A Delicate Balance of Power

The kindergarten playground was still reeling from the sudden outburst of violence. The caretaker, a stern but kind woman, strode into the midst of the chaos, her voice firm but controlled. "Children!" she exclaimed, her words cutting through the tense atmosphere. "What are you doing? You know you can't fight!" I immediately stood up, bowing politely as I dusted off my dress. Bakugou, still fuming, glared at me before turning to face the caretaker, his chest heaving with exertion. Izuku looked on, his eyes wide with worry, while the other kids watched with a mixture of fascination and fear. The caretaker's gaze fell on me, and I could sense a hint of disappointment in her expression. "I'm deeply sorry, ma'am," I said, trying to sound as contrite as possible. "I joked about Bakugou-chan's quirk, and he didn't like it." The woman planted her hands on her hips, looking reproachful. "Well, you shouldn't have," she said firmly. "Bakugou-kun's quirk is very powerful, and he has every reason to be proud of it." Katsuki preened under the attention, his chest puffing out as he stood a little taller. However, the woman's scolding turned to him a moment later, and he shrank away, his face reddening. "Although," she said, "precisely since it's so powerful, you should never use it against your friends. Alright, Bakugou-kun?" The kid grunted something in response, his eyes dropping to the ground. I was surprised by the woman's impartial outlook. I had almost thought she was a Bakugou-apologist who would let him get away with anything just because "oh that's so cool, his hands can make sparks!" The woman smiled, her expression softening. "Good," she said. "Now come, we'll play outside again later." The kids began to murmur and move restlessly, eager to get back to their playtime. Izuku flanking me in the group of kids, gave me a worried glance. "You shouldn't provoke Kacchan like that," he whispered, "He could get really mad and- and use his quirk." I shot him an unreadable look, my expression neutral. The boy stills, sensing I was uncharacteristically serious. "Think about this, Midoriya-san," I said, my voice low. "If he hurts another kid without reason, is he truly worthy to become a hero?" Izuku's eyes widened, and he looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time.