Dabi…? Shirayuki took a step forward, but paused. Her gaze flitted to her three upperclassmen, who were still looking at the candy selection. When she looked back to Dabi, he was tilting his head and quirked his finger to beckon to her again. What should I do?

A lump was forming in her throat and she felt her heart starting to race. Togata had just told her that she shouldn't pursue revenge. If she talked to Dabi, she knew she'd ask him if he knew anything about the person that killed her grandmother. If she knew who it was, she wasn't sure she'd be able to stop herself from going after them.

At the same time, a part of her wondered if he knew where Sayuri was. If she could talk to her cousin, if she at least knew that her cousin and that little girl with the white hair were alright, then she'd feel better. Besides, Dabi was part of the League of Villains and they had Bakugou. Maybe she could get some information about that, if she was careful.

Another glance back to her friends had her feeling guilty. Amajiki's face was flushed pink and it spread to the tips of his pointed ears. He was asking Togata if he thought she'd like a particular chocolate and she couldn't help blushing as well. She hated the thought of lying to them, but if she could help Bakugou and possibly get some closure, then she would.

It's just for a few minutes, she told herself. Shirayuki walked over to her friends, fidgeting with her phone. "…I'm…um…I'm going to call Fat Gum…to check in with him so…I'll be right back…okay…?"

"Is everything okay, Yuki?" Togata's smile fell to a concerned frown.

"…I'm fine…I just…I want to ask him about…the cats…" She wasn't sure what to say. She didn't want them to worry about her, but she was never good at lying. Even when she was a little kid, she always got a sick feeling in her stomach if she tried to lie.

"D-do you want me to go with you?" Amajiki glanced from her to the street outside, but kept his head down so he was looking through his hair.

"She'll be okay. Right, Yuki-chan?" Nejire smiled down at her. "We'll wait here for you."

"Just…be careful."

Shirayuki nodded and turned toward the front of the store. Dabi wasn't standing near the entrance anymore. Her heart sank and she quickened her steps. Going outside, she felt her stomach churn at the amount of people that were on the sidewalk, but she pushed herself to look for him.

Did he…leave? Because I was taking too long. He probably thought I didn't want to talk. What am I going to do? I just…I wanted to know what he knew. And I wanted to help Bakugou-kun! I couldn't do anything to save him and now I let him down again! I…I shouldn't be a hero if I can't even help one person!

A hand gripped her shoulder and the girl tensed. Shirayuki's crimson eyes widened and she kept her voice very quiet. "…D-Dabi…?"

"Took you long enough, Ume. Come on. We need to talk." He put a little pressure on the back of her shoulder to make her walk forward, but he wasn't holding on very tightly. It was a loose hold, like he was just trying to guide her.

She tried to keep her head up, tried to not stumble or fidget. Doing her absolute best to make it seem like she was more confident than she felt. On the inside, Shirayuki was terrified.

This was a villain. A member of the League of Villains was holding her shoulder and guiding her down the street toward what looked like a bar. To make matters worse, Shirayuki was alone with this villain and her friends didn't know where she'd gone.

He let go of her shoulder when they stepped inside. The bartender didn't even spare them a glance and neither did the other patrons. Dabi led the way over to a table where he slouched and kept his hood pulled up, but took off his sunglasses and mask. "So. I heard what happened to the old lady."

Shirayuki slid into the seat across from him, but she was trembling now. So much so that she had to tuck her hands into her pockets to keep him from noticing. She was sure that if her father was in a situation like this, he would've been able to keep calm and confident, but she felt like she was going to vomit.

"…you…heard about what happened…?" She glanced up at him before looking down at the tabletop. At the crude saying that someone had carved into the wood.

"I went back to get Sayuri and the kid, but no one was there. Had to hear about what happened from some neighbors that were gossiping." Dabi looked down at her from across the table and sighed, sounding frustrated. "It wasn't me."

She didn't say anything at first as she tried to summon as much courage as possible. Finally, she lifted her eyes to focus on his. "I know it wasn't you. You…were nice to my grandmother."

"I met her before, when I was a kid." He said this without offering further explanation, without even batting an eye. "Sayuri's missing. You know anything about that?"

Shirayuki blinked slowly and frowned. "I…I thought you would." She was still focusing on what he'd said. About having met her grandmother when he was a kid. Grandma didn't say anything about knowing him. She would've remembered him, though…right?

"She was supposed to be on standby for healing. I was going to pick her up after we got that kid back to the base." Dabi's bright teal eyes shifted to the side, glaring at a man that was walking toward their table. "You need something?"

"Is that girl old enough to be in here?" The stranger looked at Shirayuki, who shrank in on herself a little and lowered her head.

"Don't look at the kid. I'm the one talking to you." The villain waited until the man was looking at him again. "She's not here to drink so it doesn't matter. Unless you want to start something."

It looked like the man wanted to snap back at him, but when he saw the way Dabi was glaring, he stopped himself. "Well, you have to order something if you're going to be in here."

"W-water. Just water. For both of us." Shirayuki rummaged in her pocket and put some money in front of her. "Water, please."

Dabi seemed irritated, but didn't say anything when the man walked away. "I know who took Sayuri and the kid. It's the same guy that killed the old lady. If you want to get revenge for her, I can help you out. You just have to do something for me first."

"…what…what do I need to do…?" Her confidence was falling and there was a sinking feeling in her stomach. Shirayuki was fidgeting with her phone beneath the table and glanced warily toward the other patrons. Two bottles of water were put on the table in front of them and the server hurried away.

The smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth sent a chill down Shirayuki's spine. Dabi gripped the water bottle in front of him and tapped a fingertip against the side. "That kid we took isn't working out. So I want to bring you in to join instead. Join the League. I'll help you get your revenge and you can help save Sayuri and the kid. If we have you, then we can let that other one go."

If I join…they'll let Bakugou-kun go? Her eyes widened and she bowed her head, biting the inside of her cheek. If I join…I can help. I can help him save Sayuri-chan and her daughter. I can help Bakugou-kun. But…if I join, then I'll…I'll be a villain.

Shift P.O.V

"Something isn't right." Amajiki glanced toward the front of the store, skimming the crowded sidewalk for Shirayuki, but he couldn't find her.

"What? What do you mean?" Nejire was in the middle of adding the last candy to the mix they were picking out for their underclassman. She frowned and followed his line of sight. "Tamaki, do you think something happened to Yuki-chan?"

"N-no…yes. I don't know. It just…I feel like something's wrong." He looked down at the candy box in his hands and grimaced. Anxiety gnawed at his stomach and he wanted to go to the corner, but he stayed where he was standing.

Togata put a hand on his shoulder and leaned closer to him. "I know what you mean. Something felt kind of "off" when I was talking to her. I think she's having trouble dealing with what happened. I tried to talk to her about it earlier, but I don't know if I made her feel better."

He sighed and gave Amajiki's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Tamaki, I'm really worried about her. I've got a bad feeling, too."

Yuki...He stepped out of Togata's grip and pushed the candy box into his hands. "I-I have to find her. I'm sorry." Amajiki walked outside at a fast pace, his nervousness growing when he got outside and couldn't see her. He looked for Shirayuki's violet hair, but didn't see it anywhere.

His pulse started to race and Amajiki carefully moved through the crowd, trying not to bump into anyone as he searched for the girl. Panic gripped his stomach when he thought of the unthinkable. The thought of her being grabbed by someone. The possibility that Shirayuki might've been abducted by a villain or someone else with malicious intentions.

Where…? Where is she? This can't be happening. Mirio! I need to get Mirio! He'll know what to do! Amajiki started to turn around to go back, but then he spotted something violet up ahead. He hurried toward it and as soon as he was sure that it was her, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against his chest.

"…T-Tamaki…?" Shirayuki's voice came out soft, surprised.

"I didn't see you when I came outside. I…I started to panic. I thought something happened to you. S-sorry. I just…" His arms tightened around her and he leaned down, kissing the top of her head. "I was scared, Yuki."

"…but I…I'm alright..." She put one of her small, delicate hands on his arm, but it didn't reassure him.

Amajiki could feel how much she was trembling. He knew her well enough to pick up on the strain in her voice. She's scared. I have to…make her feel safe. But I'm shaking, too. He hugged her against his chest and closed his eyes. "Yuki, I'm sorry. I'm not good at cheering people up and I…know you're still mourning, but I'll be here for you. S-so if you need to cry or…if you just want something like this…I can support you."

Shift P.O.V

There was a bar napkin in her pocket with an address scrawled on it. If she wanted to join the League of Villains, that was where she needed to go and Dabi would lead her from there to the hideout. If she wanted to avenge her grandmother, if she wanted to save Bakugou, if she wanted to save Sayuri and that little girl, she would need to go to that address.

Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks and Shirayuki lowered her head. She let Amajiki hold her close and she bit her lower lip to keep herself from making a sound because she was crying. She was terrified and she'd never been so unsure of herself. To save those people, she'd need to become a villain. The thought of it made her sick to her stomach, but part of her thought it was the right thing to do.

The walk home, it was all she could think about. She wanted to follow in her father's footsteps and be a hero, but she was doubting herself. As a hero in training, she'd failed to prove herself so many times. If she became a villain, she'd at least be able to save three people. Bakugou would be free and then she could help Dabi find Sayuri and her daughter.

I'll have to do it, she told herself. Shirayuki fidgeted with the card in her pocket, her other hand holding Amajiki's as he and the others walked her home. I'll…meet up with Dabi and join. If it means that I can help people.

The idea still made her feel sick. Nervousness had her stomach churning by the time they got back to Fat Gum's home because she knew what she had to do. Pack a bag, sneak out once her guardian was asleep, and meet up with the burned villain. Turn her back on hero society so she could really be a hero.

Fat Gum greeted them all with a big smile when he opened the door. One of the cats was sticking out of the front of his hoodie and another was peeking out of one of the front pockets. "Why don't you stay awhile? You're still on summer break, right? You can stay out a little late!"

"You know what? We should see if we could stay the night! We could have a sleepover like when we went to the beach! Wouldn't that be fun?" Togata looked to the other three teenagers, beaming at his idea.

Shirayuki was sitting on the floor next to Amajiki and frowned. But if they stay…Her crimson eyes met Togata's dark blue ones and she tensed. He…knows. Togata-senpai knows I was going to leave.

"That sounds great! Oh! You don't mind, do you?" Nejire looked over at Fat Gum, but Togata was still looking at Shirayuki.

How much…does he know? How does he know? Togata-senpai didn't follow me. Did he? I didn't see him, but…did he see me talking to Dabi?! Her heart was beating at an insane pace as she kept eye contact with her blond upperclassman.

"It's fine! I've got plenty of snacks and if you need anything, I can make a run down to the store. I just want Yuki to have a good time." Fat Gum smiled, but it wasn't a wide smile. It was gentle, worried. He looked at the way she was clutching Amajiki's hand and he knew she needed comforting; she just needed it from the right source.

I can't…go out tonight. Shirayuki watched Fat Gum, Nejire, and Togata haul some blankets into the sitting room along with a bunch of spare pillows. She felt guilt settle over her and she lowered her head again. What am I going to do? I…I can't meet with Dabi. I can't become a villain. I can't-!

Amajiki rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand and when she glanced over, he frowned. "Yuki…um…I want to make you feel better. So if there's anything I can do…tell me, okay?"

She moved closer to him and felt him let go of her hand so he could wrap his arm around her. The girl's cheeks were burning red with a blush as she felt tears spilling down her face, but she clung to him. "I…I just…I'm sorry…that I made everyone worry. And I'm going to try harder. I…have to try harder…so I can be a real hero."