Hiding behind the trees, Juvia fixed her gaze on Roland's profile. He was more handsome than she had imagined.
The teardrop mole at the corner of his eye especially made the girl who had never dated feel her heart stir. Her hands went weak and the umbrella slipped to the ground.
Her heart pounded like a startled fawn, her blood seemed to boil, and as she secretly watched the boy's faint smile, Juvia's eyes shone with infatuation.
Not just his magic—his looks and his temperament were exactly her type.
She wanted to make him hers, a private possession... to wake each day and cuddle and squeeze him like a favorite toy.
The only flaw was the real eyesore of a woman beside him.
"Fairy Tail... that woman, could she be Juvia's rival in love?!"
A sudden stab of jealousy made her clutch the bark tight as she glared at the blue-haired girl with the guild emblem on her back.
Since Fairy Tail was often targeted by her own guild, Juvia knew them well.
Damn it, it'd be best to take her out right here.
"Mm, it's so cold..."
A chill out of nowhere made Levy hug her shoulders and edge closer to Roland.
She couldn't tell if she was imagining it. It felt like something in the woods was watching.
Levy peered toward the distant thicket, but after a careful look found no movement.
"Just my imagination..."
She let it go and turned to the lobster-fish roasting crimson, a spark of anticipation in her eyes.
She didn't know how it would taste, but judging by the look of the ingredient, it seemed promising.
"Give it a try. See how it tastes."
Tearing off the giant crab claws on either side of the blue fish, Roland handed one to the eager girl beside him.
Cracking the ruby-red shell open revealed snowy, velvety meat, and a rich aroma spread through the air.
"...This tastes amazing!"
Levy took a small bite, then stared in disbelief.
The firm white meat melted the instant it touched her tongue, a clean sweetness rising like a tide and gently wrapping her taste buds...
Strange. With no seasoning at all, could the ingredient alone really taste this astonishing?
"Mmm... delicious!"
Unable to resist, she took another little bite, cheeks puffed as she chewed, cupping her face with both hands, a blissful smile blooming.
Roland chuckled at how adorable she looked, then cracked a claw for himself and savored it slowly.
This flavor—worthy indeed of an ingredient from the Gourmet World.
On the other side.
Seeing the two so close with her own eyes, jealousy surged. Juvia clenched her teeth in frustration.
Rival.
If she'd doubted before, now she was certain.
They hadn't even met properly, yet she had already decided that boy was hers... and no other woman would be allowed to touch him.
As her emotions spiked, the thin drizzle turned in an instant into a driving downpour. Raindrops battered the leaves in a dense roar.
"Why did it start pouring all of a sudden!"
Even with the Shadow Battalion holding umbrellas, the splash from the ground flew everywhere, soaking the girl's pale yellow dress and black boots.
Levy pinched up the drenched hem, her voice full of grievance.
"Seriously, I hate the rain so much..."
"There's no figuring out weather like this. Let's get into the tent."
After ordering the ninjas to pitch the tent, Roland glanced toward the woods. Through the thickening rain he could just make out a tuft of wavy blue hair.
"Head in first. I'm going to the bathroom and I'll be right back."
"Okay!"
Levy nodded obediently and slipped into the tent.
Only four ninjas remained, waiting quietly in the rain like kneeling retainers for their master's next orders.
"Keep watch here. Don't let any unwelcome things get close."
With that soft instruction, Roland took an umbrella and walked toward where Juvia was.
"Unforgivable, unforgivable... that person, Juvia..."
As he drew near, Roland caught her muffled whisper.
Another tear-mole victim.
He marveled inwardly; it wasn't just his charm that could make a girl he'd never met turn this obsessed.
He opened the umbrella and strolled up beside the unsuspecting girl, shielding her from the rushing rain.
Whoosh—
The drumming on the canopy made Juvia look up. The first thing she saw was a white, translucent umbrella.
Her gaze traveled down. When she saw that heart-stirring face, her eyes widened slowly. She froze where she stood like a child caught misbehaving.
"—"
"This downpour is your doing, isn't it."
It sounded like a question, but his tone was certain.
"..."
After a moment's silence, Juvia turned her head aside and nodded, her expression heavy.
Would he hate her? Would Juvia be hated?
She had finally met a man who liked rainy days and could even let her see a clear sky... anything but that.
"Sorry. Juvia didn't know you hated such heavy rain..."
Noting the torrent outside, she more or less understood why he had come.
"Hate it? I actually like rainy days," Roland said with a gentle smile on his fine features. "Whether a drizzle or a downpour."
"..."
Juvia couldn't help pressing a hand to her chest. Even amid the noisy rain, she could clearly hear her heartbeat thudding.
"Your ability is interesting. May I know your name? I'm Roland—"
"Juvia!"
Before he could finish, Juvia cut in, too excited to hold back. "My name is Juvia Lockser. Pleased to meet you!"
Roland blinked at the introduction, then the corners of his lips lifted.
"Then, Juvia... do you like rainy days?"
Did she?
Juvia hesitated, then slowly shook her head.
"Because it has troubled others since I was small, I hate this ability..."
After speaking, she looked at Roland, a little uneasy.
After all, he had just said he liked rainy days... but she couldn't go against her heart and pretend to like them.
"I understand. If it had rained every day for me growing up, I'd hate it too."
Roland took from his pocket a white teru-teru bōzu with a smiling face and handed it to her.
"Here. For you."
"Could it be—"
Looking at the doll in her hands, Juvia drew a deep breath, a blush rising to her cheeks.
"A teru-teru bōzu can make a rainy day stop—"
"Could it be a token of love?!"
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