The afternoon arrived quickly.
The sun was no longer so high when Natsu left Lucy's apartment.
He had spent the entire morning by her side, talking about various subjects and simply enjoying the time together. He also prepared lunch for the two of them, something that left Lucy visibly enchanted once again with his culinary skills.
The reason he cooked so well, however, wasn't exactly as he had said. He hadn't learned it just by reading cookbooks; that part was a convenient omission. In truth, he had materialized the "culinary skills and experience of Sanji" from One Piece, which had proven excellent and extremely useful throughout the last week.
In his past life, he also knew how to cook reasonably well. Since he lived alone, he had learned some basic culinary skills simply to "eat well." Therefore, even without these new abilities, he could still manage without major difficulties. Still, he chose to enhance this aspect because he wanted to cook at a level far superior to what he already mastered....
After leaving Lucy's apartment, Natsu walked toward the guild with his hands in his pockets, his body relaxed. Using his [Reequip], he had changed clothes and put on a gray sweatshirt, loose enough to allow movement, a long-sleeved black shirt that hung a bit beyond the waist, and already well-worn black boots. The white scarf remained firmly around his neck, as always, swaying lightly with each step.
He stretched midway, cracking his neck.
Spending the entire morning with Lucy had been... too peaceful.
But Lucy wasn't the only one who needed to be informed about his solo mission trip. Since the last mission, Juvia had become his partner, and she liked to spend as much time as possible by his side, just as she had done in the last week.
Although he had dedicated a good part of that period to training, Juvia had appeared several times at his house throughout the week, in the morning, afternoon, and even at night. The two spent quite a bit of time together, talking about everything and nothing at the same time, and they also trained together on some occasions.
Conveniently, he invented that he had learned to transform his own body into a fire element, similar to what Juvia did with water. Thus, it seemed like just a magical technique, and not a skill derived from his Logia-type Akuma no Mi. Whenever he used that power, he would give the same explanation, supported by the story that he had been training with Juvia to develop this "elemental" control.
But, setting aside his "preparations" to make a lie as close as possible to the truth, Juvia was currently the person closest to him. Next came Lucy and the rest of the guild. Moreover, he had mentioned to Juvia the idea of doing more missions together, and, knowing her personality and everything she had been through in the past, he knew she would feel very bad, possibly believing she was being abandoned, if he left without any explanation.
"I hope she's at the guild now this afternoon..." He murmured to himself.
Magnolia was as always. Children running through the streets, merchants arguing prices, the distant sound of the canal mixed with the voices of the city.
When the guild finally came into view, the battered building of Fairy Tail seemed more energetic. The door was open, and the characteristic noise escaped outside even before he entered. Loud laughter, senseless arguments, someone shouting about drinks.
Natsu pushed the door and entered.
As soon as he entered, he analyzed the environment and realized that there was almost no one he knew. Only Cana, drinking in a corner with Macao and Wakaba while they discussed and played cards. There was also Reedus, painting some picture alone. Aside from these few familiar faces and the white-haired bartender, a figure hard not to find in the guild when she wasn't working as a model, he didn't recognize almost anyone else. And, most importantly, there was no sign of Juvia, who was exactly whom he was looking for. Well, scanning the city of Magnolia and beyond with his [Universal Sense], something he should have done before, he found her returning from her house outside Magnolia; she would probably come to the guild looking for him, right? So, he didn't need to worry about that for now...
Without making a fuss, he headed toward the counter. Mirajane was there, cleaning some glasses with a cloth, her usual smile present.
"Hi, Mira." He greeted, leaning his elbow on the counter. "Where's everyone?"
"Oh, Natsu? Good afternoon, I thought you wouldn't come to the guild today either." Mirajane raised her gaze to him and blinked once, greeting him before explaining: "Most of them went out on missions. And the master... well, he went out to handle some things with the Council."
Natsu arched an eyebrow.
"Handle some things?" He repeated. "What happened?"
Mirajane hesitated.
It was just a second, but enough to reveal that it wasn't something simple. She set the glass on the counter, took a deep breath, and then spoke in a lower tone, even though there was no real need for discretion there.
"Yesterday... the master, Erza, and I went to the Twilight Ogre headquarters."
Natsu became attentive immediately. If that concerned Twilight Ogre, it wasn't something trivial. That guild had abused Fairy Tail in the last seven years, stealing missions directly from the board and extorting debts that Fairy Tail had accumulated during that period. It could be said, without exaggeration, that they were the main ones responsible for the guild's current decline.
"Twilight Ogre?" He tilted his head slightly. "Why?"
Mirajane averted her gaze for a moment before continuing.
"Their guild master, Banaboster, sent some collectors here." She explained. "The master, who had been tolerant last month, got furious. Macao and Wakaba were involved in that too... so we went there to resolve the situation."
She paused briefly, clearly pondering how much to say.
"The problem is that... well, the master didn't hold back."
Natsu already imagined what was coming next. It would be the same as what had happened in the original story, with the only difference being that it occurred about a month later, and not immediately after the Fairy Tail group returned from Tenrou Island, as had originally happened.
"The place turned into a battlefield." Mirajane continued. "The master caused quite a bit of destruction, with Erza's help. The Twilight Ogre headquarters was practically razed."
Natsu let out a low whistle.
"Damn..."
"It was chaos." She completed. "The whole city was in an uproar. That's why the master had to go to the Council today. What happened isn't exactly... well-regarded."
Natsu rested his chin on his hand, thoughtful.
"If you came back, Erza must have come back too?"
"No." Mirajane shook her head: "She went with the master. It should take a while."
Natsu let out a slow sigh.
"And Juvia?" He asked, bringing up a seemingly random subject, although the curiosity was genuine. He wanted to know if Juvia had passed by the guild earlier looking for him; if that had happened, she probably wouldn't return there so soon, and he would have to find her casually around the city. Still, it was Juvia; she could very well appear at the guild and even go to his house several times a day in search of him: "Have you seen her today?"
Mirajane arched her eyebrow almost imperceptibly, and her soft smile gained a dangerously amused tone.
"Hmm?" She leaned a little over the counter, resting her chin on her hands. "Why do you want to know about Juvia, Natsu?"
He blinked once, not expecting the direct question.
"I just—"
"Because, you know..." She interrupted him naturally, her eyes shining with genuine curiosity. "She's been after you all the time. 'Natsu-sama' this, 'Natsu-sama' that... it's almost like what she used to do with Gray before."
She let out a light giggle.
"You two have been really close lately."
Natsu averted his gaze for a moment, scratching his cheek.
"We're training together." He replied. "And talking. That's all."
Mirajane tilted her head to the side, clearly unconvinced.
"Just that?" She hummed. "Then why do you seem so worried about knowing where she is?"
The comment came casually, but there was something there. A strange gleam, almost... jealousy, hidden under the playful tone. Her heart tightened slightly, and she caught herself adjusting the cloth in her hands with more force than necessary. The smile remained firm, almost automatic, while her thoughts swirled in confusion and a feeling of discomfort began to settle in her chest. It was something familiar since Natsu had changed; that annoyance always arose in the same way, accompanied by an insistent and unpleasant sensation that she still hesitated to face directly.
Yes, that was "jealousy."
But the worst wasn't even that "absurd feeling"; it was the fact that it had been feeding over the week, growing silently from the images her own mind insisted on creating: Natsu too close to Lucy, Natsu training daily with Juvia, Natsu being the gravitational center around which several girls orbited, whether aware of it or not. She observed everything with an understanding smile, repeating to herself that she had no reason to be bothered. Still, that annoyance continued there, silent, persistent, impossible to ignore completely...
She was beginning to realize that the feelings she harbored for the pink-haired boy weren't as simple as seeing him just as a troublesome little brother. That perspective had changed drastically over the last week, since she met this more mature version of him, shaped by loss. Perhaps it was precisely because of that that she understood him so well. Since she had gone through the same experience. She also changed profoundly after losing Lisanna, and that shared pain had created a silent bridge between the two. She understood the weight he carried, the contained way he dealt with suffering, and that brought them closer in a natural, almost inevitable way....
Now, she no longer saw him as an impulsive and reckless boy.
She saw him as a real man.
And, besides that... there was something more there. A feeling that was beginning to take shape, still undefined, but impossible to ignore.....
Of course, it wasn't any r-romantic feeling! That would be absurd. Still, she cared deeply about him, and that had been manifesting in strange ways: unexpected dreams, recurring thoughts, and a different look whenever she observed him. She had started to see him with new eyes. He was handsome, much more than before. More stylish, more self-assured. The serious and serene expression he now carried seemed to fit perfectly on his face, as if it had always been there, just waiting for the right moment to emerge; he had become infinitely more attractive by not being that "naive and impulsive boy" from before, not that she would admit it to herself...
Natsu smiled ironically.
"Because I was going to tell her that I'm going out on a solo mission." He explained calmly. "And because I didn't want her to think I'm avoiding her."
Mirajane blinked.
That wasn't the response she expected.
"So... that behavior is typical of a boyfriend, you know?" She continued, feigning casualness. "If you're not dating. You two are so close... when are you going to own up and date her already? It would be cute to see you together, like a couple of opposing elements uniting!"
Natsu remained silent for a moment. He leaned his arm better on the counter and replied with the same calm as before.
"Actually..." He decided to flirt casually with the bartender: "If I were to date someone now... I'd like to date you, Mira...."
The cloth slipped from her hand.
Mirajane's heart raced so hard that, for a moment, she thought she had heard wrong.
"M-me?" She widened her eyes slightly, her face heating up in the blink of an eye.
Natsu stared at her calmly, as if he had just commented on something simple.
"Uh-huh. Why not?" He confirmed. "You're beautiful, kind, strong, you take care of everyone here... and you've always been nice to me."
Mirajane blinked several times, feeling the blush spread across her cheeks and neck, in strong contrast to the immaculate white of her hair and skin. Natsu's tone had been light, almost playful, as if he were just tossing out a casual bait in the middle of the conversation, the kind of flirt he used to deflect uncomfortable topics or, perhaps, just to observe the other person's reaction. Something he had already done a few times over the last week. She had already gotten used to this more flirtatious side of his "mature version"....
That, however, didn't mean her heart had come out unscathed.
A whirlwind of emotions hit her all at once: shyness, an inexplicable warmth in her chest, and a pang of excitement that caught her completely off guard.
"Ah, Natsu... you and your crazy jokes..." She replied with a slightly forced giggle, trying to regain control, although her voice came out a bit higher than usual. She waved her hand as if shooing away a fly, but the gesture was hesitant, her fingers trembling slightly: "Don't say things like that out of nowhere! You'll make me embarrassed... and if someone hears? The whole guild would turn into a gossip circus."
Natsu didn't back down and smiled calmly.
"I'm not totally joking, Mira...." He said casually: "I'm serious. How about dinner? Just the two of us, to talk properly. I can cook... or we can go to some nice place in Magnolia."
The words hung in the air like an unexpected spell.
Mirajane's mind simply stopped.
Her brain turned into a complete blank. Dinner? With me? The blush intensified immediately, spreading even more across her face and neck, while she felt her heart skip a beat before racing again. Is he... is he really inviting me?
The thoughts swirled in a sweet and disorienting chaos. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out, just a low and undefined sound, almost an "eh?", while she blinked several times, stunned. The smile froze on her face, as if someone had cast a paralysis spell.
After a few moments, Mirajane finally managed to draw in air to respond. Her lips parted, her heart still racing, her mind rushing to formulate something that didn't sound too desperate or too distant. She was going to speak. She needed to speak.
It was then that Natsu turned his face slightly, his eyes shifting to the guild door.
"Ah... speaking of her."
Mirajane blinked, confused for half a second.
The door was pushed with more force than necessary, and Juvia entered almost tripping over her own enthusiasm. Her blue hair swayed as she scanned the hall with her gaze and, the instant she saw Natsu, her expression lit up in an almost absurd way, as if the world had just gained new colors.
"Natsu-sama!"
She practically ran to the counter, ignoring everything else around. She stopped right in front of him, her hands clasped in front of her chest, her eyes shining with almost palpable joy.
"Juvia was looking for you." She said, her voice laden with emotion. "Juvia thought maybe you wouldn't come today... Juvia was worried."
Natsu smiled lightly, genuinely.
"Hi, Juvia." He replied. "Good to see you."
The simple greeting was enough to make Juvia seem even happier. She leaned her body forward a bit, clearly absorbing every word, every gesture from him, as if they were precious.
Mirajane, still behind the counter, felt something snap inside her.
It wasn't light jealousy this time. It was irritation. Deep, hot, immediate.
She stared at the scene, the cloth forgotten on the counter, the smile frozen on her face. That conversation... that moment... had been interrupted so abruptly that it hurt more than she wanted to admit. And the worst of all wasn't the interruption itself, but the fact that she felt genuinely frustrated for not having been able to respond....
That caught her by surprise.
Natsu turned a bit more toward Juvia.
"I really wanted to talk to you." He said. "Do you have a minute?"
Her eyes widened, almost emotional.
"Of course." She replied immediately. "Juvia always has time for Natsu-sama."
Mirajane tightened her fingers against the counter without realizing it. The smile was still there, but now it required conscious effort to maintain.
Natsu then looked back at her for a moment.
"Mira..." He said naturally. "Think about what I told you, okay? We'll talk later."
Mirajane's chest tightened.
She nodded slowly, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks.
"O-of course." She replied. "I... will think about it."
And he left.
Natsu moved away from the counter, nodding his head to Juvia, who followed him immediately, almost glued to his side. The two walked toward the guild exit, while Mirajane followed them with her gaze until the door closed behind them.
Only then did she realize she was still irritated.
Irritated at being interrupted. Irritated at not having been able to respond. Irritated that Juvia had arrived at that exact moment. And, above all, irritated with herself for feeling all of that.
She took a deep breath, resting both hands on the counter.
"Damn..." She murmured to herself, surprised at her own sincerity.
Outside, the afternoon air was cooler.
Juvia walked beside Natsu, glancing at him from time to time, clearly curious. She tried to hold back for a few seconds but failed miserably.
"Natsu-sama." She began. "May Juvia know what you wanted to talk about?"
He shoved his hands into his pockets, his gaze ahead as they walked through the streets of Magnolia.
"I'm going out on a mission alone tomorrow." He said directly.
Juvia stopped walking for a moment.
"What...?"
The word came out small, almost fragile. She quickly resumed walking, but the change in her expression was immediate. Her shoulders dropped slightly, and the intense shine in her eyes diminished, replaced by a contained sadness.
"Alone...?" She repeated, in a low voice. "Juvia won't go with you as you had promised to take Juvia?"
Natsu shook his head.
"Not this time." He replied. "It's something I need to do on my own."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Juvia clenched her hands against her dress, struggling to maintain composure. She forced a small smile, even though her eyes were already a bit teary.
"Juvia understands..." She said, although it was evident she didn't like the idea at all. "But Juvia will miss you."
Natsu looked at her sideways.
"That's why I wanted to tell you beforehand." He said. "I didn't want to just disappear."
She nodded slowly.
"Juvia is happy that you thought of her." She replied, with a soft voice, but laden with emotion.
They continued walking through the streets of Magnolia, side by side, as the sun began to descend in the sky.
___________________________
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