#yunoasu

It was early in the day in the Clover Kingdom and the Golden Dawn Headquarters was already a flurry of activity. A select few of them were about to go on a mission to scout out if there was any demon activity in the Forbidden Realm.

In his office, Yuno was just going over some last things before he could tell their team to go. He knew he had to do these checks not because the members of his Brigade were lacking, but because the mission was a joint one with some of the Black Bulls.

Ever since the mission in the Spade Kingdom, the Bulls’ reputation had improved somewhat, but they were still the Bulls. As the Vice Captain of the Golden Dawn, he had to be prepared for anything to go wrong. Their Brigade’s reputation was on the line.

A knock sounded on his door, and it opened. Yuno didn’t bother looking up, he could tell who it was by the person’s footsteps.

“You should be there.”

“Klaus-senpai,” Yuno acknowledged the older man. “I have a duty to the Clover Kingdom.”

“You also have a duty to the Spade Kingdom,” Klaus pointed out. “Yet you’re here instead of there because of that person. But you aren’t even going to his awards ceremony when everyone else important to him is. And isn’t it about time you stop calling me senpai, Vice-Captain?”

“It’s Yuno,” he reminded. “You’re not going either Senpai.”

“I was assigned to this mission.”

“So was I.”

“I know you asked Captain Vangeance for this assignment,” Klaus argued. “I just don’t understand why you would miss Asta’s biggest day.”

“It was a long time coming, this award. He should have received it a few months after me. Everyone from the Hage Church will be there.” Yuno paused giving Klaus a look. “Everyone.”

Klaus stared at him pointedly. Yuno sighed.

They really were just children when Asta had started asking Sister Lily to marry him. Yuno thought he knew what love was back then. That it was simple and uncomplicated, much like how Asta was as a person.

In the years since he had joined the Golden Dawn, he had a lot of people confessing their love for him, but he politely declined.

How could they love him if they did not know him. There was only one person who really knew him.

Another difference between him and Asta.

Asta loved openly and freely with varying degrees. With Asta, what you see is what you get. He loved their little family in the Church. He loved his comrades in the Black Bulls. He loved Yuno, as his best friend.

But most of all Asta loved Sister Lily.

Yuno knew this, and also knew that Asta would no doubt ask her to marry him again. As he did on the daily when they were children. As he continued to do as a Magic Knight whenever he saw the nun.

It was ridiculous when they were children, and back then Yuno didn’t mind. He knew she would always say no, Asta would be dejected, vow to never give up, and would do it all over again the next day.

That was when they were children. Yuno thought things would be as it had always been. He thought that he wouldn’t feel anything but minor annoyance whenever Asta professed his love for Sister Lily.

Things changed when they saved Hage from the elf-possessed Digit Talis. Yuno felt a twinge as soon as Asta had told the nun those three words: I love you.

It was only a tiny twist in his chest, and, at the time, he brushed it off as something from the battle even though he barely broke a sweat.

Later on, much later on after Asta was accused of being a devil worshipper and put on trial, he realised what it was: jealousy.

Not jealousy that Asta was showing how persistent he was, nor in the sense that he wanted Sister Lily. But jealousy in the sense that he wanted Asta’s devotion.

Even at Yuno’s award ceremony for making it to the rank of Grand Magic Knight, Asta’s eyes were on Sister Lily. Sure enough at the after party, he had heard the telltale sound of the Holy Fist of Love connecting Asta to the floor.

Yuno knew that Asta would never see him in that way.

“Are you worried that she would accept?” Klaus asked, bringing Yuno back to the present.

“No, of course not.” Yuno shook his head. “She sees us as her younger brothers. She would never.”

“I see.”

“Besides, Asta doesn’t see me that way.”

Klaus studied him. Yuno hated being stared at, but he was used to Klaus doing a great impression of being a mother hen.

“Why don’t you change it then?” Klaus suggested.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Klaus pushed up his glasses. “Asta isn’t exactly unpopular. Though his fan club isn’t as big as yours, they do exist. He probably doesn’t even know it.”

“He what?”

“And aside from his fans,” the other man continued, ignoring Yuno’s interjection. “He has several close friends who also seem to be interested in him, two of whom are royals.”

Klaus paused to let that sink in. Then he continued.

“While merit will get him to the top, being the fiancé or husband of a Royal could get him to sway the nobles to supporting him in becoming the Wizard King. Those two know that. And they do hold affection for him. Not that he’d ever pick up on it if they didn’t tell him first.”

Yuno knew which two Klaus was referring to. Mimosa never really kept her emotions hidden. It was a well-known secret in the Golden Dawn that their Royal member was smitten with Asta.

As for the other one, Noelle, Yuno really had no idea. But he was certain that if she did confess to Asta, he would misunderstand because he was as dense as a board.

“Don’t wait until it’s too late, Vice Captain.” Klaus advised.

“Call me Yuno, Senpai.” Yuno smiled. “And I won’t.”

He had time. And he intended to be clear about his feelings so Asta would not misinterpret his words.

The most important thing is that Yuno had time.

They were still competing on who would become the Wizard King after all. His feelings did not change the fact that he had to defeat Asta. Then he’d tell the other man how he felt.

Yuno had time.

Until he didn’t.

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A/N: I have feels about Yuno not being there at Asta’s award ceremony. Especially since Asta was at Yuno’s. I’m also planning to write another Yuno-centric fic focusing on chapter 334.

I know that's out of context but I've seen people work with less. And