The following content contains spoilers from My Hero Academia, Season 6, currently streaming on Crunchyroll. Since the Paranormal Liberation War kicked off, many Pro-Heroes have relinquished their titles after losing the will or capacity to fight another day; even Endeavor appears to have lost all hope in returning to duty. The #2 Pro-Hero is also taking a sabbatical to lick his wounds and sort out his past, leaving a substantial gap in the ranks.
Best Jeanist is technically the next in line to inherit the sullied throne, but will he be up for the task of mending the society that is crumbling before his very eyes? Is a mere fabrikinetic able to boot the potent Villains off their high horse and reinstate peoples' hopes in the Heroes once again? Or have the cracks become too vast for even Best Jeanist to sew back together?
The Current Ranking Predicament
Tsunagu Hakamada, or Best Jeanist, as most know him, has been the third-ranking Pro-Hero in My Hero Academia since the Hero Billboard Chart JP in Season 4, which took place shortly after All Might's untimely retirement. The Symbol of Peace was physically and emotionally incapable of leading the Heroes any longer, and, unfortunately, it looks like Endeavor may just be in the same boat. Although Enji Todoroki's extensive injuries are likely to heal, he does not possess the strength to return to the battlefield, as he will be rendered useless the moment Toya appears; he simply cannot fight his long-lost son. The Todoriki family reunion will probably influence his final decision; however, all this indecisiveness is all for naught, as the people seem unlikely to accept Endeavor as their finest savior again.
Furthermore, Hawks' image has also been tainted by Dabi's grand announcement, and, although Best Jeanist is clearly alive and well, the winged wonder still has red in his ledger from murdering Bubaigawara. While he currently remains out of the public eye, he is due to make a big come-back soon; however, he plans on airing out even more dirty laundry, which is unlikely to bolster his popularity with the people. With the top two Pro-Heroes essentially out of the running, Best Jeanist is the most obvious choice to assume authority; however, is he the best-suited option?
The Fiber Master at Work
One would not assume that the ability to manipulate fabric, of all things, would be beneficial in the art of war; however, this ingenious Hero has proven to be a truly formidable force. He singlehandedly captures All for One (incredibly impressive, even if it is only temporarily!), can even take Gigantomachia down, and always has a potential weapon nearby (except maybe if Himiko is his main opponent). Best Jeanist can control the threads from any clothing, his own or any others, and often has his handy Industrial Strength Fiber Cables on standby, for times when his beloved denim just won't cut it.
Fiber Master is more of a defensive Quirk, as Best Jeanist would rather use it to restrain and subdue his enemies, as opposed to causing them any significant damage, although he is not above using strangulation to get the enemy to submit with Blackout Bind. Tsunagu also uses his Quirk to help maneuver people to safety, or provide a secure landing with his Catching Cradle net. Moreover, he can limit the damage caused on the battlefield, subsequently reducing the death toll, by essentially tying buildings into place and pressing pause on their demolition with his Threads of Hope. Causing extensive damage with raised fists has not faired well for All Might or Endeavor; maybe a more passive approach is required if the next #1 Pro-Hero is to succeed in winning over the masses once again.
A Tailor-Made Symbol of Peace
As with several other Heroes, Best Jeanist has a flair for flashy entrances; however, his antics are not egotistic by nature, as they have more to do with elevating excitement levels than boosting his own popularity. Tsunagu takes his role as a professional very seriously indeed, and addresses all aspects of the job, refusing to limit his energy to combat alone; he is an active member of society who prioritizes positivity above all else. He is also known for producing some heartwarming motivational speeches (to which only Bakugo could be immune, and even then, the young Hero is undoubtedly touched by his mentor's words!)
Best Jeanist is an all-round crowd pleaser with the ability to inspire people to rally to his side; above brute strength and impeccable battle tactics, these interpersonal skills are invaluable, as recruiting society back onto the Heroes' side is arguably as important right now as winning the war. Evidently, the Heroes are no longer willing to put their lives on the line just to get lambasted by the crowds of critics; what's the point of defeating All For One at this point, if society is completely broken? Battle tactics 101: first rally the troops, then face the enemy!
The Proof is in the Pudding
Even though several factors have gone into inspiring this hothead to turn over a new leaf, and although he is far from perfecting his temperamental ways, serving under Best Jeanist is arguably the catalyst for Bakugo's new selfless attitude. The pair clash heads throughout the internship program in Season 2, as Bakugo has no interest in improving his image or conducting himself appropriately, whereas Best Jeanist stresses the importance of public relations and cooperation.
It took the proud youngster a while to get on board; however, he is finally a team player (in his own way) and is willing to make the necessary sacrifices expected of a true Hero. If Best Jeanist can change Bakugo's stubborn mindset, then he can surely talk some sense into the Hero Haters instigating the fierce mob mentality that is taking over the streets.
A Patchwork Project
With the rise in Hero hatred and the emergence of countless vigilantes equipt with potent support items, Pro-Heroes are apparently futile, as they now seem to be outdated, unnecessary liabilities. Out of the ten top-ranking professionals, only six are technically still active (for now), leaving substantial gaps and some big shoes to fill. Besides Best Jeanist (and perhaps the #4 Pro-Hero, Edgeshot), none of the remaining Pro-Heroes are ideal to assume the responsibility of being the #1 Hero, for the following reasons:
- # 5: Mirko is a bit too aggressive and, while she may just be capable of defeating the Paranormal Liberation Front, too much innocent blood will likely fall if the Heroes were to follow her battle tactics or combat style.
- #7 Kamui Woods: essentially has a similar skillset to Best Jeanist, with more offensive potential, but lacks the necessary experience as a Pro-Hero in this stage of the game.
- #8: Wash is surprisingly popular with the people (well, before Dabi's intervention) but doesn't send out very strong leadership vibes.
- #10: Ryukyu could do a great job at the top, as can be seen by the way she conducts her Hero Agency; however, suddenly ascending from #10 to #1 is an unsettling jump in the already fragile system.
Regardless of who takes the reigns, it appears that Japanese citizens are currently revolting against the old ways and have no intention of accepting any Heroes' authority, regardless of how stylish or charismatic they may be. Those who have lost hope are now blinded by discontent for the formerly celebrated figures and are unlikely to see reason just because of a change in leadership. At the rate things are progressing, the Heroes will be at war against the Villains and the Vigilantes, trying to inhibit the carnage while simultaneously causing as little bloodshed as possible... Which is what Best Jeasnist does best!