The Devil Slayer & The Steam Prince Volume1

Chapter 22 Stepping Out The Shadows Part3

Gray's POV: It's New Years morning and I just woke up and I suddenly remember what happened last night during the countdown to ring in the new year. As I walk downstairs for breakfast at the hotel lobby I see everyone just sitting and talking all except Natsu who is busy stuffing his face as usual and then as soon as Juvia spots me she of course goes fangirl mode and even starts begging Seth to trade seats with her so she can sit beside me. I then hear Seth with an angered tone tell her off.
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"Your his guildmate, not his life mate even if you were he is diagonally across from you and so is still within earshot of what you say so bloody grow up already." I just sit and look to Erza on my left with a shocked what the heck look on my face. She just ignores Seth's outburst and continues to eat and talk with Lucy like nothing happened. As I start to eat I see out the corner of my eye Seth get up and excuse him saying he has had his fill and will be in the music room we found him in last time we stayed here. as he walks away I hear him say bitterly "Seats all yours Juvia."
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While I eat everyone is talking and Juvia refuses to move from where she first sat across the table. I take this time to think about Seth and what I think of him and his confession late last night. As I finish my food I get up without a word and go for a walk to the desk in the lobby and ask to be shown to the music room where he was as I wanna make sure he is safe and not doing anything to hurt himself or has gotten himself captured. The desk clerk nods and she leads me to the music room. I thank her quietly and sneak into the back row and watch to see instead of making music he is using the space to dance. She then tells me softly he is using shoe chalk that negates magic. I just watch and crack a grin as I watch him feel at ease when dancing.
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The remaining days of our stay play out the same. I'm last to breakfast and Seth refuses to change seats with Juvia and eventually gives it up to her as he goes off to live his life. He's reserved us a full 7 days stay at the hotel and so far it's day 3 and I'm getting concerned of how he is acting. Just like that last 2 days, he gets up but instead of head to the music room, I see him turn towards the path to the spa. Erza senses my unease regarding Seth's behavior and tells me she thinks it's because he is scared of my answer to his confession and tells me I should go check on him.
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I enter the spa and find out Seth is in the hot springs so I just decide to wait in the lobby for him and eventually after a really long time he comes walking out while leaning against the wall before falling to his knees. I rush over to him and drop down to check on him as he was panting heavily. "So stupid I should've gotten out sooner but I stayed in that boiling hot water, Seth says as if he was cursing at himself and not noticing that I was there." "Head heavy brain dizzy feel heat sick all over my body, Seth groans as he tries to get back on his feet but lands back on his knees with his head against the wall."
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"Shh...It's ok I'll take you back to the room and get you something cold to drink, I say softly as I pet his head gently. He springs upward and backward as he hears my voice ring softly in his ear. "Gra...Gray, no no I can take care of myself just fine." He says as he leans against the wall for support as he leaves the spa. "Bull u know full well u can't take care yourself in this condition I'm ur roommate so let me help you at least get to the room and after that you can do as u want." I say blocking him at the elevator. He just gives up on himself and looks down and away from me.
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I end up swinging his arm over my shoulder and get him up to our room and go get a bottle of ginger ale from the vending machines in the hallway. I then return to our room to find him laying his belly on the floor in his underwear and he starts talking aloud to himself about how nice and cool the floor is. I just put the cold drink in the rooms ice bucket and go back downstairs to my friends. "Well did you find him in there?" Erza asks me. "Yeah he came out leaning against the wall because he was overheated from the hotsprings I had to argue with him a little bit I won and helped him up to the room." I reply as I give her enough detail.
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"Such a shame did u ever give him a answer even if it's not the one he was hoping for." Lucy states as she walks past us. "No because I think he should be well before I do so and besides I'm concerned for what he might do if the answer isn't what he was expecting." I say as I cross my arms in front of my chest. (After all a confession like his takes a lot of nerve to do and say.) I think to myself as I watch my friends have fun.