Lu Chongwei did not withdraw his hand.
"Do you want to come?"
Yukino's voice caught.
Did she want to?
Of course she did.
Watching the people of Fairy Tail laugh for their companions, rage for their companions, and charge into Sabertooth for her, someone they had only just met—how could Yukino not envy that?
She just did not dare.
She was afraid she was unworthy.
Afraid this warmth was only a fleeting illusion.
Afraid that after she reached out, she would be pushed away again.
Mirajane said softly, "You don't have to rush to give the perfect answer."
Erza looked at her and said seriously, "You only need to say what you truly feel."
Natsu grinned.
"If you want to come, then come! Our guild doesn't have that many troublesome rules!"
Happy added, "But the Master cries when he gets drunk."
Natsu nodded. "And Gray strips at random."
Happy continued, "Lucy makes retorts."
Natsu thought for a moment. "Erza is terrifying when she gets angry."
Erza looked over coldly.
"Natsu."
Natsu immediately shut his mouth.
Yukino looked at them. She was clearly still crying, yet she suddenly smiled.
Very faintly.
But it was like someone who had been crushed by darkness for a very long time seeing light for the first time.
She slowly raised her hand.
Her fingertips trembled terribly.
Lu Chongwei did not hurry her.
Yukino looked at that hand for a long, long time, and at last, mustering all her courage, she gently took it.
"I..."
Tears surged out of her again, but they were no longer the same despair as before.
"I want to go."
"If I really can..."
"I want to join Fairy Tail."
Lu Chongwei held her ice-cold hand and helped her up from the ground.
"Welcome, Yukino."
Mirajane stepped forward and gently embraced