NaLu development and other people

Original post: August, 2014

Made by jhayni-in-the-rain

Natsu and Lucy have been linked romantically several times by others in the manga. While it’s often presented in a teasing or comedic way, people have noticed the “more than friends” aspect of their relationship.

One of the first (if not THE first) to do so was Mira in the Watch Out for that Guy omake:

By the end of that chapter, though, Mira thought Lucy and Gray might make a good couple, to which Lucy replied, “No, thanks.” Lucy had had quite enough of Mira putting notions into her head!

Mira hasn’t said anything about Natsu and Lucy in the manga since, but she teases Lucy quite a bit in the Q&A corner of the manga volumes.

Early on in FT, Mira got her hands on a spare key to Lucy’s apartment, which she happily gave to Natsu so he could nap in Lucy’s bed. Later, Mira got Lucy to admit that Natsu had seen her naked many times. She then expressed her opinion that Natsu’s special interest was in Lucy when the boys tried to peek at the girls in the hot springs.

Mira may not be overtly shipping Nalu, but she certainly enables it!

Virgo’s a Nalu shipper. She dressed them in matching clothes twice–once after their waterfall adventure in the OS arc and the second time when they went to the Celestial Spirit Realm.

When Lucy blushed at Natsu thanking her for saving him, Virgo commented that the two of them looked like they were going out.

And after the boob-groping incident, with Lucy (once again) blushing over Natsu’s ability to redeem a hopeless-looking situation, Virgo remarked:

Happy’s reaction to Nalu is more important. He’s Natsu’s housemate and partner, and a close friend of Lucy’s. His support of Nalu means much more than Mira’s or Virgo’s.

At the end of Fantasia, Happy and Bixlow both made remarks about Loke’s flirtatious behavior towards Lucy. It’s not something Happy continued, though. Since Tenrou, he’s taken to teasing both Natsu and Lucy about their relationship.

He created his own Nalu moment

ribbed Natsu about wanting to rescue Lucy

commented on their boldness

and spread the story of the boob-grope to others

Cana used this opportunity to tease a flustered Lucy about the incident.

But this is not the only time someone has commented on the physical aspect of Natsu and Lucy’s relationship.

Kain at Tenrou complained several times about their sexual chemistry.

Physical attraction aside, I think others see that the two have a deep emotional bond. Everyone realizes that it’s Natsu and Lucy’s job to care for each other. Lucy’s often the one dealing with a motion-sick Natsu. Similarly, Natsu is usually the first to offer protection and comfort to Lucy.

Lisanna’s noticed their closeness. As the attack group was leaving to battle Hades, she stopped Lucy to tell her to keep near Natsu.

At that point, Lisanna did not know Lucy very well. It would’ve made more sense for her to single out Happy, who was also close to Natsu and someone Lisanna knew well. But she perceived that Natsu and Lucy have a special connection.

Lisanna is good at picking up those kinds of signals: she noted and correctly interpreted the heated looks Evergreen was sending Elfman at the beginning of Tenrou.

Juvia, who for the longest time considered Lucy a love rival, more recently had a Nalu hallucination (and a Gale one).

Juvia’s visions of both Nalu and another ship that’s well on its way to becoming canon bodes well for Nalu’s future.

And last–but not least–is Asuka. She saw something in Natsu and Lucy’s interactions that reminded her of the way her own (happily married, very much in love) parents act. She figured Natsu and Lucy would have a similar relationship. And when it turned out the two of them weren’t as lovey-dovey as Al and Bisca, she decided they really ought to be:

Now, the fact that a ship gets comments from others doesn’t automatically make it a viable one. Graylu, Nali, and Lolu all have had one or two shippy comments. It’s just as important to look at the quantity of the comments over time, and who they’re coming from.

Nalu has had comparatively more support, and most of it in recent arcs and omakes. Many also come from good sources: Natsu’s childhood friend, Natsu’s partner, Lucy’s Spirit, the child of a canon couple who is reminded of her own parents when they babysit her.

Add this aspect to all the other development they’ve had, and I feel very, very good about their chances!