The Strauss siblings' parents passed away early, and Elfman and Lisanna were practically raised by Mirajane.
Back then, the three siblings relied on each other in a small, remote village, occasionally receiving some help from the villagers.
Life was tough, but there were still small moments of warmth and touch.
As Mirajane spoke about their impoverished life, she couldn't help but smile.
Even when she mentioned being treated as a demon by the villagers, she didn't express any resentment towards them. Instead, she focused on how Lisanna defended her.
When she was scolded, Lisanna would argue loudly for her;
When she was hit by a stone, Lisanna would throw it back, worrying if she was hurt.
Lisanna was strong, kind, and always tried her best to protect her sister.
Compared to her, Elfman seemed almost too gentle in his nature.
Rhodes listened quietly as Mirajane recounted their journey of leaving the village and joining the guild.
He heard her talk about Erza, Cana, Natsu, and Gray from back then, but the focus wasn't on them; it was more on how her younger siblings interacted with these people.
One ordinary event after another, showing that when she first joined the guild, most of her heart and mind were on her younger siblings, fearing they might be mistreated.
Although she eventually realized there was no need for such worries within the guild.
"But I ruined it all. I killed Lisanna with my own hands. I trapped Elfman in endless guilt and remorse."
The warm, beautiful memories stopped abruptly. Mirajane held her forehead with one hand, tears streaming down.
"If I hadn't taken that mission, if I had been as cautious as you are back then, if..."
Mirajane briefly leaned on Rhodes' shoulder before quickly sitting back upright.
Actually, she could always rely on it—Rhodes silently pulled out some tissues and handed them to her.
No blame for Elfman at all, just an inability to forgive herself?
Just earlier, she spoke about Lisanna's kindness, and Elfman's gentleness.
Their family's genuine kindness clearly runs through all of them.
Once her sobbing had subsided and she wiped away her tears, Rhodes spoke:
"Back then, did you give it your all?"
"Did Elfman fight against the Beast King's consciousness before he hurt Lisanna?"
"When Lisanna did what she did, was she scared or regretful?"
The answers to these questions were obvious, and so was Rhodes' point.
At that time, all three of them had already done everything they could.
Using guilt, regret, and self-blame to punish yourself can't change what has happened, nor will it make the future any better.
So, try to forgive yourself.
"I understand. Thank you." Mirajane put on her usual smile, "I feel much better now."
This was a lie.
A lie meant not to let kind intentions go to waste, to avoid worrying those around her.
She, just like Lisanna, whom she always praised, was a kind person who always thought of others.
"That's good." Rhodes didn't expose her.
How could a heart knot be untied with just one conversation?
The progress this time was already very encouraging; at least she was willing to talk about Lisanna.
Mirajane reached for her coffee cup, but Rhodes took it from her.
She looked at Rhodes, puzzled.
Rhodes pushed his own cup towards her: "You've already had enough bitterness—try something sweet."
Before Mirajane could decide whether to drink it, Rhodes had already taken a sip of her coffee.
"Hmm, I got a taste of your bitterness. Next..." Rhodes put down the cup, "Add more sugar!"
Mirajane took a small sip of his coffee—sweet. She smiled with a hint of distaste, "Too much sugar."
Rhodes spoke matter-of-factly, "I like it sweet."
"Then," Mirajane gently put down the coffee cup, "if you took my coffee just to add sugar, what's the point of the exchange?"
"The point... is making it sweeter?"
It couldn't have just been about switching for switching's sake. Mr. Rhodes seemed calm on the surface, but his ears were already burning.
Even he couldn't understand where he got the courage to make the switch like that.
He thought for a moment, then asked, "How about switching back?"
"No, that one's practically sugar water now." Mirajane gave him a glance, then inconspicuously looked out the window.
Drinking and swapping, drinking and swapping—that would be even weirder.
"Oh."
They spent quite a bit of time at the café, and Mirajane had almost fully recovered her energy.
The two headed to the planned restaurant in the southern part of the city, the atmosphere much more relaxed.
The southern part was an area Rhodes seldom visited, so Mirajane introduced him to where the best deals were, which shopkeepers only gave discounts to beautiful women.
"That's such blatant favoritism!" Rhodes said. "So, could I ask you to buy things for me in the future?"
"Sure thing, how about I wear something a little more revealing when I go?"
"Forget it, that sounds like too much trouble." Rhodes thought about it, then added,
"How about you teach me transformation magic? I could transform into Jenny and buy stuff."
Mirajane's eyes curved into a smile, "Sure, you're terrible, Rhodes."
Rhodes shook his head, "Knowing I'm terrible, but still agreeing—you're just as bad."
The Sliceslot Restaurant, located near Magnolia's southern park entrance.
The name was a bit of a tongue-twister, so regulars liked to call it 'Threshold' or 'The Beginning.'
The idea being that coming here meant stepping into the threshold of happiness or finding the beginning of beautiful love.
The Master hadn't told Rhodes any of this; he found it all out on his own.
As for whether Mirajane knew, Rhodes didn't know—at least she hadn't refused.
"My, what a lively place." Most of the patrons were couples, and Mirajane looked at Rhodes, "Why choose this place?"
Because of its good meaning, of course.
But I couldn't say that, so Rhodes chose to pass the buck:
"It was recommended by the Master. He said the chef here is very skilled."
Mirajane smiled sweetly, "Is that so?"
"Of course, every word is true!" Rhodes held up a hand, "The Master said it was great here."
The Master, after all, was always the one everyone relied on to take the blame when needed. Normally, I, Rhodes, don't cause trouble, so pinning this on him shouldn't be an issue.
Mirajane nodded, "Every word is true, huh. So, not completely, then."
But clearly, the Master was involved. Hmm, better limit his drinking when we get back.
And push for that report he owes.
He should also complete the guild's mission statistics for last month himself.
"Welcome!"
"We have a reservation."
"This way, please."
Rhodes and Mirajane, blending in with the other couples, followed to their reserved table.
The menu here, like at the guild, was very eclectic.
Rhodes glanced at Mirajane, regrettably flipping past the front:
'Sweet Couple's Special Set,' 'Eternal Union Set,' and other enticing-sounding meal deals.
He ordered two dishes he liked and one that Mirajane might like, then asked for her opinion.