"Huh? Gray, are you going out for work?" Lucy, still working her part-time job today, asked somewhat resentfully, "Why didn't you call me?"
"Ah, sorry, this time I'm going by myself, not planning to team up." Gray smiled, casually waved the task sheet, and turned to leave.
"Eh~~~ Why?" Lucy was still hoping for an excuse to escape from her miserable situation.
Without turning his head, Gray waved his hand: "Ask someone else, I'm in a hurry."
"Rival in love."
"Eek..." Lucy shivered, knowing who it was without even turning around.
A rain cloud appeared over Jubia's head, and she faced the wall gloomily, mumbling to herself: "Even Jubia wasn't taken by Gray-sama, Jubia is so lonely, I envy Edolas Jubia."
Lucy was about to ask Rhode what happened when she saw Natsu and Hapi burst into the guild, tearing off a task sheet and hurriedly urging Rhode to stamp it.
"Natsu? You're going to work too? I..."
Natsu grabbed the task sheet and ran off: "Sorry, Lucy, I'm going alone this time!"
"Aye!" Even Hapi didn't grumble about Natsu treating him as less than human.
Lucy was bewildered: "Hey! What on earth is going on?"
But Natsu and Hapi had already disappeared.
Lucy looked at the crowd pushing to register at the counter, wondering if she'd walked into the wrong place.
These people, who were all so lackadaisical yesterday, why are they all so enthusiastic today?
"Do you know what's going on, Lisana?"
"Hmm? Rushing to pay rent?" Lisana tilted her head, having been away from the guild for two years, she couldn't immediately grasp the situation.
Lucy looked at the crowd at the counter: "But there are people in there who don't rent rooms."
Erza stood beside them with her arms crossed, smiling contently: "It's that time of year again."
Finally, someone who knew, Lucy curiously asked: "What time?"
However, Erza didn't answer directly, she just looked Lucy up and down, smiling: "You're still far from it."
Then she glanced at Lisana and added: "Lisana too."
After evaluating the two, Erza gracefully departed.
"Ah, I remember now!" Lisana suddenly realized, so it was that.
"What exactly is it?"
But Lisana, with an air of mystery, raised a finger: "You'll find out in a few days."
"That makes me even more curious!" Lucy's heart itched with curiosity, and she faintly saw Reby and Jack splitting up for action.
"Lucy, need some drinks over here!"
"Yes!"
"Over here too!"
"Yes!"
Lisana watched Lucy being called from all directions, and smiled: "Let me help as well."
"Are you sure?"
"No problem, I was a waitress in Edolas' guild," Lisana laughed, "Sister Mira and brother-in-law will probably be very busy, I can share the load."
Actually, she planned to work as a waitress in the guild after resting for a few days, so she might as well start early.
After a busy stretch, the guild finally settled down a little.
During that time, Lucy heard mention of 'this time of year' several times and finally went to ask Rhode and Mira when the crowd subsided.
"You don't know?" Rhode said deeply, "It's an important day coming up, which is..."
He glanced at Lisana before continuing: "Lisana's death anniversary."
"Brother-in-law——" Lisana puffed up, glaring at Rhode.
Mira also nudged him on the arm: "Don't joke like that, we've already paid respects at Lisana's grave."
"Sister Mira~" Lisana glared at her sister, then glared back at Rhode, blaming him for starting it.
Rhode waved his hand: "Sorry, sorry, I just remembered, we rushed back that day, and Lisana's grave hasn't been dealt with."
"Ah, really." Mira recalled as well, they had been too busy these past few days, and hadn't managed the graveyard affairs.
"I'll talk to the priest right now!" The thought of having a grave made Lisana uncomfortable, so she hurriedly ran out of the guild.
"..." Mira initially thought of asking Elfman to accompany her, but he had already left on a task, so she let it be, hoping the priest wouldn't be frightened by a resurrection.
Mira found herself surprisingly a little intrigued.
Just then, Kana tiptoed over and whispered: "Mira, help me register this."
Mira nodded: "Okay, but why all the secrecy?"
Kana said, troubled: "Because Kildas keeps clinging to me, even though I've told him to act the same as before. He just won't listen."
Mira looked around: "Is he asleep?"
"I got him drunk." Kana urged, "Hurry up, I want to leave for work before he wakes up. I've told him just to act as usual, but he won't listen."
"Okay~" Mira leisurely scribbled, smiling teasingly, "But, aren't you quitting the guild this year? Didn't you do that every year before..."
Kana blushed: "That's in the past, let's not talk about it."
She thought her past self was so foolish.
Lucy, as if hearing something juicy, expressed surprise: "Huh? Kana used to quit the guild?"
"I said, let's not mention it again." Kana glanced at Mira, hoping she wouldn't broadcast her black history, "I'll treat you to dessert when I get back."
"Alright." Mira reluctantly accepted her terms.
Such an interesting story, but unable to gossip about it, it was too much of a sacrifice for her.
"Oh, Rhode, you should be chosen this year, right? Need my help then?" Kana now felt it didn't matter if she was tested or not; she'd rather give up and assist Rhode.
"I've already arranged with someone else." Rhode said, "You shouldn't give up so easily, try to push yourself this time. Maybe you'll become stronger now."
"I used to push myself too..." Kana retorted, though smiled, "Heh heh, you're telling me to push myself, don't regret it later."
"Ha!" Rhode laughed, hugging Mira's shoulder, "Pray that you don't fall under Mira's jurisdiction, see if I get her to give you a hard time."
"Ah! You two!" Kana pointed at Mira, planning to report that the examiner and examinee were family!
Wait, doesn't her family have an examiner too?
Rhode noticed Kana's expression change and realized it too, oh no, she's connected too.
Kana left the counter with her head held high, sneaking around Kildas and slipping out of the guild.
Before long, Wendy and Carla entered the guild.
As soon as Wendy arrived, she went to the counter to find Rhode: "Brother Rhode, I heard everyone saying it's coming soon, do we need to prepare for it?"
"So what exactly is that? Why does everyone know it, except me?!"
Lucy was going crazy, clearly she wasn't the last to join the guild.