Kal El (Boku no Hero Academia)

Chapter 29: On Happiness and Obsession

"Could you give us an example answer?" A support student asked in confusion.

"Sure. So what I think is that this is bullshit. Wait, am I allowed to swear?"

The students were all thrown as she paused, then shrugged.

"But why?"

Everyone looked back. Aizawa.

"I think life is about more than that. More than being happy, growing as a human being, to me, is the mark of fulfillment. And these days, people don't value their lives as much. Well, they do but for more selfish reasons. They fear pain. But is pain not what we live and breathe? Is it not the essence of life itself? What life do you live if you don't get dragged through a ditch at least once?"

"That's a very negative perspective," a student said.

"Why do you think so?"

"Well, you said that we live and breathe pain... that's not true. Everyone has happy memories."

"And? What did you learn about being happy other than wanting to feel it again?"

She opened her mouth, and realized she had nothing to say.

"Happy memories are essential to staying alive. But you can learn more from failure than you can from success. That or failure just makes you feel like shit."

"Mood," someone said.

"Thank you," Akiyo said and held an apple in her hand.

"Does anyone want to guess why I think this quote is false?"

"I-is it maybe y-you exp-p-perienced something t-terrible?" Tamaki asked. Akiyo offered him a calm and gentle smile, making Tamaki feel at ease.

"Sort of. But everyone does. Those who drown in their sorrow don't truly see their situation. Those who continue to laugh and to love others, those are the people who are truly strong."

"What do you think about heroes?" Mirio asked.

"Well, I think they're trash."

Just as the students were about to loudly protest, she held a hand up as her eyes glowed.

"Chill. I don't mean every single one of them. I just think for being called something as grand as a hero, they don't do their job. Let me ask you then... what does it mean to save a person?"

There was dead silence.

"Aizawa-san, could you answer this?"

"To save someone means to remove them from immediate danger."

"Is that so?"

"Well, What is your opinion?"

"Hm... I think you know. Care to elaborate... what does danger mean?"

"Are you referring to mental illness?"

"That too. But what about environment? Poor housing, financial problems, family members, friends, schoolmates, teachers, even society itself are often a source of lasting pain for many. Words said in passing can mean everything to even a stranger. Hero isn't exactly the word I would use to define a person who incapacitates or subdued criminals with quirks."

"You mean villains," a student said.

"Villainous how though?"

"Well, they kill people and rob banks and sell drugs..."

"Why do you think they do that?"

"What do you mean by asking that? Do you sympathize with villains who terrorize civilians?"