Magnolia, bustling as always, was full of life.
Chase, Elfman, and Loki walked side by side down the lively street, drawing glances from every direction. Except, the reactions were... odd. Pedestrians subtly sidestepped them, some even crossing the street entirely to avoid getting too close.
"That's strange. Elfman, do you really have that bad of a reputation in town?" Chase asked with genuine surprise.
"You must be kidding! My manliness is respected by countless citizens!"
Elfman flexed both arms in a dramatic pose, muscles bulging under his sleeves. "This is definitely Loki's fault."
Chase gave a thoughtful nod. "Yeah, that makes more sense. After all, this guy's a known playboy."
"Hey! Will you two knock it off already?!"
Loki snapped, his handsome face twisting with frustration. "I'll have you know, I'm one of the top-ranked wizards in Magic Weekly's 'Most Popular Male Wizards' list!"
Chase smiled slyly. "Those rankings don't mean much. I was at the top last year."
"Exactly my point!!" Loki nearly fell to his knees in despair.
Honestly, up until this moment, he still didn't understand why he had to go on this "date" with these two guys!
"Hmm? Dave's Wonderful Tavern?"
While they walked, Chase spotted a tavern nestled between two bakeries. A wooden sign hung over the entrance, painted with cheerful, drunken letters.
Chase pointed at it. "Well, a proper date needs a place to sit. Let's go in here."
"Sounds manly!" Elfman gave his approval instantly.
Loki…
…had no say anymore. It was pointless to argue now.
It wasn't quite peak drinking time yet, so the tavern was unusually quiet. Only a few patrons dotted the place, most of them sipping lazily or chatting in low voices.
Behind the bar, a little boy with a buzz cut, around six or seven years old, sat at the counter furrowing his brow at a notebook. He seemed locked in battle with a math problem.
But when he noticed Chase and the others entering, his eyes which had dulled under the torment of homework suddenly lit up with joy.
"Brother Chase!!"
With a cheerful shout, the boy abandoned his pencil, leapt off the bar stool, and dashed over with open arms.
That's right he was the kid Chase had rescued during that "suburban alcoholic monster attack" incident last year!
"Oh my, little Tom. I haven't seen you in a whole year. You've grown so much!"
Chase smiled warmly, crouched down, and ruffled Tom's spiky head.
"Hey, Brother Chase! I saw the story in the newspaper. You looked amazing! You protected the entire island's tourists all by yourself!"
Little Tom's eyes sparkled with admiration. "I want to grow up to be a man just like you!"
"Hahaha, then you'd better study hard and learn magic well," Chase replied, patting the boy's head with a big grin.
The warm scene momentarily stunned both Elfman and Loki. They looked at each other, dazed.
Wait a second… did Chase really have such a loyal little fan in Magnolia?
"Huh?! Chase? What the hell are you doing here?!"
A startled voice cut through the moment.
The tavern owner, Dave, rushed out from behind the counter, quickly pulling his son away from Chase's side. He then stepped back another few meters, as if creating a safety buffer.
After all, the unspoken rule of Magnolia was clear: if there was no external threat present, the most dangerous person in the area… was Chase.
"Brother Dave, it's been more than a year and this is how you welcome an old friend?" Chase chuckled. "I just brought two pals over for a drink. Got any room?"
Thanks to the events of that past monster attack near the outskirts, Chase and the tavern had built a pretty solid rapport.
"We're closed! No customers!" Dave declared without hesitation.
But then his eye twitched slightly as he watched Chase, already leading Elfman and Loki over to an empty table and casually sitting down.
Chase raised two fingers. "So, for this lovely date, I say we start with two bottles of red wine."
Dave stood frozen for a second, then sighed as if trying to suppress a headache. Still, he didn't kick them out. Instead, he turned and grumbled, "Want some complimentary peanuts with that?"
"Absolutely."
The moment they sat down at the wine bar, Chase's demeanor shifted into a smooth, almost gentlemanly mode, complete with a charming smile and relaxed posture.
Elfman and Loki blinked.
Wasn't that style switch a little too sudden?
"You're already an S-Class wizard and still acting so stingy," Dave muttered from behind the bar. "Fine, I'll throw in the leftover fried chicken legs from the kitchen!"
He paused, then added sharply, "Just so we're clear, I'm not giving them to you. I'm only getting rid of leftovers from yesterday!"
Despite his grouchy tone, his actions betrayed him.
Dave had a bit of that "Laxus syndrome" saying one thing and doing the opposite.
After all, how could he really turn away the man who had once saved his son's life?
Two bottles of wine were nothing. Even if Chase wanted the whole bar, Dave would hand it over without a second thought.
"But Dad, didn't you fry a fresh batch of chicken legs this morning…" little Tom asked in a small, confused voice.
Thwack!
Dave smacked him on the head with a ladle.
"Zip it!"
Seeing his clueless son still standing there, cradling his head, Dave finally snapped.
"Pick up your homework already! I said pick it up!"
After barking at Tom, he stormed back behind the bar, grabbed a scarf, wrapped it tightly around his neck like a soldier preparing for battle, and marched straight into the kitchen.
"For Chase," he muttered under his breath, "don't use those cheap frozen drumsticks. Fry up the fresh batch."
Wait… what did he just say?
A date?
With those two guys?
One could only imagine the expression of the customer chewing on a chicken leg and sipping his wine if he overheard the thoughts swirling in Dave's mind…
The wine and snacks were served quickly.
Before heading back into the kitchen, Dave paused and looked over at Chase, Elfman, and Loki sitting across from each other. His face showed a strange blend of suspicion, hesitation, and unspoken horror.
He stared at them for a long time, then ultimately gave up trying to ask what was going on.
The moment Dave disappeared into the back, the tavern grew awkwardly silent at least at their table.
The atmosphere clashed starkly with the cheerful shouts of drunkards playing dice at the next booth.
Three grown men sat facing each other, wine untouched, food going cold, unable to make eye contact.
It was painfully clear…
None of them had any idea how to actually go on a date especially with each other.
Even someone as shameless as Chase found himself at a loss. Looking at the two men across from him, he felt only one thing:
Disgust.
This isn't romantic. It's just… awkward.
Minutes ticked by in silence.
Ten minutes later.
Thump!
Elfman slammed the table with both hands and stood up, his expression fierce with resolve.
"Man!"
He looked straight at Chase and Loki, eyes burning with determination.
"Sister Mira asked us to do this! We can't back out!"
"Chase! Loki! Let's do what real couples do!!"
The entire tavern went silent.
Then uproar.
People nearby dropped their dice, turned their heads, and began whispering in a mix of horror, laughter, and morbid curiosity.
Chase rubbed his temples, trying to hide a wry smile. "He really is Mira's little brother."
Loki, on the other hand, was frozen with fear. His eyes darted toward Elfman, who looked completely serious.
There was no joking in those eyes.
This man… really meant it.
Suddenly, Loki felt a strange chill. Was it the wine? No maybe his back was just a little sweaty…
And then
Scene change.
The camera cuts from the pub to the river that runs through Magnolia.
The one where Natsu and Gray always fought growing up.
There, under the open sky, Elfman was roaring:
"A man's date should be full of passion!!"
Elfman, now empowered by his Beast Arm, let out a thunderous roar. With a powerful leap, he delivered a rising uppercut straight into Loki's jaw.
"Beast Arm: Dragon Fist!!"
Wham!
Loki was launched like a ragdoll, spinning in the air before crashing down onto the grassy riverbank with a defeated groan.
His glasses cracked in two, hanging awkwardly from his face. His soul looked as if it had escaped halfway from his body.
'In what universe does a couple's date involve this kind of violence?!' Loki screamed in his heart, his tear-stained expression frozen in misery.
He lay flat on the edge of the riverbank, unmoving, tears slipping down his cheeks like a tragic hero in a silent play.
In that moment, the desire to return to the Celestial Spirit World had never been so overwhelming.
Nearby, Chase folded his arms and laughed loudly, thoroughly enjoying the scene.
"Hahaha, Elfman, your Take Over magic is getting sharper every time I see it."
Then, his smile softened slightly, and he shifted the topic with a rare seriousness.
"What a shame. I think you're close to achieving Full Body Take Over."
Of course, the "date" was more than just a prank to tease Loki. Chase had a deeper reason.
He wanted to resolve the emotional burdens both Elfman and Loki carried.
For Elfman, it was the fear. The fear of the Beast King within him the power that had once taken Lisanna from them.
And for Loki, it was the guilt. The self-hatred for what he believed was his sin killing his former Celestial Spirit Mage, Karen.