Elfman felt guilty under his gaze and scratched his cheek, saying: "Actually, my sister thinks you've been working too hard and hopes you'll take a few days off."
"Really?" Rhode was skeptical, "Is Mira not feeling well recently? Did last time's race leave any aftereffects?"
"No, my sister's been in great spirits lately. Feels like she's even more energetic than me, my sister the manly man!"
Does your sister know you keep calling her a manly man every day? Rhode wondered if this kid had never been smacked.
"Have you guys encountered anything special recently?"
"Nothing special, I suppose..." Elfman replied, puzzled, "Why are you asking?"
"Don't you feel that Mira is acting differently than usual?"
"My sister, she..." Elfman thought carefully, "is just like before."
"Maybe I'm overthinking it?" Rhode still felt something was off and decided he'd just ask her directly later.
"If there's no fight, I'm heading back." Elfman slipped away.
But as soon as he entered, he saw his dear sister waving him over, with a gentle and kind smile on her face.
A person this gentle wouldn't get angry even if provoked, right?
But Elfman wasn't the type to like making his sister angry, so he obediently walked over.
Mira asked curiously: "What did he want from you?"
"He said he felt you've been behaving differently lately and asked if I knew what was going on."
"Have I been acting differently than usual?" Mira touched her cheek, feeling she hadn't shown any differences.
"Not really? Didn't everyone else feel things were the same?" Elfman thought for a moment and asked, "Could it be that he's been watching you all day?"
"No way! We're very serious when working." Mira immediately refuted.
But occasionally glancing at her was indeed possible.
As for how she knew Rhode was watching her...
She just knew.
Actually, Mira's feelings were somewhat complex, anxious yet slightly joyful.
——So many people in the guild didn't notice, only he felt something was off.
Elfman now thought his sister was acting strange.
He pondered for a moment and asked: "Haven't told Rhode about that yet?"
Mira showed a troubled expression: "I haven't thought it through yet."
Elfman didn't quite understand: "It's just magic, I don't think he'd care about something like that."
"I know, but..."
But she's just worried.
It's a demon, after all, terrifying and ugly.
Plus, Rhode had fought demons before and was heavily injured.
What if he dislikes her?
What if he fears her?
What if...
"I think even if you don't tell him, he'll eventually find out." Elfman said,
"The 'New Era Fairy Tail Strategist', Sis, you've fallen for a troublesome person."
Mira glared at him, troublesome? Shouldn't she prefer the Fairy Tail Strategist over falling for a beast king macho man?
Must quickly find a girlfriend for her brother.
"Go home a bit earlier today."
"Okay."
...
"Gray, Loki? Did you guys just return today?" When Rhode got back, he saw Gray and Loki at the counter 'submitting tasks'.
"Rhode!" Loki suddenly darted to the other side of Gray. "Gray, I suddenly have a stomach ache, you handle the rest!"
Loki started running away.
Mira chuckled: "It seems Loki's 'Rhode Fear Syndrome' is getting worse."
"What kind of weird disease name is that..." Rhode wondered aloud, "What's making him act crazy now?"
Gray said: "We happened to hear about your Fairy Tail Strategist title outside, then Loki got even more afraid of you."
"Did he owe me money before and fear I'd remember? Or did he do something that made him feel guilty towards me..."
Rhode thought about it and quietly asked, "Mira, did Loki ever try to pursue you before?"
"Ah..." Mira pondered, asked, "What if he did?"
"Hmm..." Rhode considered, "The guild's back lake, the city's central canal, and Harujion's sea, which spot do you think is best to sink him?"
Gray felt a chill seeing Rhode's expression: "Isn't that a bit extreme?"
"Indeed, not necessary to consider to that level," Mira nodded, "Just divide it into three parts and you won't need to trouble yourself so much."
Gray was shocked: "Not that he was being excessive, but that he thinks too much will be exhausting?"
"Makes sense, I'll go hit him with a sneak attack."
"Hey, you two..." Gray knew they were kidding, but it sounded so real.
Rhode waved it off: "No joking, focus on your mission, didn't you have only two days? How did it become a week?"
Gray explained: "The results were too good, the client kept us on for a few more days, the original models almost lost their jobs."
Rhode cleaned his ear: "I didn't hear wrong, you're sure it was too good?"
Mira laughed: "It's true, the client sent extra payment and an explanation for extending the task...along with some customer complaints."
Rhode checked and could only say it was impressive.
Originally, it was a store mainly selling men's clothing, but after Gray went, he'd wear an outfit for a short time before taking it off.
Loki would promptly hand him a new outfit.
But before long, Gray would take that off too, and Loki would continue to deliver clothes.
The outside folks thought these two were doing a fashion show with outfits.
This accidentally attracted loads of female customers, plus men brought in by their female companions.
Even though Gray found it a hassle, Loki was adept at handling such a scene.
Thus, this store, mainly selling men's clothing, decisively stocked up on women's clothing.
Loki, while completing the task, ended up charming quite a few ladies, some already had male partners.
Anyway, the store made a big profit in the end, they praised these two without end, and as for complaints, it was obvious as to why.
Rhode gave a thumbs up: "No wonder it's you guys, changing the primary business of the store."
Mira laughed: "Isn't that great too?"
Gray wasn't sure if this counted as trouble, the client was satisfied anyway.
The complaints, he didn't do anything wrong, let the president scold Loki.
Now the guild seemed not too busy, Rhode sat nearby watching Mira write, felt it was quite inappropriate, so he picked up a magazine as a cover.
After observing for a while, Rhode made a conclusion — as pretty as usual.
"Mira." He finally decided to ask subtly.
But Mira didn't give him the chance: "If you're so free, organize this month's accounts, I want to show you something later."
"Alright."
Was sneaking a peek discovered? Rhode hoped his cheekiness could resist the awkwardness.
No need to ask anymore, but he was even more curious than before.
...
Finally enduring until off-work hours, everyone went their own ways, Elfman stopped by to say he had something to attend to today, so he wouldn't train with them and left.
The guild only had Rhode and Mira left, the two went to the yard together as usual.
Rhode asked: "What's so mysterious?"
Mira grasped her right arm, looking into Rhode's eyes: "It's me."
Rhode was puzzled: "What do you mean?"
"I want to show you another side of me."
Mira extended her right arm, and amid a glow, her fair arm transformed into a brown Devil's Claw, adorned with purple crystals like demon eyes.
Before the transformation completed, she slightly turned her head away, not daring to meet Rhode's gaze.
She feared seeing disgust, horror, or disdain in his eyes.
Before regaining her power, Mira often anticipated this day.
But once her power returned, Mira hesitated to tell Rhode. The once strong and decisive Demon hesitated at a moment like this.
If not for Elfman's reminder, she might have continued to delay.
'If I drag it until Rhode finds out himself, he'll probably misunderstand my intentions and be upset, right?'
With such thought, Mira decided to show him, her ugly side.
"You can use Receiving Magic now?!"
Only excitement was in the voice Mira heard.