Capítulo 281: Chapter 238 - Insert Romantic Title.

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[Adam C. POV.]

The evening air was crisp, the last rays of the sun were casting a warm glow over Magnolia as I made my way to Erza's place. My mind was a chaotic mess of anticipation and nervousness. I'd faced down countless dangers, but this, going on a date with Erza, felt like stepping into an entirely new kind of battlefield.

It might be because I truly liked her that I was this nervous.

I reached her place and knocked on the door. It swung open, and there she was, Erza, looking... different. She wasn't in her armor, but in a simple dress, her hair falling softly around her shoulders. She was beautiful, and for a moment, I was speechless.

"A-Adam, y-you're on time," she said, a hint of surprise in her voice.

"Y-yeah, I... wouldn't want to be late," I managed, offering her a small smile.

We set off, walking side by side, our footsteps in sync. And as expected, she had no plan, but I had one. My plan was simple: dinner at a small, cozy restaurant in town.

As we walked, I noticed a flicker of movement in the corner of my eye. I turned, just in time to see a flash of brown hair and a familiar hat ducking behind a corner. Cana and Urahara. And was that a glimpse of Makarov and Gildarts I saw? They were spying on us. I shook my head, amused and slightly exasperated.

I couldn't feel their magical power, or spiritual pressure for that matter. But I could see them.

We reached the restaurant, and the awkwardness hit full force. We were seated at a quiet corner table, and Erza seemed to be wrestling with her napkin, folding and unfolding it. We were both new to this, and had no idea how to really proceed.

"So, Erza," I started, trying to break the ice, "Do you come here often?"

Really Adam? You pick that opening line? I might as well die single.

She looked up, her eyes meeting mine. "No, not really. I usually eat at the guild or... well, you know how it is."

I nodded, understanding. Our lives at Fairy Tail were anything but ordinary.

Thankfully, the waiter came by, and we ordered. Erza picked something surprisingly simple, a steak and some cake, strawberry cake, and I followed suit. The silence that followed was comfortable, yet charged with a strange energy.

As we waited for our food, I noticed Erza's eyes darting around, as if looking for something. Or someone. "Everything okay?" I asked.

She jumped a bit, then laughed nervously. "Yeah, just thought I saw... Never mind."

Dinner arrived, and we both dug in. There was a moment where our hands brushed while reaching for the bread, and we both pulled back quickly, a flush rising to our cheeks.

What in the actual fuck was going on with me?! I was acting like a teenager! Had a life of fighting dulled my relationship skills?!

"So, Erza, tell me something about yourself that I don't know," I said, attempting to keep the conversation going.

She looked thoughtful, then said, "I used to collect stamps when I was younger."

Well, that's something I didn't see coming. At all.

"Stamps? Really?" I couldn't hide my surprise.

"Yeah, it's not something I talk about. I guess I liked the idea of having pieces of different worlds in a small book," she explained, a distant look in her eyes.

I smiled. "That's actually really cool, Erza."

Our meal continued, filled with small talk and shared smiles. It was awkward, yes, but there was an undeniable warmth to it. I felt… better than ever.

As we finished up and headed out, I noticed our entourage of spies again. They weren't even trying to be subtle now. Gildarts was pretending to read a newspaper, Makarov was hiding behind a ridiculously small plant, and Urahara and Yoruichi were in a not-so-stealthy disguise.

Erza caught on this time, and she rolled her eyes. "Should we say something?" she whispered.

I shook my head, grinning. "Let's just leave them be. Adds to the adventure. Not like we could stop them anyways."

We walked through the streets, the night now in full swing. There was an ease between us now, the initial awkwardness fading into a comfortable tone. We talked about everything and nothing, from our favorite foods to the most bizarre things we had to fight.

For Erza a Rabbit with twelve butts. I'm still trying to picture that.

For me, a bear that for some reason had breasts. It wasn't a female.

Erza obviously won the prize for the weirdest encounter.

At one point, Erza tripped slightly on a loose cobblestone, and I reached out to steady her. Our eyes locked, and for a moment, there was a spark, something electric in the air, as I realized she had done it on purpose.

She quickly regained her footing, and we continued walking.

Until eventually we found ourselves at a small park, the stars above shining brightly. We sat on a bench, shoulder to shoulder, looking up at the night sky.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Erza said softly, her voice filled with wonder.

"It is," I agreed, finding myself lost in the moment, in the beauty of the night and the woman beside me.

We sat there in silence, comfortable and content. It was a simple moment, but it felt significant, like a memory that would stick with me for a long time.

"Do you like me, Adam?" Erza asked, her eyes meeting mine. "Do you like-like me?"

I chuckled at the childish way of wording it out. "I do. And what about you? Do like-like me?"

Erza nodded, her face redder than her hair.

After a few minutes of silence, we started making our way back to the town and as we reached her place, Erza turned to me, a soft smile on her lips. "Thank you, Adam. I had a really nice time tonight."

"Me too, Erza. Me too," I replied, feeling a sense of contentment I hadn't felt in a long time.

She stepped forward, hesitantly at first, then gave me a quick, gentle hug. It was brief, but it sent a warmth through me that lingered long after she pulled away.

"Goodnight, Adam," she said, her eyes shining.

"Goodnight, Erza," I responded, watching as she headed inside.

As I walked away, I couldn't help but feel that tonight was a turning point, a step in a new direction for both of us. There was a lightness to my step, a smile on my face that I couldn't shake off.

And as for our spies, I caught a glimpse of them, huddled together, whispering and chuckling. I shook my head, amused. Fairy Tail, with all its quirks and chaos, really was a family. And yes, that included Urahara and Yoruichi.

This was a family that I was proud to be a part of, and a family that I knew would always be there, through thick and thin, awkward dates and all, even if they weren't invited.