[IC] The Definition of a Hero

[Ricasso]

The UA sport's festival was in two days and in order to allow the third year students time to rest their bodies, they had been assigned with interviewing a teacher and doing a write up on what they had discovered. Mela Uede had her sights set on one teacher aka the number one hero: All Might. The sports festival was the perfect venue for the hero class to show off their skills one final time before they graduated and were left to find agencies or heroes to work for. Mela's first two sport festival showings had gone alright, depending who you asked. The first year she had been quickly eliminated by the stronger competition but last year, she had made it a lot farther, making better use of her quirk of acrobatics and balance. But to her, she always had room for improvement and knew this year would be hers to shine so brightly everyone would be blinded by her skills.

With the sports festival hanging over everyone's head, tensions were building and it was almost impossible to ignore the anxiety clouding the minds of the 3-A students. Their homeroom teacher for their final year was Ectoplasm and he instructed the class to go off and use the time after school to find a teacher and see if they would be open to being interviewed. A few students were probably hoping to snag Nezu or Midnight but Mela was hoping she could hunt down All Might before anyone else tracked him down. The bell chimed as soon as Ectoplasm concluded his speech and everyone got up to locate their desired subjects. Mela threw a wave to her friends before she hopped out the door. Behind her she could hear other scurrying for the door but her speed ensured she was well ahead of anyone else.

Mela hurried down the hall and jumped over the stairs, dropping down to the first floor, her feet gracefully touching down on the ledge used to hold onto the stairs. She jumped onto the floor and headed to the teacher's lounge, trying to quell her nerves. Sure, they had been taught by All Might since their time at UA began but that didn't stop the brunette from feeling nervous around the guy. It wasn't his stature that intimidated her, it was his sheer confidence that radiated from him. It made her want to be the best hero she possibly could be. And she hoped this interview would give her a chance to poke around his brain a little and get to know him better. Knocking, she stood up on one foot, pose unwavering, a habit she did when she was nervous. "All Might." She called out. "Are you free?" She asked, hoping he was there and most importantly, free to talk or make plans for a better time.

- - -

Even though the sports festival was a way for budding heroes to show off their strength and skills, it was a busy time for the staff at UA High School. The teachers were often judged by how much progress their students made and the whole world always tuned in to watch the festival broadcast. For Nemuri Kayama, the sports festival was a wonderful way to judge the students and see splendid displays of passionate young men and women giving their all for the crowd and the thrill of victory. Nemuri remembered her own debut when she was a student at UA and had to hope the students understood the opportunity given to them by providing them a stage to preform. Of course some students would catch her eye, no matter their quirk.

Nemuri had a soft spot for some of the young men at UA, many of them coming to her for academic and heroic advice, but also relationship advice. And Nemuri was more than happy to counsel her students in affairs of the heart. To her a hero without passion was as good as dead. The raven haired woman prowled the halls of UA, the day was almost done and over with, the cherry blossoms were almost nearing the final stage of their life cycle. Pausing to look out the window, she thought about the 3-A class of heroes and how she was most looking forward to their progress. Those in 3-A would not have internships like the last two years, but would shadow a pro hero directly. Midnight had her eye on one or two hopefuls and had to hope they made a good impression in the sports festival, as those who finished first, got first pick of their pro hero.

Nemuri becoming a teacher was something many had been surprised by. Though she insisted there had to be a variety of teachers and teaching methods in order to assist the young, next generation of heroes. It was Nemuri who had even put in a good word for Aizawa to also become a teacher at UA. Times were every changing. The bell rang, signaling the conclusion to another day, she turned around, her attention focusing on the third year students filing out of their classrooms. Nemuri smiled to them as they left, her handcuff bracelet glinting ever so slightly in the spring sunlight. Nemuri supposed she had to stick around school to work on prep for the festival but she had heard Ectoplasm had assigned his class to interview a teacher so Nemuri had to wonder who might be brave enough to approach her. Her skin tingled at the very thought.

[Protoman]

Toshinori Yagi retreated to his usual hideaway in the teachers' lounge for a cup of coffee after another class session for the day. He had been reassigned to more technical than practical coursework, such as ethics and license responsibilities for second- and third-year UA students. It was the only way he could still remain at UA for the time being as he oversaw the entire process of passing on the torch to One For All's successor, Midoriya Izuku, better known by now as "Deku." Though he missed and longed for his time as "All Might," the designated Symbol of Peace, he had known this was a possibility since the first fateful showdown against All For One which left both of them permanently scarred.

Though even now, in affairs that would not involve looking after Midoriya, he found contentment in his work teaching rising heroes the essence of being a Symbol of Peace, even if they would never rise to his fame. "Emulating what I stood for as All Might is more than just having a powerful Quirk," he would open. "It is the attitude of doing what you can when the moment arises. It is having the conviction to rescue who you can. When everyone else runs away from the danger, you run toward it. More than that, though, you also need to know what exactly to do when you get there. What should your priorities be in a crisis? Should you save the people in danger first or stop the one causing it? Do circumstances change that evaluation? As heroes, you will have to make these decisions in the moment. You will have to know what you will do ahead of time or the moment will become bigger than you. I will probably step on a lot of preconceived notions in the days to come."

It felt...different feeling powerless to do what he once did. Though, it offered a chance to strengthen and refine his own character and be a better teacher now that he couldn't just smash his way through his problems. His thoughts were sidetracked as he heard a knock at the lounge door. "Odd...who could be there? I usually meet Midoriya elsewhere and a teacher would just walk in..." He stood to answer the door, opening it up to find a rather eager student asking if he was free. It was in this moment he recalled the third-years' assignment to interview a teacher prior to the UA Sports Festival, finally getting their chance to feature as the showstoppers. This tended to be the one to watch, aside from the class that stole the show as first-years. He stood up as straight as his normal, weakened form would allow him as he addressed the student.

"Ah...y-yes, I'm free at the moment. What do you need me for?"


- - -

Estrada Ryuichi wanted to seize his opportunity to relax now before the Sports Festival. This one in particular was stressful since it was the last one, the one hero agencies tended to weigh high among other factors. In his first year, he survived the first round, though was targeted and bodied out of the second preliminary once others caught on to his Quirk's usefulness. In his second year, he narrowly survived round one again and was just shy of qualifying for the final phase when an ill-defended stomach blow in the Capture the Flag event left his base wide open for the opponent to swipe their places in the final elimination stage. Though his constitution couldn't get much better, he had worked all year long on his physical skills to compensate, and that work was about to hopefully pay off.

For now, he needed this assignment to take his mind off the pressure. He had his hero in mind when they were told to interview someone. The main issue would be getting in and getting his interview done before Midnight was too booked up talking to others. His first opportunity to get a leg up on others he would soon compete against at the Sports Festival. Even now, in something meant to unwind, he couldn't help but feel the intensity of the task. He was justified trying to reach her for this task. He felt others wanted in more because they were...teenage boys. Young men, at best. His abilities ran along her skillset: picks and nonviolent disables.

As soon as they were released, Ryuichi dashed from his seat to find Midnight. If he recalled correctly, she would be in an office in the next hall over. He did not anticipate her being so near, and it caught him off-guard as his opportunity was closer than he expected. He snapped back after a pause and looked her straight in the eye to try to catch her attention.

"Pardon me, Miss Midnight...we of class 3-A have been assigned to interview teachers on what you have discovered in your work. I would like to interview you. I would love to learn more about you as a hero whose Quirk primarily disables opponents, as mine works a similar way."

[Ricasso]

The aftermath that had left All Might without his quirk granting him such power and skill had shaken those attending UA, many of them had looked up to All Might, seeing as one who could never be stopped nor toppled. But in passing the torch along to Deku, there was still a place for the former pro and eventually life at UA returned to normal, students still able to admire All Might and bask in his wisdom, despite more ordinary and unassuming appearances. Mela had been undeterred by his lack of actual strength, hoping he didn't just tie his identity to being All Might, finding him still to be a great source of motivation. As she waited, she saw a few first years out of the corner of her eye, looking all the more nervous considering this would be their first festival. Mela was hoping to catch some of the action and cheer for her fellow UA students, regardless of their year.

Everyone deserved a cheerleader.

When the door the door opened, her attention refocused on the blond before her. She gave him a wide toothy grin, "I was hoping I could interview you." She said rather quickly and then sighed, forcing herself to remember her manners. She sighed a second time, knowing she could get far too ahead of herself and needed to take better stock of those around her, rather than jumping into things full force. That also meant talking at a more normal speed. "Us third years have to interview a teacher and I was hoping you were free to talk." A third sigh as she bowed her head before looking back to him. He probably already knew about the task but she wanted to be a bit more formal about it. She wasn't sure what the theme of her interview would be.

She could ask him about how the transition had been from his powered up from to his usual one. She had been in her second year when the incident with All For One had occurred. It was still fresh in everyone's mind and she didn't want to get too personal and invade his privacy. But she knew all there was about him, given the numerous interviews he had done over the years. "Maybe I could get some advice about the upcoming sports festival?" She tilted her head to the side, knowing she'd feel a lot better if she had a bit more time to come up with some things to ask All Might that were useful but not prying in any sort of way.

- - -

Not at all to her surprise, it seemed a stampede was headed her way.

Nemuri looked to see the first lucky one to get to her was none other than Estrada Ryuichi. She had her on eye on him since the beginning of his career at UA. His quirk was quite an interesting one, able to bring someone to their knees with a single touch. He reminded her of herself when she was younger, eager and with a skill that could be be deadly when used correctly. Still, it was people like them that had to work hard to not become a one trick pony of sorts. They had to work hard to make their quirk as versatile as possible to prevent villains from catching on and taking control of battle.

She studied the dark haired boy, well aware of why he and a few others would be banging down her door. She should have continued on her way there and watched the race with unwavering attention but found this was as good as spot as any to let the boys come flocking to her. Giving him a warm laugh, she placed her hands on her hips, looking down at him. "Yes, I see." She hummed. She could let a few students interview her all at once, finding the idea of being barraged by numerous questions to be quite exciting, almost electric. But then again, the intimacy of a one on one conversation could ooze just as much thrill for the pro hero. She contemplated her two enticing options before she placed a hand on his shoulder. "I would honored to have your interview me, Ryuichi." She declared.

Over his shoulder she could see a sea of disappointed faces from boys, and even a young girl looking remiss. "Come along, we can have a more intimate discussion in my office." She said, wrapping an arm around his shoulder as she began to steer him towards the stairs. Her office was on the second floor of the large building and had a lovely view of Musutafu. "I know with the Sport's Festival nearing, a lot you third years must be anxious. So if there's anything I can do to quell any naughty thoughts of yours, do let me know." She said casually as they headed downstairs. Nemuri had watched the boy progress bit by bit and she had to say, he could become a pro and leave UA with a wonderful, budding legacy. Of course it wouldn't be an easy road for him. That she knew all too well.

[Protoman]

He would admit the first few months without being able to make use of his Quirk were difficult, as any major change in life is. The public had to adjust to a new world without their Symbol of Peace. He had to adjust to a new world where he could not be there when physical danger arose and he had to trust another to carry on his legacy. To carry on a greater legacy. Those first few months, the remainder of that school year, he felt...powerless. And yet, a strength he did have left was his moral core. One Nana Shimura passed on to him in her time. One he used even now. Evidence of that began with his appearance. He had finally switched his suits to fit his normal form. He actually sat down to learn to teach students, through observation and through lecture as he was asked here.

And even now, he found it amazing someone would approach him for such an assignment. To sit down and speak with Toshinori Yagi in his life after All Might. Even now, the legacy he once bore had infected someone other than his successor. He was used to his former identity being that inspiration for the multitude of kids all across Japan to use their Quirks to become heroes. This would be a rare encounter, discounting Deku, with someone coming to him to talk about his life now.

"Of course I'm free to talk. We should probably go somewhere I won't be scolded for bringing in one who isn't a teacher." He proceeded out the door and walked with Mela to a more private room, one that was often used for high-security written exams. One where a teacher and a student could be one-on-one with nothing else to observe.

"So, Miss Ueda. If I remember this right, you have impeccable balance on just about anything one can stand on. And a bit of archery skill as well. What exactly brings you to interview the washed-up Symbol of Peace? Why not go for someone who can still participate in the field?"

- - -

Ryuichi tried not to let himself appear flustered as Nemuri touched him and agreed to a one-on-one talk for his assignment. He dutifully followed the pro hero back to her office. He almost felt like being a little arrogant and smirk that he snatched a coveted interview time with Midnight, the R-Rated Hero. Though, to do so would be to have the same ulterior motive as the others who wanted this talk with her as well. From what was available and what he could gather, she was one of the best in terms of technique. With his own physical abilities paling in comparison to his Festival rivals, he would have to become a technical specialist himself to stand a chance at making the final phase. The interview would be perfect for picking her mind on that first.

Once they arrived at her office and she had made a comment offering to help relieve some of his anxiety, he politely declined. "Thank you, Miss Nemuri, though I feel I work best with a bit of pressure. The honor is mine to speak with you. I would like to start with asking about your hero work. What have you had to do to make the most effective use of your Quirk? With how you've demonstrated to foes many times over, surely, they have figured to attempt to stay away from you. How do you compensate for that in a confrontation?"

He placed his notebook and pen at the ready to take notes and attempt to quote Nemuri as close to verbatim as he could keep up with. He felt eager to absorb everything he could learn, though he had some feeling he would have to edit out pieces with potential references to more mature methods. She wasn't considered the R-Rated Hero for nothing, after all. Even if it was just an act she put on for the public, this might end up being part of that as well. He would write that down, though he would have to exclude the raunchier bits should they slip. His focus was dead-set on listening to her method and what he could learn from it. Anything he could apply, whether he knew it from prior experience or not, he prepared himself to be a sponge. No pressure at all. Only preparation for his last chance to impress hero agencies and determine his life's course.

[Ricasso]

When Toshinori gave an agreeable response to her question, she in turn flashed him a wide grin, quite glad he had been receptive to the idea of having some kind of a interview or discussion. She hadn't been too sure given recent events. She had to think on one hand, he'd like some sort of privacy but she also had to wonder if he missed being in the spotlight. Being hero was quite a double edged sword after all and she was sure given All Might's newfound place at UA compared to two or three years ago, it was a little tough to feel a bit ordinary around everyone else.

Though to Mela, that didn't change how much she respected and admired the man. Just because his power had been passed along didn't make what he had done in the past any less incredible. She followed close behind him as they relocated themselves to an empty classroom. Once seated, she pulled out a notebook and black pen, still formulating what sort of questions would be best suited for Toshinori. Part of her had wondered if she'd get a chance so in her haste, she hadn't thought too far ahead. But she could easily improvise without too much worry.

When her quirk was brought up, she couldn't help but smile even more, a brief flash of pink crossing her cheeks before it faded away. While it may be their teachers job to remember the quirks of various students, it was still an honor to have a teacher remember it. "Yes." She nodded, suddenly a bit embarrassed by her own quirk. It was nothing compared to that of Ectoplasm and All Might and even Nezu, who honestly scared her a bit. At his question, she couldn't help but frown slightly. Did he really think so little of himself? That was heartbreaking but Mela decided to make it a personal mission to assure him she had made the best choice.

Mela looked to him, trying to sort out what she should say to him. There was so much she felt needed to be said. How could he be so hard on himself? He had done so much and was still a value to everyone around him. Quirk or no quirk. She was torn between yelling at him and gushing about all of his past accomplishments. "You're still someone to look up to even as you are now." She said. "Even more so, really! You still want to help people and you still can. You're still here teaching and passing on advice, I don't see you washed up by any means." She insisted, her cheerful eyes now wielding some fire behind them. "I shouldn't have to tell you about the countless people who still look up to and think you're amazing person, not just a hero." She said. "Being a hero is more than just throwing a punch, it's about wanting to help others." Even if he didn't think he could help her, Mela was now determined to help him.

"Believe it or not, you're the only person I want to interview but I can go track down Eraserhead and bother him if you'd prefer." She gave a slight shrug, glancing off. "Or...you can answer the questions of a really nice girl who thinks you're amazing."

- - -

Once inside her office, she shut the door behind them to grant them some privacy. She turned to the boy as he got his things out and began to get right to the point. Nemuri strode around to her desk and settled in her chair. It was a black leather chair, something both comfortable and stylish to her tastes. Her desk was constructed of metal with a glass top. Nemuri liked to ensure a place where she graded papers and essays was a place she would enjoy spending a good deal of time. Ryuichi was sitting upon a similar leather recliner but it was more narrow and compact. There were some light bondage paraphernalia that lined her walls, mostly whips and handcuffs though behind her there was a certificate of graduation from UA, cradled behind thick glass and a thin black metal frame.

There weren't any family photos or that of friends, at least in the open vicinity. She studied him as he jumped right in to asking about her quirk and how she contended with people who knew her skills and could evade or do something to prevent them from becoming drooling simpletons floating off to dreamland. "You don't waste any time do you?" She smirked, bringing up a hand to rest under her chin. "So much for a little foreplay." She teased him as she thought about his question. It was very broad in nature and it depended on who she happened to be up against.

However Nerumi wasn't satisfied with giving Ryuichi such a basic answer. She hummed lightly. "Being a pro hero does mean that villains can come at you already having a plan in mind, a strategy to counter whatever you're best known for." She began. "That means being a pro hero is all the more a risk, a thrill." She grinned. "The tougher the challenge, the more aroused I become, the more I want my enemies to be screaming for mercy." She growled lightly, the light thoughtful grip around her chin tightening a little. "Being a hero means giving someone you're all, whether that means saving someone or chasing someone down, to feel such an insatiable thrill to your very core...it's a feeling like no other. The rush alone makes me tremble." She licked her lips as she dropped her arm to rest on the cushy armrest like her other one. "To counter someone coming after you is to be flexible but merciless." She told him firmly.

"It really does depend on who I am up against but let me assure you, I like those who can put up a good fight. I love the chase." She smiled to him. "I always get what I want." She said. "Relying on your quirk to always save the day will result in both disappointment and frustration but also the deaths of many. You must be ready to face any enemy and that includes a situation where your quirk cannot be best utilized." She told him. "Your quirk is a very compelling one, feeding an adrenaline rush, thinking you're on the brink of death. That sounds incredible, someone submitting to you, there really is nothing like it. Don't you think Mister Ryuichi?" She winked to him now. "Let me pose you this question...how would you come at me in battle?"

Nemuri wanted to see the young man's inner workings regarding strategy. "You know my quirk quite well, give me a situation in which I would be at your mercy, how would you be able to get close and touch me with those strong hands of yours?"

[Protoman]

Toshinori smiled a bit as Mela started the interview and commended him continuing on his work helping, even as his Quirk had long since snuffed out. If he could puff out his body to let out a hearty laugh as he did many times before, he would have done so at this moment. He was satisfied to beam as wide a grin as he could muster up, renewed with a bit of purpose once more to carry on. He heard praises over and over on a daily basis with Deku, and though he was proud to know he was doing all he could with his successor, every now and then, praise like this felt special.

"Miss...you've got the heart of a hero. You're right. Being a hero isn't just about having a powerful or impressive Quirk. I know that now from many years of having and building upon my skillset and abilities with a powerful and impressive Quirk. And from being on the other side of it for a few years now. For all that time when I could stand tall as the Symbol of Peace, I brought with it a brash attitude. I felt invincible, to a degree. Like if I could jump headlong into danger, anyone could."

He sighed as he once again remembered those times. He had even continued watching old recordings from time to time on days when he felt particularly rough or weakened. Even having moved on for the most part, there were still memories and yearnings for times when he could personally stand up to those with powerful and impressive Quirks who used them for themselves and their selfish and criminal ends. Reflecting back, it almost felt wrong in a sense. Like sending children off to be the next round of soldiers. Like assigning them to charge against villains who could kill them without remorse. And yet, the alternative - survival of the fittest - was a worse outlook yet. If they were to die and suffer, better they fall standing.

"I have started to see more and more over this time focusing on my teaching that is not always the case. Typically, great heroes do start out with a great story from their days in school. We, as a society, glorify those who, in their youth, charged into a situation, even if they knew they would lose. As you may have noticed, the reality is UA doesn't view this as kindly. Security measures have only gone up. Access continues to recede. Even the Sports Festival has been on the block since UA erected on-campus dorms. You at least have to get creative to get involved. Heroics in school like from my generation at UA will get you thrown out in this generation at UA. Part of doing the right thing is knowing what that right thing is."

- - -

Ryuichi had come in expecting no less regarding Nemuri's language when she spoke and he started jotting down notes. Even if he would have to break up her quotes into more appropriate sound bites, he took care to write down her words verbatim. He took notice of the way her office was decorated and tried to hide his discomfort with how this setup was almost so suggestive, it wasn't suggesting anymore. Nevertheless, a slight nervous sweat betrayed being a bit on-edge with her demeanor. While he understood she had a reputation she embraced, he did try to steer clear of urging the act onward.

Her comments had his slight sweat grow into one more noticeable. He still was a teenage boy and such thoughts still crossed his mind the same as they did those who had also rushed in to interview Midnight for their assignment. He seemed much more conscious about them, however, and as he heard her describe the general ideas behind what she thought it took for her to get her job done, he attempted to filter the naughtier talk for the nuggets of wisdom he could take out of the conversation. He especially latched on to relying too much on a Quirk. Frustration and disappointment were familiar to him, especially in the backdrop of his last Sports Festival on the horizon. Over the past year, he felt he did a lot of what he could to make himself more versatile, more prepared to take on anyone, no matter what they knew about him. Beyond that, she was correct to implicate he had to face off even the least favorable enemies. Lives would depend on it. His first lesson from the interview itself: learn to thrive in the face of danger.

As she cut to turning the question back on him, he snapped back out of his focus and back into a cold sweat once more, becoming conscious of her undertones again.

"Well...more or less, since I don't have anything to combat you knowing I'm there, like hypermobility, an elemental power to change the terms of engagement or anything like big bursts of energy to say 'forget what you can do, I'll just blow you away,' it would stand to reason my best bet against you would be an ambush. I would have to catch you before you could roll back enough of your suit, which wouldn't take much time at all. Even if I were successful in touching you, fractions of a second make the difference in whether you take me down with you or not. And it's more likely you wake up first afterward. As soon as you know I'm there, you could protect yourself and I would have to back out if possible."

He felt it was an honest self-evaluation, even if it had a heavy pessimistic outlook. He assumed a writing position again, ready to take further notes from Nemuri on her thoughts about his answer. Would she agree? Offer something he could use in the short time left before the Festival? Or maybe even turn his thinking around?

[Ricasso]

It seemed with enough prodding, the blond was more open to discussing the ideas of heroics. Mela jotted down a few comments as she listened to All Might, though he was more often referred as Toshinori Yagi nowadays. Her lips curved up in a smile as he had to admit she had the heart of a hero though she knew that wasn't enough. She had her own weaknesses to work on like strength and power. Most people expected Mela to be in the support class at UA High School but she was insistent that she could make it work as a full fledged hero. People like Eraserhead weren't much for close combat and yet he made it work for himself so Mela thought there was hope for her. Her brown eyes shifted from her notes back to the teacher in front of her.

He went on to explain that things from the past couldn't necessary work in today's academic environment. Mela had done a few heroic things if she did say so herself, though she wasn't making much of a name for herself at UA but perhaps that was for the best. She was certainly fascinated by his history of rising through the ranks though Mela had to wonder if ranking heroes was just adding to the problem of competition among agencies and heroes doing too many risky stunts. Though as much as she was interested in his transition from pro to teacher she was also interested in learning more following the loss of his quirk. "Do you think pulling away from say...the theatrics of being a hero will discourage danger and hopefully prevent young heroes from getting in over their head?" Mela asked him.

She was hoping to figure out what she could do to stand out but from the sound of it, that may not be the best way to go. Still, she needed to do something order to get a promising job offer at the end of the year upon graduation. "To be honest part of things I wanted to ask you was how to best represent myself in the upcoming sport's festival. Do I play play to my strengths such as speed and agility and my long distance attacks or do I try to do something else and show I can be flexible in a given situation?" She went on to ask him. Surely as someone without a quirk, he understood how much she wanted to be able to still impress and get stronger, despite odds stacked against her.

- - -

It was wonderful the boy was taking notes though Nemuri would have to see if he could put that into a more practical use. To her, these interviews weren't a great way to help students but it would hopefully give them some ideas on how to best shine. There would be plenty of eyes on them but the teachers also had to make sure nothing happened, history couldn't repeat itself. The school was doing its best to keep its students safe and now security was something that was ever changing, just to ensure anyone lurking or getting a tip off, would not be given vital information as it would have changed in that time. Hopefully.

Neumri had a personal investment on all the heroes who walked through UA's halls and she would always ensure their well being above her own. So while that hung over many of the teacher's heads, the interview did give them something to focus on instead. At least for a little while. She nodded as he spoke about what he may be able to do against her. He was right though, there wasn't a lot he could do to really ensure a victory. "I can't argue with you there." She said simply, lacing her hands together now. "However just because I know what you're capable of, doesn't mean you couldn't find a way to ensure my quirk didn't put you to sleep. You would need to focus on nullifying my quirk even for a little while. Holding your breath wouldn't work so some kind of mask would need to be made."

Just as she'd combat against Ryuichi's quirk, he could try to rebuff her own. "I would also consider some kind of trap to pin me down. Keep your distance and find a way to pin me down or leave me disoriented." She advised. "Of course this depends on where the action is," She paused for a moment. "however you have to have a positive attitude when battling, even if all seems lost. Your feelings can sway a battle, believe it or not." She advised him. "While your assessment was more or less on point, you cannot go in feeling like you've lost already." She pointed out.

[Protoman]

Toshinori stared intently at the girl, watching as she took notes and looked back to him to listen. He could tell she was getting at least enough to work with to start. He could take hope she would have more than just his words to cut-and-paste for an assignment - that she would take this time to take his words to heart. Hopefully, the right ones. Even as he had been in this role for a while, he feared he still had some old tendencies. He felt his words, even now, might inspire too extreme a message in one direction, even as he had shied away from the other. He sat back at attention as Mela asked him further questions.

"Absolutely," he replied, answering her first question in the lull. "You are currently at the time for marketing yourself to agencies out there, while you do not have independent experience. Your brand is what you show your teachers here at UA, your mentors in your internships, your judges at exams and the people you meet along the way in working to become a hero. More by the day, people have changed their attitude about the big, bombastic, flashy hero. And they have compelling arguments. That sort of hero, who has already endured schooling and training, will almost always have the skill to back up their bravado.

"What people have discovered is, for every All Might, there are about a hundred imitators and wannabes who want to be the All Might type of hero, even if only one, maybe two, could actually do it at their peak. The other 98 will learn a painful lesson in some form...if they live to learn it afterward. Heroes are becoming much more focused on the practical. Get the right heroes for the task at hand, get the job done and get out. There will be time to smile for the cameras when the threat is defeated. The sort of theatrics I did are rightfully dying out. Villains aren't as patient to stand around while the enemy hero makes a show of it. They will cut your throat as you speak. If you're gonna make a statement, get the job done all the way first."

He listened as she next moved to the Sports Festival, a more immediate need for her to gain from and prepare for. He nodded after she posed her question. "Of course you want to highlight your strengths. The Sports Festival is, more or less, your commercial for hero agencies to watch. You want to show them what sort of role you can fulfill and what you are best suited to tackle. At the same time, you also need so how you can adapt if whatever situation you end up in is adverse to your skills and Quirk. You may not get to work at a hero agency staffed well enough that they can send out a specialist or two to handle certain tasks. You might have to go to anything and everything or pick up anything that happens on a patrol. Wherever you go, you will end up in a situation where you're outmatched. You have to think...you have to do your job. You will fulfill the mission. That alone makes a massive difference. It's amazing what you can do when you tell yourself you have to do it. Use your strengths when you can. Use whatever you have to when you can't."

- - -

Ryuichi once again tuned in on Nemuri as she started to give her thoughts on his self-assessment. He expected her to comb through his analysis, though she was set on teaching a greater lesson instead. He nodded along as she seemed to agree with the core of his though process regarding their hypothetical duel - he would be at a major disadvantage. She turned it back around with what she wanted him to take away from her question, however. If he was actually in against Midnight, there were ways he could accomplish his mission. He had to think more about it, depending on what else there was, though he had to figure out and do something.

"Your feelings can sway a battle. You cannot go in feeling like you've lost already." He underlined these words in his notes and seemed to look straight at them once Nemuri paused. Perhaps this was at least one of his keys to make the final knockout stage at the Sports Festival. More important, he needed this for anything he would do in the future, especially hero work. Sure, his Quirk was powerful if he could get it to work on someone. He had always been thinking about its limits. How he couldn't work it on anyone he couldn't touch. He had always adjusted and thought about the rest of his limits. How he couldn't take as much damage before yielding, and how others knew it. She hit it square as well on that matter - even if they know what he's capable of, he can still win.

"Thank you for that. I will be sure to hold onto that. I've thought of myself as a good analyst and a realist for those situations. I would guess the reality is we are called upon to achieve the improbable anyway. This does lead me to my next question. Heroes and villains alike are getting stronger as hero academies produce more graduates. You appear to be of the mindset to succeed any way possible. How does this work in the current outlook for combating ever-growing threats? How do you adapt in a world that seems to want to muscle you out of hero work?"

[Ricasso]

Some heroes were truly all about the flash and flair. Mela could get a little overboard with her own tricks but those weren't even quirk related. She could use a bow and arrow, even small handheld projectiles that provided smoke cover or explosions since she was truly lacking in the brute strength department. Still, she had her worries about being able to stand out in the sport's festival. Normally students weren't given their costumes or items and they just had to work with that they had been given. Mela was hoping for their final year, an exception may be made for the graduating hero class. But perhaps she need to figure out what she would do in the event she'd be left without anything again.

Her quirk could only take her so far. Reaction time, agility, speed and flexibility could only look cool before she could get overpowered by someone with an offensive quirk. Yagi mentioned how these days, even the villains weren't going to put up with people trying to put on a show. Mela did enjoy preforming but she never did anything that was outright unnecessary. When she first joined UA's hero class and had to show her quirk in front of everyone, they mostly accused her of not even having a quirk so it wasn't until she was perched up on a high pole, standing as straight and stable as a statue, did they think she might have a quirk. Even so, it wasn't much of a hero quirk, it was more supportive.

She cringed thinking back as some just told her to go become a dancer or join the circus or something but Mela believed there was more to her than that. Mela nodded as he went on to say what the sport's festival would do for those on the cusp of facing graduation. The last thing she wanted was to leave without any job offers. That would be beyond devastating and embarrassing. She wrote a few things down, mostly small answers, figuring she could flesh things out better once she was in front of a computer. Mela had learned to make the most of the area around her, grabbing things to use as makeshift weapons when she didn't have her trusted bow and arrows on her. "I suppose ingenuity and tenacity play a vital role." She voiced.

Mela placed a hand to her mouth as she thought about how bare the sports festival was. There was no place to really hide, no way she could get a vantage point over her enemy. It was such a basic setting but she still felt at a disadvantage. She could only dodge until someone just blew her out of the platform. Sighing, she looked to Toshinori. "My quirk isn't very standoutish." She commented. And when it came to close combat, she couldn't hold her own, lacking strength and defense. Her time spent as UA, she did work on her endurance but she knew close combat would be problematic. "I usually rely on outside tools or weaponry." She explained. "I'm guessing I'll have to find a way to evade, deflect and turn an enemy's strength into their own weakness." Though it was much easier said than done. "I'm guessing you don't step into any skirmishes anymore?"

- - -

"While it is important to have a realist mindset in battle, it's also important to not be self-defeating." She didn't think he was but there was a thin line one had to walk. You couldn't save everyone but you had to save those you could or no one would be saved and lives would be lost which may have been spared if a hero had approached the situation with a more urgent but positive outlook on the situation. She had seen many new heroes crumble under the weight that their choices really did mean life or death. A choice made in an instant could mean the battle changed directions or that more people may be saved. A hero had to be realistic in their approach but they couldn't waver, nor they could be blinded by their own ego. Being a hero meant shouldering a lot of tough choices that not many could make.

"Threats will continue to evolve as heroes do, that is something we cannot change but we can try to prepare for." Nemuri explained to him. "Humans will always try to out preform one another. As long as heroes can rise to the challenge, I am not that worried." She told him, still staring him down, her gaze was soft but there was fire flickering behind her eyes. Nemuri had seen many new heroes get overwhelmed by the foes that lurked. A lot of new villain factions were on the rise, likely due to All Might having to pass the torch to young Midoriya, who was still new to the whole hero thing, despite how much his heart was in it. He wasn't near ready enough and that meant other pro heroes such as herself and Eraserhead would have to work all the more hard to protect the new graduates.

But without real world experience, the graduates ran the risk of being unable to stand on their own. It was a tightrope to walk, if they coddled the heroes, they would never learn but if they stepped too far back, the heroes could surely be decimated. "You may feel the fighting becomes futile at some point." She considered. "But that is a surefire way of getting yourself killed. This is the kind of thing that won't just go away." She pointed out. "As villains become more diabolical, the better the heroes have to be. Here at UA, we are trying to ensure all graduates feel comfortable and confident. But being a hero isn't about just fighting against the bad guys or signing autographs," She told Ryuichi. "it's about never giving up and making sure the torch is passed, so that people don't live in fear. This world will always be plagued by sinister things, thoughts, people...whatever."

"But a hero has to face it all and deny victory to the darkness." She said, licking her lips "I must ask then, why are you fighting? Why are you here?" She asked him. "It's a question we ask our students all the time and it's a question you will find yourself wondering when you're in battle, seeing people die, hearing their screams, when hope is lost you have to hold onto that answer." Nemuri said, her passion undeniable as she spoke. "You have to fight, you cannot give up." She knew people like Ryuichi were the future and she was confident in his ability. "A quirk doesn't define you, but your ability to keep moving forward. You're going to find someone who could even be immune or wear something that disrupts it, it's in those moments that you fight even harder. This is a lesson that you will learn again and again outside of these walls."

[Protoman]

"A hero who can figure a way out is a better hero than even one with a stronger innate ability. A hero who can find a way doing what they can is a better hero than even one with gifts that make them appear as though they stand with gods. On the contrary, heroes who have bigger, flashier and, quote-unquote, 'better' Quirks have an even bigger burden to shoulder. A higher standard to meet. And rightfully so. In this world, it's not what you get, but what you do with it. To exceed expectation is the mark of greatness. The tools you have chosen and refined are part of that. The layman hypes up the showmanship. Professional heroes know better and see your true substance."

Her question on his place in battle twinged a bit, though not as painful as it used to. "I don't join the battle anymore. Quite the opposite. If anything breaks out, I'm the one looked after and shepherded away. Anything from a stray rock shard breaking off from someone training to a Villain drill. It was difficult to adjust. I considered quitting a few times because it made me realize what little else I contributed. Instead, similar to what you have done, I expanded my skillset. I picked up new tools and learned to use them. Once thing that can separate a hero as great from a hero as good is what they can do when they cannot use their gifts. When your go-to toolbox is inaccessible. When someone defies all expectations in the terms of engagement.

"So, no. Whether it's two students in a hall brawl or a legitimate Villain threat...I don't get involved anymore. As much as my old self would love to, I have to be smarter than I was then. Know how you can save people. The answer isn't always to jump into the heat of action when the moment arises. In my case, I win the battle before there is one. I win the battle by avoiding one. Part of knowing that now is knowing why I do what I do. Because I still want to help students. You don't have to constantly question yourself, for too much creates doubt. Every now and then, though, you need to know why. Reflect on why. Why did you come to UA? Why do you stay here?"

- - -

Ryuichi reflected in Midnight's words as he transcribed them. That self-defeating attitude had cost him dearly at the Festivals. In getting his dream internships. In getting into the work-study programs he pursued, especially with another hero whose Quirk had a similar activation condition, Nighteye. If only that part of him was refined enough from the start...though, sitting on that, in itself, was falling back into old ways as Nemuri said. As long as he tried to rise to the next challenge, his improvement would show. Even this late in his schooling, there was still a chance. Great heroes showed their greatness in their school days. His were not yet over, even as past doors had closed. Letting himself drown in that was the door to death. Maybe his. Maybe someone else's. If not in body, in spirit or heart.

"So part of our reality is we're going to jump straight into the wolves' den on a regular basis. Rather than concern ourselves now with how much better they will be, we will have to become better ourselves. Know that we can, and that someone must to keep them from reshaping things as they selfishly see fit." When she asked why he fought and why he was at UA, he paused. That was something he hadn't visited since he was a bright-eyed first-year, when he was just happy to be at UA. That it was possible with their entry requirements changing to reflect the strengths of Quirks like his, that fighting robots couldn't test. He had not yet matured to a point to rise above the jaded bitterness as he accepted the common lie - raw ability would trump all.

"I haven't answered that question since before the Entrance Exam. For some time, I fought the notion this Quirk set me on a villain's path. That didn't go away. I fought to show I could still be part of a team, even if I couldn't get the right setup for the finisher. I fought because I had something to prove. Because I thought I had not proved it yet. Now...I'm here and I fight...because this world is becoming a darker place. Left to its own, the strong survive, and I don't see myself as strong or oozing with raw power or ability. I fight to keep that order in place so others who see themselves in the shadows of the star heroes can still see the light. To help them know where to look when they can't see the sun."