"Hapi!" Rhode took Hapi down and shouted angrily at his ear, "This is a new outfit Mira gave me!"
"Ai~~~~" Hapi, looking like a flag fluttering in the wind, mumbled an apology, "Sor~ry~~~"
"Ahahaha..."
Hapi was being squashed and squeezed by Rhode, but Natsu just laughed heartlessly instead of helping.
Seeing both mischief-makers getting into trouble at the same time was just too delightful.
Mira, on the other hand, didn't look angry at all; she was just smiling secretly at Hapi being lectured by Rhode.
In the end, Rhode couldn't really do anything to Hapi, so after a thorough squashing, he threw him back to Natsu, telling them both to scram.
"Mira, my clothes got dirty..." Rhode tried to take the chance to jump into her arms and fake cry.
But unfortunately, they were in the Guild, which wasn't a good look.
"It's fine, it's fine, it's just Hapi's drool, maybe it even smells like fish," she joked.
"..." Rhode didn't think much of it at first, but suddenly felt a bit grossed out when she said that, "I'll go change."
She must have done it on purpose.
"Oh, there's something important too."
"What is it?"
"I've been out so long, no one's been cleaning my place, it's surely messy. But cleaning takes a long time, which wouldn't let me rest well."
Rhode looked at her sincerely, "So... would it be possible for me to stay over at your place?"
Mira wrinkled her nose, "That's a really bad excuse. I could approve you leave work early."
"That'd be so awkward; I can't just leave all this work to you."
"Then why don't you keep working at the Guild, and I'll go help with your cleaning."
"How about a compromise, we work together and clean together?"
"Hmph~" Mira chuckled but didn't refuse.
Sadly, he couldn't manage to keep her there overnight.
Having completed his daily meditation, Rhode lay in bed, contemplating how to advance their relationship.
Even though it's inevitable, he was keen to hurry things along under the circumstances.
The next day, Mira really went out with Erza, one grinning and the other full of anticipation.
Everyone was talking about this pair, and the curious ones directly asked Rhode about it.
Then they found out the explosive news—Erza was actually going for a photo shoot!
"Seriously? Is she doing it with Mira?"
"July's issue, when does July's issue come out?"
"If it's Wednesday, then it's the 2nd!"
Macao and Wakaba exchanged a smile, "We absolutely have to buy that issue!"
"Wakaba, I'll give you a pass, but Macao, don't you have a girlfriend?" Rhode placed two drinks on their table, questioning Macao's behavior.
"What's that got to do with having a girlfriend?" Macao retorted, "Do you stop looking at models in magazines just because you have a girlfriend?"
"Good point!" Rhode gave a thumbs-up, laughing, "I guess I have to formally introduce my girlfriend to you guys..."
"Damn! Get lost!"
"You bastard!"
They almost forgot that this little punk's girlfriend was the top model in Fiore.
Plus, although she was producing less work, her popularity had increased significantly.
After shooing Rhode away, Macao put his hand on Wakaba's shoulder, "Look on the bright side, Wakaba. Maybe Rhode wants to look too but doesn't dare because Mira would beat him up."
"Makes sense!" Wakaba nodded heavily, but immediately shrugged off Macao's hand, "You're a bastard too! Guys with new young girlfriends better not talk to me!"
"What are you talking about? You came to me first today!"
There's hardly any need for a reason to fight; if a word fails, that's it, just brawl.
Just right, a lot of people were feeling suppressed lately, taking this chance to vent.
Many had similar thoughts and joined the fray under any pretext, and the Guild descended into chaos once more.
"Rhode, over here!" Kana wasn't joining in today, quietly selecting a task to head out.
"Let me see..." Rhode checked it carefully; the difficulty wasn't an issue, just that the distance was quite far,
"Going so far away? Feels like the reward isn't enough to cover your booze on the road."
Others might make a profit from this, but with Kana's drinking habits, she could end up paying for drinks herself.
"It doesn't matter, the Guild's too noisy. I just want to go somewhere far to clear my mind," Kana glanced at her companions brawling, "I'll figure the booze money out."
"Alright." Rhode helped her register, clearing her mind could do her good, "Just don't get completely sloshed out there, it could cause trouble."
"No worries, I'm still a Mage regardless." Kana seemed to be in a better mood, waved and turned to leave, "See you in a few days, and... good luck."
"Good luck with what, out of the blue?" But she didn't look back, so Rhode shouted, "Take care on the road!"
The fight in the tavern wasn't quite over when Gray brought another task sheet, "Rhode, I want this task."
"Why is everyone so proactive today, even you want to join in?"
Gray scratched his head, seeming a bit annoyed, "Even Natsu's working hard, I don't want to lose to him."
Rhode looked at the task sheet, "Investigating a smuggling ring selling contraband... going solo?"
"Natsu's going solo too."
"You just have to compete with him in everything... also, what you said is going to make Hapi sad."
Gray said helplessly, "I can't help it, I want a cat like that too, one that's a bit more well-behaved than Hapi... but where do you find such a special egg?"
"Since Natsu and Wendy both found one, there's no reason you can't, good luck." Rhode stamped it and handed him the necessary information.
"I hope I can see one."
"Come back and take your clothes with you!"
"Eh?!"
"Make sure you behave when you're out there!"
"I know, nagging!"
...
Mira came back a bit late today, and Erza wasn't with her.
Seeing the faint smile on her face, Rhode suspected she might have sold Erza off.
"That was amazing."
"What?"
"Erza's performance was amazing, you really should've come with me."
Mira couldn't wipe the smile off her face.
Rhode felt increasingly uneasy, "She didn't get mad and slice up the whole editorial team, did she?"
"How could she? Erza had a lot of fun and was very eager to perform, without the shyness you'd expect from a newbie."
"So where is she?"
Mira, smiling like a demon, "When I left, she was still shooting and had dragged the whole editorial crew to work overtime with her.
Erza said she found this work fun and wanted to shoot for three days and nights straight; no one was allowed to leave until it was done."
"And the magazine actually agreed to that?"
"Initially they didn't, but after Erza sincerely 'requested' the chief editor, they agreed."
"..." Rhode recalled Erza's earnest 'request' for a regular clothing company to produce armor.
As outrageous as it sounded, it was quite like Erza's style.
Sympathizing with the editorial team for a moment.
Mira winked at Rhode, "Anyway, look forward to July's issue, Erza in various swimsuits, she's really beautiful."
At times like these, there's no way Rhode could just nod in agreement.
He chose to hug Mira, speaking softly in her ear, "Actually, I'm more looking forward to seeing you in a swimsuit."
"Don't you already have a lot of past magazines?" Mira had seen magazines laying on Rhode's table when she cleaned his house before.
"It's not the same, work photos lack soul."
"Then..." Mira's ear felt ticklish, turning slightly red, "How about we go on a beach vacation next time?"