Megumi extended her arm in front of Ryuji. A single word escaped her mouth as she attempted to stop Ryuji's advance.

[color=a187be]"No."[/color]

A brief moment passed in which nothing was being said. Megumi's face was tilted downward, causing her hair to obscure her face. She took a deep breath before speaking another word. When she spoke, her voice wasn't as sugary sweet or filled with false innocence as before. Her voice was more audible and slightly more mature, as if she were a completely different person altogether.

[color=a187be]"You're giving up your pacifism to protect me? How disgustingly noble! ...Noble, but naïve. This is a battle school, senpai. If I were some fragile flower in need of protection I would've gone to that private school...Yet here I am. I provoked Ichihara-senpai myself--[/color] She briefly turned to Ban [color=a187be]"--and for that I apologize, it was uncalled for. But now there finally is an opponent willing to face me, I won't back down.[/color] Megumi raised her head and looked straight up at Ryuji, staring him in the eyes with a defiant look. [color=a187be]"You're free to fight him if you wish, but I'll fight Ichihara-senpai regardless of whether you do or not. Those without determination do not belong on the battlefield."[/color]

She shot the same defiant glare at Ban, clearly determined to take her chances.

[@AtomicNut][@HeroicSociopath][@ThirdHourIII]