In the guild hall, Lisanna, Happy, and Natsu were lined up squatting on the ground with their heads buried low, while Mirajane stood before them with her hands on her hips.
Natsu rubbed the back of his head, which had been knocked red, his cheeks puffed out like an angry pufferfish and his mouth muttering. Happy's small blue ears drooped, and Lisanna stuck out her tongue, secretly glancing up to check Mirajane's expression.
Riyao sat on a bench not far away, fiddling with his firewood stick bracelet, resting his chin on his hand with his eyes curved into a smile, looking just like a fox watching the fun.
"Hey, wait!" Natsu suddenly jerked his head up, his eyes fixed on the request form resting by Riyao's leg. The two gilded words "S-Class" printed on it were particularly eye-catching. He instantly forgot his headache and sprang up from the ground, his voice so loud the ceiling trembled.
"An S-Class request! Riyao, you took an S-Class mission?!"
Mirajane's movements suddenly froze. She turned to look at Riyao, her "big sister" aura from moments ago instantly weakening by half, and her brows furrowed involuntarily. "Ah? You said before you wanted me to go with you... it's an S-Class request?"
Riyao slowly put away the request form and spread his hands with a natural look. "Yeah, I'm an S-Class Mage, so taking an S-Class request is only natural, right?"
"But your specialty is Healing Magic!" Mirajane stepped forward, her voice full of worry. "The danger level of an S-Class request... your combat ability hasn't been strong before. Can you handle it?"
Riyao immediately dropped his nonchalant attitude and leaned in close to Mirajane. He lightly brushed his arm against hers, his eyes curving into crescents as he playfully shook her wrist with a grin.
"Hehe, that's why I came looking for you, Mira You're the best. Won't you help me? Big sister Mira"
Beside them, Gray rubbed his arms. His fingertips brushed against his bare skin, and for the first time without anyone reminding him, he realized his clothes were gone. He looked around frantically, trying to find his coat in the chaotic guild.
Erza stood nearby holding her sword, her previously tense brows gradually relaxing. She remembered that during the S-Class trial, although Riyao had only matched Gildarts in an explosive state, both Makarov and Gildarts had acknowledged his S-Class qualification afterward; it certainly wouldn't be bad.
Thinking this, she breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, though her face remained serious, like a worrying mother.
"Riyao! Don't look for Mirajane!" Natsu rushed in front of Riyao with clenched fists, his fiery red hair standing on end. "I'll go with you! My Dragon Slayer Magic has super strong attack power. I can definitely help you finish the mission!"
Lisanna reached out to pull him back but only caught the hem of his clothes. Watching Natsu charge over, she couldn't help but facepalm and sigh. Cana, holding a beer mug, nearly spat out her drink, and Levy also covered her eyes and shook her head, looking as if to say, "as expected."
Bang!
With a crisp sound of a knuckle sandwich, Riyao withdrew his hand expressionlessly. Natsu, who had just rushed over, was like a punctured balloon. His eyes rolled back, his body swayed, and he fell straight down, his legs twitching every now and then.
Lisanna and Happy knelt beside Natsu. Lisanna took a small wild flower she had just picked from her pocket and tucked it into his messy hair; Happy brought a foxtail grass and carefully stuffed it into his hand, his movements so practiced it was heartbreaking.
Gray opened his mouth, but the "I'll go too" that was on the tip of his tongue was instantly swallowed back after seeing Natsu's miserable state. Elfman grabbed his wrist and dragged him to the table. He could only follow the force and sit down, simply putting the matter of the request out of his mind.
Mirajane couldn't help but laugh at Natsu's state. Then she cleared her throat and turned her head to pretend to tidy her long hair, though the tips of her ears turned slightly red. "Ahem... since you put it that way, I'll reluctantly accompany you."
"Don't worry, don't worry!" Riyao's eyes narrowed into slits from his smile, like a fox that had successfully stolen a chicken. "Then I'll be counting on you, big sister Mira!"
He turned to Lisanna and Elfman again. "While I'm away, I'll have to trouble you to help water the fruit trees and flower beds in the orchard. Oh, right..." He glanced at Natsu, who was still twitching on the ground, and emphasized his words, "Make sure to guard against Natsu (Fire) and theft!"
"Okay, Brother Riyao!" Lisanna hugged Happy and nodded vigorously. Happy followed with an "aye" in agreement.
"Leave it to me!" Elfman clenched his fist.
"Last time Natsu sneaked into Riyao's orchard to pick fruit, he got so excited while eating that he breathed fire directly, nearly burning down half the grove!" Gray blurted out while munching on a popsicle, his words muffled.
"Hahahaha!" Cana laughed so hard she slapped the table, beer foam splashing all over her face. "I remember that day Riyao was so angry he hung Natsu on a tree and whipped him all afternoon. He even put a sign at the entrance that said 'No Natsu Allowed'!"
The guild instantly erupted into boisterous laughter. The sound of tables and chairs clashing mixed with the laughter. Even Erza couldn't help but turn her face away, the corners of her mouth quietly curving up.
Only Natsu, the center of the topic, was still lying sprawled on the ground, drooling and sleeping soundly.
Riyao curled his lip and began the Khan's great roll call. "Speaking of which! Wasn't it you, Gray, fighting with Natsu in the orchard that caused the fire last time?" Gray started busily looking for his clothes, frantically picking them up.
"And Cana actually egged on the old man to steal my fruit wine. What's worse is, the old man agreed!!"
Cana tried to bury her face in her beer mug as if there were still juice inside.
Makarov had been watching the fun nearby, but hearing this, he gave a dry cough and stroked his beard. "I suddenly remembered the guild has a pile of documents to sign! I'm leaving first!" After saying that, he turned and slipped away, his speed unlike that of a short old man.
"Every time Erza comes to the orchard, she picks every single strawberry I've grown!" Riyao looked at Erza again.
Erza turned her head stiffly and flusteredly picked up Gray's clothes from the floor, busying herself with wiping her sword.
"Laxus is even worse. He pretends to pass by casually every day and picks the reddest apple as he goes!" Laxus, who was leaning against a pillar listening to music, suddenly stiffened. He silently turned up the volume on his headphones and pretended not to hear, though the tips of his ears twitched slightly.
"And also..." Just as Riyao was about to continue, those who were mentioned suddenly became very busy.
Mirajane slapped the table and laughed so hard she was doubled over, tears nearly coming out.
Riyao leaned into her ear and whispered something only the two of them could hear. Mirajane's laughter stopped abruptly, her cheeks flushed red instantly, and she pinched his arm, glaring at him fiercely. "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Riyao rubbed his arm and looked at his busy companions in the guild, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
"Little punks, as if I couldn't handle you."