Typical Cliché
Natsu was surprised on how Lucy knew the name of his seatmate. But then again, she was popular, so he's guessing she knows everyone's names.
"And how are you related to him...exactly?" he asked, an eyebrow raised.
"He was a friend of mine." Lucy smiled sweetly at him, "The Fullbuster and Heartfilia family have always been friends. So it's no surprise if it passes down to their children also. But Gray's different than the other kids. He's a little...unusual."
Lucy continued to explain, "When we were young, Gray would always put on a cold facade. He'd always pretend to be strong and cool, when deep down inside, he really wasn't."
'What an asshole.' Natsu snorted.
"He was the one who would protect me from bullies, despite the fact that he didn't want to be friends with me." she chuckled, "How weird, right? But that was Gray and everything about him is weird."
Natsu nodded. "Anyways, I wanted to return the favor. I was his only friend, you see. Aside from myself, I don't see him talking to anyone else. Poor guy's been living a lonely life. So I want him to have someone to keep him company with. I want him to be happy."
The latter groaned, "You think being protected by him warrants you to be indebted to him?"
"Of course!" Lucy huffed, "He was one of the people I actually consider as my friend when I was alive!"
'Well I don't think he feels the same way.' Natsu rolled his eyes, "So you're asking me to entertain your so-called 'friend'?"
"I just want you to make friends with him. Or if you don't want to, at least find someone who'll give him company and happiness just like I did."
He frowned upon this, "Can we just help someone else instead?"
"No can do. We have to do this in order."
Natsu groaned. Of all the people in the world they could help, why did it have to be his classmate?! When it comes to bullying him, they were the worst. Natsu thought that they were supposed to share wonderful memories in high school but NO, they just had to forget him as if he didn't even exist!
'Not that I care.' Natsu rolled his eyes, 'I'm totally cool being a loner.'
He didn't look forward to the embarrassment of approaching the guy. How was he supposed to help him?! Explain to him that his so-called dead friend sent him to make him happy?!
"What am I gonna say to him?!" he exclaimed.
"I don't know," Lucy shrugged, "But don't worry, Gray's not that cold. He'll talk to you." she gave a thumbs-up to the boy, who only slumped his shoulders in response.
Unlike Lucy, Natsu didn't look forward to this affair. He doesn't really talk to Gray at all (much less, spare him a glance), but judging from the way he looks at him, he could already sense that they weren't going to get along well.
Lucy was already giving him the pleading puppy look she did when they first met. And Natsu's heart clenched at the thought of denying her request.
'We already finished two favors anyway...' he thought before sighing.
"Alright fine, I'll do it." Natsu groaned again, 'But I'm only doing this for you, you damn ghost.' he thought with cheeks flushed.
XXX
The bell rang again, indicating that classes were finally finished for the day. Natsu was still clueless on how to help the raven-haired boy, but he decided to go with the flow at whatever happens between the two of them.
Ever since Lucy explained the third favor to him, he has been boring holes (and glaring daggers) at the back of the lad's head. Gray turned around at some point, noticing something wrong, and thankfully, Natsu averted his gaze before the guy could make any assumptions.
He quickly stood up to pack his belongings, with the ghost patiently waiting behind him.
"I don't know what to do either..." Lucy explained sheepishly to him as they got out of the classroom, "But I guess we should follow him?"
"That's like stalking, you know." he pointed out.
"I-I know but-" she pouted, "It's the only thing we could do for now! Maybe Kami-sama is on our side and make something happen!"
'That's just being ambitious and failing.' he wanted to say out loud but didn't.
"Oh look! He's going somewhere!" Lucy pointed out and dragged Natsu to the opposite direction to his house.
XXX
"Sooo...what am I doing here again?"
Here Natsu was, hiding behind a trashcan (with Lucy hiding inside another but he didn't really see the point why because she was invisible anyways) and stalking his raven-haired classmate.
"We're here to find out his problem." replied Lucy, "His name appeared in the list so I'm guessing he has one."
"Can't we just do this tomorrow?"
"Nope. We have to do it today."
He mentally groaned and turned his attention back to the guy in front him. He didn't know where they were. All they did was follow Gray and now they were located in some secluded part of Magnolia (which was weird because this town isn't really the quiet type at all).
Natsu silently prayed for something to happen and as if on cue, several thugs appeared out of nowhere and approached the lad.
'Oh god..' he widened his eyes in fright, 'When I meant something to happen, I didn't mean this! Stupid ghost! Why am I even here in the first place?!"
"Hey there pretty boy," Natsu's attention turned back to his classmate when he heard a low voice talk. His heart pounded loudly when he realized that there were much more men surrounding him than before.
Gray looked angry at the men in front of him. Eventually, he threw a punch and one of the men collapsed to the ground. Shoving another guy to the wall, he turned around and tried to leave the situation- 'See. He can handle himself just fine!' - until they forcefully grabbed him from behind and shoved him painfully to the ground.
Natsu clenched his fists tight and debated whether to help him or not. That is, until one of them punched Gray and the trashcan went flying to the leader of the thugs.
"What do you think you bastards are doing?!" Natsu yelled as he ran to their direction.
"Nat-chan!" he heard Lucy yell.
"Oh sh*t!" he heard one of the thugs exclaim before running away, "Let's go! We're not allowed to involve strangers!"
The thugs quickly left and Natsu was left with the beaten young man by his side (plus, the overly worried ghost crying like a dying whale).
"You didn't have to help me, you know..." he heard Gray say as he helped him up.
"Be glad I even did." Natsu replied.
"Gray-sama!"
The two young men were surprised when a blue-haired girl appeared out of nowhere and ran to their direction.
"J-Juvia?!"
'So he knows the girl...' he thought as Gray looked at Juvia with a surprised look.
"Wha-what're you doing here?!"
"Juvia should be asking you that." the girl crossed her arms and pouted, "Juvia was really worried for you, you know..."
"Y-you were worried for me?" Gray smiled.
"Of course!" she nodded, "I'm your friend! It's my job to worry about you!"
Natsu noticed that the smile on Gray's face disappeared as soon as he heard the word 'friend'. He quickly handed Gray to Juvia and politely bowed before leaving the area with Lucy (of course, after he asked for directions where to return).
The moment they reached his house was the moment Natsu realized what Gray's problem was.
'Of course! Why hadn't I thought of it in the beginning?!' he face palmed himself as he reached his room. He finally understood the problem Gray was having!
It was the worst cliché that could happen to anyone on earth -
falling in love with your best friend.
TO BE CONTINUED
A/N: Sorry for the horrible chapter! T_T
Also, thanks for all the reviews~!
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