*ON HOLD* 𝘽𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙀𝙮𝙚𝙨 (𝘽𝙣𝙝𝙖 𝙭 𝘿𝙤𝙡𝙡)

What It Means To Be A Hero

"America's Abe Doll, the world's Phenomenon Child, has recently been released from the hospital. After months of going through treatment and tests, she has made a good recovery from the incident that left dozens of Americans dead. It's a wonder how Abe survived this attack. Being the closest to the final explosion in the mall, she was left with minor burn scars and her eyesight being taken away."

"Abe Doll is a nine year old girl who happens to be quirkless. Speculations have been made that Abe was somehow shielded from the blast or perhaps some force helped her from it. Though, nothing is confirmed of what truly happened. We hope to get an inside look at what happened with Abe in her next interview. Hopefully she'll be able to tell us what she went through."

~~~

"Doll, it's been awhile since your last interview. Tell me, what have you been doing since then?"

I look towards the man sitting behind a table. I'm in a room with him to my left, and a crowd of people sitting on risers to my right. I can hear everyone's heartbeats, each individual breath people take. The humming in the lights above us also invades my ears like bees. I eventually learned how to block out certain sounds and how to focus on a single one.

"Well, I haven't been doing a lot other than fine tuning my senses. It's been taking up most of my time so I'm not running into things." I crack a small smile as I hear some laughs from the audience.

"Last interview, you talked about being a hero. Have you made any arrangements to proceed that path?"

I hum, giving a single nod, "my parents have been setting up a schedule to start my training. Since I don't have a quirk, I'll need extra training to be able to keep up. But with my senses, I'll be able to do things most heroes can't."

"Right, about that. What do you think about quirks and heroes and all that?"

I tilt my head, "I'm sorry... I don't know what you mean exactly."

"Well, you're quirkless. You've told that other kids didn't believe that you could be a hero. But, would you mind elaborating about what it was like to be quirkless. Not that you aren't anymore, but I'm sure you were treated differently than how you are now."

I nod, "yes, very." My quick response gains some chuckles. "I didn't think I'd be this public at my age. I grew up in a small town in America where the biggest news was the mall opening a few years ago. Not many from my hometown actually went out of their way to make the news. So, being here and being on camera so much is very different from then."

"None of the kids your age tried to get popular?"

I shake my head, "no not really. I think it's because we're still young. They aren't really thinking about all of this, they were just set on being heroes because of their quirks. They often showed them off but the closest hero school from town was a few states over. I think I was really the only one who really thought about what it takes to be a hero in the day and age."

"What do you mean?"

I sigh, I know I'm going to step over many boundaries with this topic. Especially since I'm quirkless, but for the rest of the quirkless out there. It needs to be said.

"I've been asked a lot about if I want to be a hero and what I'd do with the money and popularity I'd get from being one. That's what a lot of heroes want nowadays. But..." I swallow the lump in my throat, sitting up taller as I take a breath. "If that is what it means to be a hero. Then I'd rather not be one."

Gasps and murmurs fill my ears but I don't shy away. This is one thing I've been thinking a lot about lately. Mom and Dad have been pressuring me into these kinds of things. Doing tests, training, being a hero. Of course, I want to be a hero, but not for this reason.

"W-Would you care to elaborate?" The host says with a shaky voice, nervousness growing as the whispers continue.

I nod confidently, I sit on the edge of my seat. "If I'm going to be a hero. I don't want the fame or money. I don't really care for being the number one or two or whatever. In the younger ages, when heroes and villains first came around. Being a hero meant risking your life to save others. It meant to protect those who couldn't protect themselves, and want nothing in return. Heroes shouldn't fight villains for the sake of getting popular. That causes more violence than anything.

"Heroes should care more about citizens and bystanders than their reputation. Making sure victims are safe instead of just running in to fight off a villain to get a rating or two. That's what it used to mean to be a hero. I've lived by this ever since I found I was quirkless. Because I realized that I didn't need a quirk to help those in need. I got into a lot of fights as a kid, not because I was a rowdy, rebel kid. But because there are people stronger than others who think they can do whatever they want to people weaker to them.

"So, when I become a hero. I want to show what it really means to be a hero. Popularity and a few extra bucks shouldn't be what makes a hero. It should be what they are willing to risk for the sake of others."

The room is quiet. The buzzing makes the most noise over the heartbeats and breathes. I know I hit some nerves, but it needed to be said. With everything that's happened up until now, I've learned a lot about the things around me. I've always been very perceptive, Mom and Dad have told me that I'm able to learn faster than kids my age.

Maybe the incident messed with my brain too. Maybe it made me see the world just a bit differently. Think more maturely.

All I know is that I'd stay true to my word. This world needs to remember what it means to be a hero, a true hero.