Investigator/Sleuth Shinso I want to expand on my Detective/Sleuth Shinso to Underground Hero pipeline. Since I think this feels like a natural progression from his second year to his pro-hero years.
I like focusing on the 'in-between' journey that Shinso never got. (Dude just got into the hero course and the show ended, that's why I think A Shinso-Centric Spinoff would be so interesting).
Shinso's Quirk naturally rewards psychological intelligence. Brainwashing is honestly a pretty terrible Quirk for someone who doesn't understand human behaviour. His Quirk probably forces him to study conversational patterns, emotional triggers, deception, hesitation, confidence, fear, anger, pride, curiosity
He starts off as a 'Novice Sleuth' before becoming an Underground Hero. (While becoming a competent investigator along the way) He's not a genius detective, which would ruin his character. He's not a character who makes impossible deductions, or always being in the right, or always being smarter than everyone else, or do dramatic reveals. He is, however, compelling as a novice sleuth. He's someone who can notice small things, asks the right questions, make educated guesses, learn from mistakes, refuse to give up when something feels wrong. He isn't a 'know it all', he's more like "I noticed something everyone else overlooked, and I'm willing to keep looking."
I really like Gymnast/Acrobat Shinso, and it works extremely well with this interpretation. He's not trying to overpower opponents, rather he creates one moment where someone makes a mistake so he can exploit it. A gymnast background helps him a lot with body control, landing silently, evasive movement, unusual angels, flexibility when using capture weapons. He's not trying to overpower opponents. He's trying to create the one moment where someone makes a mistake so he can exploit it.
His hero training is about information control/intel gathering. This makes him unique compared to the rest of the hero course. I like the idea that Shinso is still the 'outsider/odd one out' in Class 2-A because he's not a powerhouse like the other students. He controls the battlefield socially. It make a really interesting comparison to the others, since Midoriya analyzes Quirks and Heroes (and people to an extent), Yaoyorozu's analyzes resources, Todoroki analyzes advantages, Bakugou analyzes openings, while Shinso solely analyzes people. It isn't a combat feat, but it's still extremely heroic
His Underground Hero Identity becomes inevitable. I think my interpretation makes his conclusion in the epilogue stronger. I want to challenge the idea that Shinso isn't an underground hero because Mind Control = Espionage. Rather, it comes from years of analyzing people, understanding criminals, years of learning deception, knowing what people hide, years of mastering his own identity."
Headcanons
He people watches (which I think it quite obvious)
He likes romance novels (Surprising, but here me out) From this interpretation, you'd think Shinso would be interested in mystery or crime novels, instead he reads romance. He reads them because they are about reading people and emotion. He subconsciously analyzes them. It's cute, it's quite useful, and it humanizes him.
He's sketches people Not artistic masterpieces, just quick pencil sketches in cafés. The drawing itself isn't the point rather than the notes beside them. Such as: "Left Handed" "Wedding Ring missing" "Keeps checking phone" "Smiles only with eyes" "Limp on right leg"
Fashion as Camouflage It doesn't come from a place of glamor or wanting to stand out, rather fashion becomes communication. He likes learning what colors attract attention, what colors disappear, what silhouettes people remember, how hair styling changes first impression. It's incredibly useful for undercover work. He's analyzing social psychology through fashion.
He likes baking/Has a sweet tooth. Unlike investigations, recipes have answers. If you follow the steps, you'll get the result. People don't work like that.
He understands/likes flower language He's fascinated how flowers communicate messages. It's a form of nonverbal method of communication.
He unconsciously mirrors people
He understands people better than he understands relationships He's hyper-observant but socially awkward. He struggles with questions like ""Why are you helping me?" "You actually wanted me to come?" "You weren't just being polite?" He can read a suspect but he can't read friendship. That feels very much like Canon!Shinso
He stubbornly compassionate/empathetic This is the core trait that makes him a great sleuth. There is a huge difference between: ""I solve mysteries because puzzles are fun," and, "I can't sleep until I know someone is safe." He understands that people have reasons for what they do, but that doesn't mean he forgives villains, he knows that understanding isn't the same as forgiveness. He refuses to let people fall through the cracks. Shinso comes back the next day. And the next. And the next. He's not driven by proving himself right. He's driven by the possibility that someone still needs help. It ties in nicely with Aizawa's "I don't waste time on hopeless/useless cases", and either does Shinso when it comes to helping people.
He's more 'curious" than he is innately 'intelligent' Shinso isn't trying to prove that he's smart. He genuinely like learning and studying new topics. If someone mentions an obscure topic, he'll disappear into the library or study heavily on the weekends even though he could be socializing. (Shinso canonically likes studying on the weekends) Aizawa shows him a new technique, then he'll spend weeks figuring out the physics. In fact, his 'intelligence' isn't his defining trait. It's attention. He pays attention to words, people, books, recipes, tricks, flowers, clothing and mysteries. He's not a genius, I think he's someone who believes "if I look closely enough, I'll understand"
He's practically affectionate He performs small acts of kindness. He isn't verbally affectionate, but he is observationally affectionate. He remembers things. Someone says they need new pens-> the next week they have new pens. Someone says they skipped breakfast --> next morning they have a bento box on their desk. Someone needs new headphones --> He quietly hands them a list of places having sales. His love language is observation/practical attentiveness.
He likes fixing thing Like sewing a loose button, repairing a broken mug, replacing a bike chain, binding a worn book. He likes repairing things than throwing them away.
Perfect poker face during investigations, terrible when he's genuinely happy. Someone brings him a cat, or a sweet treat, or a book he wanted to read, it's impossible for him not to smile.
He has a very strong internal belief that people deserve to be judged by their actions, not assumptions. Understanding someone doesn't mean excusing their choices. Nobody should be discarded because society finds them inconvenient.
Closing thoughts: Sleuth!Shinso isn't a 'brooding, mysterious detective', but he reads like someone "quietly carrying around years of loneliness without becoming jaded." While he does expect rejection, prepares for it and analyzes it, but he never decides that people aren't worth saving. That's why my phrase stubbornly compassionate becomes the emotional core of my interpretation.
As a Shinso simp. Yes.
