Prompt: A request from SilentShinigami87 for a parody based on the Teen Titans Go episode "Colors of Raven." After the final battle with Lucius, much of the Clover Kingdom was destroyed, including several facilities responsible for storing magical items and relics. While these facilities are being rebuilt, the intact items are delegated to the Magic Knight squads for safekeeping. The Black Bulls end up with a strange prism, and Noelle's curiosity, combined with her annoyance, gets the better of her, much to Asta's chagrin and suffering.
—
The sun hung low over the ruins of the Clover Kingdom.
Most of the capital still looked like someone had thrown a tantrum with a hundred magic spells.
Buildings crumbled. Streets cracked. Magic still flickered in the air like static.
The Black Bulls weren't known for cleaning up messes.
They made them.
But today, they had orders.
Guard the magical relics pulled from the wreckage of the Royal Vaults. Do not let anything happen to them.
And under no circumstances…
"Nobody touches that weird glowing prism but Asta," Yami said, jabbing a thumb at it before lighting a cigarette. "If it breaks or goes off or curses anyone, I'm blaming all of you."
"And where exactly are you going?" Noelle asked, arms crossed.
Yami gave her a look. "Got a tea thing with Charlotte."
"...Tea thing?"
"It's not a date," he said too quickly.
Finral coughed. "That means it definitely is."
Yami glared. "You break that prism, I break you. Later."
And then he was gone. Like that. Just walked out.
Leaving a dangerous glowing artifact with them.
Asta scratched his head. "Alright! I guess I'll just stand here and stare at it for the next few hours."
"I don't see why you're the only one allowed to handle it," Noelle said, turning up her nose. "It's probably just some dumb light show."
"Captain Yami said it's dangerous."
"He also said he wasn't going on a date. He lies."
"Still," Asta said, getting between her and the pedestal, "it's better if we don't mess with it."
Noelle rolled her eyes. "It's not like I'm going to touch it, geez."
Ten minutes later.
Asta was flipping through a damage report Nacht and Henry handed him, muttering about repairs to the Black Bulls' hideout.
"Okay, so the east wing's ceiling is gone, the bath's filled with rubble, and Magna turned the rec room into a fire pit again—"
"Hey, Asta."
He looked up. "Yeah?"
Noelle stood by the prism, hand inches from it.
"NO—"
Too late.
Her fingers grazed the surface.
The artifact lit up like someone had set off a sun inside it.
A wave of rainbow energy blasted through the room.
Asta flew backward, hit a chair, and rolled behind the couch.
When he sat up, smoke rising from his hair, the prism had cracked down the middle.
"Noelle?!"
He scrambled up.
But what he saw wasn't one Noelle.
It was five.
All standing where she'd been, each glowing with a soft aura.
Each a different color.
"…Oh no," Asta breathed.
"W-What is this?!" said a girl in gray, shrinking behind the others.
"Hah! That was AWESOME!" yelled the one in red, fists clenched. "Let's do it again!"
"Ooooooh, sparkles!" squealed the pink one, spinning in a circle. "I feel so good!"
The purple one gave Asta a slow, sultry smile.
And the orange one yawned so hard she fell over.
Asta's jaw dropped.
"…This is bad. This is really bad."
Red Noelle stepped forward. "What are you staring at, you muscle-headed peasant?"
"I—uh—wait, hold on—"
"Don't act stupid. I know what you did."
"I didn't do anything!You touched the—"
"I should blast you through a wall for letting this happen!"
"Hey, you're the one who touched it!"
Pink Noelle skipped forward and grabbed his arm.
"Oh my gosh, your muscles are sooo firm! Have you been working out? Of course you have, you always do! It's so dreamy!"
"U-Uh…"
Red's eye twitched. "Back off, giggle ghost."
Purple leaned in close. "Don't fight, girls… we can share him."
Asta took a full step back. "What—what is even happening right now?!"
Gray let out a squeak and ducked behind the couch.
"I—I don't like this," she whispered.
Orange was on the floor, half-asleep. "Can someone turn down the lights… or the volume… or life in general…"
Asta rubbed his temples. "Okay. Okay. Think."
Five Noelles. Different colors. Different moods.
He pointed at them, one by one.
"Red is angry. Pink is happy. Gray is shy. Purple is, uh… too much. And orange is…"
A snore.
"Yep. Lazy."
He looked back at the shattered prism.
Still glowing faintly. Maybe fixable.
"Alright," he muttered. "I just have to figure out how to put them back together before Captain gets back."
Red cracked her knuckles. "You'd better figure it out."
Pink giggled and latched onto his arm again. "Or maybe we'll just stay like this forever~!"
Purple winked. "I wouldn't mind."
Gray whimpered.
Orange snored louder.
Asta took a breath.
"Please… someone help me."
—
Asta was sweating.
Not from training.
Not from a mission.
From terror.
Red Noelle was pacing.
Like a bomb with legs.
Her boots slammed against the floor with every step.
"Unbelievable," she snapped. "I can't believe I'm split into pieces because you couldn't keep your dumb peasant eyes on me for two seconds."
Asta held up his hands. "You're the one who touched the prism!"
"Because I wanted to know what it was!"
"And now you're five people!"
"Correction," she growled, pointing at herself, "I'm the only one that matters."
She jabbed a thumb at Pink, who was still spinning around the room like a fairy on a sugar rush.
"That thing? That's not me."
"You literally just called yourself me earlier," Asta said.
Red's eyes burned. "Don't. Get. Smart. With me."
"I'm not being smart, I'm being—"
"LOUD AND WRONG."
She grabbed the nearest chair and hurled it across the room.
It hit the wall and shattered.
Pink clapped. "Yaaay! Destruction!"
Purple leaned on a windowsill. "Mmm… passionate."
Gray yelped and hid behind a curtain.
Orange rolled over and pulled a blanket off the couch, mumbling something about "shut up."
Asta stared at the broken chair.
"Okay," he said slowly. "So… we're in the raging fury stage of this."
Red crossed her arms.
Her hair flared around her like a wildfire.
"I am this close to blasting you through the wall."
"I didn't do anything wrong!"
"You looked away!"
"I was reading a report!"
"Excuses!"
She lunged at him.
Asta dodged just in time, a burst of water magic slamming into the wall behind him.
"HEY! I live here!"
"Should've thought of that before you let me get exploded into pieces!"
"You literally said you weren't going to touch it!"
"Are you trying to win this argument?!"
"No—I'm trying to survive it!"
She charged again.
He ducked under a swing and rolled behind the couch.
The same couch Gray was hiding behind.
She screamed.
He screamed.
Red screamed louder.
Asta jumped over the back of the couch and landed on the table.
Red blasted it apart with a roar.
Boom.
Wood went flying.
"YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?!" she yelled, stalking through the debris.
"I think this is a nightmare!"
She fired again.
Asta deflected it with his sword and leapt to the second floor railing.
Red jumped up after him with zero hesitation.
They clashed on the landing.
Not with weapons.
Just words and rage.
"Do you even care that I could've died?" she shouted.
Asta blinked. "Wait—what?"
"If that thing had exploded! If it had cursed me! If it had killed me!"
She swung at him again, more water magic exploding in the air.
He ducked, grabbed her wrist, and held on.
"I do care!"
"Then act like it!"
"I am! That's why I told you not to touch it!"
She shoved him.
Hard.
He barely caught himself before falling over the railing.
He looked back at her.
She was breathing heavily.
Hands clenched.
Eyes glowing red from magic.
But her lip trembled just slightly.
And that's when it clicked.
Asta stood up straight.
Didn't raise his sword.
Didn't brace for a punch.
Just looked at her.
"…You weren't just mad."
She scowled. "What are you talking about now?"
"You were scared."
Her eyes widened.
She looked away.
Tried to mask it with more rage. "Don't be stupid."
"I'm not. You were scared I'd get hurt. That you'd get hurt. That something would go wrong."
He took a slow step toward her.
"I get it."
She clenched her fists.
"I'm not scared of anything."
"You're scared of losing people."
"…Shut up."
"You act angry so people don't see how much you care."
"Shut up."
She tried to turn away.
He grabbed her wrist again.
Gentler this time.
"Noelle… it's okay."
She didn't yell this time.
Didn't shove him.
She just… looked at him.
Like she wasn't sure what to say.
Or how to feel.
Behind them, the other Noelles had gone quiet.
Pink was watching with wide eyes.
Purple had stopped fanning herself.
Gray peeked out from behind the curtain.
Even Orange was half-awake.
Asta squeezed Red's hand.
"I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Or the other versions of you. I swear."
Red swallowed.
Looked down.
Then, finally…
"…Tch. Idiot peasant."
She yanked her hand away.
Turned her back.
But her shoulders relaxed.
Just a little.
"Fine. You get one chance. If you mess this up…"
"I know. Drowning. Screaming. Death. The usual."
Red smirked.
Just a little.
"…Damn right."
—
It had been ten minutes since Red Noelle stopped trying to kill him.
Asta wasn't sure if he should be relieved or just prepare for the next disaster.
Too late.
It was already skipping toward him.
"Asta~!"
Pink Noelle practically floated as she ran across the room.
Asta braced.
Impact.
She slammed into him with the force of a giggling freight train.
Wrapped her arms around him like he was a teddy bear and she was a sugar-high tornado.
"You were so brave back there with Grumpy Me!"
Asta flinched. "Ow—hug—hug too tight—"
"Oh! Sorry~" She pulled back. But only a little. Her hands stayed on his chest. "You've gotten even stronger since the last time I hugged you."
"You've never hugged me."
"I have now~!"
She gave him sparkly eyes.
Like literal sparkles.
There was glitter in her hair.
He didn't know where it came from and he was afraid to ask.
"So, like," she said, tilting her head, "do you like me better like this? Or like the other me?"
"I—I don't—I'm trying not to like any version that blows things up or throws chairs at me," he said, backing up.
She followed, step for step.
"Aww, but Angry Me was just being tsundere~ That's how we show we care."
He bumped into the table.
She was still smiling.
"Also, I made cookies!"
"What."
She reached behind her back.
Pulled out a tray.
"Where—where were you hiding that—"
"They're heart-shaped~!"
He looked.
They were lumpy. Uneven. One looked like a shoe.
But she was beaming.
So he took one.
Bit into it.
Chewed.
Paused.
"...It tastes like soap."
She clapped. "Yaaaay! I used lavender! That's fancy!"
"I think I'm dying."
"Then die loved~"
She threw her arms around his neck.
He flailed. "Personal space! Please!"
Pink Noelle just hummed and swayed. "You're warm. I like that. You make me feel safe."
He froze.
That was… kinda sweet.
And it sounded like the real Noelle.
Then she leaned up.
"I'd marry you right now, you know."
Asta choked.
"WHAT?!"
"Yeah!" she nodded. "You're strong, and cute, and kind, and loyal, and your hair is always so spiky, like a little cactus but lovable~!"
"That's—okay, no—slow down—"
"I already picked out our colors! Pink and green! For spring!"
"That's—those don't even go together!"
"We can make them work~!"
Red groaned from across the room. "Ugh. I can feel myself losing dignity."
Gray squeaked from behind the curtain. "...They're cute though…"
Purple was fanning herself. "He's so flustered. It's delicious."
Orange snorted. "This is the worst dating sim ever."
Asta tried to peel Pink off his arm.
She clung tighter.
"Let me gooo—"
"Never~!"
"I still have to fix the prism!"
"We can fix it together!"
"With glitter?"
"Yes!"
"No!"
She finally let go, pouting.
Arms crossed. Head tilted.
Her hair bounced with every motion.
"You don't think I'm helpful," she said, lower this time.
Asta blinked.
"Huh?"
"You think I'm just annoying and silly," she mumbled, kicking the floor. "That I can't be serious."
He stared.
She looked so much like Noelle when she dropped her guard.
He sighed.
"No… I don't think that."
"Really?"
"You're loud. And you move too much. And you almost killed me with cookies."
She pouted harder.
"But you're also honest. And cheerful. And you say stuff the real Noelle would never say out loud."
Pink peeked up at him.
"You like me?"
"I think… you're part of her."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"And I like her. So yeah. I guess I do."
Pink's eyes sparkled again.
Then she exploded into sparkles.
He panicked.
"WHAT DID I DO?!"
But then she reappeared in front of him, hands clasped.
"Sorry! Just couldn't hold it in~!"
Asta slumped.
Red shook her head. "You're a mess."
"She's a mess," he groaned.
Then Pink leaned in again.
"I'm rooting for you, you know," she whispered. "Even if she can't say it."
Then she kissed his cheek.
Sparkle explosion.
Again.
Asta collapsed to the floor, hands over his face.
"Yami's gonna kill me…"
—
Asta tiptoed around the living room like it was a battlefield.
Because it was.
There were sparkles on the floor. Water damage on the ceiling. A half-eaten cookie still smoking on the table.
And somewhere in the mess…
Gray Noelle was hiding.
Again.
"Okay," he whispered, "shy Noelle…?"
No answer.
He peeked behind a couch.
Nothing.
Under the stairs?
Nope.
"Come on," he muttered. "I just survived Anger and Glitter, I can't lose to Stage Fright."
A tiny squeak came from behind a bookshelf.
Asta paused.
Turned slowly.
"...Hello?"
Gray Noelle peeked out.
Only her eyes.
Big. Gray. Terrified.
Like he was going to explode if she blinked too hard.
He took a careful step forward.
"Hey. It's just me."
Her head vanished.
Asta crouched down and leaned around the side.
"There you are," he said, softer. "It's okay. I'm not mad. I'm not yelling. I don't even have glitter on me anymore."
A shaky voice replied.
"You… y-you're really… really brave…"
He blinked.
"Uh. Thanks?"
"I would've cried if someone yelled at me like Red did…"
"I did cry a little. Internally."
She peeked again.
Still hiding most of her face.
"You're not gonna… laugh at me, are you…?"
"No! Of course not!"
She hesitated.
Then slowly crawled out from behind the shelf.
Every movement was stiff. Awkward. Like she didn't trust her own limbs.
Her hair covered half her face.
She clutched the ends of her sleeves like they were shields.
"I-I'm not good at… talking…"
"That's okay."
"I usually say the wrong thing…"
"I do that all the time."
She glanced at him.
Then looked away so fast her neck might've cracked.
"You're… really strong."
He rubbed the back of his neck, flustered.
"I try."
"You… always protect everyone…"
He looked at her again.
Really looked.
She was fidgeting. Sweating. Pink in the face.
But her voice was quiet admiration.
And a tiny bit of something else.
"You're sweet," he said.
Her eyes shot wide.
"I-I'm not—!"
"You are. Even if you're quiet."
"I just… I don't want you to think I'm useless…"
"I don't. You're still Noelle. Even like this."
Her mouth opened.
No sound came out.
Just a soft little breath.
Then she ducked behind her hair again.
"I-I've always been scared to tell you how I feel…"
Asta blinked.
"You mean like… feelings?"
She curled up on herself.
Her entire face went red.
Asta felt his heart do something weird.
Not painful.
But like his stomach jumped to his chest.
"You… do like me, huh?"
She nodded so fast it looked painful.
Asta smiled.
Then sat on the floor, cross-legged.
"I think the real Noelle's been trying to say that for a while."
Gray looked at him through her bangs.
Eyes trembling.
"You think… she likes you too?"
"I hope she does," he admitted. "Because I think I like her."
Gray gasped.
Then squeaked.
Then tried to melt into the floor.
He chuckled.
"Don't panic. It's okay."
She peeked out.
"I'm not… pretty like Purple…"
Asta frowned.
"You're beautiful."
Gray looked like she might actually die.
"Y-you can't just say stuff like that!"
"But it's true."
She covered her face with both hands.
"M-my heart's gonna explode…"
Asta gently touched her shoulder.
She froze.
Didn't pull away.
Just breathed fast.
"If you ever wanna say something," he told her, "you don't have to be scared."
"I-I'm always scared…"
"That's okay. I'll wait. I'll listen."
She peeked up again.
Eyes wide.
Soft.
Hopeful.
Then she leaned forward.
And very, very gently…
Pressed her forehead to his shoulder.
He sat still.
Didn't say anything.
Didn't move.
Just let her be close.
Then she whispered:
"...Thank you…"
And shimmered.
A soft, quiet glow.
And disappeared.
Back into the prism's magic.
Asta blinked.
Then smiled.
Red grunted behind him. "Well, that was gross."
Pink squealed. "SO CUTE."
Purple purred. "Ugh. I almost wish I'd been the shy one."
Orange rolled over. "Too much emotion. I'm breaking out in hives."
Asta stood up, rubbing his chest.
"She's still her, y'know?"
They all looked at him.
"She's just the quiet part."
Red scoffed.
"Great. Now you're all deep."
Asta cracked his knuckles.
"Three down…"
He looked at Purple.
She licked her lips.
Grinned.
"Ready for me, handsome?"
Asta froze.
...Oh no.
—
Asta turned slowly.
Very slowly.
Purple Noelle was already halfway to him.
Barefoot.
Long, sweeping walk like a movie villain with a love potion.
She flipped her hair dramatically—like the wind followed her commands.
"Oh Asta~" she purred. "You've finally made it to me."
He backed up.
"Can we not."
She stepped closer.
Each step a deliberate slow-motion glide.
Her hips swayed. Her eyes sparkled. Her smile was way too confident.
"I've been waiting~."
"I'm scared," Asta whispered.
"Don't be," she said, reaching out. "I only bite when asked."
"I AM TERRIFIED."
She kept walking.
He bumped into a wall.
No escape.
Purple braced a hand beside his head and leaned in.
"You've met Angry Me, and Bubbly Me, and Nervous Little Me…"
Her voice dropped.
"But I'm the part of Noelle that dreams about kissing you until your brain stops working."
Asta short-circuited.
"Wh—K—No—WHAT—"
She leaned closer.
Nose-to-nose.
Eyes locked.
"You blush so easily," she whispered, brushing a finger down his chest. "It's adorable."
He yelped and jumped back.
"Boundaries! Please!"
"Noelle has so many thoughts about you, you know. What you'd look like shirtless. What you smell like. What you taste like—"
"PLEASE STOP TALKING."
"Would you like a demonstration~?"
He bolted toward the couch.
She appeared in front of him instantly.
Teleporting? Magic? Nope. Just drama.
Purple Noelle grabbed his collar.
Spun him around.
Pushed him onto the couch and straddled his lap like it was a throne.
"Okay, no—NOPE—this is illegal—"
"Oh, hush," she said, fluffing his hair. "You're the big strong man. This should be easy for you."
"I'm going to spontaneously combust."
She leaned in again.
"Go ahead. Put your hands on me."
"I would rather be struck by lightning."
"That can be arranged~"
He tried to slide away.
She held him still.
"How are you this strong?!"
"I'm fueled by desire. And yours is loud."
He blushed harder.
"I AM NOT—!"
"Oh, you are. You just hide it behind your muscles and your yelling and your adorable awkwardness~"
She ran her fingers down his jaw.
He grabbed a pillow and buried his face in it.
"Please. Let me live."
She giggled.
Then whispered right by his ear:
"I think about you at night, you know."
He made a noise that could only be described as death.
Purple leaned back, laughing softly.
"Don't worry," she said. "I'm not gonna eat you."
A beat.
"...Unless you're into that."
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU—"
Pink was screaming in the background.
The prism shook with a gray flustered aura.
Red was shaking her head like she was watching a car crash.
Orange muttered, "Honestly? This is the best thing I've seen in days."
Purple finally slid off his lap, but not before brushing her fingers way too slow down his chest again.
"Relax," she said. "I'm not trying to hurt you."
Asta was still hiding behind the pillow.
Eyes barely visible.
Purple knelt beside him.
Rested her head on his shoulder.
"You make Noelle feel things," she said quietly. "Strong things. Scary things."
He blinked.
Turned his head.
Purple wasn't smirking anymore.
She looked almost…
Sad?
"She dreams about you," she continued. "But she's terrified you won't take her seriously. That you'll always see her as just a snobby princess, or just loud, or just mean."
He lowered the pillow.
Stared at her.
"I don't see her that way."
She glanced up.
"Then how do you see her?"
He hesitated.
Then answered honestly.
"I see someone who always tries. Even when she's scared. Even when she's proud. Even when she thinks no one notices."
Purple went still.
Completely still.
Then smiled again.
But it was softer.
Not seductive.
Just… real.
"She really does love you, you know."
Asta's heart skipped.
"What?"
Purple stood up.
Looked down at him.
"I'm the part of her that wants you so badly it hurts."
He swallowed.
Didn't know what to say.
She leaned down one last time.
Brushed a kiss just above his eyebrow.
"You're doing better than you think, dummy."
She sparkled.
Shimmered.
And vanished.
The room was silent.
Until Red broke it.
"You survived."
Asta slumped back on the couch.
"I don't feel like I did."
Pink peeked over the railing. "She totally kissed you!"
Gray whispered through the prism, "I think I fainted twice…"
Orange rolled over again. "Wake me when the next episode drops."
Asta groaned.
Then sat up.
"I'm gonna need therapy after this."
Red snorted.
"Too bad. You've got one more."
He looked at the last version of Noelle.
Orange.
She was upside down on the couch.
Eating grapes.
Eyes half-closed.
"Mmm. My turn?"
Asta sighed.
"I hate this prism."
—
Asta stared.
Orange Noelle didn't move.
She just blinked at him.
Very slowly.
Still upside down on the couch.
Still holding a single grape between two fingers.
"Hey," he said, cautiously.
"Mm," she mumbled. "Hey."
"I'm guessing you're, uh… the lazy one?"
She yawned like a cat.
Rolled onto her side.
Grape still untouched.
"I prefer relaxed."
He stepped closer.
Carefully.
"I need you to, uh… come with me. So I can fix all this."
"Mmm." She blinked again. "That sounds like a lot of work."
"It's really not! You just glow and poof and—"
She rolled onto her back again. "Yeah. That's the problem."
"…What?"
"I like being split up," she said. "I don't have to deal with yelling or blushing or hormones."
Asta looked mildly traumatized.
She stretched both arms over her head.
Shirt lifting just slightly—definitely on purpose.
"I could stay like this forever," she sighed.
"You can't."
"I can. I will."
"You won't," he argued, stepping closer. "Come on, you're not even doing anything."
"Exactly."
He stared.
She blinked.
They were locked in the least epic standoff of all time.
Asta ran both hands down his face.
"Okay. Fine. You want a deal?"
Orange finally looked interested.
"Go on."
"I'll get you food."
"Tempting."
"I'll carry you."
"Closer."
"I'll… let you nap for ten minutes before merging."
She smirked.
"You think I can nap in just ten minutes?"
"You already are napping."
"That's just a lifestyle."
Asta groaned.
Picked her up.
She didn't resist.
Didn't help, either.
"Whoa," she muttered, head flopping back. "This is nice. You're warm."
He grunted.
"You're heavier than you look."
"Wow," she deadpanned. "Rude."
"I meant that magically."
"Oh. Cute save."
He dropped her on the other couch.
She bounced a little.
Didn't move.
"I could stay like this forever," she mumbled.
"You can't. Noelle needs you."
"She needs rest. I am rest."
"You're a couch potato with magic."
"I am the core of self-care. You're welcome."
He crossed his arms.
"Lazy doesn't mean useless."
She peeked at him.
One eye open.
"…You calling me useless?"
"No. I'm saying you could do something great if you actually stood up."
"Too tired."
"You haven't moved in an hour!"
"Exactly."
Asta groaned again.
Then paused.
Something clicked.
He knelt beside her.
Looked her right in the eye.
"You're scared too, aren't you?"
Orange blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"You're not lazy because you don't care," he said slowly. "You're lazy because if you actually try, you might fail."
She stared at him.
He kept going.
"If you don't move, you can't mess up. If you don't speak, you can't say something dumb. If you don't try to merge… you don't have to face anything."
Silence.
Even Red looked up from her spot.
Pink stopped humming.
The prism glowing a mix of gray and purple shook and trembled.
Asta leaned in.
"You're not afraid of doing nothing. You're afraid of doing something and still not being enough."
Orange's lip twitched.
Just slightly.
"…You suck."
He smiled.
"Yup."
"You're too good at this."
"Been a long day."
She sat up.
Very slowly.
"Ugh," she muttered. "You ruined my nap with character growth."
"Sorry."
She flopped onto his shoulder.
"You're lucky you're cute."
"I'm exhausted."
She yawned into his sleeve.
"You're really gonna make me merge back, huh."
"Yep."
"Even if I pretend to be asleep again?"
"Yep."
"Even if I offer to share this couch and let you braid my hair?"
He paused.
"…That's not a real offer, is it?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
She finally stood up.
Stretched.
Groaned.
"Fine. Let's get this over with before I change my mind."
He nodded.
She shimmered.
Soft golden-orange light.
Then vanished.
Back into the magic.
Asta collapsed onto the couch she left behind.
Arms flopping over his head.
"Finally."
Red leaned on the doorframe.
"Congrats, genius. You survived the rainbow."
Pink clapped like a child and whispered, "You were really sweet to her…"
Then both looked at him.
And said together:
"Now what?"
Asta sat up.
Pulled out the cracked prism.
It pulsed faintly.
Three colors glowing inside.
"Now," he said, "I put her back together."
He stood.
Held the prism in both hands.
"Time to bring Noelle home."
—
The room was quiet now.
Weirdly quiet.
No more yelling.
No more flirting.
No more couch naps.
Just Asta.
And the prism.
He held it in both hands, careful not to drop it.
The cracks glowed with three colors, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Okay, he thought. This has to work.
Red and Pink stood near him.
Silent.
Orange had just vanished, but her warmth lingered on his arm.
He took a breath.
"I think… I can do this now."
The prism pulsed again.
Like it understood.
But before anything happened—Red stepped forward.
"Wait."
Asta blinked.
She crossed her arms.
Scowled.
"You better not screw this up."
He tilted his head. "Uh… thanks?"
"No, I mean it," she snapped. "You saw all our worst parts. Our best parts too."
She looked away.
Jaw tight.
"And you didn't run."
Asta softened.
"I never would've."
Red scoffed.
Then punched his arm.
Hard.
"Good. 'Cause if you ever hurt us, I will find a way to come back and slap you."
He winced.
"Noted."
Red nodded once.
Then turned.
And burst into red light.
Gone.
The prism glowed brighter.
Pink stepped forward next.
Waving happily.
"Hi!"
Asta smiled.
"Hey."
"I had a great time, even though it was kind of a crisis and everyone was yelling!"
He laughed. "Yeah. You made it less scary."
She hugged him.
Hard.
"You're really sweet, you know that?"
He hugged back.
"I try."
She pulled away, still beaming.
Then kissed his cheek.
"Don't ever stop making her laugh, okay?"
"I won't."
Pink sparkled like a sunrise.
Then vanished.
The room shimmered with warmth.
Before Asta could make his next move the prism spiked gray, wobbling as if meek and unsure.
Asta gently stabilised the object in his hand and whispered.
"Hey… it's okay."
A moment later a gray hand shot out of the prism and tugged at his sleeve.
"I… I just wanted to say thank you."
Asta brought his mouth closer to the prism, questioning gently yet powerfully.
"Why?"
"For being kind. For… noticing me."
His chest ached.
Asta couldn't see her face but she looked like the girl he'd first met.
The one who tried so hard not to show she cared or she was scared.
"You're stronger than you think," he said.
Gray blushed.
Then, so softly he barely heard it:
"I think I like you."
His heart flipped.
"I like you too."
She touched his hand.
Just for a second.
Then turned into silver-gray light and fully retracted back into the prism.
Gone.
And then not a moment later Purple shot out of the relic like a ghost, her eyebrows fluttering seductively.
She was already walking toward him.
Swaying.
Eyes intense again—but quieter now.
"Don't worry," she said, smiling faintly. "I'm not gonna jump you again."
"Thanks," he said dryly. "I don't think my heart could take it."
She stopped in front of him.
Tipped her head.
"Do you get it now?"
"Get what?"
"That she's already in love with you."
Asta froze. Didn't we already have this conversation?
Purple tapped his chest with one finger.
"She hides it. Buries it. But it's there. Every version of us wants you."
He swallowed.
Hard.
"…Then why does she hide it?"
"Because she's scared you'll never feel the same."
He looked down.
Then back at her.
"I do."
Purple smiled.
Soft and warm.
"I know."
Then she faded.
Light and violet and full of something deeper.
The prism glowed five colors, full again.
A low groan came from the object.
Orange.
As monotone and exhausted as possible the girl spoke.
"Are we all here yet?"
"Yeah," Asta said, chuckling. "Ready?"
She yawned.
"Not really. But let's do it anyway."
A moment later she whispered hesitatingly.
"You sure you want all of us back together?"
"I do."
"Even the clingy parts?"
"Yep."
"The angry parts?"
"Absolutely."
"The scared parts?"
He hesitated.
Then smiled.
"Especially those."
Orange smiled faintly.
"Good answer."
All five colors spiraled together.
A wave of magic rushed out—warm, bright, almost musical.
Asta shielded his eyes.
Then…
Silence.
Smoke hung in the air.
The prism stopped glowing.
Then cracked.
Then—shattered.
Gone.
He looked up.
A figure stood in the center of the room.
Hair glowing faintly.
Eyes wide.
Back straight—but unsteady.
"…Noelle?"
She blinked.
Looked down at her hands.
Then back at him.
"What… happened…?"
Asta stood.
Walked to her.
"You touched the prism. You split."
She stared at him.
Memories flashing behind her eyes.
"Red… Pink… Purple…"
"Yeah," he said gently. "That was all you."
"I remember everything."
He froze.
"You… do?"
Her face turned red.
Deep red.
"Everything," she muttered.
"Oh."
They stood in awkward silence.
Then she smacked his chest lightly.
Not hard.
Just a touch.
"Thanks for… putting me back together."
He smiled.
"Anytime."
"…Even the lazy me?"
He laughed.
"Especially the lazy you."
She looked down.
Then glanced up.
"…Do you really like all of me?"
"I do."
A pause.
"Even the part that straddled you?"
"Moving on," he said quickly.
She laughed.
Then stepped closer.
Touched his hand.
"…I like you too, dummy."
His heart nearly exploded.
"…Really?"
She nodded.
Eyes bright.
He grinned.
Then—
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO MY BASE?!"
Asta screamed.
Noelle jumped.
Yami stood in the doorway, soaked in tea, covered in petals, holding the remains of his cup.
"Why are there scorch marks in the ceiling?!"
"Captain Yami!!" Asta cried. "You're back!"
"You destroyed the furniture!"
"It wasn't me it was the prism and—"
"WHY ARE THERE FIVE NOELLE OUTFITS ON THE FLOOR?!"
"…Don't ask."
Noelle grabbed Asta's hand.
Pulled him away fast.
As Yami raged in the background, she whispered, "Let's leave before he makes you mop the entire building."
"Great idea."
As they ran, the broken prism sat on the table.
Faintly glowing again.
Waiting.
Plotting.
Round two… was coming.
But for now?
Asta had survived.
Barely.
And somehow… got a little closer to the girl he'd always cared about.