Well, I'm not really a leader, I'm just...the third strongest Esper. [Mikoto scratches her chin, looking sheepish as she eyeballs the token in her other hand. However, she quickly sighs rather tiredly.

Sure, the perks were sometimes nice, but for the most part? Her status was an enormous pain in the ass.. It wasn't the just the unwanted attention; it was the shady unwanted attention.] And that makes me a target. But---

[She takes a deep breath and averts her gaze herself after he says that. Her weakness...

If only he knew how far off the mark he was in believing so, regardless of the harsh reality. She'd never admit this---aloud, anyway---but he was her strength, right up there with Kuroko, Saten, and Uiharu. He'd fought beside her, held her up in her worst moments, outright protected her reckless ass; he gave her a reason to fight.

He had no idea how grateful she was. How she did indeed appreciate his presence.

How much she wanted to return the favor, even though she felt she could never match up.

She clenches the token into her hand, and closes her eyes.] ---don't be stupid. Don't you ever think that, Baroona.

[A beat.]

You're one of the strongest people I know.

[You've got strength that I don't have.]