"(Y/N), WAIT!" Ai called out as you flung the bar door open.

"Don't follow me." You huffed. She followed after you in a hurry, ignoring your command.

"Listen to me (y/n)-"

"NO, I'm tired of everyone constantly keeping me in the dark!"

"We do it because we love you-"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" You finally stopped dead in your tracks. She stopped as well and went silent. "Ai, I can tell from the way everyone is acting that it's not good. I'm not stupid. But you and everyone else in that bar don't get to decide what I can and can't handle."

"I'm not saying you can't handle it!" She pleaded. "You're the strongest person I know!"

"Then why-"

"BECAUSE YOU'LL CHANGE WHEN YOU FIND OUT!"

Ai's tone had escalated. She nearly had tears in her eyes. It was rare that the two of you had moments like this. But you knew you had to stand firm to what you had said.

Giving in now would only result in more doubt and sleepless nights.

"I'm going Ai, I need to know. If I change... Then it will be into who I should've been."

"Don't say that!" She pleaded. "You are who you were always supposed to be now!"

"No one is supposed to know me better than me! I can't stand feeling this way, why can't you understand!?"

"But-"

"Ai sweetie..." Ranka had come out as well, his hand setting down gently on your friend's shoulder. "Let her go."

"What the fuck Ranka! Whose side are you on?!" Ai spat.

The man pressed his lips together. Truthfully, he didn't want you to leave either. But he understood the pain of not feeling like you know yourself all too well.

"(Y/n)'s become capable. Just look at her." He smiled softly. "And we both know that she won't give up until she's given every fiber of her being to something."

Ai dropped her gaze and grew quiet.

"Thank you Ranka..." You smiled grimly.

"Oh hush child." He huffed. "I'm still upset with you. How dare you raise your voice at the people who love you!"

"Sorry..." You dropped your head. "I'll be more careful next time."

He nodded towards you, hands still resting on Ai's quivering shoulders.

"Tread lightly, (y/n)." He said in a serious tone. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

"Yeah." You softly muttered. "Me too."

- - -

"I'm not sure how long I'll be gone Kuro." You sighed, pulling a dark hoodie down over your head. "I'll leave extra food out for you though."

"Meoooow..." The kitten meowed softly, rummaging around in his spot.

"Yes, of course, I'm gonna tell Shouto... I wouldn't keep him in the dark on something like this."

"Meow meooow?"

"I'm gonna be safe, don't worry." You insisted.

"Meow?"

"Just to find Dabi. Hopefully, he can give me some of the answers I'm looking for."

You gathered a few things into a small backpack; a toothbrush, a change of clothes, etc. There was no telling where you would end up in the next few hours. Maybe Dabi had already left Kabukicho. You couldn't be sure, you virtually had no leads.

Where do I even start?

You gazed up at the street light, not sure whether to take a left or right.

I only actually met him that one night when I was attacked, so the only connection I have right off the bat is...

My assailants...

You swallowed the lump in your throat, pulling your hood up and over your head.

I'm not going to get caught again. I can't count on him being there to rescue me! But... If I could get the information out of them...? Maybe, just maybe they could give me a lead!

You took off in the direction of where you had first had the run in. It was scary, just thinking back to what had happened. But even if your memory was notoriously flaky, you knew their voices, you knew their presence.

How could you forget?

- - -

By the time you had arrived near the familiar alleyway, it was nearly 2am. It was quiet. You hadn't expected the same group to be hanging around but you sure hoped they would be. Everything would have been much simpler that way.

You walked along the dimly lit sidewalk, gazing into each passing crevice. The street was littered with overly intoxicated patrons or people with the light drained from their eyes. If you could, you would stop and help every one of them. But the night was only so long. Not only that, but the previous assault had stapled a paranoia in your mind.

People can become addicted to an easy solution.

"You look lost ma'am." A strange voice called over to you.

"Oh uh," You turned to face the young man, no older than 25. "I'm not lost, thank you." You softly answered with a small bow.

"I completely understand why you wouldn't want to interact with a strange man at this time in a place like this, but I may be able to point you in the right direction."

"... Was it that obvious?"

"Yes, you may as well have 'I'm lost, send help' plastered on your forehead." He laughed. The man remained a few feet away and out of arms reach from you. "Name's Mikoto. How can I be of assistance!"

"... Isn't that a woman's name?" You casually asked.

"IT'S ANDROGYNOUS! Geez, my daughter makes fun of me for the same reason..." He sobbed. You were still being cautious, maintaining the distance and watching him carefully.

What if he's lying? What if he's just trying to make me comfortable?

"You have a daughter? What's her name?"

"I thought you'd NEVER ASK!" There was a glint in his eye as he pulled out a small, folding book filled with pictures upon pictures of him a small girl. "THIS IS MY BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL MIKA AND I LOVE HER WITH ALL MY HEART!" He continued to sob, pointing to each and every picture at a rate that didn't seem human.

Yep, he's definitely not lying...

"Uh, Mikoto?" You softly said. "Do you live around here?"

"That's right!" He smiled, putting the picture book back in his pocket. "I live in a shabby apartment building just up the road! I just got done working overtime." He sighed.

"Then... Do you know of any prominent gangs in this area?"

Mikoto froze for a moment at your question.

"Why would you want to know something like that?" He solemnly asked. "You're not thinking of confronting dangerous people... are you?"

"Does it matter if I am? You said you wanted to help, right?"

"It's already dangerous for a young girl to be wandering around here at this hour, and now you want to confront a gang? Is there something wrong with your head maybe-"

"Forget it." You scoffed, turning back the way you were heading.

"Wait a second!" The man called, a call that was promptly ignored.

'Forget it'? How could I say something like that so coldly?

"I said wait a second!" Mikoto repeated, his hand landing on your shoulder.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" You ripped it away from you and stumbled back.

"Okay okay, easy..." He insisted, taking a few steps away. "I'm sorry, I crossed a line. But you can't just go rushing off like that. Why don't you tell me what exactly you plan to do?"

You hesitated briefly, but the sincerity in his voice urged you to speak out.

"I'm looking for... a friend."

"A friend? You'll have to be more specific than that." Mikoto sighed.

"Well, he goes by Dabi, he wears a dark cloak, and he's covered in burns. Oh, and he has spiky black hair!" You frantically spouted, motioning to your head. "You know, like an anime character!"

"... Are you sure you're not just talking about an anime character you fell in love with? Teenage girls are into edgy boys right?" He inquired.

"What? No no no, nothing like that!"

This conversation sounds familiar...

"Burns and black spiky hair huh?" Mikoto pondered. "You know... I think I may have seen him around here when I was walking home from work."

"REALLY?!" You gasped.

"Yes yes really!"

"That's great! Where did you see him?!"

"I mean, I just noticed him heading somewhere. I have no idea where though..."

"Oh..." You huffed, crossing your arms. "So another dead end..."

"Whoa now, where'd the optimism go?!" Mikoto teased.

I don't know.

Ever since this whole ordeal started, I haven't been myself.

"When was the last time you saw him?" You quietly asked.

"Hmm, probably a few days ago?"

A few days ago... Which means he's probably still in the city!

"Alright, I'm gonna try checking out the bars near here." You stated. "Bars are thresholds for information. Maybe I'll even run into the gang members."

"Wha-?! You're not even old enough to be let into bars!" Mikoto gasped.

"I have a fake I.D."

"MEGA WHAT?! How did you get something like that?!"

Thanks Ai for indirectly helping me.

"It doesn't matter. I'm off, thank you for your help." You smiled softly.

With that you set off down the sidewalk once more, leaving the confused man behind.

The search was on.