Natsu stood at the arrivals gate, his patience wearing thin. He glanced at his watch, the time ticking away relentlessly. "Where in the world is she?" he muttered to himself.
All eyes seemed to be on him as he held the conspicuous board.
A security guard's voice cut through the air "Miss, stop!" Everyone's attention shifted to the commotion.
Lara, her face flushed with anger, was engaged in a heated argument with a man whose face bore the marks of a recent altercation.
"It was his doing," Lara insisted, her voice filled with righteous indignation.
The man retorted, "You were the one who punched me!" Lara's response was swift and decisive.
"Say another word, and I'll make your second eye purple just like the other one, pervert!" she threatened, her voice dripping with contempt.
The security guard intervened, his voice firm. "This is an airport, not a street fight arena!" he reprimanded Lara.
Lara, although subdued, was clearly not impressed "Fine," she muttered, her defiance evident.
The security guard gave her a warning before walking away.
Natsu, having witnessed the entire drama unfold, adopted a stern expression. He scanned the crowd, his gaze focused on finding the author.
Lara, her luggage in tow, looked around, confusion written on her face. "Now how will I find the person who is here to pick me up?" she wondered aloud.
Lara's eyes darted around the bustling airport, searching for a familiar face.
Suddenly, a glint of recognition caught her attention.
A large board, held aloft by a man, displayed her name and the title of her book: "Lara - Author of Pegasus the Seeker of Truth."
She looked at Natsu who was holding the sign.
Her heart skipped a beat. Could this be him? Her "Hot and handsome manager"? In her mind, a fantastical image bloomed.
This must be her dashing welcome to Japan! Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she envisioned herself running towards the man, him chasing after her playfully, a scene straight out of a romance novel.
"My prince is here to take me!" she declared internally, her eyes sparkling with a fabricated reality.
Lost in her daydream, Lara remained rooted to the spot, a wide, goofy grin plastered on her face.
The surrounding crowd, including Natsu himself, couldn't help but stare at this strange, open-mouthed girl."Creep," he muttered under his breath, turning his head away from the spectacle.
Lara, oblivious to the chaos she was causing, finally shook her head, snapping out of her daydream.
She blinked, the fantastical scene replaced by the reality of the crowded airport.
Lara, a mischievous glint in her eye, devised a plan. She would walk towards Natsu, act like she was about to fall, and let him catch her in a heroic rescue. In her mind, she was already swooning in his arms, their eyes locked in a passionate gaze.
She began her approach, whistling a carefree tune, pretending not to notice Natsu's presence.
As she drew closer, she executed her plan. With dramatic flair, she spun around, throwing her arms out as if to lose balance. Her internal monologue was filled with excitement as she imagined Natsu swooping in to save her.
But reality had other plans. Lara, in her overzealous attempt to create a cinematic moment, ended up falling flat on her face with a resounding thud.
The graceful fall she had envisioned turned into a comical spectacle.
Natsu, who had been observing her antics with a mixture of amusement and disbelief, looked away, pretending not to notice the fallen woman.
Lara groaned in pain, "Ouchy!" she exclaimed, her face scrunched up in discomfort.
In her mind, a cartoon-like fountain of water was spraying out of her eyes, symbolizing her dramatic disappointment.
She looked at Natsu, her cheeks puffed out like a disgruntled hamster.
Natsu, feeling a pang of sympathy, extended his hand to help her up.
Lara's face instantly transformed. A blush crept up her cheeks as she imagined herself in a romantic scene.
"Ahh, finally," she thought excitedly.
Ignoring the curious stares of the onlookers, Lara took Natsu's hand and allowed him to pull her up.
"Thanks," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Natsu, clearly uncomfortable with the physical contact, quickly averted his gaze.
"Looking for someone?" Lara asked, but Natsu didn't responded she asked again but still no response. Leaning closer to Natsu she speaks loudly in his ear.
Natsu was startled by her sudden proximity. "What the heck are you doing?" he snapped, his voice sharp.
Lara pouted playfully. "Just asking if you're looking for someone," she retorted.
She turned her attention back to the board, pretending to read it intently. "Aha, Lara, the author of Pegasus the Seeker of Truth, huh?" she said, her voice filled with mock surprise.
Natsu scanned the crowd, his expression one of focused determination. "Did you find her?" Lara asked, her curiosity piqued.
Natsu's response was curt. "If I did, I wouldn't be here tolerating you," he replied.
Lara, undeterred by his bluntness, offered her assistance. "Well, you need some help," she insisted, her voice dripping with fake sympathy.
Natsu hesitated for a moment before responding, "No," his voice firm.
Lara, refusing to give up, persisted. "Hey, never say no to a free thing, especially help," she insisted, her smile infectious.
Natsu remained silent, his gaze fixed on something beyond Lara. He was determined to find the author and escape this bizarre encounter.
Lara, oblivious to his disinterest, was basking in her own spotlight. She decided to take matters into her own hands. "Well, I know the one you're looking for," she announced confidently.
Natsu finally turned his attention to her, his expression one of pure confusion.
Lara, sensing an opportunity to shine, struck a pose. She placed one hand on her waist and the other on her head, striking a model-like pose. "Ta-da!" she declared dramatically.
Natsu's expression remained unchanged. "Cringe," he mumbled.
Lara, mistaking his silence for admiration, continued. "The beautiful girl who wrote the famous novel. People call me the star of America," she boasted, her voice filled with self-importance.
Natsu's jaw dropped in astonishment. "What the...HER?" he muttered, his mind struggling to comprehend the situation.
A cold wind seemed to blow through his mind, leaving him speechless.
Lara's surprise quickly turned into amusement. "Surprised, aren't you?" she teased, a playful glint in her eye.
Natsu stood there, his mind racing, trying to process the whirlwind of events. He remembered the phone call he had received earlier, pleading for money, and Ryu's desperate plea for help.
With a newfound determination, he cleared his throat and regained his composure he handed Lara the bouquet and bowed to welcome her.
"We are getting late," he stated simply, his voice firm. He picked up Lara's luggage and turned around without another word.
Lara's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, what a quick change," she muttered to herself, a sense of admiration creeping into her voice.