Heroes, Pro Heroes, and Superheroes

"Due to their national circumstances, the United States does not have a so-called Pro Hero system. They value individual human rights and freedoms, which has led to the development of a vigilante culture. As long as you have the determination to uphold justice, you can stand up for others, and such people are called heroes."

Mina Ashido raised her hand and asked, "Don't they need hero licenses to fight crime?"

"No need. This kind of hero license is a specialty of our country, designed to restrict people from using their Quirk to do whatever they want... May I continue?" Jilan looked at Shota Aizawa, and what he was about to say was somewhat anti-government.

I forgot to mention that although the island nation doesn't have a "Great Firewall," the government has a cybersecurity department that strictly monitors speech on several major social media platforms, using Quirk to search, delete, and counter-surveillance. If the speech is too extreme, it can even reach the point of "opening the door and checking the water meter."

Back in junior high school, when Jilan was translating some documents for certain foreigners, she commissioned them to set up a fake overseas account and various related documents for her. That was the most money Jilan had ever spent besides buying figurines. The user named jojo that Jilan registered on the "Dark Shadow" platform was created using this identity.

Oh, by the way, that identity's name is Joseph Joestar, and he's a United States citizen.

"Of course, freedom of speech is your right." Shota Aizawa nodded. As a teacher and Pro Hero, he couldn't say such things, but he was looking forward to what Jilan would say next.

After he nodded, Jilan continued, "In United States, they have carried forward the spirit of individual heroism that has existed since the founding of the nation in today's Quirk society. Whether you are a student, a tycoon, or an ordinary magazine reporter by day, as long as you wear a mask and a tight-fitting suit, you are the hero who can fight evil in the dark, the idol of countless people, and a friendly neighbor."

"This is something island nations can't do. Their governments are terrified of people abusing their Quirk, afraid that law enforcement power will be concentrated in the hands of the majority. This is a matter of mindset, and it's not necessarily wrong. After all, even in the United States, they only tacitly approve of the existence of vigilantes, but in reality, they are all breaking the law." Jilan gave an ambiguous smile as she said this. "However, even if you break the law, it doesn't mean you'll be punished. As long as you make a certain contribution, your criminal record can be erased, and you might even become a guest of honor for the police. After all, you're helping the police maintain order, so how could you possibly be punished?"

Midoriya nodded silently upon hearing this. That's right. He and Todoroki didn't have hero licenses, and after seriously injuring a hero and bringing him to justice, they should have been punished. However, the police chose not to punish them because of their "merit," and instead concealed their involvement from the public, thus escaping punishment.

Kirishima said with a touch of wistfulness, "So, even students like us can freely use our Quirk to save people in United States!"

"Of course, as long as you're not afraid of death." Jilan smiled at Kirishima and said, "In the early days of the Quirk society, you could see the traces left by vigilantes in every alley in United States. Every day, people who stood up for justice were killed. If you want to be a hero, you have to be prepared to face death at any time."

Kirishima forced a smile and said, "Jilan, you..."

"Could this be a joke...?"

"What do you think? Even in our own country, where Quirk are under strict surveillance and relatively stable, there are still League of Villains, let alone in the free United States," Jilan Jiyu retorted. "Although the environment in the United States is much better now, quite a few heroes have still died... By the way, does any of you know what All Might did every day during his time in the United States?"

As a devoted All Might fan, Midoriya immediately stood up. "During All Might's years studying in United States, although he was an international student, he actively fought crime in various places as the hero All Might, along with a friend, enjoying immense popularity in United States, and was even dubbed..."

"Superheroes," Jilan continued. "The United States has had superhero comics since the 20th century. Superman, Batman, Iron Man... each one is a superhero we all know. When Quirk society emerged, everyone aspired to become that kind of hero. Thus, Pro Hero appeared in island nations, and vigilantes appeared in the United States. But ultimately, they were just given the title of hero; they were still far from being called superheroes who save the world."

"All Might is different. He has thwarted countless enemy plots and saved people from suffering, just like a true superhero, saving the world multiple times. DC Comics in the United States even used All Might as a model, serializing a comic based on his experiences in United States, which is currently on sale worldwide to critical acclaim." Jilan paused for a moment, then continued, "People spontaneously call All Might and only superhero above all others."

Midoriya has three complete All Might manga sets, and he's read each one countless times.

At the time, All Might was like a ray of light that corrected the chaotic situation in the United States. After returning home, he single-handedly wiped away the dark side of the island nation, bringing back an era of order. Because of his achievements, he was unanimously recognized as a superhero by people all over the world.

In the Type-Moon World, with All Might's achievements, he would surely become Heroic Spirit after his death...

Born into a family of heroes, Todoroki understood most of what Jilan was saying. Although his scoundrel father claimed he wanted to surpass All Might, he knew that he could only be called a hero at best, and was far from being a superhero.

Everyone was quietly processing Jilan's words. Superhero—that was a title every hero aspired to. Even those of them from the Hero Course were deeply moved by the scenes Jilan described...

Yaoyorozu stood up. "Jilan, I understand what you mean. The Hero Killer brought his United States values to this country, which is why he thinks Pro Hero are imposters."

"Hmm." Shota Aizawa was also shocked by Jilan's point of view. After closing his eyes and thinking for a moment, he nodded. "I think the truth is as Jilan said. The Hero Killer spent several years in United States, and he couldn't accept a society where people would be paid for their heroic activities. Only All Might, at the pinnacle of Pro Hero, never accepted payment, never established an agency, and simply contributed his strength to society silently through his actions. In the Hero Killer's heart, only he is the true hero."

In other words, the Hero Killer is also All.

"Might's fans..." Jilan Jiyu said softly.

"Is it because most Pro Hero use this identity to profit themselves? Compared to vigilantes in United States who become heroes simply to uphold justice, there is indeed an insurmountable gap..." Uraraka lowered her head, her expression somewhat dejected. She wanted to use the title of Pro Hero to attract customers and reduce the burden on her parents. She was also one of the imposters the Hero Killer were talking about...

"Indeed, heroes shouldn't be greedy for rewards," Fumikage Tokoyami, arms crossed and eyes closed. "However, even if they were seeking rewards, their contributions to society are genuine, but... they certainly cannot be called heroes."

Minoru Mineta stared blankly at his classmates, whose expressions were downcast and who seemed to be questioning whether he was a "real hero." Suddenly, he stood up on his chair, slammed his hand on the table, and shouted, "Hey, what kind of nonsense are you all thinking? Don't forget, in this country, being a hero is just a job! But even if it's just a job, isn't it a respected profession like a policeman or a firefighter, one that dedicates itself to others? We protect people's safety, so it's only right that we receive compensation!"

"But do you know what? This so-called compensation is utterly meager compared to other professions, completely disproportionate to the cost of life!" Mineta shouted. "Take the Mount Lady, for example. You see how glamorous she is in the outside world, a respected Pro Hero. But the money she earns from her daily hard work can't even cover the compensation she receives. Her agency is dirt poor, with piles of takeout boxes. Her father calls her every day, urging her to quit being Pro Hero and go back to her hometown to find a husband and become a housewife..."

"With her looks, she could make money in any industry, but she lives a simple life and is content, all because of her love for the 'hero' profession!" Mineta gave a wry smile. "Although it's really degrading of her to use her perfect figure to seduce delivery guys into not charging her for her food..."

"Mineta, you..." Everyone, even Aizawa and Jilan, looked at Minoru Mineta with some surprise, never expecting him to say such a thing.

"Don't let my appearance fool you, I also want to be a Pro Hero!" Grape clenched her hands, her face gleaming with hope. "I want to be like the Mount Lady; even if being Pro Hero doesn't make money, I want to be popular with girls!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately slumped their heads onto the table.

Uraraka smiled wryly, "That really sounds like something Mineta would say..."

Surprisingly, Minoru Mineta's spontaneous remarks dispelled much of the dull atmosphere in the class.

Aizawa coughed twice and said, "The emergence of Pro Hero is a unique aspect of our country, and this cannot be easily erased. However, how you utilize this identity—whether you become a true hero or a fake—depends on your own awareness. This lesson is now over."

"We will become true heroes!" Everyone raised their fists and shouted excitedly, "Plus Ultra!"