"Alright, alright, he was just following Joseph's orders when he did that, and he's already been taught a lesson."
By 'lesson,' it meant being lightly smacked by Rhode a few times, and then getting thoroughly beaten by Erza and Mira.
Plus, he was taken away by the Advisory Council for over a month's education.
Makarov believed there was still hope for Gajeel.
He tried to calm everyone's emotions, "As the saying goes, yesterday's enemy is today's friend.
Gajeel's nature isn't bad, so let's give him a chance. Didn't Jubia get along well with everyone?"
Jubia is Jubia, Gajeel is Gajeel.
Apart from being pretty, Jubia didn't do anything excessive.
Before the battle even started, she was captured by Rhode and Mira — aside from giving Lucy a bath, she didn't accomplish anything, and even provided a bunch of Ghost's intel.
Even so, she properly apologized to Lucy for the previous matters.
That kind of initial impression is different.
Moreover, for the past month or so, Jubia has always been hanging around the guild. Besides Gray, basically anyone could see she likes Fairy Tail.
Gajeel is different, ever since he came in, he's had a stern face, and except when looking at Erza and Mira, he seems to be challenging everyone else.
But since the President said so, they couldn't exactly argue against it.
Rhode glanced at Reby and whispered in Makarov's ear, "President, at least consider Reby and the others' feelings?"
"Well…" Makarov was a bit troubled and whispered back, "How about I ask him to apologize in private? Give him some time."
Makarov felt that Gajeel's mouth was as tough as his magic, and even if he felt apologetic, it was hard for him to express it directly.
Rhode nodded, "As long as Reby and the others don't mind, it's fine with me. If there's dissatisfaction, we can have a few brawls in the future."
At the counter, Lucy held Reby's hand and glared at Gajeel, "Reby..."
Reby was still trembling a bit, "I-I don't mind anymore."
Even though she said that, when Gajeel looked at her, Lucy could feel her shaking even more.
Lucy glared angrily at Gajeel.
Jet and Troy stepped forward to shield the two girls, glaring at him indignantly.
Gajeel looked away, not wanting to clash with them.
Under the President's signal, Mira took out the stamp and placed the black Fairy Tail Badge on Gajeel's left shoulder.
It was positioned a bit higher than Rhode's emblem.
Gajeel looked at the emblem and asked Makarov, "Does this mean I can start working now?"
Makarov nodded, "As long as it's a task posted on the first floor, you can select it."
Gajeel casually picked a task to subdue a Dark Guild.
Makarov looked at the target for subjugation and nodded, "Be careful."
Gajeel glanced at him in surprise, nodded, and left.
Erza watched Gajeel's back and said to the President, "Although I trust your judgment, this person is different from Jubia. It might be better to have someone keep an eye on him."
"Hmm…" Makarov pondered and looked at Rhode.
Rhode was very familiar with that look, "You don't plan to dump the trouble on me again, do you?"
Makarov said, "Haven't you always wanted to mentor some newbies? And you do agree with my approach."
"Just because I understand your approach doesn't mean I don't dislike him. Who wouldn't wish for their newbies to be a bit more well-behaved?"
Rhode remembered during the Lalabai incident, the President told Kagayama that 'guiding young people who have lost their way back to the right path is also a veteran's responsibility.'
But seeing Gajeel like that made him feel he could use a beating.
However, concerned about the President worrying, Rhode added, "If you really want me to do it, it's not impossible, just for the sake of the guild."
"Forget it, I'll arrange for someone else. You've been quite busy lately, no need to force it."
Actually, Makarov didn't intend to assign anyone to monitor because he had an important task for Gajeel.
Having him too close to Rhode wouldn't be convenient, the same with others.
...
At night, Mira brought Elfman along to visit Rhode's home.
The good news is, Mira voluntarily came home with me.
The bad news is, she brought her brother along.
What's going on here?
Mira could tell what Rhode was thinking just by looking at him.
"I'm coming to your house to see if it needs cleaning. Having one more person can make it quicker," Mira said. "The President left me with a lot of things, I don't have much time to come these days."
She wanted to tidy up quickly so Rhode could rest sooner.
"Oh... it's all the President's fault, no more drinks for him." Rhode grumbled, though he was the one who called the President for support, but...
The alcohol ban was for the President's health, not for revenge.
It was Elfman's first time at Rhode's place, and it was tidier than he imagined.
He originally thought it would be as messy as Natsu's place.
But in Elfman's view, it seemed like there were too many photo frames and picture frames on the walls, and almost every picture had something to do with his sister.
Some photos were group photos, some were individual, and some were clipped from old newspapers or magazines and preserved in a large frame.
It looked even more like a sister's room than his sister's room...
He really wondered when Rhode gathered all these things, and he had no idea when those group photos were taken.
Only that his sister looked really happy in them.
Thinking about it, if it weren't for those group photos, coming in to see this would surely make people think Rhode was a fervent fan, or even a stalker.
As for those drawings, they seemed to be Lidas' handiwork.
Originally, they were just Lidas' illustrations of some warm or chaotic moments in the guild.
But if one looks at them with his sister and Rhode as the main characters and follows the timeline, they could even piece together their journey from acquaintances to lovers.
Elfman only understood after closely examining that Rhode's look at his sister gradually changed, and so did his sister's look at Rhode.
The two of them didn't seem to just suddenly get together.
That moment when the guy stood in front of his sister and caught a wine bottle looked kind of cool — but why was it hanging on the wall?
"It's not that dirty, a quick wipe will do," Mira called out. "Elfman, come help."
"Coming."
In a sense, the family of three seriously got to work cleaning.
Once done, Rhode walked the siblings downstairs.
Elfman, being insightful, said he was in a hurry to take a bath and left first.
Rhode and Mira exchanged a glance and embraced tightly.
Being apart for nearly four days felt way too long.
The two said a few things that would sound cheesy to outsiders, and Mira urged Rhode to go rest.
"In a few days, would you accompany me to meet some new friends outside the city?" Rhode said, still hesitant to let go, gently inhaling the scent of her hair, "And then, I'd like to take on a task with higher rewards."
"Mhm." Mira naturally understood what he meant, burying her face in Rhode's chest and secretly inhaling his scent, "I want that too."