Preparing to Close the Tavern

Life is like a slippery bar of soap; it slips right through your fingers without you even having time to bend down and pick it up.

The tavern has been incredibly popular lately, becoming a must-visit spot in Magnolia.

Some came to investigate, some wanted to see the kingdom's number one guild, and some wanted to see if their idols were there...

Everyone craned their necks to look inside, clutching notebooks and pens, searching everywhere for Natsu, Gray, Erza, and so on.

Riyao never expected the tavern to make money; it was purely for fun, to give those idiots a place to go home.

Who knew that this group of tourists and old drunkards would wear down the threshold every day, knocking on the door before dawn and lingering even after dark.

This isn't running a tavern, it's practically being in jail.

Riyao slumped in his large, private sofa, his legs propped up on the coffee table, his whole body as limp as a puddle of mud.

"I miscalculated, my dear wife. How about we close down and go out for some fun? It's exhausting running a business every day."

Mirajane also dropped her usual professional smile.

She took off her apron and threw it on the bar, then leaned against Riyao, her eyes half-open and half-closed.

"I feel the same way. It's so tiring, there are so many people."

Mirajane leaned against Riyao's chest, and the two of them comfortably sprawled on their private sofa. She rubbed her aching wrists.

On the other side of the hall, Lucy held a heavy tray in both hands, on which were stacked seven or eight greasy empty plates.

Her little leather shoes wobbled as she walked, and her heels ached and burned.

Levy lay sprawled on the empty table beside her, her forehead pressed against the wooden board, her arms dangling over the edge, not wanting to move a single finger.

Wendy sat on a small stool, panting, clutching a small rag. Carla lay on top of her head, her two cat ears drooping.

Lucy and the others' eyes practically lit up when they heard their conversation.

Closed for business? Going out for fun?

These two words are simply heavenly music.

Lucy's hand trembled, and she hurriedly put the plate on the table, not even bothering to take off her apron, and rushed to the bar.

Levy also suddenly raised her head, her eyes shining.

Wendy held Carla's little hand and trotted after her.

The women put down what they were doing, gathered around the two of them, and looked at them with their big, blinking eyes.

Lucy clasped her hands together in front of her chest, forcing a sweet smile.

Levy both hands and blinked.

Wendy tilted her rosy cheeks up, twisting the hem of her clothes in front of her, her eyes full of anticipation.

Three faces crowded around the sofa, and Carla raised her chin, her eyes revealing an undisguised longing.

Riyao and Mirajane exchanged a glance, and they both made a decision at the same time.

"Let's go on a trip for a few days," Mirajane said with a smile.

"Let's change the business hours too, three or four days a week would be fine. Working every day is too tiring." Riyao's lips curled up.

The two spoke at the same time, their words both very enticing. Lucy and the others looked left and right, hoping to make it happen together.

Go out and have fun, and from now on, you'll only work three or four days a week!

Lucy's inner voice was already cheering, knowing she'd have plenty of time to stay home and write novels.

However, the atmosphere behind the bar suddenly changed.

Mirajane blinked, pouted, and looked at Riyao with dissatisfaction, realizing that Riyao wasn't on the same wavelength as her.

I'm going to cause trouble!

Riyao's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly reached out and pulled Mirajane into his arms. Her body was stiff and rigid, and her expression was very dissatisfied.

Seeing this, Lucy and the others quickly made their escape, lest they get into trouble.

Lucy grabbed Levy's sleeve and took three big steps back.

Wendy, with her neck hunched, picked up Carla and carried her towards the kitchen.

Riyao took Mirajane's small hand in his and gently massaged it in her palm. It was so soft and boneless that you couldn't tell it was a hand capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks with bare hands.

"Let's go out and have fun for a few days first, and we can talk about the opening hours later. How about just the two of us going out and leaving Cana and the others at home to look after the house?"

Riyao rested his chin on Mirajane's head, lowered his voice, and spoke in a flattering tone.

Cana, who was wiping glasses in the corner of the bar, suddenly looked up.

Snap!

"Hey! What do you mean? You two went out for a romantic getaway, leaving us beautiful girls all alone at home?!"

Cana stood with her hands on her hips, her big eyes wide open, and her loud voice made the cup shake.

Riyao's forehead creased with exasperation as he stared speechlessly at Cana, that idiot.

What the hell is this about a beautiful girl living alone in her empty room?

I regret it. If only I had sent them all away, wouldn't it have been better to spend a year or two alone with Mira?

I impulsively built this tavern and gathered these guys together. Now they're always hanging around like third wheels, and I can't shake them off.

Riyao rolled his eyes, not wanting to pay attention to this idiot, and completely ignored Cana's gaze.

Mirajane leaned against Riyao's chest, and upon hearing the words "it's just the two of us going out to play," her anger subsided considerably.

She thought about it and realized that it really didn't need to open every day, since they weren't in it to make money anyway.

She grasped Riyao's hand in return, her slightly cool fingers slowly slipping between Riyao, interlocking tightly.

"Then let's close for a few days, go out and have some fun, and when we get back we'll do as you said."

Mirajane turned her head, a gentle smile returning to her lips, and pecked Riyao on the chin.

Her body, which had been stiff just moments before, was now as soft as cotton, and she nestled obediently into his arms.

Lucy and the others jumped up with joy upon hearing this.

"That's awesome!"

Lucy jumped up on the spot, waving her little fists forcefully, almost causing her headband to fly off.

Levy hugged Wendy and spun her around, with Carla sandwiched between them, wagging her tail.

Cana snorted, picked up the rag, and casually grabbed half a bottle of rum, taking a sip.

The guests present scratched their heads.

Several businessmen, holding their wine glasses, looked at each other, watching these men celebrating the strike as if no one else was there. It seemed they were really going to be turned away tomorrow.

Riyao placed a cushion under Mirajane's lower back, and Mirajane pulled an old map from a drawer and spread it on the coffee table.

The four of them and the cat immediately surrounded them, their heads huddled together in a circle.

"How about we go to the beach? Sunshine, sand, and the sea—it sounds so relaxing!"

Lucy cupped her cheeks in her hands, her face filled with blissful fantasy of sunbathing in a bikini.

"Or let's go to the capital. It's such a shame we didn't get to explore it properly last time."

Levy pointed to Crocus in the very center of the map.

"Back when the Grand Magic Games were underway, I was so focused on the competition that I didn't even get to visit the Royal Library or the Old Book Street in the capital once!"

Cana leaned closer. "Anywhere is fine, as long as the rum there is good. I've heard the rum at the southern port is exceptional."

Wendy whispered, "I want to go somewhere with lots of flowers..."

The group chattered amongst themselves, discussing where to go for fun.

The hall was filled with noise, and the map was covered with fingernail marks from seven or eight fingers.

Mirajane was also a little hesitant to choose. She nestled her head against Riyao's neck and rubbed against him.

Her head was throbbing from the noise, so she simply passed the problem on to Riyao.

"Honey, where do you suggest we go?"

Mirajane looked up at him, her eyes soft and gentle.

Riyao ruffled his unruly blond hair, looked at the messy map, and sighed.

"Uh, should I choose? I'm having a hard time too, everything seems fun."

"Why don't we all go?"

Mirajane said casually, her tone light.

Riyao brought his mouth close to Mirajane's ear and whispered something in a low voice.

"No rush, let's shake off these third wheels first."

Mirajane paused for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"That makes sense, hehe."

She laughed so hard her shoulders swayed, she covered her mouth with her hand, and her eyes curved into crescent moons.

Although their voices weren't loud, they still clearly reached Lucy and the others' ears in the instant the silence fell.

The two conspired loudly, completely disregarding everyone else.

The smiles on Lucy, Levy, Wendy, and Cana's faces froze simultaneously.

Several pairs of eyes stared at Riyao, veins bulging on their foreheads simultaneously.

So after all that arguing, they were just "third wheels to get rid of" in these two people's eyes?!

"Hey! That's going too far!" the group shouted in unison.

Lucy frantically grabbed at her blonde hair, Cana grabbed a peanut and threw it at Riyao's forehead, and Levy her foot angrily.