Natsu is on a state of depression and desperately needs help while Juvia asked Gray to go on a mission! Will Gray choose his best friend or the girl of his dreams?

Natsu stared into his mug of ginger ale, with a depressive look of anxiety in his eyes. No one seemed to notice the bit of dark red on his sleeves. He felt absolutely useless. His car was now just as useful as a wheelbarrow full of manure. Natsu took a sip. Gray was starting to notice his behavior.

He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to see Juvia holding a piece of paper. His pupils were replaced with hearts. "Juvia wants you to assist Juvia on a mission. Meet Juvia at 12 a.m. if you accept," she spoke grudgingly. She handed him the mission and walked the opposite direction. Gray practically floated an inch off the ground in joy. He HAD to tell Natsu!

Gray pulled a chair next to his best friend. "You're not gonna believe it! Juvia asked me to go on a mission with her!" he cheered in glee, hoping it will somewhat lighten Natsu's mood. Instead, he looked down on the counter placed down the mug gently. "That's great. I gotta go." Natsu left the guild hall. Gray blinked with a pitying look on his face. "I hope he's okay…"

Natsu was still out somewhere. Maybe he just needed time. It was midnight and Gray was waiting for Juvia. He can't wait, but he can't stop worrying about Natsu. They have been best friends since Natsu joined the guild, for Kami's sake! Juvia and Gray were about to leave for the mission.

"You wanna go?" Gray lit up, about to eagerly say yes, but stopped. Juvia was confused. "Something wrong?" Juvia asked, wondering why Gray wasn't jumping around annoyingly. Gray had a sad grin, looking at the floor before looking up. "I decided not to go." By now, Juvia was beyond confused.

"Helping my friend is my mission now." Gray left the guild hall to find Natsu. After the doors closed, Juvia smiled. "He even turns down going on a mission with Juvia to help a friend."

"NATSU!" Gray called out, running anywhere Natsu could possibly be. Eventually, he found him sitting at the edge of a dock looking down on the ocean, hugging his knees. Gray sat down next to him. "You okay buddy?" Natsu looked at Gray with a confused looked.

"Gray-kun? I thought you were going on a mission with Juvia-san." Gray draped his arm around Natsu's shoulders. "I decided to decline because I was worried about you, silly. You haven't been this down since those Earthland guys left Edolas." Natsu looked back down at the ocean and closed his eyes. "I feel useless.

"Ever since I met the Earthland Natsu, I felt even more weak and pathetic than ever. I bet the people back in the guild wish they had him instead of me." Gray's eyes were huge as plates to what Natsu said. He gently punched him the shoulder with a wide smile in his face.

"Are you kidding?! Even if I had an option of choosing you or the other Natsu, I'd choose you any day! Heck, I'd choose you if I had to choose between you and Juvia! I love Juvia, but even that won't make me abandon you! You're my best friend for Kami's sake!" After Gray's speech, Natsu began to cry tears of joy. "Th-thank you!"

Gray pulled him closer. "Cry on shoulder like old times, buddy." Natsu did just that, swelling with ufhappiness knowing that Gray would stay by him no matter what. The words echoed in his head.

"I'd choose you any day!"