【Re:Freezing】 | Gray Fullbuster x OC

58: The Hunt

The stadium was echoing with cheers and the night sky was painted in bright colours to show everyone which guild proved to be the best, the strongest, the top guild in Fiore: Fairy Tail.

After escaping from Laxus, Karissa was quick to notice her brother jogging out from the shadows with his arm waving, shouting out her name with a grin. Laxus, Gray, and Gajeel looked over to the older twin who vaulted over a wall with ease and then practically bounced his way to his younger half. Karissa couldn't help but grin back while leaning away in fear of him colliding with her.

"Congratulations on winning." Clavis smiled, gently clapping his hands together.

"Thanks." Karissa copied him instinctively and returned his smile with her own.

Erza, who finally tore her gaze away from Sting, looked over to the two and chuckled softly to herself when she saw how they gently clapped together with matching smiles.

Gray arched a brow when he noticed that the 'something weird' he felt from Clavis was... weaker? He still couldn't quite understand what he was feeling when he looked at Clavis before. But whatever it was, it wasn't as strong. It was like someone changed their pitch-black curtains into something more see-through to allow sunlight to shine in one room.

Oh. Maybe that was it.

He could see him a bit clearer now.

His eyes dropped on Karissa who was bashfully grinning at Clavis, abashed by the sudden praises he was showering her with. He was now holding her hands in his while gently swaying them between their bodies.

Gray sighed with his shoulders and smiled a little. I guess you asked him. That's good.

―

All of those who participated in the final game were told to return and take a quick respite before the closing ceremony. Each guild needed to head towards their respective nearby streets where a magic circle would teleport them back. For Fairy Tail, they needed to go somewhere on Howell street to find their way out.

Erza needed some treatment from Porlyusica. Actually, everyone required some minimum treatment since the last game wasn't a walk in the park. Erza and Laxus were walking ahead of everyone while Gray and Karissa took the rear with Gajeel walking on the far side of them. The two ice mages were watching Gajeel mumble something about how Quatro Chihuahua was making a racket on the other side of the building they were walking past.

"Dragon Slayer hearing is something else, huh?" Gray chortled with his hands in his pockets.

"Literally part animal." Karissa added with a snort, causing Gajeel to look over and give her a nasty look. Before anything could be said, Erza called him over with a wave of her hand, forcing him to reluctantly march over to the S-Class mage.

Karissa's gaze was torn away when she felt Gray nudge her arm with his elbow. He was giving her a knowing look. "I take it things went well with Clavis?"

This brought a small smile to her face as she nodded gently. "Yeah. I learned that I need to be more careful with him..."

"Careful?"

"Gotta keep my eyes peeled!"

Gray furrowed his brows at her confusing answer. "You gotta keep an eye out for him? Why's that?"

"Hm, well... it's just that... Clavis is kinda scared. So, I need to make sure I'm not seeing him hide himself in front of me if I wanna get to know him." She placed her hands atop her chest as if to emphasize her heart. "He doesn't want to hurt by letting people know who he is since he's used to only smiling for others. They might think ill of him, that's kinda what he said."