Riyao propped his elbows on the bar counter, resting his chin on his fists, his fingers tracing circles in the beer foam on the wooden surface.
After drawing his ninth crooked sun, he finally couldn't help but let out a mournful wail.
The teasing remark Mirajane made before heading out with Elfman and Lisanna still echoed in his ears: "This is just a small request, it's not worth the effort of a Great S-Class Mage," her voice practically overflowing with laughter.
He slumped over the bar, looking exactly like a big dog left at home by its owner, so full of resentment that mushrooms were practically growing on him.
Beside him, Gray was using Ice Magic to make himself a popsicle. Hearing this, he rolled his eyes massively and bit into the popsicle with a 'clack': "Stop complaining about your good fortune. If you don't want to be an S-Class, I don't mind swapping with you."
Cana took a sip from her beer mug, her lips twitching: "Exactly. I've never seen someone so distressed about not being able to go out on a request with their partner that they look like they've lost a fortune."
Just as the two finished speaking, they saw Erza clutching the edge of her knight's armor, slowly and hesitantly walking over.
The tips of her ears were flushed red, and her fingers twisted the fabric of her clothes as she stammered, "Riyao... you, you and Mirajane... how far have you two gotten?"
At those words, Riyao's eyes darted around, and he immediately put on a shy act, covering his face and twisting his body: "Oh my, Erza, how can you ask such an embarrassing question?"
Inwardly, however, he was laughing: Mira specifically told me not to talk nonsense, so you can't blame me for this.
Erza's face instantly turned so red that steam began to rise, and the tips of her ears were hot enough to fry an egg.
There was no romantic atmosphere between Erza and Riyao; it was simply that Erza, seeing people her age dating for the first time, had projected herself into the situation and made herself blush.
She opened her mouth but couldn't say a word for a long time. Finally, she simply squatted by the bar and buried her head in her knees, looking like a little girl whose secret had been discovered.
Riyao and Mirajane used to tease her with their daily romantic antics all the time. Every time, it would cause this guild Disciplinary Officer to crash on the spot; this trick worked every single time.
As they were messing around, Natsu ran over gnawing on a greasy pig's trotter, his mouth stuffed full as he shouted unclearly, "Riyao! I heard you can turn into a Celestial Spirit! Come fight me!" He waved his oily hand, splashing grease everywhere.
Before Riyao could speak, Gray snapped back, "Just you, you fire-breathing idiot? You can't even beat me, and you want to challenge Riyao?"
Cana's eyes lit up, and not one to shy away from trouble, she suggested, "Why don't you two go at him together? Maybe you'll last three minutes."
"No!" Erza suddenly sprang up from the bar. Though her face was still red, she immediately assumed her position as the Disciplinary Officer. "Fighting inside the guild is prohibited!"
Riyao spread his hands and cheerfully shrugged at Natsu. "See, the Disciplinary Officer has spoken. Forget about fighting~"
Just as he finished speaking, the guild doors were pushed open with a 'bang,' and Mirajane's laughter preceded her: "What are you all making a fuss about now?"
Riyao looked up, and his eyes instantly lit up.
Mirajane was wearing a black leather jacket, her long hair slightly disheveled by the wind. She was carrying a cloth bag, presumably containing gifts for her younger siblings.
She walked straight to the bar and sat down next to Riyao. Her gaze swept over Erza, who hadn't quite recovered yet, and a sly smile played on her lips.
She reached out and hugged Riyao's arm, leaning her head gently against his shoulder. Her voice was soft enough to melt stone as she intentionally raised her volume: "Honey, I'm so tired. Can you give my legs a massage?"
Before Riyao could respond, a 'thud' was heard—Erza's eyes rolled back, and she collapsed onto the bar, completely short-circuiting.
Natsu scratched his head, looking at Erza thoughtfully. He was probably considering asking Happy to perform a display of affection to defeat Erza.
Happy flapped his wings and flew onto the bar, poking Erza's head with his small paw and rolling his tongue mischievously: "Aye! This Erza is just weak!"
Riyao laughed and activated Healing Magic, a warm glow spreading from his palm to Mirajane's shoulder. "Alright, stop teasing Erza. She'll probably develop an immunity in a few days." He gently kneaded her shoulder with his fingertips to relieve her fatigue.
Mirajane leaned her full weight against Riyao, relaxing completely, her voice carrying a hint of laziness: "It's not often I get to overwhelm her like this, so of course I have to make the most of it."
Lisanna giggled, covering her mouth as she hopped over to them. "While Big Sister was out these past few days, she was constantly talking about Big Brother Riyao on the road, wondering if he was eating on time."
Mirajane's face instantly turned red. She reached out and pinched Lisanna's small face, rubbing it gently. "You brat, what are you talking about!"
Beside them, Elfman was dressed in a small suit. He had been looking down, adjusting his collar, but upon hearing this, he secretly looked up and nodded vigorously at Riyao, muttering softly, "It's true. Big Sister even said last night that if Riyao didn't have anything to eat, he'd definitely go steal Natsu's fish."
Riyao's eyes crinkled with laughter. He reached out and took Mirajane's hand that was pinching Lisanna, interlacing her fingers with his own, and said with a smile, "For my sake, let Lisanna go. She's still a child."
Lisanna rubbed her pinched, red cheek and pouted. "My life is so bitter, having a violent sister and a biased brother-in-law."
She suddenly remembered something and asked with sparkling eyes, "By the way, Big Brother Riyao, can that Crystal Key Big Sister has really summon you? I want one too."
Riyao wagged his finger and said with a laugh, "Of course it can summon me. However, this is the only key of its kind in the world."
"Big Brother Riyao is so stingy!" Lisanna puffed out her cheeks.
"That's a token of love I gave your sister. How could there be a second one?" Riyao said, leaning down to Mirajane's ear and whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Speaking of which, it seems you still owe me a token of love."
Mirajane's face turned even redder, and she simply buried her head on the bar, leaving only her bright red ears visible. Her voice was muffled: "It's just that your key is too precious. I've been thinking for days and couldn't come up with anything suitable. Let me think about it some more."
Riyao laughed and pressed his face close, his cheek brushing against the tip of her ear like a sly little fox. "No rush. We have a lifetime, don't we?"
As soon as those words were spoken, the surroundings suddenly went quiet. Cana's hand holding the beer mug froze in mid-air, and she almost choked on her drink; Gray rolled his eyes so far back they were nearly all white; Lisanna and the newly arrived Levy had sparkling eyes as they huddled together whispering, their smiles stretching from ear to ear; Elfman scratched his head and placed a fist over his chest, muttering softly, "Is this what a real man should look like?"
Cana facepalmed and sighed, "God damn it, can't we just send them out on a request?"
Gray stared with dead fish eyes, "Send one to the north for a request and the other to the south!"
Happy flapped his wings and flew up, rolling his tongue mischievously: "Aye! They're in loooove~"
Natsu scratched his head, feeling like he needed to burn something, or it just wouldn't feel right.
Erza, who had just recovered, heard Riyao's "lifetime" comment. Her face turned as red as a ripe apple again, and this time she simply collapsed onto the bar, losing consciousness entirely.
In the distance, Macao and Wakaba leaned against a pillar, taking a deep drag of their cigars and blowing out perfect smoke rings.
"Youth is wonderful," Macao said with a smile. "Falling in love is so lively." Wakaba nodded. "I remember back when your sister-in-law and I..." Before he could finish, Macao slapped him. "Give it a rest. You were way more of a blockhead than Riyao back then."
Mirajane felt her face burning intensely, so she stood up and partially took over her Satan Soul.
She beckoned to the still-unconscious Erza, "Erza, let's have a fight!"
Erza suddenly sprang up, her demon blade instantly unsheathed, the skirt of her knight's armor fluttering: "I'll accompany you to the end!"
The magic of the two collided with a loud 'bang,' and the guild instantly turned into a chaotic mess.
Natsu, hearing the sound of fighting, dropped Gray's half-burnt clothes and rushed over: "How can there be a fight without me!"
Gray was not to be outdone, his Ice Magic instantly condensing into ice blades: "Count me in!"
A certain Little Raccoon stopped rummaging through the trash and rushed over to join the brawl: "I'm hitting too~"
An elderly man adjusted his glasses and pushed out his cane: "Step back."
A red-haired woman silently brewed a cup of coffee and threw it into the crowd.
A pink-haired amnesiac patient pulled out a camera and started snapping photos wildly.
A cold-faced Little Blue Dragon threw out a spear to attack: "The spear never leaves my hand."
Tables and chairs were knocked over, drinks were spilled everywhere, and guild members were either busy dodging flying furniture or excitedly cheering.
Riyao sat by the bar, watching the chaotic scene, then looked at Mirajane being dragged into the fight by Natsu. He shook his head helplessly and took a sip of juice, but his lips couldn't help but curl upward. This was exactly how Fairy Tail should be.