Chapter 176: Fairy Tail, Cheers!
The hair tie wasn't expensive, and Goodman even gave Rhodes a wink and a small discount.
Rhodes felt quite pleased with the deal and thanked him earnestly after paying.
Mira tucked away the New Year's gift, giving Rhodes a thoughtful look as she silently pondered what she could give in return.
"Ah, youth is such a wonderful thing," Goodman murmured as he watched the two of them walk away. It reminded him of the days when he and Molly had gone through something similar.
They had tiptoed around their feelings, growing close in quiet, unspoken ways. No one ever said the words out loud, but the affection between them had been understood. Every day was filled with subtle hope and quiet happiness, mixed with just a hint of fear—fear that what they had might slip away.
If you asked him, that might've been the sweetest time of all.
"But that kid sure is lucky," Goodman added with a grin. "Being favored by Miss Mirajane, now that's something."
Mirajane might've had a temper in her younger days, but now she was a beloved beauty of the guild. Hard not to be a little jealous.
Goodman glanced at the soft weavings and knitwork his wife had made and chuckled. Well, maybe not that jealous.
On the way back, they passed an ice cream shop that was bustling with customers, even in the middle of winter.
In fact, it looked even more popular than during the summer months.