Chapter 7 — Train Ride to Doom
(POV Alternating — Yuta, Lucy, Erza, and a bit of Natsu)
Yuta POV
Magnolia Train Station was loud, chaotic, and somehow even more packed than the guild. Natsu stood with his arms crossed, glaring intensely at Erza like he was preparing to fight a dragon.
"I challenge you!" Natsu yelled, pointing right at her face.
Erza stared down at him like he was a confused puppy. "We'll discuss that after the mission."
"No! We fight the moment we're back!" Natsu insisted.
I placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let's focus on the mission before we get your funeral arranged."
Natsu glared at me. "I'm not gonna die!"
"Not by Eisenwald," I clarified, "but Erza might actually bury you alive if you attack her unprepared."
Gray snorted while putting his shirt on for the third time since we arrived. "He's got a point."
Happy fluttered around, already laughing. "Aye! Natsu's funeral! Fish for everyone!"
Lucy sighed, rubbing her temples. "This is my life now…"
I smirked. "Welcome to Fairy Tail."
The whistle blew, and the train doors opened. Erza stepped in first, confident as ever. Gray followed. Lucy hesitated but boarded. I walked behind—
Then I glanced at Natsu.
His face was already turning spinach green.
Oh no.
Lucy POV
The second the train started moving—
"BLAGHHHHHHHHH—"
Natsu collapsed dramatically, drool and tears streaming like a waterfall. His arms dangled limply like a wilted plant.
I blinked in shock. "Motion sickness? Really?"
"Every time," Gray said, like it was normal.
Erza sighed and grabbed Natsu's face. "If you're going to be useless like this, then be quiet about it."
She karate-chopped him.
THUD!!
Straight unconscious.
Poor guy… or maybe lucky guy, because Erza then—very gently—
Placed his head on her lap.
My mouth dropped open.
Gray stared.
Happy snickered.
And Yuta—
His pupils shrank to dots.
Yuta POV
Internally?
SCREAMING.
ahem
Why.
Why does Natsu get the sacred lap pillow!?
The privilege of resting on the thighs of queens!?
I have been here for two years.
Saved countless lives.
Became S-Class.
And the brat gets that honor first!?
Justice has left the building.
I crossed my arms, trying to remain composed, but my soul was in shambles.
Why does the pink-haired Luffy 2.0 get everything good in life!?
And then…
I caught Erza glancing at me.
Not a normal look.
A soft one.
A… longing one.
Her cheeks tinted pink.
Wait—
Wait wait—
Is Titania blushing!?
She quickly looked away and stroked Natsu's hair gently.
…No.
No way.
Was she thinking—
"I'd rather this be Yuta."
My chest tightened.
First Mira. Now Erza.
I officially have two of Fairy Tail's Queens crushing on me.
And I can't handle one.
Erza POV
Why… am I flustered?
This is ridiculous. Natsu needed support; that's all. A comrade is a comrade.
But when I looked up earlier… Yuta looked back.
His calm black eyes were watching me—
Something fluttered in my chest.
I pushed the feeling away.
There is a mission.
Lives are at stake.
"Focus," I whispered to myself.
But still—
Just for a second—
I imagined Yuta resting on my lap.
My heart skipped.
Absolutely unacceptable.
Lucy POV
I needed a distraction from how weird this train ride got, so I asked:
"Erza, what exactly is Eisenwald planning?"
Erza straightened up, tone sharp. "After returning from my mission, I learned they acquired a cursed item. A demonic flute called Lullaby."
Gray frowned. "Makarov mentioned that once. Doesn't it kill people with its sound?"
Lucy's eyes widened in horror. "Flute… melody… death…"
She gasped.
"It's a cursed instrument! If you hear the music played from Lullaby… you die instantly!"
A chill swept the cabin.
Even Happy stopped joking.
Yuta leaned forward, expression cold and lethal.
"We can't let that flute be played," he said quietly.
Erza nodded. "Eisenwald plans to attack a public gathering. A massacre."
My stomach twisted.
This wasn't just a mission.
This was a race against death.
Yuta POV
The train slowed, the brakes screeching as we arrived at Oshibana Station.
Everyone stood.
Everyone except—
Erza gasped. "Natsu!"
Gray facepalmed. "Still unconscious."
Erza trembled. "I… I forgot him…!"
Lucy panicked. "We can't just leave him! That's cruel!"
Happy flew toward the train. "Aye! Natsu!"
But the doors slammed shut before anyone could grab him.
Erza went pale.
"I… forgot a comrade… I deserve punishment," she said, fists clenched, eyes shaking.
Gray backed away. "Whoa—calm down!"
Lucy waved frantically. "It's okay! We'll get him at the next stop!"
Erza looked like she was about to kneel dramatically and ask someone to smite her.
Then she turned toward me.
Her eyes pleaded.
I coughed into my fist, trying to hide laughter.
Even Titania makes mistakes. And now she wants to be punished?
For a split second, a… dangerous thought entered my mind:
Maybe I should be the one to lecture her this time—
Erza immediately radiated a terrifying aura.
"Nope," I corrected internally.
Nope, nope,e nope.
We pretend that thought never existed.
Gray whispered, smirking, "You were thinking something stupid, weren't you?"
"I think nothing," I replied quickly.
Erza POV
Yuta looked away too fast.
He definitely thought something.
And it involved punishing me.
My heart hammered.
Why did that idea—
No.
Mission first.
Feelings later.
Lucy POV
The train was gone. Natsu was gone. Eisenwald was nearby. And the pressure grew heavier every second.
I stared at Yuta — calm, unreadable, ready for anything.
If even he looked serious…
This mission was bad.
Yuta POV
I took a deep breath.
Natsu would catch up — and likely destroy half the town in the process.
But I couldn't shake a feeling crawling up my spine.
Lullaby wasn't just cursed.
It was alive.
Eisenwald didn't just want death.
They wanted a massacre of magic itself.
I slipped a single card into my palm — unseen.
The battle was approaching.
And this time…
I would change fate.
Chapter End.