"Sorry for bringing up such heavy topics."
"It's okay, I'm also happy to share these things, hoping everyone can be more cautious. Also hope that one day..."
Rhode didn't continue, and the topic came to an abrupt stop.
Jason asked about relatively lighter matters: "Miss Mirajane, you were a famous cover girl before, and six years have passed, yet you still look COOL and youthful. So, may I ask if you are considering a comeback?"
"I won't be making a comeback. On the contrary, I think I will retire completely. Because..." Mira looked at Rhode beside her, and the love in her eyes made Jason instinctively press the shutter.
"COOOL! I remember now!" Jason exclaimed excitedly, "You guys got engaged six years ago, so are you planning to set a date for the wedding now?"
Mira smiled sweetly: "We are already preparing for it, and the wedding will be soon."
Such an important matter has, of course, been discussed more than once, almost every time we gather together.
There is evidently no concept of an auspicious date here, and there are no formalities tied to getting married. As long as a ceremony is held with witnesses present, it's enough.
After all, this is a place where even the household registration system is quite lax.
If you care about those formalities, you could go to the city government to get an official certificate, but it seems Alzack and Bisca didn't bother.
They only changed Bisca's name from Bisca Mulan to Bisca Connell on the guild register.
Last night during a break, Mira also asked Rhode's opinion. Rhode decided to follow the local customs, but do it according to the relatively rare examples.
—From Mirajane Strauss, to Mirajane Ro Strauss.
Somewhat similar to the compound surnames over in Europe.
It's only used when reporting your name formally anyway, so it doesn't affect everyday life much.
After deciding this, Mira seemed very happy and gave Rhode a little token of appreciation.
Thinking of the embarrassing matter, Mira's face flushed again, though for others, it probably seemed like a expression of happiness.
"What?!
"COOOOOL!"
The exclamations from eavesdropping companions and Jason's excited screams pulled Mira out of her thoughts.
"When was it decided?"
"Why didn't we know?"
"Which day? Exactly which day?"
The busybodies crowded over, led by Laki and Ginanna, men and women swarming in.
Lucy also blushed as she tried to get closer to hear clearly. She initially intended to thank them and incidentally join in on the interview, but she unexpectedly overheard some incredible news.
Wendy's immunity seemed to have improved a lot, as she perked up her ears trying to comprehend everything.
Jason, who had been warmly treated since entering the guild, was instantly squeezed out.
He felt as if someone had clawed at his head and someone else's elbow jabbed his back. He stumbled, only for someone to step on his butt.
Nonetheless, he excitedly wriggled out of the crowd, skidding and stomping out while raising his fists high and shouting:
"COOL! Cool! Cool! COOOOOL! This is truly Fairy Tail, Fairy Tail is really back!"
Shortly after, Jason noticed his view dimming as if a shadow had cast over him. Upon closer inspection, he first spotted a beast claw even larger than his body, and then he saw the striking black and red hair and the gleaming armor.
Jason jumped up excitedly with his camera: "Fairy Queen! It's so good to see you again, Miss Erza! As COOL as ever!!!"
"Hmm? I remember you're a reporter from Weekly Sorashara, right?" Erza said quite seriously, "Here for an interview? Welcome. Let me put my things down and change into something more suitable for photos."
"No, no, no!" Jason stepped back a few paces, capturing the claw in the frame too.
The open guild door, the Fairy Queen's slender arm, effortlessly supporting the massive and terrifying beast claw—Jason couldn't help but cheer. The composition was just too COOL!
He snapped a few photos and inquired: "May I ask what kind of magical beast is this?"
"It's a front claw of a Demon-Horned Bear, a task I took on yesterday. It's part of the reward," Erza explained,
"I heard the meat of the Demon-Horned Bear is delicious, so I brought it back for my companions to try. Oh, and you're welcome to join if you don't mind."
"Dining at Fairy Tail?!" Jason's expression grew more excited, "Thank you for the hospitality!"
He eagerly continued with his questions: "Will you be acquiring new armor afterwards?"
"Of course." Erza replied, "I've heard that magical tools have advanced a lot over recent years, so I hope there will be new styles of armor and weapons.
"Additionally, I'm interested in knowing if there are any updates in design concepts. I have some insights into armor design; I'm not sure if they can keep up with the current era..."
Erza spoke eloquently, clearly filled with anticipation for her new armor, to the extent that she temporarily forgot about her debt problems.
After covering a few questions, two people walked side by side toward the guild entrance.
"Miss Erza?"
"Erza? Why are you standing at the door? Is that... another odd souvenir?"
"Gray, Jubia? You're back as well." Erza gently turned, the tip of the Demon-Horned Bear's claw nearly brushed past Jason.
Jason, entirely unperturbed, excitedly leaped from Erza's side:
"COOL! Gray and Jubia! Are you also soon to be married like Mr. Rhode and Miss Mirajane?"
"Ma... Marry?! With Gray-sama?" Jubia covered her flushed face with both hands, her body softly collapsing into Gray.
Only she didn't actually lean on him but instead melted into a puddle, like Tom being squashed, flowing down the few steps at the guild's entrance.
"Oh, it's just the reporter." Gray felt a little uncomfortable around the collar, lightly tugged at it, and in the next second, his shirt had already flown off.
Excitedly, Jason snapped pictures... their magazine had a generous threshold; being shirtless, or even fully nude, could be published.
Just as Jubia had reformed her body and stood up, Gray's shirt draped over her head.
"Gray-sama's scent!!!" She clutched the shirt, eyes turning into spirals, happily collapsing again.
Jason continued snapping, capturing Jubia's suspicious grin.
"Miserable thief! Just wait until I catch you!" Natsu rushed in angrily from outside.
Last night upon returning home, Natsu found that the little treasure chest belonging to him and Hapi had been robbed, not even a coin left behind. After chasing the thief all day, he remained unsuccessful.
Though scarcely having any money, he was hungry, and with Hapi absent, he decided to go to the guild to eat.
He marched in, not noticing he had stepped onto Gray's sleeve and Jubia's hair.
Gray yelled angrily: "Watch your step, you fire-prone moron!"
"Huh?" Natsu, feeling just as irritable, naturally snapped back immediately, "What's it matter if I step on it? You ice-cube sicko, you won't even wear it!"
The two barely said anything before they butted heads, starting to wrestle furiously, hand against hand.
Jason happily captured the moment: "COOOL! That's the showdown between Natsu and Gray! Will fire or ice prevail?!"
"Of course it's me, you bastard!!" ×2
Natsu and Gray turned their heads in unison, angrily yelling at Jason before casually throwing a punch to send him flying into the guild's outer wall.
Nose bleeding, Jason slowly slid down from the wall, dazed but without losing his smile: "Cool... COOOOL..."
Erza's veins bulged on her forehead: "You two! Show some respect to the guest!"
She tossed the massive bear paw she had been holding onto, which landed with a thud, pinning Natsu, Gray, and Jubia beneath it.
Natsu and Gray stretched out their hands and feet weakly from under the bear paw: "Sorry, sorry..."
RhodeMira, having just escaped the surrounding crowd, gently patted his forehead while stifling a giggle with his hand over his mouth.
"I knew it would end like this." Makarov approached the entrance, sighed wearily, and expressed his exhaustion, "I merely hoped, at least during the recent reunion, to leave a good impression on everyone..."