With Great Power Comes Great Responsibilty

Chapter 55

Gray was rattled. He'd tried to pretend otherwise—throwing on a stoic face, brushing off Erza's concern, and shrugging through his day—but Natsu wasn't fooled. He knew Gray too well.

The sudden pain, the hairs growing from his wounds—it wasn't just weird. It was terrifying. And despite how hard Gray tried to focus in class the next day, his thoughts kept circling back to that moment on the floor, when it felt like his entire body was trying to rebuild itself from the inside out.

He'd barely heard a word his professors said.

"Why not take a patrol?" Natsu suggested after their classes ended. "Clear your head. Some fresh air, a few rooftop runs—it always works for me."

Gray hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah... yeah, maybe."

That evening, he suited up and took to the rooftops. The city air was crisp, the lights below twinkling like stars. He moved quickly, leaping between buildings, letting muscle memory take over. For a little while, it helped. The rhythm, the cool wind against his skin—it quieted the storm in his head.

But not for long.

A familiar voice below snapped his attention like a whip. He stopped short on the edge of a rooftop and glanced down. Juvia. Walking beside Lyon. Gray's breath caught.

He didn't want to eavesdrop—but his feet didn't move. His body acted before his brain, and he dropped into a crouch, staying hidden behind a rooftop vent as he strained to listen.

"You know, Juvia, you say there's someone else," Lyon was saying, "but you also told me he isn't interested."

"That's true."

"I backed off because I thought you needed time. But it's been months, and you're still turning me down. Are you... still hung up on him?"

There was a pause.

Then Juvia nodded slowly. "Yes."

Gray blinked. His chest tightened.

"I know it's embarrassing," she continued softly. "And I want to go out with you, Lyon. I really do. But... I just don't think I could ever look at you the way I look at him. And that's not fair. Not to you."

Lyon sighed but didn't sound angry—just tired.

"Maybe," he said. "Or maybe giving me a chance would help you get over him. Maybe you'd realize someone else out there actually wants to treat you the way you deserve."

"You sound like Meredy." Juvia laughed lightly, but it faded fast. "And I know you're both right. I do. But I can't help it. Gray is just—"

"Gray?"

Gray flinched at the sound of his name. Juvia's hand flew to her mouth, realizing she'd said too much. Her eyes widened slightly, panic flickering in them.

"Gray? Gray Fullbuster?" Lyon's voice cracked with anger. "You mean my roommate?"

"Yes." Juvia's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "My sister-in-law and his aunt set us up before I met you. I developed feelings for him... but he just couldn't reciprocate."

Lyon's eyes narrowed. "Is that why you went out with me that first time? Because he was my roommate and you wanted to get closer to him?"

Juvia shook her head quickly. "No, that's not true. I didn't even know you were roommates until after you asked me out. And I told you how I felt later—on our date."

Lyon's jaw clenched. "But you never said who the 'someone else' was."

"Gray was your roommate and your friend. I was afraid you'd get angry—blame him."