With the usage of technology to talk to each other being common, one warning of frequent use is that it causes users to not pick up social cues in face-to-face interactions. This complaint is targeted towards teenagers who have grown up with all kinds of messaging services. A recent story in My Hero Academia brings up times where the IRL (in real life) component is still a big part of living the life you want.

After the events of the Hero License Exam Arc, Izuku “Deku” Midoriya is celebrating his hard-earned Hero License until his rival, Katsuki Bakugo, confronts him about his Quirk. Bakugo tries to confirm what all MHA fans already know - Deku got his power from the series’ heralded hero, All Might. He then demands Deku to fight him in order to see why All Might would choose a weakling with no powers in the 1st place to be his successor. Both expressed their thoughts and insecurities about each other as their fists began to inflict emotional pain. All Might stops the fight in the end and tells the two that they need each other more than they would like to admit.

A central point about this chapter in the Deku/Bakugo rivalry is Deku thinking about how he and Bakugo never had a proper conversation about their feelings, etc. They grew up together. They fought each other, They trained together. Yet there was still a void separating their hearts.

I’ve noticed that a lot of the public find it hard to have conversations with their loved ones about their feelings. They fear harsh feedback and regret over expressing them. One of the biggest reasons for being quiet about them is vulnerability. As children, we’re taught to put on a suit of armor to protect ourselves and appear strong. By doing so, we can show the world that we’re people worth being around. Families enforce this with stern advice tempered to cut down weak ideals.

That armor breaks down in the face of the need for approval. Bakugo tells Deku that he blames himself for All Might’s retirement after the events of a rescue mission (where he was the hostage) gone awry. He expresses his lack of strength to be the kind of hero All Might is. Deku thought he was the only one who felt weak because of All Might. Bakugo also asked why Deku kept hanging around after being bullied repeatedly by him as a kid. Deku breaks down and says that he wanted to prove to Bakugo that he was great out of admiration. The two wanted appreciation from others in order to feel worthy (Bakugo and All Might, Deku and both Bakugo and All Might) so much to the point where their growing feelings of doubt couldn’t be expressed with words, but frustrated action.

And speaking of action, Deku ponders whether his fight with Bakugo is a meaningless one. It’s just two kids being stressed out. But as Deku realizes, some fights are needed. You can’t ignore heavy feelings. My mother once told me that if I have something important to say, then I need to say it. Sure, it hurts and there’s no guarantee of things getting better, but saying what’s on your mind lifts a weight from your shoulder. The pain goes away. You breathe easier. You gain some needed experience in standing up for yourself.

Of course, with all the parties involved in this MHA conflict being male, this moment shows how much young men struggle with communicating their feelings when they’re taught to man up. It’s a universal problem, but men are more likely to be physically aggressive when they deal with emotional insecurities. Words may not be enough to save them.

All Might tells both of his admirers that they need each other to grow. Bakugo needs Deku’s desire to save people; Deku needs Bakugo’s desire to win. All Might also admits his mistakes in forcing an emotional burden on them. He tells Bakugo about his past and Bakugo promises to keep it a secret. The three became vulnerable with each other in an intimate moment. Everyone needs get-togethers like this because taking on large responsibilities (such as being superheroes) leads to tension. You must make difficult decisions leading to various consequences with a possible lack of control over them. The stress over control becomes a harbinger of fear no one wants to touch until it’s too late.

Yet every superhero has a weakness; that’s perhaps why the public loves them so much and why a series like My Hero Academia still is an excellent “school” on life.

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