The arrival of Valentine's Day caused undercurrents to surge within the guild.
In February, the streets of Magnolia were filled with a pink, romantic atmosphere.
Flower shops were filled with roses, dessert shop windows displayed various chocolates, and even the streetlights were wrapped in heart-shaped decorations.
The guild hall also had a rare touch of pink decorations.
Riyao had draped himself in a white lab coat, a stethoscope hanging around his neck. He sat leisurely in the Healing Room eating blueberry-flavored grapes, legs crossed, flipping through a weekly magazine with one hand, looking quite the part.
It could be considered a fulfillment of his dream from his previous life to be a doctor.
Although this "doctor's" main job was sleeping in the Healing Room, occasionally treating injured guild members or visiting patients, and spending most of the time slacking off.
The door to the Healing Room was pushed open gently, and Mirajane walked in, carrying an exquisite box tied with a pink ribbon.
She walked up to Riyao with a beaming smile, handed him the box, tilted her head slightly, and said with a sweet smile, "Darling, Valentine's Day chocolates~"
Riyao's eyes lit up, and he happily took the chocolate box. Upon opening it, he saw various shapes of handmade chocolates.
There were heart-shaped ones, star-shaped ones, and even one shaped like a small dragon; it was clear Mirajane had made them herself.
He carefully picked one up and put it in his mouth, then pulled Mirajane into his arms.
He kissed her face repeatedly—once on the left cheek, once on the right, once on the forehead, and once on the tip of her nose.
"Delicious! The chocolates Mira makes are the best in the world!"
Mirajane's face turned beet red from the kisses. She pushed Riyao's head away and scolded playfully, "Alright, alright, stop it. It's embarrassing if someone sees."
Riyao finally let go of her face but still kept his arm around Mirajane's waist, refusing to let her leave. He picked up another chocolate and held it to Mirajane's lips. "You eat some too."
Mirajane opened her mouth and took the chocolate, and the two shared a smile.
While eating the chocolate, Riyao looked out the window, the corners of his mouth curling up into an expression of someone waiting for a good show.
"I wonder what kind of fun we'll see this year."
Mirajane gave him a gentle swat.
"You, you just love watching the chaos."
The guild hall was much quieter than usual, as everyone harbored their own thoughts.
The usually rowdy hall was exceptionally quiet today. The men either pretended to look at the Request Board, kept their heads down while drinking, or stared blankly out the window, but their eyes would drift in a certain direction from time to time.
The women gathered in small groups, chattering in whispers and occasionally letting out bell-like laughter.
Riyao and Mirajane went to the second-floor railing to look down.
Leaning on the railing with his chin resting on the back of his hand, Riyao looked like a lord watching a play.
Mirajane stood beside him, her hands on the railing, also looking down curiously.
Riyao looked toward the Shadow Gear team. Jet and Droy were sitting in a corner, stealing glances at Levy every now and then before quickly lowering their heads.
Riyao chuckled and nudged Mirajane with his elbow.
"Triangles are quite stable, aren't they? Do you think they'll get Levy's chocolates this year?"
Mirajane thought for a moment, tapping her chin with her index finger as she began a serious analysis.
"I don't know. Levy is quite shy, but Jet and Droy have both been very good to her... I also wonder if Lucy will make chocolates."
Below, Jet and Droy both clutched the gifts in their pockets, their palms sweaty as they looked at Levy nervously.
Juvia hid behind a pillar with chocolates tucked in her arms, poking half her head out to stare at Gray. Her gaze was so intense it looked like it could melt him.
Her body trembled slightly from nervousness, and she held the chocolate box so tightly that her fingerprints were pressed into it.
Gray suddenly shivered, rubbed the goosebumps on his arms, and looked around.
"I feel like something is staring at me."
Natsu, who was dozing on the table, didn't even lift his head as he grumbled indistinctly.
"Probably because you're shirtless again."
Gray looked down and sure enough, he was down to just his boxers again. He hurriedly looked for his clothes, frantically grabbing a shirt from a nearby chair to put on.
Ur sat nearby laughing heartily, doubling over until tears almost came out.
"Gray, oh Gray, when are you ever going to fix that habit of taking off your clothes?"
Gray's face turned bright red as he buttoned his shirt and muttered.
"It's not like you didn't teach me..."
Cana sat at a corner table fiddling with Tarot Cards, the cards flipping through her long fingers with a crisp sound.
Lucy leaned in, her hands clasped together in expectation.
"Cana~ Please check my love luck for me, I'm begging you."
Levy also leaned in, her face resting in her hands, her eyes sparkling.
"I'm also very curious about Lucy-chan's love luck, hehe..."
Juvia also sat down next to Lucy, her hands on her knees, staring straight at Lucy with a somber tone.
"Love rival~"
Lucy was startled and moved toward Levy, pressing close to her and shielding her chest with her hands.
"I told you, that's not it! I have no relationship with Gray! Stop staring at me!"
Juvia stared at Lucy resentfully.
"But Juvia saw Lucy talking to Gray..."
"Does talking make us love rivals?! Then Natsu is stuck to Gray every single day."
Cana shuffled the Tarot Cards, pushed them onto the table, and grinned.
"Since you're all here, why don't you all get a reading? We're just idling around anyway."
Bisca walked over, and Lisanna also came over to join the fun, bouncing along with her hair swaying.
Cana gave each of them a reading, muttering as she flipped the cards, the smile on her face growing wider.
"One for you, one for you, and after yours, one for her."
Bisca flipped a card with a blush, and Cana raised an eyebrow after glancing at it.
"Oh~ Your love luck is quite good."
Bisca instinctively glanced at Alzack and then quickly lowered her head.
When Lisanna was flipping her card, Natsu appeared out of nowhere and poked his head over her shoulder to look at the card.
"What is it? What is it?"
Lisanna was startled and swatted Natsu's head.
"You scared me to death!"
Just then, Mirajane walked down, followed by a blonde woman with delicate features and a tall figure, wearing a white lab coat and carrying herself with an elegant air.
Upon the blonde woman's arrival, Juvia felt threatened and glared at her.
"Love rival~"
Riyao shook his golden ponytail, adjusted his half-frame glasses, and chuckled.
"Juvia, I'm your Big Sister Riyao."
Steam rose from Juvia again, but this time it wasn't from shyness; her CPU had fried, and smoke was billowing out.
What's going on? Lord Riyao is a girl?!"