Hello, everyone !

I'm back with the second chapter :D

I hope you enjoy reading this one~

Disclaimer: I only own Haru Heartfilia and the plot

Gray raised an eyebrow as he eyed Natsu who had just returned back home from who-knows-where. "Where did you go? What's with that smirk?"

"Somewhere." Natsu waved his hand nonchalantly, but his smirk was still plastered on his face.

Gray shrugged. "As long as you're being careful out there."

Natsu simply nodded in response and went straight into his room. He then took off his simple disguises and sat on the bed. His eyes then drifted towards a small photo frame standing on the small table beside his bed.

He was in that photo, grinning wide beside a short white-haired girl. The two of them were standing in front of an amusement park's entrance and they looked so happy. Natsu had his arm around the girl's shoulders, while she was hugging him from the side.

That photo showed Natsu and his girlfriend of two years, Lisanna Strauss.

Well, ex-girlfriend for now.

Lisanna and Natsu started off as loyal classmates for three years during their Junior High. She was sweet and cheerful, a really fun person to be with. And just like any other common love stories, they started as friends. No falling in love at first sight, no being drawn towards each other instantly, no 'meeting due to fate'. They were just a pair of awkward classmates who then became friends.

Natsu rarely made friends with girls, so Lisanna was one of the closest girl friends he had ever had. She was one of those rare girls that could understand his weird antics and tolerated his pranks. And most importantly, his other friends also enjoyed being friends with her.

Natsu started to have feelings for her during their third year in Junior High, but he didn't say a word towards her because she was dating Bickslow Justine back then. He was a student from the class next door. He was Lisanna's first boyfriend ever, so she was so excited when she told Natsu that Bickslow confessed to her. It was that pang of pain in his heart that followed after he heard her story that made Natsu realized that he actually harbored a special feeling for his friend.

However, Bickslow wasn't as romantic as Lisanna hoped him to be, even though he was the person who confessed to her. He rarely gave her any surprise gifts or took her to dates. The more she told Natsu about what Bickslow didn't do as her boyfriend in tears and disappointment, the more Natsu's feelings for her grew. He silently swore to himself that he would make Lisanna the happiest girl in the world if he got the chance to be her boyfriend.

Finally after six months of dating with Bickslow, Lisanna decided it was enough. She was tired with their arguments and fights because Bickslow just wouldn't change the way he treated her as his girlfriend. She then broke up with him on good terms. Bickslow agreed because even though he really liked her, he just couldn't treat her the way she wanted him to. He wasn't that type of guy.

After breaking up, Natsu didn't directly confess to her. Lisanna took another six months to get over her first relationship and Natsu decided to use that time to make her realize that he had always been there for her instead.

His efforts paid off.

They grew closer than before and Natsu finally plucked his courage to ask her out. It happened right after they attended their Senior High's acceptance ceremony. They then became a happy couple. Natsu made sure he learned from Bickslow's mistakes, so that he could make Lisanna happy this time.

After they officially became a couple, Natsu felt like he was the happiest person in the world. Lisanna was everything he had ever wanted. She was kind, understanding, and supportive. It was her that encouraged Natsu to start a band with Gray because she knew and supported his love and talent for music. She was a part of when the-then-nameless band started. She even accompanied the band when they were practicing if she didn't have any club activities. They even got free advertisements during high school because Lisanna joined the journalistic club.

For a while, everything was great. Natsu felt complete. He had reliable friends, an ideal girlfriend, and his own band. This was the perfect high school life that he had always dreamed of.

But like they said, nothing is eternal.

Natsu thought he and Lisanna were fine, he thought their relationship was fine.

Turns out, he was dead wrong.

It happened one day on a bright Sunday afternoon, when Lisanna was visiting his house. Natsu was practicing his part for their new song while Lisanna was just sitting there beside him. The usual pattern for the couple who had been dating for two years and who were on their final year as high school seniors.

Natsu was strumming his guitar's strings gently when Lisanna suddenly closed the magazine she was previously reading and brought down the bomb.

"I want to break up."

Natsu instantly froze. For a half minute, he didn't move. Then, he slowly lifted his head and stared at Lisanna.

"What…?"

"I want to break up, Natsu." Lisanna repeated with a flat tone. "Let's break up."

"Wait." Natsu quickly put his guitar down on the bed in panic. "Wait, wait, wait. What's this all of a sudden?"

"It's not sudden." Lisanna said. "I've been thinking about it for this past month."

"Wait, Lis." Natsu held up his two palms. "Let's just talk about this slowly, okay? Why did you suddenly say you want to break up with me? What did I do?"

"It's what you didn't do, Natsu." Lisanna sighed.

"Okay, what didn't I do?" Natsu repeated his question.

Lisanna folded her two hands in front of her chest. "Do you realize how little time you make for me lately?"

"Did I?" Natsu blinked his eyes. "But… We still went on dates, and I still give you surprise gifts, and…"

"Your band is starting to take your time, Natsu." Lisanna cut. "More than what it used to be."

"But… I need to practice… We need to practice…"

"That's exactly it!" Lisanna huffed. "Right now, your band is starting to take more of your time because of those practices!"

"Lisanna…"

"And don't get me started at how popular you are right now!" Lisanna added. "I'm tired with those dreamy gazes you got from other girls and I'm sick of suppressing my jealousy!"

"Lisanna, you're my girlfriend." Natsu said. "Who cares about what other girls think—"

"I do!" Lisanna retorted. Her face was starting to get red and tears started to fill her eyes because all of her pent-up frustration was finally getting out. "You don't know how tiring it is to have your boyfriend be ogled by other girls! You don't know how tiring it is to suppress your jealousy every time you saw your boyfriend taking pictures with other girls! You have no idea how lonely it is to spend nights without texts or calls from your boyfriend because now he is more focused on his band! You have no idea how exhausting it is to have a popular boyfriend! I'm sick of this!"

Lisanna's outburst put Natsu at loss of words. Yes, he had to admit that he had more fights with Lisanna than before. Ever since his band started to become more well-known, Lisanna's attitude started to change as well. She used to accompany him whenever he was practicing with his band during the weekend, but lately she gradually stopped doing it. There were so many reasons she could come up with to refuse accompanying him.

At first, Natsu had no problem with it. But as she became more and more unwilling to accompany him, Natsu started to become suspicious. He had asked her the real reason why she refused to for a few times, and all of those times ended up in them having a fight. At the end, Natsu decided to step back and just pushed this problem into the back of his mind.

What a very wrong move he had done.

"Lisanna…" Natsu took a deep breath. "Look, I'm… I'm sorry."

"I don't need your apologies." Lisanna coldly cut. "Just… Let's just break up."

"Can't we try again?" Natsu asked. "I'll try to balance our time with the band's better."

Lisanna shook her head. "I can't keep doing this, Natsu. I'm tired of being a popular singer's boyfriend. I'm not ready to deal with your popularity."

"Lisanna, please…"

"No, Natsu." Lisanna sternly said. "I can't do this anymore. Think about when you and your band become more popular. What will I do? How will I hold on? It's already exhausting now, I don't want to imagine how exhausting it will be in the future."

"Lisanna, just one more chance…"

"I can't." Lisanna shook her head, tears started to roll down along her cheeks. "I just can't, Natsu. I can't do this anymore."

"Lisanna…"

"Let's just break up, okay?!" Lisanna snapped and cried her eyes out.

Natsu's heart was stung with pain and he quickly brought Lisanna into his arms. Her tears exploded and she bailed her eyes out in his hug. Natsu didn't say anything, he just kept hugging her and stroke her hair.

They hugged like that for quite a while, until Lisanna's tears finally died down. After she lashed out all of her pent-up frustration, Lisanna and Natsu discussed her decision once more in a cool-headed atmosphere. At the end of the day, they finally came to an agreement.

That day was the last day Natsu could ever call Lisanna as his girlfriend.

Few years had past since they broke up, but Natsu still couldn't forget Lisanna completely. She, on the other hand, had completely moved on and is now still dating with her college's senior. They literally separated after graduating high school and they rarely contacted each other. Lisanna was busy with her 'normal' life and Natsu was busy with his 'popular' one.

Natsu still kept all of the mementos he had when he dated Lisanna up to this day. He wasn't completely over her yet, but Natsu knew things wouldn't work out between them. He couldn't give Lisanna the life she wanted, especially not when his band is currently the most popular band in the world. He knew that he had to let her go, but it wasn't easy because of how deep his feelings were for Lisanna.

Some things take time to pass, and this was surely one of them.

Natsu laid down on his bed and closed his eyes. He reminisced his days of being Lisanna's boyfriend back then again, his usual habit whenever he had a spare time. Natsu knew he should stop this kind of habit, but he somehow was unable to. Not when those days were the first thing that came into his mind every time he closed his eyes.

And because deep down, Natsu knew he was unwilling to forget those days.

His feelings for Lisanna now may not be as strong as it used to be, but Natsu couldn't deny that he did still have some feelings for her. She was his first girlfriend ever and he loved her so much. She was a part of his life that he couldn't—didn't want—to erase.

However, to his own surprise, something was different this time.

His reminiscence didn't stay long as it used to, because another face suddenly popped into his mind.

Natsu opened his eyes in surprise, although his mouth was letting out a small smile unconsciously. Now that he is awake, that image somehow became more vivid in his mind.

The image of a pair of brown orbs.

Natsu's favorite color was red, but he had to admit that that brown color was really pretty. Not to mention the long blond hair and the smile that adorned the face.

The most beautiful face Natsu had ever seen.

Lisanna was indeed beautiful, but that woman was… breathtaking. Natsu couldn't find any other word except that to describe her. She was enchanting from any angle you looked at her.

"I wonder what's her name…" Natsu mumbled to himself.

If one day he went to the park again, would he be able to meet Haru and his mother again? Natsu silently hoped he would, he wanted to know her name.

The next day, the Fired Up! was ready for their press conference. Loke stepped out to coordinate things with the media, while Natsu went out to go to the bathroom. He was on his way back to the waiting room when a voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Yasashi-no-nii-chan!"

There was only one person in the entire world that called him that way.

Natsu turned his head in utter surprise, his eyes widened a bit upon seeing Haru. He quickly crouched down and opened his arms to greet the toddler.

"Haru!" Natsu called in shock and delight, and the toddler ran towards him in excitement. Natsu ruffled his blond hair. "What are you doing here?"

"Haru came with Mommy!" Haru bubbly said.

Natsu's heart skipped a beat upon remembering that beautiful face. He turned his head to the left and right, but he couldn't see her. "Where's she? Why are you here alone?"

"She's out there!" Haru pointed somewhere with his chubby finger. "She's working!"

Natsu raised an eyebrow. Working? Where?

"Mommy told Haru to stay here and to not go anywhere!" Haru continued. "But I want to go to the toilet!"

"All by yourself?" Natsu lightly chuckled, feeling amused with Haru's way of talking. The toddler was so adorable!

Haru shook his head. "I came with—"

"Natsu!"

"Haru!"

Both of them whipped at opposite directions at the mention of their names.

"Whoops." Haru put his chubby hand over his mouth. "I need to go."

Natsu stared at the direction where Gray's voice came from. Guess it was almost time for the press conference. "Me too."

"Where are you going, yasashi-no-nii-chan?" Haru asked curiously.

Natsu turned back his head to face the toddler and smiled at Haru as he ruffled his fluffy hair. The aroma of the baby shampoo he used instantly filled Natsu's nostrils. "I have to go to work for now, Haru."

"Oh!" Haru's eyes lit up. "Just like Mommy!"

"Yes." Natsu chuckled. "Be a good boy and stay right here, okay? Don't wander off."

Haru nodded. "Okay!"

"Haru!" A woman's voice was heard again from somewhere nearby. "Where are you?"

"Here!" Haru replied. He then looked back at Natsu and waved his chubby hand. "I'll be going now, aunty is looking for me. Bye-bye, yasashi-no-nii-chan!"

"Wait, Haru! Where are you—" Natsu's words died down as Haru's small body quickly disappeared from his sight. Did he say aunty? Well… Then that means there was someone looking after that kid, right?

"Dude!" Gray came over right at that moment, his face was slightly annoyed. "What took you so long? Why are you crouching down here?"

Natsu quickly stood up and gave Gray his toothy grin. "Nah."

"Let's go, dimwit!" Gray said. "The press conference is about to start!"

"Okay, okay." Natsu said. He took a last glance towards where Haru had been, before following Gray towards the press conference's room.

As usual, the room was packed with reporters. Cameras instantly flashed the second the band stepped into the room. The boys lined up in front of the desk and bowed down to greet the reporters, and that was when Natsu's eyes caught her.

Haru's mother.

He instantly froze.

The next second, a small smile made its way to his lips.

So, what Haru meant by working was this? His mother was one of the reporters for today's press conference? No wonder the kid was here!

Natsu's eyes darted towards the ID tag around her necklace, an even wider smile appeared on his face.

Lucy Heartfilia.

That was her name.

Lucy., Natsu mumbled inwardly. Lucy. Lucy. Lucy. What a nice name.

Done !

I just love fated-slash-coincidental meetings like this ! *squeal*

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