Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 206: I Don’t Want to Be Reasonable

"I, I..."

Rhodes was startled to realize, he couldn't get the words out.

"What's wrong? You're the one who gave me the key," Mira said teasingly, smiling as she walked toward the door, clearly wanting to tease Rhodes a little for his dazed expression.

But halfway there, she realized something.

This was his house. She was dressed like this, an apron tied around her waist, a scarf on her head, a feather duster in hand, and she had just casually said those words...

In this kind of scene;

Mira's face flushed pink. She had clearly walked right up to him, slightly tilting her head to look up at him, but now the words caught in her throat.

Her expression, the way she moved, the way she looked into his eyes, it was all devastatingly fatal to Rhodes.

His heartbeat quickened, becoming louder and heavier.

No, it wasn't because he had sprinted up the stairs earlier.

It was purely because of the girl standing right in front of him.

Rhodes's eyes grew more determined. His heart pounded wildly in his chest.

He stared directly into her eyes, and the words he had been holding back for so long could no longer be contained:

"Mira, I—"

Before he could finish, four slender, warm fingers pressed lightly against his lips.

"Don't say it," Mira whispered.

Her eyes were filled with panic as she looked away, her heart racing uncontrollably.

She was scared.

Even though they had quietly developed a deep understanding over the past few days, and even though she had known deep down that this moment would come eventually, when it truly arrived, she was terrified.

Terrified of what she might do once Rhodes said those words aloud.

She didn't want to make a decision she would regret. She didn't want to hurt either of them for reasons that had nothing to do with feelings.

"At least... not now, okay?" Mira pleaded softly, lifting her gaze back to meet his.

Faced with such a look, Rhodes couldn't possibly refuse.

After calming down, he realized maybe he had been a little too impulsive.

But even so right now, he wanted to hug her.

Sometimes, a person's body moved faster than their thoughts.

Before he could think twice, he gently wrapped his arms around her.

Mira's body stiffened for a second, and the hand on Rhodes's lips fell to her side.

But she didn't push him away.

One second... two seconds... three seconds...

Time seemed to stretch endlessly. The room was so silent that it felt like they could hear each other's heartbeats.

Or maybe it was just their own hearts pounding in their ears.

Slowly, Mira lifted her hands behind Rhodes's back.

But just when he thought she might return the hug, she gave him a light push.

"I... I should go home," she said hurriedly.

Mira lowered her head and darted toward the door, unable to summon the courage to look him in the face.

Rhodes panicked a little too. He realized he had been completely irrational tonight.

His brain, which usually worked just fine, had stopped working entirely.

Had he been too rude? Had he upset her? Had he gone too far?

Should he stop her? Should he explain? Maybe he could joke around and ease the awkwardness?

A flood of chaotic thoughts crashed into him, one after another, impossible to sort out.

Until—

Mira, standing at the door, paused.

In a voice so soft it was barely a whisper, she said,

"See you tomorrow."

All those messy thoughts instantly vanished.

Rhodes smiled and answered without hesitation, "See you tomorrow."

He had said those same words to two different people today.

But the first time, it had been just polite formality.

This time, it was full of expectation and warmth.

Completely different feelings.

Mira quickly walked down the stairs with her apron still on, trying to compose herself.

Halfway down, she ran into Warm who was struggling to come up the stairs.

Warm tried to rush over and nuzzle against her for affection—but Mira didn't even notice him, hurrying past.

Warm stood there, blinking his big round eyes in confusion.

'Had they fought?'

'Would that mean one less person to feed him from now on?'

'No.'

Rhodes called Warm into the house. As he watched Mira disappear around the corner of the stairs, he suddenly noticed her coat still hanging on the hook by the door.

She had rushed out in such a hurry that she didn't even realize she was still wearing a headscarf and apron.

The winter night air was cold, but Mira only felt the heat burning her cheeks.

It was impossible to turn back now. Even if she slowed down, she worried he might catch up.

And she definitely didn't want him delivering her coat personally today.

Mira quickened her steps, but just as she turned the corner, she caught sight of a giant crab approaching.

Startled, she almost bolted before realizing that it wasn't a person riding on its back, but a small, fluffy ball of fur—Warm.

On Warm's back, neatly folded, was her coat.

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The little guy had been sent on an errand.

Warm, tasked with delivering the coat, lay stiffly on the crab's back, pitifully still.

His unscrupulous master had warned him very seriously: if you drop the clothes, no dinner tomorrow.

Feeling wronged but too afraid to move, Warm stayed frozen in place.

Seeing Warm's miserable little act, Mira couldn't help but soften. She took her coat, slipped it on, and gently rubbed Warm's head.

"Alright, I got it. You can go back now," she said softly.

But Warm and the crab didn't turn around. Instead, they silently trailed behind Mira.

Mira walked forward, pausing here and there.

And behind her, the crab and Warm paused too. No one spoke, but it felt like she could hear them insisting stubbornly.

She sighed helplessly. "Alright, alright. I get it."

Mira stepped lightly onto the crab's back.

Warm immediately shuffled aside, revealing a soft, warm cushion underneath.

Mira reached out and touched it.

It was warm.

She pouted.

That person really was... ridiculous.

Still, she settled onto the cushion and pulled Warm into her arms.

What winter, what cold wind?

It was perfectly warm like this.

Warm let out a contented purr. "Hurululu~" Maybe tomorrow, he would even get double portions.

When they finally reached her doorstep, Mira suddenly realized something.

Someone must have seen this entire scene.

"Hmph!" she huffed, lightly swatting Warm's head before quickly turning and slipping inside, shutting the door firmly behind her.

She even locked both the Scuttle Crab and Warm outside.

Warm stood there, feeling wronged. Why did he get smacked for no reason?

Back at his own place, Rhodes hadn't moved an inch since Mira left.

He was still sitting on his bed, grinning like an idiot.

Lying down, he rolled over and buried his face into his pillow, unable to wipe the smile off his face.

His whole body curled up in happiness.

Today, he had hugged Mira.

It hadn't been an accident. It wasn't forced.

He had hugged her, willingly and warmly.

The rush he felt right now was far greater than the excitement of earning a million Jewels yesterday.

No, he shouldn't lose his head. He needed to think about this rationally.

Forget rationality.

Rationality was nonsense.

He hugged Mira today.

And the memory of her slender fingers pressing lightly against his lips, still burned vividly in his mind.

"I don't want to be rational anymore, hahaha!"

Rhodes twisted and squirmed happily on the bed like a bug, unable to contain his joy.

Every time he replayed what had just happened in his mind, the happiness bubbled up again, making him roll around even more.

After a while, when Warm finally returned riding the Scuttle Crab, Rhodes decided it was time to wash up and calm down.

Well, try to calm down.

Hehehe.

Warm tilted his round head, watching his master suspiciously.

'Has Master finally gone crazy? If he has, will he spend all his money on delicious food for me?'

After cleaning up, Rhodes managed to sit still for about a second.

Then he dove into his quilt, hiding under the covers and grinning foolishly all over again.

Alright, time to think calmly.

First off, Mira definitely wasn't mad.

Second, if he thought carefully, he was pretty sure she had rested her cheek against his chest just now.

Even though she had stopped him from speaking, it was obvious she knew exactly what he wanted to say.

It was the kind of moment where even without words, everything had already been said.

What's going to happen when we see each other tomorrow?

Rhodes smiled giddily under the covers, full of anticipation.

It was no use.

He couldn't fall asleep at all.

"Hurululu~" Warm chirped, hopping around the bedroom on his short legs.

"Oh right, I almost forgot about you," Rhodes said, scooping him up.

He lifted Warm and weighed him in his arms. "You've gotten heavier again, haven't you?"

Warm looked up at him innocently.

'No way. I'm not fat. I just grew a little!'

"The quilt can barely cover you anymore," Rhodes grumbled, stuffing Warm under the blanket anyway.

Then he reached out and hugged Warm close.

Tonight, Warm had made a great contribution.