Only Natsu had his hands behind his head, looking completely unconcerned.
"What are you all stressing about? Kabe already promised he will not blab. What is there to feel guilty about?"
As soon as he finished, everyone turned to look at him, then at Kabe.
"Why are you all looking at me like that? Do you not trust me?"
"N-no, no."
They all shook their heads at once. Hearing a trace of displeasure in Kabe's tone, none of them dared say otherwise.
Still, Natsu's words did ease the tension in their hearts.
Lucy nodded.
"If it is big brother Kabe, then it will be fine."
Gray grunted his agreement.
"Yeah, whatever."
Erza took a breath.
"Then we will go. We should not disturb the you of this world any longer."
"Wait."
Kabe called out to Erza just as she was about to turn away.
Before anyone could react, he pulled Erza aside, away from the others.
Because of the height difference, Erza had to smooth down her skirt and crouch so she could look him in the eye.
Faced with the grown-up Erza, graceful and elegant, Kabe swallowed and asked in a small voice,
"S-so... you and Mira forgave me in the end, right?
Did we end up together in the future?"
Erza blinked her large eyes.
Under Kabe's hopeful gaze, she raised her hand and flicked him on the forehead.
"You little pervert. You really have not changed at all."
She smiled sweetly, then stood up and walked back to the group.
Lucy glanced at Kabe, who was rubbing his forehead with a goofy, thoughtful smile, and rushed over to tug at Erza's arm, gossip practically sparkling from her eyes.
"Hey, what did big brother Kabe say to you?"
"Hehe, classified information."
Erza shook her head mysteriously, giving Lucy absolutely no chance to pry.
Lucy bit her lip, hesitating for a moment. Then she excused herself and went over to Kabe, who was still grinning to himself.
Imitating Erza, she crouched down too, then asked in a small, conflicted voice,
"Um... big brother Kabe, do you think, if it were the future you... would you like someone like me?"
Kabe snapped out of his little fantasy immediately.
He gave her a strange look, taking in the tension and faint anticipation in her eyes.
The future me did not make a move on Lucy? That cannot be right. I swore to live the easy life off a rich beauty's wallet.
That did not match his own personality at all. Kabe rubbed his chin, falling into serious thought.
Lucy's heart pounded wildly as she waited for his answer.
After a long moment, Kabe suddenly lifted his head, sounding almost offended.
"You... do not tell me you have been missing all the hints from future me?"
"Huh?"
Lucy stared, dumbfounded.
Kabe became even more certain of his guess.
In the original timeline, Lucy had been like a block of wood, completely unresponsive to Natsu's direct advances.
Now he pictured his future self pouring his heart out, only for Lucy to stand there clueless, and he felt his chest tighten in sympathy for himself.
Kabe sighed and patted her shoulder with the seriousness of a life mentor.
"Trust me. When you go back, just tell the future me how you feel, straight out.
That guy has definitely been waiting."
"...!!!"
Lucy's eyes went wide. Doubt, shock, and nervous excitement all tangled together in them.
"R-really? Then... then I will try when I go back."
"Good. Remember to be quick about it. Do not drag things out."
Kabe reminded her again. Lucy nodded over and over, committing it to heart.
When the two of them rejoined the others, Natsu immediately bounced over, grinning.
"Hey, Kabe, do you want to whisper something to me too?"
"No. Get lost."
The blunt rejection wiped the grin right off Natsu's face.
Gray snorted, laughing at his expense with open contempt.
Natsu exploded, jumping up with his fists raised, ready to argue with him using punches.
Erza's fist came down first. She flattened Natsu into the ground in one clean hit, ending his protest before it began.
"Uh... looks like even after all this time, the three of you have not changed one bit."
The scene was so familiar that everyone except Natsu could not help but smile.
"Anyway, that is enough talking.
You should head back. We still need to figure out how to leave this world."
Lucy finally stepped in to urge the farewell along.
Kabe did not act reluctant. He nodded and waved at them.
"Then I am off. When you get back, remember to tell me everything. See you in the future."
"Mm. See you in the future."
With everyone waving goodbye, Kabe turned and flew off into the sky.
They watched until he was a distant speck, then Erza picked up the magic book that had brought them to this world and cleared her throat.
"All right. We have interfered enough with this timeline.
From here on out, no one is allowed to run off. You are all coming with me to figure out how to get back to our world."
Looking at the book in her hands, thick enough to fill half her palm, the three mages and one cat all pulled bitter faces at the same time.
Whatever wonder they had felt from meeting the Kabe of the past... evaporated instantly.
...
High above, Kabe drifted through the air at a leisurely pace, rubbing his chin as he replayed his meeting with future Erza and Lucy in his mind.
"No matter how many times I saw them in the anime, seeing them in person is way more shocking.
Girls who look that good, with figures and personalities that perfect... if I miss out on them, coming to this world really would be a waste."
With that thought, he made up his mind to act.
"I should buy a strawberry cake for Erza, and a pretty hair ribbon for Mira as a present."
Decision made, he twisted in midair and changed direction, heading straight toward the bakery.
As time passed, the news that Fairy Tail had produced a fourteen-year-old S Class mage spread through the guild.
Through the mouths of certain guild members, it soon leaked beyond their walls.
At first, the rumor only circulated in small circles around Magnolia.
But at a local guild alliance gathering, a heavily tipsy Makarov could not help showing off to the other guild masters.
That was when the story truly exploded across the entire magical world of Fiore, becoming the hot topic on everyone's lips.