The boys dove straight into the fun, while the girls, after finishing their sunscreen routine, chose to relax under the sun with some ice cream before joining the games.
Swimming, water fights, watermelon smashing, everything was on the schedule. But the most intense activity? Beach volleyball.
The MVP of the boys' team was, unsurprisingly, Natsu. From the moment the game started, he was determined to win and treated it like a battle.
Gray and Rhodes, however, were... slightly distracted at first. It wasn't easy to decide whether to focus on the volleyball, or the players.
But after warming up and adjusting to the "view," they gradually got into the rhythm.
"You two are hopeless! Ahahaha!" Natsu laughed loudly, showing no mercy.
Rhodes and Gray chose to ignore him with synchronized deadpan expressions.
The group played all day under the blazing sun, the beach echoing with their laughter and shouts. Only when they finally felt hungry did they retreat to the hotel for showers, dinner, and a bit of rest.
But the fun didn't stop there.
The hotel also had a hidden gem, a luxurious underground amusement park, complete with a casino. The gang decided to rest up in their rooms before heading out for one final adventure that evening.
Inside Mira's room, the peaceful mood shifted slightly.
"What are you doing in here?" Mira asked, surprised to find Rhodes sneaking in when she hadn't noticed.
Rhodes grinned and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Because... it's rare for us to be alone."
Mira leaned against him affectionately, her voice soft. "But I was just about to take a nap."
"Then let's nap together," Rhodes offered casually.
Mira raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Rhodes raised one hand like he was making a solemn vow. "I promise not to try anything."
He meant it. After all, it was broad daylight, and with this bunch of wild mages, someone could break in at any moment, either on purpose or by accident. Given how often walls got destroyed during friendly brawls in Fairy Tail, that wasn't paranoia, it was statistical inevitability.
That was the downside of vacationing with guildmates: privacy was a luxury.
Still, Rhodes thought it wasn't such a bad trade-off. Curling up with a soft, Mira-shaped pillow? Pretty great deal.
Or so he thought.
Moments after lying down, he discovered he'd underestimated the situation. Mira, now fast asleep, had completely latched onto him—arms, legs, everything.
If she had just a little more upper-body strength, this would've counted as a full-on submission hold.
And now the question was: what should a boyfriend do when his girlfriend falls asleep on top of him?
Give her a big ol' slap on the face and, when she jolts awake, dramatically gasp, "Did you have a nightmare?"
Yeah... Rhodes still had plans to live a long life.
Instead, he stared quietly at her sleeping face, wondering if he could sneak a kiss without getting caught.
Sure, he could kiss her anytime when she was awake, but stealing one while she was sleeping had a different kind of thrill.
Mira slept like a stone. He poked her cheek, gently tugged at her fingers, even played with a lock of her silver hair, no response.
Rhodes smugly decided it must be because she felt safe in his arms. Of course she slept well.
He pulled her in a little closer, smiled to himself, and closed his eyes.
When he woke up, Mira was wide awake, lying on her side next to him, her head propped on her hand and those brilliant blue eyes staring straight at him.
Rhodes blinked and met her gaze. "Does it look good?"
"Hmmm…" Mira paused thoughtfully, then smiled sweetly. "Not really."
Even though she said that, her eyes were fixed on him like a hawk. Typical, saying one thing, meaning another. Rhodes glanced away briefly, then back. "What time is it?"
"We overslept," Mira replied, sitting up at the edge of the bed and taking his hand. "Erza and the others have probably already gone out to explore."
"Alright, alright." Rhodes let her pull him up and with a snap of his fingers, instantly changed outfits usingRe equip Magic. Unfortunately, he was now so good at it that there was no chance for accidental comedic wardrobe fails.
Mira, meanwhile, opened her suitcase and started rummaging through it for something to wear. "Maybe I should learn Re equip magic too," she mused.
"I could teach you," Rhodes offered. "But don't you already use Transformation magic? Isn't that even more efficient? You can literally summon outfits you don't even own."
"Sure, but I have to keep feeding it magic constantly. It's not a lot, but still, it gets tiring." She looked over her shoulder with a teasing smile. "I can't just conjure a fancy dress and expect you to give me the Blue Buff, now can I?"
Rhodes chuckled. "Actually, that sounds amazing. A beautiful evening gown glowing with red and blue arcane light… you'd steal the spotlight the moment you walk in."
"That kind of thing? Leave it to Erza. She's the one who'd change into a ballgown just to visit the casino."
Eventually, Mira pulled out a casual set of clothes and turned slightly. "Turn around. No peeking."
Rhodes obeyed without protest. In the past, she'd either throw him out of the room or lock herself in the bathroom. He tried glancing forward just in case there was a mirror in sight—but no luck. No reflections to sneak a peek.
"All done."
When he turned around, Mira stood before him in a black short-sleeved shirt and light blue denim shorts, paired with sleek black-heeled sandals. Her silver hair flowed loosely as she attempted to tie it up, only to stop halfway.
"Help me?" she asked, turning toward him and gently lifting her hair.
Rhodes smiled warmly. "Of course."
But just as he stepped forward, everything around him was swallowed in sudden darkness.
Pure black. He couldn't even see Mira—who had been just an arm's reach away.
Guguuuu~
"Aaah!"
A strange birdlike screech rang out, followed by Mira's startled scream as she bolted into Rhodes' arms.
The sudden force slammed into Rhodes, sending him crashing through the door behind them and tumbling into the hallway.
As the darkness quickly lifted, the two of them stood back up—only to find themselves surrounded by three strange figures.
Mira clutched her stomach with one hand, standing back-to-back with Rhodes. Before he could even ask, she said firmly, "I'm fine. Be careful."
"Yeah." Now wasn't the time for chatter. Rhodes narrowed his eyes, scanning the attackers and trying to recall where he had seen them before.
The darkness and the silent strike just now—this was no random encounter. These people were clearly after them.
The first was a woman in a decorative kimono, wielding a crimson katana. Her pink hair was styled into two elaborate side loops, resembling traditional courtly buns. Despite her graceful appearance, her cold gaze gave away her murderous intent.
Next was a hulking man with a bare chest and an unusually thick neck—like an owl's. Strapped to his back was a metallic thruster rig that pulsed with glowing energy. It looked like a makeshift rocket booster.
The third figure stood out the most: a tall man with pitch-black hair that dragged along the ground behind him. He wore dark makeup, including black lipstick, and cradled an electric guitar like a weapon. His outfit screamed death-metal, like something out of a dark concert.
"Death's Head Caucus," Mira muttered, eyes narrowing. She had spotted the symbol on their outfits. "They're from a dark guild."
Rhodes nodded. "Specifically, an assassination guild. And not just any, they're elite. A special guerrilla team known as Trinity Raven."
These three were infamous. In the midst of a major war, they once single-handedly eliminated all enemy commanders with surgical precision. Their hands were stained with the blood of countless men.
The guitarist strummed a chord with a sharp screech, the sound grating like claws on glass. He tossed his long hair back and sneered. "As expected of Fairy Tail's strategist. Got us figured out fast."
The owl-man made a bizarre cooing noise. "Coo~Coo! We are warriors of justice, sworn to purge evil!"
Mira gave him a skeptical look. "Says the mercenary assassin. Don't talk about justice when you get paid to murder people."
"No need for pointless arguments," the pink-haired woman interjected. She stepped forward with elegant, fluttering strides, each step from her wooden sandals clicking ominously against the floor.
She said with a theatrical bow. "We've come under orders to pay the two of you a visit. I humbly ask for your guidance."
...
Bonus Chapter