Mira Is Sick?

Inside Fairy Tail, with Hughes ' return, things immediately became lively. Makarov knew that with Hughes present, the educational session couldn't continue.

He sighed and put the manuscript and the Magic Council's investigation results back into his waistband.

Raising his index finger, his gloom turned to excitement. "Men, let's have a feast! Let's celebrate the return of Hughes and Laxus!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the guild fell silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous cheers. Natsu jumped up excitedly, spewing flames from his mouth. "Oh, old man, that's awesome! I'm on fire!"

Gray also stood up excitedly, raising his fist high, which emanated a chilling aura. "Let's duel, Natsu!"

"Ha, Gray, you're going to lose this time."

Happy, perched atop Natsu's head, blinked his big eyes as if receiving some kind of signal. He then used Wing Magic to fly from above Natsu's head to between the two, waving a small flag in his hand.

"Ah! Natsu and Gray's 45th duel this week is officially beginning!"

Onlookers: "Where are Macao and Wakaba? Why aren't they opening the betting?"

Nab waved the 100,000 J bill around. "I bet Natsu will win. He consumed a lot of Hughes's flames recently, he must have become much stronger!"

Reedus shook his head. He had a different opinion from Nab. Natsu had become stronger, but he had seen Gray secretly training hard during this time, and his strength must have increased considerably as well.

"Damn it, this makes betting difficult," Reedus, frowning.

"Macao and Wakaba are opening soon. I've made a lot of money recently, and I feel uneasy keeping it on my person."

Arriving late, Macao pushed through the crowd, holding a gambling board with ink still wet in its hand, and said irritably, "Hurry up, hurry up, all you do is rush me. Don't you need to spend time writing down the bets?"

"And you, Marcus, what are you doing getting involved, kid? Take this money and buy some candy."

Macao snatched the money from Marcus's hand and stuffed it back into his pocket.

What a joke! Macao has good manners, okay? He wouldn't make money off a kid... It's definitely not that he's looking down on the 100J in Marcus's hand.

"Wow, President, Macao is bullying me!" Marcus immediately ran to Makarov to complain.

Hughes stood there dumbfounded outside the crowd, his expression one of astonishment.

Isn't this supposed to be a banquet? What's with this weird turn of events?

And why did everyone fit in so naturally?

"Damn it, I wish I could be as smooth and part of it as they are," Hughes thought through gritted teeth.

Hughes:(ノ`Д´)ノ┻━┻

This group ostracized him and wouldn't let him play with them; he was being bullied!

Amidst the commotion, Laxus finally returned to the guild.

Hughes and Laxus arrived at Magnolia Station together, but Laxus, who was carsick, decided to rest at the station to recover before returning to the guild.

Hughes understood him; all teenage boys are like that, not wanting their unsightly side to be exposed to everyone, especially someone as proud as Laxus.

So the two parted ways at the station, Hughes spent half an hour flying back to the guild.

"What are they doing?" Laxus asked, patting Hughes on the shoulder.

Hughes turned around and saw that it was Laxus, so he told him about the inexplicable unfolding he had just experienced.

Laxus nodded calmly after hearing this. That's just how guilds are; they can suddenly become unpredictable. It took him a long time to get used to it.

"Hughes, report the mission to the old man later. I'll go back to the eastern forest to cultivate. There's an S-Class Exam in a few days, so I need to prepare."

After saying this, Laxus turned and left, waving to Hughes with his back turned before stepping out of the guild's gate.

He left as quietly as he came...

Hughes:???

He just arrived and left. What was Laxus doing coming all the way to the guild?

Inside the dueling arena, the forest ice and fire people stared intently at each other, their auras tense, just as they were about to engage in a fierce battle, when a girl in armor suddenly appeared.

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

Like a fist of steel, it landed heavily on the head of the forest ice and fire man.

"It hurts so much..." x2

What are you two doing? You should get along well with your companions!

Erza's aura, like that of a terrifying behemoth, frightened Natsu and Gray so much that they clung tightly to each other.

"Yes, we got along well." x2

Erza, her expression still serious, drew her knight's sword from her waist; the gleaming tip of the sword made the two of them tremble.

"Have you guys been secretly fighting behind my back these past few days?!"

Natsu and Gray turned their heads, pouting, and stubbornly said, "No... no!"

"Hey, Erza, they fought 45 times this week, I remember it all!" Happy shouted, raising his Cat Claws.

Natsu's eyes widened in fright, and he leaped over to cover Happy's mouth. "Ah, Happy, you stupid cat, you can't say that!"

Erza expressionlessly sheathed her sword, rubbed her fist, and Macao and the other onlookers swallowed hard and quickly retreated dozens of meters.

Being caught in the crossfire is no good!

"Gray, put on your clothes first!" Erza said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Gray looked down and asked, "Huh? When?"

"Bang!"

"Bang" xn

"Ah, Erza, we'll get along better next time!"

Hughes picked up his glass, took a few sips with a cheerful expression, and thought, "The world is so beautiful; violence is really bad."

If the victims are Natsu and Gray, then intensify the attack. Watching Erza unleash her various elaborate beatings of the forest's fire and ice creatures, Hughes leisurely offers a hint.

"Erza, Natsu just missed two punches."

"Okay, I'll make it up to you!"

"Hey, Hughes is a demon..." Before the cat could finish speaking, it disappeared. Hughes, the instigator, shook his head and moved the cup in his hand back to Mira.

He glanced back and saw Mira sitting next to him, her face flushed and wisps of steam rising from her head.

"Hey, Mira, when did you transform? Why is your face so red?"

"Is this a new demon?" Hughes asked curiously, raising his finger to poke Mira's smooth, elastic cheek.

Mira's hands were crossed on her lap, her rosy, round face lowered, and she dared not look directly at the cup in front of her.

Her lips parted slightly, her voice barely audible. "The... the cup, I drank from it..."

"What are you saying? Speak louder!" Unable to hear clearly, Hughes moved his head closer, his ear near Mira's lips.

Mira's body visibly stiffened, her eyes trembled, and her heart pounded.

So close, Hughes is too close.

A moment later, Hughes looked up, his brow furrowed. Why did Mira feel so hot? Did she have a fever?

Seeing Hughes leave, Mira finally dared to exhale the breath she had been holding back for so long.

Mira, are you sick?

"No... no."

"Something's not right. Come on, I'll take you to see Granny Porlyusica!" With that, Hughes immediately stood up and grasped Mira's fair little hand.

"Look, your hands are so hot, and you still say you're fine!"

"No... I'm fine." Mira waved her small hand, trying to pull the burning hot hand away, but she couldn't.

"No... you don't need to go to Granny Porlyusica's place, I... I'll be there in a bit."