#He'd rather die again than see Izuku suffering and dying in front of him

[meeko-mar]

I will agree with your last point first. HORIKOSHI. PLEASE REST. regardless of what we want from the story, or even if we want the story at all, your health is important to any self-respecting and respectable fan in the fandom. I hope he gets some recovery time off, I'd rather him take a hiatus for a good while than keep hurting himself.

Ok, so I'm gonna bring up another crazy theory that I had a while ago, and that is the idea that BKDK's exam against AllMight, the first time they are FORCED to work together, might hold some sort of hint or parellel to how the two are going to fight our main villains in the end when they CHOOSE working together.

I focused mainly on the first cooperative ploy that they ever came up with together, for Katsuki to run out in front to draw AllMight, meanwhile, Izuku, SECRETLY CARRYING Katsuki's Gauntlet, surprises AllMight on his other side.

And how they could reunite, talk just briefly, and agree to replicate that same move, but reverse; with Katsuki secretly carrying OFA.

Then Izuku draws out Shigaraki and/or AFO, but he's not actually carrying OFA at the moment.

And then Katsuki comes from behind with an OFA amplified, Heroes Rising level blast.

"But AFO and Shig have "Search" they'll be able to tell!" Not necessarily, Search, I am pretty sure, needs to be activated, so it might not be something that is constantly in use for them, and why would they need to use it when Izuku Midoriya is right there in front of them? I don't think they'd be focusing on using Search in these moments of trying to kill Izuku/Katsuki.

And of course, yes it could be sealed with a kiss/with Katsuki trying to give breath to a suffocating Izuku. :)

I would also LOVE to see a version of this where Katsuki is the one BEGGING Izuku "Let me take it"

Like leaning over Izuku, who is physically in pain and struggling to breathe, clasping his hands tightly, as ShigAFO are closing in, in a hushed, urgent, almost panicked voice, "Please just hand it off to me so you can live!" Before kissing him with the purpose of getting the Quirk to transfer.

Ok, I hate to be the person in the corner screaming about Promare relating to MHA and even BKDK again, but, I can't help thinking here----

(spoilers below cut of Promare(Studio Trigger)

OK so it's being said that due to the 2nd's Gear Shift Quirk, Izuku could soon start feeling some heavy consequences of its use, including NOT BEING ABLE TO BREATHE, which, everyone is thinking could be a death flag maybe? At the very least, it would be a huge problem. Especially since Shigaraki isn't KO'd yet and AFO himself is on the way, no doubt to fuck everything up for the Heroes even more(and likely target Izuku and even Katsuki)

Obviously, grain of salt since the chapter isn't officially out yet, and we don't exactly know all the details of what this means.

BUT OK going on this not being able to breathe thing, Remember how in Promare, (SPOILERS, and forgive me I'm a bit rusty on all details) Lio nearly dies at the end, having used all his flame, but Galo, having seen earlier in the film how to revive a Burnish with a Kiss of life--Specifically Breathing their flame into the mouth of the other, does so for Lio.

(I didn't even use the best/most iconic shot of this moment bc I highly recommend you see it for yourself if you haven't and have decided to read my post anyway--)

It's a Burnish version of CPR but the one between Galo and Lio is treated very tenderly, like a kiss...I'm serious; the scene is slowed down, multiple shots, lighting is immaculate, Galo's tilting of Lio's chin, as shown above is JUST SO GENTLE... Paired with all the tension between these two leading up to this point, this READS LIKE A ROMANCE AND A KISS. (also this is either here nor there, but there's also an instance of what many call Straight-baiting XD)

But do we see where I'm going here?

So, Izuku pushes himself all the way to the brink, and stops being able to breathe as a consequence. The tides turn in ShigAFO's favor as Izuku loses the ability to keep up the fight. Katsuki comes to and pieces together what he's missed while being dazed and confused. Finds that Izuku has been fighting but is not reaching victory, and even worse, is now on the ropes; his time limit is spent. His body is breaking down.

He can't breathe.

And while a lot of them looking on don't know the whys or the details; it's obvious that Izuku is dying, suffocating.

Katsuki, knowing that OFA is a cursed power, can put enough of the puzzle together to know that this is a Quirk that is killing him.

He becomes involved again. He can't stay back anymore. HE IGNITES. He jumps in against everyone's advisements, rockets to Izuku, fights Shig and/or AFO off if he has to.

He hopes it's not too late as he presses his lips to Izuku's, he breathes for him.

Obviously this is a BKDK pipe dream and I know it will not occur but it was a brainworm nonetheless XD I'm sorry/not sorry, I saw Promare and that kiss of life won't leave my brain. It's such a beautiful movie.

Bonus, this is also how the two characters in Promare START:

I--I'm just saying.

The AU writes itself and Lio reads like a Vigilante Hero Deku. Galo is the fire fighter with the Burning soul and wants to burn brightest, I mean, if that is not BAKUGOU...