Night fell on Hosu, but the fires still smoldered in the aftermath of the battle.
The emergency services had arrived, putting out what remained of the infernos and assisting injured civilians. Class 1-A had been ordered back to U.A., but Sabo remained behind—standing on a rooftop near the scorched battlefield, watching the glowing embers drift up into the night sky.
His fists were clenched, his pipe strapped to his back. The battle with Dabi still echoed in his mind: the clash of fire, the familiarity of the heat, and most of all… that strange look Dabi had given him.
"You're just like me," Dabi had said.
But he wasn't. Sabo refused to believe that.
Still, something about Dabi's flames stirred an old memory—one buried beneath the pain of losing Ace and the confusion of waking up in this world.
Footsteps approached behind him. He didn't need to look to know it was Midoriya.
"You alright?" Midoriya asked gently.
"I should be asking you that," Sabo replied, still staring into the horizon. "You were told to stay behind."
Midoriya scratched the back of his head. "Well… I kind of didn't listen. We were worried about you."
Sabo finally turned, his expression serious. "That villain… Dabi. You've fought him before?"
"Not directly. Todoroki has. But we've studied him. His fire's dangerous, more destructive than even Endeavor's." Midoriya hesitated. "But what's weird is… it looked like you two were fighting the same way."
Sabo sighed, flames flickering briefly around his arm before he extinguished them. "I've trained all my life to control fire. I can feel when it's pure, or corrupted. His… it's twisted."
Midoriya sat on the edge of the rooftop beside him. "You know… I used to think having power was enough. But watching heroes like All Might taught me that what matters most is why we fight."
Sabo gave a faint smile. "In my world, I fought for freedom. To protect people from tyranny. I had brothers… a family. I lost them to injustice."
Midoriya looked down, silent.
"That's why I'm here," Sabo continued, voice low. "Not just to survive—but to stand for something. I may be from another world, but the flames of evil burn the same here."
Midoriya stood, inspired. "Then let us help you."
Sabo nodded.
Suddenly, Yaoyorozu's voice crackled through their comms.
"Midoriya, Sabo—report to the teacher's lounge. Principal Nezu wants to see you."
They glanced at each other.
Minutes later, they arrived at U.A.'s teacher's lounge. Aizawa stood near the back with crossed arms, and Nezu sat atop a high chair with his paws folded.
"Thank you for coming," Nezu greeted with a slight bow. "You've both been in the heart of tonight's incident, and we need clarity."
Sabo stepped forward. "Ask whatever you need."
Nezu tapped a tablet and projected footage from the city.
"Surveillance shows that the League of Villains targeted you specifically, Sabo," Nezu said. "Dabi approached you directly. He called you by name."
Sabo stiffened. "I noticed."
Aizawa stepped in. "Do you know why? Did you have any contact with them before today?"
"No." Sabo's voice was firm. "I don't know how they know me. But… something tells me they've known about me longer than I've known about them."
Nezu nodded. "It's possible. You're not a normal transfer student, after all."
Sabo frowned. "What are you implying?"
Nezu gestured to the monitor again. "We've been researching your arrival. There have been recent distortions in quirk energy fields—unexplained anomalies in the sky. They coincide with the time you appeared."
Sabo stepped back, stunned. "So… I really did come from another world."
Midoriya looked shocked. "Like a portal?"
"Or a rift," Aizawa said. "One that someone could've created on purpose."
Sabo's heart pounded. "You think someone brought me here?"
"Or something," Nezu replied. "Perhaps even… to stop someone."
Silence filled the room.
Then, Nezu said, "There's more. You're not the only anomaly."
He tapped another screen.
A satellite image displayed two new figures—blurry, but clearly humanoid—emerging from a crater near the edge of the city. One wore dark armor. The other… cloaked in what looked like mist.
"Villains?" Midoriya asked.
"We don't know yet," Nezu said. "But we'll need to find out."
Sabo stepped closer. The image sparked something deep inside—like a memory half-formed. He couldn't explain it, but he felt… connected.
Nezu gave him a long look. "You may not have come here alone."