The early morning sun spilled through the stained-glass windows of the Fairy Tail guild hall, casting kaleidoscopic hues across the wooden floors. Outside, Magnolia bustled to life, but inside the guild, the mood was lazy, peaceful—a rare lull in the chaos that often defined their days.
Shinra sat at one of the corner tables, sipping a warm mug of tea while flipping through the latest mission board updates. The air smelled faintly of baked bread and parchment, mingling with the faint aroma of Erza's strawberry cake nearby. Mira worked behind the bar, radiant and smiling, chatting with Cana about a minor bar brawl the night before.
Erza arrived moments later, clad in her casual armorless outfit—something rare and informal for her. She wore a cream blouse with a red sash around her waist and her hair tied up in a looser ponytail than usual.
"Morning," she said, her voice calm but warm.
"You're in civilian mode," Shinra teased, setting down his tea. "What's the occasion?"
"No emergencies for once," she said with a hint of amusement. "Mira insisted I take the day off."
From behind the bar, Mira called out, "Because even you need to relax, Titania. Don't make me use big-sister authority."
Erza let out a reluctant chuckle, then sat beside Shinra. Their chairs scraped the floor in tandem. It was a small, mundane sound, but somehow intimate.
"You planning to take a mission today?" she asked.
"Not today. I'm... trying to enjoy the calm for once."
They sat in silence for a bit, watching Jet and Droy argue over something ridiculous, while Levy sighed and scribbled notes in a new book. Across the room, Gray was sparring lightly with Natsu, who was clearly holding back his punches to avoid setting anything on fire. Lucy entered with a bundle of shopping bags and was immediately roped into an arm-wrestling contest by Elfman.
For Shinra, this—this quiet energy, this bizarre normalcy—felt surreal.
---
Later in the day, Shinra found himself walking through Magnolia's market square with Erza and Mira—an unplanned trio that somehow worked. Mira had closed the bar for the afternoon, declaring it a self-care day. Erza had insisted on buying a new set of quills. Shinra just followed along, hands in his pockets, occasionally amused by their banter.
"This one," Mira said, holding up a red ribbon. "Too flashy for me?"
"It suits you," Shinra said without thinking.
Mira blinked, surprised, and a rare blush colored her cheeks. Erza caught it but said nothing, hiding a tiny smile of her own.
"You're just saying that," Mira mumbled.
"No. You always make things brighter."
Erza stopped in front of a bookstall, pretending to browse. Mira walked ahead, silently pleased.
"You're getting better at this," Erza said softly when they were alone for a moment.
"At what?"
"Being honest. With your words. With your presence."
He looked at her. "You think I wasn't before?"
"You held back. Maybe still do. But lately, it feels like you're more... you."
Shinra considered that for a moment. Maybe it was true. Maybe the walls he had built so high were slowly eroding—not with dramatic gestures, but with tiny moments like this.
---
That evening, the trio returned to the guild where the rest were engaged in casual training. Shinra joined Natsu and Gray for target practice, hurling controlled cursed energy in tandem with fire and ice. The others watched in awe as the three operated with surprising harmony.
"We should train like this more often," Natsu said, panting. "We're like a three-man wrecking crew."
"You just like blowing things up," Gray muttered, but he grinned all the same.
Meanwhile, Mira challenged Erza to a sparring match for the first time in years. Their battle was graceful and explosive, like two goddesses dancing across the training ground. Shinra watched from the side, mesmerized.
They both collapsed in laughter afterward, lying side-by-side on the grass.
"Missed this," Mira said between breaths.
"So did I," Erza replied.
Mira glanced at Shinra, who approached them with a couple of cold water bottles.
"Thanks," she said, sitting up and patting the space beside her.
Shinra hesitated for a heartbeat, then joined them. Erza sat up too, brushing stray grass from her hair.
"You two fought beautifully," Shinra said.
"That's high praise coming from the guy who casually deflected a magical cannon," Mira teased.
He smiled, feeling the kind of peace that didn't come from silence—but from belonging.
---
As night fell, Shinra found himself alone on the roof of the guild hall. The stars above were clear and vast. The sounds of laughter still echoed below—his family, his home. He had known power, battle, and endless conflict. But this—the sound of carefree bickering, of friendships deepening, of romantic tension so slow it felt like poetry—this was something he had never experienced before.
He closed his eyes.
He could feel something on the horizon. A disturbance. Something dark and heavy waiting in the wings.
But for now, he allowed himself this moment.
Just for now.
---
Back inside, Mira walked through the guild with a gentle hum, picking up empty glasses, folding spare linens. She spotted Shinra's tea mug still on the table from the morning. Picking it up, she smiled to herself.
She wasn't sure what this thing between them was—not yet. But whatever it was, it was real.
Erza stood by the bar, sipping her own drink, watching with calm understanding. They exchanged a glance.
No rivalry. Just recognition.
Whatever would come next, they would face it together.
*To be continued...*