Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master

Jason threw out a flurry of questions about Rhodes and Mirajane, clearly hungry for gossip. After he'd gotten his fill of romantic rumors, he finally remembered to ask about the ghost rumor circulating around the guild, and then turned to a more serious question: what was Rhodes's strongest magic?

Rhodes could answer most things honestly, but when it came to his magic, he had to dodge the question a little.

Last year, his strongest summon was a Scuttle Crab. This year, the title belonged to the Murk Wolf. With two heads and a massive frame, it looked fierce enough. Whether people believed him or not was up to them.

Jason originally wanted to interview Mirajane right after finishing with Rhodes. Ideally, he would have liked to interview them as a couple. Unfortunately, Mira wasn't around because she was backstage preparing for her performance.

Lucy, standing nearby, looked at Jason with hopeful eyes.

But Jason scanned the room, then rushed over to Elfman instead. "Can you tell me, what does being 'manly' mean to you?"

"A man is a man!" Elfman roared.

"What's your opinion of Rhodes?"

"Rhodes is a man too!"

"You're seriously asking that instead of interviewing me?" Lucy wailed. Tears welled up in her eyes. "How could he break his promise?"

Rhodes gave her a sympathetic look while Happy burst into unrestrained laughter.

Lucy shot a glare at the blue cat.

But Jason had already pivoted again. "Happy! Tell me, why are you blue?"

Lucy collapsed to the floor and began pounding her fists. "I actually lost to a cat! This is so unfair!"

Rhodes had to bite his cheek to stop himself from laughing. At this point, he was convinced Jason wasn't a regular reporter. He was a Fairy Tail superfan.

The guy could name nearly every guild member on sight. He even had background knowledge on each of them, asking personalized questions like a true connoisseur.

He even approached the Thunder God Tribe to ask if there was a love triangle between them.

As for Lucy, she had only joined the guild recently. Jason probably hadn't had time to become a fan of hers yet.

"Master Makarov, could you share your hopes and dreams for the guild?" Jason asked, camera still at the ready.

"Ah... Of course, of course! I hope that everyone here embraces love and justice, improves day by day, and keeps moving forward bravely…"

Rhodes silently swore to the heavens: that speech was definitely something the master had written himself. It wasn't ghostwritten.

It was the first time Rhodes had ever seen the old man so nervous. When chairing a strategy meeting or scolding Natsu, he was steady as a rock. But here, in front of the press, his whole body was stiff.

Just as Makarov's interview ended, the lights in the guild dimmed. The windows were suddenly covered, casting everything into shadow except the stage. A bright spotlight fell on the closed curtain.

"Here it comes! Get ready for the performance of Fairy Tail's beloved star!" Makarov's mood lifted instantly, full of pride. He hoped his speech, paired with Mira's performance, would help improve the guild's image.

"Ohhhhhh! Miss Mirajane! So COOL!" Jason clenched his fists with excitement, only regretting that he didn't have a glowstick to wave.

The rest of the guild buzzed with anticipation. It had been quite a while since Mira last performed.

"Is she going to sing?"

"I've been waiting for this forever!"

"Damn you, Rhodes!"

"Huh?" Rhodes turned toward the voice, but the room was too dark to tell who'd said it. The crowd's shouting made it even harder to guess.

Someone clearly wanted payback for something.

The curtain slowly opened, and silence fell over the guild. The spotlight bathed Mira in a warm, glowing light.

At that moment, Mira stood on the stage wearing slim blue jeans and a white tank top, loosely draped with a denim jacket. She wore no necklace, no earrings, and no other accessories. Her silver hair was simply tied into a ponytail, giving her the look of a cheerful, approachable girl next door.

Hovering in front of her was Little Bee, carrying microphone with tiny wings.

The instant Rhodes saw her, he forgot about any earlier teasing or complaints. Seeing Mira like this instantly lifted his spirits, he decided to let everyone off the hook, just this once.

Lucy, who had just suffered the cruel blow of being passed over for an interview, quietly found a high stool in front of the bar and took a seat. She rested her chin on her hands, waiting eagerly for Mira's performance to begin.

Mira gave a cheeky wink into the darkness, aiming at a certain someone, then gestured for the band to begin.

As the melody played, Mira's body swayed gently with the rhythm. Then she opened her mouth and began to sing:

"Swaying thoughts ripple through my heart,

I want to walk with you,

Drifting closer and closer,

To the sparkling waves that kiss your dreamlike shore..."

Her voice was soft and warm, flowing like a mountain spring. It filled the room gently, seeping into everyone's hearts. As she sang, it was as if you could see the shimmering ocean, the soft sands, and a couple strolling hand in hand beneath a sunny sky.

Expressions of serenity and joy spread throughout the guild like a wave of calm.

Erza and Lucy glanced at one another, wondering if this song was something Mira had written after her last vacation. It carried a tender intimacy that felt deeply personal.

"There were times I nearly gave up,

Thinking I'd never meet the right one,

But now I've made up my mind,

It's all for you..."

Rhodes' heart stirred. The longer he listened, the more he felt something blooming inside. As he looked toward Mira, he caught a flicker in her eyes, at first uncertain, almost sorrowful. But it was quickly replaced by a spark of courage and joy.

Elfman sat frozen, his fists clenched. Mira's voice echoed his own feelings from darker days, back when both he and his sister were buried in grief. Now he watched, heart swelling, as his sister sang, radiant and strong, rising like sunlight from the shadows.

A few listeners with sharper hearts began to realize just who this song was meant for.

Nobody had expected Mira to be this romantic...

"I want to walk with you,

And try to tell you with just my eyes,

In the dreams we share,

You look at me and answer... with a kiss..."

As the lyrics became more direct and emotionally charged, a blush crept across Mira's cheeks. Her voice trembled with shyness, her eyes full of gentle love.

At that point, even the densest people in the room should've figured out who "you" and "I" referred to.

Of course, some still instinctively imagined themselves and the person they loved.

Bisca, for instance, clutched her chest, cheeks flushed, heart racing. She thought of Alzack and how often their eyes had met like this, though there had been no kiss, not yet.

Feeling overwhelmed, she buried her face in her hands and muttered to herself that she should go buy flowers again.

"I used to be afraid of showing how I felt,

Turning away from the kindness of others.

But meeting you… must have been destiny,

Because somehow, you changed me.

These swaying thoughts ripple in my heart,

And I just want to stay by your side. Even when lonely seasons come…"

As the song transitioned into a softer, brighter melody, Mira's voice overflowed with joy and heartfelt longing.

Everyone watching could clearly see the glow on her face, the quiet happiness in her eyes, and, almost in unison, their gaze drifted toward one person in the crowd.

Rhodes.

He felt like he'd just been struck by a bolt of lightning. His mind blanked. Every noise around him faded, Lucy's teasing, the clapping, the whistles, the cheers, they all vanished.

Right now, all he could see was Mira. All he could hear… was her.

As the guild lights slowly lit up, Mira ended her song with a graceful bow. The applause erupted, and reporters rushed forward with cameras, but Rhodes had already moved.

In one stride, he cut through the crowd, pushed past the reporters without hesitation, and jumped onto the stage—then pulled Mira into a tight embrace.

A chorus of playful whistles and cheers broke out from below.

"Oooohhhh!"

"Woooo!"

Everyone knew they were dating, but it wasn't often that Rhodes did something so bold.

Someone even shouted, "Are they gonna kiss next?!"

Flushed with embarrassment, Mira squirmed a bit in his arms and gently pushed against him. "Let go, people are watching… and there are reporters…"

Jason, the reporter who had been knocked to the floor, didn't seem to mind one bit. On the contrary, he lay there snapping photos excitedly. These were the kind of dramatic, heartfelt moments he lived for.

But things were about to get even more explosive.

Rhodes released Mira from the hug and stepped back slightly. He didn't let go of her hand though—his left hand still gently held her right.

Then, with his other hand, he raised it and began writing in the air.

FLOWER

SNOW

FIRE

BUTTERFLY

STARLIGHT

Each word shimmered with magic, floating gracefully in the air. One by one, they transformed into real effects, petals fluttered, snowflakes danced, flames flickered gently, glowing butterflies circled them, and starlight sparkled like a constellation suspended above them.

Mira stared in awe, covering her mouth with one hand. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest.

Hand in hand, the two of them stood beneath the glowing display. They first gazed at the floating words, then slowly turned to look into each other's eyes.

Mira's lips trembled. Her breath caught. Her whole world quieted.

She didn't blink. She just waited.

Rhodes took a deep breath.

"I actually came up with a lot of ideas," he said softly. "I thought about different places, different plans, different moments. I wanted everything to be perfect."

He looked deeply into her eyes. Even though he'd seen them countless times, tonight… they seemed even more beautiful.

In her eyes, he saw his own reflection. Scientifically speaking, it was just light refracted on a curved lens forming a miniature image.

But Rhodes now preferred a simpler way to express it: 'Her eyes are filled with me, and mine are filled with her.'

"You know I like to plan things out first," he said, his voice unsteady. "But right now, I'm not thinking about plans. I'm just following my heart. I didn't prepare anything fancy... I just felt that I had to stand in front of you. I couldn't wait, not even another minute."

His thoughts were scattered, and his words were messy.

But Mira didn't mind. Her eyes were already misty. To her, every stammered sentence was more touching than any well-rehearsed love letter. In fact, it was even better, because it was real.

The usual noise of the tavern faded away. A few guildmates who were about to shout something inappropriate were quickly silenced, some by being grabbed by the collar, others by a warning squeeze from Makarov's oversized hand.

None of that reached Rhodes' ears. In his heart, there was only one thought that rang crystal clear.

"I've always hoped to meet someone I'd want to spend my whole life with... and now I know I've found her. I want to walk forward with her, always smiling."

He looked into Mira's eyes, his own full of unwavering resolve.

"What I mean is… Miss Mirajane Strauss, I've fallen for you completely, and I can't help it anymore. Will you marry me?"

Mira's eyes shimmered, and her smile bloomed like a sunrise after a long night. Tears spilled freely down her cheeks.

This man talked too much. The place, the time, whether it was perfect, none of it mattered.

Only the last words did.

"Yes..."

Mira gently pulled her hand from his, then jumped up into his arms, wrapping both arms tightly around his neck, her feet lifting off the ground.

Her face nearly touched his. With a voice filled with joy, she cried out for everyone to hear, "I do!"

Rhodes wasn't sure what his face looked like. He was probably smiling like a complete fool, but he didn't care. Wrapping his arms around Mira's waist, he spun her in circles on the stage.

A wave of cheers erupted throughout the guild.

"OOOOOOHHH!!!"

Jason's voice rang out too—"COOL!"—as he clicked away with his camera, capturing the moment from where he lay on the floor.

Makarov chuckled, finally letting go of a few troublemakers he'd been holding by the scruff of their necks. With a snap of his fingers, golden sparkles appeared and floated above the stage like twinkling stars.

Then came a burst of pink smoke that curled into a heart, courtesy of Wakaba's pipe magic.

Macao added a second glowing heart made of purple flames.

One by one, the guild's seasoned mages joined in. Brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, they all smiled, and used their magic to add blessings to the stage.

The younger generation couldn't keep it together- Erza, for example, was completely stunned.

She stood frozen, muttering lines that sounded like something a bride would say to her groom, as if she had suddenly been transported to a wedding ceremony in her own mind.

Levy quickly covered her mouth. She had heard Rhodes mention a proposal a few days ago, but she hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

Snapping out of it, she finally raised her hand and used Solid Script magic to enhance the "background wall," summoning glowing words and effects that made the moment even more magical.

Behind her, Jet and Droy were lost in their own worlds, filled with envy and daydreams.

Bisca and Alzack locked eyes, blushed, and quickly looked away. Then, without a word, they aimed their guns upward and fired a volley of sparkling magic bullets that burst into celebratory fireworks over the stage.

Happy fluttered over to Natsu's shoulder and smacked the back of his head. "Natsu, let's launch some fireworks too!"

"Huh?" Natsu blinked, not quite following, but the warm atmosphere swept him up. He grinned and started spitting out small fireballs into the air, which exploded into brilliant bursts above the guild.

Lucy had watched Rhodes dash onto the stage with her own eyes and was perhaps the most shocked of anyone.

But soon, her heart filled with joy for them. She folded her hands gently in front of her chest, her gaze full of admiration and blessings.

Seeing everyone celebrating with their own magic, she quickly pulled out a silver key. "Open, Gate of Lyra!"

With a twirl, the small harp-playing Celestial Spirit appeared and began playing soft, joyful music to accompany the scene.

"Sis! Waaaah!" Elfman burst into loud sobs, his face twisted and blotchy as he tried to hide his tears behind his arm. "This... this is so manly!"

Warren gave him a supportive pat on the shoulder. Despite Elfman's emotional outburst, Warren could hear his true feelings clearly. "This is amazing," "Sis, I'm so happy for you," and "Rhodes is a real man."

Vijeeter grabbed Nab and started dancing wildly in place. No one quite knew what the dance was supposed to be, but it was hard to miss their overflowing excitement.

Laki and a few waitresses found the old handheld fireworks tubes left over from a past guild celebration. With laughter and cheer, they cracked them open, sending glittering confetti and sparkling ribbons floating through the air.

Just then, Gray and Juvia returned from a mission, still brushing dust off their cloaks. They hadn't quite figured out what was happening.

But Gray glanced around, saw the atmosphere, and shrugged. "Guess we're joining in."

Juvia beamed in agreement. She gracefully raised her hand, and a ribbon of water curled through the air above the crowd. It danced like silk, drawing elegant shapes before freezing into shimmering crystals that reflected the guild's many lights.

Reedus, flustered but determined, waved his brush in wide strokes, conjuring floating images of flowers, balloons, and rainbows to decorate the scene. At the same time, he scribbled furiously to capture the moment on paper before it passed.

On stage, Rhodes continued spinning Mira in his arms. After a few joyful turns, he gently set her down.

They gazed into each other's eyes, the world around them fading away. In that instant, nothing else mattered.

No words were needed. Everything they felt could be read clearly in the other's expression.

Rhodes slowly lowered his head. Mira looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat.

As he leaned closer, her cheeks flushed, and her heartbeat quickened.

Then, closing her eyes, she stood on her toes and kissed him, right there in front of the entire guild, amid the thunderous cheers and awed gasps of their friends and family.

...

Bonus Chapter

Stones Plzzz