On Lucy's first night after joining the guild, with the help of Levy and Lisanna, she found a single room overlooking the river.
As she pushed open the door, sunlight spilled through the blinds onto the wooden floor. She touched the pothos plant by the window, the scent of freshly sun-dried sheets lingering at the tip of her nose. This was her first home in Fairy Tail.
After a long day, Lucy enjoyed a blissful soak in a rose petal bath. As the hot water rose over her shoulders, she hummed a little tune she had learned from the guild, tracing circles on the water's surface with her fingertips.
She didn't step out until her fingers were wrinkled, wrapping herself in an off-white bath towel. Water dripped from the tips of her hair, leaving a trail of damp footprints on the floor.
"Hmm~ what kind of request should I take tomorrow?" Drying her hair, she walked toward the bed, but froze the instant she pushed open the bedroom door.
Natsu was lying on her pink sheets doing sit-ups, sweat dripping from his chin onto her pillow. Happy was perched in front of the open wardrobe, his paws rummaging through her panties while he muttered, "Lucy's panties have a strawberry pattern~"
"Yo, Lucy, good evening!" Natsu waved a sweaty hand, his cherry-blossom pink hair bouncing cheerfully in the air, his smile as carefree as ever.
Happy held up a pair of panties, his claw hooking the edge. "Look, Lucy likes pink ones."
Lucy's brain exploded with a "buzz," and her towel nearly slipped from her shoulders.
Her eyes widened, then her face flushed like a ripe tomato before she let out an earth-shattering roar: "Ah!!! How did you get in here? This is trespassing! I'm calling the police! The police!"
"Put my panties back, you stupid cat!" she screamed as she rushed forward barefoot, grabbing Natsu by his back collar to drag him off the bed.
Just then, there was a soft "click" from the window, and the wooden frame creaked under pressure.
Riyao was clinging to the windowsill, supporting himself with one hand on the frame as he leaned halfway inside.
Wearing a black shirt with the collar open, he took in the scene and immediately raised an eyebrow. With an "I understand everything" smirk, he let out a whistle. "Not bad, Natsu. You're moving fast~"
He pulled a quill from his coat. The barrel was made of laurel wood, wrapped in golden ribbon, with a snow-white feather at the tip. "This is a housewarming gift from Mira and me. As long as there's magic power, it'll never run out of ink. It's perfect for a po—... frugal person like you. I'll leave you two to it~"
Lucy was currently pinned on top of Natsu, her towel having slipped to her elbows. Her eyes reddened with desperation. "It's not like that, Riyao! Let me explain! They broke in on their own!"
Natsu, however, clutched his stomach and laughed uproariously. "Hahaha, Lucy, your face is so red!"
Lucy's hair practically stood on end. She shoved Natsu away and delivered a flying kick. Wearing her slippers, there was a loud "thwack" as she kicked Natsu in the back.
Natsu and Happy tumbled together, falling from the bed to the floor, with Happy still clutching the panties.
Suppressing a laugh, Riyao jumped down from the windowsill and turned to head back to his own estate.
By the time he returned to the estate, the aroma of food filled the living room. Mirajane, wearing an apron, was bringing a pot of stew to the table. Lisanna was setting out the utensils, and Elfman sat at the table, gnawing on a chicken leg larger than his face, his mouth glistening with grease.
"You're back?" Mirajane smiled and handed him a hot towel, her fingertips brushing against the back of his hand. "Wash up and eat. I made the mushroom soup you like."
After washing his hands, Riyao sat beside Mirajane and started peeling shrimp from the platter. His fingers nimbly removed the shells, piling the peeled shrimp on a small plate before picking one up to feed to Mirajane. "Try this. The shrimp are fresh today."
Mirajane opened her mouth to take it, her eyes curving into crescents. "Mmm~ delicious."
"By the way, I just went to Lucy's to deliver a housewarming gift and saw Natsu in her room," Riyao said casually while peeling shrimp. "Lucy had just finished her bath and got quite a shock."
"Natsu caused trouble again?" Lisanna put down her chopsticks, frowning. "Why is he always so inconsiderate!"
Elfman slammed the table, the chicken bone snapping with a "crack." "That bastard! I'll settle the score with him tomorrow!"
Riyao peeled another shrimp and fed it to Mirajane again, who ate it with gusto.
Mirajane pushed the carrots from her bowl to him. "Eat more vegetables."
"Lisanna, your childhood friend is going to be snatched away by the 'new girl'" Riyao teased suddenly, his eyes sparkling. "Lucy is quite a beauty; Natsu might actually fall for her"
Lisanna's face instantly turned red. Poking at the rice in her bowl, she said huffily, "Brother-in-law, you're talking nonsense again! Natsu and I are just friends!"
Mirajane joined in the teasing. "In Riyao's words, it's 'childhood friends can't beat the newcomer,' right?"
Riyao and Mirajane high-fived.
Betrayed by her own sister, Lisanna lunged forward and shook Elfman's arm. "Big brother Elfman! Look at how they're bullying me!"
Elfman was no longer the shy boy he used to be. After half a year of Riyao's "special training," he was dragged every day to Magnolia's largest plaza to sing—otherwise, he'd have to cross-dress.
Between the two, he chose singing, which Riyao had felt was a pity for a while.
He had now grown into a true man, though his singing voice was on par with Gian's. Every time he sang, Riyao would silently wish he were deaf.
Facing his sister's plea for help, Elfman was at a loss. He decided to mimic Riyao's dramatic flair and act like his old shy self: "Erm... Big brother will be on your side."
Riyao snickered on the side. Having successfully infiltrated and assimilated into the Strauss family, the four of them together could practically film a sitcom.
"Why don't you take the name Strauss too, Riyao Strauss?" Lisanna counterattacked slightly to change the subject, her eyes bright. "That way, we'll truly be one family~"
Just as Mirajane was about to bite the shrimp in Riyao's hand, he suddenly pulled it back and ate it himself. "Imported shrimp~"
He pretended to ponder, tapping his fingers on the table. "Then Mira will have to support me from now on, since I'm essentially marrying into the family."
But in his mind, he thought: The Dragon King son-in-law? A crooked smile, life and death uncertain, first suppressed then rising, delivering a satisfying face-slap.
Mirajane tilted his chin up, her fingertips lightly tracing his face, her eyes full of amusement. "Call me 'Wife' and let me hear it. I might consider increasing your allowance."
Lisanna rolled her eyes and slumped onto the table. "I'm full. I'm stuffed to death from all this PDA."
Elfman kept his head down and ate vigorously, thinking: I'll go lift some dumbbells later to help digest this.
Riyao suddenly leaned closer to Mirajane, his voice as sweet as honey. "Wife~"
Mirajane laughed and gave him a shove, but quietly pushed all the carrots from her bowl into his. "Be good and eat more. You have to help me handle official business for the Master tomorrow."
Riyao wrapped his arm around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Whatever my Wife says goes~"
Lisanna and Elfman both made a gagging sound.