The first big question after joining the guild?
Where to live.
Fairy Tail had a girls' dormitory, but it came with a monthly fee and that was something the two sisters couldn't afford just yet.
Ultear opened her mouth, ready to offer a suggestion, when she noticed Noah approaching from the other side of the room. He had just finished flattening a few rowdy guild members who had taken the celebration a little too far, and now he spotted them standing there with troubled faces.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Congrats on joining the guild. What's with those long faces? You look like someone ate your cake."
"We're just thinking about where to stay," Sorano said seriously. "I was actually considering borrowing money from you… to cover dorm rent. I'll pay you back once we start working."
Noah didn't even blink.
"Then just stay at my place for now. When you've saved up enough, move out. Easy."
Ultear let out a sigh beside them and gave Sorano a half-amused look.
"I knew he was going to say that. But he's right. Just stay at Noah's house for now. No one's going to mind."
"Are you sure?" Sorano asked softly, her eyes full of mixed emotions. "You've already done so much for us. I don't want to be a burden..."
"You're not," Noah replied firmly. "Honestly, a bunch of people are already crashing at my place. Everyone's just temporarily there until things settle. Two more won't change anything."
That put Sorano at ease at least a little. But now she was curious.
"Wait… who's staying at your house?"
Ultear took over with an almost casual count-off.
"Let's see. Me, my mother, Erza, Kagura, Simon, Gray, Leo, and Noah himself. That makes eight of us."
Even Yukino's eyes widened at that.
"You're all living under one roof?!"
Sorano looked like she wasn't sure if she should be shocked or impressed.
"A lot happened. I'll explain later," Ultear said lightly. "For now, let's pick up a few daily necessities."
Noah reached into his coat and pulled out a set of magic storage cards.
"Oh, and these " he handed them to Ultear, " these are items I collected from your house during the rescue. See if there's anything usable."
Ultear took the cards, then looked over her shoulder as Noah added:
"Grandpa and I need to talk. Take the girls shopping. Use this too "
He handed her some money. "Get whatever they need. And if there's anything left over, buy them each an extra set of clothes."
Sorano opened her mouth to protest, but Ultear already tucked the money away and grabbed both her and Yukino by the hand. As Erza and Kagura joined them, she smiled back over her shoulder.
"Don't be so polite. It's called helping each other. One day, we'll need your help too."
"...I understand," Sorano replied quietly, her heart full.
As the group headed off, Noah turned back toward the counter and joined Makarov.
"Grandpa. Any word from the Council?"
Makarov's expression soured slightly.
"Nothing useful. We've interrogated every surviving Dark Guild member you brought in. No real intel. Nothing that leads to the Black Magic Cult, and definitely nothing on Brian."
Noah frowned, his arms crossing.
"So the trail's gone cold again. I should've known Brian would be this careful. Laying down magical detection stones in advance he probably knew I was coming the moment I stepped into range."
"He's always been the cautious type," Makarov agreed. "But still, for someone so proud of his own research, you'd think he'd have the arrogance to show up and gloat."
Noah's eyes narrowed.
"That's what makes it worse. He's not just smart he's learning. And a cautious Brian is a whole different problem."
Makarov glanced sideways at Noah, his expression a mix of amusement and realism.
"What are you thinking? Brian's no fool. He didn't become the Director of the Magic Development Bureau by being reckless. The Council's bounty on him is massive. If the Dark Guilds were to approach him directly, they'd be bringing him more trouble than he's worth.
If he were really the overconfident type you're describing, he wouldn't have been able to stay hidden this long."
Noah let out a quiet breath and nodded. He had to admit he'd been overthinking it.
In the end, he asked Makarov to let him know if any news came in, then made his way to the guild library.
There, he spent some time copying a few books from his own collection, organizing and categorizing them for reference. Once he estimated the time, he quietly closed the last tome and left the guild.
Outside, the sun had already begun to set.
The golden light of twilight stretched across the sky, bathing the clouds in brilliant streaks of red, pink, and orange. A cool breeze passed by, brushing his face like a gentle hand. As he walked the familiar streets back home, the lingering restlessness in his chest began to fade.
In this moment bathed in sunset, surrounded by the calm glow of the city Noah felt peace.
By the time he reached the front door of his house, the sky had deepened to a warm amber. Light spilled from the windows, and laughter echoed from inside.
Noah smiled and opened the door.
Immediately, a wave of noise and cheer rushed to greet him.
"You sure picked the perfect time to come back. Don't tell me you planned it this precisely from this morning?" Ultear narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously.
Noah quickly waved her off.
"I had things to finish at the guild. It's just a coincidence."
After kicking off his shoes, he stepped into the living room and was greeted by a huge five-tier cake dominating the dining table. Platters of delicious dishes surrounded it, the air filled with a mix of savory and sweet scents.
Decorations sparkled on the walls. A long, hand-painted banner stretched overhead:
WELCOME SORANO & YUKINO!
Gray and Leo were on ladders, hanging up the last of the glittering streamers. Simon and Kagura moved plates to the table with practiced coordination.
But Sorano and Yukino were nowhere to be seen.
"Noah, come help us!" Erza's voice called from the kitchen.
Noah walked over and raised an eyebrow.
"I remember you used to call me 'Brother Noah.' What happened to that?"
"I just figured this feels more natural now. Doesn't it?"
"I don't mind either way. Whatever makes you comfortable."
In the kitchen, Ulu and Ultear were busy cooking, while Erza focused intently on preparing a delicate tray of desserts.
Noah rolled up his sleeves and joined in, whipping up a few of his signature dishes to add to the celebration spread. Once finished, he helped carry everything out into the living room.
By then, nearly everything was in place but still no sign of the guests of honor.
"I'll go upstairs and get them," Ultear said, setting down her tray and heading up.
The others continued arranging things while light chatter filled the air. Then, a voice called out from the second floor:
"The protagonists have arrived!"
Everyone turned as Ultear descended the stairs, gently pushing Sorano and Yukino in front of her.
The two sisters wore matching dresses in soft shades of light blue, perfectly matching their hair. The dresses had subtle shimmer, and the ribbons at their waists fluttered slightly as they moved. They looked every bit the part of two storybook princesses wide-eyed, freshly bathed, and slightly overwhelmed.
Sorano looked a little stiff in the outfit, while Yukino clutched her hand tightly, both nervous and touched by the effort.
Ultear guided them with ease one hand on each sister's back and walked them down into the center of the room.
Noah stood from his seat, and with a clear voice, announced:
"The welcome party for Sorano and Yukino… officially begins!"
The room erupted with cheers and applause.
"Welcome to the guild!"
"Eat as much as you want!"
"You both look adorable those dresses are perfect!"
"Let's raise a glass to our newest family members!"
Laughter, clapping, and the clatter of plates filled the house. Sorano and Yukino stood side by side in the warm glow of it all, eyes shining.
They were no longer alone.
They were home.
As soon as Noah made the announcement, the room burst into cheers and applause.
The clapping continued, echoing through the house in a chorus of welcome. Sorano and Yukino stood still for a moment, overwhelmed by the warmth and joy around them.
Tears began to stream down both their faces.
Sorano sniffled, her voice catching in her throat as she spoke.
"Thank you… thank you, everyone."
"Alright!" Ulu clapped her hands with a smile. "Take your seats and dig in. After dinner, we can move on to the cake!"
Still sniffling, Sorano wiped her eyes and took a seat with Yukino. Ultear slid into the seat beside them, gently placing a hand on Yukino's shoulder in comfort.
As everyone began digging into the feast, Sorano looked around, eyes wide.
"These dishes… they're really delicious. I don't think I've ever eaten food like this before."
Yukino nodded enthusiastically beside her, cheeks stuffed full of rice.
"Of course," Erza said proudly, straightening up like a soldier reporting for duty. "A lot of the dishes were developed by Noah. His cooking is top-tier."
Sorano blinked in surprise and tilted her head.
"So Noah's the best cook here? Isn't it usually the girls who cook better?"
For a moment… silence.
All motion around the table froze.
Gray had just taken a bite of grilled meat, but before he could speak, Leo sitting beside him quickly reached out and slapped a hand over Gray's mouth.
Gray gagged, coughing and nearly choking.
As he fought to breathe, his eyes narrowed at Leo, and without a word, he lunged forward, grabbing Leo by the collar.
Before either could escalate further, Ulu, sitting nearby, casually raised both her fists.
Whack. One punch each.
The room fell completely silent again.
No one even dared to comment. Instead, everyone returned to their plates and ate as though nothing had happened, trying to steer the conversation far, far away from gendered culinary debates.
The mood gradually returned to cheerful as the final slices of cake were passed around and savored. Plates were scraped clean, crumbs collected, and utensils set aside.
As the girls began chatting about how much they'd need to train tomorrow to burn off the sweets, Sorano and Yukino's laughter returned, soft and pure.
At that moment, Noah stood and waved the sisters over.
"Hey. Sorano, Yukino come here for a second."
....
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