"All done!" Roger closed the ancient text screen in front of him, the glowing display dissolving into tiny yellow particles that faded into the air.
He turned to the others. "We've accomplished our main goal here. Time to head back."
Everyone nodded, ready to leave the underground lab.
As they turned to go, they noticed Daphne hurrying to catch up with them.
Happy tilted his head, puzzled. "Daphne, aren't you staying here to keep working on your research?"
"Aye, aye!" Daphne pushed up her glasses, her voice buzzing with excitement. "I can do my research at the guild too! Plus, it's way easier to find people there to test my new inventions and gather real-world data!"
Happy's head sprouted three question marks. "So… what about all this stuff?" He pointed a paw at the lizardmen and various equipment filling the lab. "You just gonna leave them here? Or are you planning to sneak them to the guild at dusk when no one's around?"
"Aye, aye, no need for all that hassle!" Daphne flashed a smug grin. "This entire inn, including the basement we're standing in, is built on my greatest creation. It's been cloaked with concealment magic, but it couldn't be used before because it lacked dragon-slaying magic power."
She grew more animated, gesturing wildly. "Now, with these dragon-slaying magic crystals as the energy core, I can control it and fly it straight to Fairy Tail! I can even set up my new lab underground near the guild!"
"With the crystals powering it, it'll take two days tops to get everything set up and running!"
Happy's eyes went wide. "(==) Okay… sure."
After leaving the basement, the group split up. Roger and the others exited the inn, while Daphne hurried off toward the "control room."
They hadn't gone far from the inn's entrance when a massive roar echoed behind them.
Turning around, they saw the old inn collapse like a house of cards, kicking up clouds of dust. From the haze, a colossal shape emerged—a mechanical dragon, its body a steely grayish-blue, with red magic crystals embedded in its underbelly as its core!
Its wings glowed with intense white light, and with a single flap, it whipped up a fierce gust, sending sand and pebbles flying across the ground.
"Waaah! It's taking off!" Happy clung to Natsu's jacket, his small body flapping in the wind.
He watched as the strange dragon, under the effect of concealment magic, slowly turned transparent and zoomed toward Fairy Tail's direction, shouting, "I knew it! That thing's way too dangerous!"
The others exchanged amused smiles, clearly intrigued by the idea of the guild welcoming such a "unique" new member.
Chatting and laughing, the group set off on their journey back to the guild.
Back at Fairy Tail, Roger officially introduced Daphne to the guild master. As expected, the guild threw a lively welcome party for their new member.
Time flew by in the festive chaos, and two days passed in a blink.
The guild hall was buzzing with an energy even livelier than usual, filled with anticipation.
"What are you guys bringing tomorrow?"
"Duh, booze, obviously! I snagged an awesome bottle the other day. Pair it with falling cherry blossoms, and it's gonna be perfect!"
"I'm bringing homemade rice balls! Stuffed with special grilled meat!"
"Ugh, why's time dragging so slow? I wish it was tomorrow already!"
"You could ask Natsu to knock you out with a punch. Might wake up straight into tomorrow!"
"Hey, with his strength, I'd wake up a week later!"
Everyone in the guild was visibly excited, their faces lit with anticipation. Even the usual brawls were toned down. Wendy, sitting in a corner with a glass of milk, looked curious and confused.
"Why's everyone so hyped? Is something special happening tomorrow?" she asked Lucy softly.
Lucy spun around, cheeks flushed with excitement. "Wendy, you don't know?!" She slammed her hands on the table, leaning forward, her eyes sparkling like stars.
"Tomorrow's the annual cherry blossom viewing party! The whole guild basically takes the day off and heads to the biggest cherry blossom grove outside town!"
"We eat, play games, chat—all day long!" Lucy's words tumbled out faster, her hands waving animatedly. "And Magnolia's cherry blossoms are famous! At dusk, they turn all rainbow-colored, super dreamy and gorgeous!"
"Rainbow-colored cherry blossoms!" Wendy's eyes lit up, her face glowing with anticipation. "That must be so pretty!"
"Right?!" Lucy smacked the table in excitement. "Everyone brings homemade bentos or snacks to share! I'm baking cookies to pass around!"
She cupped her face, grinning. "Oh, and I'm switching up my hairstyle and wearing that new dress I've been saving forever! Should I make more food? Ugh, I'm so pumped I can't sit still! I just want tomorrow to come already so we can grab a good spot under the trees!"
Lucy chugged her iced juice, trying to cool her flushed cheeks.
Wendy giggled at Lucy's barely-contained excitement, then, as if remembering something, asked, "Is this your first cherry blossom viewing party too, Lucy?"
"Hehe, yup!" Lucy scratched the back of her head, blushing slightly. "Am I acting too excited? I've been looking forward to this since I joined the guild!"
She leaned in, whispering smugly, "Yesterday, there was a pretty sweet bounty job, but I held off taking it just so I wouldn't miss tomorrow's party!"
"Bounty job?" Wendy glanced at the nearly empty job board on the wall. "Now that you mention it, there've been barely any new jobs posted yesterday or today. Is that because of the cherry blossom party too?"
"Uh…" Lucy faltered, unsure. She hadn't been in the guild long enough to know the details.
"Exactly," Cana said, plopping down across from them with a bottle of liquor in hand. She took a big swig, sighed contentedly, and explained, "The couple of days before the cherry blossom party, the guild gets all hyped up. Everyone's already thinking about the food, games, and who they're going with. Over time, clients caught on, so job postings drop way off during this time."
She casually thumbed toward the guild entrance. "Though, some people don't care and keep taking jobs anyway."
Lucy followed her gesture and spotted Laxus striding in, looking road-worn with a large pack slung over his shoulder, clearly fresh from a job.
Her mouth twitched. "Laxus is way too intense. Isn't he already at Saint-level strength? Maybe even… nation-destroyer level? He's so strong, why's he still grinding like this? I feel like I've barely seen him around since the Harvest Festival. Is he always out on jobs?"
"Pretty much," Cana said, pulling out another bottle from somewhere and popping the cap with her teeth. After a sip, she continued, "That guy's a training nut and a job junkie. Loves the thrill of getting stronger."
She lowered her voice, beckoning Lucy and Wendy closer. "Rumor is, Laxus hates being seen as just 'the guild Castello's grandson.' He's been working his butt off to get stronger and make a name for himself, separate from being the guild master's grandson."
"Whoa!" Lucy nearly jumped out of her seat, then quickly clapped a hand over her mouth as eyes turned her way.
She stole a nervous glance at Laxus, who was near the bar and seemed to notice something, tilting his head slightly. She flashed an awkward, guilty smile.
When Laxus looked away and headed to the bar, Lucy let out a relieved sigh, patting her chest. Her gaze bounced between the short, balding, easygoing guild master and the tall, muscular, stern-faced Laxus with his thick blond hair. She muttered, "The guild master… is Laxus's grandpa?! No way do they seem related. Height, hair, vibe—they're total opposites!"
"It's pretty surprising, huh?" Wendy agreed softly, nodding. "Laxus always seems so serious and intimidating, while the guild master's so… chill and kinda cute."
"Plenty of people have said that before," Cana said, propping her chin on her hand with a nostalgic smile. "But these days, Laxus's strength has totally surpassed the old man's. When people hear 'Laxus,' they think of the badass 'Thunder God,' not 'Makarov's grandson.'"
"What?!" Lucy's jaw dropped. "Laxus is stronger than the guild master? That's insane!"
At that moment, Laxus sat down next to Roger, pulling a sealed item card from his pack and handing it over. "Here, ran into a frost wyrm on the road. Should fit your collection needs."
"Thanks," Roger said with a grin, taking the card and pulling an ice-cold cola from his system inventory, passing it to Laxus.
"You look like you're done with those long-term decade jobs," Roger remarked.
Laxus's eyes flickered as he popped the cola tab and took a long swig, savoring the icy rush. "The old man talked to me. The guild's gearing up for this year's S-Class wizard exam. With a bunch of new members and the veterans stepping up, he's expecting a big turnout. He's worried Gildarts won't be back from his century job in time, so he asked me to stick around as one of the examiners."
"Oh?" Roger chuckled. "Funny thing, the guild master asked me, Erza, and Mirajane to be examiners too."
"Erza?!" Laxus's face twisted with suspicion, his brows furrowing. "That woman doesn't know the meaning of 'going easy' or 'cutting some slack.' The old man said the candidates just need to earn the examiner's approval, but getting Erza's approval?" He grimaced, picturing it. "It's either beat her head-on or survive her full-on assault for a bit. With the current candidates' strength, can anyone actually pull that off?"
Roger shrugged casually. "Well, luck's a big part of strength sometimes, right? Whoever gets her stage is just outta luck."
Laxus shook his head with a wry smile. "I can already hear the whining when the exam details and examiner list drop."
"Not necessarily," Roger said, cracking open his own cola and taking a sip. "Word is, this exam's got multiple stages. Me and Erza are handling the 'challenge stage.' Pass it, and you're straight to S-Class, no further tests needed."
He grinned. "I bet Natsu's gonna be itching to take on Erza's stage when he hears about it."
Laxus pictured Natsu's reaction and let out a half-amused, half-resigned smirk. "That single-minded fire idiot's probably the only one in the guild crazy enough to jump at the chance to face hell mode."
Amid the guild's lively chatter and laughter, the next day arrived quickly.
In the early morning, sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm golden glow over the room. As Roger pushed open his door, a rich, savory aroma hit him.
Following the scent to the kitchen, he found Mirajane bustling about, her back to him, wearing a simple apron tied around her waist. Her white hair was tied up in a rare high ponytail, swaying slightly as she moved.
The clatter of the spatula against the pan mixed with the sizzle of oil, filling the kitchen with a cozy rhythm.
"What's cooking, Mira? Smells amazing," Roger said.
"Cupcakes and fried chicken nuggets!" Mirajane turned with a bright smile, holding up a crispy nugget. "Here!"
Roger grinned and opened his mouth. She popped the nugget in, and as his lips brushed the food, he felt the warmth of her fingertips graze him, sending a slight tingle through him.
Crunch.
The crispy coating gave way to hot, juicy flavor, perfectly seasoned. "Delicious," Roger said, squinting happily and giving a thumbs-up. "Mira, your cooking's always top-notch."
"Really?" Mirajane's smile was radiant. She brought the fingers that had held the nugget to her lips, her pink tongue darting out to lick them lightly. She winked at him. "Yeah, it's pretty good, huh?"
Roger chuckled, shaking his head with a mix of amusement and affection. He reached out, ruffling her soft white hair. "Not just delicious, but pretty tempting too."
"Oh?" Mirajane giggled, her eyes glinting with mischief. She took his hand from her head, gently guiding it down to rest against her warm cheek.
Tilting her head, she nuzzled his palm like a cat cozying up to its owner, her gaze meeting his, her eyes shimmering. "Well, I'll take that compliment, darling."
Her skin felt smooth and warm, like fine porcelain. Roger's heart stirred, and his other hand instinctively cupped her other cheek. He leaned in closer.
Mirajane's long lashes fluttered as she closed her eyes, tilting her face up to meet him.
Their lips met, soft as a cloud. Her lips were even softer than he'd imagined, like delicate flower petals or sweet marshmallow, carrying the salty tang of the chicken and a hint of her natural sweetness.
Roger deepened the kiss, his fingers threading through her white hair, gently cradling her.
Far from pulling away, Mirajane wrapped her arms around his neck, responding with a shy but eager passion.
In the quiet kitchen, the soft sounds of their kiss and quickened breaths mingled, the air growing thick and warm.
After a moment, they parted, both a little breathless.
Mirajane's cheeks were flushed a vivid pink, her eyes hazy with a dreamy glow. "Well," she said, her voice slightly husky, giving him a playful pout that only added to her charm. "You're awfully enthusiastic, darling. Felt like you were gonna devour me whole."
Roger coughed, his ears burning. "Sorry, got a bit carried away—"
Before he could finish, her slender finger pressed against his lips, silencing him.
"It's okay," she murmured, her fingertip tracing his lips, sliding down his jaw, and lingering at his throat, circling lightly with a teasing touch. She leaned close, her warm breath tickling his ear as she whispered, "I didn't mind. In fact… you could be even more enthusiastic."
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