Before they set off towards the Fairy Tail guild hall, Natsu felt the necessity of having a conversation with Mayumi. This was to not only understand her more deeply but also to create a story about their acquaintance. Despite his often straightforward and bold demeanor, Natsu took a moment to collect his thoughts, understanding the significance of the dialogue he was about to engage in. "Hey, Mayumi, I was thinking... It could be good for us to have a chat, just to get to know each other better. Are you okay with that?" he suggested, his approach thoughtful yet direct.
Mayumi, slightly caught off guard but visibly pleased by the proposition, responded with a warm smile, "Yes, Natsu, I think that's a brilliant idea," her voice laced with a light amusement at his sincere yet unintentionally romantic proposition.
Turning to Happy, who had been quietly observing, Natsu said, "Happy, we'll go ahead. Can you let everyone at the guild know we'll arrive a little later?"
Happy nodded, understanding the importance of the moment, a rare seriousness to his expression. "Aye, sir!" he flew off, not without tossing back a playful, "Enjoy your date, Natsu!" leaving Natsu slightly flushed but ready to embark on this new experience.
With a slight, awkward laugh, Natsu looked back at Mayumi. "Shall we?" he asked, gesturing forward.
Choosing a direct route to the cafe, they walked alongside each other through the bustling streets of Magnolia.
Nestled in a cozy corner of the cafe that overlooked a softly lit garden, Natsu and Mayumi took their seats, a sense of nervous anticipation hanging in the air. Natsu, ever the candid one, laughed nervously and broke the silence first. "This is kinda new for me. Usually, I'm just grabbing something quick to eat after guild missions, not sitting down somewhere nice like this," he confessed.
Mayumi's response was light and filled with laughter, "I guess this is a new experience for both of us then," she said, her tone warm and inviting.
Unknowingly, what Natsu had intended as a simple talk to better understand his fiancée turned into their first unofficial date.
Throughout dinner, the conversation between Natsu and Mayumi flowed unexpectedly smoothly. Natsu kicked things off with a curious tilt of his head, "So, being from a noble family must be pretty interesting, huh?" Mayumi, with a playful twinkle in her eye, replied, "Oh, absolutely. You wouldn't believe the number of times I've had to attend tea parties where the tea was less interesting than watching paint dry." This caught Natsu off guard, and he burst into laughter, surprised by her sense of humor.
"And what about you?" Mayumi asked, leaning forward, eager to shift the focus away from her noble life. "Any interesting tales from your adventures?"
Natsu, rubbing the back of his neck, recounted some of his more grounded Fairy Tail jobs. "Well, there was this one time I helped out at a farm. Never knew chickens could be that... aggressive." Mayumi covered her mouth as she laughed softly, imagining the fiery mage chased by a flock of chickens. "That sounds quite the spectacle."
"Yeah, and there's also the time we dealt with a group of bandits terrorizing a village. Turns out they were more scared of us than we were of them," Natsu continued, "Actually, the funny part was how the clients who hired us ended up being more frightened of me than the bandits. They kept a cautious distance, as if I might breathe fire on them or something. I suppose my reputation precedes me."
The conversation seamlessly wove between Mayumi's tales of navigating high society with a graceful, albeit reluctant, footing and Natsu's more unorthodox, yet heartwarming encounters. They found common ground in their desire to protect those important to them, albeit from very different threats.
As the evening progressed, their discussion delved deeper into personal aspirations and fears, exploring territories of vulnerability that neither had anticipated sharing. Mayumi, usually composed and reticent about her own hardships, opened up about the pressures of living up to the expectations of her prestigious family. Natsu listened intently, his usual exuberant demeanor softening to convey a genuine sense of empathy.
In return, Natsu shared his challenges with identity and purpose, especially after discovering his true lineage and the unexpected expectations that came with it. Though their lives seemed worlds apart, they connected over the shared experience of navigating the weight of legacies not entirely of their choosing.
As they conversed, the initial barriers of prince and noblewoman began to dissolve, replaced by a genuine connection fostered by shared laughter and mutual understanding. It was an evening that laid the groundwork for their unconventional partnership, one built not on titles or duties, but on the simple joy of companionship and mutual respect.
As they were brainstorming on how to explain their meeting to the guild, they realized the original story they conceived wouldn't hold up since Natsu has never been to the Alvarez Empire. In a moment filled with mutual brainstorming and lighthearted jests, they decided to concoct a tale that would place Mayumi as a distinguished lady from a remote, yet influential family on the far side of the Fiore Kingdom. According to their newly minted story, Natsu heroically saved Mayumi from a dire situation during one of his missions - a narrative that wasn't too far-fetched given Natsu's penchant for finding trouble and helping others.
Natsu, with a playful glint in his eye, suggested, "Maybe we could say that you were exploring ancient ruins, seeking magical artifacts, and stumbled into a nest of bandits. And I, being on a mission nearby, sensed the commotion and came to your rescue."
Mayumi, amused and engaged by Natsu's imagination, added, "That does fit your reputation, Natsu. But let's also say that in the midst of the rescue, we discovered a hidden magical relic that temporarily bound our magics together, forcing us to work together to dispel its effects."
The two laughed at their creative liberties, but they knew their friends at Fairy Tail were familiar with the fantastical and extraordinary; such an explanation wouldn't be completely out of the realm of possibility. This heartwarming concoction of bravery and magical mishaps would serve as their foundation, allowing them to weave a narrative that was entertaining yet believable enough for their guild mates.
Natsu, feeling encouraged by their collaborative storytelling, leaned in with excitement. "And we can say that through that ordeal, we discovered how well we work together, sparking a relationship that led to you visiting Magnolia and eventually meeting everyone at Fairy Tail."
Mayumi nodded, her eyes bright with the thrill of their shared fiction. "It's perfect. It gives us a believable encounter and explains my presence in Magnolia without delving into the complexities of the Alvarez Empire or our arranged engagement."
Their creative brainstorming session not only served to build a plausible backstory but also allowed them to connect on a deeper level, sharing laughs and insights into their characters. By the time they had polished their tale, they felt more like co-conspirators than two individuals thrust together by royal decree, laying a foundation for a genuine relationship built on mutual respect and camaraderie.
Their new backstory would serve dual purposes; it was plausible within the context of their world and it removed any immediate connection to the Alvarez Empire, which could complicate matters with Fairy Tail and the Kingdom of Fiore. By grounding Mayumi's origins within Fiore, albeit a less known region, they hoped to foster a more seamless integration of her into their circle without arousing suspicion.
By the time dessert was served, a mutual respect and understanding had begun to bloom between them. Mayumi, usually guarded due to her noble upbringing, found herself opening up to Natsu's genuine nature. Meanwhile, Natsu, who had always been more comfortable expressing himself through actions rather than words, discovered a newfound appreciation for conversation, especially with someone as intriguing as Mayumi.
The date concluded with a promise to explore their unexpected connection further, setting aside the weight of their official titles and focusing instead on the simple, yet profound, joy of getting to know another person. As they walked to the guild under the sunny sky, both Natsu and Mayumi couldn't help but feel that, despite the odd circumstances that brought them together, there might just be a chance for something real to grow between them.