A/N: Hello guys! Thank you again for all your follows and reviews. I'll do my best to keep updating. Anyway, I hope this chapter isn't too confusing! (These might have some granmatical errors too but I'll edit them eventually!)


Fiore had been thankfully a lot more peaceful weeks after the defeat of the dark guild Tartaros. The fall of the last of the Balam Alliance certainly provided relief for the citizens of the country, magic users and ordinary persons alike.

Lyon passed by the Kardia Cathedral, one of the major casualties in Magnolia brought upon by the terror of Tartaros. Reconstruction efforts were being made for the massive building after it was pulverized by an enormous cube monster. Infrastructures were not the only things affected, unfortunately; even the agricultural fields where the giant Faces erupted from were desolated. It caused a great lack of food supply at first, not only for Magnolia but to neighboring cities as well. However, with the efforts of diligent mages who took initiative and stepped up for the greater good, they ultimately recovered.

And now they were at the height of recovery, where the crops were flourishing greatly once more. It called for a celebration in Magnolia, whose citizens grew to love festivals, probably with the influence of a certain guild residing in the city, Lyon thought.

The festival was also the reason for his presence in the city. Jura, one of the leaders of the Agricultural Committee, had already informed him of the event beforehand, so he was not surprised when Juvia invited him for another get-together.

A big festival for good harvest will happen in Magnolia this week. There will be a program like amazing fruit slicing and Juvia has front row tickets. Gray-sama and Meredy will be there. Hope you can come!

Those were the words from Juvia's note. He would be lying if he said there was not even a slight tingle in his heart upon reading her message. After all, he did like the water mage, and who would not be happy receiving an invitation from a person you admire? The feelings never really went away, even if he did give up in pursuing her.

He took a turn towards one of the streets, on the way to the park where they were supposed to meet.

It made him think about Meredy's words. What was his motivation for staying around? Was he still clinging to a chance for Juvia to reciprocate his feelings? Ever since the amusement park incident, they had been seeing each other more frequently. Juvia was also becoming more comfortable with him, unlike being generally uneasy whenever he made an advance on her before. Heck, she was even inviting him to hang out with her!

He then shook his head.

Reality check: the fact that Juvia was extending her invitation to him really meant that she simply saw him as a friend.

He checked his watch (which he was actually wearing this time) and saw that he was twenty minutes late from their meeting time. He walked with greater stance. Gray and Juvia were probably there already.

Scratch that. They probably weren't, since a certain pink-haired girl must've found a way to let them spend their time alone with each other.

Just as he had expected, Meredy was already there, sitting on the bench.

But she was not alone.

Three men were surrounding her at that moment.

Three awfully familiar men.

Something inside him ticked and he strode even faster.

"What is a beautiful lady like you doing here alone?" the one with bright blond hair asked.

The taller who had brownish blond locks spoke as well. "Would you like to join me in watching the parade later?"

"Aaaaah my lovely lady, you have such great fragrance!" the shortest of the bunch wearing a white tuxedo exclaimed with immense grace, reaching his hand to touch Meredy's, "If may I ask what parfum you are using-"

Before the man was able to do so however, another hand fell on his shoulder. Subsequently, the said shoulder was gradually being covered with ice.

"What is going on here?" Lyon interjected with irritation. He eyed the men present-the Trimens of Blue Pegasus...minus the dark-skinned one. They all turned their heads to him.

"Oh, hi Lyon," Meredy greeted casually, waving a hand. Only when he saw her untroubled face did he release his hand from the other man who literally obtained a cold shoulder.

"Ah, if it isn't Lyon Vastia-san," Hibiki said with his signature Blue Pegasus smile, "We were simply passing by and-"

"-we saw this beautiful flower all alone in the field-" the snow wizard Eve continued, giving off the same sparkly grin.

"-we simply had to approach her and appreciate her FRAGRANCE," their leader Ichiya exclaimed passionately while rubbing off the coldness from his shoulder.

Lyon was far from amused for some reason. He concluded that he generally found the presence of Blue Pegasus men annoying. "I see, then you may take your leave now."

Hibiki shrugged. "I don't see why we should."

Eve shrugged as well. "This is a free country, after all."

Ichiya nodded his head. "Right, right!" Without warning he pointed his finger towards the ice mage. "Unless of course, you are exclusively dating this lovely lady!"

Lyon was beyond irritated.

"And what if I am?!" he snapped without thinking. Truthfully there was no meaning behind what he had exclaimed, only plain frustration as he wanted them to just leave the vicinity. He began to regret it when he realized that he must've said the words louder than what he intended.

Because everyone in the park was looking at them already.

"Lyon? Is that you?" A familiar female voice joined in.

Chelia.

Lyon buried his face in his own hands. "Great. Just great."

A deep male voice was also heard. "Meredy?"

"Oh, Jellal!"

Everything around Lyon seemed to go in slow motion as he observed the crowd forming around him.

There was Meredy on the bench, surrounded by the three Blue Pegasus idiots...

And then there was Chelia, who apparently was also with Sherry and that other Blue Pegasus idiot fiancé of her.

There was also Jellal...who appeared to be with Erza the Titania.

For some reason, Lyon felt he was being sucked into a complicated hell hole.

Then everyone began talking.

"Lyon! Did you just say what I think you said?!"

"Did an angel fall from the sky?"

"No, it's actually a sky goddess!"

"A-ah! Hibiki-san~! Eve-san~! I-is this love?"

"Meredy...? You are dating someone...?"

"Now, Jellal, I don't see anything wrong with that."

"Hey, now! Look who's talking! It seems you two are finally dating!"

"N-NO WE ARE NOT!"

"Oh my, love is all over the place..."

"Not as much as I love you, Sherry... N-not that I actually mean that!"

"Oh, Ren~!"

"If it isn't Ren and the lovely Miss Sherry! The PARFUM OF LOVE is so strong in you!"

Lyon was becoming dizzy. When everyone was too preoccupied, Lyon turned to Meredy, who was snickering from her teasing of her blue-haired guildmate. As soon as she looked back at him, he grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the crowd.

Meredy was the first to speak as they walked away. "Hey, where are we going? How about Gray and Juvia?"

Lyon rubbed his temples with his free hand. "I just need to clear my head and... Where exactly are they anyway?"

"I sent them away to buy us some food for the program."

Just as he suspected. "Well, you shouldn't have."

Meredy pulled her hand away from him, causing them to halt in their tracks. Her face displayed confusion. "Is there a problem?"

Lyon crossed his arms. "I still don't understand why you do it."

"I have explained it to you last time right? I don't mind as long as Juvia is happy."

"But how about you? Weren't you thinking about yourself?"

Meredy pursed her lips together to suppress a laugh. "You're starting to sound like Jellal! Relax, will you? If you were worried about me being with those three guys earlier, I can protect myself. Have you forgotten that I was once a wanted criminal?"

Lyon's face turned into a bright shade of pink. "I just don't really trust those guys. Sorry about the lie, though. I'll explain everything to Chelia and the others tomorrow."

Meredy tried to suppress her laugh. "It's okay. I know you meant well anyway. But don't you think that by kidnapping me from the crowd, you're reinforcing the thought that we are actually dating?"

"Shit. Haven't thought of that. I should explain as soon as possible, then."

She grinned sheepishly. "Guess I have to explain it to Jellal too. I hope he believes me, though. He worries too much."

Lyon placed a hand under his chin. "On the second thought... I actually don't mind this arrangement. It should keep Chelia from bothering me."

"Hey! Now you're being selfish. Didn't you see the way she was glaring at me a while ago?"

And then he laughed, saying how he was only kidding. As he watched the way she pouted and crossed her arms, he made a mental note that he would no longer be late the next time they meet.

By the time Gray and Juvia arrived at the meeting place, no trace of the earlier crowd was left.

"Now, where did Lyon-sama and Meredy go?" the water mage said, who was holding two cups of juice.

Gray shrugged as he surveyed the surroundings. "Dunno. They must be here somewhere. Let's wait for them."

And they sat on the bench in silence, watching the passers-by. Gray munched on some caramel popcorn while Juvia was humming a tune contentedly.

And then the Trimens passed by and greeted them. As Gray was about to nod back in greeting, he was taken aback when they winked at Juvia.

And to his even greater surprise, Juvia winked back with a smile.

Gray had to shake his head to see that he wasn't hallucinating, but the moment had already passed and Juvia was again humming.

"What the hell was that all about?"

"Huh? What are you talking about, Gray-sama?" The blue-haired mage only gave an innocent smile.

And now he was irritated. Was it really just his imagination? Why was he even flustered, anyway? It must be just Ichiya reminding him of that stupid cupid from before, he convinced himself.

While Gray was having an internal turmoil beside her, Juvia's mind was thoroughly pleased that her plan had worked out. Now, they just had to wait for the arrival of her two friends...together.