"I'm sorry for bringing up such a heavy topic."
"It's fine," Rhodes replied calmly. "I'm glad to share this. I just hope everyone is more careful from now on. And one day…"
He didn't finish the thought, letting it trail off, and the conversation shifted.
Jason quickly jumped to a lighter question: "Miss Mirajane, you were a famous Sorcerer Magazine cover girl, and even after six years, you still look as C000L and youthful as ever! So, will you consider making a comeback?"
"I won't be making a comeback," Mira answered with a soft smile. "On the contrary, I think I'll fully retire. Because," She glanced at Rhodes beside her, and the love shining in her eyes was so radiant that Jason instinctively snapped his camera shutter.
"C0000L! I remember now!" Jason suddenly shouted in excitement. "You two were engaged six years ago! So, does that mean you're going to set a wedding date soon?"
Mira's smile turned even sweeter. "We've already started preparing. The wedding will be very soon."
Such an important matter had naturally come up more than once between them, they'd talked about it almost every time they were together. In Fiore, there was no real need for complicated procedures or auspicious dates. A ceremony with witnesses was enough to make a marriage official.
If a couple cared about formalities, they could register at city hall, but even that wasn't required. Alzack and Bisca, for instance, had never bothered with it. They simply changed Bisca's name in the Guild register from Bisca Mulan to Bisca Connell.
The night before, Mira had asked Rhodes how he wanted to handle it. He decided to follow the local practice, adding his name into hers in a way reminiscent of European compound surnames. From then on, at least for formal occasions, her full name would be Mirajane Rhodes Strauss.
It wasn't something that would affect her day-to-day life, but the thought had made Mira so happy she rewarded him with a tender kiss, and remembering it now brought a fresh blush to her cheeks. To others, however, it only looked like pure happiness.
"What?!"
"C0000OL!!"
The Guild members who had been shamelessly eavesdropping exploded with excitement, while Jason's voice practically shook the rafters.
"When did you decide this?"
"Why didn't we hear about it sooner?"
"What day? Which day exactly?!"
Laki, Kinana, and half the Guild rushed over in a noisy swarm, men and women alike pressing close to demand answers.
Lucy's face was red as she squeezed closer. She had originally wanted to thank them for helping her yesterday, maybe even slip in her own interview, but instead she found herself overhearing something unbelievable.
Even Wendy, who was usually shy, perked up her ears eagerly. She wanted to know everything too.
Jason, who had been treated with courtesy until now, was pushed right out of the circle in the commotion. He felt someone smack his head, another elbow jab his back, and then someone stepped squarely on him as he fell to the floor.
But instead of anger, his eyes blazed with excitement. He scrambled back up, slid across the floor on his knees, and thrust his fists high in the air.
"COOL! Cool! Cool! C0000OL! This is Fairy Tail, Fairy Tail is truly back!"
His shouts echoed through the Guild hall, until suddenly his vision darkened. A massive shadow loomed over him.
Jason froze. In front of him was a claw, enormous and monstrous, far larger than his own body. His gaze traced upward, black and crimson hair, gleaming armor, and an overwhelming presence that filled the room.
Jason jumped up in excitement, snapping away with his camera. "Fairy Queen! Miss Erza! It's so good to see you again, still as COOL as ever!!!"
Erza's expression softened just slightly, though her voice remained formal. "Hmm? You're the reporter from Sorcerer Magazine, aren't you? Are you here for an interview? If so, welcome. Just let me put things away and change into something more appropriate before you take pictures."
"No, no, it's fine!" Jason waved his hands and stepped back, making sure to capture the shot: the Guild doors thrown open, Erza's slender frame holding up an enormous, terrifying beast claw with effortless grace. The composition was perfect, Jason nearly cried from joy.
"COOL!" He snapped several shots before blurting, "What kind of monster is this?"
Erza lowered the claw slightly and explained, "It's the front claw of a Demon Horn Bear. I took on a subjugation mission yesterday. I heard the meat is quite delicious, so I thought I'd bring it back for my companions to try. Oh, and if you don't mind, you're welcome to join us."
"Dining with Fairy Tail?!" Jason's eyes practically sparkled. "That's the COOLEST! Thank you for the treat!"
Without pause, he fired off another question. "Miss Erza, will you be commissioning new armor now that you've returned?"
"Of course," Erza replied without hesitation. "I've heard that magical tools have advanced considerably in these six years. I'm eager to see the latest designs. I even have some concepts of my own, and I want to know if they can be adapted to the current age."
She spoke passionately, her words brimming with anticipation. For a brief moment, even her worries about debt seemed forgotten.
As the interview went on, two figures appeared at the Guild doors.
"Miss Erza?"
"Erza, why are you standing here with… another bizarre souvenir?"
"Gray, Juvia? You've returned as well." Erza turned slightly to greet them, almost clipping Jason with the tip of the Demon Horn Bear's claw.
Jason didn't even flinch. Instead, he shouted with glee, "C000L! Gray and Juvia! Are you two also getting married soon, like Mr. Rhodes and Miss Mirajane?!"
"Mar… Married? With Gray-sama?!" Juvia's face turned scarlet. She wavered, clutching her cheeks, then melted into a puddle of water right on the spot, flowing dramatically down the steps like a cartoon.
"Tch. A reporter, huh?" Gray muttered. He tugged at his collar, clearly uncomfortable, only for his shirt to vanish the next second.
Jason nearly fainted with excitement as he snapped more photos. Sorcerer Magazine had never shied away from bold spreads; to him, this was gold.
Juvia reformed just in time to be covered with Gray's discarded shirt, which fell over her like a blessing from above.
"Gray-sama's scent…!!!" Juvia squealed happily, hugging the shirt like treasure. Her eyes spun into spirals as she collapsed back onto the ground in bliss.
Jason's camera clicked nonstop.
"Hey, you damn thief! If I catch you, you're done for!!"
Natsu stormed into the Guild, furious. His and Happy's tiny stash of savings had been stolen yesterday, leaving him penniless and hungry. After a whole day of chasing the culprit, he had nothing to show for it. With no money and no Happy, he came straight here for food.
Not paying attention, he stomped inside, right onto Gray's shirt sleeve and Juvia's hair.
"Watch it, flame-brain!" Gray snapped.
"Hah? So what if I stepped on it? You're not even wearing it, you damn ice freak!" Natsu shot back.
The two immediately butted heads, their foreheads cracking together as they locked hands in an arm wrestle.
Jason vibrated with excitement, clicking furiously. "C000L! Natsu versus Gray! Fire versus ice, who will win?!"
"Of course I'll win, you bastard!!" Natsu and Gray shouted in unison.
Then, simultaneously, they turned, glared at Jason, and knocked him flying with a single casual punch. He crashed into the Guild's outer wall, stuck there like a squashed bug.
Blood dripped from his nose as he slid down slowly, but his smile never wavered. "Co… C0000OL…"
A vein bulged on Erza's forehead. "You two, show some respect to our guest!"
With a furious heave, she hurled the massive Demon Horn Bear claw straight onto the squabbling pair, and Juvia for good measure.
THUD!
All three squirmed pathetically from beneath the weight.
"S-sorry!" Natsu and Gray groaned in unison, their limbs twitching under the heavy claw.
At the entrance, Rhodes rubbed his forehead while Mira covered her mouth, stifling laughter.
"I knew it would end like this," Makarov muttered, trudging to the door. His shoulders sagged, and his sigh carried years of exhaustion. "Just once, I wanted people to get a good impression of us when we first came back."