Chapter 15: The Real Flute and the Fool Who Hid It
Yuta POV
The forest clearing was still heavy with silence.Kageyama was kneeling, head lowered, the eerie flute lying forgotten beside him like some cursed relic finally at rest.
Makarov stood quietly before him, his small frame radiating calm authority. The old man's gaze softened.
"Well then," he said, voice gentle but carrying that unmistakable Fairy Tail weight. "It seems the darkness has lost its tune."
He turned slightly, eyes twinkling with something I didn't quite like. That knowing glimmer — the one he gets right before he ruins someone's peace.
Then he said, "Well, I suppose I should take the real one instead of the fake."
The words dropped like a meteor.
"…Huh?" Natsu blinked.
"Wait, what?" Gray frowned.
Even Erza tilted her head slightly, caught off guard. "Master, what do you mean?"
Makarov didn't answer right away. Instead, he started walking toward me.
And that's when I knew I was in trouble.
Lucy pointed at the flute on the ground. "But that's the one Kageyama was carrying! Isn't that the real—?"
Makarov lifted his hand toward me, not even glancing at her. "Boy. Hand it over."
I sighed deeply. "Couldn't just let me enjoy the moment, could you, old man?"
Natsu squinted at me. "Wait—what's going on? Don't tell me—"
I chuckled, raising a single card between my fingers. Its edges shimmered faintly with containment seals, a faint hum pulsing through it like a heartbeat.
"You really can't hide anything from him," I said, walking forward and offering the card to Makarov. "The real Lullaby has been sealed inside this card since Eisenwald's little performance on the train."
Everyone except the Guild Masters collectively exploded.
"WHAT?!""YOU WHAT?!""WHEN?!""HOW?!""WHY?!"
Lucy's voice rose above the chaos. "You mean you had the real cursed flute this whole time and didn't say anything?!"
I shrugged. "If I told anyone, half of you would've panicked, and the other half"—I glanced at Natsu and Gray—"would've tried to punch it."
"HEY!" Natsu and Gray shouted in unison.
Erza, meanwhile, just crossed her arms, a small smile playing on her lips. "So you already had a countermeasure planned before it even began."
"Of course," I replied with a smirk. "I sealed it the moment Kakashi switched the fake. No point letting Zeref's curse wake up again. Even demons need to stay asleep sometimes."
Erza nodded approvingly. "You've thought of everything, as always."
Lucy threw her hands up. "Everything?! He lied to us for three entire chapters!"
"Strategically withheld information," I corrected, smiling smugly.
"Same thing!" she yelled.
Natsu snorted fire in annoyance. "Man, you're worse than Erza with secrets!"
Gray jabbed a thumb toward me. "Nah, he's worse than Erza and Mira combined."
From the corner of my eye, I saw Kageyama sitting there, staring at me like I'd just rewritten reality. His lips trembled as he muttered under his breath.
"He… he sealed it… so easily… I spent years… chasing that power…"
For a moment, pity flickered through me. The guy had thrown his life away chasing strength born of darkness, and here I was—treating it like another Tuesday.
Makarov chuckled softly, breaking the silence. "You did well, Yuta. Smart thinking, even for a brat."
"Coming from you, I'll take that as high praise," I said with a grin.
He tucked the card away into his coat, the air around it glowing faintly as his own magic locked it down even further."With this, Zeref's melody will stay silent," he said. "Good work, my children."
Erza smiled, a faint blush brushing her cheeks as she looked my way. "Master's right. You really did think of everything."
I smirked, pretending to dust off my sleeve. "Well, someone has to keep this guild from exploding itself."
"Oi!" Natsu yelled. "What's that supposed to mean?!"
I didn't answer. Mostly because Lucy's laughter was already drowning him out.
For a brief moment, everything felt… peaceful.The wind rustled the trees, the guild masters relaxed, and even Kageyama looked like he was reconsidering all his life choices.
Erza exhaled, her tension fading. "At least now it's over."
Makarov smiled, resting his hands behind his back. "Indeed. Fairy Tail has done its part once again."
I looked around at all of them — my chaotic, loud, ridiculous family — and felt that familiar warmth settle in my chest.
Maybe this world wasn't so bad after all.
Then Natsu sneezed fire, Gray started yelling about his shirt being burnt, Lucy screamed at both of them, and Erza cracked her knuckles.
Yeah.Perfectly normal day in Fairy Tail.