"We're here!"
"As expected of the most famous summer resort in the country. There are still so many people here, even at night!"
Crocus, the royal capital.
Ryuzetsu Land, famed throughout the kingdom, welcomed a group of ultimate challengers to its reputation as a summer resort today.
The entire Fairy Tail guild!
Lucy and Wendy were the most excited, rushing ahead at the front in well-fitted swimsuits, unable to wait another second before sprinting toward the pool.
"It's huge! Is this the ocean?!"
"What a magnificent scale…"
Juvia looked around the park in amazement.
There were golden beaches, pools everywhere, and an outer ring of seawater pools so broad that its full area was hard to judge at a glance.
In the middle of the park stood all kinds of attractions, including an aquarium, water slides, water coasters, and more.
Natsu sat cheerfully at the front of a little water train, waving his fist as he laughed in excitement.
"Look, look! A train that runs on water!"
Three seconds later, the scene changed.
Natsu was sprawled over the little train, dizzy and clutching his mouth!
"Why would you even ride that?"
"Please don't throw up in the pool, okay~"
Jet and Droy heartlessly laughed at Natsu from the side.
Erza, meanwhile, was comparing the swimsuit she had carefully chosen with Laki's.
Juvia, her cheeks flushed, sidled up to Gray as well, wanting to show him her "victory outfit."
And Gray did indeed shift his gaze toward a rather embarrassing part of Juvia.
Then, like the hopelessly blunt man he was, he said, "The price tag is still on your swimsuit."
Juvia: (ﾉಥ益ಥ)
The three Exceeds were just as eager.
Happy pointed at the aquarium in the distance, drooling as he shouted excitedly, "Let's go play over there!"
Seeing that Happy's big eyes were clearly still filled with thoughts of dried fish, Carla retorted speechlessly, "You'd better actually be going there to play…"
Behind the two little cats, Gajeel was naturally accompanying Panther Lily.
And naturally… staying by Levy's side.
Panther Lily leisurely drank kiwi juice, while Levy's little face turned slightly red.
She pointed toward the nearby water slide labeled "Couple Embrace Speed Slide" and quietly asked Gajeel.
"Um… how about we try that?"
Wearing swim trunks that showed off his solid, muscular build, Gajeel rejected her mercilessly in a stiff voice.
"Childish. No."
Levy immediately looked wronged.
Then Gajeel's firm expression began to struggle…
Cana watched as her companions each found their own places to play, then raised her bottle in boredom.
"Honestly, if I'd known, I would've bought a few swimsuits too."
"What you usually wear is basically—wait!"
"Hey, Cana, don't wear underwear out here like it's a swimsuit!"
Ankh helplessly looked at the noisy crowd over there, then withdrew his divine power from Future Lucy in front of him and asked with a smile, "How does it feel?"
Future Lucy raised her newly regrown right arm and moved her fingers with a little difficulty before smiling.
"Pretty good. I just need some time to get used to it."
After successfully restoring Lucy's severed arm with divine power of life, Ankh finally let out a breath of relief.
Behind him, Mirajane immediately clasped her hands together and praised him happily.
"Amazing!"
Future Lucy looked at her other hand, which was clearly much paler than her left, and at the blank back of that hand.
For a moment, she could not help falling into a daze again.
Fortunately, Lucy took her hand and pulled her out of those wandering thoughts.
Beaming with excitement, she dragged Future Lucy into the pool to play.
Ankh was not worried about Lucy's safety here.
The Master, Laxus, and the First Master had all come to Ryuzetsu Land early to scout the place.
The First Master had even set up a weakened version of Fairy Sphere here. No one was snatching anyone away under the First Master's nose!
"Brother, what do you think?"
After comfortably letting Lucy and the others go play, Ankh soon heard Erza's proud voice from behind him.
Erza raised an arm, showing off her bold strappy swimsuit with golden patterns.
It somehow carried an imposing air, and she displayed her perfect figure to Ankh without the slightest hesitation.
Ankh was left a little dizzy by Erza's exaggerated posing.
But very soon, he felt an incredibly soft sensation press against his arm.
He turned his head and, sure enough, saw Mirajane looking at him with a gentle smile.
Then she turned back toward Erza and, as if changing faces, gave her a sly, victorious grin.
Erza's expression instantly grew displeased.
In the next moment, she hugged Ankh's other arm!
Ankh: …
"Mira and Erza are competing again…"
"One is his girlfriend, and the other's got a brother complex. Were you expecting them to be all warm and friendly with each other?"
On the high diving platform, Freed and Bickslow, who had been ordered by Laxus to inspect the park again, happened to see this scene.
Since those two female bosses could not hear them from there, the two men freely gossiped behind their backs.
Freed sighed regretfully. "What a pity. Evergreen said she was sick and couldn't come play in the water."
Bickslow looked at him with a strange expression. "You didn't actually believe that, did you?"
"Hm?"
Freed looked confused.
Taking advantage of their height, Bickslow immediately pointed toward a corner of the pool far in the distance.
Freed followed his gaze and was immediately surprised to spot two familiar figures.
Evergreen was sneaking around like a thief, hiding behind an artificial rock.
Her tone sounded almost coquettish as she complained, "Honestly, you're too hard to hide. I don't want everyone to find us!"
Elfman's large, muscular body was practically curled into a ball.
Hearing this, he immediately retorted, "What's that supposed to mean…? You were the one who said we should come."
Yesterday, after the fourth day of the Grand Magic Games ended, Evergreen and Elfman had been out on guard duty, so they had not heard everyone agreeing to go to Ryuzetsu Land together.
And just as it happened, the two of them had already made plans to secretly pretend to be sick on the rest day, hide it from everyone, and come out together.
In other words, it was basically a date.
And the place they had chosen for that date was Ryuzetsu Land.
At first, things had been progressing rather nicely.
The tall, muscular man and the fussy, sweet-voiced girl had advanced through their date at a frightening speed.
They had gone from holding hands to hugging, and were only one step away from a kiss when…
Suddenly!
A group of terribly familiar uninvited guests appeared at the entrance of Ryuzetsu Land.
The tiny flame that had just begun burning between Elfman and Evergreen was scared into dying out completely.
"If everyone finds out, I'm never coming out with you again!"
"What's the big deal if they find out…? It's not like we're secretly in that kind of relationship."
Behind the artificial rock, the whispering pair grew louder and louder without realizing that, far away on the high diving platform, two strange gazes were fixed on them.
Freed and Bickslow wore thick gossiping smiles.
Then, unable to help themselves, they spoke in unison with Happy's classic teasing lilt.
"They're totally a thing~"