By the time the usual cleaning was done, the guild was getting more and more crowded.
The weather had completely warmed up, and in another month, it would be summer.
The guild's heaters had long been put away, and everyone seemed to have shed their winter laziness, becoming livelier than usual.
Even Natsu, who had been missing for a long time, showed up today.
"Hahaha..." He walked with a swagger, his mouth grinning so wide you could see the little flame in his throat.
Even Rhode, who was in a good mood today, wasn't as ostentatious as Natsu.
"Natsu? Seems like it's been ages since we last saw you," Macao spoke for many people.
If Hapi hadn't often swung by the guild, everyone would have thought Natsu had gone far away for work again.
"I was training, training!" Natsu shouted.
Seeing Gray, his eyes lit up, and he dashed over like the wind, slapping his hands on the table: "Gray! I ate fire!"
"Huh?"
Gray thought Natsu's brain was fried, "Don't you eat fire every day?"
Natsu stood with his hands on his hips, proudly said, "It's black fire!"
"Black fire..." Gray thought for a moment, "The kind Rhode talked about, Godslayer Magic?"
"That's right, hahaha..." In Natsu's plan, Gray was supposed to mock him for not being able to eat that fire, so he eagerly wanted to show off to Gray.
However, Gray still burst out laughing:
"So you really couldn't eat that fire before? How does it feel knowing someone else's fire is hotter than yours, you Fire Flame fool?"
Natsu's temper flared up, and he leaned over the table, pressing his forehead against Gray's: "You ice block jerk!"
Gray stood up, pressing his forehead against Natsu's: "Wanna fight, Fire Flame fool!"
"Come on, let me show you the results of my training!"
"Don't think you're the only one training!"
Since Rhode pinned the information about those two members of the Seven Dependents on the bulletin board, many in the guild felt a sense of crisis.
This was largely thanks to Lidas, who portrayed the effects of those two's magic so well.
Rhode, wanting everyone to clearly understand their power, didn't care about his own image, letting Lidas include him in the drawing of Dingir's Tower.
The shining, magnificent tower made Rhode, trapped inside, seem insignificant and helpless.
His tattered clothes and wounded appearance made even Mira feel heartache upon close inspection.
Of course, the version sent to the Advisory Council was just a draft without faces.
Anyone in the guild with a bit of understanding of Rhode's strength took it seriously; they were no ordinary opponents.
Many people secretly increased their training time; although some had only short-lived enthusiasm, others truly persisted.
Gray was among the latter, so even if Natsu trained hard, he wasn't intimidated.
The two began fighting at once, and cheers immediately erupted around them.
Rhode quietly slipped to the counter in front.
But he suddenly wondered, does Mira now not need him to stand as a shield?
Seeing him turn around, Mira, as if performing magic, suddenly brought out a large bouquet of flowers from behind the counter.
It was a huge bunch of white roses, wrapped in white paper, tied into a bouquet with a white ribbon.
Mira gracefully walked out from behind the counter, handing the bouquet to Rhode under his dumbfounded gaze: "For you."
Rhode dumbfoundedly held the bouquet with both hands, also grasping her hands, and for a moment, his brain really stopped: "Why?"
Mira seemed satisfied with his expression, smiling brightly: "Although you must know, and you've already expressed your feelings well. But I've never formally said it, actually..."
She took a deep breath, like making a firm decision, gazing intently at Rhode:
"Actually, I like you, Rhode, will you be my boyfriend?"
Squeak~~
Click...
Clang clang clang...
The guild erupted with all sorts of chaotic noises before falling into silence.
Even Natsu and Gray, who were still grappling, stopped once they sensed something was off, turning their heads to look at the pair by the counter.
Erza, about to intervene in the fight, froze, her neck turning like a rusted machine, confession? Is this Mira confessing to Rhode? Love? Then marriage?
Erza's mind raced, her face redder than the two involved.
Girls like Laki, who had been anticipating this moment for a long time, already covered their mouths, afraid to scream.
Though it wasn't quite the scene they had imagined, thinking of the past Mira, it wasn't all that strange.
Reby held her heart with both hands, showing shyness and admiration, Sister Mira was truly brave.
Jet and Troy simultaneously imagined a scene where Reby confessed to them, only to gnaw their clothes enviously at Rhode.
Alzack stole a glance at Bisca, just noticing her eyes looking over, the two turned away, quietly observing the situation.
Bisca clenched her fists for courage, if Mira could be so bold, then maybe she could...
Elfman really wanted to shout 'Sister you're a man', but sensed that speaking up now might get his legs broken, so he clenched his fists, biting his teeth, his face turning red.
Nabu, Bigda, and Marcus, thinking they understood Elfman's feelings, patted his shoulder for comfort.
Wolian felt crushed and wanted to run away.
For once, Loki was not far away, leaning against the doorway of the guild, arms crossed, smiling, silently offering his blessings.
Warm didn't really want to watch; he'd rather eat one more bite of food, while Hapi next to him, fish in its mouth, thought of Carla.
Macao, Wakaba, and Krof, along with Nicky and other unimportant guys, silently fumed, why did Rhode have such good luck?
Kana held a glass of wine in one hand, her chin in the other, thinking Rhode really pulled it off, getting to this stage. And... Mira did not disappoint.
Upstairs, Makarov, hearing the sudden silence in the guild, worried the kids might pull something big, jumped onto the railing to sit, revealing a knowing smile.
Lidas quietly switched to a new paper, picking up a brush to ponder the best composition.
Almost everyone in the guild was waiting for Rhode's affirmative response.
Rhode couldn't hear anyone else's voice now, nor could he see everyone's reactions. At this moment, he was completely enveloped in surprise and emotion, as if the whole world only had two people left.
Though it seemed he suddenly switched from the pursuer to being pursued, it felt a bit strange.
But that didn't affect the joy in Rhode's heart when he heard Mira say she liked him.
Seeing Mira's expectant eyes and her slightly nervous and shy expression, Rhode could only seriously respond to her:
"I would love nothing more."
Mira took a step forward, resting on Rhode's chest,
Rhode cooperatively released one hand holding the flowers, embracing Mira tightly.
The guild erupted in enthusiastic cheers and excited screams, along with the sound of whistles rising and falling.
The two were awakened by everyone's noise, suddenly realizing they had become the focus.
Mira's cheeks felt hot, burying her face in Rhode's chest, trying to use the bouquet to hide herself.
Weren't they fighting? How did everyone's attention turn here all of a sudden?
Rhode had never experienced such a scene, so he could only hold Mira, grinning foolishly amidst everyone's teasing and blessings.
Early May of the year X784, the 11th month since coming to this world.
Rhode gained a precious happiness.