Just as Statiw finished explaining to Mirajane, the others, who had seen Mirajane gripping Statiw's arm with a serious and agitated expression from a distance, walked over together.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Erza was the first to speak when they arrived.
"No, nothing," Mirajane shook her head. She was still unsure whether she should tell the others about the Second Origin that Statiw had spoken of. After all, in Mirajane's mind, matters involving one's spirit or core magic were very dangerous.
"Then why are you holding Statiw's arm with such an agitated expression?" Natsu asked, completely puzzled.
"Because I'm going shopping with her tomorrow," Statiw knew Mirajane's thoughts and explained with a smile, "Well, no matter what she likes, I'll buy it for her, and..."
As Statiw explained, everyone suddenly understood. Although it still felt a bit hard to believe, the relationship between Mirajane and Statiw had long been spread by Lisanna behind their backs, so everyone didn't ask too many questions. Instead, they congratulated Mirajane on becoming an S-Class Mage.
While everyone else was gathered around Mirajane, Statiw turned and saw Cana sitting alone at a table, drinking.
Coming over to Cana, Statiw sat down and looked at the number of bottles in front of her. "Cana, even though you're an adult, you're drinking too much."
"Huh?" Cana turned her head, looking dazed, towards Statiw. "It's Statiw. Come, have a drink with me."
"Hey, did you even hear what I said? You're drinking too much." Statiw took the cup from Cana's hand. "You don't need to care about losing to Laxus. After all..."
Before Statiw could finish, Cana waved her hand. "I'm not drinking because I lost to Laxus. I'm very clear about the gap between him and me, so I don't care about that. You don't need to worry."
"Oh? Then why?" Statiw was startled, asking somewhat confused.
Cana waved her hand, mumbling, "Do you know, the reason I came to Magnolia was for one thing. Originally..."
As she spoke, Cana, still dazed, slumped onto the table and fell asleep. Statiw scratched his head, looking at the sleeping Cana with a sigh.
"Statiw." Just as Statiw was considering whether to take Cana back himself or ask someone else to, Elfman walked over and called out.
"What's wrong?" Hearing Elfman call him, Statiw turned and asked.
"My sister asked me to call you over." Elfman smiled, then asked, "What's wrong with Cana?"
"She drank too much," Statiw said helplessly. "I'll go to Mirajane first, and also find someone to send her back. You help keep an eye on her so she doesn't slide under the table."
"Don't worry, I'll keep watching her," Elfman assured Statiw, patting his chest. He then sat beside Cana, staring at her intently.
Arriving next to Mirajane, everyone else had already left. Statiw sat down beside Mirajane and asked, "What did you call me over for?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to ask what you were talking about with Cana over there," Mirajane asked Statiw, seemingly casually.
"Nothing, I just wanted to comfort her, but it turned out..." Statiw picked up the wine bottle and cup in front of Mirajane, poured a drink, and replied.
"Turned out??" Mirajane asked with a puzzled expression.
"It turned out she wasn't upset about losing to Laxus at all," Statiw said with a helpless expression.
"Heh heh, so you were just being presumptuous," Mirajane scoffed. "Cana is probably upset about not becoming an S-Class Mage, not about losing to Laxus. After all, when she fights Laxus, losing to him is a certainty."
"No, what I meant just now was that Cana isn't upset about the S-Class Mage matter at all," Statiw shook his head.
"Oh? Then what is it about?" Mirajane immediately became curious.
"I don't know, she fell asleep on the table before she could say anything," Statiw showed a helpless expression again, then said to Mirajane, "Mirajane, you take Cana back later."
"You're quite concerned about her," Mirajane glanced at Statiw, saying seemingly casually.
"We're all guild companions, isn't that how it should be?" Statiw looked at Mirajane and replied with a chuckle, "However, even among companions, there are differences. If it were you, I wouldn't entrust you to someone else."
"Is that so?" Mirajane's lips curved slightly. "Alright, I'll take Cana back to the guild dormitory. Also, don't forget our date tomorrow."
"Don't worry, I won't forget," Statiw was startled, then immediately remembered his promise to Mirajane to go shopping with her. He drained the wine in his cup and then assured her.
Mirajane got up to take Cana back to the guild's female dormitory, and Elfman's task of watching Cana was complete. As Mirajane helped Cana leave the guild, Elfman came and sat down beside Statiw. However, he didn't speak to Statiw, merely sitting beside him, watching Natsu and Happy dancing on a table in the distance, and Lisanna below, clapping her hands and laughing continuously.
"Yo, you two just sitting here without saying a word, aren't you bored?" Just as Statiw was thinking about where to take Mirajane tomorrow, as Magnolia was often visited and had no new places, so he wondered if he should take her to the Royal Capital, which was somewhat more prosperous than Magnolia, and refilled his cup with wine, then poured a cup for Elfman, Gray appeared from somewhere and sat down beside them.
"We're drinking, how could we be bored?" Statiw glanced at Gray, then filled a cup for him and raised his glass to him.
Picking up the cup filled with wine by Statiw, Gray also raised his cup to Statiw and Elfman. "But I see you two sitting here without saying a word..."
"I'm watching Lisanna and them," Elfman was the first to speak.
"I'm thinking about all the places I need to take Mirajane tomorrow. After all, I've often visited Magnolia, and there aren't any new places, so I'm wondering if I should take her to the Royal Capital. It's somewhat more prosperous than Magnolia," Statiw glanced at Gray, then poured the wine in his cup into his mouth.
"You two are really going shopping? I thought you were just making an excuse when you said that." Gray was very surprised by Statiw's words.
"Why would you think that?" Statiw asked, stunned.
"I might not know other things, but I'm very clear that you didn't originally think of preparing a gift for Mirajane," Gray looked at Statiw, raising an eyebrow with a smile.
Elfman, sitting by the side, was startled. "Huh? Statiw, you weren't originally planning to give my sister a gift?"
"It's not that I didn't plan to, but that I forgot," Statiw scratched his head, speaking truthfully. "You know, these past few days, I've been busy with the magic circle deductions. Sometimes, I even forgot what day of the week it was, so..."
Statiw didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear. Then he reminded Elfman, "Remember not to mention this, so Mirajane doesn't get sad if she finds out."