Prompt: Request from KenosDC1 from Fanfiction. After a magical mishap during experimentation with Sally, Asta is temporarily left with the ability to read minds. Little could prepare him for how dirty a certain silver haired princess' head is, when it came to him.
—
Asta sat on the edge of a wooden table in the Black Bulls' hideout, rolling his shoulder with a few experimental stretches. "So…? Did it work?"
Across from him, Sally clutched a notepad, her eyes practically glowing with excitement. "Ohoho! You tell me, my dear, delicious test subject! How do you feel? Any changes?"
He tilted his head. "I feel fine? Strong as ever! Maybe a little tingly, but—"
Then it hit him. A sudden rush of voices—not aloud, but in his head.
What a waste, he looks the same. Maybe I should've added more of that essence…
Asta blinked. "Wait… essence?"
Sally stiffened. "Eh? I didn't say that out loud."
His grin widened. "But you thought it."
A beat of silence passed. Then her face lit up with unholy excitement. "Ooooh, now this is interesting!"
Asta burst into laughter. "Hah! You mean I can read minds now? That's so cool!"
Sally leaned in, scribbling furiously. "Temporary, probably. But let's test this out! Quick—what am I thinking?"
Asta smirked. "You want to poke me with a needle."
Sally pouted. "Awww, you're no fun if you dodge it before I try!"
Asta jumped back, hands on his hips, practically vibrating with glee. "This is amazing! I'm gonna go mess with everyone!"
And with that, he bolted out of the lab, leaving a giggling Sally behind.
—
The first victim? Magna.
Asta found the hot-blooded delinquent lounging on a couch, polishing his sunglasses. Before Asta could even speak, the words floated into his mind.
Gotta act cool, gotta look cool. The newbies look up to me… right? …Right?
Asta bit his lip. Oh, this is too good.
"Yo, Magna!" he called, throwing an arm around his shoulder. "Man, you're such a great role model for the recruits! You're, like, the coolest guy in the squad!"
Magna nearly dropped his shades. "Damn right I am!" he barked, though his chest puffed up. "Glad someone finally—wait. What?" His eyes narrowed. "You never say stuff like that."
Asta waved him off. "Just telling the truth! Later, Cool Guy!"
He left Magna scratching his head, cackling under his breath as he jogged off.
—
Next up: Luck.
Asta found him outside, grinning manically as he eyed the horizon. His thoughts were even more chaotic than his personality.
Fight, fight, fight, ooooh, fight someone strong—where's Asta? I wanna punch him. Maybe he'll dodge? Maybe he won't! Either way, fun fun fun—
Asta backpedaled. "NOPE. Not dealing with that."
Luck immediately whipped around, eyes sparkling. "Dealing with what?"
"Nothing! Definitely not your battle-hungry brain!" Asta bolted before Luck could pounce, the blond laughing as he gave chase for a few meters before losing interest.
—
The next hour was an absolute joy. Asta pranced through the base like a smug little gremlin, predicting people's actions, responding to unspoken questions, and generally making everyone paranoid.
Finral nearly had a breakdown. "I—I swear, I didn't actually look at that waitress's—!"
Gauche almost killed him. "HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MARIE'S NEW HAIRPIN?!"
Vanessa, naturally, just shrugged. "Sweetheart, you wanna peek inside here? Go ahead. You might learn a thing or two."
Asta immediately bailed.
And then, fate decided to punish him.
Because then he ran into Noelle.
—
He found her outside, training by herself, magic swirling elegantly in the air. She was focused, determined—her usual self.
And then he heard her thoughts.
And his world shattered.
Oh, Asta's watching me…
…Why does his shirt always cling to him like that?
Damn it, Noelle! Stop staring at his arms!
Asta choked.
Noelle glanced over. "What?"
"NOTHING."
Stay calm. Stay normal. Pretend you didn't just hear that.
He cautiously watched her, hands stuffed in his pockets, but the more he tried to not listen, the worse it got.
His muscles look even better up close.
I bet he could pick me up so easily—
STOP! Stop thinking that! Damn it, what is wrong with me?!
Asta nearly exploded.
Nope. Nope. NOPE.
He turned sharply. "Welp! Gotta go! Bye, Noelle!"
And he fled.
But his suffering had only just begun.
Because the mind-reading wasn't stopping.
And neither were her thoughts.
—
Asta was in hell.
Not the kind with demons and lava (though he'd fought things close enough). No, this was worse.
This was Noelle's mind.
And it was filthy.
Sitting at breakfast, he made the critical mistake of sitting next to her. Normally, this was fine. They bickered, she acted all haughty, he laughed—it was their usual dynamic.
But now?
Now, he had to sit perfectly still while she radiated embarrassed arousal, all while shoving eggs into her mouth like nothing was happening.
He's so close.
His arm is nearly touching mine—
If I just leaned a little… would he notice?
Asta gripped his fork like a lifeline.
Across the table, Finral raised a brow. "You good, man?"
No. He was not good.
Not when she kept thinking—
I wonder what it'd feel like if he grabbed my waist…
Asta's jaw clenched.
Would his hands be rough? Calloused? Or surprisingly gentle?
He almost stabbed himself with his fork.
"Yup! All good!" he blurted, forcing a laugh. "Never been better!"
Noelle squinted at him. "Why do you sound weird?"
"I don't sound weird! You sound weird!"
"What?! You're the one acting all suspicious—"
Maybe if I spilled something on my shirt, he'd lend me his…
Asta stood up so fast the table shook. "WELL, I'M DONE EATING."
Noelle jumped. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"NOTHING! TOTALLY NORMAL! JUST GONNA GO TRAIN—BYE!"
He practically sprinted out of the dining hall, hands clenched.
This was not funny anymore.
—
And then he had to spar with her.
Of course. Because life hated him.
The second they stepped onto the training grounds, Noelle looked ready to go, summoning her water magic with that usual determined glint in her eyes.
But the second she saw him—
Oh no, he looks good in that stance—
Asta tripped.
Noelle blinked. "What are you doing?"
"N-NOTHING! I'M FINE!"
He barely had time to steel himself before she lunged, firing a barrage of water orbs. He dodged effortlessly, but his mind?
His mind was screaming.
He's so fast… his reflexes are amazing…
That shirt is too tight—
Asta grit his teeth, darting left.
Why does dodging make his muscles flex like that?!
He nearly died.
She summoned another wave of attacks, but all Asta could hear was her absolute depravity.
What if he pinned me down?
His dodge faltered.
Would he press me into the ground? Hold me there?
He barely managed to block.
What if—
"Ack—"
His concentration broke. A water sphere slammed into his chest, sending him sprawling into the dirt.
Noelle gasped. "Asta!"
He lay there, staring at the sky, internally begging for death.
Noelle ran over, kneeling beside him. "Are you okay?! I didn't mean to hit you that hard—"
Oh my god, he's lying there all sweaty—
Asta refused to look at her.
I want to crawl on top of him so bad—
NOPE.
He shot up like a cat tossed in water. "HAHA, GREAT MATCH, GOTTA GO."
Noelle frowned. "Are you sure? You don't look—"
"YUP, FEELING AWESOME."
He took off before she could say another word.
This wasn't just suffering anymore.
This was war.
—
And the worst part?
It didn't stop on missions, either.
They were sent out together to handle some minor bandit trouble. Easy work. Noelle was acting normal—bossy, elegant, a little flustered whenever he praised her.
But inside her head?
Why is he so good with a sword? It's really unfair…
If he used those hands on me—NO, BAD NOELLE!
Asta almost dropped his sword.
She wasn't even trying to think these things! It was like her brain had a whole other version of her, one that was just down horrendous for him at all times.
And the worst part?
He's so cute when he grins like that…
It wasn't just lust.
It was love.
Asta's stomach twisted.
Noelle wasn't just flustered around him. She liked him. She cared. Deeply.
And now he knew.
Asta barely even registered taking down the bandits. He was too busy thinking. What am I supposed to do?
If he said something, she'd die of embarrassment. But if he said nothing, he'd have to keep pretending he didn't know.
And that?
That was gonna be impossible.
Especially when he still had a whole day left before the mind-reading wore off.
Asta groaned.
He was doomed.
—
Asta woke up and knew instantly.
The voices were gone.
For the first time in two days, his mind was his own again. No random thoughts flooding in, no unsolicited desires burning into his brain. Just peace.
He let out a deep breath. Finally.
But the relief was short-lived. Because the second he stepped out of his room, a new problem hit him.
He still knew.
He knew everything.
Noelle's feelings, her attraction, her constant inner turmoil—it was all permanently seared into his memory.
And now? Now he had to act like he didn't.
…Oh no.
—
Breakfast was the first test.
Noelle sat across from him, drinking tea with perfect composure, acting like nothing had changed. And for her, nothing had.
For Asta?
It was pure agony.
Because now, every little glance, every time her fingers fidgeted with her cup, every time she pursed her lips in concentration—he knew what it meant.
She liked him.
She wanted him.
And now, without her thoughts screaming at him, she just looked… painfully normal. She wasn't outwardly flustered. Wasn't touching her lips and thinking about his.
She was just Noelle.
And for some reason, that made it worse.
"Asta?"
He snapped back to reality. "Huh?"
Noelle frowned. "You're staring."
Panic. "I was not staring! You were staring at me!"
She scowled. "Why would I stare at you?"
Asta nearly burst into flames. You wanna know why, Noelle?!
But instead, he forced a laugh and stuffed his mouth with food.
She huffed and went back to drinking her tea.
He almost cried in frustration.
—
It didn't get better.
If anything, it got worse.
Because now, instead of her thoughts betraying her, it was her actions.
The way she blushed whenever he complimented her. The way she'd stammer slightly before snapping at him. The way she lingered just a bit too long when they stood close.
And the worst part?
Now that he wasn't drowning in her horny thoughts, he could finally process his own.
Because Noelle was gorgeous.
And she was strong.
And she liked him.
And Asta, idiot that he was, liked her back.
He just never realized it before.
And now, he was stuck in his own internal crisis.
Do I tell her? Do I not tell her? If I do, she'll die of embarrassment! But if I don't… will I be able to pretend forever?
He had no idea.
And then, the universe decided to screw with him one last time.
Because Noelle, completely unaware of his dilemma, crossed her arms, glanced at him, and said, "You know, I've been thinking."
Oh no.
"What if we spar again?"
Asta almost fell out of his chair. "WHAT?!"
Noelle blinked. "What's with that reaction? You're always training."
Yes. He was.
But now he knew exactly how much she enjoyed watching him train.
The idea of being shirtless and sweaty again in front of her—now knowing how much she secretly liked it—was making him short-circuit.
Noelle raised a brow. "You're acting weird. Did you hit your head?"
Asta swallowed. He could not keep this up.
He had to decide.
—
Option One: Take the Secret to the Grave.
He could just… never mention it. Let Noelle keep her dignity, pretend he never read her mind, and go back to being the same old idiot she tolerated every day.
It was the safest choice.
But it also meant pretending he didn't like her back.
That was the part that hurt the most.
—
Option Two: Tell Her the Truth.
…And risk everything.
Her dignity. Their friendship. His life.
Noelle was prideful. If she found out he knew everything she thought, she'd combust on the spot. There was a very real chance she'd never speak to him again.
But at the same time…
If he never told her, he'd never get to see what could've happened.
—
Asta took a deep breath.
Then he looked Noelle dead in the eye.
"Noelle."
She frowned. "What?"
"I need to tell you something."
And he made his choice.
—
Asta took a deep breath. His heart was pounding, but his resolve was set.
"Noelle."
She frowned. "What?"
He scratched the back of his head, forcing a grin. "I was thinking… You know how I can read Ki, right?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Yeah…?"
"Well, I've gotten really good at it," he said, rubbing his chin like a wise old sage. "And lately, whenever I'm around you… your Ki always feels kinda funny."
Noelle stiffened. "F-Funny? What's that supposed to mean?!"
Asta smiled, but this time, it was softer—more genuine. "It means I think you like me."
Her entire body locked up.
"I dunno if you even realize it yourself," he went on, watching her face rapidly turn red, "but your Ki gets all flustered when you're near me. And honestly? I'm pretty happy about it."
She stared at him, mouth opening and closing like a fish.
"Because, well…" Asta exhaled, rubbing his neck. "I think I like you too."
Noelle exploded.
Not literally, but her Ki spiked so wildly he thought she might. "W-WHAT?!"
Asta laughed. "See? Even now, your Ki is going crazy."
She whirled away from him, hands clutching her head. "N-No! No way! This is—You're messing with me!"
"I'm really not," Asta said, stepping closer. "I like you, Noelle. And I'm pretty sure you like me too. So… what do you wanna do about it?"
Silence.
Noelle was shaking. Her mind was probably imploding.
But then, slowly, slowly, she peeked at him over her shoulder, face burning.
"…Idiot."
Asta grinned.
That wasn't a no.