Following in Progress...

Lisanna secretly followed behind Ed and Mira, trying to figure out what exactly was going on between them.

"Why is Mira out shopping with Ed? Could it be... a date?" Lisanna felt like she had guessed the truth. She crept a little closer, trying to hear what the two of them were saying.

"By the way, Mira, did you tell your brother and sister about inviting me along on this mission? Are they okay with it?" Ed casually asked Mira.

"Not yet, but they should accept it. Your magic is still very important for this mission. If it comes down to it, they just won't come along this time. With you there, if anything goes wrong, you can directly take our client and run." Mira wore an expression that said, I've already thought this through, so don't argue with me.

"Anyway, hurry up and finish shopping so we can head back. Remember, we're meeting at the station the morning after tomorrow!"

"Okay, okay~" Ed had no objections.

Because Lisanna was following them, she had not gotten too close and only vaguely caught a few snippets: "Mira... and me... together... brother and sister... agree," "Haven't told them yet... should accept... if not... won't bring them... can still... run away together... meet at the station the day after tomorrow..."

Lisanna felt like the sky had fallen. Not only did her sister apparently have a boyfriend, but if she and Elfman did not agree, Mira was even planning to abandon them both and elope!

Lisanna instantly panicked. Forgetting all about continuing to follow them, she hurriedly ran home to find her brother.

"This is bad! Brother Elfman! Mira... Mira, she—!" Lisanna panted as she ran home and shouted at Elfman, who was still waiting for the two of them to return.

"What happened to our sister?! Hurry up and tell me, Lisanna!" Elfman panicked as well and rushed out. Grabbing Lisanna by the shoulders, he urgently asked.

"Mira... she has a boyfriend!" "What?! She actually dares to date—wait? Dating? Mira? With who? Why are you panicking over Mira having a boyfriend?" Elfman had been about to explode, but then he realized Mira was not in danger. He immediately calmed down and asked Lisanna in detail about what she had seen.

"You mean, our sister was shopping with that Ed, and you overheard them talking. Ed asked Mira whether we agreed with him being together with her, and Mira said that if we didn't agree, they would take a train and elope together?" Elfman successfully reached the same conclusion as Lisanna.

"How could she do this?! What does Mira even take us for?! If she wants to pursue happiness, we definitely won't stop her! Right, Lisanna?!" Elfman was a little beside himself. Being so distrusted by his own sister was rather hurtful.

"Mm-hmm, I think so too. When our sister comes back, we'll talk to her together. We won't oppose her pursuing happiness," Lisanna hurriedly nodded in agreement.

"And if they run away, where will they live? What about living expenses... They won't end up destitute, will they..." Lisanna resolved to talk Mira out of her decision to "elope."

"Come to think of it, where are we staying when we go out? Camping, or will the client provide lodging? Who's paying for food... Why is this thing so expensive..." Ed stared at the small Spatial Bag before him, which had a capacity of roughly one cubic meter and cost 600,000 J, and lamented his poverty.

"The last mission paid 2 million J. One million went to debt repayment, 300,000 went toward custom Kunai, and if this thing costs 600,000, that leaves me with only 100,000... After food expenses, won't that not even cover next month's rent?! Was I really this broke..."

"Ed seems to have more than 10 million in debt. Mira wouldn't be planning to use her own money to support the two of them, would she..." Elfman worried.

"Who told you to make such a huge mess fighting Gray? I still have some money. Do you need to borrow some?" Mira said as she watched Ed stare at the Spatial Bag while rubbing his wallet, shaking his head and sighing.

"No matter what, we have to talk Mira out of it when she gets back. We're family! As long as they're serious, we'll definitely agree!" Lisanna and Elfman looked at each other. The two family members, now united in opinion, could not help but smile.

Watching Ed grit his teeth and buy the bag, Mira said, "All right, I'll head home now. I still need to tell Lisanna and Elfman about us teaming up." "It used to be just the three of you doing missions together, right? Will they agree to adding me this time?" Ed casually asked.

"Of course they will. We're family!" Thinking of the two family members who had grown up supporting one another, Mira could not help but smile.

After parting with Ed, Mira cheerfully returned home and found Lisanna and Elfman sitting solemnly at the dining table, seemingly deep in thought.

"I'm back! What are you two doing? Thinking about what to have for dinner?" Mira curiously sat down as well and asked them.

I can't bring myself to say it! Brother Elfman! Hurry! You ask her! Lisanna frantically blinked at Elfman. Receiving Lisanna's plea for help, Elfman cleared his throat and said, "Sis, we can talk about dinner later. Is there something you need to tell us?"

"Huh? You already know?" Mira looked puzzled, but she prepared to explain clearly. "It's just that I plan to go with that Ed guy..."

"Ah... Lisanna accidentally saw you two. So it really was Ed..." Elfman was shocked that it was true and directly interrupted Mira. "Then what do you think, Sis?"

"Me? I think it's pretty good. He's very suitable too." Mira thought for a moment and said it outright.

"I-is that so... Very suitable... Then what about us? We'll always be together, right?!" Lisanna could not help interrupting at this point, raising her voice.

"Of course, but if you don't agree, then I'll have to..."

"We're family! How could we possibly disagree?!" Elfman said angrily. "Sis, you're underestimating us too much. As long as you're happy, we can completely accept it!"

"Ah... huh? Is that so? Then it's fine as long as you can accept it..." Mira felt that something was off, though she could not say what.

"By the way, Mira, when did you two start?" Now that Lisanna felt the main issue had been resolved, her gossiping heart began burning again.

"When did what start?" Mira looked utterly confused.

"You and Ed!" Lisanna hurriedly said, her face practically screaming, I'm so curious! Elfman said nothing, but from the way he leaned forward with his ears perked up, it was obvious that he also wanted to know when his sister had fallen for him.

"This morning. I ran into him at the guild and asked whether he agreed. He hesitated for a moment, then agreed." Mira kept it brief.

"This morning?! And you were the one who made the first move?! He even hesitated?!" Lisanna and Elfman exclaimed in shock at the same time.

"?" Mira became even more confused.

"Sis!" Elfman finally lost it. Slamming his hand on the table, he stood up. "Lisanna and I don't oppose you pursuing happiness, but isn't it moving a little too fast to consider eloping after just one day?!"

"??...!!!"

All right, now Mira had lost it.