Month: Mid-October
Year: X775
Location: Magnolia · Fairy Tail
Ages: Kaito, Erza, Mirajane, Juvia — 10 | Lucy — 8 | Elfman — 9 | Lysanna — 8
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Lucy's POV
Fairy Tail was nothing like the stories.
It was louder.
Messier.
And somehow… warmer.
Lucy Heartfilia stood just inside the guild hall, hands clasped around the strap of her little purse, golden eyes wide as chaos unfolded around her. Someone was yelling about a mission payout. Someone else was being dragged across the floor by the collar. The bar exploded into laughter for reasons she couldn't track.
So this is a guild, Lucy thought, heart pounding.
Her gaze snagged on him almost immediately.
Black hair. Calm posture. Sitting in the middle of noise like it bent around him instead of crashing into him.
Kaito.
He noticed her looking—and smiled.
Just a small thing.
Lucy's chest did a strange little flip.
He waved her over like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Oh—!" She hurried, nearly tripping, then froze when she realized who else sat nearby.
Erza Scarlet.
Mirajane Strauss.
And… the rain girl.
Lucy swallowed.
They were all so strong. So confident.
Kaito pulled out a chair. "Sit. You'll get trampled if you stay there."
She sat. Immediately.
Mirajane leaned forward, eyes sharp and curious. "So you're the rich girl."
Lucy stiffened. "I—I'm not— I mean—"
Mirajane grinned. "Relax. I'm teasing."
Erza studied her like a knight evaluating a squire. "You want to be a mage?"
Lucy nodded. Hard. "Yes."
Something warm flickered in Erza's eyes. Approval—maybe.
That made Lucy happier than she expected.
Then Kaito slid something across the table.
A small pendant. Gold, simple, with a tiny star etched into it.
"For you," he said. "A memento."
Lucy stared.
"For… me?"
"You came all this way. That takes courage."
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.
No one had ever said that to her before.
Not like that.
Her eyes burned a little.
"Thank you," she whispered.
From across the table, she felt it—
a look.
She glanced up.
Juvia was watching her.
Not angry. Not hostile.
Just… quiet. Thoughtful. Rain-soft eyes studying Lucy like she was trying to understand a feeling.
Lucy tilted her head and smiled shyly.
Juvia blinked. Looked away.
Lucy didn't know why—but she suddenly wanted to protect her.
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Juvia's POV
Juvia told herself she was fine.
She really did.
The guild was loud. Warm. Full.
Kaito laughed easily today.
Mirajane teased him openly.
Erza watched him like a storm held in iron.
And Lucy—
Lucy was bright.
Golden. Soft-spoken. Curious.
Juvia watched Kaito hand her the pendant.
Her chest tightened.
It is silly, Juvia scolded herself.
Juvia has no right—
Rain stirred inside her.
Not falling.
Not raging.
Just… restless.
Lucy smiled at Juvia.
It wasn't mocking. It wasn't possessive.
It was kind.
That made it worse.
Later, during training, Juvia stood by the river, practicing Water-Make. Shapes formed easily now—cups, ribbons, a small bird that fluttered before dissolving.
"You're distracted."
Kaito's voice. Close.
Juvia jumped. "S-Sorry!"
He crouched beside her, gaze following the water. "You don't have to apologize."
She hesitated. Then—quietly—
"Does… Kaito like Lucy?"
Straightforward. Honest. Painfully brave.
He paused.
Then smiled, gentle and sincere. "I like people who are honest with themselves."
Her heart skipped. "…That did not answer Juvia's question."
He chuckled. "Lucy's important. But not the way you're thinking."
Juvia's breath caught.
Rain inside her… calmed.
"…Juvia is glad," she whispered.
That night, rain fell lightly over Magnolia.
But for the first time since she could remember—
Juvia didn't feel like it was her fault.
She touched the water, smiling softly.
And far away, Lucy traced the star pendant at her neck and thought:
Fairy Tail is dangerous.
And wonderful.
And I think… I want to stay.