Could It Be

Rhode, who had been hiding in the corner with a spectator's mentality, no longer found the gossip interesting because Levy seemed to be feeling unwell.

It was easy to guess that she was probably worried about this incident affecting her friendship with Jet, as the three members of the Chariot Engine Squad had grown up together since childhood.

"Hey, Rhode," Levy asked softly, "Was I too blunt just now?"

I wouldn't know! Rhode had no childhood sweethearts, nor had he ever been confessed to by one.

He could only choose his words carefully and say, "When it comes to feelings, if you don't like someone, isn't it better to make things clear like you did?"

"That's true..."

It was precisely because Levy understood this that she had refused so decisively, not even touching the bouquet at the end, not wanting to cause any misunderstanding.

She sighed, "I'm just worried that the Chariot Engine Squad will disband because of this. We've always been good friends, and I should have found a more tactful way to say it."

"No matter how tactful you are, the meaning is the same. The longer you drag it out, the more it hurts."

The incident had already happened. Regardless of which choice was the best, Rhode didn't want to say things like, 'You did the wrong thing' or 'You really weren't considerate just now.'

Saying that would be of no use other than making Levy feel more guilty.

The best choice was the one you just made. Rhode needed Levy to believe this so she could feel a little better.

After she calmed down a bit, he could help her figure out what to do next, if she needed it.

However, something Rhode hadn't expected happened.

Just as Levy had recovered a little, Troy appeared again, holding a bouquet of flowers.

Compared to Jet, Troy's movements were a bit stiff, but after taking two deep breaths, he still mustered the courage to say the same words as Jet.

This time, Levy rejected Troy in just one second.

Troy's reaction was more flustered than Jet's. The bouquet fell to the ground, and he left in a daze.

Rhode had to take some of the blame for this. It was he who had just strengthened Levy's idea that 'being decisive in rejection was best for them.'

After a while, Levy turned around, trying hard to control her emotions. "Let's continue practicing!"

Rhode wanted to master the magic quickly, but in this situation, it felt a bit... much to have Levy teach him.

He thought for a moment and said, "Um, I've used up a lot of my magic today, so let's rest for a bit. How about I treat you to a drink? As a thank you for your help."

A few minutes later, Rhode and Levy were sitting at the counter.

The two clinked their glasses gently. Rhode had just taken a sip, but Levy had already chugged down a whole glass, acting as boldly as if she'd been possessed by Kana.

Fortunately, it was just ordinary beer.

Mira noticed Levy's red-rimmed eyes and deliberately put her hands on her hips in a mock-angry pose, asking, "Rhode, did you bully Levy?"

"Absolutely not," Rhode raised his hands as if swearing an oath. "This... the situation is a bit complicated, and I can't really explain it."

"It's not Rhode's fault. It's just that I don't know what to do now," Levy's alcohol tolerance was a bit low, and her face was already flushed after just one glass of beer.

She poured out her troubles to Mira like a string of firecrackers, speaking with a clear drunken slur.

"Don't worry, Levy," Mira said softly. "The three of you are good friends who grew up together, and you're comrades in the same guild. No matter what happened, that bond can't be broken. It won't be long before Jet and Troy recover their spirits."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"Then... another drink!"

After finishing her second drink, Levy passed out on the counter, occasionally murmuring in her sleep, moving her arms and kicking her legs.

If this child's alcohol tolerance could increase a bit in the future, her behavior when drunk might not be so good.

Levy was wearing an off-the-shoulder dress, and the guild emblem on her left back shoulder was very conspicuous.

Although it was summer, the ceiling fan was spinning above. Rhode wondered if he should cover Levy with something, but he had nothing on hand.

Mira, however, found a thin blanket and gently draped it over Levy.

"Rhode, you've been paying a lot of attention to Levy since a while ago. Could it be that you also..." Mira started again.

"Not at all. Levy is very cute, but she's not my type."

"Then what type do you like?"

Mira's eyes were sharp, as if burning with the flames of gossip.

Rhode really wanted to let her experience the feeling of gossiping about oneself, but as the saying goes, a moment's impatience can spoil a great plan.

"It's a secret. Secrets make a man more manly," Rhode quipped, altering a line from a detective anime.

Confessing one's feelings shouldn't be used like a charge signal; Jet and Troy had just set a terrible example for him.

"Aish~ That's something Loki would say," Mira remarked. "Has your relationship with him improved?"

"Not at all. He runs away if I get within five meters of him.

Now, I have to ask Levy to order for him and the people near him."

Rhode was also helpless. His only interaction with Loki was the failed sparring session last time. Even if he wanted to mend their relationship afterward, Loki didn't give him the chance.

Mira only knew it was related to a female Celestial Spirit Mage. Guessing based on Loki's personality, she suspected it was a romantic entanglement.

She just couldn't figure out what kind of tragic experience would make him avoid anything related to Celestial Spirit Mages like the plague.

Rhode's approach to this was simple: if he couldn't solve it, he wouldn't.

Even biological brothers can be at odds, so it was perfectly normal to have a few people in such a large guild who didn't get along.

Out of camaraderie, if he ever needed help, Rhode would truly step up.

"Chariot Engine, form up!" Levy suddenly shouted, raising her fist.

Rhode helped her refold the blanket that had fallen off: "You must have been dreaming about the past. When did those three start teaming up?"

"I'm not sure about that either," Mira said after thinking for a moment. "I remember when I first joined the guild five years ago, they were already often together."

"Five years ago... you were only twelve or thirteen then, right?"

Joining the guild was pretty much like starting to make a living independently, and she even had a younger brother with her... Rhode felt a pang of sympathy.

"Thirteen, it wasn't that early. Natsu joined the guild a year before me, Erza even a year before that, and Gray, Cana, and Levy even earlier."

Mira's expression turned reminiscent. "We were all homeless children. Joining the guild was the first time we found stability.

Speaking of which, I've never asked, Rhode, what did you do before?"

"I... I was a student," Rhode replied. "From the age of five until a little over a month ago, I was always in school."

"Over ten years, just going to school?" Mira looked surprised. Seeing Rhode nod, she asked, "Were you perhaps a noble or a prince, someone important?"

Fairy Tail Trivia: Jet once confessed to Levy and was rejected in just two seconds, setting the guild's record for the fastest rejection. Truly befitting the fastest runner in the guild.

However, Troy broke Jet's record not long after, in just one second.