[Morgana Moriarty]

SENTINEL INDEPENDENT PRESS

THE INVESTIGATIVE INTEGRITY YOU DESERVE IN THE NEWS YOU NEED

Age in this Day and Age
By Morgana Moriarty

Respect has long since been an integral part of Japan’s culture as a more collectivist than individualistic society. It should come as no surprise then, that there is an entire day centered on showing respect to older generations. Keiro no Hi isn’t like other holidays in that it is much less festival oriented. The focus is more on visiting with older family members and volunteering at places like retirement homes, though there are some more energetic activities and showcases both for and by the elderly. The question, however, is what is defined as elderly in a world that, much like its inhabitants in the last fifty years, has been evolving rapidly?

The term senior once defined this stage of life as sixty-five or older, but if one looked even deeper into the past, it’s easy to see that life-expectancy was once far shorter. A person in their fifties would be considered a senior in the 1700s. The bar has slowly, but surely, moved up as generations pass and both medical industries and societies advance. Until now.

Meta abilities, or Quirks as they are more colloquially referred to, are a deep subject unto themselves worthy of a library's worth of articles all on their own. For the purpose of this article, however, there is no denying their impact on the increase in both violent crime and the force of which perpetrators are dealt with in the field that causes casualties among participants and bystanders alike. The myriad of other societal issues and implications aside, statistics are already showing a trend with a life expectancy dip typically only seen in modern times during periods of war, famine, or disease. Perhaps it is no surprise given the frequency of tragic events headlining the news week after week, such as with the recent passing of a UAU student during a prefecture-wide attack on Tokyo.

The difference in this dip versus those caused by the aforementioned source, is that Quirks do not appear to be going anywhere. More and more people are born everyday with the gene that causes meta abilities to manifest. The population of those with Quirks has outpaced those without and will likely continue to do so according to researchers in the relevant fields. With that being the case, Sentinel Independent Press turned to another kind of expert for advice to any looking into entering a field most at risk for a lowered life expectancy—Heroics.

Lone Wolf, a Pro Hero and faculty at UAU, has a viewpoint one might find odd given his career choice. When asked what his secret of success so far was, he responded, “Suppose I should come out and say this, but I don't have a Quirk. That's part of the reason why I'm alive and well today.” Again, startling to hear from a Hero, but inspiring for Quirkless individuals that are interested in Heroics.

The Pro Hero offered more insight on why being Quirkless is such a boon from his perspective, starting with, “As you can see, I don't wear any kind of major uniform. I blend in with your average person.” He then added, “If you're a bad guy, what's the bigger threat to you? Is it the police cruisers and cyclists that patrol the streets, that barricade the bank once you take hostages? Is it the gal in the flamboyant outfit that with the waggle of a finger can call down the power of God to smite anything or anyone in her way? Or is it that unassuming guy on the street corner with a scarf and a bad attitude? People, by nature, are stupid. And that's something you can quote me on. But fact of the matter is, people only see what they want to see. I don't gallivant in a flashy costume. I can't lift cars with my bare hands, leap over the tops of skyscrapers in a single leap, or shoot laser beams from my eyes. Anyone that presents themselves capable of doing something like that paint a target on their backs. Hell, even if a Hero is in civilian clothes and gets into a scrap, using their quirk immediately paints them as a threat.”

While his advice there might be more relevant to those already in the field, Lone Wolf did address issues about UAU students specifically. Including the situation regarding the death of one Mei Lien. “Multiple students were involved in that incident, along with many others that transpired that day. While I am proud that many of them stepped up to the plate, it was stupid of them to do what they did,  lotta them got hurt.” It’s clear that while Lone Wolf is often harsh in his words, his criticisms come from a place of concern and his goal as a teacher is to truly prepare the future Heroes for what they will inevitably face—the same things he already faces, and survives, himself. In such a case, perhaps it is best to not be gentle. A sentiment he makes clear.

“Lotta stupid kids go to take the exam. Most manage to get it. At least, was the case with me. Barely graduated high school, and I found myself more knowledgeable than some of the proctors. I don't try to cull numbers for some noble cause. There is a second of Ground Beta that is lovingly referred to as, 'No Man's Land' because I've set it up closer to a war zone. Whenever people see heroes on the news, on the side of cereal boxes, their faces plastered on ads, you know they're fake. Manufactured. When the rubber meets the road, they're the first ones to burn out 'cause they've never had to hold in someone else's guts. Kids don't understand what real heroism is. The ones that do either get out of the business immediately, or are the ones put in the pinewood box. And anyone crazy enough to stay lose a few screws in exchange for knowledge and experience."

It’s a heavy take, but fitting for a heavy situation. Taking the time to parse through his thoughts yields valuable insight into both the man and Heroics. Heroes and their industry have been popularized through the media so intensely that it’s seemingly often more about showmanship than saving people from dire situations. The potential glory has become a glamorous lure that often makes people, the young-bordering-on-elderly now especially, forget the dangers and what is truly on the line—everyone’s lives. When asked for his final words on the topic, Lone Wolf added more to his previous stance in a way that also highlights the aforementioned issue.

“Kids should stop pretending. If this were a game or movie, announcing your presence, striking a heroic pose, and naming all your moves would be really cool. But the sad reality of it? It just looks corny. Maximum Overload, Shinigami's Gaze, Yamato's Revenge! I'm sorry, but kids these days don't know how to name things properly. It's goofy. If they're gonna put a name on something, it's gotta be simple! Like 'Joe'. What the hell does that mean? It would throw people off, giving the heroes that edge they need. If you just robbed a bank, ran down an alley, and heard somewhere above you, 'Shapoopi!', would you or would you not stop and try to process what that was? It'd make me stop in my tracks. I dunno, but if I hear one more 'Deathbeam' in one of my classes, I'm gonna have to take drastic steps: having a surprise lecture where no one can get out as they are forced to watch an old 2000s sitcom that isn't even funny.”

Notes & Tags: lonewolf | Original Thread