The pool of light from the lamp post highlighted Mest's facial features and I could clearly see—pass his visibly tired eyes and slightly ruffled hair—that he was smiling.

"Still head honcho, Lucy?" he laughed.

I nodded, grinning wider than anticipated. "Yup."

His attention turned to Natsu as Gajeel and Levy went to inspect the materials in the trucks. "Is that your boyfriend?"

My cheeks slightly flushed but I could only laugh, "No. Not quite. A friend. He's in the student council this year."

Mest's eyes widened in understanding, "Ohh. This is the one Gray and Juvia mentioned."

"He's just tired. So am I, actually." I sighed, "Are you staying here for long this time?"

Mest scratched the back of his head, "Not sure. I'll definitely visit the cafe as always. Makarov's gonna lecture me about being away for ages again"—he took a minute to laugh—"but I'm not sure after that. I might stay around for the festival. Depends."

"Jeez. You're a Magnolia Academy graduate and a former FT cafe employee and even one of Gray and Juvia's many business clients now. And you still can't stick around for town?" I chuckled.

"I know, I know." he grinned then sighed, "But university's piled up work as always."

"Is it that difficult?"

He shook his head, "Not compared to running a city and festival like what you guys are doing."

I smiled, "It's not a normal school. You know that."

"You think he's taking the work well enough?" he pointed to a dozed-off Natsu.

"He's actually quite impressive so far. Does work surprisingly easy."

"Good to hear you guys are getting good recruits. I know I was such a mess when I used to be in the council."

"You weren't and you know that."

"You give me too much credit." he laughed, "By the way, are the clubs really going that hardcore this year? The order I got from Gray and Juvia was huge."—he turned to stare at the trucks—"Look, we even had to make pre-made stalls."

I cocked an eyebrow, "I know, I was surprised at that. Who scared you bad enough?"

He laughed and turned back to me, "Ms. Lockser is very persuasive."

I grinned, "Yes, she is."

"How bad is it this year?"

I sighed, "The Cooking Club was dead-set on five stalls for the five regions."

He winced, "Harsh."

Suddenly, Gajeel and Levy strolled back to us, both in some kind of conversation I wasn't so focused on.

Gajeel shook Mest's hand and grinned. "Good to see you back in town."

Mest only sighed, "Not for too long unfortunately. Gotta head back as fast as I can as usual."

Levy cocked an eyebrow and grinned, "You know you at least have to stick around to greet Makarov, right?"

"The old man will kill you otherwise." Gajeel laughed.

"As always." Mest grinned, "Hasn't changed, has he?"

"Not even a little bit." I sighed.

Levy rolled her eyes then laughed, "Still trying to talk up girls way too young for him."

Mest laughed heartily. "I guess I'll be seeing him off soon. I really do want to check out the festival this year. "

"As always." I nodded.

Levy reverted the subject, "So, as for more important matters.."

Mest nodded, "Is it enough for this year? We did make pre-made stalls from the request. And I think it's a huge load compared to previous years."

"It looks enough." Gajeel confirmed, "We just need to be able to incorporate the equipment and materials into the club database."

Levy continued for him, "And some materials will go to Central-based stalls. So..Lucy?'

Everyone turned to me. "What do you need?"

Levy didn't hesitate, "Club count. Time slots. Stall count. Building estimation time. Equipment count for each major club."

A brief silence followed and I opened my mouth to answer what I could remember at the top of my head, but was interrupted by a dazy voice almost directed at my neck.

"Club count is thirty two. Time slots for each of the major clubs go in for five hours each stall requested. Stall count for major clubs go up to at least fifty and even higher. Building estimation time varies. Art Club's estimation is at one and a half weeks. Cooking Club is for two weeks. Classical Music Club will take a few days with assistance. Everything else is going to have to be lower than a week, estimated. Equipment for the major clubs are ranked with Cooking Club being first, Art club next and Book Club taking third."

Natsu's voice was evidently sleepy but he recited things too easily, and yet too casually. He also sounded exactly like he knew what he was talking about. I stared at the boy perched on my shoulder.

Mest's eyebrows raised. "Well.." he breathed out, "That was unexpected."

I chuckled, "Don't worry, he grows increasingly surprising when in lack of food."

Gajeel snorted, "What he said just then is definitely something else."

"I've taken note of all Natsu's said." Levy darted her eyes onto her clipboard, "It's not enough."

Mest only stared in surprise, "Really? And I thought this was all more than enough."

"Clubs are going hardcore again." Gajeel grinned, "But do you think, if requested again, that you guys will be able to deliver another batch?"

Mest shook his head, "I'm not sure. Depends which strings Gray and Juvia decide to pull if there is another request. They'd have to scour big time though."

Levy smiled, "It's okay."

"I'll inform Gray and Juvia as soon as possible." I added.

Mest nodded, "That will be best"—he turned once again to glance at the trucks behind him—"And these guys are good to head to Central."—he paused to turn—"which reminds me.."

"What?" Gajeel asked.

"You guys can get into the cafe any time you want, right?"

A twenty minute drive back to Central in Gajeel's car with five huge trucks following behind turned somewhat peaceful. Natsu remained dazed off.

The city crept with silence. A few cars passed by, but barely. The only light that really highlighted anything were the lamp posts. And it felt exactly like those times when you were a kid, watching each passing lamp post's light disappear then reappear from the car window as you head to your destination. There was a significant sort of feeling in the early morning and no matter how much my eyes commanded to shut close, I appreciated that feeling.

Eventually the four other trucks behind Mest's had gone off to a different direction whilst he remained driving through the familiar road behind us.

I began to sense a bit more movement from Natsu as well.

Standing in front of the cafe doors was Levy. Gajeel, Natsu, Mest and I.

My phone began to burr as I pressed it to my ear. "Mira?"

She sounded slightly surprised. "Lucy? What's going on?"

"Don't worry." I chuckled, "I'm just standing at the front doors with a few people."

She sounded a little confused, but went along with it. "Okay. I'll be there in just a sec."

The Strauss siblings and the cafe's owner, Makarov, were living in seperate apartments upstairs the cafe building. A convenience built by Makarov a few years ago.

Mirajane eventually arrived at the other side of the front door. She wore pink, silk pyjamas and unsurprisingly was rubbing her eyes. Behind her, Lisanna followed, just as dazed and confused.

I smiled as she unlocked the doors, instantly pulling her arms to hug herself as she stepped out from the cafe into the cool air outside. Her eyes meet mine and I smiled.

"What's going on?" she nearly whispered and her eyes landed on myself, Natsu perched on my shoulder, Levy and Gajeel, and eventually, the familiar dark-haired man.

Mest grinned, "How's business going, Mira?"

Needless to say, Mirajane and Lisanna were more awake after that.

Mirajane did the most Mirajane thing she could do; let us in the cafe straight after she hugged Mest, alongside an almost-tearful Lisanna. She offered coffee, which I agreed to and requested another for the pink-haired boy who was soon to wake up.

We all sat down the bar stools whilst Mirajane and Lisanna leant behind the bar.

Mirajane poured the coffee whilst chatting away, still in her pyjamas, still beaming from the dark-haired man's arrival, "How's university going?"

"Tiring." Mest replied.

"You're staying a little longer than last time, I hope." Lisanna added.

"Unfortunately not." he went on.

"You're overworking as usual, you bastard." Gajeel grinned as he drank his coffee.

"Says you guys."

"Koharu standards." Levy merely commented.

"Where's the old man? Still asleep?" Mest asked.

"I'll go wake him up actually. He's been preparing for this year's lecture." Mirajane smiled, hurrying back upstairs.

"Good to see that you guys are still taking care of the cafe." Mest grinned, "I bet the cafe's revenue practically relies on you guys."

Gajeel scoffed, "Not as much as it relies on Sting."

"Sting! How is that little bastard? Still eating cakes all the time? How is everyone actually?"

Levy answered; "Sting is eating all the cakes he can every day. Tires Mira out, we reckon. Everyone is just sprawled all over the city as usual. March doesn't hold back."

"Ahh, so it doesn't." Mest agreed, "And I hear Erza found a few friends."

"Kagura and Minerva." Lisanna pointed out, "All three have their life goal of getting arrested in some high elaborate crime scene."

Mest laughed, "That's for all of you. But how is Erza? Is she getting any offers of employment at the cafe these days?"

"She works part-time shifts when life calls for it."

"And what about this Kagura and this Minerva?"

Gajeel howled in laughter, "They're as chaotic as the red sword lady."

Levy sighed, "But they are very nice. And pretty responsible when they need to be."

Gajeel whistled, "Kagura threw a clothing rack at Erza just a few days ago though."

"We're just going to forget about that." Levy chuckled.

"They sound like a good fit for Erza." Mest laughed as he sipped on his coffee.

"And you would get to meet them if you stayed just a little longer!" Lisanna nearly pleaded.

"Can't do, kiddo." Mest waved a hand, "It's too much work. I'm not scheduled to even stay this long here. Have to get back on the road soon."

"You sound like Laxus." Gajeel pointed out.

Mest raised an eyebrow, "Is that guy still on the road?"

"Yup." Lisanna said, "Living free to the max. He tries to make small efforts to at least tell us where he is."

"Is he already out of the country?" Mest's eyes widened.

"Nah. Gramps would definitely kill him if he made that move." Lisanna snickered, "But he's still out there. We're still not sure. But it's good that he's crazy strong so that we at least know he's not getting beat up by some guy in an alleyway."

"Sounds dark." Mest laughed, "It's good Gramps got him to do that huge teak-won-do academy at some point."

"Your memory is off." Lisanna pointed out, "Laxus went and had to convince Gramps to apply him in the academy."

Mest laughed even harder, "Oh, yeah."

Natsu's head finally shifted, and he opened his eyes. Not quite familiar to the environment, he began to dart his eyes around rather aimlessly.

"What's going on? Have I gotten abducted?" he breathed out, gluing his hand on his head. "Oh god, am I really dead?"—he noticed Mest all of a sudden—"Who the fuck are you?"

Mest went along with it; "Your guardian angel."

Natsu groaned, "Oh, well fuck. Since I'm dead, Lucy's going to have to do all the paperwork and I'm going to get lectures from her when she's dead."

"Natsu, you're not dead." I finally informed him.

"Goddamnit!" Natsu exclaimed, suddenly landing his head on the bar to sleep.

"He seems like a good person." Mest eventually laughed.

At that point, Mirajane emerged from the stairs with the certain too-short man following her. He wore pyjamas and he looked somewhat hungover and somehow it seemed like if it were anybody else aside from Mirajane with her extremely persuasive smile that woke him up, he would've beaten them right on the spot.

"What's this about, Mira?" he rubbed an eye but she remained silent.

Eventually, the short man flickered open his eyes properly to take a view of the room. Eventually his eyes landed on Mest, sitting on the barstool, evidently like he hasn't even gone for two years.

"You damn bastard." Makarov eventually spat out.

Mest only laughed alongside everybody else when Makarov lectured the dark-haired boy for another half-an-hour.

"I hear Laxus is still on some kind of spiritual journey." Mest told Makarov shortly after the lecture ended.

"That damn fool." the old man sighed. Everyone listened in whilst a now-awake and mildly functioning Natsu sipped on his coffee.

"Don't worry, he'll end up back here somehow. I know it."

"He does come around every once in a while." Mirajane pointed out, "Like last year around September."

"How considerate of him." Mest laughed, "But seriously, he will."

"I'm not too worried about him." Makarov sighed, "I know he'll have to eventually."

"It's a shame I won't be able to catch up with him soon." Mest sighed.

"You really aren't even going to stay for even a day, you fool?" Makarov asked.

"I can't, Gramps."

Makarov sighed heavier, "Then I can't do anything to stop you. But please do come back when you can."

"Will do. Koharu's always got something new when I end up back here anyway."—he checked on his watch—"And looks like my time's up."

"You're really not going to stay?" Mirajane sadly asked and I knew she meant every bit of feeling she put into those words. Mirajane and Mest were childhood friends, born in Koharu, studied at Magnolia Academy, both worked at FT Cafe but separated when Mest chose to study at uni whilst Mira preferred her home town and the cafe.

"I'm sorry." he suddenly said.

Mira eventually smiled, "I know."

Their quick exchange of words seemed like mere chatter and quick syllables and tiny nothings, but my gut thought otherwise.

Mest emerged out of the bar with everyone following suit behind him.

He does quick goodbyes and even shakes hands with a confused Natsu but he lingers a little longer when hugging Mira and nobody quite notices but I watched on as they smiled as they broke off their embrace. But when they were locked in each other's arms, their faces buried in each other's shoulders as if everything fell in that one place; every little thought and wave of relief and trust and pure feeling that ran through their veins daily. I watch them say whatever tiny little things they had on their mind to each other carefully, and I realised that it was everything. There's every bit of pain and whatever feeling it was they carried on their arms and I wondered really what was beneath their smiles that the sun always had the habit of highlighting.

It's no endless hug and eventually Mest leapt back in his truck, waving everyone off as he drove to what I expected to be Central's main storage departments. There he would've been greeted with a few students who would unload the materials.

There's a certain silence that follows after the truck takes the first turn and disappears out of sight. Mirajane hastily excuses herself, telling everybody that she desires to go back to sleep in concern of her coming shift.

And Mira doesn't cry to that extent where she loses it—not anymore—but I don't tell anyone that I know for a fact that Mest Gryder walked away with a certain tear belonging to Mirajane Strauss imprinted on his dark blue jacket.

Gajeel and Levy eventually wave goodbye after an hour or so, Lisanna goes back to sleep alongside Makarov.

Natsu and I walk along to the train station. There's nothing to speak off but for some unfathomable reason, I'm quite sure he knows what I know about Mirajane.

We don't talk, we hum to some show tunes instead, watching the sunrise.

It is only a week or two before the Koharu City Spring Festival begins.

It's going to be a busy week! I'm still as excited to write the next few chapters out.

Really wanted to give off a more homely feel on this chapter, family-wise. By the way, I wasn't even planning the whole Mest and Mirajane relationship (ya know, whatever relationship you perceive they have) so when I wrote it I was laughing at how out-of-nowhere it was for me. I wasn't planning on it. So you know..future possibilities. Ain't gonna elaborate though.

Thank you so much for reading!

Till next time,

Ice

Imprint; (noun) a mark or outline made by pressing something on to a softer substance