The New Girl (Fairy Tail Fanfic)

Chapter 16: Gems

The New Girl (Fairy Tail Fanfic):
Chapter 16: Gems

Elaine's POV—

As we wandered through the unfamiliar streets, I couldn't help but admire the charm of Thyme Town. Its cobblestone paths and quaint, colorful shops had a rustic feel that was much more to my liking compared to the overly refined places I'd explored with Kaname in the past. I've always loved Magnolia—my true home, where Fairy Tail and my friends are—but it was nice to find another town with a similar down-to-earth atmosphere. The smell of fresh bread, the sound of cheerful voices, and children playing in the streets gave it a simple, lived-in warmth. It was refreshing to be in a place that wasn't too fancy or burdened by any curses, just an ordinary town with a charm of its own.

"You know, you mentioned this town before," I said, glancing at Kaname. "Is that why you chose this job?"

For a brief moment, something unfamiliar crossed Kaname's face—a flicker of hesitation that was so unlike him. "Of course," he said, but there was a pause, and the chuckle that followed seemed a little strained. "I'm glad we're here, but..." His words trailed off before he added, "I just wish we had more time... together."

I raised an eyebrow, keeping my tone neutral. "Aren't we spending time together now? We're working on this job."

He looked away briefly, his voice quieting. "Yes, but I meant... in a different way." He hesitated again, seemingly aware of the shift in my expression.

I couldn't help but feel a subtle tension building between us. Kaname had always been considerate, always trying to make me feel at ease, but since the cursed town, something had changed—between both of us.

It was difficult to put into words, but there was a growing distance. Kaname seemed to sense it too, trying harder to bridge a gap I wasn't even sure how to define. It wasn't that I didn't appreciate him—he'd always been kind, thoughtful—but something had shifted, and I wasn't ready to admit what it meant. Maybe I didn't want to. Whatever had changed, I wanted to believe we could still be the same, stay friends like before. Nothing had to be different... did it?

My thoughts drifted, no longer fully tuned into his words. As we walked, my gaze landed on something that caught my attention—a brightly painted cart just ahead, adorned with snowflakes and cheerful animal characters. A small group of children and adults gathered around it, their excited chatter filling the air as they waited for the vendor to scoop vibrant colors onto cones. The simple scene was enough to pull me from the weight of my thoughts, if only for a moment.

"Is that... ice cream?" I asked, my feet instinctively pulling me toward the cart, curiosity tugging at me.

"What about the ice cream?" Kaname asked, his voice distant as I inched closer to the cart, captivated.

"I've never had it before," I said absentmindedly, the thought of tasting something completely new grabbing hold of me. The simplicity of the moment—a treat I'd only heard of in passing—felt like a break from the complicated things.

Kaname seemed ready to respond, but a voice behind me caught my attention.

"You've never had ice cream? That's... unexpected." Gray's voice cut through my thoughts, his tone cool as usual but with a hint of surprise.

I turned, startled to see him there so soon. "What are you doing here?" I asked, masking my surprise. A part of me, one I didn't quite understand, felt relieved to see him—familiarity in this new, strange place. Lately, his presence had become almost grounding, though I wasn't sure why.

"We're splitting into groups, remember?" His voice was as casual as ever, but then I caught something subtle—a flicker of something in his eyes, followed by the faintest, genuine grin. It wasn't the forced politeness we'd shared in the past, but something unguarded, and for a moment, it threw me off.