[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/503254786926313503/505367998882906112/SumiElias-2.png[/img][/center]

[b]Interactions with:[/b] [@Delta44], [@ShwiggityShwah], [@Stern Algorithm]

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[color=lime]“Stop it! W-Why are you all fighting?! Shouldn’t you be focusing on how to save the most people?!”[/color]

The outburst came before anyone could have anticipated it. Sumi included. She had, in more ways than one, a problem with being led wherever her mouth might take her. Figuratively and literally. Today, it seemed, was no exception. Finding herself in a position where she could neither back down nor advance out of fear of the intimidating underclassmen (though technically, she supposed, they were all the same grade now), Sumi held her ground in front of the monochrome princess and the blue-skinned genie boy, clutching her left arm with her right where the stump connected to the prosthesis.

Sumi tried her hardest to meet their gaze, but flinched. They seemed [i]really scary[/i]. The way they talked, they were clearly big shots with high-powered Quirks. Just like-

[i]Just like...[/i] Sumi thought, her thoughts retreating back to that day. On the plane. The fear. The confusion. The panic. The [i]surrender[/i].

Sumi shook her head. [i]No! We can’t back down! Not when we’ve come so far! Do you want to be a hero, Sumi Elias?! A hero doesn’t back down from bad guys![/i]

[i]Just like back then.[/i]

Slowly, she forced herself to look at them, biting her lip.

[color=lime]“Not everyone here can be as strong as you! Isn’t that what h-heroes are for? To protect the weak? Then why shouldn’t heroes be able to help other heroes who aren’t as strong as them? D-Do you really think that obligation begins and ends with a hero license?!”[/color]

[i]Be like her! You can’t sit back and do nothing this time![/i]

She turned to thunder thighs. [color=lime]“And why are you just feeding the flames!? W-We’re the older ones here! We need to set an example! Right...?”[/color]

Sumi deflated a little. [color=lime]“I-I do... think you’re right. Saving people should be more important than just beating villains. B-but we all have a job to do, and if the heroes who are strong and can beat villains can’t [i]or won’t[/i] back up heroes like us who are better at behind the front lines, then how are we going to save anyone?”[/color]

She gripped her arm tightly. [color=lime]“Even if we can’t all be strong, can’t we at least be stronger together? I think... I think that’s what All-Might would have wanted. He sacrificed everything for us. So can we please just stop fighting?”[/color]

Sumi immediately felt foolish. Wasn’t she just hurting her own argument by adding to the yelling? If they hadn’t listened to the other scary girl with the big legs, then why would they listen to her? She only hoped she hadn’t started singling herself out already. Then again, that would hardly be a new feeling.

[i]I-I’m sorry...[/i] 

The words were already forming on her lips.