Rumi went back to Endeavor's house after work.

She was only staying there till she could get a new place. Right now Ren was looking for one, since he insisted on helping.

All anyone at the Endeavor house knew was that her deal with the LOV had gone south.

Fuyumi had been very kind and discreetly not asked about it. Rumi appreciated it in a way but was not in the mood to be friendly. Her spirits were down in her toes.

Natsuo didn't ask that many questions about it. He didn't want to know. Endeavor just knew better.

Shoto was the only one who might have partially understood, other than Dabi, who was also gone.

Rumi wished they were all back. She needed someone to bounce ideas off of, and Ren was just... It was too close, she thought. Not that she didn't think about what he said.

Hawks had been stopping by to check on her, mostly because he thought Ujiko might try to hunt her down... Well, that was his avowed reason. Rumi figured out pretty quickly that he was really looking for an excuse to see Fuyumi. He never showed up before school hours were over.

Fuyumi was as oblivious as her brothers. In fact, Rumi rather thought she might be assuming that Hawks was wanting to see her that badly.

"He's not into me, you know," she said at one point that afternoon when Fuyumi was making tea.

"Huh?" Fuyumi said.

"Hawks," Rumi shrugged. "We're not like that. Believe me, I could not be less interested, and I think it goes both ways. Not compatible at all and I don't date."

"Oh...I didn't mean to imply I thought it," Fuyumi said. "I'm not the suspicious type."

"I just figured it had to look weird," Rumi said, "but he's really just obsessed with making sure nothing bad happens ever, for some reason, like that's something you can really prevent." She sounded bitter at the last, and she knew it. "Anyway, don't read into it. Trust me."

"Oh...well, if you're so sure." Fuyumi sipped her tea. "But it's not like it would be that bad. Pro Heroes date, after all. Nothing to be embarrassed about if some people get the wrong idea."

Rumi rolled her eyes . "Nothing but a hassle when that happens. They've tried to match me up with other Heroes ever since I debuted. It's so annoying."

"People like to feel their heroes have a personal life," Fuyumi said. "I mean, I know a lot of people don't even know my dad is married and has kids. Of course, they know now, but I mean, not that long ago, I would still get odd reactions if I mentioned it. He seemed so aloof. So I think it's okay if people see you as...what do they call it now? Shippable?"

"I hate that--sounds like goods on the market," Rumi said.

"I suppose that is a little odd," Fuyumi said, "but I don't know--at least people think of you that way. Try telling people your dad is Endeavor and having any sort of love life..."

Rumi snorted. "Just find some featherbrained moron who looks up to Endeavor a lot."

"Most of the people who look up to my dad who I've met are just a little...odd," Fuyumi said. "I don't know why."

"Yeah, well, that tracks," Rumi said.

Hawks came in right then.

"Hello, ladies," he said. "I brought KFC!"

He did indeed have a bucket of that.

"For you," Rumi said.

"You can have some if you want," Hawks said generously. "So...is Endeavor around?"

"No, he won't be home for a while," Fuyumi said.

"Oh, okay," Hawks said. "Well, just checking in. Nothing spooky happened, right?"

"Nothing. You can stop doing this now," Rumi said.

Hawks looked a little deflated. "Oh...well, you know, it's better to be safe than sorry."

"Between you and Ren, I already feel smothered." Rumi got up and walked out of the room. "Just talk to Fuyumi if you want a 411."

Hawks and Fuyumi exchanged an awkward look.

"I'm sure she's just stressed," Fuyumi said.

"No, that's Rumi all the time." Hawks rolled his eyes in turn. "Oh well, what can you do? I guess I deserve it." He sat down. "I wonder if this sort of happened because of me. Maybe I pushed too hard."

"You can't blame yourself for everything, Hawks," Fuyumi said quietly, reaching for a piece of chicken.

"This time I really did make it worse," Hawks said, "though I'm kind of glad, if she's finally leaving the League. She was getting way too comfortable there. But honestly, I thought they'd track her down and deal out some kind of repercussions---"

His phone rang.

"Ah, sorry, this might be work," he said.

Fuyumi nodded. "No, of course. My father is Endeavor. I understand."

Hawks answered it. "Hello?"

"Is that you?" It was Medea.

"Uh...no, leave a message," Hawks said, hanging up.

She called back.

He answered again. "Hawks speaking."

"That wasn't funny," Medea said. "It took forever to get on this line again... Listen, do you know where Mirko is? She won't answer any of my messages."

"Yeah, I think that might be because she doesn't want to talk to you," Hawks said.

Fuyumi's eyes looked concerned behind her glasses.

"Come on, Hawks, please," Medea sounded upset. "You gotta tell me something. I mean, I guess she's not hurt, right?"

"Oh, no, she's fine," Hawks said. "I mean...physically."

"That's something at least, but she shouldn't be avoiding me. What did I ever do? I can't believe how irresponsible she is."

"Well, she's not known for her responsibility."

"Hawks!"

"What do you want me to do, kid? If she's not answering, then why would she talk to you just because I told her to? She doesn't listen to me," Hawks said. 

Rumi came back in, frowning. "Who are you on with?"

"It's that little girl, Medea."

"I'm not little!" Medea snapped.

Rumi's ears tilted forward. "Oh..." she said. "I don't really want to talk to her right now."

"I heard that," Medea said. "Is she close? You b----! How can you just abandon me here with all these crazies?"

"Hey!" Hawks heard Compress's voice say in the background.

"Well, if it's true, it's true," Silk's voice replied.

"Is she on now?" Spinner's voice. "Tell her she should really come back. We explained it all now."

"Oh..." Hawks was getting confused. "Rumi, if you'd do this it'd really be simpler, because I can't keep up with all this. The whole League is on the line here."

Fuyumi almost spat out her tea.

"All of them?" Rumi said hesitantly.

"Well, I heard at least 4 of them," Hawks said. "Give them a chance, will you? I mean...not that you should go back, but they seem to have something important to say."

"Yes, put us on speaker or something!" Medea said.

Hawks pressed the button. "Just so you know, Fuyumi is here too."

"Fuyumi?... Wait are you at Endeavor's house?" Medea said.

"Uh---" Hawks realized his mistake.

"You dumba--!" Rumi said.

"Sorry," Hawks whined.

"I can leave, it's fine," Fuyumi said.

"Look, whatever," Medea said. "I hear you, Mirko. I know you're listening. What the heck are you doing just ditching us like this? And you could answer your phone. We weren't sure if you were even okay or not."

Rumi sighed. "I don't really want to rehash it."

"Well, I think you should know something," Spinner said. "Whatever happened, we figured out it was a set up."

"Oh, yeah, I figured that out days ago," Rumi said.

"Did you?" Compress said.

"Yeah, after the fact, I looked back on it, and it made too much sense." Rumi crossed her arms. "Still not sorry, though. That creep deserved it."

"You mean Ujiko, right?" Medea said.

"Yeah, who else would I mean?" Rumi was confused.

Compress could be heard chuckling in the background.

"Well, we got it sorted out," Spinner said, "so can't you just, you know, let this go?"

"It's great that you've figured out he's a weasel," Rumi said tightly, "but that doesn't mean I'm just gonna forget about this. I can't just go along with all this crap forever, you know. So, sorry, but I don't think I'm coming back."

"What? Just over that?" Medea said. "How's it any different from before?"

Rumi hesitated. "I..." She glanced at the other two.

"We'll just go get more tea," Fuyumi said.

Rumi sat down in front and put her head in her hands. "I guess I pushed it all aside before. I figured as long as I wasn't helping, it was fine. Not my problem. But I can't think that way anymore. Ujiko was right about one thing--I didn't stop it before. I almost didn't stop it at all. It was way too close for comfort. But they're going to try again, and if I ignored that, I'm a hypocrite. So I don't see how I can keep this up. I'm sorry, Medea, I know it's not fair, but..."

"Yeah, it's not!" Medea said. "So you feel guilty now or something? We're all just as guilty. Maybe if you came back, we could work something out. Negotiate. We told Boss Man the truth about it, so it's not so bad now. Just...give it a chance... You can't leave me here alone, for crying out loud!"

Rumi thought of how angry Shigaraki had been and shook her head. "I don't think it's that simple. Let's face it, I am a Hero... I don't fit in the League. Who are we kidding? If this situation came up again, I'd have to stop it. So what's the point?"

"Maybe it won't happen again," Compress said. "I do think no one trusts Ujiko anymore."

"Yeah, well, if I thought it would prevent it, that might be comforting," Rumi said, "but I think it's all too far gone. Ujiko has it all where he wants it."

"Is this about you, then, or is it about Shigaraki?" Silk said pointedly.

Silence.

"That's what I thought," Silk said. "You are saying that Boss will listen to Ujiko no matter what. I'm not sure he's quite that pliable. But we need him have reason for not listening, and for that we need you."

"Why?" Rumi said. "What do I have to offer as an alternative? It's all about power, right? You'd have more luck coming up with a solution than me."

"Uh...are you...really that dumb?" Compress said.

"Typical," Silk said.

"Hey, that's not fair," Spinner said. "I still don't totally get what you mean either."

"Oh, don't display your ignorance, Spinner," Compress said.

It sounded like someone kicked him for that.

"You know," Silk said, "I think you're just afraid to come back here and deal with consequences of your actions. Or you're afraid of something else... Is sad, really."

"And you're one to talk there?" Rumi said. "Even if that was true, I guess it would take one to know one. But that's not my problem."

"I think you're lying," Silk said.

"And I think we're done," Rumi said. "Medea, we can talk about your training later, okay? Just not right now. I need a few days to think about all this. I'll message you about it."

"Wait, don't hang up--" Medea said, before Rumi hung up and tossed the phone aside.

She sighed. Why were those idiots even trying to get her to come back at all? Most of them hadn't wanted her to join them to begin with. Did they not remember that they were technically on different sides?

Ren's words came back to her about it...but things weren't that simple, were they?

She shook her head.

The doorbell rang.

"I've got it," Fuyumi said. "It's probably just Natsuo, but he might be startled if you answer it." She meant Hawks.

She went to the door.

Rumi didn't pay much mind to it. She started fiddling with something on the table.

Fuyumi opened the door, not even checking first.

Instead, she found...Shigaraki?

She froze.

Shigaraki's expression looked very dead to her... If she'd known him better, she might have read it as slightly nervous.

"Are they still here?" he asked in a dull voice. Or perhaps it was really uncertainty.

Fuyumi tried to recover the power of speech. "Uh...well...um...I really don't know if I should answer that." Her hand shook on the door.

"What's wrong?" Hawks noticed it was taking a while and flew that way, then he looked around the edge of the door. "You. What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" Shigaraki retorted.

"I think you should answer first. How did you even find this place?"

"I've been here before, you dolt!"

"Oh, right," Hawks said. "Well, you can just leave. Gate's that way." He gestured. "Honestly, some people can't take a hint. She came here to get away from you creeps. First you call using my phone, and now you show up here. What's next? Stalking her social media? 'Cause she doesn't really keep it up."

"This is League business," Shigaraki said.

"Well, she's not affiliated with you anymore, so I guess that really doesn't matter," Hawks said.

"Hawks," Fuyumi began, "I'm not really sure this is the right way to handle this--"

"What is going on?" Rumi came into the foyer, though she couldn't see out the door yet. "This seems like it's taking a long time. Is it a salesman?"

"Yeah, and we're trying to get him to leave, so don't ruin it," Hawks said.

"Don't you lie to her!" Shigaraki snapped. "That's the problem with Heroes--always covering things up."

Rumi's eyes widened and her ears went back. "That is not who I think it is."

"Uh..." Fuyumi said, "you know, I think we all should try to stay calm."

"We're handling it. You can just go back in the living room," Hawks said, putting a hand on the door. "Now, this is the last time we're going to ask you nicely to leave."

"This is nice to you?" Shigaraki said.

"I think we both know I can take you in a fight." Hawks' wings bristled. "And I can't let you inside Fuyumi's-- I mean Endeavor's house over some stupid revenge kick. So if you wouldn't mind--"

Rumi yanked him back, cutting him off, and sent him spinning off to the side.

Fuyumi didn't wait to be pulled. She moved.

"What are you doing here?" Mirko opened the door wide to glare at Shigaraki.

Shigaraki looked down...almost like he was...shy?

Fuyumi had seen enough shy kids in class to think so, anyway.

"It's on League business..." Shigaraki reiterated.

"I don't really want to talk about it." Mirko frowned. "I just told them what I think. How did you even know I was here? Did you eavesdrop?"

Silence... That would be a yes.

She frowned even more. "Right..."

"I can call the cops," Hawks offered, "or better yet, other Heroes."

Shigaraki took a step back.

"Let's not be hasty," Fuyumi said. "Look, any friend of my brother's...well, should at least get a fair chance, right? It's only right."

"Are you...serious?" Hawks said.

Mirko looked toward the street. "Oh, for the love of---get in here before someone sees you." She opened the door. "Or go away, one or the other."

Shigaraki hesitantly stepped inside, and she slammed the door.

"And now he's in the house," Hawks said.

"He's not a rat," Fuyumi said. "Uh, would you like some tea?"

Shigaraki just gave her a look.

"Right, right, sorry, force of habit... Should we just let you two talk?" Fuyumi said.

"It'll be a short conversation." Mirko crossed her arms. "I don't even know what there is to talk about."

"Nothing," Hawks said. "I'd say after letting Ujiko almost kill you with nomu, there is nothing to talk about. Just like I said before." He glared at Shigaraki. "Everyone has their turn with you."

Shigaraki winced...mostly because he felt kind of responsible for that, though it wasn't as if he planned it. But naturally, he was blaming himself for not realizing Ujiko was lying.

But Mirko glared at Hawks. "You know it wasn't quite that simple. Why don't you get lost? I can handle this."

"Oh, clearly," Hawks said.

"I think we should listen to her," Fuyumi said. "We'll be close by if you do need help. But surely, after so long with them, she would know if they were going to try something."

"Ah, finally, someone who's not putting down my abilities." Mirko gestured widely.

"Or overstating them," Hawks muttered. "Fine...we'll be right in the next room. Don't try anything."

He shuffled away. Fuyumi followed.

Awkward pause.

"What do you want?" Mirko finally asked.

Shigaraki scratched kind of nervously.

"I... The League... Look, this is really your fault."

"Great opening. I feel so much more like listening now," Mirko interrupted, livid. "You know, I didn't have to let you in. Stupid me for thinking there must have been a reason you came all this way. Just forget it!" She turned to leave the room.

"You should have said that the League was backing you up," Shigaraki said.

She paused. "Huh?"

"All of them told me that they knew about it and were supporting it, but you never mentioned that."

"Did you give me the chance?" Mirko said.

Well...she had him there.

"Anyway, I'm no snitch. If they wanted to talk about it, they should have to themselves," she added.

"That is what Medea said..." Shigaraki admitted. "But given that, it seemed a little unfair to blame only you for what happened... I'm still deciding what to do about the entire League being willing to go behind my back."

"Newsflash: maybe they didn't want to risk it." Mirko wasn't turning around yet, just talking to the wall.

"Risk what?"

"You're such an idiot!"

"And you're cryptic!"

"Oh, sure." Sarcastically.

"You could have just explained it all instead of running."

"As I recall it, you said 'we could kill you for this,'" Mirko said. "Diplomacy seemed out at that point."

Another pause.

"That was just an expression," Shigaraki said, "not serious."

"Oh, very convincing. I totally believe you," Mirko said. "Ujiko set me up..." She shook her head. "I didn't see it coming... I should have. But it's too late now."

"Ujiko will have to explain his actions," Shigaraki admitted, "though one thing is still unclear about them... Who attacked first?"

"Why does it matter?"

"Just answer the question."

"I don't really see why I have to answer anything," Mirko said testily, but then she turned around. "Depends on what counts as attacking. I slammed him after he started provoking me verbally, but he warped away. After that I got to the lab, and he had nomu waiting. He said something about me getting a...well, getting to watch whatever it was, and he had this footage he was showing of past experiments... Kurogiri, I mean, Oboro, was one of them... That was horrible." She shook her head a little PTSD-looking at the memory.

Shigaraki didn't expect that tidbit. "He has videos of that?"

"Yes...of other nomu too...of all of his experiments."

Shigaraki had no idea Ujiko was recording all that... Weird.

"Well, I threw--uh, caused a diversion and got away, but he said something about putting me in a cell or coffin, so I guess it was fight or flight, do or die." Mirko stiffened as she remembered the look in Ujiko's eyes.

"They chased me into the test tube room, and I started breaking stuff to get away from them, and then I thought, what the h---? If he's going to do this anyway, I'll just bring the whole place down. Didn't seem like there was much choice anyway. And you know the rest."

Put that way...it really did seem like Ujiko had caused the whole thing...but why would he do that?

Shigaraki just didn't get it.

"Well, if that's all that happened, then perhaps it's nothing to worry about," he said.

That was the wrong choice of words. Mirko took that totally different than he expected.

"Oh, that's all, huh?" She was suddenly furious. "Yeah, I guess it's nothing, huh? I mean, I almost died, again, and apparently I was framed in some way, but hey, is nothing to worry about!!"

"Why are you getting angry?" Shigaraki was puzzled.

"You are such a moron!" Mirko said. "I don't know why I thought it'd be any different, honestly. Of course, at the end of the day, it's just unfortunate. That's all there is to it. But it doesn't really matter."

What was she talking about?

"Well, good, now I know where it is," Mirko said. "I'm glad I just left. This is a waste of my time."

"That doesn't make any sense," Shigaraki said. "The League was prepared to let you off the hook, and you're acting like that's insulting in some way."

"Let me off the hook? I didn't do anything wrong!" Mirko said. "Letting Ujiko off the hook is more like it...and he'll do the same d--- thing again. What was the point in all this? I'm so stupid!" She smacked herself in the head. "Just get out." She left the room.

"Wait just a minute," Shigaraki said. 

But she was out the back door.

"What did you do now?" Hawks said.

Shigaraki was speechless. "I..."

"Just kidding, we heard everything," Hawks said. "You're such an a--h---, even for a Villain. Writing it all off as nothing, after all she's done, huh? I warned her, but still, like I said, heartless."

"Hawks!" Fuyumi suddenly said, sounding frigid.

Hawks winced. She sounded just like her dad right then.

"I am not sure that is what he meant. I was listening too," Fuyumi said, "and it sounded to me like there was a miscommunication, is all. If you don't mind, I'd like to try to sort this out. I hate to see people unhappy. Could you give us a moment?"

"You want to talk to the head of the LOV alone?" Hawks said.

Fuyumi frowned a little. "I may not be powerful, Mr. Hawks, but I am Endeavor's daughter. I think I understand Villains all right, and my brother is Dabi, after all."

"I wouldn't kill Dabi's family without his knowledge." Shigaraki was helpful. "I think he should get to do it himself if he wants to."

Hawks just stared at him. "And after hearing that, you're still sure about this."

"Well, given Touya's past wishes...I sort of see what he means..." Fuyumi swallowed her pride.  "And he's renounced that wish, so we're okay, right?"

"I have no reason to kill someone who's neither a Hero nor in any position to be a threat to the League," Shigaraki said.

"And that's reassuring?" Hawks said.

"Hawks, please," Fuyumi said. "Go find Mirko. I don't want her to kick one of our bushes up again like she did the other day... Father wouldn't like it."

"Fine..." Hawks was no doubt going to keep feathers within earshot though.

He walked off.

"Mr. Shigaraki," Fuyumi spoke quietly, "I know this is none of my business, but, if I may be so bold...did you come here to try to make amends?"

Shigaraki frowned. "I wanted to explain things...and get the full story. Seems I've been misled a lot lately."

"I'm sure that's frustrating," Fuyumi said kindly, "but don't you think that after a scare like that, both those Heroes are going to be a little wary of one of you just showing up?"

Shigaraki frowned. "I explained."

"I know...but on the other hand, she's been very upset the past few days," Fuyumi said, "and I'm sure she's embarrassed too. And...maybe she's just a little bit sensitive, so if you don't phrase things very carefully, it's easy for there to be a misunderstanding..."

"I don't follow," Shigaraki said.

"I mean that it sounds like, I mean, just to someone who was upset, that you were sort of saying that your...uh...doctor acquaintance trying to kill her and double cross your League was not really that much to be upset over," Fuyumi said slowly.

A pause...

"That's not what I meant," Shigaraki said. "I'm actually quite furious over it. Ujiko should know better than this."

"Well, I agree, but you didn't say that to her... I believe, as I heard it, what you were trying to say was that her error was a lot less serious than you thought, because other people put her up to it," Fuyumi said. "Though even then, it was her choice, and it's kind of demeaning to reduce it to that, but it was a group effort--we can agree on that. I know all about that. It's just like my family. Is it true you were trying to say that?"

"Something like that..." Shigaraki didn't want to say it that directly.

"I just don't think that's what she heard," Fuyumi said. "She sort of reminds me of Natsuo... No matter what my father says, Natsuo is listening for the wrong thing...and I get it." She straightened her glasses. "Sometimes I want to do that too...but people do change, but the way they talk, it doesn't always catch up right away, I think. I think of it like the grammar to students, they aren't going to be able to use it all at once, but over time they'll get the hang of it, if you're patient, and you can't say they aren't trying just because they still make mistakes... And I think you're sort of trying to smooth things over, but maybe you haven't had a lot of practice doing that... Is that right?"

Shigaraki had the weirdest sensation of being a kid again and having All For One explaining things to him... Fuyumi did give off that teacher vibe. 

"Uh...kind of..." He was a little flummoxed.

"Then I would just try again," Fuyumi said, "but this time I'd tell her that you're really mad at Ujiko. I mean, that's what you told me. Not that I'm presuming to know how you feel or anything, but you said it so--Uh, sorry, I'm rambling." She cleared her throat. "I mean, the key is to make her feel like what she went through is important... I mean, Heroes make little of what they suffer so often, people forget they're human, and I think that's where they go wrong...I know it's what happened to Touya. I'd hate to see it happen to anyone else, so I'm just trying to help. I hope that's all right. I like Mirko-san. She was trying to reassure me earlier, and I know that deep down, under that tough exterior, she's a sweet person, and she has feelings. So I just want her to be happy, you know?"

"Well, this wasn't about being happy. It was about telling the truth," Shigaraki said.

"I think the truth would make her happy." Fuyumi smiled. "Because she would know that it's all right, then, and that you all are on her side. Heroes have to stand alone so often, it must get lonely for them. I think it's really great that the League is trying to make things right and back her up... I see why Dabi spoke highly of your teamwork, even if he felt it was not his place anymore...but he had no hard feelings towards you, and I see why. Even if you're not supporting Heroes, you do support each other... I think it's kind of sweet."

Shigaraki looked at her like she was crazy. "We're not like those back-stabbing cults."

"Of course not." Fuyumi bowed. "Well, I hope I was helpful... I'd better get dinner started now, before it gets too late." She walked back towards the kitchen.

Shigaraki felt a little more clear-headed. Maybe the strange woman was kind of correct. Things just need to be put more clearly, that was all, and that would settle the matter. Mirko wasn't usually totally unreasonable once she stopped being angry, right?

Just then, Hawks suddenly came straight into the room and pinned Shigaraki to the wall with his feathers.

"All right, this is not funny! Where did you take her?" he demanded.

"Where did I what?" Shigaraki said.

"Don't play dumb with me. I saw it." Hawks shook him. "Where is she? You think this is the time for sick jokes?"

"Endeavor's daughter just went back into the kitchen."

Hawks feathers pinched him. "I said I wasn't joking."

Fuyumi rushed back in. "What's wrong?"

"Rumi. I just saw her get swallowed by one of those gross warping gates," Hawks said, "and the only guy I know who can do that is right here."

"She did?" Shigaraki looked genuinely panicked. "It wasn't mine. Ujiko has the nomu that has that quirk."

"There's a nomu that has it?" Hawks said. "Since when?"

"Since forever! When did this happen?"Shigaraki said.

"I'd swear he was just as surprised as us," Fuyumi said. "Is he much of an actor?"

Hawks hesitated. "No..." He finally dropped Shigaraki. "I don't think he can really lie either...at least not well... It was just a minute ago. She was just standing by your tree in the back there, kicking at the grass, and then poof. She was gone."

"And...you say that that doctor it the only one with that quirk?" Fuyumi was white.

Shigaraki's mind raced... Ujiko...had he followed him here or Mirko herself? This was not good... and what about the rest of the League?

"Birdbrain, call Medea back and see if they're still there," he said.

"Why don't you do it?" Hawks said. "I have to go find her."

"You can't find her that easily, and I don't have a phone," Shigaraki said. "If Ujiko has taken all of them, I want to know now."

"That seems like it might be wisest," Fuyumi said.

Hawks gave in. "Fine, I'll call her, but you better not be lying about this, or so help me--"

"Just do it," Shigaraki cut him off.

But he thought, what was The Doctor planning now?

[What indeed? This sounds bad.]