The train rumbled into Magnolia Station with its familiar clack-clack, sunlight and the town's lively buzz greeting them as they arrived.
Roger and Erza stepped off the platform side by side, heading down the road toward the guild.
Just around a corner, not far from the guild's entrance, Erza's steps slowed. Her gaze landed on a small girl with a yellow bundle on her back, huddled against the wall like a frightened rabbit. Only half her face peeked out, her timid eyes fixed on the guild's door.
At her feet, a small white dog, tied with a rope, stood alert, ears perked warily.
"This kid…?" Erza's heart stirred. She softened her steps and approached.
"Are you… trying to join the guild?"
"Ah!" The girl flinched at the sudden voice, shrinking back. In a panic, she raised the rope in her hand. "S-stay back! Snowy… Snowy will bite you!"
"Woof! Woof!" The little white dog sprang in front of her, puffing up its tiny body. Its ears flattened like airplane wings, and it bared its still-growing puppy teeth, letting out the most adorable, fierce barks.
"Don't be scared," Erza said gently, softening her voice. "We're not bad people. You can open your eyes and take a look."
The girl's long lashes trembled before she cautiously peeked through a tiny slit. She saw a cascade of fiery red hair and a kind, smiling face that looked about her age.
Her tense nerves eased just a bit. She crouched down, her small hand soothingly patting Snowy's head.
Feeling its owner relax, Snowy's growls faded, and its tail gave a tentative wag.
"H-hi, I'm…" The girl opened her mouth, her face flushing red as the words caught in her throat, too shy to come out.
Sensing Erza's warm yet slightly curious gaze, she looked down, flustered, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her shirt. Her eyes landed on Snowy, who was nuzzling her leg.
Erza didn't rush her, her smile growing even softer. She extended her hand confidently. "Hey there, I'm Erza. What's your name?"
The straightforward greeting calmed the girl's racing heart. She took a deep breath, mustering her courage, and lightly grasped Erza's hand.
"I-I'm Kana. Kana Alberona."
Her voice was soft, like a feather brushing against Erza's fingertips.
"Kana, that's a cute name!" Erza said, pulling a few candies from her pocket like a magic trick and holding them out. "Milk candy or fruit candy—which one do you like, Kana?"
"Huh?" The sudden choice caught Kana off guard, and she instinctively picked the one she recognized.
"M-milk candy, I guess."
"I love milk candy too!" Erza placed one in Kana's hand, then pulled out another for herself. She unwrapped it, popped it in her mouth, and her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel's.
"The creamy milk flavor mixed with the sweetness (munch munch munch) is just so good (munch munch munch). Try it!" she said, swallowing with a happy squint.
Kana looked down at the small candy in her palm, its wrapper glinting in the sunlight. A sudden pang of sadness hit her nose—ever since her mom passed, no one had smiled and offered her candy like this.
Most of the money her mom left her had been stolen by thieves, and the taste of something sweet was a distant memory.
She sniffled hard, pushing back the tears, and mimicked Erza, clumsily tearing open the wrapper. Her pink tongue cautiously licked the candy before she took a tiny bite.
"It's so sweet!" The rich, creamy milk flavor burst on her tongue, instantly chasing away the gloom in her heart.
Kana's eyes lit up, and her lips curved into her first genuine smile of the day.
"Take a bigger bite!" Erza said, pulling out a handful of colorful candies and placing them in Kana's stunned hands. "Nibbling's no fun. Candy's best when you pop a whole one in—better yet, three at once!"
The weight of the vibrant candies in her hands felt like a burst of light crashing into her heart. Kana's eyes reddened, her vision blurring as her shoulders trembled.
"Th-thank you, Erza," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Hearing the choke in her voice, Erza stepped forward, smiling warmly as she pulled Kana into a gentle hug, patting her thin back.
"No need to thank me! Sharing yummy stuff just doubles the happiness!"
"Look," Erza said, nodding downward. "Snowy's happy for us too!"
Kana glanced down and saw Snowy circling them excitedly, its little tail wagging like a propeller.
"Mm!" Kana quickly wiped her tears with the back of her hand, giving a shy smile.
"I-I came to Fairy Tail to find my dad. My mom… she's gone," she said softly. "Before she left, she told me my dad's a Fairy Tail wizard, and I should come find him."
Erza's eyes widened in surprise. A mom who passed away and a dad in Fairy Tail? She knew someone who fit that description.
"Kana, do you know your dad's name?"
"Mm," Kana nodded firmly. "His name's Gildarts."
It was Gildarts! Erza's mind reeled. He'd left the guild the day after he returned, saying he was going to look for his daughter.
"Well…" Erza paused, thinking for a moment before speaking gently. "I know Gildarts, but he's not at the guild right now. He left before we went on our last mission."
"Oh," Kana said, her voice tinged with disappointment. She'd hoped to see her dad right away. But she quickly perked up, curiosity sparking. "You said 'went on a mission'? And 'we'?"
"Yep!" Erza said, rolling up her sleeve to show her guild mark. "I'm a Fairy Tail wizard too. We just finished a C-rank mission."
"And by 'we,' I mean me and Roger. He's my best friend."
"Roger?" Kana tilted her head, her eyes full of curiosity. What kind of person was Erza's best friend?
"You two done chatting?" a voice called from behind, startling Kana. She whipped around.
A black-haired boy stood there, holding a big bag of stuff, grinning at them. Before Kana could ask, Erza walked over to him, smiling.
"This is Roger, my partner on missions."
Partner? Didn't she say best friend? The thought flickered through Kana's mind, but before she could dwell on it, Roger pulled three bottles of juice from his bag and handed them out.
"The shop we went to a couple of days ago had some new juice flavors, so I grabbed a few. Give it a try—it's pretty good."
Kana blinked, a bottle of juice suddenly in her hands. Erza's friend… he's kind of like her, she thought.
Then she noticed Roger pull out a bag with a dog pattern on it.
"There was a pet store next to the dessert shop, so I got some food Snowy can eat. That's its name, right?"
"S-Snowy," Kana answered instinctively, then realized what he'd said and started to wave her hands. "Oh, no, you don't have to—"
But the bag was already on the ground, and Snowy had buried its head inside, leaving only its excitedly wagging butt sticking out.
Snowy hadn't had anything tasty in so long. Kana went quiet for a moment before saying softly, "Thank you, Roger."
"No problem," Roger said with a smile, turning toward the guild. "We should head in. If we take too long after a mission, the master'll start worrying."
"Mm," Erza said, stepping beside Kana with a smile. "Come with us. We'll find Gildarts when he gets back."
"Okay," Kana said, scooping up Snowy, who was still buried in the bag. Her eyes lingered on the figures ahead.
Roger and Erza… they're such nice people. Is Fairy Tail full of people like them?
She slipped the straw into her mouth and took a sip. The sweet, fruity flavor burst across her tongue. She stole a glance at the vibrant red hair beside her, her lips curling into a quiet smile.
Mom… I think I've made new friends.
This place called Fairy Tail… it feels warm. It feels happy.