Three is supposed to be a lucky number.

That's not exactly what I was thinking thoroughly of when I stood beside Natsu between St. Lucia and Vinfalk Street, but I would find myself thinking about it somewhere during the course of the day. Natsu doesn't eat in the morning this time because he's had too much to eat in the morning the previous days. It was impressive but unhealthy at the same time and that really only motivated the pink-haired boy to get better to eat more. Doctors, I told him, would seriously not approve.

The sun was out yet again, but this time, it seemed to have gone a little shy; hiding beneath a few clouds. Things like that always made me think if the sun was trying to be a little playful. Playing hide-and-seek with us mortals. But in general, it was a good day to be out again. Yukino would go on to praise the great weather of the Spring Festival.

We were on our way to buy food, however. Much to his delight. Today would not be a day organised by the Spring Festival, it seemed. Today would be a day organised by simple thoughts and laughter and a picnic blanket. We were doing a picnic. Which seemed ironic because everyone in the council were essentially running everything and to just suddenly do a picnic and conveniently ignore the one event we had worked our asses for the whole month seemed strange. Natsu had pointed this out and I only shrugged; things were actually just enjoyable whenever I was with friends, Spring Festival or no Spring Festival.

Which sent another deep thought through my head; Erza Scarlet. I still pondered about what exactly had been going on with her. Sure, she was doing council work. But it was additional council work; things that were unnecessary and things that others could just do easily. I sighed as I gave up on what to think about the subject; but the heartache of knowing about one of my best friends' bad state of mind remained.

"You okay?" he suddenly asked.

I turned to the pink-haired boy. He was wearing a short black trench coat. "Yeah. Why'd you ask?"

He laughed, "Because I called your name out four times just then."

I blinked. "I..was just thinking."

"About life? Philosophically?"

"Sure."

We began to walk towards a tiny grocery store. "And you're not even going to talk about it? Is it too deep for me now?"

I laughed and cocked an eyebrow, "What's with the sudden interest?"

He shrugged, "Not sure, honestly."

"Then, I was thinking about my period.

"Do Happy and I need to move back in our apartment now?"

I chucked then sighed, slumping my shoulders a bit. "You idiot, no. And I wasn't thinking about my period."

"Yeah, I kinda had a feeling considering periods aren't all that philosophical."

"They can if you want them to be. Its, like, the cycle of life. Life and death. Good and bad. Heaven and hell all through the state of my uterus."

"That is totally what I need to hear early on in the morning."

"Appreciate female sexual organs."

"Hashtag Uterus Matters 2k16."

"Yes, that's what I'm talking about."

"I don't think we need to get in detail with your uterus."

"I think you need to shut up because my uterus is perfectly perfect."

"I don't need to know so much about a uterus."

I pulled my hand to my ear, "Do you hear that? That's the sound of my uterus feeling offended."

"What else does your uterus feel?"

"Sad. Sometimes a bit solemn. Not really suicidal. But sentimental. It misses its cousin, ovaries."

"Wow."

"There's more to uteruses and ovaries than you think."

"I didn't think they had a degree in philosophy."

"No, they have a masters in psychology though."

"I see I'm well-educated."

"You are."

"I don't think there's a degree in the fundamental understanding of a uterus though."

"We're working on it."

Natsu bought a shitton of food in the grocery stores and wows even the casher lady. We split the bill and I try my hardest not to look at anyone staring at the boy with more than eight bags of food wrapped around his arm in the eye. It's sorta a disgrace and an achievement at the same time.

Our preferred location is the North Wing's park. This was discussed in a hasty Facebook group chat the previous day and brought up by a very energised and angry—for some reason, probably to do with Gray, we weren't too informed about it—Juvia. She had thought that with the flocks and practically everyone busy at Central and the main regions of all the Wings having fun with all the work we've created over the past month, we ought to get away from it all. It was supported via inspirational group chat speech wherein Gray sent a few videos of cats with no explanation at all. Natsu did not complain about that.

Yukino and the boys were an excited bundle apparently for this little ordeal. We had seen each other. But that was the whole inspirational speech episode and even then, after that they had went off again to deal with some crap up at West. It wasn't unexpected, but you get around to missing the blonde-haired boy always eating food every once in a while. And Yukino and Rogue always scolding him was something you felt obliged to have back in your life once the lack of it occurs.

Lisanna had gone on some kind of hiatus towards seeing everyone in general. The Cooking Club's collaboration with the cafe had been probably one of the biggest things the cafe had to be in so far, so naturally she was put to a bit of tough work. I had missed her voice and smile and hair even if she and I conversed a little on the first day of the festival. But I think everyone had that feeling with Lisanna. She was just like that; to always be missed whenever she was gone. It was nothing unexpected for someone who had been my best friend even around middle school.

Gajeel and Levy had agreed as expected of them. Gajeel had only agreed with the condition that he is not the one to buy food this time and Levy requested that Pantherlily—their tough, little black cat—make an appearance. This prompted Natsu to request that Happy be making an appearance as well to apparently partake in some kind of fight with Lily. Happy's little cat eyes looked directly at Natsu like he was a moron in the couch. Which he was. But in the end, two cats were given the green light.

Speaking of green lights; it was a winning and victorious battle against the city council for Gray and Juvia—they had gone through another McDonalds drive-thru escapade, all documented on Snapchat. The only thing really relevant to say is that Florida's 'Low' was involved alongside the same drive-thru lady telling them to drive the fuck away already. Gray and Juvia had pre-recorded all their announcements and little mini rants for the sake of the picnic. I don't know how they pulled it off but apparently at some point Juvia had told one of the members she thought she was dying through some kind of disease, so that sorta put the odds at their favour.

As for Erza, Kagura and Minerva, it's an expected and unexpected little split. Kagura and Minerva are all for it but apparently the redhead was a little unsure. She had been doing a bit of more work. I stared at the screen last night a little breathless, looking over at her reply a million times and probably a million more. But she still had the chance of attending; which was either heartbreaking or hopeful.

I couldn't decide.

Natsu and I go through the train back to the North. He had slept again on my shoulder—now a dangerous habit of his and now sorta of a hobby for me—because it was early on in the morning. Things I had noted included the fact that Natsu seemed to be deprived of his favourite strawberry liquorice for the past few weeks; because he does not have that familiar scent in him anymore and it put a frown to my lips. Another thing was that everything seemed eerily slow. Things had been fast-paced and exciting and exhilarating the past two days and now it had all gone out the window. Things were toned back down now and Koharu seemed like it was Koharu again; sure, it was busy regardless of a Spring Festival but at the same time, it had a type of calming air to it that I had gotten used to and that I had missed.

We walked back to the apartment to retrieve a tired and awoken Happy. Probably trying to sleep off his fight with Lily. Natsu wasn't the most supportive cat owner when he had took the little cat in his arms to deal with the brawl anyway. Happy was not ecstatic.

With Happy, the food and an worn picnic blanket, we headed to the North Wing's Central Park. It's still early in the morning and it's a rather strange time to be doing a picnic with the sun still on its way to waking up but it sorta works and Natsu repeats that there is no way in hell is he going to do a refund for the food anyway.

"I feel like it's way too early for this." I muttered to the pink-haired boy.

We were laying out the blanket over the grass.

"As long as there's food, I'm game." Natsu muttered back. Happy was frolicking in the fields, I think he was trying to eat the grass. Poor cat.

"You know, the whole picnic thing is sorta childhood-esque."

"Hmm..I get that a lot. But you can't say anything bad because we're already doing it."

"I wasn't trying to make it seem bad!" I chuckled, "I just feel like it's..nostalgia."

Nostalgia. It seemed like a word I was chained heavily from and as it escaped my mouth, it felt strange and vulnerable. Natsu glanced at me for a moment before going back to smoothing out the blanket.

"I get that a lot too, I guess. Or something." he flopped straight into the checkered blanket. It was like the part where he smoothed it out was kinda useless.

I follow his action and we stare at the clouds. Mornings in Koharu were suppose to be like this. Calm and a little silent and nothing extravagant. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine the previous day's events; it was like the whole parade fiasco didn't even happen if you look at what I was doing now.

"I can dig this." he suddenly muttered.

I only continued to stare at the sky, "Hmm, and what's that?"

"Mornings here." Happy was now laying between us. I think he was meowing for food again.

"Ahh." I felt my head go a little lighter, "You get me. It's calm, isn't it?"

"Yeah. Is it some kind of morning spell?"

"Might be. I've known this place long enough to know what it feels like."

A silence commenced and I listened in to faint sounds. There must be some kind of thing happening around the area because I hear the most faintest sound of a few people talking. I've got fairly impressive ears; they must be a street or two away. There's small rustles of trees and there's the occasional chirp of birds that seem awfully planned. There's that morning air; a slight fog and a brisk yet warm feeling to the skin. It feels like the weather is undecided and it reminds me of children and waking up in the morning when you're young. It awfully drenched in some kind of unfathomable nostalgia that feels like it's also undecided on whether or not it should be touched upon.

But there's nothing like the feeling of someone's presence beside you. On a picnic blanket. Happy's soft fur lightly grazed my skin and there was a warm feeling to that. And there's also Natsu breath. The soft and fragile sound of the air he was taking in and out. It's a bit comforting and easing and that reminded you that someone was there. And all they needed to do was be there. That was all there was to it.

I heard the sound of footsteps a quiet minute afterwards.

"Yuki, are you sure they didn't say it was the West Wing or something?"

"I know exactly what I heard."

"Please just listen to her before you guys end up in the police station or something."

Those voices. I felt my body instantly shot up. It was like I hadn't heard them for years; they now sounded like a melody. Sweet and wanted and God I miss them.

"If they're not here, I'm goin-"

"We're here, you dumbass!" Natsu yelled out suddenly. He hadn't even gotten up to know who it was.

"Oh look, Sting. Evidence that you should never underestimate me." Yukino called out.

"Okay, okay. Jeez." a laugh echoed and it was like something I couldn't even imagine. Sting was laughing, Yukino was scolding him and Rogue was telling both to shut up. I missed them all so much it felt my heart was going to explode.

I leapt up to my feet, awaking and disturbing Happy, and realised that I didn't even have my shoes on. I didn't even remember when I had kicked them off but it doesn't matter because I'm running down the hill to meet three people I had not seen properly for almost the entire month. It's been just going in and out to do work and work and even more work and the occasional part where you collapse or where you get hit on the head by a wooden plank, but now it was nothing. All of it had been evaporated clearly and I could embrace friends without having to think of goodbyes.

I think Happy was running beside me as my eyes met three figures, all wearing different assortments of coats. Yuki's short hair was tied up in a lazy ponytail and Sting's hair definitely wasn't stylised as it had always been a month ago and Rogue looked like he just wanted to sleep.

My smile grew unconsciously wider as I sprinted down, arms open wide to embrace the white-haired girl first-hand. "Yuki!"

The girl caught sight of me first and Sting's laugh boomed and Rogue was already greeting me. Yukino's hands automatically opened up to receive the hug.

"Woah!"

Before I could even blink, I was trapped inside her arms. "Lucy! You scared me!"

"Head honcho is such a softie." Sting chuckled.

"Hey Sting." I muttered happily as I turned to the blonde-haired boy from Yukino's back.

"Hello Rogue." I whipped my head to smile at the dark-haired boy.

"Hello Lucy." they said in unison.

I grinned. "Long time, no quality see."

I proceed to hug the living daylights out of all three of them.

Sting and Natsu took home the first argument of the day regarding how much food they bought. Rogue signed of pure relief the moment he caught the sight of the picnic blanket, looked up the sky to thank God briefly then fell face-first into it and proceeded to take a nap. Yukino squealed the moment her eyes met Happy and she proceeded to spoil him with cuddles. All four of us—excluding a temporarily dead Rogue—were now sitting cross-legged in the blanket, sharing a bag of chips.

"So, how's life, guys?" I prompted.

Yukino sighed, "Very good. We're finally free of this mess."

Sting laid back down the blanket to stare upwards, "It's going okay. We haven't been to the cafe, have we, Yuki?"

"Nah." the white-haired girl shrugged, "And you two?"

She turned to Natsu and I. We were conveniently stuffing ourselves with chips.

Natsu talked through a half-full mouth, "It's been good."

I nodded until Yukino suddenly gasped. "Wait, so we heard about the parade thing!"

Natsu cocked an eyebrow, "What parade thing?"

I turned to the pink-haired boy, "You know, the part where we just casually climbed a fucking parade float yesterday?"

"Oh yeah!"

Sting laughed, "You should have seen Yuki's face when she heard the news yesterday. A fucking pink-haired bastard and some pretty chick just getting up to climb the Folk Committee's parade float!"

Happy meowed loudly from Yukino's lap.

"Oi!" Natsu called out, "It made the fucking parade!"

"Sure did, actually." Yukino agreed.

I widened my eyes, "Wait, what?"

Yukino nodded, "It was just the normal parade until two people just randomly started dancing on top of a parade float so the people must've loved it."

I sighed, "There are things I will regret in the future."

"Sure are." Sting chuckled, "And how was your side of town this month?"

I sighed, "Well, apart from the usual collapsing dramatically in a meeting that looked more like WW3, it's been alright."

"That's good to hear." Yukino smiled.

"Where did you guys go off to this time?"

Sting and even a half-awake Rogue groaned.

Yukino sighed whilst she glided her hand through Happy's fur. The spoilt cat meowed.

"We've been going everywhere." she began, "The South, East, West, Central and up here in North all day without even a stop and Sting can't get up in the morning to save his life and Rogue has to be dragged out of the train each day and I can't catch a break and sometimes we forget that we had breakfast so we eat cereal at midnight doing datawork."

Natsu and I laughed. "You've got the endurance, at least."

"Great job on staying alive." Natsu offered a thumps-up.

"Barely." Sting muttered. He was closing his eyes. I wondered when had he even last slept.

I opened my mouth to say something but the words don't come out because I hear another batch of footsteps. Glancing up, pass the sky and the buildings and the slight morning fog, Gajeel and Levy strolled their way to our direction. The blue-haired girl had a wool blanket draped over her shoulders, carrying one or two books and a half-grinning Gajeel followed.

"You guys look cozy." I yelled out as they neared their destination.

"Happy Third Day." Yukino offered.

"Yo Metalhead." Natsu greeted.

"Flame Ass." Gajeel nodded then turned to Sting, "Lightbulb Boy."

Levy chuckled. "Hey guys. I would hug you all right now but I'm too tired."

"You look majestic in your blanket, Levy." Lisanna pointed out.

Gajeel eventually sat cross-legged on the picnic blanket and began to already ask where the food was as Levy leaned on him, yawning as she did.

"It's been a tiring month, hasn't it?" she muttered silently, half-grinning.

"Yeah." I let my words fade. I don't know what else to say; it has been a tiring month and there's probably going to be even more tiring months afterwards. There wasn't a lot we could do about that.

"What happened to Rogue?" Levy lazily pointed a finger to the dark-haired boy who was face-planting the blanket.

"Oh, he's having a temporary coma." Yukino explained.

"Poor boy." Levy sighed, "I hope he enjoys his coma."—she spotted the cat curled up in Yukino's lap—"Hello, Happy."

The cat meowed back without even moving. I swear Happy could talk.

Natsu suddenly looked up, "Wait, that reminds me, where's that cat of yours, Gajeel?"

Gajeel whipped his head around and pointed to the empty grass, "He's right there."

Natsu cocked an eyebrow, "Ghost cats don't count, asshole."

Gajeel growled, "He's right there! Lily!"

And sure enough, a second after Gajeel's call, Pantherlily leapt up through the grassy field with his tiny black paws and into the picnic blanket. His single white spot located in one cat eye exactly how I had remembered it to be. I smiled as the rather stoic-natured cat curled up in Levy's lap.

"Oh what the fuck!" Natsu exclaimed, "Happy, fight him!"

Happy doesn't move. Neither does Lily.

"Happy, get up!"

Happy still doesn't move. He lazily meowed instead.

"Well, fuck." Natsu sighed.

"I don't know how you guys were exactly planning to get Happy and Lily to actually fight." I yawned.

"I thought they would do it on natural instinct." Natsu argued, "Like the lions."

"Well, they're not exactly trying to kill each other." Levy chuckled as she flipped through a page of her book. She really did look peaceful in that blanket of hers. Gajeel really was an ultimate boyfriend.

"When are the two idiots getting here?" Gajeel asked suddenly.

"Which ones?" Sting laughed.

"Business duo."

"They should be here soon." I answered, "I think Juvia texted me earlier that they are going to KFC."

Levy chuckled tiredly. "Of course they are."

Gray and Juvia did not show up with blanket drapes in a peaceful manner. They showed up already arguing through something—no one is sure what, I think it's about Juvia's shoes or something—with three boxes of KFC hot chicken wings. Oh and Diet Coke.

"Those two are lively as ever." Gajeel commented as the two figures sat down the blanket to continue arguing.

"I envy their spirit and unlimited energy to fight and buy food." Yukino sighed. Sting and Natsu were chomping down on a chicken wings. It was too early for chicken wings and yet we had three boxes of KFC.

Gray and Juvia eventually silence down when Yukino offers them the very chicken wings that they bought.

"So, how was your day?" I eventually ask either of the two.

"Nice." Gray replied.

"Shit." Juvia offered.

"I see you guys are getting along."

"Aren't we?" Juvia sighed and continued to chew on her chicken wing. I'm pretty sure she was taking her anger out on the chicken wing. I felt bad for the chicken wing.

"If you're going to say some shit about your missing heels, I will say one more time, I di-" Gray was interrupted.

"You know it got lost in your apartment!"

"Fucking let me finish my sentence!" Gray yelled.

Their argument blurred into the background. I think I've mastered the art of blurring Gray and Juvia's arguments. It's kinda of an achievement that really shouldn't be an achievement.

"Hi!" a voice called out.

Everyone whipped their head around to catch the sight of Lisanna Struass. With three plastic containers in her hand. It's cake. Sting gets up at the speed of lightning.

"Lisanna!" I called out. And suddenly I realised it was actually her. It wasn't just her when she was out doing events for the Cooking Club. No, it was Lisanna who was here to hang out with everyone and give Sting cakes and smile the Strauss smile.

"Lucy!" she yelled out as she eventually reached us.

"Oh finally, some real food!" Sting exclaimed with his arms wide open in happiness.

"It's not even 9am, Sting." Yukino scolded.

"We were eating chips just then, I have no fuckin' clue why we are objecting to cake now."

Lisanna sat down and sighed, "So, it's finally over, huh?"

"Not technically." I pointed out.

"But it's about to." Juvia added.

"That's good." Lisanna laughed and stretched out her arms, "I need someone to tell me that to double-check so I can finally be free of all this work."

"How's Mira?" Yukino asked.

"At the cafe." Lisanna smiled, "Everyone already knows that place is her sacred area or something. Sis really is dedicated. She sends her love to everyone here via cake."

"I'll take that offer." Sting raised an arm out as if to volunteer as Lisanna began to open the plastic containers. It felt like it had been ages since I've eaten Mira's baking.

Lisanna laughed and shared around all the brownies for everyone including an coma-mode Rogue—his brownie is placed beside him and everyone had threatened to do something to Sting if he dared take it—but she saves three brownies whilst I wonder if the day will end with one uneaten.

Kagura and Minerva show up just a few minutes after Lisanna does and I felt my stomach churn.

"Hey." Kagura greeted whilst Minerva smiled and waved.

It wasn't that there was anything wrong with them. No, not at all. It was just that there was something to their expressions that made me want to scream from seeing them hurt. It was hurt. Kagura has a rather stoic aura to her but she's friendly—very deeply so. And when she greets, she greets with a type of happiness that she tries to muster to ease a person. That didn't show.

And Minerva—I knew well—was a bit more wilder. And happier. And livelier. She was mischievous and sly and in that way, she was playful. That didn't show either. It's through their eyes and the way they looked down and they way they seemed like everything was forcing them down the ground. I wanted to get rid of whatever that force was but at the same time, I couldn't do anything about it. And that made me want to scream silently through my head.

I smiled and forced as much happiness as I could, "Hey guys!"

"Good to see you guys here." Yukino offered them their brownies. Gajeel nods whilst Sting and Natsu waved with one hand—their other hands were still on the chicken wings. Levy paused from her book to smile brightly.

Minerva and Kagura must've not expected this because their eyes turn little more awake and they find their responses somehow.

"T-thank you." Kagura stuttered as they eventually sat down rather warily.

Minerva simply smiled as she took her brownie and I frowned. What the hell was actually going on? It hurt everywhere to see them like that. Their eyes dark and unrested and dreary. All whilst they were forcing themselves on happiness. It hurt badly to even watch.

They stay quiet afterwards in the midst of everyone's eventual chatter and I'm not sure if they had meant to or they had done so unconsciously but I try to block out their hurt and the look through their eyes that they might've thought was hidden but was clear to see.

I don't know why but I'm sure I failed.

There's nothing too abnormal that occurred as we all sat in the picnic blanket, waiting for the sun to fully take a spotlight. It's a bit strange but it's welcome. It had already been half an hour or so since Kagura and Minerva had arrived. I think everyone is a bit exhausted and it's not that no one is willing to admit it, it's just that it's the third day of the festival and it's the end and we're all certainly relieved. There's nothing to really do anymore but rest peacefully. I think everyone preferred it that way. There were times for chaos—the type that we had ruled over for a while—but it wasn't the time now. Everyone lays down the large picnic blanket and stays quiet. It's a good type of quiet. It's not restrictive and it's got nothing to do with anyone.

"You know," Yukino began suddenly, "I'm really impressed by the fact that it's stayed sunny the whole three days."

"A gift from God." Sting pointed out.

"Now that I think about it, you're right." Lisanna nodded.

"It must've been just good luck." Kagura offered.

"It's never been this good before!" Yukino spread her arms out wide as she flopped the rest of her body down.

Natsu and Sting are fast asleep, I think. They had sorta passed out after they had finished the first box of chicken wings. Gajeel merely looked like he wanted to sleep but Levy had leaned on him and as her boyfriend, he apparently would not fail at his jobs and requirements.

"Lucy.." Natsu croaked out, "..Buy me a bottle of water."

I cocked an eyebrow at the pink-haired boy, "Go get your own, Natsu. It's just across the street."

"Don't make her to do it, you lazy ass." Gray complained.

"Shut up Ice Brain." Natsu retorted then turned back to me, "Please. I'm going to die of dehydration and it's going to be your fault and I'm not drinking the Diet Coke."

Juvia took notice of this, "Hey! I bought that!"

"But who drinks Diet Coke?" Natsu asked.

"It was on sale."

Natsu seemed to think that proved his point somehow and he once again turned his attention back to me with pleading eyes.

I sighed. I hadn't done anything physically productive so far anyway. "..Fine."

He does a lazy half-cheer and I rolled my eyes, putting my legs to good use and leaping up to the nearest store that had a bottle of water to maybe hit Natsu in the head with.

Lisanna chuckled and sent her condolences as I strolled back down the hill.

There was nothing to really pay attention to so I opted to just take in the entire view. The North Wing was probably the least involved in the Spring Festival, mainly due to the fact that we had less shops and specialty areas. There was the park, of course, but then again the park could just be mistaken for an extremely large area of land with the only thing really notable being the fact that the grass were nicely mowed, which was sorta good. The only thing I had really ever seen they did to the place was mow the lawn; it was pretty ironic and appreciated at the same time.

Taking a deep breath, I continued my conquest, letting my bare feet slightly dig through the dirt carelessly. There was no one around to really judge and I was sure I had set a new barefoot trend from the parade incident anyway.

But things slowed down and my breath hitched as I spotted the familiar figure. My eyes widened and my stomach twisted in angles I hardly could even imagine it could twist to.

There she was. Erza Scarlet.

I felt my mouth go dry as I stared at the redhead. Her eyes were dark and I realise briefly that she definitely hadn't attained any sufficient sleep for the last couple of days. She stood rather blankly around the pavement; hair untied and not quite in a mess but not so tamed either. Her shoulders were firm and her posture was straight. But there was something so hollow in what she was in the flesh. She looked a bit lost and tired and terrifyingly exhausted. She also looked a bit like she was going to fai-

"Erza!" I sprinted to the girl before I could process the action.

She was falling to her knees, eyes glued to the ground, hands staggering as I barely reached her before she could collapse first-hand on the ground. Was this me just a week or so ago? I didn't think I looked or even felt that deprived or hollow or wretched.

I pulled the girl into a tight embrace. "Erza, calm down, are you okay?"

I heard her mismatched breaths and felt like if she was going to collapse into pieces, then I was too.

But Erza was stronger than that. "..I'm okay. Thank you."

I felt her hand clutch the back of my shoulder almost desperately. My knees felt a little weak Erza had clung to be as desperately as I wanted to take away whatever feeling that was devouring her.

But it was simply not my place. "..Okay."

I know Erza is taking in everything that I'm trying to give her. I know because she's already one of my best friends. But even everything that I had was not enough.

"We're walking back to the picnic, can you handle that?" I asked softly.

"..Okay."

So we did.

Eyes go wide at the sight of the redhead and I chuckled tiredly at the gaped mouths.

"Erza!" Lisanna was the first to say a word but Kagura and Minerva were the first to even move. They even looked like they were partaking in a race.

Eyes shot wide open from the mere mention of the name. I let go for Erza to fall into Minerva's arms. And Erza is strong. I know she is; have seen the examples and know what's she's capable of. But sometimes even strong towers have the slightest cracks and mistakes. It's nothing bad because Minerva and Kagura are there because of that.

Minerva takes in the redhead and tangles her up in her arms. They're silent. I don't think there's much to say between all three of them. Maybe the whole 'actions speak louder than words' really was prominent. It reminds me of Natsu and I and how we don't tend to say things that seem like it's already been said; well, that's how I felt about it anyway.

They stay like that until Erza is eventually embraced by Kagura. Everyone sorta giggles in the background and it's either adding or ruining the emotional moment.

Kagura's hug is a little different. It's not like Minerva's. It's a little longer and a little heavier and it's sending out unfamiliar air. It reminds me of Natsu and I's usual hugs but even different from that. It's not just a hug, it looks and even feels more of something like an apology.

An apology. An apology for what?

Erza seemed to take in whatever Kagura sent her because she smiled afterwards. And the area turned silent. Erza's smile. It was like I hadn't seen it in years. She looked so drained and slumped and absolutely hollow in a way but she was still smiling. Rather genuinely as well.

"Hey guys."

There are no more brownies left after that.

Erza stayed her old self for the most part. Everyone goes along with it because it felt like that was what she wanted. Kagura, Minerva and her stay like what they were back then and it's nothing to be wary of but no one asks what had happened to the redhead the entirety of the month. It's not that everyone was scared of what she would say or even do, but it was more onto the part where it seemed like something that didn't really need to be touched upon. It's familiar and everyone knows about it in a telepathic way.

"Have you guys got any plans after all of this?" Levy cheerfully prompted.

"What do you think, Luce?" Natsu turned to me.

I thought for a second before sighing, "I don't know. I think I'm opting to just rest for days until I can recharge my energy."

"Same thing here." Lisanna nodded and turned Yukino, "What about Yuki and the boys?"

Yukino turned to Sting, "Sting?"

Sting continued to face the clouds. He had mentioned one that looked like a tree earlier. "Hmm…don't we have the regional camp up at Mortlake in a few weeks?"

There's a brief silence and Yukino opts for a mini scream, "Oh God!" she slaps a hand on her forehead, "I completely forgot about that!"

"Wait, what?" Juvia cocked an eyebrow alongside everyone's equally confused expressions.

Sting laughed, "The Mortlake Regional Camp. Class 6B is going in a few weeks and we leave for an entire four weeks."

"Wait, how come I've never heard about this shit again?" Natsu threw his hands up the air.

"The school has got way too much fuckin' money on their hands." Gray muttered.

"You guys are leaving for four weeks?" Lisanna asked in disbelief.

This seemed to have awoken a dazy Rogue, "..We're leaving in what weeks?"

"Four. The Regional Camp, bro." Sting answered.

Rogue slams his head back down the picnic blanket, "Goddamnit."

"Just when we thought we had time to finally calm down." Yukino groaned.

"I still can't believe you're going for four weeks and we've never even heard about it." Kagura breathed out.

Sting shrugged, "I didn't even remember until now."

There's another tiny little silence that occurred until Juvia asked;

"Hey, where are the KFC boxes?"

Sting and Natsu almost choked their lungs out.

The day dragged on a little slowly, mostly because I took a few naps in between everyone's tired chatter. Gray and Juvia argue, but they don't sound like they want to kill each other. Yukino and Sting argue, but it's mere child's bicker and everyone knows because Rogue hadn't awoken to tell them to shut up. Natsu and Gray try to pick a few fights with Gajeel but Gajeel doesn't give them a glare—he leaned to Levy and slept like a baby eventually. I tell Natsu he's asking for his death when he takes pictures of the couple and sends it on Snapchat. Erza, Minerva and Kagura stay a little bit more silent than usual, but they still laugh to jokes and make a few comebacks every once in a while and it puts a curve to my lips.

All food had been consumed so no refunds were to be made, much to the pink-haired boy's satisfaction and eventually the evening occurred in almost a blink of an eye. I hadn't really even processed the fact until Minerva had pointed it out.

"It's 5pm." she had muttered to no one in particular.

I shot open my eyes, "Wait, what?"

I faced the sky and sure enough, it was already starting to turn to warm oranges and reds. Time had passed by quick.

"We should call it a day, huh?" Gray yawned.

Natsu had awoken from his nap by then, "Wha's goin' on?"

"It's late." I answered.

And suddenly, it seemed everyone had been scheduled to wake up at the exact moment, because a series of groans and yawns occurred and Levy's had fallen unconsciously on Gajeel's stomach. Yukino's head was randomly on Sting's leg and Sting had a KFC box placed upwards on his head. I think it was apparently because he wanted to dream of fried chicken. Kagura and Erza are leaned back-to-back with Minerva sorta in in-between. Everyone suddenly wakes up. I think it's a mutual waking-up disease that we had shared.

"Where the fuck am I? Am I dead?" Sting muttered from the back.

"Why do you always think you're dead when you wake up?" Yukino grumbled.

"Someone get me a glass of vodka." Gajeel mumbled.

Juvia had fully awoke at the mere mention, "What vodka? Where is it? Give it to me."

"There's no vodka." I tell her.

"Well, fuck." she fell back down the blanket.

"Anybody got any food?" Natsu innocently asked.

"Guys, we need to go before people think we're hobos at the park and not the student council who are running the entire city." I instructed.

I think Natsu might've been drunk from all the chicken wings because he yells or slurs something about discrimination against hobos and rolls back down the blanket.

Levy is the only one capable of actually understanding syllables. "People, get up."

"You know what? I think I want to be a bird." Sting suddenly muttered to himself. I think he's drunk. I think everyone is a bit drunk. I have no idea how they're drunk. KFC might find itself getting lawsuits soon.

Yukino eventually gets up, "Sting"—she lightly kicked his stomach—"Get up and carry Rogue."

"Why the fuck am I always the one to do the work?!"

"Because Rogue is in a coma."

"No, he's not! He can just wake up an-"

"Just do it."

They have an argument all whilst Sting unconsciously gets up and piggy-backs Rogue anyway. I think he's used to it to the point where he actually does it whilst telling Yukino that he's not doing it. I felt a bit bad for him.

Minerva pokes both Kagura and Erza in the arm and I think they have telepathic powers built through sheer friendship because both girls instantly wake up and know that they have to get up. I watch as they pick up their bags and rubbish. I admired their telepathic friendship.

Gray and Juvia are too tired to do anything. They had wasted their energy on argument and now they had gotten up and got their stuff packed in silence. Natsu had gotten up and asked me why Juvia wasn't yelling yet. I didn't have an answer that didn't make me look even more confused as him.

"You know.." Sting suddenly muttered, "I feel like we're all forgetting something.."

Yukino stared at the blonde-haired boy, "Why does your brain only ever work in the most inconvenient of times?"

"No, I swear we are forgetting something important." he muttered.

"It better not be something stupid this time.." Gajeel grumbled as he helped up Levy with the books.

"It's actually important this time."

"Oh no, this shit is going to be bad." Juvia groaned.

"What is it?" I finally asked the blonde-haired boy who now had everyone's eyes on him.

"The festival..the thing…the thing thing…"

"What?" Juvia cocked an eyebrow.

"It's something..like..just something..to do with fire.."

"Fire?" Natsu repeated.

"..the fireworks." the boy started silently at first then widened his eyes, "The fireworks!"

The air stands to a still and everyone doesn't move for at least four seconds before Gray starts off screaming into the distance as everyone runs or rolls or piggy-backs down the hill for the train station. Natsu and I laughed, Yukino screamed at Sting not to drop Rogue, Juvia screams at Gray for no apparent reason and everyone else tried desperately not to think about what the city council will do to us now.

Everyone had arrived in the train station barely in time to catch the train back to Central. It was such a convenience to have everyone at the North Wing stare as we all sprinted with Sting being the last as he was carrying Rogue around the area. Granted, Juvia was screaming her lungs off, Gray was telling Juvia not to scream her lungs off, Gajeel was laughing at Yukino screaming at Sting and Natsu and I did not stop cackling almost evilly throughout the entire ordeal until we reached the station looking like we had walked out of a thrilling episode of 'I shouldn't be alive'.

After a gritting and almost unbearable ride to Central, we stepped out of the trains rather amazed for ironic reasons. For one thing, the area was almost covered entirely in lanterns. Bright and dazzling lanterns of all sizes. Hung up from ropes between street lamps or just placed anywhere. The area was buzzing with new people and I had only then realised that the sky had finally gone dark. Time was going by so quick, I finally processed through my head. For another thing; everything looked amazing. It was like being transported to another world. And that was always a welcome thing for me.

"Wow." Levy breathed out.

"This place looks fuckin' good." Natsu grinned.

"How come we didn't know that it'd look this good even we organised it in the first place again?" Lisanna laughed.

"I have no clue." I said. But my head wasn't taking in any words. I was kinda rendered a little speechless, honestly. I knew the Spring Festival was beautiful. I just didn't think it'd get that beautiful. I laughed.

"Let's go, people!" I marched on.

And so we did.

Gajeel and Levy have the best time in couple booths. Or just booths in general. Thing is, there's stuff toys everywhere as prizes for little competitions. And Gajeel is competitive as is. It just gets even more enhanced when Levy is involved. This left the short blue-haired girl having to carry at least three giant stuff toys that her boyfriend had won. Lisanna carries another two more for her.

Gray and Natsu try to outmatch each other in every booth they play. They went for the sniping booth and tried to have their go in that but are beaten easily by a certain green-haired girl.

"Bisca!" I yelled out. Alzack grinned beside her.

"Those two going at it again?" she laughed, "You guys ought to keep them down because someone's going to kick their ass tonight and I'm just the first chick at it."

"We try." I chuckled.

"You guys did an amazing job here." she breathed out, scanning the view.

"We just planned it," Juvia pointed it, "Although I'm not sure how this much could be done today. You know any teams who would've took on the job?"

"Are ya guys saying that there shouldn't be any lanterns in the first place?" Alzack asked.

"No, no!" Yukino began, "There should. But just not this much. I mean, it was suppose to be. We originally planned it all to be exactly like this. But sorta mid-way abandoned the idea because there weren't enough teams to cover for the decorations and help it out."

"Not to mention it was suppose to be right in the middle of the festival." Minerva pointed out.

"Wait." Natsu prompted, "So who did all this?"

"Class 4A was in charge but even they reported a week earlier that they couldn't do everything so they had planned to do just around two-thirds of the work." Yukino explained, "I was disappointed but there was nothing we could do so we had to let them."

"Maybe they just changed their mind." Gray shrugged.

"Isn't 4A a hard-working class to begin with?" Gajeel added.

"No.." Juvia muttered, "4A..is in charge of the East. They were already on a strict schedule because most of their members are in the Sewing Club and their stalls are located in the West. Lucy?"

I simply nodded. Nothing was making much sense. "That's correct. It'd be unlikely for them to just do work because they felt hard-working for it."

"So, like I said," Natsu began, "Who finished up the work?"

And no one had an answer to offer.

Everyone tried to sorta forget the harrowing question glued to our minds after that. Bisca and Alzack go off to finish their conquest of smashing just about every sniping booth in the area and I quickly learned to appreciate the shining light of the lanterns dimming against the darkening night sky.

The area is buzzing with chatter and sometimes it takes Natsu to say things two times for me to even hear.

"You know, the whole thing is like a mystery." the pink-haired boy leaned to me.

I laughed. I agreed that it kinda was. "Yeah, I know, you excited about it?"

"Fuck yeah!" he raised his arms, "This shit just doesn't come up every once in a while and I'm going to solve it."

"Are you now?" I muttered, grinning. We were losing everyone to the crowd a bit. I thought Yukino was just by my shoulder a minute ago but it turned out that some Italian mother was.

"You look like you're lost." Natsu grinned.

"Shut up. C'mon, we've got to hold hands again before I have to go walk all the way to the radio station to announce a pink-haired child being lost." I laughed and held out my hand for him to take.

He grumbled, "I can do the exact same for you."

"Natsu, a lot of people are blonde more than they are pink-haired. I don't think 'blonde-haired child' really narrows it down."

"What about 'blonde-haired child who danced up the Folk Committee's parade float yesterday'?" he grinned.

"Maybe, maybe." I laughed.

We proceed to get lost after that.

I'm absolutely sure I have no clue where everyone is apart from Natsu now as I scanned the area I was in. I wasn't even sure which street I was in either. It was either St. Marcia or Elizabeth St—I was leaning more towards Elizabeth. The time was nothing either; I think a few hours had passed since we had arrived. Maybe two or three. Probably four, actually.

It was the fact that Natsu had dragged me to different little carnivals and booths and stalls in the last few hours that time seemed to zoom by so quickly. It was all laughter and fun and games and time was like nothing when it came to that. Time was shattered to pieces when it came to the pink-haired boy's laughter was well. That's what I had thought.

We had gone through a few candy booths at the time.

"We shaw really go fin da othas" Natsu said through a full mouth of a chicken kebab.

"I know. But I can't find anyone in this crowd." I told him, he was holding my hand rather tightly actually. He apparently thought for sure this time I was going to get abducted.

"You got a clue on where they might be?" it seemed that he had swallowed the kebab up.

"I don't know about Levy and Gajeel, they must've gone off to some booth where Gajeel smashed the whole thing again." I muttered. Levy was probably drowning in stuffed toys.

I continued, "And Yuki and the boys are probably just everywhere they can find. I don't know."

I sighed. I wondered if everyone else was trying to find each other as well.

Natsu and I stayed in a large flock for a few minutes until I hear sound of guitars or banjos. It can't be.

I whipped my head around to face the pink-haired boy, "Natsu, what time is it?"

"What?"

"What's the time? What is the time?"

"Calm down, calm down." he snatched his phone from his back pocket, "It's, like, 11. Uh..11:53. Why?"

Oh no. Oh no. The last time slot. The last time slot. I felt my head get looser, my heart beat rapidly faster. My pulse going insane. Quick on my feet, I gripped the pink-haired boy's hand and sprinted. Fast and nimble, it was like flying through the crowd. I could not miss this. This was the very point of stopping the war.

"Oh my God, you really gotta warn me for this running shit!" Natsu yelled and laughed behind me.

I do not look back. And suddenly I knew this street and the next and the next. I knew the way to the area of my destination. Turns out we were actually in St. Marcia because I'm heading my way to Elizabeth. Elizabeth Street; where it all started and where it all will end.

I spotted the crowd circling around the familiar musician. The Folk Committee.

I sprinted through the crowd and ignored a few annoyed mutters of a few people I had rather rudely skimmed through. I didn't care. I could not bring myself to care.

I pushed through the crowd to meet the casually dressed Folk Committee. I recognised the old man holding the banjo.

Natsu asked repeatedly what exactly I was doing behind me. I ignore him.

"Well, hello there, pretty lady." the old man casually greeted, "What's your name?"

I smiled, "Lucy. My name is Lucy Heartfilia."

The words don't only widen the eyes of the old man, but the other members behind him. He teared out of his shocked state a minute later and smiled cheerfully.

"Why, if it isn't Ms. Heartfilia." he laughed wildly, "We thank you for the opportunity you have given us tonight."

"It's my pleasure."

Natsu continued to make confused expressions beside me.

"And we are more than happy to accept the request you have asked for." the man chuckled and the rest of the members smiled.

He continued, grinning. "What will it be, Ms. Heartfilia?"

I know the exact answer. I felt like I had been reciting it these past few weeks now. I grinned.

"I will wait." I breathed out.

The man and the rest of the members' eyes glistened. They knew this one and I knew they did. The man turned to the rest of the members and laughed.

"Well, you heard the young lady!" he chuckled and pulled the banjo closer to him.

The words are like honey to him and I instantly gripped the pink-haired boy's to lead him to the empty circle.

"That's our cue, Natsu!" I yelled out, laughing.

"What? What cue?"

And he doesn't receive an answer because the area is suddenly filled with the booming and cheerful sound of the banjo instantly. It's not slow-paced to become fast-paced, it might even be eternally the opposite.

I took both of Natsu's hands in mine and suddenly, we're dancing. This was becoming a hobby, I thought. But it didn't matter. Because I might as well be the happiest creature on Earth. If I could be the girl dancing on top of a parade float then I sure as hell could convert to the girl dancing to Mumfords and Sons in the Spring Festival surrounding a rather stunned crowd. Natsu doesn't do anything. He hardly objects. Well, he won't object to me anyway. I wouldn't let him.

I'm becoming the same bundle of happiness the day before. Lost in thoughts. I realised I didn't even have shoes for the third time. Who needed shoes anyway at this point? I laughed and felt my bare feet against the pavement and felt the warmth of Natsu's skin. I think my hair tie fell off again. The blinding and flashing and shimmering lanterns above and surrounding us was like tiny flashes of my own happiness. The crowd was stunned, but they eventually become comfortable with it. I loved this; I loved the banjo and the voices of the Folk Committee and the rapid tempo of my chosen song. I loved it all.

As Natsu swirled me around, laughing as he did, my eyes meet a familiar figures standing within the crowd.

"Levy!" I called out, not breaking the pink-haired boy and I's dance.

"Lucy! Why are you-" she laughed and I saw from the corner of the eyes that she had gripped her boyfriend's arm and dragged him from the circling crowd and into the dance. Gajeel tried to protest but he is absolutely defenceless against her girlfriend's laugh. And he went along with it.

Two familiar figures emerged from the back of the crowd, "Excuse me, coming through!"

I knew that voice. "Look, Gray!"

I didn't even have the chance to look at them before I heard, "C'mon, you dumbass! We've gotta dance as well!"

Gray doesn't even object. I think it's like how I would never let Natsu object. Gray eventually laughed and gave in. I think they're dancing now because another couple and a little children join in. I mean, if the very people who were running the entire city was doing it, then what was the harm of everyone else?

I continued to laugh as I took another glimpse around me whilst dancing to see Yukino and the boys' appearance. They were all dancing together. With Yukino just in the middle, laughing her ass off alongside a wild Sting and a smiling Rogue. Rogue might never admit that he was enjoying his time with his best friends but the rest of the world could probably tell.

I took another glimpse to the right and spotted Erza, Minerva and Kagura doing the same thing. They might've just finally gotten back to their old selves fully because they're all laughing and screaming and laughing again. This was them. This is what they were. I smiled at the thought.

Lisanna and Mirajane eventually appear with a wild and probably drunken Makarov. Lisanna and Mirajane dance together. They're very good, free and playful. I thought that they might pass off as professional dancers. But then again, the Strauss sibling could pass of as professional anything.

I pulled my attention back to the pink-haired boy who had not stop laughing since the very start. I was the same way. It was like what we were yesterday out in the blistering hot sun and not to mention, on top of a parade float. But we were now surrounded by people; people we knew. People we loved and laughed with. People who deserved the same happiness. I loved the thought of that.

Happiness might not ever be describable. But I can take a shot and say it's barefoot against the pavement and endless laughter and pink hair and friends and family and the light of lanterns and a good music and the warmth of the delight engulfing you. I will never be able to write the essence of happiness, but I sure as hell could feel it.

As the banjo played on, my stomach took the most unexpected turn. A presence. A strange one. I frown for a split-second. It was surely my imagination but I couldn't help but think of two or maybe even three strange presence. It was a wary feeling and Natsu seemed to notice it.

"What's wrong? Am I just not that great of a dancer?" he almost yelled out through the music and the sound of feet on the concrete.

I laughed, "No, no, don't worry about it!"

And to assure him, I smiled and twirled around once more. But there was still something to air around me, the slightest glimpse of figures I didn't quite know. But I ignored the thought and the feeling in favour of everything else. Everything that there was. The lights and the warm air and back to the sound of laughter. That was where I had currently belonged.

We danced around like that amongst the many others and their laughs for several more minutes until I felt a faint drop against my forehead. And then it hit me. Drizzle. The tiniest of rain.

"Holy crap." I howled of laughter as I danced.

Rain. It was raining. Just the tiniest bit of rain. I worried for the fireworks for a minute before realising that it was just the smallest drizzle. It would not stop the fireworks. But it was still amazing. Everyone else looks up momentarily as the music slows down. Rain pouring down. It was like something from the movies. Rain in a festival—the most convenient of rains too—whilst people danced through midnight. Rain after three full days of sunshine. It was like destiny or fate or one of those things.

I laughed and everyone briefly looks thrown off but I would not let that ruin it. I continued to dance with Natsu. The rain pattering gently on my cheeks and the only thing I could really do was laugh about it. Children loved the rain, even if it was just the tiniest bit. They danced with their mothers and probably felt like grownups. Grownups. And here I was, feeling like kid. So was Natsu, I think. And Juvia and Gray. And Lisanna and Levy and Gajeel and Yukino and Sting and Rogue. We were still tiny. The tiniest of kids.

The song boomed even louder and I loved it even more. The banjo was going insane. The Folk Committee seemed like they were having the time of their lives. I think they wanted to laugh more than everyone in the area but were forced not to because they had to focus on the song.

I felt my hands go everywhere. I knew the song was going to end but I felt too happy to even spare a bit of sadness about it. I felt my legs moved through directions and steps and I heard my own never-ending laugh. I wondered if I could really make it this way. There was no place on Earth I could call home more than Koharu. And I wondered briefly if I could ever make the pink-haired boy feel the same. I hoped and pray to all the gods out there that I could. All it takes is a little bit of bravery and a lot of bagels. Yes, that was it. I laughed.

I was already there. But I would wait for Natsu even if it took years.

In the midst of all the laughter and happy feet and flesh grazing flesh, the song ends. And I felt breathless. Things tend to feel like that when it came these kinds of circumstances. I still felt the presences but I still ignored it. But what I didn't ignore was the cheers of everyone in the area. I mean everyone. Hands flew up the air in delight.

And as if on cue, a spark few through the air. And the sound of faint boom. And the colours of fireworks against the night sky devoured everyone's attention. Natsu laughs and grins and smiles all at the same time beside me. I couldn't decide on what to feel. I couldn't pick and if the world could end then, well it was okay. Because if the world ended, then it would've ended in my state of happiness. There are moments in life where the feeling of danger no longer really affects anything.

Everyone turned to stare admiringly at the fireworks but another flash flew before me. My head a little dizzy and confused, I whipped my head around.

Blue. Yes, blue. I was sure of it now.

And I felt my mouth go dry as I finally found the final piece of the puzzle.

His hair. His skin. That tattoo. I felt my face almost turned pale just as much the person he was standing in front of.

And everything clicked. Her absence, her demeanour, that phone call, that apology, that presence. And finally the lanterns. This was not Natsu's mystery to solve.

As the crowd cheered on to the fireworks and the chatter only grew, everything turned mute for me and probably for the redhead. My head blurred and my heart leapt so many beats. The drizzle hadn't even stopped yet. The chaos around the area was nothing suddenly. Because I was looking at him as he was looking at her and she was looking at him.

"..Okay, it's okay. I guess I was just panicking or seeing things. I'll tell Erza later. There's nothing wrong. Thank you."

Three is supposed to be a lucky number. I was unsure now.

Jellal.

Spring Festival Arc: Carmine to Azure.

I hope you got the message from that. Song is obviously; 'I will wait' by Mumfords and Sons.

So, it's finally over! I'm so, so tired. This took two days of just thinking and writing and thinking and writing and the occasional food breaks. And we're heading straight to a new arc. Goddamnit, I seriously did not think it would go to 10,000 words. Nothing unexpected as it's the end of the arc though. I'm so sorry that I couldn't finish this yesterday and upload it then, but seriously, it's 10,000. And I still had to do a bit of artwork. But I'm still very sorry about that delay. Anyway, as usual, I'll be taking a two day break to manage the upcoming arc and all the chapters to write up. I'm very excited, that's all you should know. But then again, I'm always excited when it comes to CC. It's 12am already here in Aussie and I was typing so fast so I could finish this up.

Thank you so much for reading!

Till then,

Ice

Azure; (adj.) Blue in colour. Like a cloudless sky.