Airheaded? Innocent?

The unlucky Master often drew jobs with low pay but high difficulty. He couldn't handle everything personally, so he could only leave them to the children.

The ideal candidate had originally been Laxus, but his personality was simply too difficult to deal with.

So Erza, who had a strong sense of responsibility and sufficient strength, often stepped up to resolve such matters for the Master.

Rhode considered it carefully. Erza's words carried weight in the guild, perhaps not only because of her strength.

"Wait, wait!" Rhode suddenly spotted the blind spot. "What did Erza mean when she said she had finished the job ahead of schedule... Was it what I think it was?"

Erza nodded. "I merely took on the entire guild by myself. It was nothing special."

"..." Rhode fell silent. What a fine "nothing special."

Could it be that the outside world wasn't actually as dangerous as he had imagined?

Rhode hesitated. "Wasn't that a little unsafe?"

"Mm, the decision I made in haste this time was indeed somewhat rash." Erza seriously reflected on herself, but then immediately said,

"I was looking forward to the strawberry cake at this shop so much that I really couldn't wait for reinforcements. I'll think it over more carefully next time."

"..."

Very good. She had soloed a Dark Guild because she was in a hurry to get back for cake. Perfectly reasonable.

Mira, however, wasn't surprised in the slightest. That really was Erza's style.

Besides, she had seen the information on Scorpion's Tail. Erza could handle them easily enough.

The waitress soon brought over everything Erza had ordered, little plates filling the table.

Erza immersed herself in the world of desserts, occasionally showing an adorable expression completely unlike her usual self.

Rhode quietly calculated:

Erza defeated an entire Dark Guild, and Erza has defeated me.

Therefore, my strength is roughly equal to one Dark Guild. Flawless logic.

Hahaha, stay humble, stay humble.

Having finished his dessert, Rhode entertained himself with his thoughts.

Erza pushed several portions of strawberry cake toward Mira and Rhode. "Eat with me."

"Don't you like strawberry cake the most?" Rhode asked.

"That's why I should share it. Sharing with companions makes delicious food even more delicious." Erza wore an intoxicated expression as she said this, her tone nearly flat.

"Since it's a gesture from Erza, I'll have just a little more." Mira cut a small cake in half and gave one piece to Rhode.

Then, the more Erza ate, the more something felt wrong. "Come to think of it, why did you two come here together... Could it be... a, a date?"

Before Rhode could react, Erza's face had already turned red, and she could barely speak properly. "Y-you two... W-when are you getting married?"

"Pfft..." Rhode covered his mouth, nearly spraying coffee in her face. "You're thinking way too far ahead!"

"N-no?"

"Wakaba's wife just gave us two complimentary tickets." Mira explained, then rested her cheek in one hand with a faintly mischievous smile.

"Oh my... But I suppose it could count as a date."

"D-d-d-d-date..." Erza continued to stammer.

Mira laughed even more happily. "Shy Erza is interesting too. It's a pity Rhode doesn't blush anymore. It was more fun before."

Rhode let out a soft breath. A month of training had made his skin thicker—or perhaps his ability to accept things had grown stronger.

Most importantly... when he left home today, he seemed to have already been treating this like a date.

Now that Mira said it in such a teasing tone, he simply couldn't feel embarrassed.

After that, Rhode realized Erza was a little airheaded.

By the time he and Mira had moved on to another topic, Erza was still confirming with Mira whether she had truly been joking.

After finally explaining it clearly to Erza and waiting for her to finish her dessert, the three of them left together.

"Please come again!"

The waitress at the entrance bowed politely, but Erza suddenly stopped and said to Mira and Rhode, "Wait for me."

"What happened to her?" Rhode asked.

Mira thought for a moment. "She probably wants to pack up a few cakes to take back? Maybe."

A few minutes later, Erza returned, but she had changed into the uniform worn by the shop's waitresses.

Rhode completely failed to understand the situation. A valiant female knight went in, and a gentle, beautiful waitress came out?

Was this some kind of magical transformation?

"Welcome, dear guests. What would you like to order?" Erza bent slightly at the waist and made an inviting gesture. Then she straightened and asked, "Well? What do you think?"

The girl in charge of greeting customers was already captivated by Erza.

"Very..." The words "very pretty" caught in Rhode's throat, and he forcibly changed them to, "It suits you very well."

Mira smiled and clapped her hands. "Very pretty. Why did you suddenly change into that?"

"Because I thought this outfit was cute, so I asked the owner whether she could sell it to me." Erza tugged at the collar.

"Then she said it wasn't for sale, but if I worked here for half a day, she would give it to me."

Rhode was a little stunned. "...So you agreed?"

Erza nodded as if it were only natural. "That's right. So I'm going to start working now. Could I trouble you two to take my luggage back to the guild first?"

"No..." Rhode's head buzzed.

You were an S-Class Mage who earned millions from a single job, and you sold yourself for an ordinary uniform?

Mira had no intention of stopping her. Instead, she encouraged Erza, "Good luck! Leave the luggage to us."

In the end, the crab bore everything. It not only had to pull the luggage cart, but also carry Rhode and Mira.

"Do you really not understand Erza's actions?"

Mira sat sideways, her legs pressed neatly together, her skirt held tightly in place, like a beautiful mermaid.

"A little. Is that just her personality? She seems a little spacey, kind of airheaded."

Rhode recalled Erza's expression. She seemed to be enjoying herself.

"I prefer to call it freedom and doing whatever she wants," Mira said. "Erza likes all kinds of distinctive clothes, and she also likes trying interesting jobs.

"How much she gets in return isn't within her considerations at all. Or rather, as long as doing it makes her happy, that's the greatest reward.

"Compared to Erza—no, not just Erza—compared to most people in the guild, Rhode, you seem overly worried and tense.

"I don't really know what you've been through, or what worries and pressures you carry, so I have no right to tell you to relax like everyone else.

"But at least today, at least during that little bit of time in the dessert shop, I hope you were happy."

The same bright smile as when they had first met, the same gentle words as when he had first heard them. Each word flowed into Rhode's heart like a quiet stream.

Soft and warm.

Rhode was certain he had found the reason his heart had been moved.

"Thank you. I... was very happy."

"Every day I spend in Fairy Tail is happy."

"Today was especially happy."