Confession

Guild

"Ah, why aren't Qian Guang and the others here yet? These clothes are so uncomfortable."

Natsu wasn't used to this outfit. After all, he usually wore an open vest.

"Um, can I take it off first?"

"You've already taken it off!!!"

Gray was wearing nothing but a pair of white formal trousers. He was one of those people who never wore clothes.

Everyone else was dressed in proper formalwear. Erza wore a fitted red dress that suited her well, while Macao narcissistically pulled out a mirror and struck poses.

The master was also dressed properly for once. When Qian Guang first suggested holding a formal banquet, he had refused. But after Qian Guang said he only needed to wear clothes, he thought about it and agreed.

After all, it had been a long time since the guild had worn proper formalwear. How long? He couldn't remember. Anyway, the master felt like he had already forgotten.

It was novel enough! They could do it!

The results were pretty good too. Well, aside from those few kids, everyone else discovered that they looked especially handsome when dressed up. At least for tonight, they had fallen in love with formalwear.

The master had even set the banquet venue behind the guild. After all, how could a New Year's celebration be complete without barbecue and fireworks?

It was a pity that that unfilial grandson, Laxus, hadn't returned. He had really wanted to see what Laxus would look like in formalwear.

Now they were just waiting for Qian Guang and the others. But these people were really slow!

A carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the guild.

Qian Guang stepped down from the carriage holding Mira's hand. Lisanna also helped Elfman down, linking arms with him because he apparently didn't know how to walk after riding a horse. Those muscles of his had grown for nothing!

They pushed open the guild doors.

"Ahahaha! I'm the strongest!" Natsu pinned Gray beneath him and breathed fire, his formalwear having disappeared who knew where.

Cana had already started drinking from a wine barrel. "Ha! Oh, Qian Guang, you're here. Who's that beside you? A fairy? She's definitely prettier than Mira, but you can't betray Mira, okay? Hic!"

Qian Guang looked at these clowns and was utterly speechless. Couldn't they be serious for once?

Mirajane looked at the drunk Cana. If she weren't wearing this formal dress, she would have gone over and stuffed that barrel into Cana's mouth.

"Wow! So pretty!"

"I see a goddess!"

"Get lost, guy next to her!"

Fortunately, everyone else was deeply captivated by Mirajane. When Erza saw the dress, her eyes lit up, and she wanted to go over and touch it.

Macao grabbed Qian Guang, tears and snot streaming down his face. "You brat, aren't you a little too lucky?!!!"

Qian Guang shoved him away in disgust. "You're exaggerating. And be careful, or I'll report you to my sister-in-law."

"No, no, I was just saying."

Macao immediately pushed Qian Guang away and continued searching for his best buddy, Wakaba.

Seeing Mira surrounded by a crowd of girls, Qian Guang gave up on the idea of squeezing in and sneaked off to find the master.

"Master, master, come in if you can hear me."

Makarov looked at Qian Guang, who was fooling around beside him, as though he were an idiot.

"I'm saying, could you at least act in a way worthy of the clothes you're wearing?"

"Ahem, wasn't I just trying to cheer you up because I was afraid you'd be nervous?"

"Huh? Me, nervous? Today, I'm going to conf—mmph!"

Before the master could finish, Qian Guang covered his mouth in a most disrespectful manner.

"Shh, shh, shh, Master. Don't let Mira hear. For the surprise, I didn't even tell those brats."

The master pulled down the hand covering his mouth and teased, "I didn't expect you to know how to make a surprise."

"Of course. I used to be a master of romance!"

"Hehe, then I'll have to have a good talk with Mira later about this 'master of romance' business."

"No, no, old man, I surrender. I'm going to get things ready. You guys have fun first!"

With that, Qian Guang ran off. He still had plenty to do.

"Ha, youth really is wonderful. Though that brat is awfully precocious."

Mirajane watched Qian Guang exchange a few words with the master before running off, utterly confused. Why was he running away instead of standing by her side at a time like this?

What an idiot!!!

He wasn't going off to find some other girl, was he? That smug expression on the master's face! He definitely hadn't done anything good!

"Hey, why are you spacing out? You're the center of attention right now."

Erza patted Mira's shoulder when she saw her daydreaming. She knew about Qian Guang's plan, and she had promised to be their photographer.

Although Erza had volunteered herself, Qian Guang didn't really trust her skills. But her presence was too imposing to refuse.

And despite all their bickering, the two still cared deeply for each other.

"Hehe, pretty, right? This is the shop owner's treasured masterpiece."

Mirajane still believed it was the shop owner's prized treasure.

Erza looked at Mirajane with a hint of envy. After all, she knew where that dress had come from. She had even recommended that shop owner herself.

Thinking of that blue-haired figure from her childhood, Erza's gaze dimmed for a moment.

"Hey, you weren't upset by what I said, were you? Fine, fine, I won't mention it again."

Mirajane thought she had said something wrong and hurriedly tried to comfort her.

Only then did Erza come back to herself. Looking at the figure before her, wanting to apologize but not knowing how, she felt no urge to snap back at her for the first time.

"It's fine. I just remembered something. Come on, let's go to the backyard and get something to eat!"

Everyone also moved the party to the backyard. After all, barbecuing inside the guild might set the house on fire, and the master's huge fists were no joke.

Meanwhile, Qian Guang was welcoming two unexpected guests.

"So why do I have to dress like this?"

Laxus tugged at his white formalwear with distaste.

"Hahahaha, don't say that. You look pretty good in it."

Gildarts patted Laxus on the shoulder. He too was wearing white formalwear, and his previously messy hair had been neatly combed.

Laxus curled his lip. He had been training in the desert when he ran into Gildarts. Before he could even ask what was going on, he had been dragged back here.

"Come on, don't worry about it. Why are you still wandering outside during the New Year instead of coming home? Besides, this is your good brother's confession. How can you not be there?"

"And you're the accompaniment!"

Tch.

Laxus was speechless. He was a rock musician, and this guy had dragged him over to accompany a love song confession?

"Come on, come on. Time to make our entrance."

Backyard

Everyone had already gathered and started barbecuing and drinking. Cana had even begun her second round, while Mirajane held a small glass of champagne.

She was very confused about what the stage in the middle was for. Was someone going to perform? Why did it feel like she was the only one who didn't know the plan? And where had that guy Qian Guang gone?!

Suddenly—

All the lights in the backyard went out. Everyone gradually fell silent, leaving only the sounds of things being moved and a few idiots being knocked down.

"Happy? Ouch, who's hitting me... mmph!"

"Ice..."

"Natsu? Gray?"

Mira became a little flustered. She thought enemies had invaded.

However, the darkness did not last long. The lights came back on, focused on the center of the stage and where Mira stood.

Mira held her glass helplessly, but she quickly widened her eyes as tears welled up in them.

Music began to play.

"Books always love to write about unexpected evenings of joy."

"The bicycle they rode, and the conversations between him and her."

"The girl's white dress, the boy loved seeing her wear it."

"So many scenes."

"Slowly falling for you."

"Slowly becoming close."

"Slowly talking about ourselves."

"Slowly walking together with you."

"Slowly, I want to accommodate you."

"Slowly, giving myself to you."

Qian Guang sang as he walked toward Mira step by step. Smiling at her tear-filled eyes, he handed the flowers in his hand to the princess he loved.

Mira covered her mouth with one hand. She no longer knew what to say and blankly accepted the flowers.

"Slowly falling for you."

"Slowly remembering."

Qian Guang gazed at Mira affectionately, wanting to firmly etch this moment into his mind.

Countless little lights came on around them, and everyone watched the pair with blessings on their faces.

Makarov also spotted Laxus accompanying the song backstage, while Cana happily looked at Gildarts holding a wineglass.

The song ended.

The crowd could no longer contain themselves, and cheers erupted all around them.

"Woohoo!!!!"

"Get together!!!"

"Kiss!!!"

"Go back to the room—bang!"

The unruly Gildarts had his spellcasting interrupted by Cana.

Laxus pressed a button.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Huge fireworks rose into the sky, filling it with the words "Mira," "I like you," "Be my girlfriend"... and hearts.

Qian Guang held Mira's hand and softly said to her, "The moon is beautiful tonight. There are lights, flowers, and you. I've always felt that I'm clumsy with words and don't know how to express the love I've kept buried in my heart for so long. But I'm certain that I like you. I want you in the rest of my life. I want to hold you close every day and enjoy the sunrise, sunset, and moonlight with you."

Mira had not known what to say from the very beginning. She kept covering her mouth, her eyes filled with tears of joy.

Looking at the fireworks filling the sky, she felt that she would probably never forget this sight for the rest of her life.

Looking at the boy before her, who had grown a little more mature, she suddenly felt as though they had really walked together for a very long time. When they first met, they had both still looked so young and inexperienced.

She could still vaguely remember the sunset back then, the smiling face in that cave, and those words: "Then let's go together. My name is Qian Guang, Qian Guang Meredith."

She could no longer suppress her feelings. Amid the crowd's teasing cheers, she wrapped both arms around Qian Guang's neck.

The princess raised her head to look at her prince, her smile blooming like a flower. "My name is Mirajane, Mirajane Strauss. Please take care of me from now on."

Amid everyone's blessings and laughter, beneath the romantic fireworks and bright moon, the prince and princess finally kissed.

Evening, the banquet ended.

The master was very happy and dragged his grandson, who wanted to run away, home. In the end, Cana still did not have the courage to confess to Gildarts. She simply kept drinking with him to keep him company, though Qian Guang noticed before leaving that Gildarts did not seem to want to drink with her.

Gray and Natsu were still asleep in the backyard.

∠(ᐛ"∠)_

Qian Guang and Mira walked hand in hand along the riverbank. The princess's makeup was no longer flawless, and the prince's face could not hide his exhaustion.

Yet as they whispered by the river, it seemed as though they had endless sweet words to share.

"So, were you satisfied with the confession?"

"Hmph."

Mira did not want to answer that question. She had been far too satisfied, and she was still embarrassed by her own boldness earlier.

"You were really bold, Mira."

"Don't say it, don't say it!!! Ah-woo!"

Blushing furiously, Mira heard Qian Guang daring to mention it again and immediately bit his hand.

In the end, though, she could not bear to bite down hard. It was more like a kitten's gentle nip.

"Ow, ow, that hurts."

Qian Guang pretended to be in pain, though his eyes were full of amusement.

"Come on, come on. Don't make Lisanna and Elfman wait at home too long. I had them move your room over."

"What?!!!"

Mira's face instantly turned bright red.

"Who said I was going to sleep with you?!"

"Eh, aren't we boyfriend and girlfriend now? We should be closer." Qian Guang looked at her teasingly. He had not actually told them to move anything, but Mira like this was very entertaining. Of course, if Mira did not object, he was prepared to have her room moved over immediately.

(ˊ˘ˋ*)♡

"No, no!!! We just became boyfriend and girlfriend, and you already want to sleep together! Dream on! We can only hold hands! No, wait! I won't even let you hold my hand!"

Mira angrily tried to shake his hand off, but Qian Guang held on tightly. With a tug, he pulled her into his arms.

"Alright, alright, I was teasing you. Come on, let's go home, my dear!"

Mira blankly looked at the face that had captivated her and did not object. She gently leaned into his embrace.

"Mm, let's go home."