The weather was nice tonight, with a clear view of the full moon.
The surface of the river in the center of the street shimmered, reflecting the pouring moonlight. The glittering light looked like countless fish leaping from the water.
"The night view of this town is really nice..."
Walking on the wide, stone-paved street, Roland sighed in admiration.
It was ten o'clock at night, and there were few pedestrians on the street. Mirajane, in a deep red dress, walked quietly beside him.
A cool night breeze blew, causing her waist-length white hair to flutter and leave a faint, fresh scent in the air.
Hearing the voice beside her, Mirajane turned her head slightly, her bright eyes looking at him.
At some point, the black-framed glasses had disappeared, revealing the beautiful mole at the corner of his eye.
There it was again—that heart-fluttering feeling.
Mirajane quickly averted her gaze, gently pressing a hand to her heart.
She could clearly feel her heartbeat was much faster than before.
"What's wrong, Mira? Are you not feeling well?"
Noticing her action, Roland asked with concern.
"No, it's nothing. I was just... thinking about something," Mirajane shook her head, forcing a smile.
"Is something troubling you?"
"Something like that..."
Mirajane sighed and responded softly.
She didn't know what to do. If she responded to these feelings, she would become Levy's rival in love.
But if she didn't respond to this infatuation, she felt extremely uncomfortable, as if she were handing over a beloved toy to someone else, letting an outsider leave their scent and marks on it.
What if she then paraded the toy in front of her...
No, I don't want that!
Thinking of this possible future scene, Mirajane unconsciously clenched her hands behind her back.
"If it's not a secret, you can tell me. Maybe I can help you think of a solution, Mira."
Roland stopped and looked at her seriously, his tone carrying a soothing quality that put people at ease.
"Ah, it's not really a secret, it's just..."
Mirajane looked conflicted and sighed almost inaudibly.
She couldn't possibly say it—that she and Levy liked the same person, and that person was him.
"...Actually, it's about my younger brother, Elfman."
Sorry, Elfman.
After apologizing to her brother in her heart, Mirajane's lips parted, and she began to speak slowly, "He's good friends with Marcus, but recently they've both fallen for the same girl..."
Their pace gradually slowed, and Mirajane's soft voice sounded very pleasant in the night sky.
After listening, Roland pinched his chin thoughtfully.
He understood.
Elfman was meant to be Mirajane, and Marcus was meant to be Levy. And the girl they both liked?
"So, what's troubling you, Mira, is whether Elfman should pursue that girl?"
"That's right. Elfman came after him. Just because of something like love at first sight, he wants to compete with Marcus..."
Mirajane held up a finger, emphasizing the word 'after'.
"There's no first or second in matters like this. As long as you like someone, you should try your best to win them over. That way, you won't have any regrets in life!"
"This is a matter between Elfman and Marcus. True comrades wouldn't break off their friendship over something like this. If they did, their friendship would be too fragile."
"Look at Droy and Jet, don't they get along very well?"
Roland said with a smile, giving an example.
"Oh, you're right!"
Mirajane's eyes widened, a cute expression of realization on her face.
It was a well-known fact that Droy and Jet both liked Levy, and had for many years. Even so, there was rarely any conflict between them.
Unfortunately for them, Levy liked Roland, so the two of them were destined to be out of luck.
As the confusion in Mirajane's heart was resolved, a smile reappeared on her face, and even her steps became much lighter.
"Thank you. I'll pass these words on to Elfman when I get back."
Mirajane said with a smile, touching her cheek with one hand.
"It's nothing. I hope Elfman can win that girl over soon."
Roland said softly.
After all, Marcus had already gotten the girl's first kiss.
The house Mirajane had bought was a small, two-story building. From the outside, it looked similar to the one Roland was renting.
Through the window, he could see bright lights and the tall, sturdy figure of Elfman.
"So... would you like to come in and sit for a while?"
Standing at the door, Mirajane tilted her head and asked in a gentle voice.
"Not tonight. I'll visit some other time."
"See you tomorrow, Mira."
"Mm, see you tomorrow."
With Mirajane seeing him off, Roland's figure slowly disappeared into the night.
————
["Protagonist? Not So Much!" has been completed. Please claim your quest reward!]
["Hidden Love!" has been completed. Please claim your quest reward!]
Light blue text glowing faintly arranged itself in mid-air, and Roland let out a light sigh of relief.
Finally completed...
"Claim all quest rewards."
As his voice fell, Roland suddenly felt a lot of unfamiliar knowledge enter his mind—images of endlessly striking down flying swallows in a field.
No—rather than calling those things swallows, it would be more accurate to call it the wind.
Roland steadied his swaying figure and looked at his hands with a calm expression.
His fingers were well-defined, his skin fair and smooth. His palms didn't have the calluses of a swordsman.
But the unfamiliar memories flooding his mind made his muscles instinctively make a grasping motion in the air, and a sharp, blade-like aura erupted from him, as if he had been practicing the sword for decades.
"Swallow Reversal... a good ability."
"Dora dora?"
Just then, a cute voice suddenly sounded from beside Roland's ear.
He subconsciously turned his head and saw a small, red, miniature version of Doraemon standing on his left shoulder.
Seeing the familiar cat-type robot, Roland couldn't help but smile.
"Good evening, Mini-Dora."
"Dorara~"
Mini-Dora hugged his cheek and nuzzled him affectionately like a cat.
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