Erza came a bit late today, and as soon as she arrived, she went to the bulletin board and tore off a task sheet: "Mira, Rhode, this one."
"Okay~" Mira glanced at it and handed it over to Rhode to handle.
"Such an ordinary task, and the reward is so low..." Rhode confirmed, "Do you really want to take this on?"
Erza replied seriously, "That's right, because during this task, I have a chance to get a 'Top-level Sweet-to-Death Strawberry'!"
"What strawberry?"
"Top-level Sweet-to-Death Strawberry."
She can actually say it a second time! Seems like it's not just made up.
Rhode asked, "Is that strawberry... delicious?"
"It's already beyond just delicious! I've learned the technique to make the best whipped cream. If I also have those strawberries, I can make the number one strawberry cake in Fiore!"
When mentioning the strawberry cake, Erza's eyes were almost sparkling.
"Alright, I get it." Rhode understood a bit about Erza's personality. As long as there's something she wants along the way, she would take it on even if there's no reward.
Even if that item isn't worth much compared to the reward.
This time the client got lucky, getting an S-Class Mage for less than ten thousand J.
"By the way, I seem to have heard them say, Mira, you've regained your S-Class status?"
Mira briefly looked at Rhode, who was seriously writing, and sweetly smiled: "Yeah, because my magic power has fully recovered."
"That's wonderful." Erza was genuinely happy for her, "Want to have a long overdue match later?"
"Sure, a bit of exercise isn't bad."
"I do miss it a little." Erza recalled the days she often jousted with Mira, "So let's set the time for after I get back, and the place..."
"If it's a serious match, it's best not to do it near the guild. If you two fight, the president will cry."
Rhode still felt a bit guilty about his oversight yesterday, at least he couldn't let Mira and Erza demolish the place again.
Mira said, "Decide on the location after you come back, okay?"
"Alright."
Erza left satisfied. There were strawberries to look forward to in the mission and a fight to expect after coming back. It was just perfect.
Mira watched Erza's back, sighing:
"The fact that we can peacefully arrange a duel now, it does feel like the old tension is gone."
"It's because both of you have grown up, you've changed a lot too."
Rhode naturally held her hand; perhaps he was under some kind of magic, always wanting to do this unconsciously.
"But this way, it feels a bit less fun..." Mira suddenly had a brilliant idea, "How about we use the strawberries Erza brings back as a bet? Whoever wins gets to take the Top-level Sweet-to-Death Strawberry."
"It originally belongs to her, and she has to win to take it... Who would agree to that?"
"Others might not, but Erza would agree." Mira knew her too well,
"Ah, if I win the hard-earned item from her, Erza's expression must be quite amusing."
Oh dear, she doesn't want the strawberry, just wants to see Erza turn to stone on the spot.
"Demon."
Rhode gave this comment, but Mira wasn't angry at all. She was a demon after all.
However, she thought for a while and suddenly asked, "If I still had the same personality as before, would you still like me?"
"Well..."
Thinking rationally, if Mira had the same personality as before, then the first person Rhode might meet when waking up wouldn't have been her, and she might not have been the one who took care of him the most later on.
After seeing Mira and Erza fight, he might have listed both as the big sisters not to mess with when he wasn't familiar with them yet.
If there wasn't a suitable opportunity, he might not have gotten to know Mira's personality more deeply, at least not in a short time.
Then again, he would still learn Receiving Magic, still have chances to interact.
How it would develop afterwards can't be predicted well.
But such questions can't be answered based on rational thinking...
Rhode hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, his hands holding hers: "I think even if you had that personality, I would still be attracted to you."
Even in such a moment, a demon can have a girlish side: "Really?"
Rhode confirmed: "Truly, don't believe me... try restoring your old outfit and see?"
Mira gently leaned her head to bump Rhode, this smooth talker just wanted to trick her into changing clothes.
"Ouch~" Rhode felt Mira's skull was a bit hard; he tossed the question back to her, "If you were still the same, would you be able to like me?"
Mira thought for a moment, withdrew her hand, grabbing his hand back: "The way I see it, I might initially be very annoyed by you, right? But over time I would probably end up liking you. But the confession might be a bit more intense~"
"Intense is a word..."
Rhode thought carefully, if it were the old Mira, she might grab his collar:
'Did you hear me? I said I like you! Start dating me now, and if you dare to flirt with other women, I'll break your legs!'
Ew~~
Seems a bit exciting.
"Ahem."
When the atmosphere is right, there's always an unexpected guest to disrupt it. That's why public displays of affection aren't good for everyone.
Mira broke free from Rhode's arms and pushed him back to his seat.
Laki actually enjoyed watching, but after a while, inexplicable discontent brewed.
People are weird this way; when Mira and Rhode hadn't cleared things up, she was more anxious than anyone.
Once they snuggled up, she couldn't resist wanting to disturb them a bit.
Rhode looked at Laki: "The infirmary has medicine for cough and phlegm."
Laki didn't say anything, just stared at Rhode, pointing at the wall she repaired.
Rhode pondered for a bit, "Have you heard of the bronze bull torture? It's like..."
Laki's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
While speaking, Rhode didn't find anything odd, but with Laki's expression, it felt quite eerie.
Luckily, Mira didn't have such peculiar hobbies.
Huh? She shouldn't...right?
When he went to her house before, he just sat in the living room. It seemed normal there, but he hadn't seen what Mira's room looked like.
He needed to find an excuse to check it out.
He could maybe just ask, right?
Mira turned her head to look at him: "What's up?"
Rhode thought it over and said, "I was thinking maybe in a few days we could team up for a task? Just the two of us, like Alzack and Bisca."
"Sure, let's keep an eye out for something suitable. Though, after Erza returns, wait for me to have a good match with her before we set off."
Rhode nodded: "That's true, someone has to take care of things in the guild."
Mira looked at Rhode: "Yes, exactly."