girl across from him, who finally said something to him.

With a confused expression on his face, Rebecca continues, pulling the accessory out of her hair as she talked. "I've been meaning to say something, anything, to you but...nothing felt right and I just...I'm sorry for seeming stuck up."

"No way, I didn't think that at all!" Blake finds himself wanting to settle the girl's worries, and even Rebecca is surprised by the urgent tone he has. "Honestly, I was more worried that I was coming across the wrong way. I hope you didn't find me obnoxious with how I was acting earlier," he says, rubbing his neck sheepishly.

"Not at all!" Rebecca replies with the same energy Blake gave her. "I thought it was sweet more than anything." She admits, even though saying the words made her face warm up a bit. Though seeing that it had the same effect on Blake, she decided it was worth saying.

Blake pulls back, holding a small smile that makes her heart feel lighter, like it was fluttering. "Your name's...Rebecca, right?" He says.

Rebecca's surprised, before realizing, "Luca must've mentioned me?" she asks.

Blake nods, eyes moving from her to his mug, shaking it to make the drink ripple like a wave. "How's she been since the attack? She's been okay?" He asks.

Seeing the faint concern in his eyes put Rebecca at ease. "Yes, she's been okay. She'll...she'll have a bad dream every so often, but she doesn't let it bother her for long," she says with a small laugh, "Because she knows there's a Magic Knight who'll make everything alright...that's what she's been telling me at least. ...Thank you for getting her back to us."

Blake tried to say something in response, but no combinations of words felt right, he was speechless. All he could muster was a flustered smile, and Rebecca smiled in return...she'd like to see more of it if she could.

"You," Blake clears his throat, "You have other siblings too, right?"

Rebecca nods, "Five, including Luca. Three younger brothers and two younger sisters. You mentioned having brothers?"

"Yeah, more than just those two though!" Blake said with a bright smile, "All together, I have four brothers and two sisters—" He stops, "Three sisters, actually. One of them is still...unofficial, I guess."

He didn't even notice the reaction from the girl behind him.

Rebecca didn't fully get that last part but she wasn't focused on it, "Wow, you're from a big family too!" She said. She's never known someone who could relate to her in that regard, she couldn't help the smile and bit of excitement that left her voice.

"Well, we aren't related, but I've grown up caring about and loving them all a lot so that doesn't really matter to me. They're my family through and through, I wouldn't give them up for anything." Blake states, an emotion in his eyes that Rebecca's never seen in someone else. She could feel something in her resonating so deeply with it.

"Blake...!" Asta whispered, holding joyful tears in his eyes.

"Hey, stop acting so emotional, you'll get us caught...!" Noelle tries to reprimand, even though she's on the verge of the same thing happening to her.

"One of my brothers and the unofficial sister are with me in my brigade, and my other brother is in another brigade too, the rest of them are back home at the church we all grew up in." Blake continued. He rested his head in his palm with a reminiscent smile. "Before we left, the whole lot of us were packed together in the same room. Didn't have much space and, more often than not, I ended up getting piled up on!" He said with a laugh that Rebecca couldn't help but share in. "That first night I joined the Black Bulls and I was sleeping all by myself...It made me miss that heavy feeling if that makes sense." I guess that's why I like being in the center of the bed.

"Completely!" Rebecca replies with a smile, "They can be a lot to deal with when they're around but when it gets lonely you'd give anything to have them back!"

"Exactly! And you always want to go the extra mile for them so they think the best of you!"

"Yes, I can vouch for that!"

---

There was no stopping once the ball got rolling between them. Blake and Rebecca could talk about their siblings for hours in what would feel like minutes, with smiles so similar. This connection being built between them was something even Asta could see.

"So...what are we thinking?" Asta asks Noelle while chewing his food, before giving his opinion. "I think she's nice! Blake and her are getting along really well!"

"Please finish your food before you talk." Noelle berates.

"Right, my bad..." He swallows it down.

Noelle hummed a sigh, "I suppose I can agree, can't say I expected Blake to find someone so similar to him in...that regard," she says, still internally mush over the way Blake considered her as family. "Still, even if they do get along, what happens once Blake tells her about the kind of relationship he's already in?" She wonders. Rebecca's so...sensible and normal—especially compared to all the crazy in their brigade. Hearing about a four-way relationship would undoubtedly be a shock to the system.

Asta hummed pensively. Rebecca was a really nice girl in his eyes. Blake's already explained to him how a relationship like his could look on the outside, how it could put him in a bad light.

So, he puts his hands together! "I'll push my limits and pray my hardest for everything to go alright between them...!"

A bitter smile crosses Noelle at Asta's enthusiasm before both her and Asta's eyes end up drifting over to a large burly man with unkempt and raggedy hair, absolutely drunk off his ass just from the way he took every heavy step, passing by them and...stopping at Rebecca and Blake's table.

What is he doing...?

---

The longer Rebecca talks with Blake, the more she enjoys her time here. There was finally someone who knew all the joy and frustration that goes into caring for their siblings. The way Blake's eyes lit up when he talked about training with Asta or reminiscing about the nights he spent reading whimsical fairy tales to Yuno and Recca when they were younger, it...it swelled Rebecca's heart.

"I have to say, the big brother role certainly fits you," She says.

"Right back at you. I'm sure your siblings are happy to have a lovely big sis." Blake complimented back, not thinking much about it.

"That's...very sweet. Thank you." Rebecca says shyly, a bit of red rising beneath the cute freckles that dotted the bridge and sides of her nose.

Beautiful, was the only thought that crossed Blake's mind. Then, he paused.

Oh...Oh fuck.

With all this time he's spent just having a great time talking to the girl across from him, he hadn't realized until now how quickly he was becoming attached to her. She was honest with herself and straightforward, fun to talk to, and she knew how it was being the eldest sibling, taking care of the younger ones and trying to be a good example. And, again, she really was beautiful.

I'm...fuck, okay, looks like I'm feeling something towards her and, from the looks of things, she might be feeling the same. Shit, this just turned a whole lot more difficult.

How the hell do I bring up the fact I'm with three other girls? Then what? Tell her I'd like to make her my fourth?

...Whichever way it happens, I'm probably getting the shit smacked out of me.

"Well, well. Ya having a fun night, fancy mister magic knight...? Hehe, that rhymed..." The burly drunk mumbled to them as he stepped closer to the table.

Blake's pulled from his thoughts as he hears the man approach and—Oh my god, when's the last time he took a bath?

The assault against Blake's nostrils had to be a crime in itself.

The drunkard belches out a burp before his half-lidded eyes drift off to Rebecca, and a smile reaches his lips in a way that immediately makes her leery. "Oh my, you've caught yourself quite the pretty girl here. But ya know...ya really should be careful of who ya get with, Mister Knight. Some of these damsels are just lookin' to drain a poor sap's fat pockets!"

"What are you talking about?" Rebecca questioned, pushing her chair back away from the intimidating figure, growing more and more uncomfortable underneath the man's gaze. Meanwhile, Blake's gaze at the man grew darker.

Asta readied himself to leave the table if needed, while Noelle kept her wand ready.

The man pointed one of his greasy, stubby fingers at Rebecca, "I've seen ya around girlie. You work that local restaurant all by yourself, with all those little brats hanging around ya—even got one strapped to your back!" He says, letting loose a horrendous laugh that makes her skin crawl. "Those brats are all ya kids, right? Your man ran off on ya and left you to deal with the gremlins, right?!" He shouts, raising his voice and beginning to cause a commotion, people all around staring at them.

Not only was there unease swirling within Rebecca, but now there was anger. "Those are my siblings...and don't you dare call them gremlins...!"

"Ah, who cares? You're just hoping a Magic Knight lays you down and lets you have an easy life, still no doubt about that!" The man mutters before slamming his empty mug down onto the table, reaching a hand out to grab Rebecca. "If ya need a man that bad, you can play with—!"

Suddenly, the man cried out in pain. Blake had grabbed the man's wrist before he could lay a finger on Rebecca, with even the slightest pressure in his grip threatening to break the man's wrist.

"Blake...?" Rebecca whispered while her heart raced at the sight.

"H-Hey, stop...! Getcha ya hand off—!"

The man's eyes widened in fear and he almost choked on his tongue as Blake's other hand gripped onto his jaw, taking him off his feet. He couldn't bring himself to say anything else, left to stare into the murderous gaze Blake's dark red eyes held. They held none of the warmth they usually did. Looking at this prick, all that filled their color was disdain and fury.

"The hell do you get off on, harassing and belittling a woman you know nothing about...?"

Blake drops the man from his grip for a split second, before immediately palming his entire face with a slam, and he followed through with bashing the man's head into the wooden floor, the tiles breaking and splintering beneath them violently, with a crater of impact left underneath the man's head.

"You don't know a damn thing about her, so keep your mouth shut and take a fucking nap!"

Murmurs around all the other tables began, whether it was berating the ones involved for causing a scene or talking about how gnarly that slam into the ground was and that the guy got what was coming to him.

Unless it was Sekke, who immediately began to fear for his life once he realized Blake and he were in the same room again. He hasn't noticed me yet, right? I have to get out this town, pretty girls aren't worth dying over—!

"Oh shit, a bug!"

All Sekke could let out was a, "Huh?", before the unconscious drunkard's large rag-dolled body suddenly grew closer and closer and—OH FUCK IT'S COMING AT HIM!

The unconscious drunkard crashed onto the table with a harsh thud, breaking the table in half with Sekke and his compadres crushed underneath the sweaty, musty, middle-aged man who reeked of booze.

Crisis averted, bug's been squished. Blake thought, a satisfied smile on his face while he dusted off his hands.

"H-Hey! My floor! My table! Why are you breaking my stuff?" The clearly stressed owner of the restaurant questioned.

...Whoopsie. Just by the guy's tone, Blake was already starting to feel bad. Unfortunately, he didn't have his pouch on him!

"Sorry 'bout that, I'll pay for it later!" He promised, rushing to pull the starstruck Rebecca out her chair by her hand. "A lil' fresh air would do us good, yeah?" He quips with a smile as he brings Rebecca through a spatial portal he opened.

"Y-Yeah, sure...!" Rebecca lets out, taken aback to say anything more.

"...So what do we do now?" Asta asks, lifting off his hood now that Blake was finally gone.

Noelle did the same, "We'll just wait until Finral comes back and have him take us back to the base. At least now we don't have to see the outcome of whatever happens between those two." She says, then taking a sip of the soup she ordered.

Asta nods, then stuffs his face with mashed potatoes, before feeling a familar weight on his head. "Hmm, Nero? When you'd get up there?"

---

Rebecca was in the restaurant one moment then outside the church of her town in another. She had to take a moment to adjust to the change in setting because, woah, that was weird. But, fun too.

"Admittedly, throwing the guy into a table was probably unnecessary. My pettiness gets the better of me sometimes..."

Rebecca turned back. Blake was talking to himself as he stretched out, then he looked at her with an apologetic smile. "Sorry for making things get out of hand. Hope your friends don't get worried about us having to ditch."

"Don't worry about it! I'm thankful, actually." Rebecca assured with a smile. "Besides, I'm sure they'll come around to check on me and gossip about the night in a little while." She says with a shrug, making Blake laugh.

"Is that so? Hope you don't bully us behind closed doors too badly."

"I wouldn't dream of it, especially not about you!" She replies, not realizing what she said until after the fact and immediately clammed up because of it.

"I'm...glad to hear that..." He replies, before needing to look away because this girl was amazing and...fuck, he wasn't sure how things would go after he told her.

Meanwhile, Rebecca was stuck in her thoughts as well, helplessly staring at the man in front of her. A man who seemed to adore his siblings like they were his world, who was caring and attentive and fun, and who defended her without a second thought. She'd never stop appreciating what he did for Luca either, the way her eyes shined with hope ever since that day.

The one thing she'd ever want in a partner was someone she could rely on, who she could trust to have her back through everything, and Blake...he was the person she wanted that to be.

"So, Blake..." Rebecca starts, having to look away when those red eyes look back at her, "Do you have anyone...special to you?" She asks, her heart going a mile a second as she lets the words out.

A moment of silence passed by, and Rebecca finally found it in her to look back at Blake. He looked so...pained?

He exhales, running a hand through his bangs.

"I...I have three other partners."

...What?

Rebecca, she...she had to take a step back, to process what she just heard. "You...you what?" She says breathlessly, not even sure if what she heard was right.

Blake can see the confusion and shock in her eyes, that was how it was always going to be. But...he needed to be upfront with everything right now.

He continues, "I'm...with three girls I care about wholeheartedly. They're in my brigade, nothing's hidden. They all know about each other and they're okay with this...relationship we're all in."

Rebecca...really couldn't believe what she was hearing. "And...what? Three isn't enough? You came out tonight looking to add a fourth?" She questions with a bitter laugh.

"No! God no, absolutely not," Blake says, not wanting that to be how she saw him. He roughly rakes his hands through his hair, "I only came to this Mixer thing to help Finral get a date or a girlfriend or...whatever! Wingman shit, you know? I wasn't planning on bumping into you and..."

Rebecca furrows her brow, her tone softening. "And...what?"

Blake sighs, "...Getting attached to you so quickly."

Her eyes widen, and Rebecca stops for a moment. The same thing...happened to him?

"You're...an amazing girl, Rebecca. You're sweet and fun to be around and you work yourself so hard to provide for your siblings and...you're just awesome. I'd...I'm sure I'd love to be that special person for you," He admits, and Rebecca sees every bit of sincerity he has in his red eyes, "But...you wouldn't be the only woman I cared about, and...I totally get if that's something you're uncomfortable with."

With Blake saying his piece, the night's cold breeze marinated the silence between them for a few moments. Rebecca's lips pursed while her hands tugged on the fabric of her dress. She should've expected this; Blake seemed to be everything she would've wanted in a partner and more, he was practically perfect...it only makes sense there'd be a drawback.

She really wasn't sure how to feel. Of course, she was hurt, disappointed, but he hadn't done anything wrong. He wasn't stringing her along or lying to her so he could have some twisted fun; he'd been genuine and honest throughout this entire time they'd talked. She asked the question, he laid out the answer and told her what it would mean for them.

But...being the fourth woman he's with?

Rebecca never would've considered that as an option, not in her life. When it came to Blake though, and even with what he told her, he still made her heart beat like crazy and everything got so...confusing and uncertain about it.

"Okay, go ahead and do it...!"

"Hm?" Rebecca looks up from the ground she'd been digging her stare into to see Blake with his arms raised to his sides, palms open and facing out, with his eyes squeezed shut like he was tensing for the impact of something.

"I've been preparing myself for this. Feel free to smack the fuck out of me, I won't stop you. It's your right." Blake says, then pursing his lips tightly.

"Wh-What...?!" Rebecca questions, an incredulous laugh leaving her as she does. "I'm not...I'm not going to slap you...!"

Blake opens one of his eyes, "...You sure?"

"Yes, you damn goof!" Rebecca almost shouts, throwing a hand over her eyes as a laugh escapes her. "...You're not a crappy guy, it's clear as day you're not. So don't worry, I'm not gonna thrash you for being honest with me." She assures with a smile.

"Oh...okay." Blake says, slowly putting his arms back down.

"But...I think I've had enough fun for tonight. I should probably get back home, make sure all the kids are tucked in, you know?" Rebecca said.

"Oh, yeah, yeah. I get it, totally." Blake says. He scratches the back of his head sheepishly, before asking, "Is it alright if...I walk you home? Make sure you get back there safe?"

Rebecca could feel that blush creeping up on her again—ugh, she really was a mess when it came to all this stuff. She...She probably didn't need him to walk her there, it wasn't that far away...

"Sure, I'll...lead the way." she nods, starting her walk back while Blake nods and follows just behind her at her side.

...Fuck it, she'll indulge herself.

It's not like she'll see much more of him after this...

"So...three girls, huh? How'd you manage that?"

Blake's quiet, then he chuckles, "I have...no idea."

This was fine, as long as she didn't think bad of him, Blake was okay with this. Her lack of an answer was probably an answer in itself.

---

"Okay, we've arrived."

It'd only taken about 10 minutes for them to reach Rebecca's home. She'd taken the path from the church to here plenty of times, so she knew a few shortcuts.

Blake nodded, impressed it seems. "Big place."

"Not as big as it seems," Rebecca says with a chuckle, "The entire bottom floor is just for the restaurant, so we really only have the upstairs to live in. It's not much but...I've made it work the best I could."

"I get it, all you can do really."

Blake glanced off to the house in front of them, it had a stairway that led up to a small balcony which he assumed led to the upper floor of the Restaurant-Home.

"I guess this is where we say goodbye?" He asks, tapping his boot against the ground with his hands in his pockets.

Rebecca nods slowly, almost hesitant. "I guess so. Thanks for...everything tonight, I had fun and I appreciate you helping me out back there."

Blake waves it away, "Not a problem, I was happy too. Really, you deserve it."

God, he really didn't get how much that did to her.

But, just as she's ready to say goodbye and leave all this—him and these feelings—behind with tonight...

"It's him! It's him!"

Both Rebecca and Blake hear the muffled words come from just above them. Their eyes shot up to the window on the left side of the home's wall.

All of her siblings—save for Pen, the youngest of them—were peaking their heads through the window, with Luca being the one who blurted out those words. As soon as they met Rebecca's eyes, they all darted away immediately.

"What are you all doing up?!" Rebecca shouted in a whisper, with a frustrated tone that only a caretaker of many children could ever have, and oh man was Blake familiar with that. "Luca, when I get inside—!"

She didn't have to wait for that. Only a second later, the sound of a door unlocking and pairs of feet shuffling could be heard from the balcony. Appearing from there, Blake saw a pair of young boys and girls leaning over it.

Luca was in front and pointed at him. "It is! That's him, guys!" She said, her voice filled with excitement as her pointing turned into an energetic wave.

Blake wasn't sure what to do except wave back and Rebecca was baffled, so baffled that the four had already rushed themselves down the steps and completely surrounded the poor guy before she could even say anything.

"Were you the guy Rebecca met at the mixer thing?! My prayers worked out after all!" Luca said, happily bouncing on the balls of her feet.

That's what you were praying for all this time?! Rebecca questioned in disbelief.

"Woah, red bandages! They look so cool!" Oliver said, the oldest one with light red, almost pink, hair—having forgotten completely about the speech he had prepared if Rebecca brought home someone.

"You saved big sis Luca, right? Th-Thank you, Mister Knight!" The younger of the two boys said with clenched fists.

"His name is Blake, Marco!" Luca quickly corrected.

"O-Oh!" Marco turned from Luca, back to Blake. "Thank you, Mister Blake!"

"I-It's all good, kiddo..." he said, giving him a small wave while Blake used his other hand to pat a fist over his chest.

The assault wouldn't stop there, for he was next attacked by the younger girl of the four—Isabelle if he remembered what Rebecca told him correctly—who timidly poked at his leg. Blake looked to her, met with young bright eyes filled with amazement.

"Your hair...it's really pretty!" She proclaimed.

Blake kneeled, meeting her bright smile with one of his own. "Thanks! I think yours is more pretty though." He remarks, pointing out her cute pigtails before whispering, "I'm a bit jealous. What's your secret routine? I won't tell, promise!"

Isabelle didn't understand that last part, but he called her hair pretty and that made her really happy! It left her with a giddy smile.

It's becoming too much...! Blake was about to collapse from the collective sweetness of it all.

Rebecca was completely quiet as she watched on, taken aback by just how...sweet Blake was to her siblings. Aside from Luca, this was their first time meeting him and already they all seemed to adore him, and he was much the same. The big brother role, it really did fit him perfectly.

The sight of it felt like he was a piece of the puzzle that had finally been found to...complete her family. Her heart was so heavy from the happiness she felt at the sight, but her mind was burden with a weight just as heavy.

He...He's already with three others. They're in his brigade, he'll be with all of them more often and they'll...they'll have a higher priority than I—

—Oh my god, she was actually considering the possibility.As much as her mind told her it just wouldn't work out and she wouldn't be able to build anything meaningful with him, her heart told her something different every time she looked at Blake with her siblings, and it just...felt right.

"Will you be staying the night?" Luca asked excitingly.

"You're really tall, could I ride on your shoulders? Pretty please, Mister Blake!" Marco requested.

"I could style your hair to look like mine if you'd like! We could look pretty together!" Isabelle offered.

"Is it true you can use a bunch of different magic? Could you show them off, please!" Oliver asked.

Even with being overwhelmed with the questions, Blake was almost ready to answer yes to all those questions without a second thought, but then—

"All of you, that's enough...!"

A shiver went through everyone's spines, Blake included. That tone is never good to hear.

The four siblings all turned to their big sis, who held a sterngaze. Oh no, they're in trouble.

"Regardless of anything, it's way past your bedtime, you all should've been in bed and asleep by now." Rebecca reprimands, before turning her gaze to the oldest of the four, crossing her arms. "Luca..."

All Luca could do was look away, whistling in a would-be innocent tone, until a hand laid gently atop her head and rustled her hair, making her gasp quietly.

"Come on, Rebecca, cut them some slack for tonight," Blake said. He went to move his hand off but was stopped by the girl wrapping her hands around his, making him keep it there. He rolls with it and continues, "I bet it's not often their big sis goes out late, so I'm sure they couldn't get themselves to sleep until they knew she was okay."

He knew that was the case for a few of his siblings whenever he was out running letters to the other villages late at night.

Immediately, the kids took what Blake gave him and ran with it, furiously nodding.

"He's right, big sis!" Luca exclaimed oh so dramatically, throwing her arms tightly around Rebecca and shaking back and forth. "I could never sleep right if I wasn't sure my dearest big sister was alright out in the scary darkness! I care about you sooo much!"

Rebecca was going to mumble about how her dearest little sister was laying it on a bit too thick, but then one after another her siblings surrounded her in this embrace.

"Yeah! We care about you sooo much!" They all say, out of rhythm.

Rebecca tried, really she did, but...

She sighed, It's hopeless. I'm hopeless...

"I care about you all too..." She says with a defeated smile, looking between them, then at the one who started all of it and...there he was, standing there with that bright, heart-melting smile on his handsome face.

...In more ways than one.

"I'll let it slide this time, but only this time, understood?" She says, looking between the four as they nod at her. Yeah, she was probably lying, but they didn't need to know that. "Unfortunately, Blake can't stay much longer. He needs to get home for the night too."

Hearing that, the four around gave a collective, disappointing, "Awwwww..."

This was something Blake had to agree on, it was best to leave now. "I hate to go too guys, but my Captain's probably gonna flood me with missions to do first thing in the morning," He lied about the second half completely, "So I should get back to my base and get a good night's rest. God knows I'll need it."

"But, we'll see you again soon, right...?" Marco asks, the sadness in his voice making Blake's very heart want to cry.

He'd love to tell them yes but...it may be best to just—

"You can come by to see us if you'd like, whenever you're free..."

Blake's eyes widen, hearing Rebecca say those words was a shock. He was silent while she closed the gap between them, looking away with that familiar tint of red across her freckles. His heart thumped quickly and he could barely bring himself to ask, "Are...Are you saying...?"

"I...I don't know what I'm saying." Rebecca admits, leaning closer and whispering to him so her siblings don't hear. "It's...It's not a yes but...I would really like to spend more time with you and..." Rebecca's eyes gaze back at her siblings, "They seemed to think the same. After some time passes...maybe I could give a better answer but, right now, this is how I feel."

With that, Rebecca pulls back. "So, how about it? Think you'll be free in the next few days?"

"Yes!" Blake immediately answers, shocking himself and Rebecca with how sudden that was. "I-I mean, yeah, I should be. I'll...clear a day out soon to come visit!"

Rebecca smiles, hearing the gasps of happiness from her siblings behind her, "It's a deal then, stop by anytime...!" She says before turning around to tell her siblings, "And now, since I'm home safe and sound, it's off to bed with all of you!"

The children half-heartedly groan but nod.

Though Oliver asks just one more time, "B-Blake! Could you please show just one thing with your magic!"

Before Rebecca can tell him it's not time for that tonight, she suddenly stops when she feels Blake slip his hand into hers, and she's flustered with herself for how quickly she tightens her hold on it, but she can't even think about that because of that small, but so very playful smile on his lips.

"A few minutes won't hurt~" He whispers to her, before looking at her siblings and gestured with his hand. "Don't freak out too much, guys!"

All six of them were suddenly lifted off the ground, picked up into the air by Blake's Wind Magic, surrounding them in cooling, black wind streams. The children all gasped anxiously at first, but once they got used to moving through the air weightlessly, nothing but wonder and joyful amazement filled their minds.

They cleared the height of the surrounding houses, Blake having moved them right above the top of their Restaurant-Home. Where they went and how fast they moved with the black streams, it was all controlled by him, and, knowing that, the children lost any fear they may have had—they trusted him completely.

For these few moments, the wind streams carried the joyful laughter of the kids through the night as they flew, all while Blake kept Rebecca close, her hand kept in his as they twirled and flew through the air like they were dancing through it, Rebecca following after Blake's lead. All the stress that had been taking a toll on her these past few weeks seemed to leave her as she giggled and laughed alongside her siblings, freed of the worrying for a short while.

Blake adored it, he adored her.

Not long after, Blake returned Rebecca and her siblings to the ground, gently setting them down onto their balcony one by one, while he stayed afloat.

"I'm glad you guys had fun with that, but don't worry, I got plenty more to show off next time!" Blake promises, happy to see the excited smiles on their faces. His smile reaches Rebecca's own, and it can't be helped that they grow even bigger.

"I won't keep you waiting long, I promise." He says, turning away with a wink, ready to head off for the night.

Rebecca...she nods, she believes him.

And, as Blake says his goodbye and flew away, she's left to hear Luca say, "He's so dreamy, ain't he~" She asks, mockingly sweet, as she leans into her sister.

Oh no, it's finally come. The teasing...!

"Sh-Shush, Luca!"

---

Finral sighed, shoulders slumping over in defeat with Luck by his side, outside the restaurant. "Tried my best to salvage the situation, still got dumped..."

After coming back to the restaurant to Blake and that other girl being gone, with the distressed Restaurant owner breathing down his neck over who'd cover the damage done to his floor and table...yeah, Erika didn't stay for long after.

"At least you still got your date settled, Luck. Good for you, I guess." Finral said with defeated tears in his eyes.

Luck turns to Asta, "...What's a date?"

"Uh...I know Blake's done that with the girls a few times," Asta recalls. If he remembered right, Blake's first one was with Vanessa. They went to a restaurant to eat, right?

...Wait.

Asta turned his head to the girl beside him, "Noelle, were we on a—?"

"Of course not, you dolt...!" Noelle immediately responds, turning her head away. "D-Don't ask such foolish things!"

"Okay, okay, my bad! Yeesh!"

Finral wanted to curl up in a ball and die. Why is he surrounded by the densest people?

Luck looked around for a second before pointing up some distance away. "There he is!"

The four looked up to see Blake just as he descended, reaching solid ground, waving. "Yo," He greets Luck and Finral, before walking over and patting Asta's shoulder and Noelle's head. "Asta! Ellie! What a surprise to see you here~" He remarks, his smile becoming knowing. "How was the food? Tasted great, yeah?"

The pair gulped, looks like the disguises were a waste after all...

Whatever the case, Blake's smile relaxes and he looks between the two, moving his hands off their head and setting them in his pockets. "No big deal, I appreciate you looking for me and the girls, thanks."

"Y-Yeah, no prob, Blake..." Asta says, sheepishly scratching the back of his head.

Meanwhile, Noelle crossed her arms, looking away and rather...shy?

"Something you wanted to say, Ellie?" Blake asks, raising a brow.

Noelle shifted her gaze between Blake and...whatever she was looking off to in the distance a few times, before answering, "If...If you want to count me as one of your sisters...go ahead."

Blake gasped, then immediately spread his arms for a hug, "Noelle—!"

"One more step and I'll blast you...!"

"Finral!" Blake says, immediately swerving off his feet in the other direction and walking towards his senior. "Hey...sorry about all that extra stuff, guess I'm not as good a wingman as I thought I could be...my bad."

Finral sighs, then says, "It's alright, you're fine. I heard around, the guy who came up to you two was a real piece of work from the sounds of it, so I don't blame you too much. Just remember to pay me back for the damages, alright?" He asks with a shrug.

"You got it," Blake nodded.

"Anyways, looks like your letdown didn't go too bad. Don't see any red markings on your face." Finral half-jokes, just glad he didn't have to see that conversation go down.

But then, Blake goes silent...

"...Nothing happened between you two...right?"

Blake has the audacity to twiddle his fucking thumbs right in front of Finral, before shrugging. "I'm...going to see her again soon...?"

"Y-You...You can't be serious..." Noelle mutters, her eyebrow twitching with a bitter smile on her face.

"Woah, no way, she was okay with it?" Asta asks, surprised.

"Well, it's nothing concrete, just—Finral, what the hell are you doing?!"

Blake scrambled to get ahold of Finral before he walked through his portal, which wouldn't have been a problem if it wasn't for the fact it led to another portal 50 feet high up in the fucking air!

Finral tried to scramble out of Blake's hold, to no avail. "No, lemme go! I'm done with this! I'm done with my life! Clearly God has decided to just keep on tormenting me!" He cries out, acting like a melodramatic drunk, even when he hasn't had a sip of it the entire night. "Well, I've had enough of it! Strike me down and claim my life, you unrelenting jerk!"

"Dude, this is so not the solution right now!" Blake shouts back at him.

"I could do it if he wants!" Luck offers, already perched atop one of the buildings, building up a fuckton of lightning magic over his head.

"LUCK, IF YOU DON'T GET THE FUCK DOWN HERE—!"

Black Clover - The Three Brothers

A/N: I was so not expecting this chapter to end up being this fucking long but...here ya go! Hope you enjoyed. Rebecca's been introduced! She's so underrated fr, easily Top 5.

A/N: I'm going to be putting my focus into getting through arc before returning to my other story, so updates shouldn't take as long, yay!

A/N: Feedback is always appreciated!