Macao was indeed a jinx. He said it would be an overnight stay, and it really turned into one.
Someone lay face down on the table, someone else sprawled on a bench, and another leaned against the counter.
Rhode was the one leaning against the counter.
A blanket covered Mira, who was nestled in Rhode's arms. Through her thin nightgown, he could easily feel her soft body.
When he woke up, Rhode found himself holding Mira tightly, perhaps because he was afraid she'd be cold. Mira held him tightly as well, maybe because she was genuinely cold.
Rhode recalled that Mira seemed to have a large pillow on her bed. He wondered whether he had been mistaken for the pillow or the pillow for him.
Either way, it was a good thing.
Mira seemed to wake up too, rubbing her face against Rhode's chest before opening her eyes. Her puzzled expression seemed to ask why today's pillow wasn't as soft.
Her confused look was a bit cute, making him want to give her a kiss.
Having her forehead unexpectedly attacked, Mira suddenly woke up completely, hurriedly looking around to confirm that everyone else was still asleep before she relaxed.
She pecked Rhode on the cheek in return before getting up.
Only when she stood up did Rhode feel his shoulder stiffen. Just as he was about to stretch out to rub it, he instead pulled back the blanket she had lifted and covered himself with it, looking a bit embarrassed.
Mira blinked and quickly understood the reason.
Having lived in the same room before, she'd seen it in the morning. And during their intimate moments, she'd felt it more than once.
It was probably a normal thing.
Really speaking, if this kind of thing happens once or twice, it's Rhode's problem. If it occurs three or four times, both of them are responsible.
If it happens even more, Mira should reflect on whether she hasn't done something right.
In any case, it couldn't be done here.
With a rosy smile, Mira helped Rhode knead his shoulder, whispering, "Does it hurt?"
Rhode shook his head, "It's a pleasure."
The soft yet firm hands massaging his shoulder was a kind of enjoyment one didn't want to interrupt.
Rhode adjusted his mindset and posture, put away the blanket, and watched the rain-washed morning outside the tent with her.
Inside the tent, Bisca secretly opened one eye, enviously watching the backs of the two.
Why didn't Alzack come last night?
If he had come...
He probably wouldn't be so bold.
Bisca sighed silently in her heart. Alas, when can they progress to the level of Mira and Rhode?
These two were already saving money to prepare for a wedding house, probably about to get married, right?
So envious.
The sun had just peeped out, and the sky was washed blue, with sunlight pouring down, illuminating the small hills covered with tarpaulins.
The ground at the construction site was muddy, with several small puddles scattered around, filled with yellow muddy water.
The beautiful summer rain-washed morning scenery — they couldn't see.
But it didn't matter, the most beautiful scenery was right beside them.
Mira turned Rhode's face away, watching a figure rushing over: "The President is coming."
"Oh no! The timber, the cement! I forgot to cover them yesterday!"
The old man ran, annoyed at himself for forgetting such an important thing.
He agilely jumped over various obstacles, leaping across one puddle after another, showcasing an agility unusual for his age.
Mira reminded him, "President, slow down, be careful, the ground is slippery."
"Huh?" Makarov tried a sudden stop but failed, ending up crashing into the temporary counter with a thud.
The people inside the tent were woken up: "Who is it? Causing such a racket so early in the morning!"
"You're the noisiest one!"
A bunch of grumpy guys climbed up grumbling, almost starting a fight as soon as they opened their eyes.
As if they weren't the ones merrily drinking together last night.
Makarov pulled himself out from the counter, almost crying with joy, "You are all too reliable!"
Natsu's home was a small self-built wooden house in the suburbs, so he arrived a bit late in the morning.
Just by looking at everyone's (except Gray's) attire, he knew they had stayed over, and he complained about not being called to such a fun pajama party.
Hapi explained considerately, "Because Natsu sleeps so soundly, even thunder wouldn't wake you."
Natsu retorted, "What? Lucy didn't come either!"
"That's because…" Lucy couldn't explain.
It was because she was a bit tired from just returning home, and it was rare for Natsu and the others not to cause trouble, so she slept too comfortably.
So comfortable that it felt a bit unusual for her.
"Actually, I'd like to join too." Lucy loved having a lively time with her companions the best.
Mira cheerfully suggested, "Then let's host the next party at Lucy's house."
"Agreed!" Natsu, Hapi, Gray, and Erza immediately voted in favor.
Mira clapped her hands, "Then it's decided, the time will be…"
Lucy raised her hand, shouting, "At least let me agree first before deciding!"
Rhode patted her shoulder, "Give it up. Your house is almost becoming a Fairy Tail Branch."
"Why did it turn out like this…" Lucy wanted to cry but didn't say a word against it.
...
The days passed by with laughter and hard work.
By the time the first floor of the guild was finished and they started building the second floor, it was already mid-August.
With the guild getting closer to completion through everyone's efforts, people's work enthusiasm grew even higher.
The craftsmen who came to help sometimes doubted whether these people were urging them to not slack off by working hard themselves.
But everyone was genuinely just excited.
That day, Elfman kept following Rhode, whatever Rhode moved, he moved too; when Rhode drank water, he did the same; when Rhode went to the restroom, so did he.
Finally, when they were washing their hands side by side, Rhode couldn't help but ask: "Is there something you want?"
Elfman looked at him, "It's the 16th today."
"Hmm? I know."
"Don't tell me you don't remember what day tomorrow is."
"How could I forget... It's Mira's birthday on the 17th." Rhode replied, "I was just about to ask you, how did you guys usually celebrate birthdays?"
Back then, he didn't know, as he had just begun to develop a crush on Mira around this time and didn't know much about her yet.
No one talked about birthdays, and he didn't remember anything different about her on that day.
Elfman, thinking this guy might be clueless, explained: "After we became adults, we didn't celebrate birthdays lavishly, it was usually just doing some favorite foods at home, giving small gifts, and in recent years we haven't even bought a cake."
The most grandiose celebration was in the guild for Lisanna, back when they were younger and had just joined, so it was special treatment.
After growing up, such occurrences became rare.
Rhode nodded. It seemed that under normal circumstances, birthdays were more about simply celebrating with family.
It was gratifying that Elfman now considered him family.
The breakfast he had with them wasn't in vain.
After thinking for a while, Rhode said, "Let's go out to buy something later."
"Going shopping together, won't Sister immediately notice?"
"We can call her when she's busiest, she'll be too busy, so us going together would be reasonable." This was Rhode's little trick to sneak out to buy flowers.
After some thought, Rhode said:
"Actually, we don't necessarily have to hide it, Mira knows us too well, she'll figure it out if she thinks a bit. We just need to convey our sincere thoughts well."