Warning: SPOILERS for episode #9 of Season 3 of Mob Psycho 100

Shigeo Kageyama, the protagonist of Mob Psycho 100, is a unique hero in the world of manga and anime, and one tragic scene in his story proves it perfectly. When Mob sees a kid who is about to get hit by a car, instead of using his amazing psychic powers to save him without risk, he jumps and pushes the kid away, getting almost killed by the car. This is because Mob decided to never use his powers in his everyday life, and he sticks to his decision, even at the risk of his own life.

Shigeo, aka Mob, is perhaps the most powerful esper in the world. His psychic powers are so absurd that they make Mob very similar to another character created by ONE, Saitama from One-Punch Man, in the sense that the enemies they fight never pose a real threat. However, both characters struggle in their everyday lives, Mob a lot more than Saitama. Shigeo is an introvert who has often trouble expressing his feelings. However, he has taken the decision to not rely on his amazing powers, and instead struggle and make efforts just like everyone else.

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This decision makes Mob a unique shonen hero, and it is never more evident than during the event that triggers the final story arc of Mob Psycho 100, the ???% Arc. In episode #9 of Mob Psycho 100's Season 3, Shigeo has finally mustered the courage to confess his feelings to his childhood crush, the popular girl Tsubomi Takane. On his way to their date, Mob sees a kid carelessly crossing the street while a distracted driver is approaching at full speed. Shigeo immediately jumps in and pushes the kid away, getting hit and almost killed by the car. This trauma triggers the awakening of the darkest part of Shigeo's personality, called ???%, who takes over his body and unleashes the full might of the boy's psychic powers, causing a catastrophe.

Mob's Refusal To Use His Powers Makes Him A Unique Shonen Hero

Shigeo saves a kid from a car accident in Mob Psycho 100.

The fact that Mob did not simply use his powers to pull the kid away or stop the car may seem like a plot hole, but it's actually a very conscious and meaningful decision by the author. Since the beginning of the series, fans have watched Mob make every possible effort to get closer to his ideal vision of himself. This included joining the Body Improvement Club and creating more meaningful connections with his friends and classmates. Most importantly, Mob never uses his psychic powers (unless he is forced to fight evil spirits or other powerful espers), because he feels they would give him an unfair advantage in life. Instead, Mob firmly believes that having these powers does not make him special at all, and certainly they do not make him better than other people.

Usually, heroes of shonen manga and anime have no problem using their special abilities, because heroes by definition should stand out from regular people. However, Mob Psycho 100 is completely different, because Shigeo's best "hero trait" is that he refuses to use his powers, even in a life-or-death situation, making him the most unique hero in the world of shonen anime and manga.

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Mob Psycho 100 is streaming on Crunchyroll.