https://youtu.be/Y6eQwiNItvs

We couldn't turn around
'Til we were upside down
I'll be the bad guy now
But no, I ain't too proud, I  couldn't be there
Even when I tried
You don't believe it
We do this every time.

Seasons change and our love went cold
Feed the flame 'cause we can't let it go
Run away, but we're running in circles
Run away, run away, I dare you to do something
I'm waiting on you again
So I don't take the blame
Run away, but we're running in circles
Run away, run away, run away

Maybe you don't understand what I'm going through
It's only me
What you got to lose?
Make up your mind, tell me
What are you gonna do?
It's only me
Let it go."

Momo sat for a while outside after the confrontation. After a time, Todoroki joined her. 

"Are you okay?"

"Not really." Momo was uncharacteristically straightforward. "I feel awful about that. And... I like Shine. I like Wally. I don't want them to go like this... without completing their mission."

"You really believe they are from another world," Todoroki said slowly.

"Of course," Momo said. She tilted her head. "I didn't know what to think at first, but they are just too different. It's the only explanation that makes sense to me, and Shine has a very good grasp of the theory of it. If they were just crazy, I don't think they'd have a concrete idea about it at all. That can't be fake."

Pause. "I think you're right," Todoroki admitted finally. 

"You do?" Momo was stunned.

"Yes... it took a while for me to accept it, and I really don't know how such a thing is possible, but I don't believe it could be fake either. So... I wonder if that means our world is really in trouble."

"I don't know. They haven't told me anything about that," Momo mused, "but Shine was really upset, I could tell. Wouldn't it be horrible if we found out after all this that they were only trying to save us the whole time, and we treated them like a problem?"

"At least your conscience would be clear on that," Todoroki said. He couldn't say the same for himself. "But that is a possibility. It's also possible this other world may want to use us."

"They don't act like that much," Momo said, "I think I'd do just what they did if I was in another world-- try to make friends, and study... and anything really suspicious is just a matter of opinion right now."

"You believe in them so implicitly, when you barely know them," Todoroki noted.

"You think I am being too simple minded?" Momo said uncertainly.

"I was just wondering why. You've never been one to like trouble makers, and they make a lot of trouble."

"I guess I just thought it wasn't their fault," Momo said, "Though, criticizing UA was uncomfortable, but even Iida's done that. It wasn't any reason to panic... Maybe it's foolish of me, but I just... personally, I feel safer around Likstar-san and West-san... more calm. Maybe it's selfish, but I liked that..."

Todoroki thought. "No, I think I felt that way too. That's what made me so wary of them."

"What?" Momo had some reason to look confused.

"I mean, it was too easy," Todoroki said, "to forget their wild claims and just get used to them being around here. I didn't trust it."

"Past tense... Do you mean you changed your mind?" Momo asked.

"I think I did, just now," Todoroki said thoughtfully, "I was watching Likstar's face in there, and I didn't like what she was saying to everyone... but then, it reminded me of... me.... She looked cornered... I realized we could all be the bad guys, here."

"I think the class is worried," Momo said, "but I've never seen them act this way."

"I've seen it before," Todoroki said darkly, "but not the whole class... Come on, let's go talk to her."

"We?"

"You don't want to? I was going to apologize," Todoroki said.

"Oh, no, no, I want to," Momo got up. "Yes, together. I'm sure that will mean more anyway."

They paused outside Shine's door. They couldn't hear anything. Momo knocked.

"Come in," Shine said in a low voice.

Momo opened it. Shine was sitting in very dim light, and her eyes were red and a pile of tissues was in her wastebasket.

Momo felt guilty right away. "Shine... I'm really sorry about what happened."

"Oh, no need. You didn't do anything," Shine waved it off.

Todoroki peered over Momo's shoulder, making her a little nervous. "Can we have a moment?"

"Sure..." Shine gestured for him to come in.

They both came in.

"Sit." Shine pointed to her her spare chairs and pillows. 

They sat nervously.

"Likstar-san," Todoroki said, "I think it might be time to tell you about Stain."

"What?" Shine said.

"Yes, what?" Momo said.

"It's a secret," Todoroki said, "but, after everything they accused you of, you were right... I think you should know... and Yaoyurozu keeps getting involved in this, so... but neither of you can tell anyone, okay?"

"With the exception of Wally, you can count on my secrecy." Shine sat up.

"Of course," Momo nodded.

Todoroki drew a deep breath. "It was... well... Iida was upset.... I guess Midoriya could tell.... I don't know exactly what happened, but Iida ended up face to face with the man who hurt his brother. I guess he lost his cool... Midoriya stepped in to help him. He called me in for help. I got there barely in time to stop Stain from killing them."

Momo's mouth fell open. "I--thought Endeavor..."

"That was the cover story so we wouldn't lose our licenses," Todoroki said, "The police said our careers could be affected by it."

"By saving your friend?" Shine said.

"Because we don't have the authority to hurt the villain with our quirks," Todoroki explained, "Iida was very affected by it. I think he's resolved never to do anything that reckless again. He even left his hand damaged to remember not to make that mistake again... I think it may be influencing his judgement in this case."

Momo stared at him in amazement. She remembered Iida had alluded to something with Todoroki and Deku before they all went to Kamino Ward. So this had been what he meant!

"This dang society..." Shine muttered, "Sure, punish the kids for saving someone's life from a known serial killer! Yeah, that makes sense."

Aloud she said, "Thank you for telling me."

There was a pause while no one knew what to say.

"I'm sorry," Todoroki said finally, "It wasn't very fair to handle things the way we did. I wasn't sure about the idea, anyway, but we said we weren't going to get aggressive."

"It wouldn't bother me so much," Shine stared at the far wall, "If they hadn't acted all chummy earlier today. What was with that?"

"That was the plan so you'd use your portalling power." Todoroki really didn't think before he told her that.

Shine looked down sharply. "What did you say?"

"Uh..." Todoroki realized maybe he shouldn't have said that. "The... power... for.... They didn't want you to toss them through a portal if they tried to confront you..."

"What?! That's horrible!" Momo was indignant. "That's so... underhanded! Whose idea was that?"

"I... don't know if I should say," Todoroki said, because Shine's eyes were blazing.

She kept it together however.

"I guess I've been played," she muttered, "Well, even I don't usually scheme that much to get around people. I keep it to the present. That's thinking very far ahead on their part... Even knew I'd use my portals in training. I hate being played."

"Well, you do play people a lot," Todoroki said, "Why do you hate it?"

"Do you like being beaten at your own game?" Shine retorted.

Good point.

"Like I said, I'm sorry for taking part in it," Todoroki said, "Especially since you're so upset..." He was uncomfortable. "They're scared, you know... I don't know why, really."

"People fear the unknown, and they fear the familiar too," Shine said, "I guess with their trauma all this is just the right mix of those two things to scare them..."

She sighed. "Well, I don't have the heart to really go off on you, Todoroki. But I can't say I'm happy either."

Somehow that was worse.

"Shine, are you and West-san really going to leave?" Momo asked.

Shine shrugged. "We have to, if all of you tell us too... One little known rule of World Walking: if the subjects (forgive the term) of your mission become unresponsive to the point of telling you to go directly, you have to leave. It's an ancient rule. Dates back to thousands of years ago in my time-- I don't know what it would be everywhere else-- but it's one of the Laws of Life, that a gift has to be accepted, or it is no gift. Freely you have received, freely give can be a double edged sword. It means if you are forcing yourself onto someone, they cannot receive. It's no gift then....  It's best to move on before you make their problems worse. Many a well meaning person has done that. I'm sure you've experienced it."

Momo and Todoroki exchanged a look.

 "I think I see what you mean," Todoroki said, "but I don't  understand. If you really are from another world, then you must be powerful enough to enforce your ways on us, aren't you?"

"It's more complicated than that," Shine said.

"Just answer the question," Todoroki pressed, "Are you powerful enough to do that?"

Shine sat up more and regarded him seriously. "Yes and no. I am nothing, you know. Take away my gifts, and I'm weaker than any of you. Wally is different. He's powerful either way... but he's stronger with the gifts. But as I always have my gifts, as far as it's concerned, I am powerful enough to do pretty much what I want, if I cast principle to the side. Which is why I will never do that. I have said it before-- I hope I lose my powers the instant I use them to go too far."

She shook her head grimly. 

"You can lose your powers?" Momo said.

Shine nodded. "For some DJs, it's just a temporary position, for a certain time in their lives, often in childhood, oddly enough. Children can handle other worlds better. They have less of a rigid grasp on doing things their way. Grown ups who do it are often very flexible types who don't mind learning new things just like a child... like me. I've never completely lost that aspect of myself. Wally too." She laughed lightly. "That's why we're good with kids. DJs usually are. We understand them. They understand us. No confusion. But if you do outgrow it, the power just fades. Turns into something else, generally. One door closes, another opens. That's just natural in life. It's a rare person who gets to do the same thing their whole life. I've always found that concept rather strange myself..." She paused, thinking.

"Are you a temporary one?" Momo asked.

"I don't know yet," Shine said, "It's unlikely I'll do this forever. Or at least, as often as I do now. But for the time being, I'm full time." She smiled. "Sounds a little weird using such normal words for it, doesn't it?"

It certainly did to them.

"Why do you need consent if you could overpower everyone?" Todoroki said.

"Why, what a stupid question," Shine said, in a matching tone, "We need consent because it requires trust. And what do you think we'll accomplish without that? It's nothing worth achieving."

She leaned on her hand. "Often it's better to have no powers at all, when you approach the proud... but here, you just need them to survive. I understand that."

What did she mean by the proud? Them?

"If you need our trust... I don't get it, why do you act so suspicious?" Todoroki said. 

"Todoroki," Momo said a bit reprovingly.

"It's fine," Shine waved, "It's a good question. And the answer isn't so easy... but I guess it's time to explain." She sat criss-cross, like she was getting into mountain sage mode. 

"Normally, we don't do things this way. We seem to have been thrown into the snake pit, no offense, on this one. When we got to UA we told your teachers upfront who we were, but not our mission. The reason is simple: I can always tell exactly what kind of person someone is by how they take our origins. If someone can accept the other world thing, they can hear the rest, unjudgmentally. If they don't accept that, you won't get anywhere with them, 9 times out of 10. But there's exceptions. Sometimes I don't tell people I'm a DJ-- it's not important to their story to know that. Usually, I wait till I've been there a while to tell them, so I can learn more about the world and earn their trust. Doing it upfront was something we tried once before. It worked out well then. I can't say it's worked out so well here, but it was going to come out anyway. That was clear. They investigated us as soon as they got the chance. We saved ourselves trouble."

She shrugged. "But instead of believing us, they remained suspicious even after the evidence pointed to us not being from here. Wally and I saw that revealing any more of our plans would only lead to them exploiting us. So we didn't. Unfortunately, that meant keeping you in the dark too. It's partly for your own good. The staff watches our every move, and if they suspected we told you stuff, you'd be questioned. It'll probably happen anyway. But they count on you to come to them of your own accord, like Iida has at least twice."

"He has?" Momo said. 

"Yes," Shine said, "but I didn't think you needed to know that. Who am I to talk down Iida to his own classmates? He's trying to look out for you... but he has a history I didn't know, and maybe it's relevant for you to know this about him too."

Todoroki nodded. "I didn't know he went to them twice."

"It'll be more times no doubt," Shine rolled her eyes, "So, as long as they have their little informers in this class, they don't need to worry about us. I was glad that Aizawa has proved to be a true friend here, or we'd have been in real trouble. He's a reasonable man, and kind, and I like him. I'm glad he's your teacher. But you see, there wasn't much we could tell you, knowing it would all go back the to the same people who are looking for any excuse to get one over on us...  They are just waiting to get leverage, obviously." She shook her head again. "I have faith in Momo, and you too, but not the rest of the class, save Bakugo, who probably wouldn't tell anyone anything even if it was harmless."

"You mentioned this before, but I didn't know why you felt that way." Todoroki felt a bit foolish. "I'm sorry."

"It's not like I told you, so it's fine," Shine said. She paused, then went on. "Knowledge is power. You've probably heard that before. Well, Truth is also power. The only power, in the end, worth having. Our Word says 'Buy the truth and do not sell it'. I take that to mean, give all you got to get truth, and don't just give it away to get something in return. Selling the truth to you all just to get out of trouble, it wouldn't be right. I would feel like I was doing it just to save my own skin, since Wally really doesn't care about all this much. Other than being cooped up here."

"So, you keep all this to yourself," Momo said slowly, "but you also said we weren't ready to hear it."

"Certainly, people with suspicious minds are never ready to hear truth. They interpret everything as a lie," Shine said, "Can you see how it would be 100% pointless to tell them anything? We told you all the truth already-- you don't even believe that. It's stupid to go any further. We aren't helping our case by doing that. I thought, if we showed you we were not trying to do any harm, it would be better."

"You still snuck out," Todoroki said.

Shine frowned. "You do get hung up on that one detail. You did too."

"Yes... so I won't ask you to tell us why anymore," Todoroki said thoughtfully, "I assume you must have a good reason to risk it. I guess I wouldn't want anyone to meddle with me if I was dead set on it, myself."

"Thank you." Shine bowed. 

"Do you think, if you just explained all this to the class," Momo said, "they would understand?"

"No, they would be offended," Shine said, "I've tried pointing it out already. You saw what happened there... I lost my temper too. I'm sure I'll regret that later. I don't yet.." She frowned angrily for a moment.

"I think she's right about that," Todoroki agreed, "They aren't ready to hear that.  I don't even know if I was prepared for it until now. Something just clicked for me, listening to it, though. Maybe because we have a common ground..."

Shine smiled a little wryly. "That could be it."

She tugged her hair nervously. "Look... maybe it's time to tell you the real reason we're here too... I think you're ready."

"What?" Todoroki looked up, "But... you said..."

"I've been watching you, and you've changed your way of handling it," Shine said. She nodded at Momo. "You must be curious too, right?"

Momo nodded. 

"Bakugo, you can come in too," Shine called loudly.

They both whirled toward the door. Bakugo opened it with a glare. "How'd you know I was there?"

"I could sense your aura from here," Shine said, "and I heard you lean on it while we were all quiet." She shrugged. "You might as well hear this too."

Bakugo leaned on the wall very reluctantly, but he shut the door.

Shine drew a deep breath:

"I can't break it all down for you yet, but let's cover the gist of it. World Walkers are sent to worlds to help them, as you already know. It's most often to a world on the brink of some great change. I can only think of a few exceptions in my mind. When it's a group of people like this, that's always the case too. Some groups are chosen for a reason and time in history.

"Our powers usually adjust to the world to offer them the help they need the most. But there's some that are always the same. Like Insight-- I always have the ability to see things others don't see. It's what helps the most usually.  

"The person who sends us, as Momo knows, is God."

She got blank stares in response to this.

"God...?" Todoroki said incredulously. 

"What that frick is that supposed to mean?" Bakugo said.

"I mean what I say. Literally, God." Shine pulled her Bible out from under her pillow. "This book is like our instruction manual for what to do when we arrive. So many passages fit what we do... Who else do you think could transcend dimensions without being driven mad? But you don't have to believe it. A lot of people refuse to. It's easier to say it's science or some other force. But it wouldn't be true."

She fingered the book. "I don't know why it's required to travel worlds. It would be simple enough to use people in the world to wrought change... but from experience, all I can say is, worlds are inextricably connected, whether we travel them or not, and someone has to take care of that connection. Someone has to try to preserve the right way. If one world suffers, many others suffer with it. What happens here affects people somewhere else. Not usually directly, but in ways it would be hard to trace back, unless you knew about this. So, when things need changing, we're sent. And we help change them."

The 3 students stared at her some more.

"What kind of changes?" Bakugo was the only one able to form words just then.

"Depends on the world," Shine smiled reflectively, "Once, I helped coach a girl who was trying to overthrow her whole system that was corrupted beyond repair. She needed someone who wouldn't try to drag her back into it... Often, World Walking is just a free person teaching someone who no longer wants to be a slave. I've been free longer, and Wally's been free longer, so we help people struggling to get free learn how to do it. Many a rebel has crashed and burned for lack of wisdom and experience, and as an American, I hold my country's example for well informed rebels succeeding the most to be in very high esteem."

She shrugged. "Other times, someone just needs to understand something better. Or their life could be on the line, and they are important. There's no hard and fast rule for what requires our help. God isn't like that. He doesn't make things cookie cutter. The last world we were in, they couldn't defeat this immortal demonized person, and they lacked the powers to overcome them. Our gift to them was a knowledge of what real power is. We were very powerful there, more than we are here. I don't think that's the gift you need."

"What... what gift do we need?" Momo asked.

"No sure yet," Shine said, "I have a guess... but, uh, sorry, that's one thing I'm not supposed to tell you directly. Makes it harder for you to get it if you're focused on particulars."

She clasped her hands together around her knees. "All you need to know is that we are here to bring you something, and the rest is not for us to know. When you try too hard, you overcorrect. Surely you all know that."

No, they really didn't.

"This is... a lot to believe," Todoroki finally spoke, "I could perhaps accept it all except... God. That's a leap, isn't it?"

"Why?" Shine asked.

"Well... God isn't a person... I mean, I don't really know. My family isn't that religious," Todoroki said uncomfortably, "but you have an organized, planned out mission, that doesn't sound much like a... well... I mean surely, you have someone who assigns you missions."

"Yes, God," Shine said.

"But who do you talk to?" Todoroki tried again.

"God..." Shine said, like he wasn't getting it. "I'm sorry, I don't need a middle man. This isn't the Old Testament, Todoroki. Do you have someone else say your prayers for you?"

"But how do you know where to go?" Todoroki said, feeling she was dodging his question on purpose.

"Oh... it happens different ways," Shine said, "The first time I was... What was I doing?... I think I was just chilling in my room, and I got an image of this place I'd been studying quite a bit, and I just knew I was supposed to go there. I thought it was crazy because I couldn't possibly have gotten there... but then a door opened, and I went through."

"So you generated your powers by accident?" Momo said.

"No, don't be ridiculous. I didn't open it," Shine said, "I can only go places I've been or seen before. It's true, I'd seen it in a sense, but I didn't pick any one spot to come to. The door just took me there. That was the first time. A great time it was too, except to the jail part..." She made a face. "It was so cold... ugh."

"So what opened the door, then?" Bakugo said.

Shine gave him a look like "seriously?" "What do you think?"

She gestured wildly. "God is everywhere. He has no problem opening a door into a different place that I've never seen. That's why portals are virtually unlimited, except by our stamina. Otherwise we'd been too powerful, and humans shouldn't have that much power. We can't be trusted with it. DJs are pushing the limits between human and divine ability anyway."

She laughed suddenly at their expressions. "This is why we don't tell this right away. You should see your faces right now. You look so freaked out."

"Uh... well, it's a lot to take in." Momo shook herself. "But... I can see you are sincere. And we talked about this before a little, just not in detail..."

"Why is this such a freaking secret?" Bakugo demanded, "If I'd known this all came down to your religion--"

"Shut your mouth," Shine cut him off sharply, "Are you really that naive? This has nothing to do with religion. Do you understand how many people who aren't religious, still believe in the Divine, in a sense? Oh, they may not acknowledge it the way we do, but they'd be glad enough to take and abuse his power, as they do with anything else. Why don't you stop and think for one minute what this would do if it got out? All history shows, people don't have to acknowledge God to want a piece of his power. Why else do people look for the Ark of the Covenant? Or Noah's ark, or the Holy Grail, or whatever the latest mystical fad is? They want to harness the power. They don't care where it comes from. If we told an untrustworthy person, even if they think we're crazy, they see the evidence of the power, and they want it. The poor fools never think that turning to use this power without protection is what drives men crazy... and many a person has gone mad for trying to do just that. Those who only fail are the lucky ones. Which is why none of you must spread this around recklessly. Do you understand?"

"I understand," Todoroki said quickly.

"Yes," Momo agreed.

"Fine," Bakugo conceded, "So it would be bad if it got out. What do we do now?"

"That's on you." Shine brushed herself off. "You believe me, or you can decide there's another explanation. Good luck with that. But anyway, now you know. No more complaints. If you need to know anything else, you can ask freely and I will tell you. Unless it's just too dangerous for you to know... and believe me, even DJs have enemies-- none that are likely to bother you, but... I would prefer it if you don't make yourselves a target by even tempting fate. It would be unwise to experiment with this in any way. I hope you see my meaning."

They saw it all right. Momo shivered.

"If we decide we believe, not that I have yet, but if we did, what then?" Todoroki asked.

"Then..." Shine tilted her head. "Then... well, it's up to you. You can become our students. That's the usual course... or you can ignore it all. I don't really see any other options. You don't know enough to strike out on your own with it yet. But nothing will be forced on you, I promise you that much."

She stood up. "A word of advice though, don't ask us to stay here unless you wish to learn. It's too painful for everyone involved, and it would be for no reward. We have other missions, you know. We don't have to do this, if you prefer to go at it alone. No hard feelings... Not everyone is ready..." She opened her door. "For now, you should leave. I only hope we weren't spied on..."

She and Wally had checked the room for bugs finally, but she never could be sure about the other students.

The 3 decided to do as she said and leave. They had a lot to think about.