Side Story 1 - Part One: Why it's better to be just ourselves

This story takes place after Chapter 12 but before the Epilogue.

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Lucy soaked herself in the bathtub playing with the bubbles while deep in thought. Why was it that it felt like she was seeing less of Natsu now that they were in a relationship?

Natsu seemed to have changed. He no longer entered her apartment unannounced through the window. He never barged into her bathroom while she was bathing. And he didn't show up with insane requests for her to go somewhere with him as if it was an urgent matter, when really it was nothing.

All of those changes were not bad at all. Logically at least, it shouldn't be. But now that he wasn't doing them anymore, Lucy realized that all those moments had brought them closer together.

In a way, deep down she understood, that it was Natsu's way of saying that he wanted to spend his time with her.

It wasn't as if he stopped spending time with her though. He acted like a real boyfriend. He knocked properly on her door, and took her to places where they can have fun, sometimes just by themselves and sometimes with other friends... but it felt like something was missing.

In fact, she spent as much time with Natsu as she did with Ark when they were dating. Which Lucy realized was a lot less than the time she spent with Natsu as friends.

Lucy dipped her head under the water for a few seconds before coming up with a sigh. She can't believe that Natsu was suddenly behaving properly and she was unsatisfied.

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Natsu sat on a bar stool at the guild house beside Cana who was drinking wine like always. "I'm bored." he complained as he stretched his arm over the counter and laid his head down on it.

Mirajane placed a mug of beer in front of him. "Why don't you go see Lucy? For some reason, I keep seeing you alone in the guild house a lot more these days."

"She's probably enjoying her bath right now." Natsu whined as he took the mug and drank from it. "Then she's going to do some reading."

Lisanna who was standing beside Mira, while cleaning some mugs, turned towards Natsu with a surprised look. "That never stopped you before."

Natsu laid his head back into the counter again. "But I'm trying to grow up like Jellal suggested. And I asked Lucy why she liked Ark and she said because he was sweet, and considerate, and respectful." Then he looked up at them. "I can be sweet and considerate." He said almost defensively. "But I guess I haven't been really respectful... so I'm trying to give her some space." Then he started whining again. "But I want to see Lucy..."

"I don't think..." Lisanna started.

"And you haven't been exactly sweet and considerate either." Mirajane interrupted her sister. Lisanna looked at Mira and saw the mischievous glint in her eyes. She shook her head to herself and continued to clean the mugs.

"You know, Ark would prepare romantic candle light dinners in various locations. He would bring her flowers and prepare good wine. He would wear a suit and buy Lucy a dress and dance with her under the stars." Mira seemed to be lost in her own romantic story.

Natsu frowned at her. "And how do you know that?"

"Because Lucy told me." Mira smiled smugly. "She would gush on how romantic Ark was and how he made her heart flutter."

Lisanna started to feel uncomfortable. "Hey sis, I don't think you should..." she whispered to Mira.

"Hush." Mira ignored her as she continued smiling at the still frowning Natsu. "If you don't step up, you're going to loose Lucy to someone more romantically inclined. Good thing Ark backed off so easily. Not a lot of guys would be as considerate."

Natsu was a bit doubtful. After all Lucy did choose him despite having the option of being with Ark.

"You are right there sister!" Cana decided to speak up as she placed down the wine barrel she had been drinking from. Natsu didn't even know she had been listening. "Had it not been because of someone's intervention, Ark might not have backed down and had gone to woo Lucy instead while you were busy contemplating your feelings. I don't think you'd have had a chance then." Cana said pointedly.

"Yep." Mira nodded in complete agreement. "It wouldn't be hard for someone else to take Lucy from you if they were more aggressive about it."

Lisanna looked at Natu's worried face and felt really sorry for him. But she didn't dare refute her sister. There was no stopping Mira once she was on a roll.

"What should I do?" Natsu had completely fallen for the ruse.

Mira's eyes shone with excitement. "Oh I can definitely help you with that."