Can't think about it anymore. Bisca held her cheeks with both hands and decided to buy flowers again later.
"...
Once, I was afraid to bare my heart,
Deliberately avoiding others' kindness. ♪
Our meeting must have been fate,
To have changed me so much. ♪
Swirling thoughts, rippling through the heart.
I want to stay by your side forever,
Even when the lonely season arrives. ♪
..."
The song turned lively and upbeat, clearly overflowing with infinite joy and longing.
Everyone could see the happiness and anticipation on Mira's face, and many couldn't help but glance in Rhode's direction.
Right now, Rhode felt like something had hit him hard in the heart, and his mind had almost completely stalled.
Neither Lucy's teasing words and aunt-like laugh nor the applause, cheers, and various gazes from others registered for him.
All he saw was Mira; there was no room for anything else.
When the guild lights came on and Mira took a bow to signal the end, her eyes glanced down, and in an instant, Rhode pushed through the crowd, bumping aside any reporter wanting an interview, and darted onto the stage to pull Mira into a tight embrace.
"Oh~~~"
"Ooh~~~"
The crowd erupted with laughter and whistles, knowing the two were dating but rarely seeing such a bold move.
Will they actually kiss next?
Mira, flustered by the hullabaloo, gently nudged Rhode: "Let go, everyone's watching, and there are reporters too..."
Jason, who had been knocked over, was not at all angry; he lay on the ground wielding his camera, eagerly capturing the moment.
He loved nothing more than scenes bursting with headlines!
However, an even more explosive moment was to come.
Rhode released Mira and stepped back a bit, keeping her right hand held with his left while his right hand began to write in the air.
FLOWER
SNOW
FIRE
BUTTERFLY
STARLIGHT
Words formed by magic floated in midair, transforming into flowers, snowflakes, flames, butterfly wings, and starlight...
Mira watched him write, gradually realizing what was to come. Her free hand covered her mouth, heart pounding uncontrollably.
The two stood hand in hand, first admiring the colorful magical words, then locking eyes.
Mira pursed her lips, gazing intently at him, waiting for him to speak.
"Actually, I thought of many ways, considered many locations, and imagined various moments on how to..."
Rhode stared into her eyes, feeling her beauty anew despite how many times he'd seen her like this.
He could see his own reflection in her eyes; physically, it was the light reflecting through the lens to form an inverted, reduced image.
But Rhode much preferred another notion: 'Her eyes are full of me; my eyes are full of her.'
"You know I'm someone who likes to prepare carefully, yet today, I've acted purely on emotion, standing before you, saying some uncalculated words..."
"I feel this is the perfect moment, and this is the perfect place. My heart tells me that even without my so-called 'preparation,' I must stand before you right away; I can't wait another minute."
Rhode's mind was a chaotic mess, and his words reflected that chaos.
But Mira's eyes were already misty, and every word he spoke sounded just as sweet as the usual sweet nothings, if not sweeter.
The tavern's noise faded; anyone misjudging the atmosphere and starting a commotion had their mouths covered by friends beside them, or were grabbed by the president's big hand.
Rhode had no time for others' movements, with only one clear thought gradually emerging from his chaotic mind:
"I hope to meet someone with whom I can spend my life, and I believe I have met that person—I want to journey with them, happily, forever."
"What I mean is... I'm trying to say—Miss Mirajane Strauss... I've fallen hopelessly in love with you. Will you marry me?"
Mira's eyes sparkled, her smile blooming like a flower, and tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes with a soft blink.
This person had said so much; the place, timing, and preparation didn't matter—all she wanted was the final sentence.
"I will..." Mira pulled back her hand, then leaped and snuggled into him, arms around his neck, feet off the ground.
She pressed her face against his, loudly repeating as if to make sure everyone heard: "I will!"
Rhode didn't know what expression he carried, surely a silly, goofy grin, but it didn't matter now. He held Mira's waist and spun around the stage together.
"Oh oh oh!!!"
Someone in the crowd started loud cheers, and Jason's signature 'COOL' was among them.
Makarov chuckled, releasing the mischievous ones nearly crushed in his grip, pointing his finger, making tiny golden lights appear on stage.
A pink mist puffed from Wakaba's pipe, painting a heart behind the couple on stage.
Macao's hand fired purple flames, adding another purple heart for them.
The guild's older members—all seasoned—caught on, laughing heartily and using their skilled magic to bless the couple.
The younger members were less astute, with Erza entirely out of sync.
She stood frozen, mumbling imaginary lines a bride might say to a groom, as if she were at a wedding ceremony.
Reby covered her mouth, remembering Rhode recently discussing proposals—not expecting it to come so soon.
She belatedly used Text Magic to add more effects to the 'background wall.'
Jet and Troy, full of envy, stood lost in thought behind Reby.
Bisca and Alzack exchanged a glance, blushingly avoiding each other's eyes, then used Gun Bullet Magic to launch a fireworks tribute.
Hapi flew to Natsu's shoulder, patting his head: "Natsu, they're launching fireworks."
"Huh?" Natsu, not the sharpest at this moment, but amidst the hot atmosphere, didn't want to fall behind, spitting small fireballs from his mouth, which exploded into fireworks overhead.
Lucy, having witnessed Rhode rush to the stage, was perhaps the most surprised at that moment.
She was delighted to witness this firsthand, her hands clasped over her heart, eyes filled with envy and blessings.
Seeing everyone resorting to magic to celebrate, she too took out a Silver Key, summoning Lyra of the Lyra Constellation to serenade the moment with beautiful music.
"Sister! Waaaaa..." Elfman, the tough guy, cried, his face scrunched up, hiding his eyes with his arm and constantly wiping his tears.
Wolian smiled, patting Elfman's shoulder, sensing within his tears only happiness and emotions like 'too good,' 'sister be happy,' 'Rhode is a man.'
Bigda grabbed Nabu, dancing an odd dance in excitement, albeit badly, but their sentiments were evident.
Laki and the waitresses found the hand-held flower cannons leftover from the guild's founding, twisting them open, filling the tavern with confetti and streamers.
Gray and Jubia just returned from a mission, entering without catching onto the situation.
Yet with such a good atmosphere, Gray decided to join first, and Jubia naturally had no objections.
Jubia's wrist flicked, sending fine water streams over the crowd like live streamers swirling, knotting, forming pretty patterns before freezing into ice crystals, gleaming under assorted lights.
Lidas particularly busy now, juggling flower, balloon, and rainbow sketches while trying to capture this wonderful scene swiftly.
On stage, Rhode, the male lead, after many spins holding Mira, finally set her down.
The two locked eyes, seeing only each other.
At this point, words were unnecessary; they saw all they wanted to say in each other's eyes.
Rhode's face slowly leaned down, Mira raising hers in response, breaths growing shallow with his approach.
Finally, she closed her eyes, meeting Rhode's lips amidst everyone's gasps and cheers.