Hello~! Long time no see after my looooooooong hiatus!
Today is special! I updated TWO CHAPTERS AT ONCE! Isn't this awesome?! XD
My club assignment keep increasing, student council work has finished, exam too, and nailed the exam! Yay!
About Chasing A Dream... It seems that this will end soon :') Thank you for all of your supports and review! And also those who cheer me on twitter and any other media! I'm so happy! I've decided to make another long story just like this, another AU story. But I won't put it on the Future Project :) I just wrote ~SECRET PROJECT~ Please wait for it!
Now, please enjoy chapter 7!
"QUITTING?!" everyone in the studio shouted
"Yeah…," Lucy said with a forced smile
"But why, Lu-chan?" Levy asked "Does it have anything to do with you-know-who? The N guy."
"No!" Lucy shouted "Actually, I have to continue my family business." Lucy said "But it's okay! I'll play here if I have the time!" Lucy said with a smile
"So that's why you asked me to find a press conference and one performance in a big show." Levy said
"Yeah, did you find it?" Lucy asked
"I did. On August 30th" Levy said while looking at the small notebook of hers "And, Lu-chan, the concert is on August 31st. You'll be very tired, is that okay?" Levy asked
"No… It's alright. Because August 31st is the exact day I will leave the agency." Lucy said. The studio becomes silent. No one dares to say anything.
Suddenly, the door opens
"W-Whoa! What's up with this awkward silence?! It's creeping me out." A brown haired girl said
"Cana…" Lucy said softly
"Hey, where's Macao?"
"Here." He said
"You supposed to help me to find a scoop!" Cana said while hitting him with her clipboard
"Cana, you need a scoop? For this month's article?" Lucy asked
"Yeah, front cover." Cana said
"What about… Me quitting the agency?" Lucy suggested
"Well… That's a good…. Wait, WHAT?! You're QUITTING?!" Cana shouted
"Yeah." Lucy said
"But, why?!"
"Well, stuffs. Anyway. Could you put it in?" Lucy asked
"I don't mind… But…"
"Just do it!" Lucy said with a cheerful smile "I don't mind having interviews after photo session. And you know, it'll be good to promote my Last Concert. Pretty please, Cana?" Lucy said. Cana sighs heavily
"Okay, I'll do it." Cana takes her phone "Oi, I got a scoop here. Hurry up and come. Yeah, yeah. Hmm. Everyone. Wait, huh? Okay okay." Cana closes her phone "Got it. We'll be interviewing you after the photo shoot!"
"Okay." Lucy said. She stands from her seat and smiles brightly to her workmates "Okay, Let's fill the magazine with me!" Lucy shouted. Everyone looks at each other faces and giggles
"YOOOSH!" They all shouted together.
Lucy starts her photo shoot happily, just like nothing will happen or happened. Levy stares at her best friend. She sighs heavily. Being a professional model has been Lucy's dream ever since Levy knows Lucy. And she happily let go of her dream without even putting a fight? Why?
"Oi. Bookworm." A black-haired photographer appear behind Levy
"Gajeel…"
"…Worryin' about her?"
"Yeah, sort of."
"…I should say 'everything going to be alright', but, her expressions in the photos are…"
"Is it bad?"
"No… Normal people should consider this as 'okay' or 'fine', but she seems to force out her expression. But I'm sure only that guy who could notice this on first glance."
"That guy… Huh. Does he know?"
"Beats me."
"I bet he doesn't." Levy said "Where's the prince when the princess needs him?"
"Well, I'm here, princess." Levy jolts
"H-Huh?"
"N-Nothing." Gajeel walks away as Levy blushes
"He's cheating… That Gajeel…"
.
.
.
Days and days pass. Lucy has been chased by a lot of reporter. The news of her quitting has exposed worldwide. Her last concert ticket is selling like crazy. A lot of job offer come and Lucy asks Levy to accept them if the schedule doesn't crash each other.
She usually goes home just with Loki, but now Taurus and some few other bodyguards must come with her.
Lucy walks to her room. She throws herself on her bed. She opens her phone, no email. Hey, what's she's expecting? There's no way Natsu would notice in his busy schedule. And there's no way… He'll come back to Fiore to come to her concert in 2 days.
She opens her twitter, a lot of mentions coming from her fans, asking why she's leaving the entertainment world, and telling her to not quit.
Lucy smiles as she decided to tweet something.
"Dear all my fans, thank you for your support up until now.
Please come to my press conference and last concert. It'll be aired worldwide."
In just few minutes, many people retweeted and favorite it. She stands up from her bed and intended to change her clothes. Until…
RIIINGG! RIIINGG!
Lucy takes her phone, seeing an unexpected name on the screen. Natsu Dragneel
"Ossu! Lucy!" He said as soon as Lucy picks up
"W-What are you… Why do you call me?"
"I miss you, duh!"
"W-What?"
"Is it wrong to miss the person I love so much?"
"…!" Lucy was definitely speechless
"What is it? Are you blushing? Are you speechless? Hey… You're not crying, right?"
"O-Of course I'm nott!" Lucy shouted
"Good, then. Haha." Lucy smiles at the voice on her phone "Luce, what a great tweet you got there."
"Y-You read it? And I thought you were busy!"
"I wouldn't want to miss any of your progress back at Fiore, right?" Lucy can hear that Natsu slightly sighs "You're quitting… Huh?"
"Yeah… But… How did you know? I didn't tweet that I'm quitting."
"The news has already spread worldwide. I would I don't know?" He said "When'll the concert be?"
"31st of August."
"Damn… Not good." Natsu cursed "Sorry… I can't come."
"H-Huh? It's okay! You have work anyway!"
"Thanks, Luce."
"Yeah," Lucy said. She's all blank for a while, and Natsu too. This is all awkward "Hey… Natsu… What… What is our relationship? A-Am I your g-girlfriend?"
"What do you think, Luce? Do YOU want to go out with me, princess?"
"O-Of course I do!" Lucy shouted. She can hear Natsu laughing
"Then we are." Natsu said "Too bad I'm not there. If I was there, I would kiss and hold you tightly."
"W-Wh—!"
"…You must be tired. It's 9 there, right? You should rest. Tomorrow is your press conference, right? Many reporters from Sabertooth went to Fiore earlier. I'll be seeing you in TV, then."
"Yeah… Bye."
"Bye, good night for you."
Lucy crawls to fit her position on her bed. She hugs her pillow tightly… 2 days to go, huh? She thought
.
.
.
Like always, Loke and Taurus also some bodyguards escort Lucy to the building for her press conference. Many reporters already surround the building. The security's faces are all uncomfortable. Lucy gulped thinking that I'll be a miracle if she can walk to the building safely without a scratch.
Not to mention, a lot of her fans with banners and speakers came group to group per minutes.
"Lucy-sama… Should I drive to the back of the building?" Loke asked
"…I think it's unnecessary. I doubt it's empty." Lucy said. She puts on her glasses "I'll enter from here. The security already realized we're her. Taurus and the others can accompany me too. Thanks, Loke."
"My honor, Lucy-sama." Lucy takes a deep deep breath and opens her car's door.
"IT'S LUCY!" One of the fans shouted
"LUCYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" A lot of people shouted. Lucy smiles a bit. Taurus and the other bodyguards force the crowd to make a way for Lucy to walk. Lucy was surrounded by her bodyguards so no one can touch her or ask her anything before the press conference start. Lucy finally and safely escorted to her dressing room. She looks at her phone, there are 4 emails.
[ From : Levy-chan ]
[ Subject : Good Luck! ]
"Good luck for your press conference!^0^ Sorry for nor be able to come m(_ _)m"
Lucy presses the reply button
[ To : Levy-chan ]
[ Subject : Re : Good Luck! ]
"Thankss! It was scary when I first arrived here 0" but I'll definitely do my best! :D I hope no one will ask weird questions! :S"
Lucy opens another email
[ From : Lisanna Strauss ]
[ Subject : none ]
''Good luck for the press conferenceJ"
Then again, Lucy presses the reply button
[ To : Lisanna Strauss ]
[ Subject : Re : none ]
"Thanks! I'll do my best! XD"
Lucy looks at her other email
[ From : Gray Fullbuser ]
[ Subject : Break a leg! ]
"none"
Lucy laughed at Gray's email. Why there's nothing on the email? Lucy presses the reply button
[ To : Gray Fullbuster ]
[ Subject : Re : Break a leg! ]
"Yeah, I won't literally break my leg! Haha^^ At least put something on your email. Baaaaakaaaa :P"
Lucy slides down to the final email. She really hopes that Natsu's the one who send her the last email. She looks at the name. The name she never got email from someone with this email
[ From : Eri0804 ]
[ Subject : Hello ]
"Lucy-san, it's me, Eri. The part timer you met at the coffee shop. Thanks for telling me your email back then m(_ _)m and of course I didn't tell anyone, even my best friend. I never had the chance to send you an email because I don't know what to say =^=". I just want to say, good luck for your press conference *^_^* I'll definitely come! And my friend got the front seat! Isn't that awesome?! w
Sorry, is it too long? Does it have too much emoticons?
Oh yeah, I hope your relationship with Natsu-san goes well. I kind of stalked the person on the foreign article you read and asked my friend to translate it. Hehe *w*"
Lucy giggles seeing the full of emoticons high shool girl's email. She also used to love emoticons on her emails, but she doesn't use it as often as she used to
[ To : Eri0804 ]
[ Subject : Re : Hello ]
"Hey, Eri-chan! Your welcome! You were my mood-booster anyway! Haha^^ Of course you can send me an email anytime! Like telling me if there's a guy you like! I would be honored to be friends with a high school girl! *w* I'm glad you'll come! See you, then!
It's not too long! I used to send a lot of emails that was much longer than this! That is what a high school girl is!
Really? Embarrassing! O~0 Then, let's talk about this kind of thing. I'll tell you about Natsu and you'll tell me about the guy you love. Maybe we can go on a double date! Haha :3
You know, yesterday, I was officially Natsu's girlfriend! Kyaaa X0X"
Lucy was actually really glad for Eri to email her. She's really a mood-booster. Lucy isn't nervous anymore. And she feels more at ease. Without Levy here, there's no one she can talk to. There's no one who can make her less nervous and cheer for her. She glad she met Eri.
Knock… Knock…
"Come in." Lucy said
"Excuse me, Lucy-sama." Taurus suddenly appears behind the door "The guards have opened the door. Please get ready. The press conference will start soon." He said
"Ah, yes. Thank you, Taurus."
"My honor, Lucy-sama." He said as he closes the door
"It's time… Huh?" Lucy locks her phone. She stands up "Let's do this!" Lucy shouted
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.
.
Lucy walks to the table which is ready for her. Everyone applauses at her appearance. Lucy looks at every corner of the building's hall that is used and reserved for her press conference. Everyone seems to have their own seat in their tickets. Camera is everywhere. And she knows this is aired live worldwide. She looks at her watch. This is 12 P.M. She wonders if Natsu's asleep.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we gather here to attend the first and last worldwide aired press conference of Lucy Heartfilia. Everyone has the same right to ask question. Please raise your hand if you want to ask questions. But before that, let's hear a word or two by Lucy Heartfilia-san." The MC said in English with a translation on the screen which is all over the hall.
Wait, what?! S-Speech?! I didn't hear any of this before! Lucy thought.
"Here's the microphone, Lucy-san." One of the staffs said
"Psst! I don't know what to say! In English or Japanese?!" Lucy whispered to the staff
"It's up to you, Lucy-san. You can use any languages. The translator is prepared. And you can just say few sentences." She said as she leaves immediately. Oh, no. She thought
"….G-Good afternoon, everyone." She decided to use English. The translator immediately translates her sayings "I'm really glad you can come here today, to attend this first and last press conference of mine. I will not say much. I just want to say thank you and welcome. Please don't feel shy to ask any question. That's all. Thank you very much." She said as everyone applauses
"Thank you to Lucy-san. Next, let's start the press conference. Please raise your hand if you have any questions for her."
One of the reporters raises his hand. The staff immediately gives him the microphone. "Good afternoon. I'm the reporter from … agency. Lucy-san, if I may ask. What makes you quit the entertainment world?"
Lucy smiles and turns on her microphone "Thank you for your question. I quit this entertainment world to continue my family business."
One person raises his hand "Won't you regret it?"
"I… Maybe I will. But, it's okay."
"Lucy-san! Does it really because of family business? Isn't because Gray-san who is rumored your boyfriend?"
"No, no. Gray isn't my boyfriend."
"Then what about the photographer who's in charged to work with you? There's a rumor you crashed his wedding."
Lucy stays silent "…Yeah… He's the one…., who is my boyfriend."
"Does your boyfriend know about this?"
"Yes he does."
"Lucy-san! Why did you expose this to the media?"
"This?"
"You're quitting and about your boyfriend."
"…, I don't want everyone, especially my friend to think that I'm just a girl who run away and disappear from my job. And about Natsu… People will gradually find out."
"About your concert, why did you decide to make a last concert?"
"I want to do something big for the last after all. And I want to present the best to my fans."
People keep asking questions, a lot of them. After no one has other question to ask, the press conference ended.
Tomorrow is my last concert. She thought
Since I updated 2 chapters at once, please also enjoy chapter 8! :DD
By the way, about the ~SECRET PROJECT~ of mine, I intended to make it after I finish all of my future projects.
Well, then. See you at chapter 8!
Sincerely,
Keiko Amano