Rhode was taking out gifts one by one, some for Mira and others for everyone else.
Just as he uncovered the doll meant for Lisana, Lisana and Elfman walked in.
"Brother-in-law, you're back!"
"We got the stuff you wanted."
Rhode turned to see Lisana hugging two boxes while Elfman carried six on his shoulder.
He asked in confusion, "The stuff I wanted? What stuff?"
They put the boxes down with a heavy thud, clearly weighty.
Lisana said, "It's the past six years of the Fiore Daily and Weekly Sorashara."
Elfman added, "Sister asked us to buy them this morning. We had to go to several newsstands to get them all."
"Ah..." Rhode recalled mentioning this to Mira, but was surprised she got her siblings to handle it so quickly.
Mira pouted at him, as if saying, 'Helping you but still annoyed'.
Rhode chuckled and said to Lisana and Elfman, "Good job, now come take your gifts."
"Wow, a Streim Squirrel Doll and the latest Qiu Li Doll!" Lisana exclaimed, hugging the two half-human-high dolls happily, "Qiu Li Dolls are hard to find in Fiore! Thank you, brother-in-law!"
Lisana loved fluffy dolls the most. Her old ones had been ruined by mice and bugs over the years, so Rhode's gift was just what she desired.
In contrast, Elfman looked puzzled.
He opened his two gift boxes to find a bottle of perfume and some makeup products he couldn't figure out the purpose for.
Elfman wondered if he had the wrong gifts, "These... Are for me?"
"Yes and no."
"?"
Rhode laughed, "Though they're bought for you, they're not meant for you to use. They're for you to give away."
"Oh." Elfman, without thinking, almost handed the boxes to his sisters.
Rhode quickly stopped him, "Not to them, think of someone else."
Mira and Lisana exchanged looks and smiled knowingly, eagerly watching Elfman.
After some thought, Elfman decided he should give the gifts to a close friend rather than his sisters.
"I'll give them to Nabu, I lost an arm wrestling match to him earlier... Why those faces?"
Elfman was met with three expressions of disdain.
Lisana sighed, "Brother Elf, you do know these are for girls, right?"
"Um..." Elfman scratched his head, "Then I'll give them to Kana or Erza... How troublesome."
Both were lifelong friends of the opposite gender, and giving gifts felt awkward.
Mira and Lisana were nearly despairing.
"Let me guide you," Rhode sighed, "To be honest, these are for repaying a favor."
"A favor?"
"Yes, during the S-Class Exam, wasn't there a partner who helped you a lot? She went to Celestial Wolf Island just to help you and faced so many dangers there.
"So, give these to her and treat her to a meal to show your gratitude. Yes... go to that Floating Restaurant in the south of the city. I went there with Mira a couple of days ago, and the environment is great."
Rhode didn't leave Elfman any room to question, rapidly arranging everything for him, almost like he should write a speech for him too.
Mira quickly stood up, repackaged Elfman's gifts into a gift box, and shoved them into his arms.
Then the sisters turned him around and pushed him out the door: "That's decided, go now."
Lisana gave a thumbs-up, and Mira gazed at Rhode with tender eyes.
Rhode kept smiling, thinking it seemed like he wouldn't have to sleep on the floor tonight and might even ask for a little something.
Go get 'em, Elfman.
The Thunder God Tribe had just returned from a mission that afternoon. The three of them gathered around Laxus, eating and drinking while sharing amusing travel stories.
Rhode, Mira, and Lisana were organizing magazines at the table, seemingly engrossed but actually watching Elfman.
Elfman went over holding the gifts, and Laxus noticed him first, looking slightly confused.
Fried naturally followed Laxus's gaze, while Biguslo, sensing some excitement, had his dolls floating around him.
Ibarglin had her back to Elfman, but turned around just in time for him to hand her the gift box.
Who knows what they talked about, but Rhode saw Ibarglin's face turn red, and Laxus and Fried were smiling knowingly.
Then they heard Biguslo exaggerate with his tongue out, "There's something going on~"
The dolls playfully floated beside Ibarglin, repeating: "There's something going on~"
"Shut up!" Ibarglin, embarrassed and angry, waved the dolls away and then nervously adjusted her glasses, speaking quietly to Elfman.
Finally, her voice grew louder: "All right! Just because you know how to be grateful, don't overthink it!"
Elfman returned dazed.
Rhode, Mira, and Lisana were high-fiving each other.
Elfman seemed to only just realize what he'd done, his usually dark skin flushing red.
He instinctively glanced in Ibarglin's direction.
Fried was holding his chin with one hand and patting Ibarglin's shoulder with the other, likely asking something; Biguslo and his dolls were providing the soundtrack.
Ibarglin, face flushed, argued with her companions, "It's just a gift," "just a meal," "not a date."
Noticing Elfman's gaze, Ibarglin turned to look his way, and they both turned their heads away.
Laxus looked over, chuckling as he raised his glass to Elfman's support group.
Rhode and Mira smiled back with raised glasses, as if parents celebrating a successful matchmaking.
…
The following morning, Rhode opened his eyes to see Mira hastily getting dressed.
He groggily looked at the wall clock and asked, "It's still early, why the rush?"
Mira replied, "It's Elfman's first date. I need to help him with his hairstyle and outfit."
"…Right, I get it," Rhode understood her eagerness.
Mira quickly donned her clothes, carelessly combed her hair, slipped on one shoe, and hopped on one foot to find the other, then clattered out the door: "The room's all yours!"
"Sure, I'll tidy up when I get up." Rhode yawned, pulled the vacant pillow closer, and nestled into it.
Just five more minutes.
Just five more minutes.
Just five more...
Rhode lost track of how many five minutes he'd snatched, jolted awake by the door downstairs opening and closing.
He climbed out of bed and peeked out the window, watching the fully dressed Elfman being ushered out.
His spiky hair was slicked back, his clothes looked quite formal, and he was carrying a bouquet.
He seemed a bit awkward, stiffly heading towards the girls' dormitory.
A few minutes later, the sisters slyly slipped out.
Were they planning to stealthily observe everything?
Rhode shook his head and turned back inside to get dressed and tidy up.
What's so special about a date? Just a straightforward younger brother and a tsundere bespectacled woman going out for a meal, although the sisters likely added a shopping element without permission...
Ah, he almost wanted to send the River Crab to spy for him.