The air inside the cramped, slightly greasy ramen shop hung thick with the savory steam of broth and the low murmur of conversation. Outside, the night was chilly, but inside the small counter seating area, a strange collection of individuals were enjoying a rare moment of peace. Dabi leaned back casually, a half-empty glass in his hand, a lazy, scarred grin playing on his lips as he chatted with Toga. Toga, bundled in a a pale pink jacket, was enthusiastically slurping noodles, occasionally pausing to gesture wildly with her chopsticks. Spinner sat rigidly next to Shigaraki, focused intently on his own bowl, while Shigaraki, looking particularly disheveled and grumpy, was slowly pulling long strands of ramen from his bowl with a look of intense concentration—or maybe just boredom. Magne and Twice were sitting nearby as well, joining in on the late-night grub.

Suddenly, a slight movement across the street caught Dabi’s attention. His sharp, tired eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced out the grimy window, noticing a small figure huddled near the overflowing dumpster, digging through the discarded trash bags with desperate, small hands.

Dabi paused mid-sentence, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face.

"Heeey, Toga," Dabi drawled, his voice a low rumble that barely carried over the shop's ambient noise, "Look over there for a sec."

He subtly tilted his head toward the window, indicating the small, skinny child outside—a boy, small enough to be an Omega, looking utterly miserable and utterly alone. The boy was at most maybe nine, wearing clothes that looked far too big and stained. His movements were quick and furtive, like a frightened stray animal.

Toga followed Dabi’s gaze, her eyes widening immediately, her usual manic energy momentarily stilled. She stopped mid-slurp, chopsticks hovering near her mouth.

"Ooh," Toga breathed, a soft, almost dreamy sound escaping her lips, "What's that little thing doing out there?" Her head tilted, observing the rummaging with keen interest.

Shigaraki, who had been ignoring everyone, finally looked up from his noodles, his red eyes catching the sight of the scavenging child. His expression soured instantly, the sight clearly displeasing him.

Spinner remained focused on his food, perhaps not even noticing, while Twice was panicking about the cold.

Dabi smirked, a genuine, if slightly predatory, amusement lighting his features as he watched the small Omega struggle. The scent of desperation was faint, but present, even from this distance.

"Looks like a stray pup," Dabi commented, taking a slow sip from his drink. "A very hungry one. Don't you think, Shigaraki? Might be a good time for us to... acquire some new company."