"…"
What is this woman… doing?
Aurel accepted the glasses, baffled. Since she was awake, there was no reason to keep holding her. He drew a steadying breath and released the hand he'd had at Mira's waist.
"Eh—wait!"
Unprepared, Mira blinked. Without support, she tipped toward the floor, yelped, and grabbed his sleeve on instinct—
They went down together.
Thud!
"Ow!"
Mira's head met wood with a dull knock, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. Aurel, dragged with her, landed atop her—fortunate enough not to hit the floor.
The give against his cheek was soft, the faint scent of shampoo clean and sweet. His expression went… complicated.
Big. And very soft. Former model, after all.
"S-sorry, I wasn't paying att—" Mira began, then trailed off as pressure across her chest registered; her eyes went wide.
Aurel's heartbeat kicked in his ears. He pushed up at once, bracing on his hands, then offered her a hand. "Let's get you up first."
"Th-thanks…"
She stood, head dipped, too flustered to meet his eyes.
"It's fine. As long as you're alright."
His easy smile calmed her; the tightness in her shoulders unwound—
"Also… thanks for the hospitality, Mira-nee."
"I-I don't understand what you're talking about!" she sputtered, retreating half a step, voice steady only by willpower.
You will later, he thought, amused. There was still a quest riding on her feelings.
Levy stirred, rubbing her reddened brow. "Ugh… that awful feeling—Mystogan again?" She sighed. In this guild, S-ranks and "normal" rarely shared a sentence.
Her gaze flicked to the bar—Mira's cheeks were pink. Fever? Levy wondered.
— — —
By noon the sun was mellow and kind. Aurel nursed a wine by the window; Levy, pink frames perched on her nose, browsed a neat stack of books.
Two calm islands in a sea of noise.
"Little Mira, a beer!" Wakaba called.
"And who are those shadowy guys!?" Natsu jabbed a thumb at the Shadowkhan gliding through tables with trays.
"Rol—Aurel's shadow magic. Part-timers," Mira explained… and promptly felt her cheeks heat again at the memory from half an hour ago. Why did thinking about it wind her pulse like this?
She knew, of course. She'd just never had cause to name it before.
What to do with it… was the problem.
If Aurel didn't have a girl he liked, maybe. But Levy liked him too—and had a head start.
Mira sighed inwardly. Best to fold the feeling away. It wasn't a bad thing, tucked close. It could be… hers, quietly.
"Yo, Aurel, job together?" Natsu appeared with a request sheet.
"If we team up, I get grilled fish forever!" Happy declared, hugging a trout.
"Sorry. I promised Levy we'd run a few tomorrow."
"Damn it!" "Aye… fasting again…" The pair slumped off. Levy's mouth tipped up, just a bit.
— — —
Night settled like silk, moon round and high. The guild emptied; only three servers remained.
Levy, though reluctant, had been coaxed home—"We've got an early start," Aurel had said, and she'd obeyed, cheeks warm.
"Let me," Aurel told the two women, sending Shadowkhan to take brooms and stack chairs.
"Your magic is enviable no matter how often I see it—like a king commanding an army," said a purple-haired girl in white uniform, adjusting her glasses. Laki, ever prone to unusual metaphors.
"Thanks for the help," Mira said, hands folded at her waist.
"It's nothing. They'll finish here and fade," Aurel replied. "We can head out."
At the door they split—Laki left toward Fairy Hills; Aurel and Mira turned right.
"See you tomorrow, Laki-senpai," Aurel waved.
"Tomorrow. You two walking together?"
"We live on the same street," he said.
"So close—" Laki blinked. Even Mira startled. Walking home… together.
Laki adjusted her glasses. "Well then—good night, Mi—Mira-nee." She pivoted smartly away, shock flashing across her face the instant her back turned. Had… had Mira-nee blushed?
— — —
Their steps clicked in companionable rhythm. The river whispered beyond the trees; lamplight painted warm ovals on the cobbles.
"For what it's worth," Aurel said at length, "Mystogan's spell suits him. Quiet entrances. Quiet exits."
Mira huffed a tiny laugh. "He has his reasons." After a beat: "Thank you. For earlier. For… catching me. And… for letting go."
"You were going to fall either way." He glanced at her. "But I'm glad I was there."
Her fingers worried the ribbon at her sleeve. "Levy-chan looks very happy."
"She makes it easy," he said. "Books. Curiosity. It's… comfortable."
"I see." Mira's smile curved, honest and a little fragile. "Comfort is precious."
They reached the street of tidy townhouses. Outside Mira's gate, she paused, hands behind her back, and rocked on her heels once.
"Good night, Aurel."
"Good night, Mira-nee."
She hovered a heartbeat longer. "And… if Levy ever asks me for advice… I'll help her. Properly."
He dipped his head. "I figured you would."
Moonlight drew a soft line along her cheek as she stepped back. "Still… if you ever want another parfait taster—"
"I'll bring two spoons," he said.
She laughed—quiet, musical—and slipped inside. The door clicked shut.
Aurel stood a moment under the lamplight, listening to the river, then turned toward his own door. The quest panel chimed softly in the corner of his sight; rewards waited, neatly boxed. Tomorrow would be busy—jobs with Levy, new edges to test, and a guild that, for all its chaos, was starting to feel like home.
He smiled to himself and went in.
(End of Chapter)
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