Everyone had made it back in time for Asta to be healed.
Visitors weren't allowed yet as he was in critical condition.
Dr. Owen wondered why his healing was taking longer than how it should be.
Until he found the reason why.
"Mmngh..."
Asta groaned. Feeling pain in his stomach.
"Where am I.. ..
.... .........Oh right! The!-"
"Good morning. I'm a nurse here. Glad to see you're finally awake."
Asta was confused until he remembered the mission and the events that had occurred.
"Is everyone safe?! Did anyone get hurt?!"
"Not at all. No need to worry. They are all safe. They're quite worried about you."
Asta sighed in releif at the news. Relaxing his tense body against the white bed.
The nurse started doing a mini check-up for any abnormalities.
"You seem fine."
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll inform Dr. Owen that you're conscious. He has something very important to discuss with you."
After a few minutes, Dr. Owen entered the room, forgetting to close the door.
Sitting beside Asta on a stool before speaking.
Getting straight to the point.
"Asta-kun, you have the Hanahaki Disease and have only weeks left to live. I'm sure you know it yourself."
Asta's eyes widen. The information making him look at his lap, head bowed down in shame.
He nodded.
"You're probably unaware of this Asta-kun.. since a few people had approached me with the same problem,
I was able to study the disease and developed a treatment as a result—"
"Really?!?!" Asta yelled with hope in his eyes.
"The treatment however, has many negative effects.
Not being able to love anyone again,
forgetting you're loved one,
or having no emotions left at all." He said with pity in his eyes.
This devastated Asta greatly.
All the effects were horrible to him. Forgetting Yuno, not being able to love again, and not even feeling anything at all..
'I'd be better off dead!'
"You have a bright future ahead of you Asta-kun. I'm s—"
"No! I'd rather die than forget him! If I can't even feel, what's the point of living?!"
....
"I understand.... but if you ever change your mind.. I'm always available."
Dr. Owen went to the opposite side of the room to record Asta's condition, and to give him some space.
Asta felt like he was at the edge of a cliff.
He broke down crying.
'Why?!'
..
..
..
'Fate. I get it.'
'You've won.'
'You've already won.'
'I can't even live long enough to become the Wizard King.'
'Yuno will be super disappointed that he has a rival this pathetic..'
'He'll never love me.'
Owen had left as soon as he heard Asta crying to give him privacy.
The person who had eavesdropped and heard everything left too.
