"Replaced" - Luck Voltia fanfic // Black Clover

Chapter 9: New Squad Member

I ended up sleeping a good few hours. When I woke up, there were now bees buzzing around in my brain and I couldn't think straight. Last night... what happened last night...! I recall everything. And I wish I never did. It was awful. I headed out of my bed, put on my Black Bulls' robe and headed out of my bedroom. What if I re-attempt entering the living room? Would it really make any difference? I looked down and noticed that I was still wearing my unusual fit: the white long-sleeves shirt and black pants. I checked my clothes to see if they were dry yet, but they were still pretty wet. If it has stopped raining, I should be able to hang it outside to dry in the sun so it can dry faster.

But I heard commotion from the living room, so I decided to do that later. I should go and check that out. I walked into the living room where everyone else was gathered. Yami's voice was the one that rose higher than the rest.

"Clovis, your ice magic seems to be very helpful for our squad, since we don't have any ice mages already." Yami declared. "So I decide to accept you as a member of the Black Bulls." He put a Black Bulls' robe on Clovis. Huh?! He's a member of the Black Bulls now?! I... I thought he was just staying for a while and then leaving! So... does that mean my problems would never be solved?

Oh– there it goes again! The selfish thoughts! Clovis can uh... do what he wants... and so can Magna... right? Why did that thought pierce me in the heart? Why did it hurt so much? I should stop convincing myself... but I need a way to stop this feeling of jealousy. It doesn't seem to be helping.

Everyone in the squad, except for me, cheered. I stood still by the living room entrance, and no one noticed that I walked in. They only paid attention to Clovis joining the squad. Well, it's understandable if they didn't notice me in this case, since they are focusing on celebrating their...

...their new squad member.

I began staring at Clovis with a face of mixed emotions. Clovis, who I didn't expect would notice me, looked over at me and stared back. I suddenly felt as if everything and everyone around us faded away and it was just me and him. We stared at each other for a few minutes– which felt like forever. Clovis then gave a smile and looked away for once. Magna walked forward to him and wrapped his arm around Clovis's shoulders. "Glad you can become a part of us now!"

A pang of jealousy hit me in the worst place. Magna only ever did or said something like that... to me. I know this is selfish, but it's really getting on my nerves now.

"So am I." Clovis responded to him.

"So..." Before I could think, my tongue decided to speak for me. "...this is okay?"

Everyone looked at me. Usually, I wouldn't feel embarrassed being the center of attention like this, but now it's different. Why did I say something? At a time like this? I just wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it. Why am I getting so many 'first ever' emotions nowadays? This is all so new to me.

"What... do you mean?" Magna asked.

Crap! This is awful. "Um... well... him being a part of the squad... is this... okay?" I hesitated. My big mouth probably made the situation worse.

"Of course it is! I don't know what you're talking about!" Magna said.

"I..." I looked around at the rest of the squad. Some of them looked at me with disapproving looks, and others looked at me with worried faces. I never felt so humiliated. Why did I even speak up?! That was so stupid! "...It's nothing." Was that a good revival?

"Luck... are you alright?" Finral asked.

"Yeah yeah, I'm fine." I said, not making eye contact with anyone.

"You sure? You seem bothered somehow."

"I'm fine, I told you." I turned to leave the room. "Just uh... have fun." I pulled a forced smile on them and left. I probably left everyone confused. It didn't matter. Not like anything I said changed Magna's view on things. Sometimes, Magna can be completely oblivious. So he probably didn't hear the hurt that was quietly portrayed in my voice. I never had these feelings before, and Magna probably didn't think I had them, so he most likely would brush it off. I don't think I made a large impression.

I grabbed my normal outfit, went outside (from the back so no one could see me get out), and hung it in the hangers to dry. Afterwards, I walked around the base. I was awfully bored, longing for things to go back to how they were and my will to fight every so often. But everything that's happening right now only made me apathetic.

I probably should never have spoken up against Clovis in front of the squad...

...in front of Magna...

~*~

After waiting a few hours, I went back outside to check on my clothes. They were finally dry. I grabbed them and walked over to my room to change into them. Finally, I physically felt better. Then I sat on my bed and yawned. It'll be night soon. I better go to sleep.

Everyone in the base was carrying on as usual, causing shenanigans in the living room without me being there. They didn't care anyway, and this may be an awful thing to get used to. Maybe I should do something about it...? But they might not want to talk to me after what happened this morning. I'm not going to rudely interrupt anything with my problems.

I laid down on my bed, not bothering to cover myself with my blanket. I sat there for a few seconds, staring at my electrocuted ceiling. Electrocuted? That's right... maybe...

I then let out my lightning magic and let it irradiate from my body. Maybe this will help me feel better. As a kid, I used to always do this to help me feel better or sleep. My mother used to always disapprove of it, since it would always end up with me destroying the walls of my room by accident. But this is the Black Bulls' Base and my room in it. If anything gets too destroyed, it can be fixed easily with Henry's help. Not to make anything harder for him... but it should help me I think.

My magic shot out at the walls but luckily, it didn't do too much damage. It only destroyed the outer layer of the walls, and these Base walls are thick ones. It helped me calm down. I then laid back in bed and suddenly... fell asleep.