Hiding in the corner with a bystander's mindset, Rhode now found that the drama wasn't so enjoyable, because Reby seemed rather uncomfortable.
He guessed she was worried about how this would affect her friendship with Jet, since the three members of the Lane Engine Squad had grown up together.
"Hey, Rhode," Reby asked quietly, "was what I just said too harsh?"
How would I know? Rhode had no childhood friends, let alone being confessed to by one.
He could only respond thoughtfully, "When it comes to feelings, if you don't like someone, it's better to be clear, right?"
"That's true..."
Reby knew this, which was why she rejected Jet so decisively without even touching the bouquet, to avoid any misunderstanding.
She sighed, "I'm just worried that the Lane Engine Squad will have to disband because of this. We've always been good friends, maybe I should have put it more tactfully."
"No matter how tactful you are, the meaning remains the same. The longer you wait, the more it hurts."
The situation was already done, and Rhode didn't want to say things like 'you did it wrong' or 'you really weren't thinking.'
That would only make Reby feel worse about herself without being helpful at all.
'The best choice is the one you just made,' he needed to make Reby believe this so she would feel a bit better.
After she calms down a bit, he can help her think about what to do next, if she needs it.
But then something happened that Rhode didn't anticipate.
Just as Reby was starting to recover, Troy showed up holding a bouquet too.
Troy moved a bit awkwardly compared to Jet, but after taking a couple of deep breaths, he mustered the courage to say the same words as Jet.
This time, Reby took only a second to reject Troy.
Troy was even clumsier than Jet, dropping the bouquet and leaving heartbroken.
Rhode felt partly responsible for this, as he had just reinforced Reby's belief that being decisive was the best for them.
After a while, Reby turned around, struggling to keep her emotions in check, "Let's continue practicing!"
Rhode wanted to master magic quickly, but in these circumstances, forcing Reby into teaching seemed a bit...
He thought for a moment and said, "Well, I've used quite a lot of magic power today, let's take a break first.
How about I treat you to a drink? Consider it a thank you for your help."
...
A few minutes later, Rhode and Reby were sitting at the counter.
They clinked their glasses lightly; Rhode took a small sip, while Reby gulped down a whole glass as if Kana's spirit possessed her.
Fortunately, it was only regular beer.
Mira noticed the redness in Reby's eyes and, pretending to be angry, placed her hands on her hips and asked, "Rhode, are you bullying Reby?"
"Absolutely not." Rhode raised his hand and swore, "It's a bit complicated, and I can't really explain it."
"It's not Rhode's fault. I just don't know what to do now." Reby, already tipsy, started to blush after drinking just one glass of beer.
She spilled out her worries to Mira, her speech clearly slurred by alcohol.
"Don't worry, Reby." Mira gently reassured her, "You three grew up together as good friends, you're guildmates.
No matter what happens, that bond can't be broken. It won't be long before Jet and Troy recover."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"Then... another drink!"
After finishing her second glass, Reby lay down on the counter and fell asleep, occasionally murmuring and moving her arms or legs.
If she improved her alcohol tolerance in the future, she probably wouldn't be a good drinker.
Reby was wearing an off-shoulder top, and the emblem on her left shoulder was quite visible.
Though it was summer, the ceiling fan was spinning above. Rhode considered whether to cover Reby with something, but he had nothing at hand.
Mira, however, found a light blanket and gently covered Reby with it.
"You've been paying a lot of attention to Reby, Rhode. Could it be that you also..." Mira began teasing.
"No, Reby is cute, but she's not my type."
"So what is your type?"
Mira's eyes shone with curiosity, like a fire fueled by gossip.
Rhode wanted to let her taste what it's like when your curiosity gets you, but patience is a virtue.
"It's a secret; secrets make a man more attractive." Rhode misquoted a line from a detective anime.
Confessing like a battle cry isn't wise; Jet and Troy just demonstrated that.
"Oh~ that's something Loki would say." Mira noted, "Are you two getting along better now?"
"Not at all, if I get within five meters of him, he runs away.
Even when ordering, he has Laki take the order to avoid me."
Rhode was helpless; his interaction with Loki was limited to their previously failed sparring match, and despite wanting to smooth things over, Loki gave him no chance.
Mira only knew it involved a female Star Spirit Mage and guessed, given Loki's nature, that it was a romantic entanglement.
She just wasn't sure what sad experience made him so eager to avoid anything related to Star Spirit Mages.
Rhode's approach was, if something can't be solved, don't solve it.
Even brothers can have disagreements, so in a large guild, having a few people who don't get along is normal.
For the sake of camaraderie, if something comes up, he'll step in.
"Lane Engine Squad unite!" Reby suddenly shouted, raising her fist.
Rhode helped reposition the fallen blanket over her again, "Is she dreaming about the past? When did those three start teaming up?"
"I'm not sure either." Mira pondered, "I remember when I joined the guild five years ago, they often hung out together."
"Five years ago... you were only twelve or thirteen, right?"
Joining the guild was almost like becoming independent, and she had an even younger brother with her... Rhode felt a twinge of heartache.
"Thirteen, not too early. Natsu joined a year before me, Erza even earlier, and Gray, Kana, and Reby were before that."
Mira showed a reminiscent expression, "We were all kids with nowhere to go, finding stability in joining the guild.
By the way, I've never asked you, Rhode, what did you do before this?"
"I... I was a student." Rhode replied, "From age five until just over a month ago, I was in school."
"Ten plus years just studying?" Mira looked surprised and asked further upon seeing Rhode nod,
"Were you perhaps some big figure, like a noble or a king?"