A week had passed since the battle. Ryuji's strength crept back—bandages still wrapped his torso, but he could sit up, eat without help, and pace a few steps. The infirmary's lantern light pooled softly across wood and linen; herbs left a clean scent in the air.
Despite the healing, his expression stayed the same: cold, guarded, distant. Fairy Tail's easy laughter on the other side of the door unsettled him. It was a world he'd never known.
He stood slowly, testing his legs.
Ryuji (muttering): "I'm fine now. I should go."
He reached for the handle.
Wendy spotted him, eyes widening as she stepped in front of the door—hands clasped, nervous but firm. "Wait—no! You're not fine yet. You can't just leave like this!"
Ryuji's gaze met hers, unreadable. "Why? Why stop me? I don't belong here."
Her cheeks puffed, voice rising—not angry, but earnest. "Because you're hurt! Because... because you matter. Even if you don't believe it yet!"
Silence stretched. His jaw tightened. He pulled the door open.
Guild noise rushed in—mugs clinking, chairs scraping, the request board fluttering in a draft. Heads turned.
Levy (jumping up): "He's walking?!"
Cana (grinning over her mug): "Look who joined the living!"
A quick whisper chain tumbled across the hall:
Jet: "Don't push it, kid!"
Droy: "Yeah, you'll keel over again!"
Macao (half-laughing): "Mira, you letting patients roam now?"
Wakaba (squinting through smoke): "Tough one. Doesn't look like he listens."
They moved toward him—curious, concerned, a little too close all at once. Ryuji stiffened, instincts spiking. The door thunked shut in their faces.
A beat of stunned silence—then:
Natsu (howling with laughter): "He just shut the door on all of us!"
Gray (snorting): "Can't blame him. You lot come on strong."
Lucy (hands on hips, smiling): "Honestly... you scared him half to death."
Inside, Wendy pressed a hand to her mouth, a giggle slipping out despite herself. "Please, everyone... take it easy on him. He's only just starting to feel better."
The racket softened into good-natured laughter. Ryuji glanced at Wendy, puzzled by how she could calm them with a single sentence. His lips twitched—almost a smile—as he leaned back against the wall and let out a faint sigh.
The hall quieted again. The door eased open—not with a rush, but a soft creak. Makarov stepped in, staff tapping lightly. Warmth and weight lived together in his gaze.
Makarov (kind, firm): "You've got spirit, boy. Most would still be flat after what you took."
Ryuji looked away, jaw tight. "It wasn't enough. I still failed."
The guildmaster chuckled, moving closer, resting a hand on the bedframe. "Failure, hm? From where I stand, you protected one of my children. That's not failure. That's courage."
Ryuji's eyes flicked to him, startled.
Makarov (softer): "You've carried something heavy, haven't you? Always fighting alone. Always looking over your shoulder. But you're not alone here. Not anymore. You stepped into Fairy Tail—and under this roof, everyone carries the load together."
Ryuji's voice dropped. "I didn't ask to be here."
Makarov stroked his beard, smiling. "Of course you didn't. No one ever does. Fairy Tail isn't chains—it's choice. So here's yours: when you're ready, you can walk away... or you can stay, and call this place home."
The words lingered in the quiet room. Wendy, on the chair near the bed, looked at Ryuji with hopeful eyes, Carla's paw in her grip.
A shadow crowded the doorway.
Gajeel (gruff, arms crossed): "Tch. Another Dragon Slayer, huh? Figures. You're a scrawny one. Sure you can handle this guild?"
Ryuji bristled. "I don't need a guild to handle myself."
Gajeel snorted. "Yeah? I said the same. Being alone just makes you blind to how strong you can really get... when someone's watching your back."
His crimson eyes held Ryuji's—sharp, not unkind.
Makarov (chuckling): "See? Even our rough ones speak truth sometimes."
Ryuji didn't have a retort. He looked down at his bandaged hands, the room's calm pressing in. I don't... belong. Do I? The thought didn't land like it used to. It dragged, heavy, uncertain.
Makarov patted his arm and turned for the door. "No rush, boy. Think on it. For now, your only job is to heal."
He left the room warmer than he found it.
Wendy leaned closer, voice a whisper. "See? No one here expects anything from you, Ryuji. Just... stay. Please."
Ryuji swallowed. The idea of leaving felt heavier than before, as if the door itself had gained weight. He didn't answer—but he didn't reach for the handle, either.
Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima/Kodansha. I only own Ryuji Kazuma and this fan story. Non-commercial fan work.