Gajeel had explained the situation to Juvia, he had told Porlyusca, Wendy, and Makarov that he preferred to be the one to tell Juvia, that it was better this way. Makarov agreed.
…
"Juvia understands."
"The old lady said that she'd do other tests to try and understand this better."
"Ok."
"She said you need to rest now."
"Juvia will, Juvia doesn't even have the strength to get up."
"Don't start putting yourself down!"
"Juvia is not! Just…"
"Just?"
"It doesn't matter what happens, Gajeel-Kun, rain or shine, she will still be Ameonna, the cursed rain woman, gloomy and depressed!"
"You're depressed because you put yourself down, I've told you a thousand times to turn off those bad thoughts!"
She gave him a sad look.
"It's not easy!"
"I know! But you're not even trying!"
"Juvia wants…"
"What? To not exist? Don't start with the same shit again!"
In the past, Juvia had wanted and tried several times to end her existence, so much so that she'd accept any mission without any regard to danger, in fact sometimes she even hoped they'd end badly.
"Gajeel-Kun doesn't understand."
"You're the one who doesn't understand!" he responded, grabbing her by the shoulders, "Didn't you escape from that blackhole? Didn't you stop?"
Juvia had suffered from depression for a long time and Gajeel was terrified that she'd fall back into that vicious cycle.
"It's just that Juvia feels cursed again!"
"You feel like that because you let it! Weren't you the one who told me that you wanted a new life, that in Fairy Tail we'd start anew and now you're depressed because a hot day has done you wrong?"
"Juvia feels bad, what can she do about it?"
"Accept the reality! Stop acting like this, it's not good for you! Fight!"
"The sun hurts Juvia."
"Too much sun can hurt anyone."
"But it hurt Juvia!"
"Listen, if we keep arguing about it, it will never stop, ok? And those two said that you need to relax, or you might collapse again."
"Gajeel-Kun is right, sorry, it's just that this news has upset Juvia."
"Why do you think I wanted to be the one to tell you? Because I knew that you'd react this way and drive yourself crazy, not that you're normal or anything, but still…"
She laughed.
"When Juvia decided to join Fairy Tail, she promised herself that she would become a new Juvia and that she'd leave the past behind. It's not easy but she'll do it. Gajeel-Kun is right, Juvia should accept the reality."
"Hey! It was just today! The temperature was way too high and you're not used to it. You just need to get used to it, that doesn't mean that you can't enjoy the summer! You're always so dramatic."
"Juvia will follow the instructions and behave herself."
"Good, now rest. She said you need to. Anything else bothering you?"
"Just a small headache, but nothing special."
"Then lay down and stop thinking!"
She gave him a kiss on the cheek."
"Gajeel-Kun is the best friend and older brother that Juvia could ever wish for."
"Gihi!"
…
After resting, everyone else decided to visit her as well, but Porlyusca had ordered them to go in two or three at a time and not to cause too many problems because Juvia needed silence and rest.
The first to visit Juvia was Makarov, who comforted her and told her that everything would be fine.
"Don't be afraid, child, you'll be fine, feeling bad from too much sun happens to everyone, it's nothing too serious."
Erza went after, who sat by her side and hugged her.
"You should have told me your head was spinning and that you felt weird."
"I'm sorry, Erza-San."
"Listen, people aren't names, titles, or any other thing that they might say you are, it's about what's in your heart."
"Juvia knows, but.."
"But nothing! And another thing, do you know how many times I've felt bad under the sun? It happens! And it's no one's fault! The important thing is to recover and once you recover we'll have more fun under the sun."
"Thank you, Erza-San."
…
Afterwards came Natsu, Lucy, and Happy's turn.
"Juvia, I brought you a fish to make you feel better," said Happy.
"Stupid Cat, why would she need a fish at this time?" Lucy said while bumping his head.
"Thank you very much, Happy-San, you are very kind."
"See Lucy? You should follow my lead!"
"What was that, cat?"
"Hey Juvia, don't worry, you'll be fine, you'll get better and make us cookies again."
"Natsu! Do you only think about eating?"
"Of course, Natsu-San."
"How do you feel, Juvia?"
"Better, love rival, but don't even think about taking advantage of this situation to seduce my Gray-Sama."
"What? You're focused on that even now?"
"Obviously!"
Natsu made his way closer to the bed and just at the moment Juvia had another dizzy spell.
"Natsu! Don't get too close, it's hot enough, if you get closer it'll get hotter…. Oh my god… it's true! Natsu get away!"
"Eh? What happened?"
"The extreme heat is harming Juvia, it means that you are dangerous to her right now!"
"Ehhhh?"
As usual, Natsu and Happy didn't understand anything.
"What's happening?" Porlyusca asked, having just entered.
Lucy explained the situation and the old doctor agreed.
"She is a water mage that has always lived under the rain and today's extreme heat has hurt her, he is a fire mage and these days his body is even hotter than usual. If he gets too close it's dangerous."
"But why?"
"I just explained it to you, baka!"
And like that Natsu was forbidden from getting too close.
…
After that came the Strauss siblings' turn.
"Here, eat this, it will make you feel a bit better," Mira said.
"Thank you, Mira-San."
"And don't you worry about anything, ok?" Lisanna said.
"Yes."
"Juvia, even a man can feel bad under too much sun, so don't feel bad over this."
The girls laughed.
"Thank you, Elfman-San."
…
The Raijinshū and Team Shadow Gear also visited the water mage.
In fact, little by little, everyone went to visit Juvia.
"Juvia is sorry that she ruined the day at the pool."
"What are you saying? It wasn't your fault!" Cana said, "Ah, I need to teach you to stop feeling guilty over everything, it's not right!"
Juvia started to cry.
"What's wrong?" asked Erza. "Why are you crying?"
"Juvia feels very fortunate, she never thought that this could happen, that she would wake up in an infirmary bed surrounded by so many people worried for her."
"Oh, Juvia," Mira said.
"That's what friends are for, right?" Cana said.
"Juvia loves you all, she is very grateful to have you all here."
"Oh, we also love you and are grateful that you are here."
…
It was eight at night, Juvia was resting, this is what Porlyusca had prescribed.
Gray was sitting at her side and would place ice on her forehead, for Porlyusca, this would do her well, but she reminded the ice mage to be careful because she was made out of water. If he used too much ice it could also risk freezing her.
Gray smiled thinking about their first encounter, he really had frozen her then!
He turned a thousand shades of red when he remembered a certain detail that had happened after he had frozen her.
Remembering that detail made him remember another detail that always happened on accident, even during the battle against the dragons.
It's not that he was deliberately touching her where he shouldn't!
Who would have thought that an enemy would become so important?
Juvia was important to Gray, she was his guildmate, a friend, and… she was important, very important.
Sometimes he asked himself what Juvia really meant to him, but he could never find the right words, he only knew that she was important and he didn't want to lose her.
He remembered how her eyes shined when it stopped raining and the sun came out, he never told her, but it was one of his most treasured memories, he felt lucky to have been there at that moment.
He couldn't remotely imagine what it was like to live every second of your life surrounded by rain.
When he met Juvia for the first time, he described her as "sad" and also "dark and gloomy," nothing like the bubbly and energetic Juvia that he had gotten used to now.
He didn't want this bad experience to make her fall into a new depression, he had spoken to Erza who had explained to him what Gajeel had said in the Master's office and he didn't want that, he didn't want Juvia to feel bad again.
When he was her faint, he felt a knot in his stomach, he was ready to run to her but Gajeel had been faster than him.
Juvia said that she was in love with him, but sometimes he asked himself if there had ever been anything between her and Gajeel in the past, they were very, maybe too close, even he and Erza weren't that close.
"Gray-Sama?"
"You're awake? Are you ok?"
"Y-yes, what is Gray-Sama doing here?"
"I was cooling you off a bit, Porlyusca said that you need it, it's still hot outside, but you're doing better."
"Juvia understands, thank you very much Gray-Sama."
"For what? We're friends and guildmates! Friends are also useful for helping out in difficult times."
"Yeah."
…
When the time came to leave the guild and go home, Porlyusca said that it would be better if Juvia stayed in the infirmary that night.
Makarov said that if it was necessary, it was fine, they would follow the instructions.
Erza said that if it was because she still couldn't get up and make it to Fairy Hills, she could take her. Lily offered the same, that he would fly her.
But Porlyusca said now that the temperature had dropped but it was still too hot for her.
In the end it was decided that she would stay in the infirmary for the night, Mirajane said that she would stay to watch Juvia, but Gajeel told her to go home and that he would take care of her.
Gray disagreed, he said Juvia could need ice during the night, so it would be better if Mira and him stayed with her for the ice.
Gajeel told him that he can find ice in the freezer, they didn't need his magic, but Gray insisted and said that it was better if he stayed too or at least one of the girls.
The two started to fight, but were stopped by Erza, who forcibly removed Gray, for Makarov's orders.
"But why? Why? Erza?"
"Let's go! Don't make a scene!"
…
Author's corner!
Here is a new chapter!
I really think that Juvia suffered from depression and had some dark thoughts.
I don't know if I wrote something dumb or not, but I believe that Natsu's body releases a lot of heat in the summer, so much that it's impossible to stay hear him, likewise Gray in the winter.
I needed to add some Gruvia and Gajuvia moments.
The next chapter will be interesting, that's all I'll say.
Thank you very much to those who read and comment and I'll see you next time.
Thank you to those who follow, read, and comment and those who also found this as an interesting idea.
Many thanks to Botan G as always for translating my fics into English, for taking this precious time and dedicating it to you and me.
Until next time.
GruviaSilver.