Shigaraki leaving was like the final blow to the group. No one was sure what to do.

Not all of them had even been that invested in his journey, but, even so, it was one more thing they lost.

Dabi got very quiet when he heard and walked away from them.

Mabui watched him and shook her head.

Shine and Wally were just...stunned.

Wally did the math... Since they're arrival, they'd worked to teach people a better way, to unify them, to break down the barriers between Heroes and Villains and help people forgive and learn compassion, and they'd tried to save lives, of course.

Now their team had been scattered all over the country, the Villains separated from the Heroes even more completely than before with even less chance of reconnecting, and 4-5 people had died who they wanted to save. That number would only get higher if the enemy kept making moves.

When you put it that way...it was total failure.

Wally had screwed up plenty of times in his career, but never had he felt he so completely dropped the ball that everything was unraveled.

Shine perhaps had lower expectation of success. Dealing with people all the time, she knew not everything is in your hands, so when he summed it up for her dejectedly, she said, "We don't get guarantees."

"But, Shine," Wally for once could not be the optimist, "why were we sent here at all? We haven't accomplished anything. In the past missions, I saw results. We ended a freaking war, we started people all over again, united nations."

"Not just us, they did that too," Shine reminded him. 

"You know what I mean. It worked, what we tried." Wally gestured. "We had something to show for it, but here, it's fallen apart... Where did we screw up? What did we let slip?"

"I've thought over it constantly all week," Shine said, "till I'm tired, so, so tired, Wally. And no matter what I replay in my head, nothing answers for the complete disaster this is." She shrugged. "I hate to say it, but maybe it was never in our power to make this a success. We could only try. Give it our best shot."

"And our best wasn't good enough," Wally said. "Is that it...? This other guy, he's beating us. We haven't even met him yet. He's just that on the level."

"I have no idea, Wally," Shine said.

Wally paced. "That's not what I wanted to hear... Normally, you have some story or principle or something to guide us."

"Don't--" Shine said. "Please, not you too...putting more pressure on me." She hugged her sides. "I can't take anymore."

Wally sighed. "I.... Sorry, I didn't mean to."

"Rumi gave me such a reproachful look," Shine said, "like...it was wrong to push her and get her hopes up. I did think maybe...but...bonds of so many years, it was just...it's so rare to break those. Sometimes I believe it's impossible."

"Well, it always seems impossible until it happens," Wally said. "I shouldn't have said that. Look...there's a way out of this, I'm sure."

"I know how you feel about it." Shine curled up on the bed. "I feel that way too...but we can't blame each other-- That's the last thread. If that snaps...if you turn on me now, too, or give up...then that's it... I've got nothing left here. Might as well just go home if we even ca-- I'm not sure we can. The homeward door is always opened by the Above. And if we have not succeeded, I don't know if it opens. It's never happened before...and then...we're just going down with the ship, so to speak."

"Hey," Wally sat down next to her, "I'm not going anywhere, and I'm not turning on you. Just rest easy about that. I got a little frustrated, but it's not your fault. I'm not saying that. Come here." He pulled Shine closer.

Shine sniffled. "I hate feeling this defeated."

"Yeah, me too," Wally said.

"I can't even think that maybe it's for the best--because in this case, a Dark Walker--it can't be for the best. It defies all spiritual law. It's a real problem, and we're just not sure how to solve it."

"Yeah, well, we always think of something. Some answer shows up," Wally said.

"Or...it's martyrdom.... Like I said, down with the ship."

"I'm not taking that lying down," Wally said. "Don't you start doing it either. I can't do this whole thing without you, so you need to promise me you're going to keep fighting."

Shine looked up. "Of course I will. I just don't know how good I will be at it."

"Well, hey, who does?" Wally guessed wildly. "But, really, I'm depressed enough without having to worry about the home-front. We have to stick together. You're right about that."

Shine squeezed his hand. "Well, yeah, that's what we promised, right? For better or worse-- Boy, does that go doubly for World Walkers."

"GL might have been right--this is the craziest career choice out there," Wally said. "But whatever happens, I wouldn't change a thing. You know that, right?"

Shine smiled. "It would be easier if you'd stuck to superheroing."

"Ah, that was getting boring anyway."

"I wouldn't change it either," Shine said. "I guess...it's like they say, having so much to lose means you were already very blessed. The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

"Yeah," Wally said quietly.

https://youtu.be/tTpTQ4kBLxA

* * *

Mabui was standing out on the roof of UA's main buildings, watching the horizon, when Dabi wandered out from the service stairs.

"Oh...didn't expect to have company up here," he said.

Mabui shrugged.

"I thought you hated heights," Dabi said.

"I'm pretty far from the edge," Mabui said. "Anyway, heights can't scare me much worse than anything else that happened today."

She sighed.

Dabi came closer. "So...I'm guessing we're both thinking about how screwed we all are."

"In part," Mabui said, "but I've been thinking about home also." She stared at the grass.

"You miss it?" Dabi guessed.

"There are times I miss it, but what's the most surprising is how little I want to go back," Mabui said steadily. "I was content enough there, because I didn't know any better. We live for the people... I never questioned it till I met all of you and you asked me what exactly the point of living for a group of people was, if you, one of the group, had no worth.... The inherent logical fallacy of it never occurred to me. It's what we're taught.... And so now, I've tried to embrace the idea that individuals have worth...even immeasurable worth."

"So how's that going for you?" Dabi said quietly.

"Slowly." Mabui kept her eyes on the horizon. "I don't often feel I have any worth-- it seems presumptuous. I think of this quote from one of Miss Likstar's recommended books 'to be something to everyone, or everything to someone' and which is better?" [The Book is 'What's Wrong with the World' by G. K. Chesterton.]

She tilted her head. "I have been something to everyone but never that important to anyone. We don't think of such things. But it is all you all talk about. That and doing the right thing. I thought I did the right thing, starting a new life, taking my second chance, because of you all...but I feel I'm in the same cycle as before. I have not changed and neither has my life.... It worked for you, not for me."

"You think it worked for me?" Dabi said.

"Your while life changed when you converted," Mabui said. "You're not Villain, you're not in jail...you've even mentored others... Maybe it sticks with some people."

"I never felt the difference was that big," Dabi said. "I'm still the same a--h--- I was before, in so many ways. I stopped killing people and I tolerate Heroes now, but I feel irritated and disgusted plenty of the time, and I still get angry... Change isn't as fast as we like, I guess...or it doesn't work on me either."

"Your actions changed. Feelings don't matter so much, do they?" Mabui said. "But I do the same things... I tried to stop that girl, but I never can defeat people on my own... If I stay with all of you, they'll keep coming for me. I thought we were done with that."

"You can't run away," Dabi said. "I've tried that... It always catches up with you. Facing it is the only way to get rid of a threat."

"I am too weak to do so," Mabui said.

"So you let your friends help you," Dabi said. "What's gotten into you? Just because that creep said something doesn't make it true."

"If you had your worst doubts thrown in your face like dust, would you shake it off?" Mabui asked soberly.

Dabi rubbed his head. "No...I guess not... Not that I need someone to say it to me. I live with it every day. Same old story as always-- I never am tough enough to stop things either.... I think you're tougher than you think. I'm the one who acts tough but can't back it up."

"I think you're pretty terrifying when you're angry."

"So? If I can't finish it.... I mean, I used to, but they were weak, and I kind of see now it was just to make myself feel better." Dabi was disgusted at the memory. "I was so...insane and blind back then, I can't believe it was only last year. But now, without that, I've got nothing."

Mabui looked over her shoulder. "I don't know. I think I can thank you for several saves, personally. The kids too."

"Maybe I'm better with people without quirks," Dabi said. "Quirks were always my Achilles heel."

Mabui shrugged. "We all have something...but...well, maybe both of us are just apt to be afraid of our own weaknesses... Maybe we're just like everyone else, and that is what we don't like to accept."

"What a thought."

"If it's true, I've officially lost my status as a specially talented person," Mabui said.

"If you're normal, then I'm a trained monkey," Dabi scoffed. "Let's not get to carried away on the humility tack."

Mabui smiled thinly. "That only makes it harder, you know...you being nice. You don't have to bother. I'm fine." She moved away. "I know you are only nice to me when you feel sorry for me, and I don't like to play the victim."

Ouch.

Dabi winced to himself.

"Being nice is not my strong point."

"Being pathetic is not mine."

Dabi winced again.

"Look...Mabui...it's not that I don't want to help, it's that I'm not good at it," he said. "I want to say something that will work...but I always screw it up part way through. Maybe it's better if I don't try."

"I think you could," Mabui said, turning to face him. "You can do anything-- you just think you can't. But I'm not here to beg... You asked what was wrong, is all. It's all of it...so...just don't pity me. I can't stand that."

"It's...not pity," Dabi said uncomfortably. "I'm not a big pity person, but...I... This is a new world, new people, new rules-- I guess I just get it. It was pretty hard for us. And you're looking to stay, not just visit. I think it's probably normal to feel like you're not fitting in."

"Yes...if that were all, I could take it, but making it worse is a little too much."

"Don't take such a negative view of it, and that's coming from me. You've done plenty of good things," Dabi said. "Cut yourself some slack. You ninja are all so hard on yourselves."

"Maybe...but he was right. I am from a generation of killers, thieves, and backstabbers." Mabui gestured kind of forlornly. "And what right do I have to act like a hero? To think most of the people here don't consider being called upon to murder others a normal thing... I can walk into a store and not look for spies... That's a lot to handle, and it makes me feel...I don't know, like I was tainted or something. I never felt that at home. Everyone was like that, but here... I didn't like to complain, but...I'm not so innocent. I'm not even always professional. I'm pretty sure professionals here don't carry kunai to work."

"But that's pretty cool," Dabi said jocularly.

She only glared at him.

"You think I don't get that? I feel like that every day, especially around those Hero kids," Dabi said. "Even if they've forgotten about it, I still remember that I'm not innocent like them. It's kind of nice to hear someone else say it, actually. Even the DJs don't get it-- They're too good. I don't have to worry about that with you."

Mabui tilted her head.

"You're the first person to accept my past without batting an eyelash." Dabi put his hands in his pockets awkwardly. "I know that's because literally everyone in the ninja villages could be like me, if they were asked to be. Whether you did it or not, you'd be prepared to. People died because of you partially, if not directly...so you thought it was normal. It's a little screwy, but, also, there's nothing to hide there. I fit in there...but that's why I couldn't stay. I was nothing new there. To really show people anything, I had to face my own world."

"Is that what I should have done?" Mabui frowned in a troubled way. "Shown my people?"

"That's where I don't think it's the same. My people know I'm an ex criminal, yours don't see it that way. There's nothing impressive about a secretary getting a new look on things, not there. What did you have to lose? But here, a secretary who can beat people up and swing it with Heroes and Villains alike, that's something new. For whatever it's worth, I think you made the right choice. Your story can matter here."

Mabui thought about that. "But everyone's stories matter."

"I think DJ people aren't really supposed to be ordinary. Someone has to be breaking that glass ceiling, right?" Dabi said. "We're just in that handful, I guess."

Mabui smiled faintly. "Somehow you always do manage to put a perspective on it that makes me feel a little better... Thank you, Touya..." She sighed. "Even if it is out of pity."

"Okay, stop it. That wasn't pity." Dabi came closer, a little mad. "I was dead serious. Don't insult me. There's important stuff to do here...especially with this Dark Walking business. This is no time to sell yourself short. Who else has that kind of experience? At least their scared of you. We have something they don't like. So don't call it pity. This is just common sense."

Mabui bit her lip. "Right..." she said, a little caught off guard. "You're right... I apologize."

"Whatever, I suppose I had it coming," Dabi said.

https://youtu.be/VxE_Peq6v7I

There was a pause.

"Someday we really should talk about this," Mabui said, gesturing between the two of them. "I feel like the only time we act natural is when there's a crisis... Isn't it tiresome?"

Dabi backed up. "Look...like I said...it's...hard for me to think that way. I still am serving out a sentence, for crying out loud. I...think it's just too complicated."

"I'm inclined to think that's more of an excuse than a reality," Mabui said. "It's no more complicated than it has ever been. People like us will never have it simple." She could be so cutting even when she was polite.

Dabi knew she was right...and that he was just making excuses.

Something always seemed to be in the way...but on the other hand...he'd almost lost her today... Did he want to keep pushing it? How much time did any of them have?

He still didn't get why Mabui was even interested... She could do way better than him.

Slowly, hesitantly, he took her hand. She looked up, surprised.

"I don't want to waste any more time," he said slowly, "but I don't know how to do any of this...or if I can. Does...does that make sense?"

Mabui softened. "Perfect sense," she said. She squeezed back. "You think I don't have doubts too? I've been alone most of my life... I'm not sure I know how not to be alone...but...the whole point is to be different. What is different for you?"

"Well, not being alone would be different..." Dabi said. "I'll...think about it... It's...not that I have a problem with you, it's...I don't know if I've really gotten there yet."

Mabui also pulled her hand back. "I do understand that, believe it or not," she said, more distantly, "but...this game can't keep going on forever... After your service is up, we never have to be in close proximity again... I'd as soon know what to expect now than later, if it's all the same to you. I hate to be indecisive." She walked away. "But still, thank you." She went back down the stairs.

Dabi sighed. "What am I doing...?" He looked up. "What are any of us doing...? What would it matter if we're all dead anyway? You sure have one messed up sense of humor, you know that?"

* * *

Shigaraki didn't really understand why the new hideout was at some kind of theme park.

It was empty now, and the place where the miscreants were staying was in the back.

Perhaps they thought the crowds and sights would be a good way to disguise their presence on open days.

Shigaraki thought some of the buildings at the far end didn't look quite right, like they'd been rearranged somehow--or maybe shaken up in an earthquake.

It was odd, but now that he'd actually come here, he felt far less sure of this idea than before, and he had a heavy feeling in his chest.

He didn't like to think of Shine's woeful face or Mirko's strange behavior.

Perhaps he should have said bye to Dabi. They hadn't even really talked throughout the whole ordeal, but were they even really comrades anymore?

He had a new life now, right? Well, good for him.... Not everyone could do that.

Shigaraki hadn't ever thought that was something he envied, but...walking up here and feeling it was the only choice he could have made--it was smothering.

He wanted to be with AFO, but it felt like this being the only way for them to work together was too narrow.

But surely he'd understand. Shigaraki just had to warn him.... He should know that these people were actually evil.

Shigaraki missed the irony of that thought.

Team Armageddon was guarding the entrance to the staff area when he walked up, but they let him pass. They knew him by sight.

Shigaraki had the impression that there were a lot more people in the organization than the ones he'd met. The feeling that they hid around corners and rushed by him in hallways. It seemed you only met who the higher ups decided you should work with.

He came more into the center.

He saw another teenaged girl perched on a bench. She had a nail file.

He stopped. "You must be Kali Moto."

"Tomomoto, actually." The girl looked up. "Tomura Shigaraki? We've never actually met, have we?" She stood up but didn't bow. She looked at him like he was a bug. "Wow...I heard you were ugly, but wow..."

Shigaraki didn't care about that insult in the least. Why should he?

"I can't believe anyone would make out with you." Kali had absolutely no filter when it came to saying mean things, apparently. "Gross." She made a gagging face. "Well, we're not here to look good-- It's just a gift some of us have naturally." She straightened. "I'm not much of a busboy, but Lord Ender said if I saw you I should show you in. He's decided it's time for you to meet everyone, I guess."

"Everyone? What does that mean?" Shigaraki doubted it meant literally the entire assembly.

Kali twirled her file. "It means the big boys. Papa AFO never let you meet them, right? They didn't think you were committed enough, but you're here, so I guess you ditched those losers on the Heroes side for good, right? That means you're in. And those two useless guys of yours will be in too. And that girl--well, she's a bit more promising."

"Silk?" Shigaraki said. "Medea?"

"No, Toga, you idiot," Kali said. "Let me guess, you never noticed she was gone."

Toga went off on her own so often that, in fact, no one had noticed she wasn't hanging around them anymore.

"She was lying low..." Shigaraki said.

"Oh, no, Toga's been with us for a while," Kali said. "I mean, she didn't want to set you guys up, you know--that stupid loyal shtick you all have. But she's all for our goals. She's a lunatic. That fits in with most of the crackpots around here. She'll never be a Commander, but not everyone is."

"Commander like Hantai?"

"No, Hantai was just a pawn." Kali laughed wickedly. "I 86'ed him myself. Total wimp. Not even a quirk. It was pathetic."

"I heard it was you," Shigaraki said.

"What? You hated him anyway, right? Sorry, did you want to off him yourself? I don't like to share." Kali turned. "Come on. AFO is waiting for you."

"We have a lot to discuss," Shigaraki said.

"Yeah...no kidding," Kali muttered in a not so nice voice.

Kali took him into the back of what must have been a dining hall at one time, long since retired due to low funding, but it was much larger than an office.

Inside it was mostly closed off, but a spot had been cleared in the back to use as a meeting point, and there were monitors hooked up from the outside, and AFO, Ujiko, and Akume were waiting. Talking.

They stopped when Shigaraki came in.

"Tomura Shigaraki," AFO said, "finally you return to us."

Shigaraki for the first time did not go right up to him.... He didn't know why, but he felt a sort of aversion.

His memory of Leth's memory wiping had not returned, so he didn't recall AFO had held him in place, but, as with all Lethe's victims, perhaps his body or soul remembered in a way his mind didn't.

AFO seemed surprised he didn't-- but didn't comment.

"You know Akume by now." He gestured.

Shigaraki hated Akume already. "He's been messing with our heads."

"I had no choice. No other communication method was available," Akume said. "And it worked, didn't it?"

"You attacked our group." Shigaraki was not willing to overlook the things in Akume that he would in AFO.

"I didn't really hurt them. It was a wake up call, you could say," Akume said.

Shigaraki faced them all. "What did you want with that secretary?"

Kali raised an eyebrow. "Tea?" she said, then, "Ach, I sound like that airhead.... You have to let me kill her next time."

"I think you'd do well to remember that Master is not happy with your failure this time," Akume said in a dreadful voice.

Kalie flinched.... She was proud and cold, even on Shigaraki's short time of observing her, but she was afraid of something.

"You'll be lucky if he lets you kill any of them alone," Akume said. "You will have to redeem yourself first. Leave us. We must discuss a lot. Time is short.... In fact, be a good girl and summon the other mains in here for us. Then we can get all the introductions out of the way. Our lord will not be here for a while yet, and I wouldn't let him see you if he is here."

Kali left promptly.

"Teenagers are unreliable." Akume glanced at Shigaraki. "She's as effective as they come, skill-wise, but they do get caught up in their own ego. Don't know when to let things go. Time will cure her, but for now she's out of favor. We run a tight ship here."

Shigaraki was silent.

"You must be wondering why we kept things secret till now," AFO said.

"You did not think I was committed," Shigaraki said. "I lacked conviction."

"I was more afraid that those upstarts had told you some very unsavory things about me," AFO said, sounding hurt. "People are always are so suspicious of what they don't understand and what they fear. But I see you knew better than to listen to them."

Silence again.

Shigaraki didn't know how to say he didn't think they'd lie, but he couldn't accept what they thought. They just had to be mistaken, that was all, but AFO probably wouldn't find that very reassuring.

"He's not fully convinced they're lying," Akume startled him by saying. "You learn to sense these things after a while.... My link to his subconscious, you know."

"Tomura Shigaraki, do you really doubt me?" AFO said.

"Of course not," Shigaraki said. "I just think they are paranoid...but not liars. People can convince themselves of anything."

"True," Akume laughed. "I sort of like this guy. I see your interest in him."

"We told you he was valuable," Ujiko said.

"Maste,r we need to discuss things," Shigaraki said. "Privately."

"We're all a team now, Tomura Shigaraki," AFO said. "But we can converse later if you wish. For now, we have more to explain. Perhaps you'll see that your friends are not to be trusted after we're done.... It was my fault partly, for not seeing how far their influence would go. We were not prepared for World Walkers."

"Is it true, then?" Shigaraki said. "You--" He looked at Akume. "--You're what they call a Dark Walker?"

Silence.

Akume cast AFO a look that he couldn't see, but it said something like, "And you let this happen."

Finally he laughed coolly. "No, I'm not a Dark Walker, Mr. Shigaraki."

Shigaraki blinked. They were wrong?

"Master will explain that," Akume said. "I'm surprised they let such a term drop to you. Did they not know you were coming back?"

"They knew," Shigaraki said. "They let me decide."

Ujiko didn't seem to like the sound of that.

"How...odd," AFO said. "They thought we'd not see through such an obvious trap. They expect you to come back and report to them."

"No..." Shigaraki said stiffly. "We've split off...I think permanently."

A pause.

"It was bound to happen," Ujiko said. "I warned you, Heroes can't really change their minds."

Shigaraki didn't like Ujiko any better for having decided to return. "You hardly gave them a reason to, Doc," he said a bit snidely.

That took them all aback, but Akume laughed. "He's learned a thing or two. Excellent. This will be quite interesting."

"I don't want to work with you," Shigaraki said. "Master, we must discuss this."

"Careful, Tomura Shigaraki." AFO suddenly turned very grave.... It was frightening. "You speak of what you do not understand, but you will shortly."

Two more people entered the room.

One was a woman, the other was another man. Both of them were older than Shigaraki but younger than any of the others.

"I don't think any of you have met these associates of ours yet," Akume said. "They like to stay in the shadows, but it's time you met them."

They bowed stiffly.

"Itami," said the man.

"Panniku," said the woman.

[Means Pain and Panic, and, yes, it's a Hercules reference.]

Shigaraki couldn't miss the theme here.

"Nightmare," he looked at Akume, "pain, panic--are these all code names?"

"Yes, we don't use real names here," Akume said, "not usually. You know AFO and Ujiko.... Your name is like a code, isn't it? Mourning? Seems it would fit right in. Mind if we all address you as Tomura, so as not to confuse things with AFO?"

"I don't care, but--"

"Splendid. I present Tomura to both of you," Akume said.

"He's scrawnier than I thought," Panniku said. "You made him sound like he'd be dangerous looking."

"You see his quirk in action, and you'll whistle a different tune, Panniku," Akume said.

She sniffed.

"I think he looks horrifying, if that helps," Itami said. "Maybe a little too obvious. We are supposed to be subtle."

"Master says the time for subtlety is soon out," Akume said.

"Good," Panniku said.

"We needed a new member." Akume turned back to Shigaraki. "Our last 6th has become unfit for battle. At least for command. He'll do as a weapon, I suppose. You might recognize his name, Chisaki Kai."

Shigaraki had to take a moment. "Overhaul?" he said.

"Small world, isn't it?" Akume said. "He had such potential, almost pulled it off at that Camp...but he made a very stupid mistake. One we should correct in you.... Panniku, why don't you show him yourself?"

Panniku shrugged. "Fine. Should I...you know, debug him?"

"Better leave that for Master. He's been exposed too long for it to be so simple," Akume said.

"This isn't going to harm him?" AFO said.

"Why don't you join us, big man?" Panniku raised her eyebrow. "You can see for yourself. Should be educational."

"Very well," AFO agreed.