In Kira's opinion, after traveling to the world of Fairy Tail, there was no need to struggle desperately like other time travelers often did. Joining Fairy Tail alone ensured safety. Whether you were strong or weak, the plot would unfold as it always had, and in the end, you'd be safe anyway.
Among the many popular comic worlds, this one was probably the safest.
There was no deep hatred to resolve, no unrealistic dreams to chase, and no foolish suicidal tendencies. Fame and fortune weren't necessary, and the regrets left in the original story didn't weigh heavily enough for him to intervene.
Maybe Urrutia growing old, Irene's tragic end, or the Magic King failing to let Mavis and Zeref know of his existence—those were things that could tug at the heartstrings. But beyond those, there wasn't much else worth changing.
Unlike those reckless protagonists who seemed bent on courting death while claiming they only wanted peace, Kira was different. He believed in taking full advantage of known information to live a good life without unnecessary risks.
"I'm the clear-headed one among time travelers," Kira often thought proudly, "a role model for rebirth in another world."
After all, why run toward danger when the bosses in Fairy Tail were always targeting the guild anyway? If the end of the world ever came—like the Face crisis in the Hades Gate arc—then maybe it was time to step in. But until then? Let the protagonist handle the mess while Kira silently provided intelligence or backup from behind the scenes.
There was no need to wield a sword in the heat of battle. Instead, Kira could manage a business, gather intelligence, or even become stronger at his own pace.
"Staying under the radar is the true path to survival," Kira muttered to himself, watching Lucy's wide-eyed amazement as he unveiled his collection of Golden Keys.
"Four… four?" Lucy gasped. "And one of them is the Ophiuchus Key? I thought it was just a legend!"
"Of course it exists. Legends often exist to cover up the truth. So, what do you think, Lucy? Want to buy one?" Kira leaned back with a smirk.
Lucy hesitated for only a moment before blurting out, "All of them!"
Kira chuckled. "Ah, you're a true Celestial Spirit Mage. Are you suddenly dreaming of collecting all the Golden Keys now?"
Lucy scratched her head sheepishly. "Well… I do want them, but it's not because I'm a collector. I just want them to be treated kindly. They don't have to be in my hands."
For a moment, Kira was taken aback. A warm, dazzling light seemed to radiate from Lucy, filling the room with an almost sacred energy.
"So this is what a real Celestial Spirit Mage is like," Kira thought, momentarily humbled.
"Lucy, you've got the heart of a true Celestial Mage," Kira said sincerely, giving her a thumbs-up. "With a mindset like that, you—"
His words faltered when he saw Lucy clasp her hands together, her eyes sparkling with hope. Her expression radiated pure gratitude.
"Ah, is Kira actually going to give me these keys? What a great person!" Lucy thought excitedly.
"I'll give you a 10% discount," Kira said casually.
Lucy's face fell. "Uh… not free after all."
"Still, I don't have much money," Lucy said, her tone soft and pleading.
Kira leaned in, grinning. "Don't try those puppy-dog eyes on me. That stopped working on me when I was eight. If you don't buy them, I'll just sell the Star Spirit Keys to someone else."
"You wouldn't!" Lucy gasped.
"Why not?" Kira teased, raising an eyebrow. "Do you think I'm some saint?"
Lucy smiled brightly, shaking her head. "No, but you're my companion. And because of that, I believe you'd never do something like that!"
Kira froze. The word "companion" hit him like a hammer, and for a moment, he was blinded by the sheer trust radiating from Lucy's smile.
"Ah, it's too dazzling!" Kira thought, flustered. "What is this feeling of being trusted? Is this how Lucy charms everyone?"
"You don't know me very well, do you?" Kira finally managed to say, trying to recover his composure. "I'm not like Natsu. I'm a businessman, and businessmen only care about profit."
Lucy didn't waver. Her expression remained firm, her voice full of conviction. "But you care about your companions too, don't you? Natsu and the others trust you, so I trust you as well. Besides, if you were going to sell those keys, you would've done it already, wouldn't you?"
Kira stared at her, momentarily speechless.
"Well… she's not wrong," Kira thought. "But I'm still waiting for her to pay me... money!"
Kira's grin turned mischievous. "But Lucy, what if someone else buys the keys? What if they're mistreated? You don't want to see the Star Spirits hurt, do you?"
Lucy's eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms, giving him a suspicious look.
Kira flinched. "Wait, why is she looking at me like that? Did she figure out I'm just teasing?"
Lucy sighed, clearly embarrassed by her own reaction. "Kira, what kind of Celestial Mage would mistreat their spirits? That's not what being a mage is about."
Her confidence and sincerity made Kira pause.
"Not everyone's like you, Lucy," Kira said after a moment. "The world isn't always kind. Even some Celestial Mages don't treat their spirits as partners. Take Karen from Blue Pegasus, for example—"
"Kira! Lucy! What are you talking about?"
Rocky's voice interrupted them as he approached. His expression was unusually grim.
"Rocky," Kira greeted him casually. "What's up?"
Rocky hesitated, glancing between Kira and Lucy. "I need to talk to you… about something important."
"Hey! They're starting!" someone shouted, cutting Rocky off.
In the distance, the duel between Natsu and Erza was finally underway, drawing the crowd's attention.
"We'll talk later," Kira said, brushing off Rocky's concerns.
As the crowd surged toward the action, Lucy remained behind, lost in thought. Her mind was consumed by the idea of the Star Keys.
"All thirteen keys," she whispered to herself, her heart racing. "The ecstasy of collecting them all…"
Kira chuckled softly as he walked away. Hook, line, and sinker.
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