Year X784 — Early Summer
Location: Magnolia · Fairy Tail Guild & Riverside
Ages: Ren (19) · Erza (19) · Mira (19) · Juvia (17) · Lucy (17)
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If Fairy Tail had a weakness, it was this:
They could not leave anything alone.
Especially not feelings.
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Guild POV — The Plot Forms
It started at the bar.
Which meant Cana started it.
"I'm just saying," she slurred lightly, chin on her palm, "there's clearly something going on."
Lucy blinked. "Something… like what?"
Cana's grin was feral. "Like who Ren likes most."
Gray snorted. "Why does that matter?"
"Because it's obvious it's one of them," Levy said, adjusting her glasses. "Statistically speaking."
Wakaba puffed his pipe. "Kid's got that 'trouble follows me' aura."
Levy scribbled notes. "Hypothesis: prolonged proximity increases emotional attachment."
Lucy frowned. "…Why are we turning this into a study?"
Makarov, overhearing from his chair, chuckled. "Because this is Fairy Tail."
And because nobody knew how to mind their business.
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POV — Ren (Unaware, For Now)
Ren was at the riverbank, skipping stones.
In.
Out.
Water rippled, calm and steady.
He liked it here—far enough from the guild noise to think, close enough to feel connected.
Erza sat nearby, polishing a sword. Mira leaned against a tree, humming softly. Juvia stood closer to the water, watching the current like it might speak back.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Ren felt it a moment before it happened.
"…Why are they all staring?" he asked quietly.
Mira glanced back toward the path. "…Because they're terrible at subtlety."
A crowd approached.
Smiling.
Scheming.
Dangerous.
Ren sighed. "…What did I do?"
---
Guild POV — The Ambush
"Ren!" Lucy called brightly. "We have a question!"
"That sentence has never ended well," he replied.
Cana folded her arms. "Simple one."
Levy nodded. "Purely academic."
Gray smirked. "No pressure."
Erza narrowed her eyes. "…What question."
Makarov chuckled. "Go on, kids."
Ren looked at the assembled guild. Then at the three women beside him.
"…You're not backing me up, are you."
Mira smiled sweetly. "We're curious too~"
Juvia stiffened. "…J-Juvia does not require answers."
Erza crossed her arms. "…Speak."
Ren exhaled.
"…Ask."
Cana grinned. "Who do you like most?"
Silence.
Birds stopped chirping.
The river seemed to hold its breath.
---
POV — Ren
He could dodge it.
Deflect.
Joke.
But—
> Don't lie.
Not about this.
Ren looked at them. At all of them.
Then he spoke.
"I like Mira," he said calmly.
Mira blinked.
"I like Juvia," he continued.
Juvia's breath hitched.
A murmur rippled through the guild.
Ren didn't stop.
"…But Erza," he said, turning to face her fully, "will always be the most special to me."
No drama.
No flourish.
Just truth.
---
Reactions — One by One
Erza POV
Her chest tightened.
Not from surprise.
From the certainty in his voice.
She held his gaze, steady and unflinching.
"…That's a dangerous thing to say," she said quietly.
He nodded. "I know."
Something warm settled behind her ribs.
She turned away before anyone could see it.
---
Mira POV
Mira felt it—
the sting, small but real.
And yet—
He hadn't lied.
Hadn't diminished her.
She smiled, softer this time.
"…Thank you for saying it honestly."
She meant it.
---
Juvia POV
Juvia's heart raced.
Not pain.
Not jealousy.
Just… clarity.
He liked her.
And that was enough to stand on.
Juvia bowed her head slightly. "…Juvia understands."
Her rain did not fall.
---
Lucy POV
Lucy stared at Ren.
"…Wow," she whispered to Cana. "He just said it."
Cana whistled. "Bold. Stupid. Respectable."
Levy nodded. "Emotional transparency detected."
Gray smirked. "He's dead."
---
Wakaba POV
"That kid's got guts," Wakaba muttered.
"And consequences," Makarov added cheerfully.
---
Aftermath — Chaos, As Expected
Natsu popped up out of nowhere. "I DON'T GET IT."
Happy nodded. "Aye!"
Erza turned sharply. "Then don't."
Mira laughed. Juvia hid her face. Lucy groaned.
Ren rubbed the back of his neck.
"…So," he said mildly, "are we done?"
Cana raised her mug. "For now."
The guild slowly dispersed—buzzing, whispering, alive with speculation.
But something had changed.
Not broken.
Just… clarified.
---
Quiet Sparks — Riverside
Later, as the sun dipped low, Ren returned to skipping stones.
Erza approached, stopping beside him.
"…You didn't have to answer," she said.
"I wanted to," he replied.
She watched the water a moment.
"…I don't know what that means for the future."
"Neither do I," Ren admitted.
She nodded once. "…Good."
Mira's laughter drifted from behind them.
Juvia's soft footsteps followed.
Life moved on.
Complicated.
Messy.
Honest.
And in Fairy Tail—
that was as close to perfect as it got. 🌊🔥