A flash of light, and the pink guild emblem was stamped onto the back of Lucy's hand; she stared at the Fairy Tail mark that looked as if it were dancing, her fingertips trembling slightly.
Finally, she had become a member of this legendary, liveliest of guilds!
"Yay! Lucy has joined us!" Cana shouted, raising her barrel of ale, while Gray had already started moving tables in preparation for a banquet.
According to Fairy Tail tradition, any event worth celebrating must be commemorated with a banquet—though in reality, it was just the guild's drunkards finding any excuse to throw a party.
Makarov cleared his throat and was just about to announce the start of the banquet when the guild's wooden door was kicked open with a "bang," kicking up a gust of wind.
"Hasn't my dad come back yet?" Romeo rushed in, panting heavily, his little face covered in dust, his eyes red like a rabbit's, his knuckles white as he clutched the corner of his shirt.
Makarov blew into his mustache and put on a serious face: "Why are you such a nag, kid? As the son of a Mage, you should trust your father and wait obediently at home!"
"But he clearly said he'd be back in three days!" Romeo stomped his feet in anxiety, his voice laced with a sob, "It's already been a week! I've been waiting for him every single day..."
Makarov rubbed his chin and recalled: "Right, he seems to have gone to Mount Hakube..."
"That's not far at all!" Romeo's tears finally fell, "Please, go check on him! What if he's in danger?"
"Nonsense!" Makarov suddenly stiffened his face, "Our guild doesn't need Mages who can only rely on others to clean up their messes! Go home and drink your milk!"
"You're saying that again!" Romeo suddenly exploded, his little fist slamming into Makarov's face like a small hammer. No one expected this little brat to have so much strength; he sent the guild master spinning in place, knocking his hat flying.
In reality, Makarov was just acting.
"Dad... where did you go..." Romeo wiped away his tears and rushed out of the guild, his small figure disappearing at the end of the street, his crying still echoing in the air.
"Bang!" Natsu slammed his fist onto the request board, leaving a deep dent in the wooden panel and sending wood chips flying.
His face was so dark it could drip water, his fists were clenched until his knuckles turned white, and his shoulders trembled slightly with rage.
Happy fluttered his wings, following behind. Usually boisterous, he was quiet now, merely watching Natsu with concern.
"Natsu, why are you smashing the request board?!" exclaimed Nab, who guarded the request board all day, touching the damaged wooden board with a pained expression.
Lucy was confused; she had just joined the guild and wasn't yet clear on the interpersonal relationships here.
Riyao, lounging on the sofa, lazily swung his legs, twirling the firewood stick bracelet on his fingertip: "Macao and Natsu are very close; he's often given Natsu fire to eat. Although that guy is usually a slacker, he actually treats Macao like family."
Lucy thought to herself, so Natsu had such a gentle side. Without thinking, she followed, forgetting even to grab her luggage.
Riyao watched Lucy's back and sneered—it was just a perverted monkey; taking it out would just be a matter of one punch. How could it compare to cuddling with Mirajane?
"What are you thinking about?" A familiar fragrance drifted over as Mirajane walked over carrying a tray with freshly baked cookies. As soon as she sat down, Riyao wrapped around her like an octopus, burying his head in the crook of her neck and nuzzling: "Thinking about my Mira's cookies~"
"You, you're like a pendant all day long." Mirajane laughed and poked his forehead, but her fingertips gently smoothed down his unruly hair.
"Who told my Mira to be so fragrant and soft~" Riyao lifted his head with a cheeky grin.
Beside them, Elfman rolled his eyes, Lisanna covered her mouth to giggle, and Gray simply used Ice Magic to create an ice wall for himself.
When this couple flaunted their affection, it truly left no way for the single folks to survive.
...By the afternoon, Lucy, Natsu, and Happy returned, dusty and tired from their journey.
"Macao is really lame, getting possessed by that perverted monkey. We sent him home~" Happy said, chewing on a dried fish.
Mirajane went to the second floor to check on requests, and Riyao continued to lounge on the sofa, toying with the Virgo key in his hand.
Sunlight shone through the window onto the key, refracting golden light.
When Lucy saw that key, her slow little brain finally caught up, and her eyes widened: "Is Senior Riyao a Celestial Spirit? Last time Happy said you were summoned back by Mirajane... Could you be Virgo?"
In the distance, Loki, who was drinking, spat out his alcohol and coughed violently. This little girl had actually confused Riyao with Virgo?
Riyao curled his lips, deliberately teasing her: "What? Do you want to contract me?"
Lucy's eyes shone like stars, and she clasped her hands together: "Can I? I've always been collecting reliable Celestial Spirit partners!"
At some point, Mirajane had quietly stood behind Lucy, pressing down on her shoulders. Her smile was as sweet as honey, but her voice carried a dangerous aura: "You want to contract my dear?"
Lucy shuddered in fear and immediately raised both hands: "I didn't know Riyao was Miss Mirajane's Celestial Spirit! I didn't mean to!"
Happy stood by with his hands on his hips, laughing: "Riyao isn't Mirajane's Celestial Spirit at all~"
"But you said last time that Mirajane summoned him back?" Lucy was confused, her head feeling like a ball of tangled yarn.
"It was a summoning, that's true~" Happy fluttered his wings and flew above her head, "But Riyao is Mirajane's lover! Silly Lucy wants to steal him, hahaha!"
"Can Celestial Spirits fall in love with humans?" Lucy widened her eyes, so shocked she couldn't speak clearly, thinking to herself: So Celestial Spirits and humans can have this kind of relationship? Will my Celestial Spirits also...
The guild erupted in raucous laughter; Cana slapped the table until her stomach hurt, and Elfman laughed until he had tears in his eyes.
Mirajane took out a crystal key and waved it. The key was engraved with complex patterns and shimmered with rainbow light in the sunlight: "This is Riyao's key. He is human, but he can be summoned just like a Celestial Spirit."
The real Celestial Spirit Loki (Leo) had long since quietly slipped out of the guild; Loki was triggered.
Riyao held up the Virgo key and flicked it with his fingertip: "Come out, Old Virgo!"
Virgo appeared out of thin air, wearing a maid outfit, and bowed respectfully: "Boss."
Lucy finally realized and patted her own head: "Oh right, Virgo should be called Virgo... What kind of nickname is Old Virgo?"
Riyao handed the key to Lucy with a serious look in his eyes: "Here, it's yours now. Virgo is useless following me; you must take good care of her. She is my beloved friend, after all."
Virgo cooperated by wiping away non-existent tears, sobbing: "Boss, how can I live without you~"
Mirajane flicked both of them on the forehead and then leaned against Riyao, wrapping her arms around his waist: "Stop teasing little Lucy; her head is about to spin."
Virgo immediately dropped her dramatic act: "Miss Lucy, please take care of me from now on~"
Lucy looked at Virgo, then at Riyao, opening her mouth but not knowing what to say. Too much had happened today; her little brain simply couldn't process it all.
Happy imitated her tone behind her back, pinching his voice: "Ah, Riyao, you're so kind. I'll definitely buy lots of dried fish for Happy~"
"What are you doing, you stupid cat!" Lucy turned and poked Happy's head, but Happy nimbly dodged and flew onto Natsu's shoulder.
Riyao suddenly leaned into Mirajane's ear, his hot breath making her ears turn red: "The way Mira protected me just now was so cool. Let me kiss my dear."
Mirajane rolled her eyes beautifully, but tilted her face slightly, the tips of her ears red like cherries: "Just one kiss, okay."
Riyao sneakily pulled out a lipstick—he didn't know when he'd swiped Mirajane's lipstick—applied it to his lips, and kissed her face several times, leaving a string of red lip prints.
"Kissing is fine, but you stole my lipstick!" Mirajane frowned and pinched his waist, though not hard, "Go sleep by the door tonight!"
"I was wrong, I'll do it again next time." Riyao begged for mercy, the flesh on his waist pinched red, but he still grinned and leaned in.
Lucy widened her eyes again, feeling like her eyeballs were about to pop out. The interaction between this couple was just too... intense, right?
The older members continued their business as usual: Cana drank, and Gray and Elfman arm-wrestled.
The current guild poster girl, Lisanna, walked over and patted Lucy on the shoulder, smiling: "You'll get used to it; my sister and brother-in-law flaunt their love in the guild every day~"
Lucy looked at Riyao and Mirajane and suddenly felt that such a guild was really good—lively, bustling, and full of love.