Chapter 12: Mustache GuyFanfic by: Geraint(Nero's POV)
I was inside the guild, sipping tea at the dining table. It'd been three days since I officially became an S-Class Wizard after passing Uncle Makarov's test.
Pouring some more tea, I muttered to myself,"What a nice and beautiful day we have today…"
Suddenly, the quiet was broken.
"Gramps! Tell me right now where that bastard Nero is! I want a one-on-one fight!" Laxus stormed up to Uncle Makarov, his grandfather.
"I don't know, Laxus. He's been missing for three days straight," Makarov replied calmly.
"That Nero! Come out now! I'll make you pay for shaming me! I swear I'll have my revenge!" Laxus roared before storming out of the guild.
Watching him disappear outside, I sipped my tea again."Not bad," I said, relaxed.
"That Laxus kid's stubborn. Even after getting one-sidedly beaten, he just won't accept it and keeps looking for revenge," Macao said, sitting beside me.
"Yeah, it's like he secretly enjoys losing to him," I chuckled.
Suddenly, Macao asked,"Hey, Mustache guy, can I have some of your warm tea? I think it's good for digestion."
"Sure," I said, pouring tea into another cup and handing it over.
"Thanks, Mustache guy," he said, sipping gratefully.
"No problem."
"Oh! By the way, I still don't know your name. Mind telling me, brother?"
"Just call me Mustache guy. I'm just some guy with a mustache you can find anywhere," I answered coolly.
"Hahaha, so simple, brother!" he laughed.
Suddenly, a fiery shout broke the calm:"Nero! Come out and fight me!"
Natsu appeared, standing atop the table, flames flickering from his mouth.
Lisanna rubbed her temples, clearly suffering a headache."Natsu, just accept your loss and move on," she said wearily.
"No way! He beat Laxus so easily. He's the only worthy opponent for me to get stronger. Now show yourself, Nero!" Natsu yelled.
"Not just you," Gray chimed in, scanning the room. "I want to challenge him too."
Sigh.
I sighed again, sipping my tea.
"This is what happens when you beat them too much—they go nuts trying to find you."
"You said it, Mustache guy!" Macao laughed.
We both chuckled.
Just then, Erza walked into the guild and strode over to Natsu and Gray. Grabbing their shoulders firmly, she said,"Natsu… Gray…"
Their faces drained of color.
"Hie~ Erza!"
Erza's expression twisted into a scary glare."Because of you idiots…"
Natsu and Gray broke into a sweat.
"Nero won't come out anymore!"
She slammed both of them to the floor in frustration, giving them a good scolding.
"We're sorry, Erza!"
I sipped my tea."What a nice and beautiful morning."
"You sure got used to this chaotic guild, even though you're not a member."
"Yeah."
"Mustache guy, how about—"
"I refuse!" I cut him off before he could finish.
"Okay…"
"Hm?"
Erza sat beside me.
Macao and I glanced at her.
"What's wrong, Erza? Still angry?" Macao asked.
She blushed slightly.
"Nero…" she murmured.
"Huh?"
"He promised to take me on a date after passing the S-Class test, but three days have passed and I can't find him anywhere in the guild. Did he forget?" she said sadly.
"Macao, I gotta ask… do you like—or no, love Nero?" he asked bluntly.
Erza blushed hard but nodded.
"Mmm-mhm…"
Awkward. The guy she's talking about is sitting right next to her.
"Have you confessed your feelings?"
"Not yet," she admitted shyly.
"Then you have to confess first so he knows how you feel," Macao said with a thumbs-up.
…I had nothing to add to that.
"How will I do that?" Erza asked.
"Just say it. It'll be okay," Macao reassured.
"What if he rejects me?" she said sadly.
The mood grew heavy.
"I can't answer that, but you have to be strong. Otherwise, nothing will progress between you two."
"Okay…"
Macao turned to me.
"Hey, Mustache guy, any advice for a girl scared to confess her feelings?"
"Macao, why ask me?"
"I just get the feeling you're not just some guy sitting here drinking tea. Maybe you have some wisdom to share."
"Having a mustache doesn't make me a wise hermit hiding in the forest."
"Hahaha, great way to put it," he laughed.
"Not funny," I muttered awkwardly.
"Well, just say something encouraging. She's scared of being rejected."
Erza looked sad.
I sighed, closing my eyes.
"Fine… I'll do it."
I opened my eyes, meeting hers seriously.
"I'll listen to your troubles. You call me Mustache guy, but I'm just some guy with a mustache."
Erza gathered courage and said,"Then Mustache guy… you know the boy with blue hair and the red tattoo above and under his right eye?"
"Oh, that guy without a mustache? I see him here a lot, drinking tea and reading recipe books."
"Yes! That's him! Wait, why do you say he has no mustache? He's still seventeen this year!" she complained.
"Okay, okay. Don't mind me, continue."
"His name's Nero Vermillion and he's the guy I like. Kyah! This is embarrassing!" she covered her face with both hands.
She looked so girly—it felt weird because I'm the guy she's talking about.
"Please be direct so I can help."
"Okay… I've loved Nero for a long time. I want to go out with him, so I want to confess how I feel and tell him I want to be by his side forever."
I felt my mind scramble.
"Then…"
"I want to confess, but what if he rejects me?" she said sadly.
"Of course, it'll hurt. Love and pain are two sides of the same coin. When there's love, there's pain. Sometimes you must hurt to know, fall to grow, lose to gain—life's greatest lessons come through pain."
Erza looked really sad hearing my deep words.
"That's why…"
I hit her head with a karate chop.
"Ouch!" she cried, rubbing her head.
"Don't overthink. Just confess. Nothing good happens if you hesitate. If you want to be his lover, you have no choice but to say it. Just go!"
"Yes!" Erza beamed.
"Now go! My mustache tells me he's at the riverbank right now!"
"Yes, sir!"
She ran toward the door, but stopped and glanced back.
"Thank you, Mustache guy! I have the courage now."
"No problem. Glad I could help."
She nodded and dashed outside.
"See? My hunch was right. You gave her courage," Macao said, grinning.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever…"
I sipped my tea.
"Hehe… the taste of happiness."
I needed to hurry to the riverbank.
"Sorry, gotta go."
I stood.
Behind me, Levy's voice rang out,"Hey, Cana! What are you looking at?"
"Onee-chan, what's wrong?" Lisanna asked.
Curious, I glanced back.
Cana and Mirajane were staring at me.
When they noticed I caught them, both panicked, blushing and looking away.
Levy and Lisanna looked confused.
Sweat formed on my forehead.
I had a bad feeling.
I left the guild and headed to the riverbank to meet Erza.
Of course, I took off my black mustache first.
(To be continued.)