Amidst the noise and laughter, Loke, to thank Lucy, Natsu, Gray, and all his guildmates for their care during this time, conjured a stack of shimmering golden tickets.
"These are invitation tickets to the Akane Resort's luxury hotel. Consider them a small token of my appreciation."
Loke distributed the tickets one by one to everyone, even Happy received one.
"Happy gets one too."
"Aye!" Happy happily took it, flying back and forth excitedly with the invitation ticket.
Ryoma looked at the exquisite ticket, his lips twitching slightly.
This thing... it doesn't seem cheap.
Isn't it a bit too wasteful to give it to a cat?
Wouldn't it be better to just bring him along as a pet cat?
Loke seemed to have read Ryoma's thoughts, and specifically walked up to him, handing him another one.
"Ryoma, thank you too."
"I didn't do anything." Ryoma shrugged but still took it.
Then Loke waved to everyone, his body transforming into specks of golden light that dissipated into the air, returning to the Celestial Spirit World.
"Wow! A resort!"
"This is great! We can go play at the beach!"
Natsu and Gray were already imagining beaches and delicious food, arms around each other's shoulders.
Lucy's eyes were also sparkling, her face full of anticipation.
Meanwhile, Ryoma subconsciously glanced in the direction of the temporary bar.
Mirajane stood behind the bar, silently wiping a glass, watching everyone's excited expressions, her eyes revealing unconcealed envy and regret.
She wanted to go too but the guild's reconstruction work recently was too complex, with various documents, material procurement, personnel coordination... she simply couldn't leave.
A resentful aura was slowly emanating from her.
Ryoma noticed her wistful gaze and walked over, trying to make amends.
"Mira, don't look at me like that."
He scratched his head, trying to comfort her, "When we get back, we'll bring you lots and lots of souvenirs."
"Souvenirs?"
Mirajane looked up at Ryoma, and she smiled again, a smile even gentler and sweeter than before, but the resentful aura instantly intensified tenfold, as if transforming into tangible darkness swirling behind her.
"Is that so? Well, that's really... very kind of you."
"..."
Ryoma instantly felt a chill run down his spine, wisely choosing to shut up and pretend to look at the scenery.
Just then, a small figure suddenly jumped onto the bar.
"Hohoho! Young people, how can you always be tied down by work in one place?"
Makarov appeared from nowhere, also holding a golden invitation ticket, and grinningly slipped it into Mirajane's hand.
"Go on! Have a good vacation. I will hold down the fort at the guild." Makarov puffed out his non-existent chest, a reliable expression on his face.
After speaking, without waiting for Mirajane's reaction, he waved his hand and scurried away, humming an off-key tune.
Mirajane first froze as she looked at the invitation ticket in her hand, then a brilliant smile bloomed on her face.
"This is great."
Ryoma secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Saved!
"Hey!"
A powerful voice suddenly sounded from the guild entrance, interrupting everyone's cheers.
"What are you guys dawdling for? Do you want me to leave you behind?"
Everyone turned their heads in unison, and instantly everyone's jaws nearly dropped.
Erza, at some unknown point, had already changed into a vacation outfit.
Cool beach shorts paired with hot pants, a wide-brimmed straw hat on her head, and even a swim ring around her waist.
And the most exaggerated part was... behind her, she was dragging a mountain of luggage on a small cart. Boxes of all sizes were stacked together, estimated to be at least a dozen.
Ryoma looked at Erza's exaggerated attire and silently mused, "Hmm... Requip Magic really is convenient, even moving luggage can be done instantly."
As he was thinking this, he turned his head and was surprised to find that Mirajane, beside him, had also, at some point, changed into an elegant, pure white long vacation dress, carrying a delicate, small travel bag, and was smiling at him.
"Ryoma, shall we go?"
"..."
"Kyaaaah—!"
Lucy finally couldn't help but scream, "When did you guys change clothes?! How can you be so fast!"
...
Finally, after some preparations, everyone successfully boarded the train to Akane.
The train car was peaceful, except for...
"Ugh... I can't take it... I feel... I feel like I'm going to die."
Natsu was sprawled on his seat, his face pale, his eyes lifelessly staring at the ceiling, looking as if his soul was about to leave his body.
"What a useless guy."
Gray sat with his legs crossed, looking at him with disdain.
As soon as he finished speaking, he habitually began to take off his shirt.
"Hey! Gray! Your clothes!" Lucy complained.
"So noisy..." Natsu weakly said.
Erza delivered a chop to Gray's head and then a punch to Natsu's head, knocking Natsu unconscious.
"Both of you settle down. Be mindful of your behavior in public."
At this time, Mirajane and Lucy were huddled together, excitedly flipping through the resort's brochure, discussing where to go and what delicious food to eat.
Ryoma shook his head helplessly at this familiar scene, then turned to look at the rapidly receding scenery outside the window.
The train passed through plains and over hills, and soon a brilliant blue entered everyone's view.
Upon reaching their destination, everyone exited the platform, handed over their tickets, and entered the resort.
The azure coastline stretched endlessly, merging with the sky, the golden sand sparkled in the sunlight, and seagulls soared freely in the air.
"Waaahhhhh—!"
"Wow!" Lucy's eyes instantly filled with sparkling stars.
"It's the sea!"
"I'm alive again!!!"
Natsu, who had been on the verge of death just a second ago, not long after his feet were firmly on the ground, let out a thunderous roar as if he had been injected with adrenaline, and was the first to sprint towards the beach.
"Sea! Beach! Here I come!"
"Hey! You, don't run so fast!" Gray followed closely behind, stripping off his outer clothes as he ran.
"Let's have a race! You bastard!"
"A race it is! Who's afraid of who!"
The two single-minded individuals instantly clashed, chasing each other wildly towards the beach.
Erza, meanwhile, pulled her small cart of luggage, following unhurriedly, then nodded in satisfaction. "Hmm, the air here is really nice."
Ryoma, Mirajane, Lucy, and Happy walked at the back.
"Those two are as energetic as ever." Mirajane said with a smile.
"Yeah." Lucy looked at the two figures already wrestling, a helpless expression on her face.
Ryoma's gaze swept past the beach to the building in the distance, the luxury hotel of Akane Resort.
Natsu, who had already reached the sea, suddenly stopped. He turned back, pointed at the distant hotel, and issued a new challenge to Gray.
"Hey! Ice-block bastard! Let's race to see who gets to that hotel first!"
"Just what I wanted! Flame-brain!"
(End of Chapter)
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