Back at the guild, Shinra found himself seated among the crowd at a loud, happy table. Erza was silent but present. Gray had his arm slung across a half-conscious Natsu. Lucy was laughing with Cana and Levy. Even Happy flew around cheering.
Mira brought over drinks. "You're getting popular fast."
Shinra gave a modest shrug. "Not really my goal."
"But you do care." Mira leaned forward with a wink. "You hide it well—but you like being around us."
He looked up at her, and for once, didn't deflect. "Yeah. I do."
Behind them, Laxus leaned against the banister on the second floor, eyeing the growing camaraderie with thinly-veiled disdain. His gaze flicked to the **S-Class Job board** beside him… and stayed there.
---
Later That Night —
Natsu stared up at the second floor of the guild, a grin plastered on his face.
"Gray's sleeping. Lucy's out cold. Perfect time to do something awesome."
"Or illegal," said Happy, fluttering by his shoulder.
"Same thing."
Natsu **snatched an S-Class job flier**, his eyes glowing at the picture of a cursed island:
**"Galuna Island: Remove the Moonlight Curse."**
He darted down the stairs.
But someone was already at the bottom, leaning against a column with a book in hand.
"You're not really going to take an S-Class job without permission, are you?" Shinra asked casually.
"…What if I am?" Natsu challenged.
"You'll get Erza's sword through your forehead. But…"
Shinra closed his book. "…I'm in."
"You are?"
"I don't sleep well anyway. Might as well be useful."
"Weren't you the one saying not to break the rules last week?"
"I've adjusted my priorities."
Happy chuckled. "He's been around Natsu too long."
---
At the Harbor —
By morning, Natsu, Happy, Lucy, Gray, and Shinra stood aboard a hired boat.
(Erza was missing—on a supply mission to a different town. Makarov was still at the Guild Masters' conference.)
"What am I doing here? Wait—Gray?!" Lucy yelped.
Gray adjusted his scarf. "If Natsu's doing something dumb, I'm not letting him do it alone."
"Same," said Shinra, stepping beside her.
Lucy sighed. "Unbelievable. You guys are unbelievable."
Still… she smiled.
---
Onward to Galuna Island..
As the waves stretched before them, and the silhouette of a **dark island bathed in purple moonlight** grew on the horizon, Shinra stood at the bow of the ship.
For once, he wasn't simply watching—he was *present*. Talking. Engaging. Letting himself joke a little with Lucy and Gray, argue with Natsu, and smile genuinely when Happy perched on his shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world.
His mystery didn't disappear—it softened. The walls came down, layer by layer.
And behind him, Lucy watched him quietly.