Astro woke up early the next day on the mattress on the floor.
He stretched his arms and let out a sigh. His eyes drifted around the small room, and he couldn't help but chuckle softly.
'This won't do for long'
With Shawn now in his care, he would need something bigger, something more like a proper home. The thought lingered as he rubbed his neck. At least money wasn't a problem anymore. Thanks to the hefty reward from the S-Class mission, he could finally afford an upgrade.
The mission issuer, Org, had paid out the full amount despite only half success. Reputation mattered too much to them; letting it slip that they had failed to protect an island full of people from dark wizards would be bad for them. So, Astro and others had walked away not only with experience but also with a rather fat purse.
Suddenly behind him, there was the faint rustle of sheets.
"Is it morning already…?" Shawn's muffled voice came, groggy and soft. His gray hair first peeked out from under the blanket, followed by his full head, his hair now sticking out in all directions.
Astro smiled. "Morning. You want to come with me today? I'm heading out with Mira to shop for some clothes. We'll pick up new ones for you too."
Shawn squinted, made the faintest noise that sounded like no, then promptly buried his face back into the pillow. Within seconds, he was drifting back into sleep.
Astro stifled a laugh. "Figures…" He couldn't bring himself to disturb him further. The boy had stayed up far too late at last night's guild party, caught between Cana's teasing, Gray's chaos, and Elfman's booming voice about being a man. For an eleven-year-old, it had been overwhelming but also exhilarating. Still, sleep was the price for celebration, and Shawn clearly needed it.
Astro rose quietly, tucking the blanket snugly around the boy. His expression softened for a moment as he looked down at Shawn's small, resting form. Guess I really am acting like his guardian now…
Astro was not worried about Shawn's safety at home.. Magnolia was a haven, after all, kept secure by Fairy Tail's presence. Even without that, Shawn was hardly defenseless. Most normal people—and even plenty of weaker wizards—wouldn't stand a chance against his ash magic if push came to shove.
Still, Astro couldn't shake the feeling of responsibility that had taken root in him. For the first time in a long time, he wasn't only planning his own day—he was thinking about the kind of home, clothes, and life Shawn needed.
"Is this part of becoming an adult too?" Astro muttered, scratching his head. He let out a small sigh.'But I haven't even had a date… or a girlfriend yet.'
His eyes widened slightly as another thought hit him. Wait… is today's outing with Mira considered a date?
His mind started racing with the idea, but when he glanced at the time, he realized it was almost morning. Shaking his head, he decided to stop thinking about it for now and just get ready.
Astro arrived at the church, the largest building in Magnolia. Compared to this, the Fairy Tail guild hall felt tiny.
"I wonder if Master ever thought about building a bigger guild hall," Astro mumbled, stroking his chin. "But then again, with the budget I saw… probably not possible right now."
"What are you mumbling about?"
A soft, beautiful voice came from behind. Astro already knew who it was—he had sensed her presence the moment she approached—but when he turned, he still froze for a moment.
Mira stood there in a long purple skirt, a white blouse, and a soft white sweater over it. Compared to her usual outfits, she looked… breathtaking.
Astro quickly composed himself, recalling his sister's words: If a woman dresses up nicely for you, you should always compliment her.
"You look very beautiful today, Mira," he said honestly.
Mira's smile brightened at his words. She glanced down at her outfit and tugged lightly at her skirt. "I was going to pick a shorter skirt, but it's still kind of cold today."
"Yeah, but it's February already. I'm guessing it'll be hot soon."
Mira paused, her expression dimming slightly as she sighed. "It's already been about two months…" she murmured under her breath.
Astro noticed the sadness in her face and hesitated. "Are you okay, Mira?"
She blinked, snapping out of her thoughts, then quickly smiled again. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I know the best clothing shops in Magnolia. Come on, follow me."
With a cheerful tone, she stepped forward. Astro scratched his head and followed behind her. A moment later, Mira slowed her pace, glancing back before walking side by side with him.
Astro looked at all the people greeting Mira on the way, some even stopping to bow their heads or call her name. Mira responded to each one with either a warm smile or a small wave, her usual kindness shining through.
"You sure are popular," Astro muttered, scratching his cheek. Because he was walking beside her, a lot of curious eyes turned toward him too, which made him a bit uncomfortable.
Mira glanced at him and tilted her head slightly, studying him from head to toe as if she were measuring something.
"You'll be popular soon too. You don't know how much people at the guild talk about you every day." Her lips curved into a knowing smile.
Astro blinked. "What are they talking about? My magic?" he asked curiously.
"Well, of course," Mira laughed softly. "Your magic is the biggest topic. Nobody has ever heard of Devil Slayer magic before, and yet with it you managed to defeat Natsu so easily. And Natsu is one of our strongest wizards."
Astro chuckled lightly. "Natsu is strong, but right now, he's still too young. Although I am sure that he'll keep growing till he becomes one of the strongest in the world someday."
Mira tilted her head again, this time with curiosity. "How old are you, Astro?"
Astro thought for a second. "I just turned eighteen, about a week before I joined the guild." In this world, adulthood began at fifteen, so he was already considered fully grown for a few years.
"So you're only one year older than me?" Mira's brows lifted in surprise. She had assumed otherwise.
Astro gave her a speechless look. "Wait… did you think I was way older?"
Mira didn't even look guilty. "Well, you give off a very reliable, older-brother kind of vibe."
Astro opened his mouth to deny it, but then stopped. Thinking about it, it wasn't too strange. He was even already taking care of a kid like Shawn, and his personality leaned toward being responsible compared to the messiness of most people in the guild.
Mira's eyes softened, and then she added casually, "Besides strength and mysteriousness, you're also pretty good-looking. Some of the younger girls have been talking about you too." Her gaze lingered on his face for a moment, almost as if she was trying to catch his reaction. His striking purple eyes, especially, gave him a unique charm.
Astro coughed lightly, feeling heat crawl up his neck. He quickly tried to change the subject before Mira could tease him further.
"But you're popular too. I've heard about you even in neighboring countries." He remembered how, back in Lunaris City, Elara had mentioned Mira's fame and even handed him a magazine where she had appeared as a model.
Mira chuckled at the memory, but her expression softened into something more nostalgic. "Well… after I couldn't use magic anymore, I started modeling. At first, it was just for extra money, but I ended up liking it so I did a lot more. Before I knew it, I had become famous." Her smile dimmed slightly, touched with melancholy.
Astro was sure Mira had been an S-Class mage before. To lose a status like that, the very thing that defined her life, and then be forced to struggle and change her habits completely—it must have been a heavy burden.
She was only seventeen. In this world, that age was already considered a fully grown adult, but it didn't change the truth. She was still young when she had to face depression and uncertainty. To fight through it, to keep smiling, to even find a new path…Astro realized just how strong she must be.
He looked at her a little differently now. Behind the cheerful smile that greeted everyone, there was a girl who had faced the darkness of losing everything and had clawed her way back up in another way. And even now, she might still be fighting it inside.
"It's good that you could overcome it," Astro said softly, "but don't bottle up your feelings too much. If you ever want to talk about it… like I said before, I'd be happy to listen."
Mira paused at his words. The clothing shop was still a few minutes away, and for a moment, she wondered if she should share. Almost unconsciously, she tried again—gathering magic into her body. Astro could feel it. She was pulling in more than she had that day against Natsu, but… nothing happened. Her magic still wouldn't answer her.
Mira let out a quiet sigh. "It's okay. It's already been about two months. Thanks to everyone's help, I've mostly gotten over it. But if I feel like it someday, maybe I'll rant about it to you. I hope you won't mind then." She grinned, hiding the faint sadness in her eyes.
Astro didn't believe her. If she couldn't use magic, that alone was proof she wasn't even close to getting over it. Magic was like a mirror of one's emotions—without being in the right place inside, it wouldn't answer you. That "right place" was different for everyone: some fueled their magic with rage, others with love or the desire to protect, some with intention to hurt others. There was no 'wrong' way, but there was always a reason, be it good or bad.
Mira knew she was lying. And Astro realized it, so she didn't dare meet his eyes.
So, instead, Astro teased to change the subject, "Just make sure not to trap your emotions too much, or else you'll grow wrinkles and start looking old from the stress."
Mira blinked in shock, immediately touching her face. "Wrinkles? Do I already have wrinkles on my face?"
Astro couldn't hold it in—he let out a chuckle, his shoulders shaking. Mira realized he was just messing with her, and her cheeks puffed in a pout. She huffed, stomped one step ahead of him, and hurried into the large clothing shop they had been heading toward.
The shop owner came forward as soon as he saw Mira. "Miss Strauss, are you looking for clothes for your brother?"
The owner knew Mira well. Since this was a men's shop, she often came here to buy clothes for her younger brother. But today, her brother wasn't here—only a young, handsome man beside her.
"No, I'm buying clothes for a friend this time," Mira replied with a smile, glancing at Astro. "What type of clothes do you want? This shop has so many stylish clothes of different types."
Astro shrugged as he looked at the owner, "I'm not really an expert… maybe you can pick something for me?"
The owner studied Astro for a moment. His black-and-purple outfit highlighted his hair and eye color perfectly. "You're very tall," the owner said. "I think a long coat would suit you. And… I'm guessing you like darker colors?" He showed Astro a selection of deep-hued coats with elegant cuts.
Astro scanned the options and finally picked some that caught his eye. The shopping trip continued for hours. He ended up buying several outfits and even changed into one of the new clothes right there.
When Mira stretched and looked back at him now carrying all the shopping bags with ease. She couldn't help but admire his new looks. The new outfit—a black long coat with purple trim, a high purple collar, and full sleeves, paired with a purple-and-black striped shirt underneath—suited him perfectly. The black pants and shoes completed the look, giving him a clean yet striking appearance.
Mira's eyes flicked around as she noticed many people glancing at Astro, especially the women passing by. For a brief moment, a pang of jealousy hit her, as if her favorite toy was being admired by everyone else. She quickly shook her head, muttering to herself, "Why am I having such evil thoughts?"
Astro noticed her expression and frowned slightly, tilting his head in confusion.
"Did you say something?" Astro asked, glancing at her.
"Nothing. Do you want to buy some clothes for Shawn too?" Mira replied casually.
Astro shook his head. "No, I'll take him here another day. I'm not sure what he would like yet."
Mira nodded thoughtfully. "Remember to get him some slightly baggy clothes. He's still growing fast, and he'll outgrow things before you know it."
Astro nodded again, taking note. Mira glanced at the time. "Well, I should get going soon. I left Miss Enno to fill in for me this morning, but by lunchtime it'll get too busy."
Astro realized how late it had gotten. Honestly, he had expected shopping to be tiring and dull, but… for some reason, hearing Mira's soft voice and seeing her carefully pick out things, thinking about what would suit him—it made the whole experience far more enjoyable than he imagined.
"Then I'll see you back at the guild, Mira. Thanks for today," he said sincerely.
"Don't worry about it," Mira replied with a sweet smile. "Like I said, it's just returning the favor." She waved gently, then started walking away.
As she passed, she noticed the many girls glancing at Astro, and for a brief second, pride mixed with a flicker of jealousy again crossed her face. She cupped her cheeks and took a deep breath, shaking off the thought.
Astro, of course, remained completely unaware of Mira's little internal struggle, smiling to himself as he watched her walk off before heading to his house.