Izuko never liked shrinks. Not because she thought they wouldn't help, but because they helped a bit too much on the occasion. She felt too open. Vulnerable. Dr. Makima was amicable and friendly, as well as a good listener.

She reminded Izuko of her mom a lot.

"A lot has happened since we've last seen each other," Dr. Makima said. Izuko nodded, leaning into the soft chair. It felt a lot more comfortable nowadays. "Would you like to talk about it?"

It was always the same question, and always she would say yes, because there was no real reason to say no. Izuko took a deep breath, and began.

"I've made friends," Izuko said. "And a girlfriend, but you knew that from last time. I've gotten to use my quirk more lately, I… talked with All Might."

The woman blinked. "You did?"

Izuko nodded. "It was a random chance. I was… agitated, so I went to the nurse's office. He was there, and I didn't have it in me to avoid him then."

"What did you talk about?"

"Just things," Izuko said, shrugging. "It's more about how I managed to sit down and talk to him without throwing up than what we talked about, if that makes sense. It feels stupid to get hung up on it."

"It's not stupid, and I understand what you mean," Dr. Makima said. "We've already said, there's no such thing as a stupid thought here. Furthermore, this isn't therapy, this is more or less an evaluation. Talking about how things make you feel is important to that."

Izuko resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Honestly, at this point I just want to go home. Can we cut it short today? Mirko and Hawks aren't home and I'm kind of hoping to spend the rest of the evening with Kyoka."

"Of course," Dr. Makima said, smiling. "Just a few more minutes, I do need to get in my hours after all."

"You're not paid by the hour," Izuko said, pursing her lips. Dr. Makima waved her off. "What else is there to talk about?"

"About the school event a few weeks ago," she said. "I've made a few observations, though if you'd rather I don't talk about them, that is fine."

"The Sports Festival?" Izuko asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I've watched it, of course. Do you know what I saw?"

"A monster?" Izuko asked. There was no bitterness in her voice, but curiosity that defied absolute curiosity. She continued slightly more sarcastic. "A scared little girl?"

"A person who reached a crossroad," the therapist said. "And who decided not to walk backwards scared of what laid ahead, but instead who took a step forward that so many people would not dare."

"Sounds like a load of bull." Izuko laughed, but for once it didn't sound forced or dismissive.

"So," Himiko Toga said. "How'd you break out?"

Dabi pursed his lips, the drink in his hands had already warmed up too much to be enjoyable. "Turns out they don't check on quirkless people."

The bar was terrible, dingy, and it smelled of wet dog. Which was an appropriate description for Tomura Shigaraki after a shower. As far as Dabi knew, the man walked under cold water and walked out.

The 'no fighting' rule inside the hideouts was to his benefit. As much as Shigaraki wanted to kill him, he could not touch him at this point in time. Kurogiri was tending to the bar, as usual, to stop any fighting from breaking out and to report back to All For One.

Not that it was necessary. Dabi could feel the man's presence.

"Still, you'd think that they'd keep an eye on you, you're kind of a key witness against the big man, aren't you?"

"He's not gonna get charged," Dabi said. But that was fine. That was never his goal, after all. He had destroyed Endeavor, and proved that the man would not live up to his name. "Haven't you heard?"

"Not really, no," Toga admitted. "A hero won't get charged for crimes, huh? I guess we chose the wrong job, Shigaraki."

"A corrupt society will always look for its most vulnerable to lock up," Shigaraki said. His hands twitched over the table, earning him a chiding look from the black mist in a vest. "I suppose I should commend you. To think you'd have the balls to go after your old man, and ruin him so thoroughly."

"Balls were never the issue," Dabi said. He needed to bide his time. "I just never had much of a reason. It felt too easy. Too quick."

"So why did you take the videos?" Shigaraki asked, his derisive frown twisting into the face of a confused child. "You had to be planning something."

"Protection, bribes in case I needed them," Dabi said. He pushed the drink away towards Kurogiri, who stopped the cup and poured it out, pouring something new in with ice. "I was planning on using it in case my mother finally filed for a divorce, but she got put into the funny farm instead."

"Should've stayed in there with her, then," Shigaraki said. "The news said you killed a nurse on your way out before you got arrested."

Dabi smiled. So they had seen the news. "What's one more notch on the belt, child killer?"

Shigaraki's whole body shuddered. It was an accurate descriptor, and one that Izuko Midoriya had used before she burned that handprint into his face. Shigaraki's confused stare turned into a twisted smile.

"I suppose so," Shigaraki said. He sounded full of rage and ready to snap. Dabi knew that the second he walked out of this door again, he would be facing Shigaraki once more. Toga would watch, and then glue her arms around whoever was left standing. Such was the extent of her love.

But that was fine, he wouldn't walk out today. He had an escort to wait for. Someone knocked on the door to the bar.

Shigaraki nearly jumped out of his seat.

Himiko pulled out her knives.

Dabi pulled out his pack of cigarettes and ignited one with the tip of his fingers. It was after a moment of silence that a voice from the outside announced, "Tokyo PD, we're investigating a complaint about serving alcohol to minors. Is anyone in?"

Toga pulled a vial out from under her skirt and drank the blood inside, her face shifting into one of a mature woman as she pulled off her clothes to get rid of the school uniform. If it wasn't serving minors alcohol, the bar might go belly up due to prostitution. Shigaraki walked to the side of the door, staying out of sight. Dabi, too, hid away slightly.

When Toga opened the door, it was a heavy kick to the face that greeted her, sending her into the wall on the other end.

Dabi took a drag of the cigarette and gave a solid thumbs up when Eraserhead and Hawks grabbed Shigaraki, who began screaming at the top of his lungs.

"What a beautiful fucking sight," Dabi said. Toga's stare from where she was lying against the wall was worth its weight in gold.

They had eaten dinner and were just talking. But as always, even their time alone could not be left uninterrupted. Kyoka's phone rang. Then messages hit Izuko's. Before she could look at her own, Kyoka had already picked up the call. Izuko could hear an unfamiliar voice asking if Kyoka was alright.

"Yes, mom, I'm fine, what-" Kyoka said. Her eyes widened, then turned to Izuko, then to the door towards the living room. "The TV!"

"What?" Izuko asked. The messages on her phone were from Kirishima and Setsuna, telling her to watch the news. Immediately a news alert popped up: All Might fight live stream. Izuku all but jumped out of her seat and rushed over to the TV, turning it on. She didn't have to find the channel, because it was on every broadcast. A helicopter flew by overhead and-

Awe.

She had not felt awe in a long time.

Izuko was unsure whether or not it was appropriate to feel it. She was now at home on the couch, Kyoka leaning against her as they were glued to the TV screen which showed not a fight, but a single-sided slaughter.

All Might was fighting All For One. The bastard looked worse off than he ever had, the repairs to his own body had not held together, and All Might was still strong enough to surpass him in that hollow state that he had been left in.

Kyoka's breath hitched for a moment, and Izuko could feel the energy running up the girl's fingers as she clenched her fists.

She knew, of course. All Might had told her, in fact, that his intention was to give his power to Kyoka, as if asking for her blessing.

Izuko reached out, grabbing Kyoka's hand as the screen went white from the various explosions that were going on at each clash. All Might was not just stronger than All For One at this moment in time, he was also with allies.

Hawks and Best Jeanist darted through the air Mirko, lanced in to land devastating kicks before dodging away. The remnants of the League, Shigaraki and Himiko, were apprehended early in the raid. A man named Kurogiri was taken out with them. It all looked perfectly, exquisitely, planned, as if someone who could see the future had taken the reins.

It felt easy, in a way. Too much like she should have had her own part in this. But she would not say no to it. Though the losses were grave, she would endure them.

Though the victories were hollow, she would claim them.

And she could see that All Might, too, was willing to do everything to bring this chapter in his life to a close.

Izuko could see the pain on his face as he pulled his fist back. The sound cut out and became a single, continuous beeping. The screen once again went white as his fist crashed into the skull of All For One-

When the camera feed came back, it was All Might in full glory, raising his fist to the sky.

Chapter 26, upcoming:

"I told myself people couldn't change because I didn't want to believe I could be better," Izuko said. Dabi twitched. "But you know what, I'm full of shit. I've always been full of shit. And so are you."

Dabi grinned, shrugging in an exaggerated motion. "I suppose that's one way to look at it. So what, you gonna appeal to my inner child? Tell me everything will be fine? That I should visit that shrink of yours?"

"Fuck no," Izuko said, punching her fist into her palm. Blue fire sparked around her. "I'm saying we're not the same assholes who fought each other last year. So when I kick your ass, I'll drag you over to your mom and we're going to have some dinner."

"Kick my ass, you say?" Dabi muttered. He picked at his ear. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you over all that shit seeping out of your mouth."