Macao didn't co back, probably because his date wasn't over yet, and he didn't seem to care if the others found out.
In truth, most people in the guild only talked about this sort of thing for fun. Otherwise, Loke would've dominated the gossip scene in Fairy Tail for years.
That said, there were still a few who paid close attention to these matters, like Wakaba.
"Macao, huh... So he's not just all talk. He actually went and did it!" Wakaba muttered with a mix of envy and concern, particularly for Roo's situation.
If Macao was seriously considering settling down, could Roo accept a new stepmother? The kid was only six years old, after all.
Most of Macao's close friends were concerned on Roo's behalf.
Natsu, however, had a different take. He didn't think it mattered much, Macao's love for Roo wasn't going to change.
If he had ti to spare, Natsu figured he might as well focus on sothing more entertaining, like Rhodes and his relationship with Mira, especially now that Mira had fully recovered.
"Rhodes."
"Happy? Are you looking for Warm? He's in the kitchen."
"Nope. Natsu told to ask you sothing—quietly." Happy leaned in. "Did Mira... force you into this?"
Rhodes raised an eyebrow. "That's your idea of asking quietly?"
"Aye! Because Rhodes was coerced—pfft!" Happy burst into giggles.
Rhodes couldn't help laughing too, especially since Mira had just stepped up behind Happy.
"Happy~?" Mira's voice ca sweet as honey. She tilted her head with that signature soft smile that usually ca with... consequences.
"A-Aye?" Happy squeaked, and quickly whipped out a drawing. "Look, Mira! Look!"
It was a chibi-style doodle: Rhodes tied to the floor, crying dramatically while Mira lood in her Satan Soul form, whip in hand.
A purple demon claw reached out, grabbed Happy by the tail, and launched him like a windmill out the guild doors, where he collided squarely with Natsu, who had just started making a run for it.
Rhodes rubbed his temple. "Is my girlfriend's reputation really heading in this direction?"
He gave Mira a teasing grin. "If I said I was being held hostage, do you think anyone would co to rescue ?"
Mira placed her hands on her hips and smirked. "Why bother with the lie? I might as well just take you hostage for real."
"Well, I wouldn't resist. Go ahead." Rhodes raised his hands playfully.
Mira smacked them away with a blush. "You're full of bad ideas."
"Mira, beer," Cana called out.
"Coming~" Mira responded, grabbing a glass and passing it to her.
Cana waved it off. "Not that one, the barrel."
Rhodes stepped in to help. "Didn't you say you were cutting back?"
"I'm celebrating today. I won big yesterday!" Cana slamd so bills on the counter and grabbed the barrel straight from Rhodes' hands. "I'm gonna drink 'til it's all gone!"
Mira gave Rhodes a reassuring glance. "Don't worry, she used to drink like this all the ti."
But sothing felt off this ti. Cana drained the entire barrel fast and slamd it down, demanding another one.
"You've had enough," Rhodes warned. "Any more and you'll end up in the infirmary."
He couldn't fathom where she put it all. One full barrel and her stomach didn't even bulge.
Mira stepped in with a softer voice. "Rhodes is right, Cana."
But Cana wasn't in the mood to listen to anyone's advice. "Why should I stop drinking just because he said so? I can handle another barrel!"
Rhodes frowned. The "he" she was referring to clearly wasn't him.
Mira leaned in and whispered near his ear, "Just give it to her for now. I'll go find so hangover dicine."
"Alright." Rhodes nodded. It was obvious that sothing was weighing on Cana.
He took the opportunity to bring over so food, just in case and even set a trash bin nearby, preparing for the worst.
"Why, Rhodes?" Cana slurred, her words thick with alcohol. "Why'd you say that? Hic..."
Rhodes waved away the strong sll of alcohol from her breath and tilted his head. "Say what?"
"Why @#%*... you don't even know ..." she muttered incoherently.
"What do you an I don't know you?" Rhodes asked, confused.
"@#%*... I..." Cana hugged the barrel tighter and started murmuring things that made even less sense.
By the ti Mira returned, Cana had already passed out on the counter.
Rhodes looked at her helplessly. "She's completely out of it. I couldn't get a single coherent word from her."
"No helping it. Sothing must've happened," Mira said softly, reaching out. "Blanket?"
"On it," Rhodes replied, and used his Requip Magic to hand her one.
Mira carefully draped the blanket around Cana, making sure to cover her back, waist, and stomach.
With how revealing Cana's usual outfit was, sleeping like that in a public space could easily give her a cold.
Mira glanced at the two empty barrels nearby and sighed. "Her tolerance has gone up."
If this kept up, the guild bar's monthly sales might spike, but neither of them would feel good about it.
It hurt knowing a friend was clearly struggling with sothing, and they couldn't do anything to help.
Rhodes quietly thought about what might've triggered this. Was it the intense duel between Mira and Erza? Maybe all the overly affectionate couples in the guild lately were getting to her?
Then there was the news about Macao's new relationship.
Rhodes rembered Mira teasing him once, saying that Cana might have a thing for Macao.
He frowned. "No way. That can't be it... right?"
Even Mira hadn't believed it when she said it.
Then suddenly, she turned to Rhodes with a cheerful glint in her eye. "I want to go shopping tomorrow."
Rhodes nodded, "Sure."
"Not with you." Mira winked playfully. "I want to go with Cana."
He instantly understood. Mira wanted to spend so ti cheering Cana up.
"One more person wouldn't hurt," Rhodes offered. "I could help carry the bags."
Mira smiled but shook her head. "No need. We might want to talk about... girly things."
Cana? Girl talk?
Oh, right. Even if she usually acted like one of the guys, Cana was a woman after all.
...
Whatever Mira said or did seed to have helped, at least a little.
Though Cana still drank often (and sohow built up an even higher alcohol tolerance), she didn't seem nearly as down as she was that night.
But then Rhodes noticed sothing else.
Mira started acting a bit... odd.
It wasn't anything dramatic. Just the way she'd glance at him sotis, clearly holding back what she wanted to say.
Finally, during one of their training sessions, Rhodes couldn't take it anymore.
"What is it?" he asked as they took a break, catching her watching him with that sa hesitant look. "You've been holding sothing in. Just say it."
Mira frowned. "I can't."
Rhodes pulled her into a hug, trying to coax her gently. "Co on. What is it you can't tell ?"
She almost caved... but in the end, she shook her head and covered her ears. "Don't ask. It's a secret. A girl's secret."
That only made him more curious.
So, he did what any clever boyfriend would do.
He tickled her.
Mira burst into laughter, squirming and protesting. But then she retaliated, tackling him into a ssy, playful brawl until both of them collapsed onto the grass, laughing too hard to move.
Panting for air, Rhodes reached over and instinctively laced his fingers with hers.
"Still not gonna tell ?" he asked, grinning.
"Nope." Mira turned her head away with a pout. "I promised Cana I wouldn't."
Mira, the ultimate gossip lover, was now carrying a huge secret and couldn't share it, just because she gave her word to a friend.
Mira's expression softened, a trace of sorrow in her eyes. 'Cana's been through a lot. She's really... pitiful.'
...
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