Roger thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, let's go explore together. Just give me a sec."
Mirajane gave a soft smile and winked. "No problem~ I'd wait for Roger anytime~."
Roger grinned, using his magic to clean up the shattered vase and water stains on the floor. Then, he pulled a slice of cheesecake from his storage space and handed it to Mirajane.
"Waiting can get boring. Have some dessert."
"Oh, Roger, you're so sweet," Mirajane said with a bright smile, taking the cake and sitting down to eat it in small, delicate bites.
Roger was about to keep tidying up when he noticed Erza still standing there, looking a bit dazed. Curiously, he asked, "Erza, aren't you getting ready to head out with us?"
"Huh?" Erza snapped out of her jumbled thoughts. "W-What?"
Roger repeated the question, but before Erza could respond, Mirajane, spoon in mouth, chimed in with a teasing grin.
"Oh my, looks like Erza's not that interested. Guess it'll just be me and Roger having a little one-on-one today~."
"Who said that?!" Erza's eyes widened as she glared at Mirajane. "I'm going too! No way I'm letting you have Roger all to yourself!"
With that, Erza dashed back to her room to get ready at lightning speed.
Soon enough, both girls were set, and the trio left the house together.
The streets were already buzzing with festive energy—colorful balloons and streamers floated everywhere, and every rooftop was decked out with vibrant patterns.
As they reached the path to the park, they found a lively makeshift market lined with all sorts of stalls. Though it was still early, some shops were already open, and eager citizens and tourists were milling about.
Most adults sported clothes with the Fairy Tail emblem, while kids ran around in adorable Happy-themed mascot costumes.
"I didn't expect everyone to be out this early," Erza said, looking around with wide-eyed curiosity.
"Whoa! It's that amazing takoyaki stall from last year! They're back!" Erza's eyes sparkled like she'd found treasure, and she bolted toward the stall.
"Seriously," Mirajane said, watching her go with a fond, exasperated sigh. "Sometimes Erza's like a kid who never grows up, getting so excited over a snack."
"She's supposed to be the Fairy Queen, after all."
Roger watched Erza sprint back, clutching a huge box of takoyaki with pure glee, and a smile tugged at his lips. "That's what makes Erza so charming."
Thinking of Erza's usual serious yet occasionally clumsy nature, Mirajane giggled. "True, that contrast is pretty fun."
"Come try this!" Erza rushed up to them, holding out a box with three skewers. "This place is even better than last year! The octopus is crispy, the sauce is savory with a hint of creaminess—it's amazing!"
"Erza," Mirajane said, picking up a takoyaki with a skewer, her eyes glinting mischievously. "When you're on a date, you don't just hand food to your boyfriend like that~."
With that, she held a takoyaki to Roger's lips, her eyes curving into a sweet smile, her voice soft as honey. "Roger, open wide~."
The sudden gesture caught Roger off guard, but he quickly played along, opening his mouth to eat the takoyaki Mirajane fed him.
"How is it? Good?" Mirajane asked eagerly.
"Mmm," Roger nodded, savoring it. "Really good. The batter's got a creamy touch, and the savory sauce adds such a rich flavor."
Before he could finish, Mirajane reached out, her fingertip gently brushing the corner of his mouth, catching a bit of sauce. Roger froze as she brought her finger to her lips, lightly licking the sauce off with a playful smile.
"Mmm~ Just like you said, it's delicious~," she said. "But—I wouldn't mind having a bit more."
She paused, tucking a strand of white hair behind her ear with a graceful flick, then tilted her face up, eyes closed, lips slightly parted to reveal a glimpse of her teeth. In a coy, teasing tone, she added, "Roger, could you feed me one too?"
Erza's jaw dropped, her mind screaming, She can do that?! Sure, she'd bought the takoyaki, and they'd each had one, but how did Mirajane make it feel so… flirty? So heart-racing?!
Ugh, why didn't I think of that?!
Snapping out of it, Erza mimicked Mirajane, closing her eyes, tilting her face up, and opening her mouth. "Me too! Roger, feed me one too!"
Roger couldn't help but chuckle at their identical yet totally different "feed me" poses. Mirajane's was like a sultry lover asking for a kiss, while Erza's felt like an eager, loyal cat waiting for a treat.
One's a cunning fox, the other's an earnest kitten.
Shaking his head with a grin, Roger skewered two takoyaki and fed one to each of them.
"How's it taste?" he asked.
"Delicious!" Erza beamed.
"So good~," Mirajane purred.
They answered in unison, then glanced at each other. Mirajane covered her mouth, smirking. "Oh my, Erza, you've got a lot to learn~."
"Sh-Shut up!" Erza stammered, blushing and looking away. I've gotta step up my game. I can't let Mirajane win every time!
The trio continued down the market, Erza quickly finishing her share and tossing the empty box into a trash can with pinpoint accuracy. Then, her eyes darted nervously, her cheeks flushing as her left hand inched toward Roger's, hesitating, pulling back, then trying again like it was a high-stakes mission.
After several false starts, she took a deep breath, steeled herself, and reached out again, her hand trembling. Just as her fingers brushed Roger's—
"Mommy, what's that lady doing?" a child's voice piped up nearby.
Erza froze, yanking her hand back like she'd been shocked, her face turning scarlet as she shrank into herself like a startled quail.
"She's eating candy, sweetie. You've already had yours, so no more even if you ask," the mother replied.
"Just one more, please, Mommy~!" the kid whined.
Erza let out a huge sigh of relief—not about her, thank goodness. She was still debating whether to try again when a warm hand suddenly took hers.
Startled, she looked up to see Roger smiling at her. Her face went beet red, and she ducked her head, letting him lead her forward like a shy duckling.
Mirajane burst out laughing. "Pfft, Erza, you're blushing over holding hands? It's not like you haven't done it before. Why're you acting like a schoolgirl?"
Erza's face practically steamed, but she tried to play it cool. "S-So what? I held his hand first!"
"Oh, really?" Mirajane raised an eyebrow. She grabbed Roger's other hand with her left, then slid her right hand into his, interlocking their fingers tightly. Lifting their joined hands, she flashed a smug grin at Erza. "This is how you hold hands. Fingers intertwined, hearts connected~."
"Ten fingers, one heart—mine and Roger's are totally in sync~."
Erza felt like she'd been struck by lightning, frozen in place. I lost! In words and actions, I completely lost! How was Mirajane this good at romance?!
Roger, feeling the distinct textures of their hands, found it both amusing and heartwarming. Erza's hand, calloused from years of swordplay, was soft yet firm—a perfect reflection of her reliable yet gentle nature. Mirajane's, despite her combat training, was smooth and delicate, like warm jade, slipping through his grasp like silk.
He tightened his grip on both, one steady, one gentle, and started walking. "C'mon, if we don't hurry, we'll have to head straight to the guild. There's tons more fun waiting for us."
Mirajane and Erza exchanged a smile, setting their rivalry aside for now, and followed him into the lively morning festival.
They tried sugar painting, carved colorful wooden figures, and snapped photos with quirky magical props. Hand in hand, their laughter—Mirajane's bell-like giggles and Erza's excited gasps—mingled with the morning breeze.
Leaving the last stall, Mirajane glanced at the growing crowd, a bit reluctant to leave. "Today was so much fun—the best day in a while! Shame it's getting crowded, or we could've kept going."
"Totally," Erza said, licking a banana-chocolate ice cream cone. "Coming out this morning was your smartest idea yet."
Normally, Mirajane would've teased her, but she was in too good a mood—and she'd already outdone Erza a few times today. She just hummed, letting it slide.
As they neared the guild, Erza suddenly pointed at a figure in the distance. "Look! Isn't that Laxus with the big backpack?"
Roger and Mirajane followed her gaze, spotting a tall, blond man heading toward the guild's entrance.
"Probably him," Roger said. "That strong magic aura and blond hair? Can't think of anyone else."
"And that's gotta be Lucy," Mirajane added, eyeing a blonde figure lingering at the guild's crowded entrance, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. "I don't think Lucy's formally met Laxus yet, has she?"
Her eyes gleamed with playful scheming. "Let's hang back a bit. Could be fun to watch."
Roger chuckled at her troublemaking expression, and the trio quietly stopped under a shady tree, watching the two figures about to meet at the guild's entrance.
"Ugh, so many people!" Lucy groaned, staring at the packed crowd. "The guild's already been expanded, and it's still this crowded?!"
"And this is before they've even announced the event details! If people knew what was planned, the guild would probably burst!"
"Is this Fairy Tail?" a low, slightly uncertain voice asked behind her.
Lucy turned to see a tall man with striking blond hair, carrying a massive backpack, eyeing the guild's entrance curiously.
Carrying that huge bag—must be a tourist here for the Harvest Festival, Lucy thought. The events haven't started yet, and I'm practically a guild veteran now. Time to boost Fairy Tail's image with some hospitality!
Clearing her throat, she flashed a warm smile. "Yup, this is the Fairy Tail Mages' Guild! You're here for the Harvest Festival, right?"
Laxus blinked, caught off guard. He'd skipped a tough century-long quest to take an easier decade-long one just to make it back for the festival. That counted as "on purpose," right?
He hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah… sorta."
Lucy took his response as confirmation, puffing out her chest with a "senior" vibe. "You came at the perfect time! Soon, we're kicking off our special 'Immersive Story Experience.' See all these people? They're here for it!"
"Immersive Story?" Laxus frowned. What's that weird event? Did Cana come up with this? "Didn't they used to hold competitions in the morning? Why the change?"
"Oh, that?" Lucy was surprised. This guy's a hardcore Fairy Tail fan if he knows past events. "Well, the guild's gotten so popular that the master thought competitions weren't enough. So, we brainstormed and settled on this new event."
The old man suggested it? Laxus raised an eyebrow, giving the girl a second look. "You're a newbie here?"
"Not that new!" Lucy's heart raced. He doesn't know my weird nicknames! This is my chance to make a great impression! Crossing her arms to seem mature, she said, "I've been with the guild for months now—a full-fledged member! Oh, do you have a favorite mage? I can get you their autograph!"
He'll totally think I'm a kind, thoughtful mage. Goodbye, weird nicknames—hello, charming and considerate Lucy!
"An autograph?" Laxus's face scrunched up, a giant question mark practically hovering over him. He pointed at himself. "Me? Asking for someone's autograph?"
"Oh, don't be shy!" Lucy waved a hand, grinning like she had it all figured out. "I'm tight with lots of guild members. After all, I'm a seasoned veteran! Even if you want 'Fairy Queen' Erza's autograph, I've got you covered!"
Laxus stared at this overconfident newbie, sighing and crossing his arms, about to clarify who he was when laughter rang out behind them.
"Looks like someone needs an introduction~," Mirajane said, strolling up with a grin, followed by a giggling Erza and Roger, who was clearly enjoying the show.
Mirajane stepped between them, gesturing. "This is Lucy, a talented Celestial Spirit Mage who joined the guild not too long ago."
She paused, barely containing her laughter, and pointed at Laxus. "And this… is 'newbie' Laxus." Her voice dripped with amusement as she emphasized, "A super newbie who joined the guild a long, long time ago~."