To Jason, being ignored isn't a big deal.
Compared to being warmly welcomed, he prefers everyone to completely ignore his presence when they're not being interviewed.
Because only in this way can he see his favorite, the most authentic Fairy Tail.
Like Makarov's nice sounding but extremely stiff speeches, Jason recorded them but didn't really want to use them.
What he wanted to see was the messy tavern, the unclothed Gray, the fiery troublemaking Natsu, the mages who suddenly started fighting.
Even if these people, caught up in the moment, punched him in the face, he'd still shout 'COOL' and continue writing fervently while lying on the ground.
Lucy didn't manage to stand up, directly hugging Natsu's leg: "Natsu, don't beat up the journalist!"
Natsu dragged Lucy forward: "He keeps writing bad things about me! Saying I destroyed this, destroyed that, and destroyed something else!"
Lucy loudly retorted: "Because you really do destroy this, destroy that, and destroy everything every day!"
"I don't care!"
The guild was once again in a ruckus, and Jason joined the mages in their antics for the day.
Eating, drinking, fighting, taking photos, recording...
It was the first time Jason conducted an interview like this, as if he too had become a member of Fairy Tail.
In his own words, this guild is simply too COOL!
He must show all the magazine's readers the most authentic Fairy Tail, so everyone can love this COOL guild just like he does!
The excited Jason remembered his promise to Rhode to interview the newcomers before leaving and suddenly thought of adding a rookie column.
He interviewed the guild's new members from this year: Tono, Lucy, and Jubia, and even took pictures.
Unfortunately, Gajeel wasn't there, so he had to learn slightly about the reason why the two former Ghost Four Elements joined Fairy Tail through Jubia.
This then inspired Jason, perhaps next week he could do another feature on where the former Ghost members are now?
Jason was filled with zeal.
...
Another night away from home.
This guild is always like this, any little thing turns into a party, and the rowdiness lasts until the wee hours.
When Rhode woke up, he found himself leaning against Mira, with Mira's hand wrapped around his neck, hanging down to his chest.
As soon as he woke up, Mira noticed: "Awake? How was your sleep?"
"Didn't expect to fall asleep like this." Rhode sat up, immediately noticing Mira's head resting on Elfman's chest. It turns out the three of them slept like this for half the night.
He asked, "Are you tired?"
Mira gently shook her head, joyfully showing her left hand to Rhode: "Look, my fiancé gave it to me, does it look nice?"
"It's beautiful, really beautiful." Rhode took her hand, gently stroking her fingers and the ring on them.
Seeing Mira's sweet smile, he thought for a moment and still said, "You should buy a new one, be careful wearing it too long will make people laugh."
Mira pulled her hand away, clenched her fist, and fiercely said, "Anyone who dares to laugh, I'll twist their head off."
Looking adorably fierce, Rhode chuckled: "What a scary demon."
Just as Mira was about to say something, Elfman mumbled unclearly: "So scary…"
The two of them paused, looked at Elfman leaning against the wall.
He raised his head slightly, his features almost twisted together in pain, muttering 'sister', 'scary' and such.
Mira felt both amused and a bit distressed, wondering if her brother needed more discipline or if he'd been disciplined too harshly before.
"He's probably having a nightmare because of being pressed against the chest." Rhode hugged Mira, trying to rescue his little brother-in-law.
"I was also pressed against, why didn't I have a nightmare?"
"You're different from him."
One has cushioning, the other doesn't.
Mira thought for a bit, then hit Rhode's chest lightly: "Go wash up, it's time for work."
The morning work can be a bit tedious, especially after a party.
But now, with enough manpower, the work got done quickly.
Rhode's first task was waking everybody up, heading to the stage to find the drum set left from yesterday and started to beat it randomly with sticks.
As an amateur, his favorite part was the cymbals, banging them was particularly satisfying.
"Whoa!"
"Who is it?!"
"So noisy!"
A bunch of people got up, grumbling and confirming they were in the guild and not at home.
"Oh no! I told my wife I'd come home last night!"
Led by Wakaba, the married men scrambled and hastily dashed out of the guild's doors.
The others turned on Rhode and erupted:
"What's going on, Rhode!"
"And here we were celebrating with you yesterday!"
"Yeah, making noise so early in the morning!"
Rhode grinned as he put down the drumsticks: "Alright, alright, I'll remember everyone's kindness for life, but it's time to get up, the tavern's opening, those who need to head home should do so, and those who need to work should get to it! If you're unhappy, you can come give me a beating later, I promise I won't fight back!"
But I can't guarantee my fiancée will hold back.
Everyone muttered complaints one after another but knew it was time, so they rubbed their faces and tidied their clothes.
Some chose to head home, some went to check the bulletin board, and others sat down to start ordering breakfast straight away.
The more diligent ones also took the chance to straighten the tables in front of them.
Of course, there were also those still snoring away, like Natsu.
That guy somehow fell asleep with his legs on the table, his butt on a stool, and his head on the ground, making others worry he'd get a cerebral hemorrhage.
"Natsu, Natsu, wake up!"
Laki, who was about to clean that area, nudged Natsu, but couldn't wake him up.
"Let me handle this." Rhode summoned Warm, and before Warm could react, he picked it up and tossed it onto Natsu.
Boom! Crack!
The long bench couldn't bear the weight and snapped in the middle, with Natsu crushed under Warm, barely managing a muffled 'mmm mmm mmm' sound, limbs flailing out from beneath.
Laki covered her mouth, stifling a laugh; Rhode wasn't going easy on Natsu at all with his pranks.
Being kind-hearted, Warm scrambled up quickly, licking Natsu's face full of slobber as consolation, then trotted off to Mira for food.
"What the heck, Rhode!"
Natsu jumped up to brawl with Rhode, and Rhode didn't back down, engaging in a morning sparring session.
The two of them fought their way from the middle of the tavern to the entrance, where Erza grabbed Natsu by the collar:
"Enough, Natsu, don't disturb them while working."
Rhode was hugged from behind by Mira: "Really, how did you end up brawling with Natsu again?"
"It's been a while since I punched him, my fists were itching."
"What did you say? I've always been the one punching you!"
"Look at your eye circles before you talk!"
"You jerk, I'll make you pay!"
Both childish guys got separated, announcing the start of a new day.
...
"I didn't expect Mr. Rhode to fight with Natsu like that."
Lucy returned home to tidy up and change her outfit before heading to the guild, only to find Natsu with a black eye, missing the spectacular fight that just happened.
Mira, with a smile, polished a glass and said to Lucy: "He used to fight with Natsu often, though he was usually the one getting beaten up. It wasn't until recently he could suppress Natsu."
In just over a year, he advanced from being an ordinary person knowing nothing to this level, Mira's previous admiration turned into pride now.
"Wow~~~ so impressive." Lucy propped her chin, "When will I become that strong?"
"Wanna try Rhode's training method?" Mira recalled Rhode's past blunders and said with a laugh, "At first, it wasn't so exaggerated; you only needed to get beaten up once or twice a day."
"No way…"
Lucy had her own training methods and thought, "I'd better ask you to recommend some suitable jobs, I still owe you guys money."
"No need to rush that, I'll keep an eye out for suitable work for you," Mira reminded, "Although I'm not sure about Natsu's training, Erza isn't serving tables anymore, you could team up with her."
"Oh right!" Lucy perked up, teaming with Erza meant considering more challenging quests.
Just when Lucy was heading to check the bulletin board, Rhode called out to her.
"Lucy."
"?"
Rhode said, "Do you want to go home and have a look?"
"Huh? I just came from home, didn't I?"
"I mean the Hartfilia family."
Lucy paused, puzzled, "Why are you asking that?"
Rhode handed her the newspaper he was holding: "This morning's paper, it seems the Hartfilia Group is in some trouble."
Lucy wanted to say that the Hartfilia Group had nothing to do with her, but her soft heart took over, and she carefully read the paper word by word.
"Financial difficulties…"
Lucy frowned slightly, recalling her last visit home, where her father tried matchmaking her with some family to break into the southern market or something...
Her face showed a worried expression as she returned the newspaper to Rhode: "Don't worry, that person's commercial capabilities are the one thing you don't need to worry about. Even if I go back, he'd just say I'm causing trouble."
What could she do about financial difficulties? She couldn't come up with that kind of money.
Do I really have to marry someone I don't know at all for the sake of my father's business plans?