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What makes a good protagonist?

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Good, not in its meaning of being [br]well-written but as a matter of

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virtue and morality. A protagonist whose[br]ideals and values are kind and honorable

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in their actions. Mob Psycho 100 is a [br]story elevated by its means of showing

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kindness perpetuated by Mob, a child born[br]with tremendous psychic abilities but

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whose warm-hearted nature defines his[br]character. As storytelling has developed

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overtime, writers have explored the[br]intricacies of developing heroes and

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protagonists outside of righteously good[br]personas through the inclusions of

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anti-heroes, pragmatic heroes, and[br]situated characters within a morally

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grey void. Protagonists who don't waver[br]from their kind persona have become far

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fewer. Protagonists who don't deviate from[br]their ethical morals are deemed

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one-dimensional and boring compared to[br]heroes undertaking ambiguous actions,

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whose development is regarded as [br]multifaceted and complex. Mob's growth

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over the series isn't grand comparable to[br]other shounen stories. Whilst in other

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narratives where the hero's powers [br]increase over time, Mob Psycho 100 never

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once explores the ideology of growing [br]Mob's powers instead forming and applying

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differing interpretation of the [br]overpowered protagonist trope. Mob's

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psychic powers aren't there as an exemplar[br]of his progression, as they don't develop

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nor advance through a training arc, but [br]rather exist as another element to Mob's

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being. Instead the creative focus is on[br]developing his humanity in lieu of powers,

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showcasing how Mob's humility as a person [br]can also shift and help the lives of

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others. Unlike superhero counterparts, Mob[br]refrains from using powers with the upmost

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sincerity, procuring a resolve in[br]dismantling vicious scenarios through the

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goodwill of listening and understanding.[br]Being sympathetic and compassionate of

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both humans and the paranormal alike,[br]Mob's truest power is enacting change in

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others. As said from mentor Reigen [br]Arataka himself,

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"The truth behind one's charm is [br]kindness. Be a good person. That is all."

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Superpowers waver a thin line of [br]stability and are useless in the hands of

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someone callous. Greed and megalomaniac[br]thoughts are prominent within people who

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possess great power. To see oneself more[br]worthy than average people. Yet, despite

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Mob's powers, the show embodies the[br]importance of fighting with kindness and

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compassion, arguably the hardest traits to[br]keep in one's heart, but the most

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invaluable and rewarding. Initially [br]starting the series, Mob persistently

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contemplates the purpose of his existence,[br]evidentially shown during the nervous

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break he endeavors once asked, [br]"What is it that you really want to do?"

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It's a question that could throw many[br]people off, but for Mob in particular,

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it's a stark reminder towards the fear of[br]a life unfulfilled, thus making his

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decision in joining the Body Improvement[br]Club much more endearing. Mob recognizes

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the ease of which relying on psychic[br]abilities could hinder his own personal

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development. Psychic abilities can only[br]help so much. They can't develop social

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skills, make you friends, nor magically[br]improve your physique, and those are

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goals Mob wishes to achieve. To become[br]comfortable in himself and build on his

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growth without depending on his powers. In[br]many ways, because of his powers, Mob is

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a ticking time bomb. His friends and[br]family sometimes fear Mob's instability

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when confronted with intense emotions and[br]the aftermath his 100% or unknown

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percent state leaves behind. Through[br]observation, Mob's variety of intense

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states mimic that of real life. When [br]feeling of rage, animosity, and tenacity

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overwhelm him, Mob's actions are [br]impulse. He unconsciously attacks with

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negative emotions bursting at the seams, [br]leading to incidents later filled with

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regret. But his 100% states charged with [br]gratitude, compassion, and kindness are

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the times of which he's most conscious of[br]his actions. Fully aware of the help he's

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achieving, Mob takes initiative without [br]the lingering results of remorse or shame,

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showing the differing consequences of[br]letting positive or negative emotions

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drive your actions. On that note, the[br]execution towards Mob's handling of

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emotions could be interpreted as someone[br]on the autistic spectrum: finding

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difficultly with social cues, facing [br]ridicule for being outwardly emotionless

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despite very much being the opposite, and[br]his 100% explosions an allegory of

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autistic meltdowns. There's much evidence [br]to suggest Mob is heavily coded as

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autistic. As referenced from the National[br]Autistic Society,

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"Meltdowns happen as an intense response[br]to an overwhelming situation, allowing for

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temporary loss of control. When a person[br]is completely overwhelmed, and their

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condition means it is difficult to express[br]that in another way, it is understandable

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that the result is a meltdown."

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From the description alone, it's hard to[br]interpret Mob's explosions as anything

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but similar to autistic meltdowns, and it [br]makes sense. Mob is often found burrowing

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emotions away. He grew up with a[br]connection to humans and non-humans,

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directly placing him as an outsider of [br]normality. Having to carry the weight of

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his actions and the pressures faced as a[br]result of his powers, it's only natural

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Mob would suppress emotions that could[br]uncontrollably escalate under stressful

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scenarios. In saying this, despite the [br]negative connotations people unrightfully

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push towards autism, in Mob Psycho 100[br]Mob's outbursts and difficulty in

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recognizing nonverbal cues are never once[br]framed negatively or as a hindrance. His

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friends and family calm him down when[br]spotting signs of distress not because

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they see him as a danger or threat but[br]because they care for his well-being. Mob

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is haunted by the damage caused during his[br]childhood, the reminder of Ritsu calling

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in pain surrounded by injured bodies, the [br]origin of Mob's resolve to never use

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powers on humans. Some mistake this as[br]complete pacifism, but Mob will step in

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when justifiable against non-humans, [br]exorcising evil spirits or defending

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himself against espers when necessary. [br]And yet, even then, Mob shows a

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determination in proving to others [br]violence isn't the answer. Showing power

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not through brutality but courage and[br]attempting to inspire kindness in others.

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Most of the vigorous battles in the show[br]Mob has settled through nonviolent actions

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His impact not conveyed in heroics of [br]saving people like in other shounen

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stories, but the connection he's able to[br]form with others to enact change.

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Like the creator himself stated,

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"I wanted to build on the idea of a[br]protagonist who changes people's lives."

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What good is defeating an enemy if their[br]morals are unchanged?

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Mob sees a chance of improvement and[br]rehabilitation in anyone and it's because

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of this that many in the cast are inspired[br]by Mob. He makes them realize their own

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mistakes and wrongdoings through the[br]goodwill of his personality. His younger

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brother Ritsu, riddled with newfound [br]powers and rage by his inferiority

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complex, was left in tears hearing Mob's [br]confession of admiration for his younger

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brother. Mob dismissed his challenge of a[br]fight and even apologized on his behalf

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to those he hurt. Ritsu lived his [br]childhood feeling inferior and frustrated

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towards Mob and his powers, and yet it's[br]Ritsu's intelligence and charisma of which

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he earned without powers, that Mob finds[br]so inspiring. Mob loves Ritsu and was

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elated to hear Ritsu earned his powers, [br]knowing just how much he wanted them.

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But powers or not, Mob is always proud[br]of his brother, even through the mishaps

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he created from being power-hungry. It's[br]this earnesty that confronts Ritsu of his

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misdeeds, changes the way he uses his[br]powers, and slowly learns to overcome his

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low self-esteem. Mob's confrontation with[br]Serizawa is handled mostly through lack

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of confidence, too. Mob instead is willing[br]to listen to his troubles, understanding

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his fear of losing control and offering[br]him the kindness he lacked all his life.

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Rather than manipulating the vulnerable[br]like Suzuki, Mob consoles Serizawa,

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offering an ear to listen rather than a[br]fist to hurt. Even during the rare

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occasions Mob's powers directly hurt [br]someone, he's left overcome with feelings

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of deep sorrow and regret. For instance, [br]his unknown percent state going berserk

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and harming Teru as a result of Mob [br]falling unconscious. Mob felt intense

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sadness and devastation when seeing the [br]aftermath of his actions. Even if they

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were unwittingly done, he's someone that [br]takes every action he does to heart, and

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with that comes the unfortunate times he's[br]faced with the repercussions of his

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negative emotions. In a similar manner,[br]Mob feels regret when attacking Suzuki

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during the World Domination Arc, telling[br]the hotheaded esper he doesn't want to

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hurt him, despite Suzuki making it[br]necessary through his unhinged behavior.

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It's through realizing his attempts at [br]talking him down proved pointless that

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Mob admits he's not strong enough. And [br]that's something admirable about Mob: he

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doesn't consider his lack of strength as a[br]result of his weaker psychic abilities,

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but in his attempts to help and change [br]others. He's upset that his words aren't

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strong enough to reach out and help [br]Suzuki, which forces his hand to violence

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instead. However, after an intense battle[br]between the two, and Mob's sacrifice in

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trying to minimize his self-destruct[br]explosion, Suzuki does eventually

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take Mob's words to heart. Everyone grows[br]because of their encounters with other

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people. People need other people. If not[br]for Mob's kindness, many people's lives

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wouldn't have changed for the better. [br]Reigen's reputation would still be

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tarnished from the humiliation of his[br]press conference. Emi would continue to be

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shamed of her writing work, the ripped[br]pages of creative writing she poured hours

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into still blowing in the wind. Minori[br]Asagiri would still be suffering,

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possessed by Mogami. And heartwarmingly[br]enough even Setsuo Ito, Mob's voice

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actor might not have gained the slightest[br]self confidence boost if not for Mob.

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Mob's strength in pushing purpose and[br]motivation in others is what is

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constantly supported. Through being kind[br]to others you receive respect in return.

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Mob's connection to friends and family is[br]what keeps him grounded, to not wander too

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deep into the power of the unknown, but [br]also as a reminder of who he is and what

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his morals are. During his time in [br]Mogami's fake alternative reality, Mob

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comes away from the experience feeling [br]even more grateful for the people in his

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life, understanding the despair and misery[br]he could've endured if not for the

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kindness he received too. Mob genuinely[br]believes he was influenced because of the

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people around him. A boy who was once[br]secluded and riddled with inner thoughts

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now having a massive list of friends who[br]help and support him, even for something

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as simple as building stamina. And it's [br]this very reason he deems no one as

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worthless nor undeserving of attempted[br]change: because if Mob was able to change,

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then anyone can. The premise of this [br]series and Mob's character might not look

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unique from the offset, but Mob is a [br]warm-hearted person and amiable at

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his core. He's still a young boy who makes[br]mistakes and is flawed; he's terrible at

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maths and even worse at sports, not to[br]mention easily exploited and taken

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advantage of. Even Reigen pays him pennies[br]for the constant work and requests he asks

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of Mob. But as the series progresses, you[br]see a change in all aspects of these

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flaws. Not progress in his powers, but Mob[br]as a person and the relationships he

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builds. "To be the protagonist of your own[br]life," is a beautiful message. Make

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choices your own. Choose a path you think[br]is fitting for you. And if things go wrong

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it's still your own story to change and[br]alter the direction of. Mob Psycho 100 is

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a favorite show of mine because its [br]protagonist is kind to an unfaltering

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degree. He knows everyone suffers [br]differently- people come in all degrees of

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fault and issues because the world can be[br]harsh - but decides to be kind anyways. We

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watch as a young and impressionable boy[br]concerned about his powers slowly turns

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to a boy more assured of himself, how he[br]wants to fit in this world, and the lives

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he wants to touch.

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As always, thank you for watching. Sorry[br]for the little delay in this video;

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I caught Covid during the production,[br]causing a little halt in the process.

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But all is relatively good now. I want to[br]thank my Patreons again for being patient

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with this video, and I'll see you next[br]time with a manga video.