The storefront window is as faded as the quality on the television screen behind it, but the dying hues of the image are still identifiable. The subtitles that have been put on to substitute for the lack of speakers are still very much readable. The kanji text says the same thing that's being shown. Last night was a shit show. Footage plays of the hell that was raised, a combination of Endeavor's flames and fire from destruction of property blending with the window's sun glare.

The top story is a U.A student's death at the hands of supposedly Stain. The name of the deceased is Tenya Iida, a member of the Ingenium family. Endeavor is being proclaimed a hero for catching the killer and stopping the humanoid creatures called Nomu that aided him. Apparently, Stain had been working with the ones responsible for the cataclysm, which just so happens to be The League Of Villains. Akatani isn't sure what to make of the information dumped onto him after the matter. Especially since he had been apart of it himself. Another big part of the story being woven by the news and media, is the return of the Tokyo Ghoul, also sighted during the incident.

Akatani feels his phone vibrating in his pocket, tearing his attention away from the television momentarily. He only bothers to check it because it could be Himiko trying to call him. Who he's expecting to see attempting to contact him instead is exactly who it turns out to be though. Eraserhead and his detective friend have left Akatani nearly a hundred text messages and just as many missed calls with half of those calls resulting in voicemail messages. He can't blame them after the news report on the Hosu crisis. He had just wished to have prolonged this inevitability when running away.

The TV displays him with his quirk on full display, protecting Himiko from the brawl between Stain and Endeavor. The two of them had used the fight as a diversion for their escape, but didn't get away unscathed. Plenty of flames had licked their arms and legs as they fled. They had also been caught on camera, for the whole world to see. Even with his mask, Akatani had been exposed. Aizawa and Tsukauchi would no doubt identify him easily. Considering their nonstop effort to get into touch with him, they likely already have.

"Oi! Akatani!", the familiar high pitched voice of his girlfriend alerts Akatani to her return. Before turning to face her, he crushes his cellphone with the aid of his quirk's strength enhancement. He doesn't know if the police and heroes would be able to track him somehow had he not broken it, but he doesn't want to take the chance of there being a possibility. Plus, he doesn't need the constant reminder of his betrayal towards them. With Himiko back, he doesn't have to worry about keeping the device intact for her to call him either.

Himiko isn't alone. Walking alongside her is a man covered in burns despite not having been present that night. Akatani immediately recognizes him as Dabi. He's wearing a long jacket despite the warm weather, hands shoved into its pockets. "You've gone and made yourself quite the celebrity.", Dabi jokes without a hint of amusement in his tone about the current situation. He gestures with a small nod while asking, "Afraid of the paparazzi?"

Akatani's face scrunches up in confusion over the question, before realizing it's rhetorical and why it's being jokingly asked. He tugs at the white medical mask that he's wearing, suddenly remade aware of it covering his mouth. While it does help to conceal his identity, that wasn't the reason he had chosen to wear it. When the bands behind his ears are pulled off, he shows Dabi the burn marks around his mouth. "Your dad's a dick, dude.", Akatani says through scorched lips.

Dabi's normally drooped eyelids lift fully and his body stands straight, the initial shock of Akatani's words getting the better of him. He tries shaking it off by returning to his usually bored expression, "My dad.. ?", though he's missing the slouched demeanor that comes with actual relaxation, "He's not–"

Not wanting to bother with the act, Akatani cuts Dabi off with a deadpan look that says more than any words could. Dabi's mouth stays open, but none of the lies or excuses he was going to use come out of it.

Instead, he sighs heavily and asks, "How did you know?"

Akatani simply holds the deadpan look. If it weren't for the burns, he's sure that Dabi would be blushing in embarrassment. The bashful expression alone is enough for them to communicate that the familial ties were obvious. Not to mention the way he acted strangely in his brother's company.

Himiko glances between the two, a delighted grin on her face. Eventually, she can't hold it in anymore and lets out a fit of giggles. Akatani almost joins her, but settles for a small smile instead. Dabi groans, not agreeing that having his identity outed is as funny as they think it is.

Dabi brings a hand to his forehead, just short of a facepalm as it slides down. "Not. A. Single. Word.", he spreads his fingers to peer out at the two teens so they can see how serious he is, "To anyone."

But Himiko doesn't meet his eyes, still laughing. "Dabi's got daddy issues.", she continues to casually tease him.

Until his tone turns hard to iterate, "I'm serious." His hand drops away from his face so he can shoot her a look in order to make her stop.

Akatani steps forward, even though he's sure Dabi wouldn't actually do anything to harm her, he can't help but be a bit protective. "We'll keep it to ourselves.", his own tone is just as hardened and defined. But it softens when he actually takes a moment and looks between his girlfriend and Dabi, "We've all got secrets about our past that we want to hide. Himiko and I understand the need for privacy." He meets Dabi's eyes while tacking on at the end, "At least a little."

Dabi holds his gaze with Akatani, but ultimately breaks it first, "Changing the subject.." His eyes return to making contact as he asks, "You and Stain were tight?"

Akatani blinks in surprise, cocking his head in equal confusion, "Huh? What makes you think that?"

It's Dabi's turn to deadpan. He waves a lazy hand in the general direction of the television, "It's all over the news."

Himiko playfully pouts, crossing her arms under her bust and stamping her feet. She recalls Stain saving her and asks her own question about him, "How come you never introduced me to him?! I'm your girlfriend, aren't I?!"

"I- It was fairly recent, Himiko!", Akatani stammers as he tries to pacify her with an explanation first. Once he gets the blonde to settle down, he returns his attention to Dabi. "He.. Respected me..", that explanation is a little harder for him to manage, "I think." As uncertain as he is of his own relationship to Stain, he also has to wonder why Dabi bothers to care, "Why do you ask?"

Dabi looks away, trying to act casual and bored as always, but his words hold a weight to them that Akatani helps carry with every word that he listens to. "When you first came to me looking for that legion or whatever, I thought nothing of it. But they're saying Stain was apart of them. And Stain's philosophy ain't half bad. I'm thinking you and I can get along.", Dabi's shoe scrapes the ground as he idly kicks the sidewalk's curb with a gentle swing.

Akatani raises his head after hearing Dabi's words. "Are you saying.. ?", he starts to wonder if the correlation between Stain and the League Of Villains also corresponds with Dabi.

"I know a guy. Calls himself Giran. He's got connections.", Dabi confirms those thoughts when he remeets Akatani's eyeline, "I think he can get us in touch with that club you're looking for."

Himiko bounces in place, emitting Akatani's inner joy physically for him. "More meat for you and more blood for me!", though her delighted cheer does earn a side-eyed glance from Dabi. "It's just like you wanted, right?!", she grins happily for him as she eagerly awaits his affirmation.

Though, it's rather hard for him to have a smile at the moment. "Yeah..", so he puts his mask back on to hide the scars again, "It's exactly what I wanted."