"Hmph!"
Erza brushed Marco's hand aside, gritting her teeth and puffing her cheeks before turning to leave without another word to him.
There was no helping it—she really had no right to dwell on why Marco hadn't told her about this matter earlier.
After all, she herself had been involved as a child, yet she hadn't recognized or remembered it.
If she didn't leave now, Erza felt she wouldn't be able to hold back her laughter.
They really had been foolish and naively cute back then.
Erza's silhouette lengthened and shortened under the streetlights, her footsteps tapping rhythmically on the stone pavement.
Watching her retreating figure, Marco's smile lingered as he shook his head and turned to leave, also preparing to head home and rest.
Then, Marco spotted a familiar figure approaching—a head of silver hair and a striking red dress that swayed gently in the night breeze like a blooming rose.
Her fair skin, illuminated by the soft glow of the lights, appeared as smooth as milk, impossible to ignore.
"Mira? Here to pick up Lisanna after work?"
Marco spoke first, his hands hanging naturally at his sides, adopting a casual posture as he asked with curiosity.
"Yes, it's about time for her to finish."
Mirajane nodded, her fingers lightly brushing the hem of her dress in an elegant and restrained manner.
She answered softly, her gaze drifting past Marco to where Erza was gradually disappearing into the distance.
"Isn't that Erza?" Mirajane asked as if unintentionally.
"...Yes."
Marco glanced back, his lips twitching involuntarily.
Was this the power of bonds?
Erza's back was nearly reduced to a pixelated dot!
And she could still recognize her?! As if she'd know her even if she turned to ashes?!
"You and Erza... Did you have business at the guild?"
After receiving confirmation, Mirajane asked with extreme nonchalance.
Though her voice was gentle, it carried a subtle tension.
"Did you run into Natsu, Happy, and Gray on your way here?"
Instead of answering directly, Marco countered with a question.
His expression was puzzled, his brow slightly raised as his eyes scanned Mirajane's face, capturing her subtle shifts in expression.
"I did. Were they with you too?"
The corners of Mirajane's mouth, which had been downturned, gradually relaxed.
Her tense shoulders eased, and her breathing seemed to lighten.
If it was such a large group, then there was nothing to worry about.
"Yes, and Lucy too."
Marco, keenly observant, noticed this and added to the headcount.
"You all..."
Sure enough, Mirajane's expression grew increasingly relaxed, a faint curve forming at the corners of her lips.
Now she was genuinely curious—what were all these people doing gathered together so late at night?
"Nee-san! Marco!"
However, before Mirajane could finish her curious inquiry, Lisanna's cheerful voice abruptly cut her off.
"Why are you all outside? Come on and help! Once we tidy up, we can call it a day!"
Lisanna gave Marco and Mirajane a puzzled look before grabbing both their hands and pulling them back toward the guildhall.
By now, everyone had started to disperse, and it was closing time for the guild.
Laki had already begun clearing the tables, along with the indispensable task of repairing the damaged tables and chairs—a near-daily routine.
"Thanks for your hard work, Laki."
Marco patted Laki's shoulder like a boss commending a subordinate as she bent over, using magic to repair a table.
"If you have time for that, go help clear the tables instead."
Laki retorted with a hint of annoyance.
As the backbone of the guild, the unsung hero, and the true pillar keeping the guild from physically falling apart, she had every right to stand up to Marco!
Simply put, the guild couldn't function without Laki!
"Haha~ I'm on it."
After a light-hearted joke, Marco didn't continue slacking off.
He joined the giggling Mira and Lisanna sisters in tidying up the chaotic guild.
He picked up an empty barrel—its surface cool to the touch, the lingering scent of alcohol filling the air.
These people really knew how to make a mess!
"So, it's completely justified to pay the guild staff high salaries."
A voice suddenly spoke up, startling Marco so much that he nearly dropped the barrel.
He quickly turned toward the source of the voice and let out a sigh of relief.
"Oh, it's you, Chiko. When did you get here?"
Marco looked exasperated, rubbing his forehead with a hint of helplessness.
This "Guardian of Magnolia," this "earthbound spirit," this "urban legend," was as elusive as a ghost.
"I've been here helping all along!"
Chiko raised her voice slightly, having already cleared several tables of dishes—something the others hadn't even noticed.
"Huh? No wonder we were making such fast progress..."
Lisanna stuck out her tongue sheepishly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
She had thought it was because Marco had joined in, but it turned out Chiko had been helping all along?
"Chiko, next time, could you speak up a little sooner? If you don't say anything, no one will know you're helping."
Marco sighed, his tone filled with genuine concern.
Chiko's low profile had a lot to do with her overly reserved and independent nature.
She always helped quietly, doing what she felt needed to be done without seeking recognition.
Even if no one noticed her efforts, she never complained and would still step in to help the next time.
"Sometimes, even when I speak, no one responds..."
Chiko continued wiping the table silently, her movements gentle and almost soundless, as if afraid to disturb the lively atmosphere.
The more people there were, the more her presence seemed to fade.
Only when the crowd thinned would anyone notice her or respond to her words.
Of course, she rarely initiated conversations herself.
She had long grown accustomed to standing quietly on the sidelines, watching everyone.
She didn't need to be overly involved—just observing was enough for her.
"..."
Marco fell silent.
Mira, Lisanna, and Laki also felt a pang of sympathy.
A faint sense of melancholy filled the air.
Chiko was a few years older than them, twenty-two this year. It was hard to imagine how she had endured all these years.
"Don't worry about it. I think it's fine the way it is."
Marco and Mira's reactions naturally caught Chiko's attention.
She lifted her head, a slight curve forming at the corner of her lips as she offered a reassuring smile, gently advising them not to worry about it.
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