Chapter 115: FTRJ: Chapter 115

It was as if something truly urgent had come up.

He turned on his heels and left without a moment’s hesitation.

Duh, if he didn’t leave quickly, he might have been carried out.

Watching Gajeel sprint away, leaving everyone speechless, Wakaba slowly voiced his suspicion.

“I say… that guy didn’t just run off, did he?”

“Probably…”

————

Time flowed gently, and in the blink of an eye, it was Wendy’s third day at Fairy Tail.

Wendy was gradually adapting to life at Fairy Tail.

She answered Finn’s questions cheerfully.

“It’s good you’re settling in. If you have any problems, ask me or anyone else. We’re happy to help,” Finn said, ruffling Wendy’s light blue hair.

He was growing increasingly fond of his little sister.

“Yes, I understand, Brother Finn!” Wendy nodded enthusiastically.

“Listen up, everyone!” As they were chatting, Makarov stood in the center of the stage, his voice booming to capture everyone’s attention.

Makarov, arms crossed, spoke sternly, “As mages, we must never be lazy. Daily training is essential, and we must complete all our accepted missions.”

“This is how we earn our daily bread. But missions vary in difficulty; sometimes they’re easy, sometimes they demand our utmost effort and strength.”

His tone shifted to one of fervent encouragement. “But no matter what, as mages, we must always bravely forge ahead!”

“That’s what it means to be a Fairy Tail mage!” Makarov raised his right hand, striking the guild’s signature pose.

“Ooh!” The guild members responded by raising their right hands in the same pose.

Wendy and Carla, though uncertain of the meaning, imitated the others, raising their hands and sharing in the collective enthusiasm.

Makarov surveyed the room before announcing the purpose of his speech. “Everyone, you’ve all worked incredibly hard this past year. To show our appreciation for your dedication, tomorrow is…”

“Fairy Tail’s annual, highly anticipated Cherry Blossom Viewing Festival!” Makarov declared, a broad smile spreading across his face.

“So, everyone, make sure you’re well-rested tonight! We’re not taking any missions tomorrow. It’s time to relax and enjoy yourselves!!”

“A cherry blossom viewing festival? That sounds wonderful, Carla,” Wendy exclaimed, her face radiating excitement.

“I think they’re a little too excited,” Carla observed, her gaze sweeping across the guild members who had already succumbed to a wave of festive enthusiasm.

“Because it’s our annual day of celebration! And tomorrow, all the cherry blossoms in Magnolia will be in full bloom, and at night, they’ll even turn rainbow-colored!” Finn explained, his voice brimming with excitement.

“It’s a sight you simply can’t see anywhere else!”

“Really? I can’t wait!” Wendy exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

The next day dawned, bringing with it the most beautiful moment of the year in Magnolia. For the first time ever, the Fairy Tail Guildhall was closed for the day.

Finn, arriving early at Magnolia’s central park at the urging of Mirajane and Erza, found himself surrounded by the breathtaking spectacle of the famous Magnolia cherry blossoms.

Unlike ordinary cherry blossoms, Magnolia’s cherry blossoms were known as “Rainbow Cherries,” their petals exhibiting a dazzling array of rainbow-like hues as night fell.

This unique phenomenon resulted in a massive influx of tourists to Magnolia every year during the cherry blossom season.

Upon their arrival, Finn and his companions found themselves immersed in a sea of tourists.

“Wow, it’s incredibly crowded!” Finn exclaimed, his voice filled with a mixture of surprise and awe as he surveyed the throng of people.

“I knew it would be busy, but there are significantly more people here than in previous years,” Erza commented, equally surprised by the sheer number of visitors.

Mirajane smiled warmly. “Alright, let’s get going. Everyone from the guild is waiting for us ahead.”

As Magnolia’s most prominent guild, Fairy Tail naturally had a reserved area for cherry blossom viewing, especially considering the sheer size of their guild, with over a hundred members.

Makarov, ever the generous guild master, had reserved a substantial area in the heart of the park for the guild’s exclusive use.

Making their way through the bustling crowds, the group quickly reached their designated viewing spot.

Towering cherry trees stood majestically before them.

Countless cherry blossoms adorned the trees, their delicate petals dancing freely in the gentle breeze, transforming the surrounding landscape into a breathtaking world of pink.

As far as the eye could see, the guild members were gathered in small groups beneath the cherry trees, engaging in lively conversations, sharing stories of both hardship and joy from the past year.

Their laughter, echoing through the air, infused this pink paradise with a vibrant energy.

“Finn! Over here!” Just as the group was momentarily stunned by the beauty of the scene before them, Wendy’s cheerful voice rang out, her small hand waving enthusiastically.

“It’s Wendy. Let’s go join her!”

The group set off towards Wendy’s location.

Upon reaching Wendy’s side, they found Natsu and the others already there. Upon reflection, it made perfect sense; Wendy, being a relatively new member of the guild, was still in the process of getting to know her fellow guild members.

“Wow! Miss Erza and Miss Mirajane look absolutely stunning today!” Wendy exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine admiration as she gazed upon Erza and Mirajane, who were dressed in outfits quite unlike their usual attire.

For the first time in a long while, Erza had eschewed her customary armor, opting instead for a long white dress, paired with elegant high heels. Her subtle makeup enhanced her mature beauty.

Mirajane’s long white hair was adorned with several small braids, complementing her pink dress that blended seamlessly with the surrounding sea of pink blossoms.

Without a doubt, both women had made a considerable effort to dress up for the occasion.

“Ah… well, it is a day for relaxation, after all. Wearing armor wouldn’t be very appropriate,” Erza explained with a self-deprecating chuckle.

“Indeed. Oh, but where’s Lucy?” Mirajane asked, her gaze sweeping across the crowd in search of their missing companion.

During their previous conversations, Lucy had expressed immense excitement for the cherry blossom viewing festival, her eyes shining with anticipation and delight.

It seemed highly unusual for her to be absent.

Wendy offered a somewhat apologetic explanation. “Lucy-san isn’t here today because she’s come down with a cold.”

“Ah, she’s caught a cold?” Finn exclaimed, surprised, as Lucy had seemed perfectly healthy just yesterday.

“Is it serious?” Mirajane inquired, her voice laced with concern.

“Her nose was running like a faucet, and her face was all flushed and red. She looked pretty miserable,” Happy recalled Lucy’s appearance from the previous day.

Erza tilted her head, her brow furrowed in puzzlement. “How did she manage to catch a cold?”

“I believe she caught a chill yesterday while on a mission to Hakube Mountain,” Carla explained, holding a cup of tea.

“Hakube Mountain?” Finn stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Finn was aware that Erza and the others had taken Wendy to Hakube Mountain yesterday.

Makarov had tasked them with collecting a specific type of herb that temporarily enhanced magical power, intended as a prize for the festival’s games.

It seemed that Lucy, who had been so eagerly anticipating this day, had been prevented from attending due to the mission’s demands.

“Lucy-san was really looking forward to this…” Wendy said, her voice tinged with regret.

Happy, as if struck by a sudden thought, piped up. “Actually, Wendy could use her magic to help her recover!”

“I’ve already treated her. I think she’ll be better by tomorrow,” Wendy replied.

At her current level of magical proficiency, Wendy’s magic was not yet capable of providing an immediate cure for common ailments such as colds and fevers.

However, she expressed confidence that with further refinement of her abilities, she would eventually be able to achieve this.

Time slipped away amidst the cheerful chatter and laughter of the guild members.

As evening approached, the surrounding cherry blossoms, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, burst forth in a breathtaking display of rainbow-hued brilliance.

Countless multicolored petals rained down from the sky, transforming the area into a scene that resembled a fantastical fairyland.

After concluding the final game of the festival, Makarov announced that everyone was free to roam and enjoy the enchanting spectacle at their leisure.

…

Multicolored petals, shimmering with ethereal light, drifted gently upon the surface of the river, their vibrant hues enhanced by the refracting properties of the water.

This was the designated viewing area along the river that ran through the heart of the park.

Two figures, Finn and Mirajane, walked quietly along the riverbank, seemingly lost in contemplation as they took in the surrounding beauty, their gazes occasionally drifting towards each other amidst the enchanting scenery.

Mirajane, her gaze fixed on Finn’s profile, which was bathed in the soft, multicolored glow of the twilight, felt her heart flutter uncontrollably.

Recalling Erza’s earlier words, Mirajane’s cheeks flushed a deeper shade of crimson.

As Erza had explained, Mirajane hadn’t had a chance to spend any significant alone time with Finn recently, whereas Erza had been paired with Finn for the majority of their recent missions.

Therefore, Erza had orchestrated this opportunity for Mirajane and Finn to spend some quality time together, away from the prying eyes of their comrades.

Mirajane felt a deep sense of gratitude towards Erza.

On the night she lost her sister, the two girls had come to an understanding, agreeing to share their affection for Finn.

However, since that time, Mirajane had rarely had the opportunity to spend any meaningful alone time with Finn.

Fixing her gaze upon Finn’s figure, Mirajane spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Finn…”

“Hmm? Is something the matter?” Finn responded, his voice gentle and attentive.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve walked along the riverbank like this, just the two of us,” Mirajane said, her hands clasped behind her back as she gazed intently at Finn.

“Yes, it has been quite some time,” Finn replied, a wistful tone coloring his voice.

“Ever since what happened with Lisanna, we’ve both been so incredibly busy. It feels like ages since we’ve had a chance to truly relax,” Finn continued.

As soon as the words left his lips, a heavy silence descended upon them once more.

The only sound was the gentle rhythm of their footsteps as they walked along the riverbank.

Finn felt a pang of regret, sensing the awkwardness of the silence that had fallen between them; he realized that his mention of Lisanna had likely been the cause of the sudden shift in atmosphere.

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