The four returned to Magnolia without incident. As they walked through the familiar streets, Zhou Xin glanced at Mira and Lisanna walking ahead and turned to Elfman beside him.
"Elfman, want to go shopping with me for some painting supplies?"
"Huh? Me?" Elfman blinked, surprised, and pointed at himself.
"What? Can't I ask you? Do you have something else to do?" Zhou Xin was puzzled by Elfman's reaction.
"No, no. I don't have anything going on," Elfman said quickly, shaking his head. "I'm just surprised you'd want to go with me."
"Huh? Haven't you ever gone shopping with anyone before?" Zhou Xin raised an eyebrow, confused.
"Natsu and Gray say I'm too slow and timid… they don't like hanging out with me. My sisters are girls, and it's kinda awkward shopping with them, so…" Elfman trailed off, his head drooping, tapping his index fingers together shyly.
Zhou Xin was speechless. With Natsu and Gray being wild kids, it made sense they wouldn't include Elfman. Still, Elfman's timidity was a problem. If Zhou Xin was going to help the Strauss siblings, he'd need to work on Mira's temper and Elfman's lack of confidence.
Mira's issues were more complex—Zhou Xin would need time and the right approach. But Elfman's case was simpler. Years under Mira's thumb had left him overly obedient. With the right encouragement, Zhou Xin believed Elfman could break out of his shell.
Patting Elfman's shoulder, Zhou Xin said, "Don't worry. We'll go shopping together more often from now on."
The two discussed what they needed to buy, trailing slightly behind Mira and Lisanna. Noticing the growing distance, Mira stopped and looked back. She saw the two whispering and frowned.
"Hey! What are you two whispering about?" she called out as they caught up.
"We're planning to go buy some art supplies. You and Lisanna can head back—Elfman and I will return to the guild afterward," Zhou Xin replied.
"That's it? Just shopping?" Mira muttered, crossing her arms. She had expected something more secretive. "Fine, go ahead. Just don't take forever."
Zhou Xin didn't think much of it, but Elfman looked like a shy girl on a first date. If Zhou Xin didn't know better, he might've thought Elfman had a crush.
After saying their goodbyes, Zhou Xin and Elfman went off on their errand. Meanwhile, Mira and Lisanna returned to the guild. True to form, Mira kicked the door open dramatically, arms crossed as she strutted inside. Lisanna followed, apologizing to startled guild members.
"Mira! You have hands, don't you? Try using them to *gently* open the door instead of wrecking it every time!" came a sharp rebuke from a girl near the counter.
The speaker was a tall girl clad in armor with a sword at her waist and long scarlet hair braided down her back. Her face was striking—on par with Mira's in beauty—and she looked sternly at Mira.
"Elusa! We still haven't finished our business from last time!" Mira shouted, charging forward.
"Plate-head!"
"Crop-hair!"
The two locked hands and pushed against each other, foreheads pressed together, teeth bared as they exchanged insults.
Watching the showdown, Lisanna sighed and headed to the counter. She placed 20,000J on the table.
"Lisanna, you just got back from a mission?" asked a boy with spiky pink hair, a scaly scarf, and a face full of bruises—Natsu.
"Yep, Natsu. We took Zhou Xin, the new guy, on his first mission," Lisanna replied cheerfully.
At a nearby table sat a shirtless boy with dark blue hair and a swollen face—Gray. Hearing Lisanna, he perked up.
"New guy? Someone new joined the guild?"
Before she could answer, the girl sitting across from Gray, flipping tarot cards, looked up.
"Gray. Clothes."
"Huh? Crap! When did I take them off again?!" Gray panicked, scrambling to find his missing clothes.
Lisanna giggled. "Yes, his name's Zhou Xin. He joined this morning but went shopping with Elfman."
"What?! I asked first, Gray! I should've been the one to ask about the new guy!" Natsu snapped.
"Huh? Got a problem, lizard-eyes?" Gray retorted, abandoning his search for clothes to argue.
"What did you say, exhibitionist?! I'm gonna show you who's boss today!" Natsu stormed up to him, and the two butted heads again, trading insults.
Their earlier bruises forgotten, the chaos resumed—just another typical day at Fairy Tail.