The next morning, Magnolia's weather was warm and bright—completely at odds with the heaviness in Juvia's chest.

She hadn't seen Laxus since she walked away from him in the training yard. Hadn't heard from him either. No apology. No explanation. Not even a glance her way in the guildhall.

So when Gray asked if she wanted to grab lunch, she hesitated.

Her heart wavered. Not because of Gray—but because of him.

But then she remembered what Laxus had said.

"Go hang out with Gray. He knows what he wants."

The words had stung. Still stung.

And if that was how he truly felt…

Juvia smiled softly and nodded. "Sure. Lunch sounds nice."

.

Gray chose a small café near the river, with ivy curling up the sides of the windows and mismatched chairs that added charm instead of chaos. The food was simple—sandwiches, soup, fruit tea—but the conversation was easy.

He made her laugh. A real, unguarded laugh. The kind she hadn't realized she'd been holding back.

Across the street, a shadow stood beneath the awning of a shop. Laxus.

He hadn't meant to follow them.

Hadn't meant to see them.

But there he was.

Watching Juvia lean in closer, smiling like the sun had found its way back to her.

And Gray was the one making her shine.

His fists clenched in his jacket pockets, jaw tightening until his teeth ached. But he didn't move. Didn't interrupt. Didn't say a word.

Later, Gray and Juvia strolled through the park. The cherry trees were blooming, petals floating down in lazy spirals. Gray caught one in his palm and offered it to her with a mock-serious face.

"For you, my lady," he said with an exaggerated bow.

Juvia laughed, tucking it behind her ear. "You're such a dork, Gray-sama."

"You used to say that like it was a bad thing," he teased.

She smiled but said nothing.

They walked a while longer—past the lake, past the benches, past a small group of kids playing tag in the grass.

Then Gray stopped.

"I meant what I said… before," he began, voice suddenly careful. "That day when I asked if you'd give me another chance."

Juvia's breath hitched.

He looked at her seriously. "Are you going to?"

She hesitated.

She thought about the way Laxus had turned away from her. How he wouldn't fight for her. How he let her walk away without a word.

But she also thought about his voice, low and wrecked, saying "I don't want to care this much."

Juvia's heart was torn in two directions.

But one half was tired of being hurt.

She looked up at Gray, eyes soft but resolute. "…Yes," she said quietly. "Juvia will give you a chance."

Gray's smile was gentle. Not victorious. Just… grateful.

That evening, the guild was alive with its usual rhythm—clinking mugs, laughter echoing off wood beams, Natsu and Elfman already deep into some arm-wrestling rematch.

But Laxus wasn't hearing any of it.

He leaned back against the far wall, half-hidden in shadow, arms crossed and drink untouched on the windowsill beside him. His eyes hadn't left the two of them—Gray and Juvia—since they walked in.

They looked… comfortable. Too comfortable.

Juvia was smiling—soft, open—and Gray leaned close to say something that made her laugh. Not the nervous, girlish giggle she used to give him years ago. This was different. Warmer. Real.

And it gutted him.

He told her to go. Told her to "hang out with Gray." Told himself he didn't care.

But the moment he saw her say yes with her eyes—when she took the seat beside Gray instead of the one that used to be his—it felt like the bottom dropped out of his chest.

She'd made a choice.

And it hadn't been him.

Laxus shifted his weight, jaw tight. Lightning flickered faintly along his forearm—his magic reacting to a storm he couldn't control, the one inside.

He didn't speak. Didn't move. Just watched.

Watched Juvia smile.

Watched Gray lean in.

Watched what could've been… slip further away.

He hated this. Hated how heavy his limbs felt. Hated how his heart—his stupid, stubborn heart—kept waiting for her to look over. To change her mind. To see him.

But she didn't.

And so, Laxus turned away. He left the drink, left the hall, and stepped into the night air alone.

The sky was clear. Stars were bright.

But he could still feel thunder building somewhere inside.