Nagisa Akatsuki sat at the table, her face darkened and her gaze sharp as she bore down on her brother, Kojou.
Across from them, Cid Kagenou took another bite of the omelet rice and let the flavor melt in his mouth.
"Delicious."
He couldn't deny it—Nagisa's cooking was exceptional.
If he weren't so broke and hell-bent on keeping his cover, he might've hired her as his personal chef.
Meanwhile, Kojou silently shot Cid a desperate look.
The message was clear.
"Help me. Save me."
Cid's lips twitched.
Help?
Was this what a natural-born Eminence in Shadow looked like?
The moment things got tough, he folded like a cheap tent.
Pathetic.
Cid smirked internally.
This was proof.
That through hard work and effort, he—an artificial Eminence in Shadow—could surpass even the naturally gifted.
Victory for nurture.
Feeling generous in his moment of triumph, Cid decided to throw Kojou a lifeline.
"Nagisa, I'm starving."
He let his voice trail off with a whiny undertone, adding a touch of helplessness.
"Can we eat now?"
It worked.
Nagisa's focus shifted—if only for a moment.
Kojou's eyes sparkled with gratitude.
Nagisa stood up, muttering something under her breath, and disappeared into the kitchen.
She returned with two plates—one for Cid and one for *Kojou—*and practically tossed Kojou's plate at him before sitting back down.
"Kojou, I trust you. I really do.
But if you dare bring shame to the Akatsuki family…"*
The threat hung in the air like a storm cloud.
Cid took another bite and decided to stay out of it.
He'd already helped.
Whatever came next?
Not his problem.
"*Nagisa, what the hell are you even talking about?!
Why would my preferences be an issue?!*"
Kojou's voice cracked slightly, but he tried to play dumb.
Cid shook his head.
Rookie mistake.
Playing dumb was a universal skill for mob characters.
But—
Not when your opponent's already pissed.
"Bang!"
Nagisa's palm slammed against the table.
"Don't play dumb with me!
Either admit you've got a thing for guys—or explain why you keep staring at girls like some kind of perv!"
Kojou froze.
Cid's grin widened.
Classic.
The guy was completely cornered.
"I-I…"
Kojou stammered, clearly grasping for straws.
But Cid's mind was already elsewhere.
Could it be…?
Was Nagisa actually right?
No, no. That'd be too ridiculous.
This was Kojou Akatsuki—a fellow Eminence in Shadow.
No way he'd have such an obvious weakness.
It was probably just one of those moments—
Like when a protagonist in a story accidentally rules out the right answer and makes a fool of themselves.
That had to be it.
Kojou Akatsuki's secrets couldn't be that easy to expose.
"I just want you to find a girlfriend already!"
Nagisa's voice snapped Cid out of his thoughts.
"Prove your preferences are fine, Kojou!"
Kojou looked offended.
"Why the hell do I have to prove anything?!
Yeah, I look at girls sometimes—what guy doesn't?!
But why does that mean I need a girlfriend to prove I'm normal?!"*
Nagisa's glare hardened.
"Exactly.
You don't understand.
And I'd prefer if you stayed that way."*
Watching the siblings argue, Cid shoveled the last few bites of omelet rice into his mouth.
The sheer volume of information packed into their exchange left him reeling.
Kojou Akatsuki's preferences are questionable?!
He stares at girls like a creep?!*
Wait.
Cid blinked.
He'd gone shopping with Kojou before.
And if his memory was right—
Kojou spent most of his time staring at his neck.
Not in a friendly way.
In a predatory way.
Like a beast eyeing its prey.
"Wait… does that mean—?!"
Was Kojou just testing him?
Was this his way of measuring strength?
A true Eminence in Shadow suppressing his bloodlust to analyze his potential threats?
Cid's thoughts raced.
No—
It had to be.
Only someone as naturally talented as Kojou Akatsuki could go so far as to restrain his urges to test him.
Truly terrifying.
Still…
Cid's curiosity burned.
If Kojou really did have preferences, then who had caught his eye?
Was it…
Yukina Himeragi?
Or maybe…
Asagi Aiba?
Or…
Could it be…
Yuuma?
Wait—no.
It had to be Motoki Yaze.
That guy never left Kojou's side.
As Cid's thoughts spiraled, he suddenly noticed—
His plate was empty.
"Uh… Nagisa, I'm done."
A simple request.
But judging from the way Nagisa's eyes snapped toward him, it might've just made things worse.
Hearing Cid's response, Nagisa Akatsuki immediately abandoned her argument with Kojou and turned to him with an eager expression.
"You finished already?!"
She practically leaned forward, her eyes sparkling.
"How was it, Cid-kun? Did you like it? Was it to your taste? Do you want seconds? Maybe—"
"It was delicious," Cid interrupted smoothly, cutting her off before she could spiral into another barrage of questions.
"Honestly, Nagisa, anything you make is bound to taste great. But I'm good for now. Got some things to take care of."
Experience.
That was the key.
Cid had long since learned the dangers of getting caught in Nagisa's tempo.
If he didn't cut her off early, he'd be trapped in her conversation loops for hours.
"Oh… okay then."
Her expression deflated slightly, but she quickly perked back up.
"Hey, Cid-kun! What about tomorrow? There's a new water park that just opened near the beach. Wanna check it out? Or if you're not into that, I also heard—"
"Tomorrow? Yeah, I'm free."
Cid nodded without hesitation, expertly keeping the conversation short.
"Send me the location later. See you then."
"O-okay! Tomorrow then! See you, Cid-kun!"
He slipped out the door before Nagisa could restart the loop.
Nagisa closed the door behind him, her smile fading the moment Cid's footsteps disappeared down the hallway.
Her face darkened.
"KOJOU!!!"
Leaving the apartment complex, Cid made his way toward the convenience store.
"Anything else, sir?"
The cashier's voice broke him from his thoughts.
"Hmm… Yeah. Bag the cat food for me. And grab a bottle of watermelon juice too."
After paying for his items, Cid turned toward the mountain path.
That's right—
A mountain.
On a man-made island.
Strange, wasn't it?
The artificial island of Itogami had been built just a few decades ago, yet this mountain had been here for so long that the locals had forgotten it wasn't natural.
Cid climbed the trail with practiced ease, soon arriving at an abandoned monastery near the peak.
"Meow. Meow. Meow!"
A chorus of cries greeted him the moment he stepped inside.
The once-sacred building was now home to dozens of stray cats.
"Alright, alright. I brought food. Don't rush me."
He opened the bag of cat food and began filling dishes, ignoring the swarm of tiny paws brushing against his legs.
"Seriously, your caretaker's been gone for weeks now.
What, did they just dump you here and leave?
Unbelievable."
He sighed, setting the empty bag aside.
"If I ever see her again, she's paying me back for this."
Stray animals were rare on Itogami Island.
The city's policies treated them as pests.
Any animal found wandering the streets was rounded up by enforcement teams and euthanized.
Most residential zones outright forbade pet ownership.
And even the areas that allowed it had strict limits.
Which made it even weirder to find this many cats—
All hidden away in an abandoned monastery.
Logically, someone must have smuggled them in.
Probably someone with more compassion than sense.
But emotions were fickle.
Pity didn't last forever.
Eventually, reality would set in.
The costs and effort of caring for them would pile up.
And one day, the caretaker would decide—
"It's too much work."
And just like that, the cats would be left behind.
It wasn't evil.
Not really.
This island simply wasn't built for strays.
Without someone to care for them, they would've died faster.
So why did it still piss him off?
Cid's eyes narrowed.
Those eyes.
The ones that had lured him in.
Innocent. Helpless. Pure.
They'd tricked him.
And now his precious Shadow Funds—
Money meant for artifacts, weapons, and rare materials—
Were being burned on cat food.
Unacceptable.
He let out a deep sigh and poured the last bag into their bowls.
"Enjoy it while it lasts."
His voice was low, almost threatening.
But the cats?
They just meowed happily as they devoured the food.
Cid leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
This wasn't over.
He'd get his revenge—
Starting with that runaway caretaker.
And when he found her?
She'd pay back every last cent.
Cid Kagenou never saw himself as a good person.
Sure, he liked cute animals and wouldn't hesitate to help return a lost cat or dog to its owner.
But he had no intention of adopting strays.
For him, the abandoned monastery on the hill was the perfect compromise.
A weekend retreat where he could relax and pet cats without any responsibilities.
The original caretaker had a pair of eyes so pure and sincere that Cid believed she'd never abandon them.
So when she disappeared for several days, leaving the cats starving, he felt—
Betrayed.
He should've walked away.
Let nature take its course.
But after all those lazy afternoons spent petting them, he couldn't just ignore them now.
This was payback.
For every purr and headbutt he'd enjoyed—
This was the price.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps at the entrance.
"Pay me back."
That was the first thing out of Cid's mouth when he saw her.
She stood in the doorway, short silver hair framing her doll-like face.
Her ocean-blue eyes shone brightly, though her cheeks were flushed from what was likely a long sprint.
Her breathing was still uneven.
For a typical mob character, this scene would've been enough to fluster them.
Her looks were striking—the kind that could make a man forget his priorities and start offering pointless reassurances.
But Cid?
He was no ordinary mob.
With no one else around, he had zero reason to maintain his act.
So instead, he pointed straight at the cats still munching on their food.
"These cats.
The food.
The time.
The effort.
Everything I've done since you vanished—pay me back."
"Eh?! W-wait—what?"
Her eyes widened, clearly caught off guard.
Confusion.
Panic.
Even a bit of shock.
Cid watched her reaction without blinking.
Then he listed off every expense and inconvenience he'd dealt with while caring for the cats.
By the time he finished, she was already bowing deeply, holding out her wallet with both hands.
"I'm so sorry!
Please—take this money!"
Her earnest apology and immediate repayment caught Cid a bit off guard.
Not that he let it show.
He took the wallet and started counting.
Enough to cover the expenses—
And then some.
A lot more, actually.
For a moment, his fingers hesitated.
But ultimately, Cid pulled out only the exact amount he was owed and handed the wallet back.
"This is enough."
But then—
"No, Cid-kun.
I want you to keep all of it.
Actually—I need your help."
Cid raised an eyebrow.
"Help?"
Kanase Kanon knelt down, gently cradling one of the cats in her arms.
Her voice softened as she spoke.
"I'm leaving the island, Cid-kun.
For good.
And I can't take them with me."
She hugged the kitten close, her eyes filled with regret.
"I tried to find someone who could take them all in…
But no one will.
Not fast enough, anyway.
So I'm begging you—please look after them until you find homes for them.
I'll pay for everything—no matter how much it costs."
Her voice wavered, but her eyes were resolute.
Cid's mind spun.
This was…
Perfect.
The island's population was massive.
Sure, only a fraction of people could own pets.
But that fraction was still huge.
If he found homes for the cats fast enough, the leftover money would be his.
He wasn't scamming anyone.
He'd do the job.
Just…
Efficiently.
And any extra funds?
Shadow Funds.
To fuel the Eminence in Shadow.
Cid looked at her carefully.
Then he nodded.
"Deal.
I'll take care of them."
The relief that washed over her face was almost blinding.
"Thank you—thank you so much, Cid-kun!
I promise, I'll pay for anything you need!"
As Cid watched her leave, his thoughts shifted back to the cats.
It was easy money.
A low-risk job with a high return.
But something about Kanase Kanon's parting look left him feeling—
Unsettled.
Like there was more to her departure than she was letting on.
Even if he couldn't find homes for the cats right away, there was still at least a few hundred thousand yen to fall back on.
No—if Kanase Kanon was willing to give him more funds later, then it could even go up to millions.
Technically speaking—
He could just take the money and bail.
Once she left the island, there'd be no one to hold him accountable.
But—
Cid Kagenou wasn't the type to stoop that low.
Neither as mob Cid nor as the Eminence in Shadow.
That was simply beneath him.
"Alright, fine."
He let out a long sigh, feigning reluctance.
"I'll take care of them until you come back—or until I find them proper homes."
Of course, he had no intention of letting this cash cow slip away.
The moment he agreed, Kanase Kanon's tense shoulders relaxed.
Her lips curved into a soft, genuine smile.
"Thank you so much, Cid-kun."
She immediately turned her attention back to the cats, crouching down to check their health.
Cid shrugged, taking it as his cue to return to petting the cats.
So soft.
So fluffy.
If only they didn't eat so much or require so much attention, he might've considered getting one for himself.
But reality sucked.
And these brief, responsibility-free moments were about to end.
"By the way, why me?"
His voice cut through the quiet.
"We barely know each other, Kanase.
How do you know I won't just take the money and run?"
It was an honest question.
On the surface, they seemed close.
But that was only because Cid had let her believe they were.
In truth, they'd only known each other for a few months.
Even then, their conversations were brief—mostly consisting of polite greetings as he came to pet the cats and she quietly cared for them.
They didn't know each other's addresses.
They didn't attend the same school.
They didn't even know each other's real hobbies.
At most, they were familiar strangers.
Bonded only by their shared affection for cats.
Which was why Cid couldn't figure out why she'd trusted him.
"Because…"
She gently lifted one of the kittens, stroking its fur as her eyes softened.
"Cid-kun is a very kind person."
Cid froze.
"What?"
"You're kind.
You didn't have to take care of them while I was gone, but you did.
And you like them too, don't you?"
Cid blinked.
Was this girl blind?
Him?
Kind?
Did she not realize he was still wanted for:
•Hijacking an international terrorist organization.
•Almost blowing up Eurasia because it seemed cool.
•Ignoring world-ending disasters because he was busy training.
The very idea of him being kind was as ridiculous as the Diabolos Cult actually existing.
Cid's thoughts spiraled.
Was it his acting?
Had his mob persona been too convincing?
For the first time in a long while, Cid Kagenou was speechless.
"Grrrrumble—"
Thankfully, the awkward silence was shattered by the growl of a stomach.
Cid's eyes flicked downward.
Kanase's hands had instinctively clutched her stomach.
Her face had gone bright red.
"W-wait—! It's not—"
She fumbled for words, but embarrassment had her tongue-tied.
"You skipped lunch, didn't you?"
Cid's voice was casual—no teasing or mockery.
He'd seen too many situations like this to let it get awkward.
There were two options for moments like these.
Option 1: Pretend it never happened.
Change the subject and move on.
Option 2: Call attention to it, make light of the situation, and keep things casual.
But Cid?
Cid Kagenou chose neither.
Shift the conversation to something else and move on.
He wasn't the type to mock someone over their embarrassment—
Not even someone like Kanase Kanon, who'd just handed him a stack of cash and all but begged him to take care of her cats.
It wasn't about kindness.
It was simply beneath him.
"Mmm. I haven't been here in a while, so I wanted to make sure they were okay."
Kanase's voice was steadying now, her earlier embarrassment starting to fade.
She began explaining herself, perhaps to fill the silence.
Cid said nothing.
"Cid-kun, if something happened to your family—"
"Stop. Time out."
Cid held up a hand, cutting her off immediately.
"Kanase, if you're about to tell me some tragic backstory, save it.
Right now, you need food.
That's the priority."
In truth, he didn't care about her family drama.
Her disappearance and the cats' situation were probably connected, but it wasn't his problem.
It wasn't like it'd give him a chance to step into the shadows and save the world.
So why bother?
Cid's focus was on ending this conversation as quickly as possible—
Before she could drag him into her issues.
He reached into his bag and pulled out a bottle of watermelon juice.
"Here. Drink this.
I didn't bring food, so at least get some sugar in you."
Cid mentally patted himself on the back.
Smooth.
This way, he wouldn't have to buy her lunch and could still leave early.
Later, he'd just stop by the convenience store to grab another bottle for Shinra Tsubaki.
No big deal.
Or so he thought.
Kanase's expression froze.
Was it Cid's imagination, or did she just go even paler?
"What? Don't like watermelon juice?"
She flinched, but quickly shook her head.
"N-no!
Not at all!
If Cid-kun gave it to me, I'll drink it!"
Cid's eyes narrowed.
There was something off.
But before he could stop her, she'd already twisted off the cap and started chugging.
"Hey—slow down."
She didn't.
It wasn't drinking.
It was guzzling.
At that speed, even someone with fast reflexes couldn't avoid spilling.
Sure enough—
Her shirt was soaked.
Her face had turned white.
And before Cid could say another word—
"C-Cid—"
Her body jerked.
And then—
"Bleh—!"
Kanase Kanon threw up.
They ended up at a café afterward, sitting in the most secluded booth they could find.
Cid tapped his fingers against the table.
Kanase sat across from him, eyes downcast.
"So…"
His voice cut through the awkward silence.
"Why didn't you just refuse it?"
She flinched at his words.
Her fingers clenched around the cup of tea she'd been nursing.
"I… I just…"
And there it was—
That hesitation.
That lack of conviction.
Cid let out a sigh.
If he was going to be stuck here, he might as well get some answers.
Originally, his plan had been simple.
Hand her a drink, let her recover, and leave.
It was cheap, efficient, and kept his mob persona intact.
But instead—
This.
This mess.
And now he couldn't even walk away without looking like an asshole.
"Cid-kun… I'm sorry."
Her voice was small—barely above a whisper.
"I didn't want to waste it.
You gave it to me, so I… I had to drink it."
Cid stared.
What the hell?
Who even thought like that?
And more importantly—
Who the hell gets nauseous from watermelon juice?!
He rubbed his temples.
This girl was more trouble than he'd expected.
In the end, Cid Kagenou found himself spending his own money—even if it technically came from Kanase Kanon's cat fund—to buy her lunch at a café.
And it bothered him.
The logic was simple.
Once he found homes for the cats, the leftover funds would be his.
So, by spending any of it now, it was basically his own money on the line.
And yet—
Here he was.
Sitting across from Kanase Kanon, sipping coffee and waiting for her to finish her meal.
His gaze locked onto her.
Cold. Calculating.
"I… I just don't know how to refuse."
Her voice broke the silence.
"I don't buy it."
Cid leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.
His eyes never left hers.
Kanase Kanon wasn't someone who couldn't say no.
He'd been watching her for months—
And her eyes didn't belong to someone who lacked courage.
"You're not the type who can't stand up for yourself."
His tone was matter-of-fact.
"What you really mean is—you don't know how to refuse someone's kindness."
Her shoulders jerked.
Her eyes fell to the table.
And that was all the confirmation he needed.
It made sense.
Refusing malice was easy.
Refusing kindness?
That took a whole other level of resolve.
And Kanase?
She was too kind.
Too much like Shirley.
Cid's expression softened—just slightly.
"Look," he said, "this might sound harsh, but you need to fix that part of yourself."
"I—I'm sorry."
Her voice trembled as she lowered her head.
"Don't apologize."
His voice cut through the air, firm yet calm.
If he could, he'd walk away from this.
This wasn't his problem.
And honestly?
He had enough on his plate already—
With cats, money, and dark organizations.
But—
He looked at her again.
Those clear, untainted eyes.
Eyes that, one day, would be clouded by regret if he did nothing.
It wasn't heroism.
Not even pity.
Just a moment of weakness.
A rare lapse.
Cid Kagenou, the Eminence in Shadow, would play therapist this once.
"Kanase.
Let me guess what you wanted to ask me."
She blinked.
Her lips parted like she was about to deny it—
But he didn't give her the chance.
"First, answer me this—do you hate Itogami Island?"
She shook her head instantly.
"No. I don't."
"So it's not your idea to leave."
She nodded.
"It's your parents."
Her fingers tightened around her cup.
"Is it because of you? Something you did?"
Kanase's shoulders trembled, but she managed to nod.
"My father… he says the place I'm going is better for me."
"And you? Do you want to go?"
His question hit like a hammer.
Kanase's lips trembled.
She opened her mouth—
Then closed it.
The conversation was starting to feel like an interrogation.
But Cid didn't back down.
People like Kanase Kanon didn't just spill their secrets.
You had to pry them out.
"Kanase."
His tone was gentler this time.
"Forget what your father says.
Forget what anyone else thinks.
What do you want?"
She hesitated—
But this time, she didn't look away.
"I… I don't want to leave."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
But it was there.
A sliver of resolve.
Cid leaned back.
"Then there's your answer."
It wasn't his job to fix her life.
But he'd pushed her enough to at least get the truth out.
If she wanted to stay, she'd have to fight for it.
And if she didn't?
Well—
That was her problem.
He'd already done more than enough.
"I don't want to leave.
I can't leave this island—where my friends are, where the cats need me… and where you are, Cid-kun."
Kanase Kanon's voice trembled, the words spilling out as though she'd been holding them back for far too long.
Her eyes shimmered, brimming with tears she was desperately trying to suppress.
Cid Kagenou sat in silence for a moment, letting her words hang in the air.
The weight behind them was clear—
But so was her hesitation.
"Have you told your parents how you feel?"
It was a pointless question.
Someone with Kanase's personality would never have pushed back.
Sure enough—
"N-no…"
Exactly as he'd expected.
Cid let out a sigh, leaning back in his chair.
His eyes never left hers.
"Kanase."
His voice softened—not with sympathy, but with understanding.
"Have you ever heard of the coin toss theory?"
She blinked, confused.
"It's simple," he continued.
"When you can't decide between two choices, flipping a coin always works.
Not because the coin gives you the right answer—
But because, in the moment it's spinning through the air—
You suddenly know what you're hoping for."
Kanase's lips parted as if to say something, but Cid didn't stop.
"Coming to me—asking me for advice—
That was your coin toss, Kanase.
And the moment you opened your mouth, you already knew what you wanted."
Her breath hitched.
Cid leaned in.
"The real question is—
Do you have the courage to fight for it?"
Her eyes widened.
"Courage?!"
Cid shrugged.
"Call it rebellion if you want.
A little teenage defiance never killed anyone."
"I… I don't understand, Cid-kun."
"Then let me make it simpler."
His voice dropped, calm but pointed.
"Let's say one of your cats suddenly decides it doesn't want your care anymore.
It wants to leave.
What would you do?"
Kanase hesitated.
"I… I'd teach it how to survive?"
Cid froze.
That wasn't the answer he'd been expecting.
It wasn't even close.
For the first time, Cid Kagenou—master schemer, shadow manipulator, and self-proclaimed mastermind—was caught completely off guard.