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We're rambling again. Watching anime a couple days ago, I got hit hard by this particular scene, a plain one really, merely showing someone-who-couldn't-be-a-hero's vision all blurry due to the tears forming in his eyes. A thread.
Here, a character from the show is tasked to step up for his friends in a pinch situation. The animation and tone of the moment all changed - in a very beguiling matter in hindsight -, everything pointing towards a soon to be memorable sequence.
And then, even faster than the set up for it, the scene ends as he fails to accomplish anything.
As he undergoes what feels like a "walk of shame" in his mind, he reminisces about how others among his comrades stood up to the challenge and surmounted the wall called talent to have their own heroic moments.
One picked up and acquired mastery over a weapon unique to him among his peers, obtaining his place to shine and do battle like no one else could. Even after failing multiple times, and even running away once, he picked himself up to claim his rightful place.
Another rose from being plunged into negativity as his averageness was made clear for all to see, pulling an insane move that harnessed everyone's admiration.
This didn't come through something unique to him or that he was the best at, it was earned through sheer practice and willpower.
Yet, our relevant character here did not trespass into the realm of the talented by becoming the best at something unique, nor did he rival - and for a moment outshined - the skilled ones when he himself is nothing but average.
This was a harrowing moment of realization that sometimes, no matter how much we hone our skills and persevere, we may end up nothing but a side character in our own lives.
Despite all this, the scene that followed was a most uplifting one. Without going into many details, this character still managed to have his moment by helping a friend in need simply by having been there before for him, and being present now just the same.
Sometimes, no matter how much courage we muster, or how hard we work and how long we keep trying, we never make it past those walls. Even then, we're not powerless. Even if not everyone's hero, we can still be someone's hero and rejoice when they thrive.
Another beautiful moment to complement that one was this. The context matters not, the relevant thing is the quote.
It's just really weird how at times we're simply apathetic to certain resolutions, or even feel happy about the luster of the spotlight given to others rather than frustrated at our own shortcomings.
All in all, this thread boils down to: "it sucks to realize we're not special, but sometimes we already kinda knew it and it hurts that we don't feel bad about that anymore".
Reality can be pretty dull.
Reality can be pretty dull.
