The Man In The Goat Mask: "Keeping him occupied is the most beneficial thing a friend like you can do, especially since Overhaul has already made a deal with me. Now, it's your responsibility, Shigaraki. I'll recreate this world to resemble yours, but with a sense of normalcy. Random and the book will cease to exist. I've also created a clone of Overhaul by combining the links personalities, so just pretend everything is fine."
*Five days later, in a world that felt both familiar and foreign, he slowly opened his eyes to find himself lying in a bed, bathed in the warm glow of sunlight streaming through the window. As he struggled to regain his bearings, he realized that he had been in a coma for three days straight. But something was off - for some reason, he could no longer feel the presence of Random's Power within him, as if it had fallen into a deep slumber, leaving him feeling empty and uncertain.*
(In his mind).
"I can't feel random in me anymore."
*He gazes down at his hands, attempting to harness the unpredictable power of Random, but instead, his quirk is triggered, much to his dismay. As he looks at the blue flames dancing before him, a sense of disgust washes over him, for some inexplicable reason, he has grown a peculiar attachment to the power of Random.*
"Damnit Overhaul... But the Man In The Goat Mask..."
*Recalling the Man In The Goat Mask for just a brief moment was enough to reignite his anger, his fists clenched tightly in a visible display of tension.*
(Out of his mind).
*He gazes out the window, watching as people stroll by, and his eyes widen in realization that everything appears perfectly ordinary. It's as if nothing out of the ordinary had ever occurred - no Random the demon, no mysterious book, just a normal day.*
Dabi: "Was everything a bad dream?"
*He asked himself, still reeling from the events that had transpired, if everything that had just happened was merely a dream. Had nobody actually died in the first place? Yet, the haunting image of the Man in the goat mask remained stubbornly lodged in his mind. As he turns back to face the door, the sound of knocking grows louder, and he catches sight of Shigaraki stepping into the room.*
Shigaraki: "Hey Dabi."
He smirks playfully as others came into the room.
Dabi: "..."
*His eyes widen in astonishment as he takes in the impossible sight: his friends, who had fallen by random, now stand before him, alive and well. Was it all just a vivid dream, he wonders to himself, trying to process the surreal scene unfolding before his eyes.*
Overhaul: "You're awake and I thought you'll never wake up."
*He gazed at him calmly, but his eyes were a striking anomaly, with one gleaming gold and the other burning red.*
Dabi: "Overhaul..."
*Remembering the intense battle between him and Overhaul, but for some reason, the memory feels slightly off, though he didn't want to voice his concerns just yet. Despite the lingering thoughts, the unsettling image of the goat people still lingers in his mind.*
Overhaul: "You know you should really lay off the weed man it's getting to you."
*His gaze intensifies as his red eye blazes with a fierce anger, a complex mix of emotions stemming from the first and second links.*
Shigaraki: "Yep that's right."
*He smiles at him, but deep down, he knows what needs to be done. After all, Dabi's loss to Overhaul back there still lingers, making a win against the goat cult seem pointless.*
(In his mind).
"Hopefully Dabi falls for it and everything can go back to normal."
(Out of his mind).
Dabi: "Yeah you're right I guess."
*He remained quiet, but judging from Shigaraki's reaction, it's likely that what was said is true.*
Shigaraki: "Alright then see you back in collage."
*He smiles at him as he decides to walk out, even though deep down, lying to Dabi is weighing heavily on his conscience. However, he feels compelled to do so, as he harbors doubts about Dabi's ability to emerge victorious against the formidable goat cult, which includes Overhaul, who is being manipulated by the malevolent book demon.*
Dabi: "Yeah sure."
*He says it calmly, his gaze drifting away to the window as he hears the sound of everyone leaving the room, including Overhaul. Despite his reservations, he wants to believe what Shigaraki is telling him, but the Overhaul he has seen seems like a different person altogether.*
(In his mind).
"It seems that Shigaraki is hiding something from me but I'll play along until the time is right."
(Out of his mind).
(Outside of the hospital).
Shigaraki: "I wish you look normal and act normal since the eyes and the personality is probably giving suspicion to Dabi."
*He looks at Overhaul, who's currently banging his head against the tree, causing blood to gush down his forehead in thick, crimson streams.*
Overhaul: "Everything is fine..."
*He mutters it under his breath, his voice barely audible, while gingerly wiping away the blood from his forehead with a shaking hand.*
Chrono: "How much longer are we supposed to keep up the charade that everything is fine, Shigaraki? I know this person isn't the real Overhaul - the one I gave my life for."
*He looks at Shigaraki, his eyes filled with curiosity, wondering what thoughts are running through his mind about it.*
Shigaraki: "Forever until we all die since it's the only way."
*He looks at Chrono, his gaze extending to everyone who has returned to life.*
Shigaraki: "I'll just say that Overhaul is sick that's why he's acting strange."
*He looks at everyone, his fists clenched tightly as he looks away, wondering how long it will take for Dabi to fall for it.*
Chrono: "Sure..."
*He swiftly turns away from him, grasping Overhaul firmly and pulling him away from the tree with a sudden burst of strength since he was frustrated with the current events.*
Shigaraki: "Everything is fine for now..."
*He mumbles it to himself, his voice barely audible as he repeats the words under his breath.*
(The next day).
Dabi as the narrator: "It's been five days since I emerged from the coma, but I'm consumed by a nagging sense of unease - a feeling that this world is somehow fabricated, existing only as a fragile illusion. Yet, another part of me clings to the conviction that everything I'm experiencing is real. For now, I'll play along, biding my time until the moment is right to uncover the truth."
(At College in Dabi's Dorm Room).
*Lying down on the bed, he gazes up at the ceiling as vivid images of the town and Random the demon flood his mind, along with memories of the mysterious book. As he closes his eyes, he suddenly finds himself transported to the bustling city.*
Dabi: "..."
*As he scans the area, his eyes widen in horror at the sight of lifeless bodies strewn across the road, bloodstained walls, and a eerie silence. Stepping back, he accidentally bumps into someone, and as he turns back, he's startled to see a person who bears an uncanny resemblance to himself.*
Touya: "Looks like we meet again."
This will continue in the next chapter.