Chapter 39
The car ride back to the agency was quiet.
Cid stared out the window for most of the ride, while Nighteye kept his eyes on the road. Neither of them spoke much. The weight of their earlier conversation still lingered between them, and neither seemed ready to address it yet.
When they arrived, Cid went straight to his room and packed his things. Once he was done, he went to find Mirio.
Mirio was in one of the training rooms, stretching after a long session. When he noticed Cid, his usual bright expression softened.
"You're heading out already?" he asked, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Cid nodded. "Yeah. Internships are wrapping up."
Mirio studied him for a moment, concern flickering in his eyes. "You sure you're good to travel? You still look pretty rough."
"I'm fine," Cid replied. He paused, then added, "Thanks… for what you did back there. For saving me, I mean."
Mirio's smile returned, warm and genuine. "Of course. That's what friends do."
Cid gave a small nod and started to walk away and waved back at him. "Still. Thanks man."
On his way back to U.A. Cid sat on the train with his bag resting by his feet. The ride was quiet and felt weirdly peaceful after what he had gone through it felt wrong in a way. So he pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to Yui letting her know he was on the train back.
[Cid]: On my way back. Should be there in a few hours.
He stared at the screen waiting for a reply then after a few minutes of nothing. He slipped the phone back into his pocket and leaned his head against the window, watching the scenery pass by just relaxing.
By the time he reached the UA dorms, the sun was already setting. His body still felt stiff from his injuries and he was honestly ready to just crash on his bed to sleep When he reached his room, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Yui was already there.
She was sitting on the edge of his bed, arms wrapped tightly around herself. The moment she saw him, something in her expression cracked.
She stood up quickly and crossed the room. Without a word, she grabbed the front of his shirt with both hands and shoved him back against the door. It wasn't hard enough to hurt, but the force behind it was clear.
"You idiot," she said, her voice already breaking.
Tears were already rolling down her cheeks as she looked up at him. Her grip on his shirt tightened.
"Do you have any idea what it was like?" she choked out. "Watching that on the news? Seeing you just stand there while that thing was coming at you? Choosing to save those people instead of yourself?"
Cid didn't push her away. He simply looked down at her, his expression tired but gentle.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "But I had to."
Yui's face crumpled. She pressed her forehead against his chest, her shoulders shaking as she cried harder.
"I know," she whispered, her voice muffled against his shirt. "I know you did. I get it, I really do but…"
She pulled back just enough to look up at him, tears still streaming down her face.
"What about your life, Cid? What about me? What about us?"
Her voice cracked again as she pressed closer, clinging to him.
"I know I'm being unreasonable," she admitted, her words shaky. "I know you were trying to save people. I know that's who you are. But seeing you on that rooftop like that… seeing how close you came to dying… It hurts. It really hurts." she said her voice cracking towards the end
She took a shaky breath, her fingers still curled tightly in his shirt.
"I was so scared," she whispered. "I care more about you than I do about people I don't even know. And the thought of losing you like that… It terrified me."
Cid slowly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a gentle hug. He rested his chin on top of her head, holding her close as she cried against his chest.
"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I really am."
Yui stayed there, pressed against him, her tears soaking into his shirt. The anger had faded, leaving only the fear and worry she had been carrying since she saw the news.
After a while, her crying began to slow. She stayed in his arms, breathing shakily against his chest.
"I won't do that again," Cid said quietly.
Yui's fingers tightened slightly in his shirt. A part of her wanted to believe him, but another part wondered if he was only saying it to make her feel better.
She pulled back just enough to look up at him, her eyes still glassy.
"I don't want you to change just because of me," she said, her voice still thick with tears. "I want you to want to live. I want you to—"
Cid gently placed a finger against her lips, cutting her off.
Yui froze.
When she looked into his eyes, something in her stomach dropped.
There was something new there.
It wasn't the usual calm determination she was used to. This was sharper. More intense. Like a burning obsession that made her breath catch.
"I'm going to get stronger," Cid said, his voice low and steady. "So strong that nothing on this planet will be able to get between me and you, of the future I want with you, ever again."
Yui's eyes widened.
She understood immediately.
He wasn't just talking about training harder. He was talking about pushing himself past his limits. Past what was safe. He was willing to break himself if that's what it took.
Her heart clenched.
Cid slowly lowered his hand and leaned forward, resting his forehead gently against hers. His voice softened, but the resolve behind it never wavered.
"I promise," he said quietly. "I won't have to make that choice again."
Yui stayed still, her hands still gripping his shirt. Her mind was racing.
She knew she couldn't stop him from walking this path. That much was clear. But she could do something. She could make sure he didn't destroy himself in the process. She could train too. She could get stronger. If she couldn't match him in power, then she would at least be there to keep him from going too far.
She wouldn't be useless.
If he was going to become a hero for everyone else… then she would be his hero. The one who saved him from himself.
Yui leaned up and kissed him.
It wasn't soft or hesitant. She pressed her lips against his with quiet desperation, like she was sealing something important. The kiss was deep and lingering, as if she was physically cementing the promise she had just made to herself. Her hands moved up to gently hold the sides of his face, holding him there as if she could transfer her resolve through the kiss itself.
Yui slowly pulled back from the kiss, her hands went to rest lightly on his chest. She looked up at him for a moment, her eyes still a little red from crying, before gently lacing her fingers through his.
"We should go to bed," she said softly. "You need rest."
Cid didn't argue. He simply nodded.
They moved quietly around the room. Yui changed into one of his shirts while Cid slipped into a pair of sweatpants. Once they were changed, they climbed into bed without another word.
Yui immediately curled into his side, resting her head on his chest and wrapping an arm around his waist. Cid pulled her closer, one arm draped over her as they settled under the blanket. The tension from earlier had eased, replaced by a quiet, tired warmth. Within minutes, they both drifted off to sleep, holding onto each other a little tighter than usual.
Elsewhere
Nighteye sat alone in his office, the lights dimmed low. He stared at his phone for a moment, fingers tapping lightly against the desk before he finally made the call, he'd been debating on making.
It rang twice before Nezu picked up.
"Nighteye," Nezu greeted, his usual cheerful tone present but slightly subdued. "A bit late for a call. Is everything alright?"
Nighteye leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple with his free hand.
"No," he said plainly. "Not entirely. I need to speak with you about Cid."
There was a brief pause on the other end.
"Go on."
Nighteye took a slow breath.
"I used my Quirk on him."
The silence that followed was heavier than before.
"…When?" Nezu eventually asked, his voice losing its usual lightness.
"During our first meeting. When we shook hands." Nighteye's tone was steady, but there was clear fatigue underneath it. "I needed to know what kind of future someone with his power and background would bring. At the time, I felt it was necessary."
Nezu was quiet again for several seconds.
"I see," he said at last. His voice carried clear disappointment. "I won't pretend I'm not unhappy with that decision, Nighteye. Using your Quirk on a student without their knowledge, especially one with his…. delicate history, was a serious breach of trust."
"I know," Nighteye replied without argument. "But what's done is done. And after seeing what I saw… I don't regret looking. Only how I went about it."
Nezu let out a small sigh.
"What exactly did you see?"
Nighteye's grip on the phone tightened.
"I won't tell you the personal things but it was something I've never seen before," he admitted. "Every person I've ever used my Quirk on has had a fixed future. One path. Unchanging. But Cid… his future has multiple branches. Paths that shift and change depending on the choices he makes. It's not set in stone like everyone else's. Not even like All Might's."
Nezu was silent for a long moment, clearly processing the information.
"That's… significant," he said eventually. "And what does this have to do with why you're calling me now?"
Nighteye leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.
"Because Cid is going to come to you soon. He's planning to ask you to create a training regimen that will push him to his absolute limits and then some. He's determined to go further than he ever has before."
Nezu hummed thoughtfully.
"I see. And you're telling me this because…?"
"Because I know him," Nighteye said. " He's going to push himself hard, far harder than he should. I wanted you to have some warning before he comes to you."
Nezu was quiet again before responding, his tone more serious than before.
"Thank you for the warning. I'll keep it in mind when he approaches me."
Nighteye nodded to himself.
"Take care of him, Nezu. He's carrying alot more than he lets on. And… try to help him find balance. He's been through enough."
"I will," Nezu replied. "And Nighteye… I hope you're able to repair things with him. He'll need people he can trust going forward."
The call ended shortly after.
Nighteye stayed seated in the dark office staring at nothing in particular.