There And Back Again [Black Clover x BNHA]

Chapter Sixteen

The following morning found Asta heading to the track field in order to meet up with Aizawa. He was already full of energy, practically running to get there. Behind him trailed Bakugou who wondered for the nth time why he had agreed to come with the shrimp. Looking down at his phone that was in his hand, the clock read 5:27am.

"OI, shrimp!" He shouted at the mage who was a few yards ahead of him. "We have to hurry up if we don't want Aizawa-sensei to kill us for being late!"

"Let's go then!" The mage quickly burst into a sprint, Bakugou grinning before doing the same. When the blond caught up, both side-eyed each other, sizing the other up. At the same moment, they both started to run even faster, seeing if they could keep up.

By the time they reached the track field (with seconds to spare might I add), they were both smiling like crazy while trying to regain their breath. Aizawa looked at them with his usual indifference, but inside he was pleased that Bakugou had found someone else who could truly rival him. It was good to push the kid past his limits.

"Good to see you here on time." The erasure hero stated, looking down at the two kids who were slowly recovering. "Bakugou, how much has Asta informed you of what we are doing here this morning?"

The blond straightened, wiping some sweat off his face. "Not much, sensei. He just went on about needing a sparring partner that could attack him without restraint. Figured I could do that." Aizawa nodded.

"I want to test some ideas I have about his magic's nullifying effect. It's similar to mine in a way, and so we are going to be working with this. You're sole job is to do exactly what he said: attack."

Bakugou grinned.

"Let's get started then."

~*~*~*~*~

Aizawa would never admit it outloud, but he was concerned over this mage and the others, but specifically this problem child, more than he expected to be. Knowing the four for only a few days, he figured they'd be gone soon enough and they wouldn't really integrate into his class. But oh boy, was he wrong.

He was crouched on the sideline, watching as Asta and Bakugou battled one another, the former on defense while using some tricks the erasure hero had taught him. He was thoroughly impressed at what he saw from the kid considering he didn't have an ounce of magic. His strength was far stronger than Aizawa's own and he was handling the explosions thrown at him with ease. What was concerning, though, were the comments made and the way he seemed to bear scars like his personal problem child of 1-A.

For starters, when Aizawa had been showing Asta a way to use his arms for counterbalance, his eyes had caught onto the faint scars that wrapped around his forearms. Realizing that they were similar to the ones that Midoriya bore, he had asked how he had gotten them.

"Oh these? Yeah, some baddie from the Third Eye put this ancient hex on my arms and the Queen of Witches had to remove it. It was really awful, but thankfully I got my arms back and they're better than ever!" Asta had grinned, hefting his sword into the air. Bakugou and Aizawa had just stared numbly at the kid, both immediately thinking one thing: Deku.

Then, while the two were taking a quick water break, Bakugou had asked the mage what the point was of becoming a Magic Knight, and neither him or the erasure hero were quite prepared for the response that brought about.

"Well, there's a Wizard King in our kingdom, and he's selected to be the head of the Magic Knights and basically the main protector of the kingdom. I just always thought that that would be the best thing I could go for so I could make things better." Asta looked away, his grip tightening on the water bottle in his hand. "There's this hierarchy that exists, and the nobles see themselves as so much better than everyone else, and people like me, especially 'cause I have no magic, are treated like trash. I-It's just so unfair and I want to make everything right. I want to show the orphans I grew up with that even people like us can be something better. It's stupid, but it's the best way for me to achieve my goal."

Both Aizawa and Bakugou had once again been at a loss for words, completely baffled by this young mage standing before them. So now, as the erasure hero watched the two battle, thoughts swirled through his mind about how to help out the mages while they were here, wanting to help them find more self-worth and confidence than they currently had. And if the looks Bakugou had sent his way were anything to go by and ones others had given him previously, he had a feeling his students would end up doing the same.

By the time he called a halt to their practice, the sun was completely over the horizon. Aizawa walked back part of the way with the two teens, splitting off when their dorm came into view. He headed towards the main school building himself, wanting to talk with some of the other teachers before everyone's day began.

Damn these mages, making him care. Hizashi and Nemuri would never let him hear the end of it.

Bakugou and Asta would totally be buddies, and Midoriya will eventually also have some time with Asta... I have to write that at some point. And I will be getting angsty because I can and I will. Thank you for reading this! Love you all!

~Zelinith