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What makes a good protagonist?
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Good, not in its meaning of being
well-written but as a matter of
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virtue and morality. A protagonist whose
ideals and values are kind and honorable
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in their actions. Mob Psycho 100 is a
story elevated by its means of showing
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kindness perpetuated by Mob, a child born
with tremendous psychic abilities but
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whose warm-hearted nature defines his
character. As storytelling has developed
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overtime, writers have explored the
intricacies of developing heroes and
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protagonists outside of righteously good
personas through the inclusions of
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anti-heroes, pragmatic heroes, and
situated characters within a morally
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grey void. Protagonists who don't waver
from their kind persona have become far
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fewer. Protagonists who don't deviate from
their ethical morals are deemed
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one-dimensional and boring compared to
heroes undertaking ambiguous actions,
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whose development is regarded as
multifaceted and complex. Mob's growth
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over the series isn't grand comparable to
other shounen stories. Whilst in other
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narratives where the hero's powers
increase over time, Mob Psycho 100 never
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once explores the ideology of growing
Mob's powers instead forming and applying
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differing interpretation of the
overpowered protagonist trope. Mob's
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psychic powers aren't there as an exemplar
of his progression, as they don't develop
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nor advance through a training arc, but
rather exist as another element to Mob's
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being. Instead the creative focus is on
developing his humanity in lieu of powers,
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showcasing how Mob's humility as a person
can also shift and help the lives of
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others. Unlike superhero counterparts, Mob
refrains from using powers with the upmost
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sincerity, procuring a resolve in
dismantling vicious scenarios through the
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goodwill of listening and understanding.
Being sympathetic and compassionate of
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both humans and the paranormal alike,
Mob's truest power is enacting change in
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others. As said from mentor Reigen
Arataka himself,
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"The truth behind one's charm is
kindness. Be a good person. That is all."
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Superpowers waver a thin line of
stability and are useless in the hands of
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someone callous. Greed and megalomaniac
thoughts are prominent within people who
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possess great power. To see oneself more
worthy than average people. Yet, despite
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Mob's powers, the show embodies the
importance of fighting with kindness and
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compassion, arguably the hardest traits to
keep in one's heart, but the most
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invaluable and rewarding. Initially
starting the series, Mob persistently
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contemplates the purpose of his existence,
evidentially shown during the nervous
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break he endeavors once asked,
"What is it that you really want to do?"
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It's a question that could throw many
people off, but for Mob in particular,
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it's a stark reminder towards the fear of
a life unfulfilled, thus making his
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decision in joining the Body Improvement
Club much more endearing. Mob recognizes
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the ease of which relying on psychic
abilities could hinder his own personal
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development. Psychic abilities can only
help so much. They can't develop social
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skills, make you friends, nor magically
improve your physique, and those are
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goals Mob wishes to achieve. To become
comfortable in himself and build on his
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growth without depending on his powers. In
many ways, because of his powers, Mob is
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a ticking time bomb. His friends and
family sometimes fear Mob's instability
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when confronted with intense emotions and
the aftermath his 100% or unknown
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percent state leaves behind. Through
observation, Mob's variety of intense
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states mimic that of real life. When
feeling of rage, animosity, and tenacity
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overwhelm him, Mob's actions are
impulse. He unconsciously attacks with
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negative emotions bursting at the seams,
leading to incidents later filled with
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regret. But his 100% states charged with
gratitude, compassion, and kindness are
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the times of which he's most conscious of
his actions. Fully aware of the help he's
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achieving, Mob takes initiative without
the lingering results of remorse or shame,
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showing the differing consequences of
letting positive or negative emotions
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drive your actions. On that note, the
execution towards Mob's handling of
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emotions could be interpreted as someone
on the autistic spectrum: finding
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difficultly with social cues, facing
ridicule for being outwardly emotionless
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despite very much being the opposite, and
his 100% explosions an allegory of
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autistic meltdowns. There's much evidence
to suggest Mob is heavily coded as
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autistic. As referenced from the National
Autistic Society,
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"Meltdowns happen as an intense response
to an overwhelming situation, allowing for
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temporary loss of control. When a person
is completely overwhelmed, and their
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condition means it is difficult to express
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
interpret Mob's explosions as anything
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but similar to autistic meltdowns, and it
makes sense. Mob is often found burrowing
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emotions away. He grew up with a
connection to humans and non-humans,
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directly placing him as an outsider of
normality. Having to carry the weight of
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his actions and the pressures faced as a
result of his powers, it's only natural
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Mob would suppress emotions that could
uncontrollably escalate under stressful
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scenarios. In saying this, despite the
negative connotations people unrightfully
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push towards autism, in Mob Psycho 100
Mob's outbursts and difficulty in
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recognizing nonverbal cues are never once
framed negatively or as a hindrance. His
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friends and family calm him down when
spotting signs of distress not because
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they see him as a danger or threat but
because they care for his well-being. Mob
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is haunted by the damage caused during his
childhood, the reminder of Ritsu calling
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in pain surrounded by injured bodies, the
origin of Mob's resolve to never use
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powers on humans. Some mistake this as
complete pacifism, but Mob will step in
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when justifiable against non-humans,
exorcising evil spirits or defending
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himself against espers when necessary.
And yet, even then, Mob shows a
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determination in proving to others
violence isn't the answer. Showing power
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not through brutality but courage and
attempting to inspire kindness in others.
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Most of the vigorous battles in the show
Mob has settled through nonviolent actions
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His impact not conveyed in heroics of
saving people like in other shounen
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stories, but the connection he's able to
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
protagonist who changes people's lives."
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What good is defeating an enemy if their
morals are unchanged?
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Mob sees a chance of improvement and
rehabilitation in anyone and it's because
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of this that many in the cast are inspired
by Mob. He makes them realize their own
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mistakes and wrongdoings through the
goodwill of his personality. His younger
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brother Ritsu, riddled with newfound
powers and rage by his inferiority
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complex, was left in tears hearing Mob's
confession of admiration for his younger
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brother. Mob dismissed his challenge of a
fight and even apologized on his behalf
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to those he hurt. Ritsu lived his
childhood feeling inferior and frustrated
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towards Mob and his powers, and yet it's
Ritsu's intelligence and charisma of which
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he earned without powers, that Mob finds
so inspiring. Mob loves Ritsu and was
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elated to hear Ritsu earned his powers,
knowing just how much he wanted them.
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But powers or not, Mob is always proud
of his brother, even through the mishaps
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he created from being power-hungry. It's
this earnesty that confronts Ritsu of his
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misdeeds, changes the way he uses his
powers, and slowly learns to overcome his
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low self-esteem. Mob's confrontation with
Serizawa is handled mostly through lack
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of confidence, too. Mob instead is willing
to listen to his troubles, understanding
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his fear of losing control and offering
him the kindness he lacked all his life.
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Rather than manipulating the vulnerable
like Suzuki, Mob consoles Serizawa,
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offering an ear to listen rather than a
fist to hurt. Even during the rare
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occasions Mob's powers directly hurt
someone, he's left overcome with feelings
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of deep sorrow and regret. For instance,
his unknown percent state going berserk
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and harming Teru as a result of Mob
falling unconscious. Mob felt intense
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sadness and devastation when seeing the
aftermath of his actions. Even if they
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were unwittingly done, he's someone that
takes every action he does to heart, and
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with that comes the unfortunate times he's
faced with the repercussions of his
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negative emotions. In a similar manner,
Mob feels regret when attacking Suzuki
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during the World Domination Arc, telling
the hotheaded esper he doesn't want to
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hurt him, despite Suzuki making it
necessary through his unhinged behavior.
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It's through realizing his attempts at
talking him down proved pointless that
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Mob admits he's not strong enough. And
that's something admirable about Mob: he
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doesn't consider his lack of strength as a
result of his weaker psychic abilities,
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but in his attempts to help and change
others. He's upset that his words aren't
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strong enough to reach out and help
Suzuki, which forces his hand to violence
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instead. However, after an intense battle
between the two, and Mob's sacrifice in
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trying to minimize his self-destruct
explosion, Suzuki does eventually
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take Mob's words to heart. Everyone grows
because of their encounters with other
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people. People need other people. If not
for Mob's kindness, many people's lives
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wouldn't have changed for the better.
Reigen's reputation would still be
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tarnished from the humiliation of his
press conference. Emi would continue to be
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shamed of her writing work, the ripped
pages of creative writing she poured hours
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into still blowing in the wind. Minori
Asagiri would still be suffering,
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possessed by Mogami. And heartwarmingly
enough even Setsuo Ito, Mob's voice
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actor might not have gained the slightest
self confidence boost if not for Mob.
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Mob's strength in pushing purpose and
motivation in others is what is
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constantly supported. Through being kind
to others you receive respect in return.
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Mob's connection to friends and family is
what keeps him grounded, to not wander too
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deep into the power of the unknown, but
also as a reminder of who he is and what
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his morals are. During his time in
Mogami's fake alternative reality, Mob
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comes away from the experience feeling
even more grateful for the people in his
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life, understanding the despair and misery
he could've endured if not for the
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kindness he received too. Mob genuinely
believes he was influenced because of the
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people around him. A boy who was once
secluded and riddled with inner thoughts
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now having a massive list of friends who
help and support him, even for something
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as simple as building stamina. And it's
this very reason he deems no one as
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worthless nor undeserving of attempted
change: because if Mob was able to change,
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then anyone can. The premise of this
series and Mob's character might not look
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unique from the offset, but Mob is a
warm-hearted person and amiable at
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his core. He's still a young boy who makes
mistakes and is flawed; he's terrible at
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maths and even worse at sports, not to
mention easily exploited and taken
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advantage of. Even Reigen pays him pennies
for the constant work and requests he asks
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of Mob. But as the series progresses, you
see a change in all aspects of these
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flaws. Not progress in his powers, but Mob
as a person and the relationships he
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builds. "To be the protagonist of your own
life," is a beautiful message. Make
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choices your own. Choose a path you think
is fitting for you. And if things go wrong
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it's still your own story to change and
alter the direction of. Mob Psycho 100 is
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a favorite show of mine because its
protagonist is kind to an unfaltering
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degree. He knows everyone suffers
differently- people come in all degrees of
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fault and issues because the world can be
harsh - but decides to be kind anyways. We
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watch as a young and impressionable boy
concerned about his powers slowly turns
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to a boy more assured of himself, how he
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
for the little delay in this video;
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I caught Covid during the production,
causing a little halt in the process.
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But all is relatively good now. I want to
thank my Patreons again for being patient
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with this video, and I'll see you next
time with a manga video.