The hair tie wasn't expensive, and Goodman even gave Rhodes a wink and a small discount.
Rhodes felt quite pleased with the deal and thanked him earnestly after paying.
Mira tucked away the New Year's gift, giving Rhodes a thoughtful look as she silently pondered what she could give in return.
"Ah, youth is such a wonderful thing," Goodman murmured as he watched the two of them walk away. It reminded him of the days when he and Molly had gone through sothing similar.
They had tiptoed around their feelings, growing close in quiet, unspoken ways. No one ever said the words out loud, but the affection between them had been understood. Every day was filled with subtle hope and quiet happiness, mixed with just a hint of fear—fear that what they had might slip away.
If you asked him, that might've been the sweetest ti of all.
"But that kid sure is lucky," Goodman added with a grin. "Being favored by Miss Mirajane, now that's sothing."
Mirajane might've had a temper in her younger days, but now she was a beloved beauty of the guild. Hard not to be a little jealous.
Goodman glanced at the soft weavings and knitwork his wife had made and chuckled. Well, maybe not that jealous.
On the way back, they passed an ice cream shop that was bustling with custors, even in the middle of winter.
In fact, it looked even more popular than during the sumr months.
Children waved around their pocket money to buy colorful cones, laughing and running through the snow. Rhodes worried a few of them might drop their ice cream before getting a single bite.
He stepped up and bought a matcha-flavored cone, then handed it to Mira. "I told you I'd buy you ice cream last ti."
"Just one?" Mira took the cone and raised a brow. "Aren't you getting one too?"
"Eh... not really in the mood for sweets today," Rhodes replied, quickly adding, "Didn't bring much money with ."
"Oh? Then let treat you to one," Mira said, already reaching for her wallet.
"No, no!" Rhodes waved his hands, flustered. "The line's too long anyway. We should probably head back."
Mira tilted her head, watching him with suspicion. That was strange—usually, he liked sharing snacks with her.
She took a bite of the ice cream. The cold matcha flavor lted in her mouth, pleasantly refreshing.
Then she noticed the way Rhodes was looking at her.
"You sure you don't want any?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Rhodes avoided her gaze. "Well... I an... I could go either way."
You're so obvious.
Mira gave him the silent treatnt and focused on her dessert.
As they walked back toward the guild, the cone steadily disappeared bite by bite. Rhodes, anwhile, cast increasingly desperate glances at it.
"Hey... is it good?" he asked, not-so-subtly.
Mira looked at him and smirked. Then she spoke as if reviewing fine cuisine.
"The cream quality is excellent, and the matcha is just right. Cool and smooth, with a lovely fragrance."
'That's not what I ant.'
Rhodes sighed, realizing she was teasing him.
Mira grinned and added, "Thanks for treating to such delicious ice cream."
"You're welco," Rhodes mumbled, watching her polish off the last bite without sparing even a taste for him.
So much for that plan.
Just before they stepped into the guild, Mira gave his calf a swift kick.
"You two are back already?" Laki asked with a smile. "The rchant only dropped off the deliveries about half an hour ago."
Mira glanced at Rhodes, then replied with a light smile, "Sorry, we got a little... delayed on the way."
"Yeah, yeah. Just a little delay~"
"Laki~"
"Hehe~ Anyway, everything's been counted. The receipt's on the counter," Laki said with a playful laugh. "If this keeps up, I'm going to file for a raise."
Mira chuckled. "Thanks for all the hard work. I'll treat you to so cake next ti."
"Deal." Laki grinned and extended her hand toward Rhodes.
Rhodes blinked. "What's that for?"
Laki leaned in and whispered, "This is a golden opportunity to have Sister Mira treat to cake. I'll sell it to you for 10,000 Jewels. Co on, pay up."
Rhodes smirked. "If I had 10,000 J to spend, I'd just ask her out myself. Why would I need to buy an opportunity from you?"
Laki glared at him. She really wanted to smack that smug couple aura right off him.
...
December 31st, X783. Fairy Tail's New Year celebrations were in full swing.
Since morning, the guild had been bustling with activity as everyone pitched in to decorate.
Many of the supplies had been bought in advance by Rhodes and Mira, while others were handmade on-site by the guild mbers.
Gray contributed with his beautiful ice sculptures, while Reedus created lively paintings to brighten the space.
Happy zipped around overhead, flying decorations up to the rafters and rooftop corners under Mira's careful direction.
Not to be outdone, Natsu loudly declared that he wouldn't lose to Gray and promptly started a commotion inside the guild—only to be swiftly beaten up by Master Makarov and tossed into the yard like a sack of potatoes.
Once he landed outside, Natsu quieted down. That's because Erza was out there too, hamring rice cakes with Elfman.
Elfman, as expected, roared about "manliness" with every strike, pounding the mochi with powerful blows.
But Erza? She was oddly enthusiastic—so much so that she had changed into a bunny girl costu just to hit rice cakes. She leapt and pounded with gusto, every swing of the mallet brimming with intensity.
The contest between the two in the yard drew a crowd of onlookers, with cheers and applause ringing out one after another.
It was hard to tell if people were cheering for the rice cakes or for sothing else entirely.
Rhodes made sure not to look at anything he shouldn't, but sohow felt compelled to cheer for Elfman.
"Forget it, let's go help Mira," he said to himself. He was, after all, a man with a strong sense of self-preservation.
Mira was standing on tiptoe, trying to hang a ribbon, but the spot was just a little out of her reach.
Rhodes stepped in and easily helped her finish the job.
That brief mont where their fingertips touched—unintentional and fleeting—was sohow more touching than any grand gesture. These monts had beco part of their daily lives, each unique in its own way.
Neither of them went out of their way to create opportunities, but they didn't avoid them either.
"Just a little higher," Mira said, guiding him. "Sounds like the yard's getting pretty lively."
"Erza and Elfman are having a rice cake showdown," Rhodes explained with a straight face. "What I don't get is why all the people standing around, neither helping nor judging, are having the most fun."
"Making rice cakes is more fun when there's a crowd... don't you think it's fun?" Mira smiled playfully.
"I didn't really notice," Rhodes replied cautiously. He was smart enough not to blurt out the truth in response to a sudden question like that.
Mira tilted her head in confusion. "I ant the ribbon. I was asking if it looks good. What were you even talking about?"
"Oh." Rhodes' brain quickly switched gears. He stepped back, examined the ribbon seriously for a mont, and nodded. "I was too close before, that's why I didn't notice. But yeah, it looks great from here. You've got a good eye for this stuff."
"Really?" Mira stepped back beside him, hands behind her back, deciding to let his slip-up go.
From behind, Reedus quietly picked up her brush and started painting, capturing the mont of the two standing side by side, looking up at the decorations.
That evening, the guild threw a New Year's party. Not everyone could make it, but the place was still bustling with life.
The host, of course, was Max. He thrived in this kind of setting and tossed in a few clever jokes between announcents. Honestly, the guy could moonlight as a stand-up codian.
In addition to Mira performing a song on stage, several other mbers stepped up with impromptu acts.
They weren't exactly professional performances, but that didn't matter. Among family, even the simplest of shows felt warm and fun.
The party carried on all the way to midnight, until Max raised his hand and conjured a countdown using his sand magic. The glowing numbers shimred in the air as everyone joined in:
"10, 9, 8... 2, 1!"
And then, Master Makarov's booming voice rang out, "Fairy Tail, cheers!"
"Fairy Tail, cheers!" everyone echoed, raising their glasses high.
To Rhodes' left stood Mira. To his right, Natsu. Then Erza, Gray, Loke, Cana, Levy—an entire circle of friends wrapping around to Elfman on Mira's other side.
Happy perched proudly atop Warm, who was enjoying the attention. For once, even Loke didn't disappear when Rhodes got close.
The voices of this little family blended into the rest of the crowd.
"Fairy Tail, cheers!"
...
$tonks💎💎
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