"Mira? Did you swallow any water? Need mouth-to-mouth? If you don't say anything, I'll..."
Slap! A hit on the chest.
The hard shell of the River Crab would only hurt Mira's hand, so Rhode removed the armor from his chest—considering she didn't have much strength left.
Erza didn't need Rhode's help on her side, since she still had the strength to Requip into Sea King's Armor, only realizing Mira couldn't fight anymore she switched into a swimsuit.
If Rhode hadn't been quick, Erza would have fished Mira out.
Rhode swam ashore holding Mira, the lake was full of ice, soaking for too long was cold, worried she'd get sick.
Mages can get sick too, especially vulnerable when their Magic Power is insufficient.
So as soon as they reached the shore, Rhode was searching for Natsu, who was happily playing on the lake riding a River Crab, not much help then.
Helpless, Rhode held Mira a bit tighter.
Today she wore a long white dress, wet all over, without holding tight it would be easy for people to see.
Though... but... Rhode thought for a bit and still used Requip Magic to take out a blanket to wrap her, and created some Flame with Three-Dimensional Text Magic to warm her.
You could unlock benefits slowly later, letting her freeze would be heart-wrenching.
Magic is really convenient.
"Lost, woo woo woo..." Mira buried her face in Rhode's embrace and cried.
Rhode patted her back comforting her, "Wasn't it a tie?"
"Because... I was already exhausted, and she still had other Requip options."
Mira raised her head, her tear-stained face made it hard for Rhode to tell if she was crying or acting cute.
"It's just a lack of Magic Power, not being at a disadvantage," Rhode said.
"The next time, the two of us against her alone, as long as you hold her front for a few seconds, I'll go behind and whack her with a board."
Mira broke into a smile through her tears, "That would be way too much."
"Achoo~"
Though there was a fire roasting, and a blanket wrapped around her, a breeze blew, and Mira still sneezed a little.
"Better go take a bath, you're soaked through."
"Mm."
Rhode carried Mira towards the Guild.
Mira tightened the blanket around her; the scene looked ambiguous any way you saw it.
Suddenly, Erza appeared, "Are you going to bathe? I might as well join you."
"Huh?" Rhode turned his head, seeing Erza in a rather bold swimsuit, her hair and body also wet.
"Is Erza going to bathe with us?"
Mira reached out her hand, turned Rhode's face back, what's there to see with a swimsuit.
Erza said undeterred, "Yeah, last time when teamed up with Rhode, I..."
Rhode sensed the arm hugging his neck tighten, and Mira's gaze became dangerous.
Indeed, only Erza would be unfazed by such things.
Luckily, Erza didn't mind, rather she regretfully noted Rhode refused her invite.
Mira's expression softened greatly.
Actually, thinking about it, it was long ago when Rhode teamed up with Erza, the two hadn't confirmed their relationship yet.
Even if he and Erza bathed together, scrubbed each other's back...
He couldn't be beaten to death.
Rhode escorted Mira to the bathroom, and when she lifted the blanket, he couldn't help glancing more.
Clearly nothing was exposed, but Mira was a bit shy.
At such a time, Erza boldly before Rhode began unhooking her swimsuit.
Mira promptly nudged Rhode's back to get him out.
Erza curiously asked, "Huh? Not calling Rhode to join?"
Mira was still helpless toward the oblivious Erza, "No way, if you want a back rub I'll help you..."
Rhode was ushered out of the bathroom, could only sigh that Erza was a good buddy, never treating pals as outsiders.
"Why'd you come out?" Kana teased him, "I thought you'd bathe with them."
"If it weren't 'them', it might have happened." Rhode, who'd seen through Kana's nature, stared into her eyes and said, "Might even end up doing this and that."
"Tch~" Kana showed a disdainful expression, evidently recalling something her face reddened noticeably.
Surely faking maturity, Rhode pursued, "Kana, being so beautiful, lots must chase you, right?"
Kana seemed nervous, "Of... of course!"
Rhode asked, "So, you must have had a boyfriend?"
"Alcohol is my boyfriend!"
"Oh—such a great relationship you have."
"What kind of look is that! Mira's so pretty and popular, hasn't had a boyfriend either!"
"That's great, thanks for telling me!"
"You..."
Kana, irritated, gritted her teeth, this guy... how did a shy little boy become like this?
Does love make one grow? Yet Alzack's still the same, after all.
The chat couldn't continue, Kana slapped the table and took a gulp of liquor.
When Mira and Erza emerged, still grooming their hair, Kana was in a sulk.
Mira asked, "What happened?"
Kana suddenly grinned, "Mira, let me tell you, Rhode just mentioned I was pretty."
"..." Rhode's mind blanked, no! Dude, you...
Mira smilingly tilted her head, "Is that so?"
...
Kana stormed off in frustration.
Because Mira didn't bash Rhode's head, instead hugged his arm saying 'there's definitely more.'
The sensation of having the arm held was nice, Rhode didn't want to pull away, "Haven't gone on a date in a while, how about seeing a movie later?"
Though they stuck together daily, it's either work or practice, a break was due.
"Sure, but today promised Erza we'd help bake a cake. Tomorrow then? And there's the afternoon shift..."
Before the battle, Mira really bet with Erza about those strawberries, and Erza genuinely agreed.
Sadly, she didn't win.
And the price for losing was helping Erza with the cake.
Not really a big deal...
However, for these two, perhaps being ordered by the other was considered a very severe penalty?
This was out of Rhode's hands, where he could help was standing in for Mira.
"Fine, that's fine, but I want compensation." Rhode pointed to his cheek.
Mira glanced around, only strawberry-absorbed Erza was nearby, no one else watching.
She leaned over, her lips pressing onto Rhode's cheek.
Crash! Erza's bowl of strawberries fell to pieces.
Her face redder than Mira's, stunned pointing at them, "You you you... You two..."
Mira suddenly elated, chuckled and asked, "What about us?"
Erza covered her face, "Ki... ki... kiss!"
"Ah la ah la... Just a normal kiss, oh." Mira mischievously grinned, shy Erza was so fun, "There'll be more intimate moves in the future, and if we get married..."
"Married?" A plume of white steam shot from Erza's head, mind instantly froze, "Y... young lady not talented, please guide!"