With Erza physically dragging a kicking Natsu and a scowling Gray out the front doors for their latest request, the temporary guild hall settled into something that almost resembled peace.
Almost.
Kai leaned against the makeshift wooden counter, balancing his stool precariously on two legs with his boots resting on a low crate. On his shoulder, Pixie—his palm-sized brass spider construct—methodically recalibrated its miniature optical lenses with quiet, rhythmic clicks. Kai took a slow sip of fruit juice, his golden eyes half-lidded as he stared up at the unpainted rafters.
"Silence," Kai muttered. "Glorious, unadulterated silence. No property damage, no screaming matches, no random fire hazards. My eardrums might actually survive the week."
Beside him, Cana set down a heavy wooden mug with a dull thud, casually wiping foam from her lip with the back of her hand. She cast a sideways glance at him before snorting into her drink.
"Don't sound so dramatic, gearhead. Give Natsu three days. He'll either set a historical landmark on fire or break something ridiculously expensive, and then we're right back to square one."
"Which is precisely why I intend to enjoy these three days in absolute isolation, you semi-nude alcoholic." Kai lazily tossed a copper bolt into the air. Before it could peak, a subtle distortion flickered around his hand. Space folded for a fraction of an instant, and the bolt vanished directly into his hip pouch. "If anyone asks, I'm dead. Or out of the country."
Cana rolled her eyes, resting her elbow on the bar. "Right. Like Erza wouldn't drag your corpse back out of the dirt just to make you finish your paperwork."
"She'd probably make me fill out the death certificate before burying me."
Cana barked out a laugh. "See? You know her too well."
Twenty yards away, behind a half-constructed timber frame, two glowing blue eyes peeked through a narrow gap in the scaffolding.
Kai-sama...
Juvia clutched her dark blue coat tightly against her chest, her heart hammering against her ribs. Look at him... so calm, so composed, so utterly unaffected by the chaos around him...
Her gaze shifted toward Cana and Mirajane, who were leaning over the counter beside him, chatting as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Juvia's brow furrowed. A tiny dark raincloud instantly manifested six inches above her hat, sprinkling gloomy droplets down onto her cheeks.
Wait... why are those two sitting so close to him? Are they... love rivals?!
Juvia pulled herself back into the shadows before anyone noticed, her usual gloom rushing back. Juvia wants to talk to him so badly... He was the only one who didn't look at Juvia like trash after the war. He even said Juvia could join Fairy Tail if she had nowhere else to go. But... Juvia attacked his friends. How could Juvia simply walk up to them as though nothing happened?
A sharp metallic chime echoed from the inner pocket of Kai's long coat. Pixie gave a tiny series of irritated clicks and vanished beneath his collar.
Kai let out a slow sigh, reaching into his lapel to pull out a brass-bound communication lacrima. He tapped the activation rune on its side, and a crisp blue projection flared to life, revealing the stern, sharp-featured face of a middle-aged bureaucrat. His high-collared Ministry coat was pristine, his expression professionally deadpan.
Kai didn't bother sitting up. "Well. If it isn't Stiffy. Did the Ministry finally collapse, or are you just calling to ruin my afternoon?"
The bureaucrat didn't even blink. "Sir. The intelligence dossiers regarding the two current targets have been processed. Do you require the encrypted files sent directly to Magnolia, or will you be travelling to the capital office to inspect the physical records yourself?"
"Send the preliminary files to my private lacrima first," Kai said. "I'll review them tonight, then inspect the remaining material in person."
"Understood. I will notify the Crocus office to prepare your research wing."
Before the projection could fade, Cana leaned straight over Kai's shoulder, her eyes catching the official Ministry seal on the header. "Hold on—Crocus? You're going to the capital?"
Mira paused mid-swipe with her cleaning rag, looking over with bright curiosity. "Crocus? Kai, we haven't been to the capital in months!"
Kai turned his head slowly toward the two of them. "I am handling official Ministry business." He pointed at himself. "Official." He gestured between them. "Business. Neither of you was invited."
"Oh, shut up, you're taking us," Cana said, slapping his shoulder hard enough to rattle his stool. Kai caught himself against the bar without breaking stride. "It's our first official outing as a team! You think I'm staying here while you go drink high-end capital liquor on the government's dime?"
"I don't drink high-end liquor, I conduct research."
"You drink while doing it."
"That is an entirely different operational discipline."
Mira stepped around the bar, placing both hands on the wooden counter with a sweet, completely unyielding smile. "Kai... we need proper materials for our team's research desk anyway. And besides, wouldn't it be lovely to celebrate forming our team properly?"
Kai looked at Mira. He looked at Cana, who was smirking like she'd already won. Then he looked at the floating projection of his assistant, who was waiting in absolute silence.
"...Change of plans, Stiffy," Kai groaned, letting his chair drop onto all four legs. "Clear the Crocus office. I'll be there tomorrow morning."
"Understood, Sir. I will arrange the facilities." The projection vanished.
Kai pocketed the lacrima and leveled a flat glare at his teammates. "If either of you delays me at the station tomorrow, I am leaving you on the platform."
"Whatever you say, boss-man," Cana snorted, taking another swig from her mug. "Just make sure you bring enough government gold for the pub."
Behind the scaffolding, Juvia's jaw dropped. Crocus?! She gasped internally, her hands flying to her mouth. He's leaving for the capital tomorrow morning?! Juvia needs to get to the station right now!
Later that night, the construction site grew quiet beneath a clear, star-lit sky.
High on the highest exposed beam of the unfinished roof, Master Makarov sat cross-legged, puffing slowly on his wooden pipe. Pale smoke drifted lazily into the evening breeze as he looked out over the darkened rooftops of Magnolia.
"Retirement..." Makarov grumbled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yajima keeps bringing it up. 'You're getting too old, Makarov.' 'Think about your heart, Makarov.' Easy for an old lizard like him to say."
He closed his eyes, mentally sifting through the guild's roster.
Laxus has the raw strength, but his head is full of foolish ideas about power and weakness. He'd tear this guild apart trying to weed out anyone he considered 'weak.' Gildarts? Makarov almost snorted. The man can't stay in one town for forty-eight hours without accidentally walking through a wall and wandering off into the mountains. Mystogan stays off the grid entirely. Erza is fiercely capable, disciplined, and loyal... but she's still young, hot-headed, and solves most diplomatic headaches with a broadsword.
Makarov opened his eyes, staring up at the moon.
And then there's Kai...
The kid had a brilliant mind, unmatched tactical aptitude, ice-cold composure, and enough political weight in the capital to keep the Magic Council off the guild's back for a decade. He had every single tool a Guild Master needed... except the slightest desire to actually care about the job.
Makarov let out a quiet huff. Not that I'd saddle him with it anyway. He's barely eighteen, carrying half the Ministry's secret research on his shoulders. I'm not going to crush the brat under the weight of this guild just to save my own aching joints.
"Master?" a gentle voice called from below.
Makarov leaned over the edge of the beam. Mirajane stood at the foot of the ladder, holding a steaming mug in both hands.
"Ah, Mira. Still up?"
"I brought you some warm tea," she said, climbing up a few rungs to hand it over. "And I thought you'd want to know—Erza's team sent a message lacrima. They finished their request."
A proud smile spread across Makarov's face as he took a sip. "Ah! Excellent! See? They might be loud, but they get things done! A simple cult clearance, no problem at all!"
"Mhm," Mira nodded, her expression remaining perfectly pleasant. "Though there was a minor issue during the cleanup."
Makarov paused mid-sip. "...A minor issue?"
"Yes," Mira said smoothly. "Natsu got reckless and set the merchant quarter on fire. Gray froze the central fountain system trying to put it out, and Erza accidentally sliced the town hall in half while trying to restore order."
Makarov's pipe slipped straight out of his mouth, plunging into the dark abyss of the scaffolding below.
"H-Half...?" he rasped, the color draining from his face. "The... the town hall...?"
"The Magic Council has already sent three priority warnings," Mira added cheerfully, taking a light sip from her own cup. "They're holding the entire reward to pay for the structural damage, plus an additional penalty fee."
Makarov clutched his chest, leaning back against the rafter as if struck by lightning. "MY FUNDS! MY REPAIR BUDGET! RETIRE?! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO RETIRE WHEN THESE DEMONS ARE GOING TO PUT ME IN THE POORHOUSE BEFORE I TURN SEVENTY?!"
Mira giggled quietly, stepping back down the ladder. "Goodnight, Master~"
The following morning, the sun was barely over the horizon, but the temporary guild hall was already awake.
Lucy sat slouched over the counter, her face resting flat against the wood as if she had given up on life entirely. Mira set a glass of water down in front of her.
"Good morning, Lucy. How was your first official team mission?"
"Don't ask," Lucy groaned into the timber. "Just... don't ask. Natsu burnt half a street, Gray got naked in front of the local guards, and Erza threatened to chop everyone in half if they didn't stop crying." She lifted her head, looking broken. "And we didn't even get paid! My rent is due in two days, Mira! Two days! I'm going to be evicted!"
"Oh, don't worry," Mira said gently, reaching under the counter to pull out a job flyer. "I saved a local request for you. It's close by, pays well, and shouldn't involve any major property damage."
Lucy's eyes lit up like lanterns. "Mira! You are an actual saint!"
As she reached for the flyer, she noticed a heavy leather travel bag sitting beside the counter, along with the dark blue coat Mira had draped over her arm.
"Wait... are you going somewhere?"
"Crocus!" Mira clasped her hands together happily. "Kai, Cana, and I are going to the capital for a few days. It's our first team trip!"
Lucy stared at her, her smile twitching violently as visions of luxury hotels and high-end dining collided with her impending homelessness. "That's... great. Super happy for you guys..."
Near the main entrance, Cana walked out carrying a leather pack over her shoulder, a fresh bottle tucked under her arm. "Yo, gearhead! Stop staring at your watch, we're right behind you!"
Kai stood by the doorframe, checking a silver pocket watch. "You're four minutes late."
"We have sixteen minutes left," Cana barked, shoving his shoulder as she passed.
"You're insufferable."
"Correct."
"Have a good trip, Mira!" Laki called out from the back tables.
"Bring back some decent alcohol from the capital, Cana!" Macao shouted.
"Don't let Kai spend all his money on scrap metal!" Wakaba added with a laugh.
Kai didn't even turn around; he simply raised a hand behind his back and casually flipped Wakaba off as he walked out into the sunlight.
Elfman crossed his arms near the door, bellowing, "Have a manly trip!"
"I'm going to a government laboratory, Elfman," Kai called back.
Lucy watched them leave, letting out a long, jealous sigh before slumping back onto the bar. "...I hate being poor."
The dirt road leading toward Magnolia Station was quiet, lined with tall stone walls and overhanging trees. Cana walked with her hands behind her head, enjoying the morning air.
"First thing we do when we hit Crocus is visit the southern district brewery. They just imported a dark barrel from the northern border."
"First thing we do is visit the Ministry office," Kai corrected flatly, hands inside his coat pockets. "I'm not lugging you around after you get wasted in a pub."
"You are no fun at all, boss."
Mira smiled beside them. "We can do both! We have plenty of time—"
Kai stopped dead in his tracks. Cana and Mira paused a few paces ahead, turning back to look at him.
Kai turned his head slowly, his golden eyes fixing on a high brick wall twenty yards behind them. "You can come out, Raincloud. Your stealth magic is about as subtle as a thrown brick."
A panicked squeak echoed from behind the wall.
Cana's mouth curled into an amused grin. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
A moment later, a small figure shuffled nervously into view. She wore a dark blue coat and a fur-trimmed hat, clutching her hands together so tightly her knuckles were white.
Cana's posture shifted instinctively, her fingers hovering near her card holster. "Juvia?! Element 4?!"
Mira's playful smile faded slightly, her posture sharpening.
"Relax," Kai said, stepping casually between his teammates and the trembling water mage. "She's not here to fight. She was helping me analyze phase-shifting mana structures recently."
Cana raised an eyebrow. "You've been working with her without telling us?"
"I don't provide weekly reports on my acquaintances."
Juvia stood frozen beneath their attention, a tiny raincloud manifesting above her hat and sprinkling water onto her nose.
Kai looked at her, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Still following me around, Raincloud? Don't tell me you traveled all the way from Oak Town just to watch me walk to a train station."
"J-Juvia—! N-No! Juvia was just—!" She stammered wildly, her hands flailing in front of her face. "Juvia didn't mean to stalk! Juvia was just... following!"
"That's literally what stalking is."
"Juvia knows!"
Cana snorted, while Mira covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
Juvia's shoulders sank, her voice falling into a quiet, hesitant murmur. "Juvia wanted to see Fairy Tail... You told Juvia that she needed to stop living in the past. That feeling guilty forever wouldn't change anything." She took a slow breath, looking up. "Juvia still feels terrible about the war. But... Juvia wants to know what kind of people you really are. Juvia wants to know if she can become someone better."
Cana's expression lost its guard. She relaxed her posture and slid her hand away from her cards. "Look, I'm not going to pretend the war didn't happen. But you aren't fighting us now, and if Kai trusts you enough to stand in front of you, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt."
Juvia blinked, her eyes wide. "Cana-san..."
"Don't make me regret it."
"Juvia won't!"
Mira smiled warmly. "Besides, you're already trying. That's what counts."
Kai cleared his throat dryly. "Wonderful. Are we finished with the emotional development? I have a train to catch."
"You really know how to ruin a moment, gearhead," Cana sighed.
Kai turned back toward the station, glancing over his shoulder at Juvia. "I'm heading to Crocus for a few days on Ministry business. My laboratory equipment there is far superior to what we have in Magnolia. If you're interested, we can finish testing your fluid-state magic properly."
Juvia's face lit up. "J-Juvia... can come with you?!"
"It's a working trip, not a vacation," Kai said, though his lips twitched with subtle amusement. "And it gives you a chance to see how our guild operates away from the chaos in Magnolia. You can decide if you actually want to join after that."
Juvia's face flushed red with pure joy. "Juvia would be honored!" She immediately reached behind the brick wall and snatched up a pre-packed leather travel bag.
Kai stared at the bag. Then at Juvia. "You brought luggage."
Juvia froze. "..."
"You packed an entire travel bag before you even knew if I'd talk to you."
"J-Juvia was prepared for emergencies!"
Cana leaned toward Mira. "She definitely planned this."
Mira giggled. "Completely."
Kai let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Grab your stuff, Raincloud. The train leaves in ten minutes, and I'm not running for it."
"Yes, Kai-sama!" Juvia chirped, falling into step right beside him, her anxiety completely evaporated.
As the four of them continued down the road, Cana whispered out of the corner of her mouth to Mira. "So... how long before she realizes he's only interested in her magic because it breaks physical laws?"
"Oh, give her until lunch," Mira whispered back.
Kai didn't even turn his head. "I can hear both of you."
"Good," Cana grinned.
Suddenly, the communication lacrima inside Kai's coat vibrated. He paused, pulling it out and activating the screen.
Siris appeared again, perfectly composed. "Sir. One final update regarding the intelligence request."
"Go ahead, Stiffy."
"The second target has been confirmed." Siris paused briefly. "They are currently in Crocus."
Kai stared silently at the projection. Beside him, Cana's grin widened, Mira raised an eyebrow, and Juvia's tiny raincloud flickered back to life in confusion.
Kai slowly closed his eyes. "Of course they are."
"Would you like me to alter your itinerary?" Siris asked smoothly.
"No," Kai opened his eyes, his golden gaze sharpening. "Keep everything as planned." He snapped the lacrima shut and slipped it back into his pocket.
Cana smirked, adjusting her pack. "So... Ministry business, drinking, and a hunt?"
"Apparently."
"Sounds like a real team trip," Cana laughed, clapping him on the back.
Kai looked at the three of them, then down at his pocket watch as the second hand ticked away. He let out a deep, long-suffering sigh.
"...I really, really should have stayed in bed."