"Luca?!"

Mameko got frightened. How come he found her so out of the blue?

"What, didn't expect us?" Luca laughed. He buzzed with electricity, while Shon activated his stone skin. Luca glared at Dabi. "Hmph, still hanging out with that rotten eyesore? He was the one to kill Death Bearer... on your request, perhaps, Mameko?"

He snarled and blasted her with the electric shot. Mameko screamed and wanted to deflect the attack when the blue firewall emerged before her and countered the shot. She glanced at Dabi. He had protected her.

"You again, wimps?" His turquoise eyes sparkled with incense. "I guess I should dispose of you too."

He blasted them with blue fire. Shon covered Luca and countered the flame attack.

"Flames won't work against us!" he cried. "You both are goners!"

"We'll see about that."

"Wait, Sōen!" Mameko rushed forward. "I'll help you!"

"Huh?" Dabi frowned. "Get back! They want you."

"I won't be hiding in shadows forever!" Mameko glared at Luca, whose grin still terrified her. Nevertheless, she decided to face him and not run with a tail between her legs anymore. She turned to Dabi: "Let me help you!"

"You'll just be getting in my way."

"Not at all! I've devised a new technique that can help you while I stand aside."

Before Dabi would ask what the hell she meant, she joined her hands together and yelled: 

"Compact!"

Her hands emitted some strange energy. She put them on Dabi and cried:

"Inject!"

Dabi felt some strange new force surge through his body from the girl's hands. Mameko got off him, but the energy continued surging through his veins. He felt his skin grow sturdier than ever, while his flames began to blow out of his nostrils as he breathed and spark upon his arms and feet.

This power... I feel stronger than ever before! He gazed at his flaming hands with astonishment. He could notice his skin wasn't bleeding at all. His flames were no longer able to harm him. I wonder if I can pull it off now. Worth a try...

"Huh? Stop whispering among yourselves, you bastards!"

Luca blasted both Dabi and Mameko with electricity. Mameko prepared to deflect the attack, but before she'd do it, a firewall emerged and deflected it once more.

"He-He's almost like... pro-hero Endeavor!" Luca mumbled in horror.

Indeed, Dabi's entire body was covered in blue flames, yet it didn't hurt him at all. Even Mameko was astounded. She didn't think he'd achieve such heights after she injected that little energy into his body. After all, this new move of hers was still in its early stages and she couldn't give him a lot of power. Yet, even this small boost was enough for Dabi to grow overpowered.

"Such bliss! Never in my life have I felt such immense power surge through my flames!" His diabolic laugh resonated through the area. He glared at the terrified pro-heroes. "I'll turn you both into charcoal!"

He blasted them with a giant current of blue flames. Shon covered Luca, but it proved in vain. They both roared in pain as they got incinerated.

Soon, however, Mameko's injected energy subsided and Dabi felt his skin burn. He made his flames vanish and heaved a sigh of satisfaction.

"Some fancy new move you have! Unusual power. If I had gotten my hands on you sooner, my entire life could've been different, in a better way."

Mameko blushed at such a blunt remark on Dabi's part, who, most likely, was talking rather to himself than her. And even if he were, those words of his sounded more like a villain's lust for power than a love confession.

She stared at the lifeless heroes. Her years of horror and torment, fears of being persecuted and chased, were gone. They were all gone. She was free!

Dabi went off the site in silence. Mameko followed him. They walked so for some moments, farther and farther away from that place, so that they wouldn't be tailed by the police and Japanese pro-heroes who might discover the fallen Shon and Luca. 

When they were already far enough away, Dabi heard the soft voice:

"Sōen, thank you."

He flinched for a moment. He retook his pace.

"My dad too has sent his gratitude," Mameko went on. "You saved me. I can finally be free, undisturbed by persecutors both here and in my country. At least, not haunted by the terrible images of my past anymore. I thank you for that. You... You are my hero, Dabi!"

Dabi flinched again. Those big blue eyes scintillated with deep gratitude and... something more.

Truly such a pure-hearted kid... I hope your ideals don't ever get crushed by the harsh reality, little one! If they ever do, I'll make sure I'm there, to support you in your hard times.

Out loud, however, he only gave her a faint smile.

"You're welcome, midget!"

Mameko blushed. They wanted to continue their way when a stupefied cry reached their ears:

"Mameko-san?"

Mameko and Dabi looked back, to freeze in fright. It was Midoriya!