"…"
Watching the girl blush herself into a fantasy, Aurel let out a long sigh.
Levy and Mirajane had blushed when they first met him too, but they didn't blurt out their heart-throbs like this… well, except for a drunk Cana.
"No one gives a token of love on first meeting. This Sunny Doll's function is to turn rainy days into clear ones…"
He gave the little charm a shake and explained.
Right after he'd finished saying he liked rainy weather, the system had notified him the quest was complete.
The reward was… delicate. Useless in most hands, but for Juvia, who'd loathed rain since childhood, it was practically made to order.
"…Turn rain into sun?"
The flush hadn't left her cheeks. Juvia slowly raised her head, her lovely water-blue eyes blinking in confusion.
Could something like this really change the weather?
She laid a hand lightly on her chest; a handmade Sunny Doll dangled from the deep-blue fur shawl there.
As a child she'd made so many of them, yet no matter how many, it never changed the fact that she was a rain woman.
Wherever she went, clouds gathered. She'd never seen a sky truly clear—until she met the man before her.
"Try it and you'll know."
Seeing her hesitation, Aurel smiled and took her pale, soft hand, setting the Sunny Doll in her palm.
He—he held my hand!
Warmth wrapped her skin, and Juvia covered her mouth, face blazing as her heart pounded like a fawn's hooves.
As the charm touched her palm, the pounding deluge slackened—downpour to steady rain…
In barely a minute, the clouds broke and fled. Sunlight poured like a waterfall, spearing the dense canopy and spangling the ground with golden dapples.
"The rain… is gone again…"
Realizing what she was seeing, disbelief welled in Juvia's eyes. She looked down at the Sunny Doll clenched in her hand.
There was no blazing miniature sun in the sky this time. Which meant—this was her Sunny Doll's doing.
It actually works!?
"How does it feel—standing beneath a clear sky, without rain or cloud?"
"So beautiful…"
Squinting into the glare, Juvia slowly closed her eyes and smiled, a relief that came from the heart.
What she'd yearned for since birth finally unfolded before her eyes…
When she opened them again, gem-bright tears shimmered there. She looked up at Aurel's gentle smile.
"Thank you—Ro-Aurel-sama!"
Still pink-cheeked—whether from shyness or lingering excitement—Juvia flung herself into his arms as she cried out.
Her fluffy blue hat tumbled away; she nuzzled into his chest like an affectionate pup, sky-blue curls flying free.
"…"
As expected of a woman of action—
Watching Juvia lavish him with dog-like affection, Aurel glanced toward the nearby tent.
No familiar petite silhouette in sight. He let out a quiet breath.
She didn't push me away—does that mean Juvia's been accepted!?
At the thought, bliss softened her features and her body trembled with excitement.
A red maple leaf drifted down and settled on her head. Aurel plucked it free and took a step back.
"It's getting late. Levy and I still have a job to do—let's talk next time."
He set the leaf on her shoulder with a light smile.
"Juvia-san."
"W-wait… mm, I understand!"
She almost asked him to stay, but restrained the impulse. Eyes shy, she looked up at Aurel and asked softly:
"Is Aurel-sama also a member of Fairy Tail?"
She remembered the blue-haired girl traveling with him bore the guild's fairy mark on her back.
And they'd mentioned doing a job together…
"Yeah. I just joined two days ago, so I'm still new around the guild."
Two days!?
Damn—if only Juvia had met Aurel-sama sooner!!
She bit her lip in secret.
After a brief farewell, Aurel headed for the pitched tent.
Juvia remained, staring dazedly at the maple leaf in her hand, lips parted, lost in thought.
Fairy Tail, huh…
Aurel-sama—wait for me!
…
Driving off the bandits went exactly as expected—easily.
"W-what is this monster!?"
"Our weapons melt before we can even get close…"
"Retreat, boss!!"
As the boy strolled toward them without a care, sweat sprang on the leader's brow. Fear rattled his grip on his scimitar.
They'd faced mages before—had some of their own, even.
But before this monster wearing human skin, neither magic nor steel did a thing.
"Drive them off—don't you dare cause casualties!"
From a distance, the blue-haired girl cupped her hands and called, worry creasing her face.
Her words only blanched the bandits further…
"—Fall back. We'll return when the monster's gone."
After a few seconds' hesitation, the leader chose survival and bolted, his men scrambling after him.
"Over already…?"
Watching the bandits vanish, Aurel tugged at the corner of his mouth.
He'd thought he might at least gauge himself, but the moment he arrived—before he could even lift a hand—they'd fled.
"You're too strong. If you 'lifted a hand,' there wouldn't be bodies left to find…"
Levy patted his shoulder and smiled.
After these days together, she had a rough sense of her boyfriend's strength.
Very strong—maybe even stronger than the master at high noon.
"All right, all right—let's head back. If we make good time, we can soak in Hosenka Village's hot springs tonight!"
(End of Chapter)
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