Noah was nestled under his blanket, the soft fabric a cocoon against the morning chill. He rolled onto his side, his eyelids fluttering open to greet the day. His gaze drifted lazily to the ceiling, a frown creasing his brow as he felt an unexpected softness brush against him from beneath the blanket.
Curious, he lifted the blanket to find his little sister, Lucy, curled up beside him, her peaceful slumber a stark contrast to his sudden alertness. Startled, he leaped out of bed, his voice a mix of surprise and concern. "What are you doing here, Lucy?"
Lucy stirred, her eyes blinking open to meet his. She sat up, her voice still thick with sleep. "I came to wake you up, but I ended up falling asleep."
"Uhh… that's never happened before," Noah muttered, bewildered by the unusual sight.
Lucy climbed off the bed and approached Noah, who instinctively stepped back as she drew near, his confusion deepening.
"Why are you coming closer?" Noah asked, his voice tinged with worry.
Without a word, Lucy wrapped her arms around Noah's neck, her voice soft but firm. "I'm going to give you a 'good morning kiss.'"
"What's wrong with you?" Noah asked, taken aback by her unusual behavior. "You're acting really strange today."
Lucy puckered her lips and leaned in to kiss Noah, her intentions clear. Noah considered pushing her away but hesitated, thinking this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He decided to stay still, closing his eyes as he waited for Lucy's soft, warm lips to touch his face.
But instead of a kiss, he felt a sharp slap, the sudden sting jolting him back to reality.
"...!"
Noah's eyes flew open, and he found himself still in bed, the morning light streaming through the window. Lucy stood in front of him, a knife in her hand, her school uniform crisp and a kitchen apron draped over it.
"Get up! I'm going to be late for school!" she shouted, her voice urgent and impatient.
"...." Noah stared at Lucy, the realization dawning on him. 'So it was all a dream?'
Sighing deeply, he got out of bed, the thought lingering in his mind. 'If only she hadn't woken me up. I might have gotten a kiss from her, even if it was just in a dream.'
"Go take a shower. I've left breakfast on the table," Lucy said, her voice brisk as she headed for the door. "I'm heading to school."
Noah ambled over to his closet, the morning light filtering through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the array of clothes. He grabbed a random assortment, not bothering to coordinate, and headed to the bathroom. The shower's warm cascade washed over him, a brief respite from the morning's odd start.
Emerging from the steamy bathroom, Noah hoped Lucy would have left by now. But there she was, lingering in the living room, her school uniform slightly askew, her usual poise replaced by an air of distraction.
As he passed by, he couldn't resist a playful nudge, bumping into her shoulder.
"Watch it!" Lucy snapped, her voice sharp with irritation.
"What's wrong? I thought you were in a hurry," Noah teased, a smirk playing on his lips.
Lucy shifted uncomfortably, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her apron. "I need some money," she muttered, avoiding his gaze.
Noah's smirk faded as he looked at her, disbelief creeping in. 'She only acts cute when she needs something,' he thought, a hint of amusement in his internal musings.
"Why do you need money?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
"It's none of your business! Just give me money," Lucy replied, her tone firm but tinged with desperation.
With a sigh, Noah resigned himself to the inevitable. 'I don't want to ruin my morning,' he thought, 'so I guess I'll just hand her ten bucks.'
He retrieved his wallet from his room and handed her a ten-dollar bill. "Here."
Lucy barely glanced at the money, her expression unchanged. "It's not enough. Give me more."
Noah hesitated but pulled out another ten, handing it over with a raised eyebrow.
"It's still not enough," Lucy stated, her voice unwavering.
"How much do you need?" Noah groaned, his patience wearing thin.
"50."
Noah's eyebrows shot up. "50 dollars is a lot for a high schooler like you."
"Shaddap!" Lucy snatched the wallet from his hand, swiftly extracting fifty dollars before he could react.
Noah's eyes scanned her from head to toe, noting the absence of her usual stockings and the faint trace of makeup on her face. "Why aren't you wearing your stockings? And since when did you start wearing makeup?"
Lucy turned away, her voice cool and distant. "It's none of your business."
She headed for the door, tossing over her shoulder, "I will be coming home late."
Noah watched her go, a sigh escaping his lips. He tossed his wallet onto the couch and made his way to the kitchen, the aroma of breakfast drawing him in.
"Why can't she act cute?" he muttered to himself, shaking his head as he sat down to eat.
"At least, her cooking is great," he conceded, taking a bite, the flavors a small comfort in the morning's mess.
After finishing his breakfast, Noah was about to head back to his room when he spotted a packed lunch box on the kitchen counter.
"Great. She forgot to take her lunch," he muttered to himself.
Glancing at the clock, he murmured, "I don't have morning classes today, so I guess I'll drop by her school and give it to her."
He grabbed the lunchbox and set off for Lucy's school, the familiar route bringing back a flood of memories.
Ten months ago, Noah and Lucy had caught their mother in the midst of an affair. They had told their father, only to discover that he was aware of it and was also involved in his own affair with someone from his workplace.
Their parents had been leading separate lives under the same roof, each aware of the other's infidelity. They had chosen to stay together for the sake of their children, but with Noah and Lucy now in the know, there was nothing left to hide.
The divorce that followed was swift and final. Their mother moved to another city, and their father relocated to a new apartment. At least, their father continued to pay the bills, ensuring they had a roof over their heads.
For the past ten months, Noah and Lucy had been navigating life on their own. Noah, a university student, and Lucy, in her final year of high school, had turned their home into a sanctuary of sorts, a place where they could be themselves amidst the chaos.
But Lucy had made it clear that she intended to move out once she graduated from high school, a thought that weighed heavily on Noah's mind.
Upon reaching Lucy's high school, Noah made his way to her class, though he wasn't entirely sure which division she was in. The school was familiar territory, having graduated from there just the year before, but the classes had been rearranged since then.
He wandered through the hallways, the school hours yet to begin, so he wasn't concerned about disturbing any classes. As he strolled, he couldn't help but notice the numerous couples scattered throughout the hallways, engaged in their own worlds.
A sudden thought struck him, making his stomach churn. "What if... Lucy also has a boyfriend?" The mere possibility made him feel uneasy, a protective instinct flaring up within him.
"Lucy~"
Noah heard someone calling Lucy's name from inside one of the classrooms. To his relief, it was a girl's voice, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the small mercy.
Noah peeked into the classroom and saw Lucy surrounded by five girls, engaged in what seemed to be a lively discussion.
"What?!" one girl exclaimed, her voice echoing through the room.
"You took money from your brother to gift him for his birthday?" another girl asked, her tone a mix of surprise and amusement.
Lucy nodded, her expression earnest. "What else can I do? My brother doesn't allow me to have a part-time job, and I can't get money from somewhere else."
"..." Noah facepalmed himself, a sense of disbelief washing over him. 'I didn't see that coming.'
"Still, your brother is so hot. He is totally my type, you know?" the third girl said, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
Lucy glared at the girl, her voice firm and protective. "Stay away from him."
"Hahaha!" All the girls laughed in unison. "It's so fun to tease Lucy."
"Oh, yes. You mentioned that you were going to move out when you enter the university, is that true?" the fourth girl asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Of course it's not," Lucy denied, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "If I move out, then who is going to take care of my idiot brother?"
The third girl raised her hand, her voice playful. "I would be glad to take care of him."
Lucy frowned, her voice solemn and final. "You are banned from coming over to my house from now onwards."
Lucy stood up, her voice brisk. "I am going to the washroom before the first period starts."
"Uh oh." Noah missed his chance to hide, his presence now known.
Lucy stared at Noah for a few seconds, her face flushing the next moment. "W-W-what are you doing here?!" she stammered, her usual composure shaken.
Noah raised his hand, the lunchbox held aloft. "You forgot your lunch box."
"What's wrong, Lucy? Why are you shouting?" Lucy's friends came out, their voices a chorus of concern.
The third girl saw Noah and her eyes lit up. "It's Noah darling!"
"Don't call him that!" Lucy hissed at the third girl, her voice sharp and protective.
She took the lunchbox from Noah, her voice softening. "You can go now."
'I haven't seen her acting so flustered in a long time,' Noah thought to himself, a hint of amusement in his internal musings.
"Actually…" Noah glanced around, his voice casual. "I remember you mentioning that they made a pool in the school. I will go take a look."
Noah turned around, ready to leave, but Lucy stopped him by gently pulling his sleeve.
"I will show you," she muttered, her face still flushed with embarrassment.
"We will come too!" the third girl chimed in, her enthusiasm palpable.
Noah, Lucy, and her four friends made their way to the pool, the anticipation building with each step.
"Wow! It's bigger than I expected," Noah exclaimed, his eyes wide with awe as they reached the pool.
"It has all the latest technology features. Like the water gets automatically changed when it gets polluted," the second girl asserted, her voice filled with pride.
"I am so jealous. If they had a pool like this during my time in high school, I would have come here every morning to bathe," Noah mused, standing on the edge of the pool, his reflection shimmering in the water.
"You are so funny, Noah darling!" the third girl remarked, her voice laced with amusement.
"Be careful. If you fall, then you will have to go all the way home in wet clothes," Lucy commented, shooting a glare at the third girl, her protective instincts flaring up.
Noah turned around, his curiosity piqued. "How often do you have swimming classes?"
"Twice a week," the second girl answered, her voice steady and sure.
"Now, you have seen the pool, right?" Lucy quipped, her voice brisk. "Go home."
"Yeah, yeah. I was—"
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a giant hand made of water emerged from the pool and pulled Noah inside it.
"Noa—!"
When Noah opened his eyes, he found himself in a summoning room, the surroundings stark and unfamiliar. Two individuals were standing in front of him, their presence commanding and otherworldly.
One was a kid, appearing to be around thirteen years old. He had short, messy blond hair and striking purple eyes. He wore a dark-colored jacket with a high collar and intricate ornamentation along the center seam, paired with light-colored shorts. A collared cape reached his knees, tied at his neck with a plain cord.
It was Julius Novachrono—the wizard king from the Black Clover universe.
The other was a girl with pink eyes and long, silver-colored hair tied in pigtails, her center bangs cascading over her forehead.
It was Noelle Silva.
'What is this?! Another dream?!' Noah thought to himself, his mind racing with confusion and disbelief. 'Why am I in Black Clover?'
Julius gazed at Noah with a solemn look on his face, his voice steady and calm. "Allow me to explain everything, O chosen one."
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A/N- Alright, that's it for the first chapter. Please look forward to the second chapter. This is my first time writing fan fiction, so all the comments and feedback are more than welcome.
Also, as you can see from the first chapter, even if this is a fanfic, the plot would be 100% unique and intriguing. I will try to make it as interesting as possible.
Read the auxiliary chapter (FAQ chapter) for more information about this novel. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask me.
That's it! Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a nice day