Classroom 1-A buzzed with noise. Yumi folded small behind her desk, chin buried in her arms. A shoelace poked out from under the desk like a little flag.
Mr. Aizawa's voice cut through the room. "Today's training exercise: speak up, or you're out." The class groaned. Yumi stayed frozen behind her desk.
At the training grounds, the teacher pointed to a low wall. "One person at a time. Say your hero name loud enough to clear it." Classmates yelled and jumped. Yumi stepped forward and opened her mouth. Nothing came out.
The wind whistled past her ears. She stepped back. The teacher dropped a crumpled paper bag at her feet. Inside: a single green sticker with a tiny lightning bolt. "This one's yours," he muttered.
Yumi picked up the sticker. It smelled like dust and cut grass. She stuck it on her wrist and tried again. She climbed onto the platform and shouted — "YUMI!" Her voice cracked like a popped balloon.
Everyone turned. The teacher's eyes narrowed. She tried again, smaller: "Yumi..." Still quiet. Then she noticed — he wasn't looking away. He was waiting.
Yumi closed her eyes. She took a breath that rattled the sticker on her wrist. She roared — "YUMI!" — so loud it echoed off the training walls.
The teacher didn't smile. But his shoulders dropped one inch. The class cheered. Yumi walked back to the group, the green sticker catching the sun.