#Shouto had a mental breakdown

[gil-shalossssss]

I gave multiple bots this prompt, but Kaminari's reaction was by far the most off the wall.

[thr0wnawayy]

Midoriya's Delusion

This is post that builds upon my previous one, I've copied many of the points I made there to here. Albiet with some corrections and tweaks.

To summarize, I have a bit of a crack theory that chapter 430 isn't as real as we've been led to believe. (As for when this actually takes place, that's up to you but I like to imagine the start of his third year marks the beginning of his mental decline.)

(As an update, I find it dubious whether 8 years have actually passed or if that's also a part of the fantasy. I can see Midoriya becoming so attached to the lie that his reference of time begins to warp)

This theory mostly comes from some inconsistencies in regards to the hero rankings and some other things I've found.

Corrections:

It's left ambiguous whether Best Jeanist and Endeavor are still active. However the fact that people view these two in a postive light (especially after Dabi and the war) still seems absurd.

2. Midoriya wasn't outright abandoned, rather their busy schedules make it hard for their days off to coincide. This falls apart when you look at this panel

"The rate of new villains keep decreasing and the number of heroes have stabilized"

Besides Ochaco who's funding a quirk counseling project, the rest of the class should be able to make time. Again it's stated that they aren't actually fighting.

There's no real threat to face. Besides PR and Community Service there's bot a whole lot else (besides the occasional natural disaster)

One could argue it's because the scope of what heroes do is increasing, thus keeping them busy. But again, we see heroes doing exactly what they did before, PR, Advertising and (implied) Showboating.

This leads me to believe that the lack of contact is based in reality, to some extent.

Whether it was by choice or forced by their (1A's) respective PR teams to preserve their images (can't be seen around the "freaks" for too long, now can we?).

The lie comes in the form of busy schedules.

Now whether that's what Midoriya tells himself or what he's been told, I cannot say for certain.

Disturbia:

For those of you who didn't read my last post, you may be wondering, so what's going on?.

Simply put:

Midoriya's having a breakdown fantasy to cope with the fact that he won't be becoming a hero due to the loss of his quirk.

Im aware it sounds crazy but consider the following:

1. Midoriya subconsciously knows the way he's been treated was wrong.

This manifests within the escapists fantasy in Bakugo's drop in the rankings + the attitude surrounding him (as well as his damaged hand never fully healing)

He meets a kid who just so happens to be in a near exact same position as he once* was (and still is to an extent). One could take this as his mind's way of trying to cope and heal itself, by having Midoriya do what he does best and help others, henceforth working though his trauma by using the kid as a stand in.

*Even the kid's "bully" seems to be a warped version of Bakugo (perhaps this is how Midoriya tries to fool himself into believing how it was)

2. We see Kota.

I believe that here, Kota serves as what Midoriya thinks he could have been had he not failed. Kota is the idealized version of Midoriya here, the unobtainable.

3. A lesson ignored

Apparently people forgot the connection between Endeavor and Shoto. You'd think this would be a good thing as Shoto would be able to become his own person.

This falls flat when you remember that also includes people forgetting the reason and happenings behind Shoto's existence, it feels like Midoriya is trying to have his cake and eat it too

To elaborate, this is a major copout, it allows Shouto to be unaffected by his family's past bith career wise and emotionally. While also feeding into Midoriya's rather toxic belief that forgiveness is required to be a good person.

(The fact that killing Tomura violated this only adds to my theory that this whole thing is an escapist coping mechanism.)

(You can also add the idea that Tomura didn't forgive society for what they did to him and his friends. That likely broke all the "rules" that Midoriya knew.)

4. The Mech Suit is a massive cope, it's the dying whimper of Midoriya's childish hope that All Might will save the day.

This time there's no magic quirk, no garrish mech suit, no plot twist.

No. There's only Midoriya and the consequences of his, his classmates and hero societies actions. It doesn't matter how shiny and seamless the illusion, how sweet the lie.

You can't hide the blood.

Concerning Aspects:

That was mostly the revised stuff, let me introduce you to some new points

1. A Frozen Lake

Something I noticed was certain characters seem to be almost frozen in time, as if someone tried to continue a story using scraps of the original text.

The curious case of Rei Himura:

This scene seems almost stagnant, what was most noticeable was Enji's bandages still being on and Rei still being there.

It's as if Midoriya hasn't seen them in years (or perhaps doesn't want to acknowledge what happened). So his mind uses what he last saw/heard of them, creating a sterile, static scenario. Little better than props.

Those surrounding her (with the exception of Hawks) also seem to be stuck in the past.

It's definitely strange.

2. See No Evil, Hear no Evil, Speak No Evil

Shigaraki is a representation of Midoriya's repressed guilt and his fears. I believe deep down Midoriya knows that, inevitably the cycle will repeat, so long as the system is allowed fester and wallow in it's complancy.

I find the fact that he's behind Midoriya to be ironic, as if to say: don't look back, don't think about what you've done.

A Symbol of Stagnation:

I should warn you that it does get lengthy from here, however I think it's important to get the full picture. Even if I tend to ramble here.

It's implied here that Lemillion's the top hero. This is awful for a variety of reasons. Mirio is a horrible symbol.

All Might was flawed for a variety of reasons, but a majority of these were byproducts rather than directly being his own doing.

Mirio on the other hand, has such a cancerous philosophy that it actively harms all who interact with it.

Mirio is a follower, he follows orders first and asks questions never.

Eri is the best example of this. Even after Nighteye's death, Mirio never truly reflects on the damage his actions could have caused ( only saved by the narrative, seriously it's a miracle Eri trusts anyone besides Midoriya after being abandoned like that)

You see, the difference between Toshinori and Mirio lies in their actions and principles.

Mirio left Eri to die, all for the sake of the "mission".

For all the heroes knew, Eri could have been a trafficking victim and either have been killed or relocated. But no, appearances and "gotta catch em all" take priority even after knowing Eri is in the Yakuza's clutches.

Lemillion made the worst decisions possible. He followed a known murder into a secluded, restricted area (with a hostage mind you) bringing his pupil with him.

Willingly ignored blatant signs of abuse (just look at the girl) and played hooky with thre leader of a criminal organization, who is known for his short fuse and willingness to kill.

He did all of that, when he could have easily detained Overhaul at any point (his quirk being a direct counter)

Toroshinori would fight tooth and nail in that situation. Consequences be damned if it meant saving Eri.

Part of the reason Toroshinori was so effective as a hero was 1. His sense of justice and 2. His compassion.

Mirio is a symbol that can be controlled, a weapon if you will.

The fact that Mirio is at the top shows that things haven't changed and are even beginning to decline. So this brings me to my next point

You may be asking, if Midoriya's losing it in his own mind, what's the outside world look really like?.

Allow me to set the stage.

4. Speculation

Within Midoriya's muddled mind, Lemillion represents both his toxic optimism and a subconscious understanding that nothing has changed. It represents denial and acceptance, a dysfunctional middle ground that's easy enough for Midoriya to stomach.

The truth of the matter is, delusion or not, the reality is soon to sink in.

Something that I don't see discussed is the lack of reactions from other nations or really any insight into how they were affected by everything that happend.

Here's the idea: Most likely they are foaming at the mouth.

Particularly it's the countries who suffered under Imperial Japan in the past (Korea, China, Singapore etc), however this also applies to every nation Nedzu brow beat into aiding with the rebuilding efforts, albiet their reaction would be latent.

Not not only is the attitude painfully reminiscent of how Japan handles it's past atrocities, Japan has had them clean up their messes. seen below:

(you cannot tell me Big Red Dot over here is having a good time)

From an outside pov. The Commission never told anyone about AFO, rather they suppressed any information, locked him up in Tartarus and then sat on the whole situation until it blew up in their (read: everyones) faces.

He then proceeded to: kill over 8000 people (+ those killed during the Blackout period), kill the top hero of one of the world's most powerful nations and incite mass panic. Destroyed massive amounts of infrastructure and transport nationwide, broke thousands of criminals out of prison, destroying those prisons in the process.

Meanwhile the heroes:

Abandoned civilians in mass by quitting in the middle of a war.

Left the public in the dark for months and allowing crime and paranoia to grow rampant, even (forcibly) bringing someone they knew was being targeted by AFO and his forces to the one place they could find shelter.

Mutilated a seven year old girl. Who has a history of being mutilated for the gain of others and patted themselves on the back. (Also having no holdup on how that may effect her physically via her quirk or mentally via her trauma)

Mic: tried to kill a docile prisoner who could be considered in comatose, based off of his emotional attachment to a dead man + viewing it as justified if it meant Spinner couldn't get to him.

Used hospital staff and patients as meatshields (Central Hospital) during a riot.

Most had no qualms supporting a child beating eugenicist and implied marital rapist, even with his one of his victims exposed him and citing it as his main reason for turning to villainy.

Held an illegal questioning* with said abuser while ignoring his main victim (Rei, who is probably the most reliable source of information there)

(*which effectively is like conducting an investigation on yourself and declaring you are not guilty)

And so much more! (But this post is getting too long)

My point is by the time everything was said and done, it seemed everyone but Japan was paying for it.

It's outright stated that the US president risked national security by sending every hero they had to help Japan. (Impeachment worthy if you ask me)

Endeavor's little plan to kill himself and Dabi in a blaze of death ended up disrupting the weather. Very likely it'll end up resembling an El Niño phenomenon, only vastly off schedule and even more destructive than normal.

For Reference [https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ninonina.html]

Very likely it'll lead to an agricultural drought in the northern America's and mass flooding in southern America's, likely starting at the west coast and bleeding inland. Leading to a domino effect where cost of living surges due to the sudden displacement of people and the rapid loss of products.

Worse still, because the US had no heroes (likely for months on end), crime has likely surged in the America's, which will further impact the rest of the world.

The rebuilding efforts likely emptied the wallets of most participating countries, leaving them unable to help anyone, including themselves.

Also keep in mind that Japan incriminated themselves with the Business Course footage. I don't think the general public (outside of Japan) is going to take too kindly to a known murder and abuse apologist being in charge of a system already known for it's corruption.

The end result is likely be a world that detests Japan, either from a moral perspective (Rei's treatment + the treatment of those society abandoned), a financial perspective (we can't afford shit and you contributed to that) or historical perspective (you do this everytime and ignore the consequences).

A world divided by struggle and united by an immense loathing for the Commission's Japan and the culture surrounding it.

Oh, don't forget there's no finding left for quirk research. Meaning that it's very likely no one will be prepared for quirk singularity to start manifesting in the upcoming generations (Thanks Nedzu).

_______________________________________

Update: Can I just say that Aizawa's lack of ownership infuriates me even though this is likely a fantasy and not grounded in reality.

Like what the fuck do you mean "with the way he talks, it was pointless" Fantasy Aizawa.

Because "Hey Asshole", You deliberately ignored his attitude and offenses!. And what? Now your just gonna shrug it off like it wasn't your fault. To hell with that you had two years, most teacher are said to only get one. As you so graciously mentioned at the start of this shit show of an epilouge.

Heres the moment I'm referring to btw:

While we're at it. Are you telling me it was too hard to get Momo some proper attire all three fucking years she was at UA for.

Not to mention Toru is still naked, how the fuck hasn't she died yet, she is literally exposed to the elements (and lord help her of she gets a cut)

Kirishima's costume is still his biggest liability considering it exposes his chest and back (also seeing as even when hardened he can't repell bullets)

Does Denki still fry himself with his quirk?

Before we move on Aizawa. How's that daughter you neglected, her horn still broken?.

Speaking of which let's look at the rescue team:

What the hell is this!?

Let's see, we got a guy who can only do damage (and his sweat detonates on contact, destroying whatever it touches.)

A brainwasher who only got into the hero course via nepotism and who can only brainwash people who directly respond to him!. A person trapped underneath rubble either frantic or groaning in pain isn't going to be able to respond or even just give consent.

(On a side note what are the laws regarding mind control quirks, does some sort of waiver have to be signed, can a person sue for being controlled against their consent?)

Oh, but wait there's more.

Midoriya running headlong with experimental tech that has, very likely never seen the light of day. Let alone preform in an actual high stakes situation before.

You're trying to carry someone and oops! Something malfunctioned or was miscalculated, now there's an even bigger mess (hooray!)

Who could forget Mezo "they'll come for your kids" Soji. Who climbed the ladder and pulled it all the way up.

Yeah forget that Heteromorph's were getting hate crimed long before the war, ignore the fact that you yourself were maimed by an angry mob after doing one of the most heroic things a person can do. Dismiss Spinner's comment about being sprayed with Pesticide for walking in public.

Nah screw it, let's all sing Kumbaya while the Creation Rejection Clan runs wild outside the reach of the cities, then ignore that the discrimination still is prevalent in the countryside and it's only a matter of time before somone gets fed up and takes matters into their own hands. (talons, claws, you get the picture)

But your a hero now Soji, you got your's. So fuck the rest of 'em

And don't even get me started on Hawks. Congratulations you ignorant bastard, way to kill time and by that I mean for everyone but the heroes.

"Yeah life is great!, everyone hates us, we're rapidly falling into debt from all that rebuilding 8 years back."

"Speaking of which some of those buildings are staring to fall apart due to being rushed to meet deadlines set within the month they were started."

"Social darwinism is on the rise and people are becoming more complacent that ever before due to heroes applying bandaid solutions on decade long, deeply ingrained problems."

"All so the average person doesn't have to think about what's festering beneath society's floorboards, so thank you Safety Commission. Here's your star of positivity ⭐️." - Some random anti-hero civilian

So much for greatest heroes, huh.

_______________________________________

UPDATE 2:

A dark thought I just had, is that the main reason Izuku killed Tomura was because Tomura broke the rule of "Forgiving Your Abusers makes you Good".

When Tomura refused to relinquish his hatred, when he stood his ground, that is when Midoriya decided he had to die. If not to "stop" him, then to preserve Midoriya's perception of the world .

Shigaraki + The LOV by their very ideals went against everything Midoriya has had beat into him by Bakugo and Aldera over the years.

Makes me wonder how'd he react to a person refusing to forgive their abuser. If he interacted with Natsuo or Rei, I could see that delving into a complete mess.

Now that I think about it, The Midoriya we know now, he would have never tried to hold onto Eri back when they first met.

Ironically, he became what he named himself after, a Deku. A puppet attached to thorns of liquid gold, glistening and burning hot.

A slave to his own biases and belief system, now trapped in a stage of his minds own making.

First bound by his past, then by legacy and finally, now by his own hand.

木偶.

[codenamesazanka]

Story has this tendency to add more suffering after the initial horror backstory, as a way to delve deeper into Hero Society/the world:

Shigaraki didn't just have a deadly quirk and was never saved by Heroes - his dad abused him and his family enabled this and then he killed his entire family and was ignored by dozens of bystanders before being picked up by a Villain who gives him his family's severed hands to fuck with him. Then it turns out even his birth was plotted by AFO.

Twice wasn't just a criminal who suffered a traumatic break. He was an orphaned 16-year-old who was kicked out onto the streets and turned to using his quirk for comfort, before falling into crime.

Spinner wasn't just called some names and got bullied and became a hikikomori. He got sprayed with pesticides for daring to walk outside, and admits that he was ready to completely give up.

Toga didn't just had to go to quirk counseling and repress herself. Her parents emotionally abused her and quirk counseling truly was to stuff her into a neat, 'normal' box and even when she was unconsciously biting her wrist hard enough to bleed in her sleep, no one did anything.

Touya wasn't just neglected by his dad and went villains for revenge. He was cornered to the point of a mental breakdown, before being alone when he nearly burned to death, was in a coma for three years, escaped from a shady AFO-ran orphanages, came home to see Enji still beating up Shouto, then became a street kid for the next 8 years.

AFO and OFA wasn't just two siblings with quirks living through a time of chaos where people quirks were considered subhuman. They were born to a homeless woman who died, and so they becoming orphaned trash river rat babies who lived on the streets their whole lives.

Scissors-kun wasn't just tied up and locked away in his own home by his parents. His family and multiple relatives were all involved in the abuse and cover-up, in which he was locked in a basement for years and they even sew his mouth shut (implied because he cried too much), before being purposefully abandoned when the town was evacuated due to it turning into a war zone.

From his latest interview, Horikoshi apparently writes things because he wants his story to be interesting and evoke strong emotions in readers. Fair enough. I think he chooses these absolutely awful backstories as a way to make his villains understandable and sympathetic - so we can clearly understand their anger and pain and know why they would seek out destruction even if those crimes are inexcusable. Also fair. Or maybe it's just the logic of the darker the backstory, the more heartwarming the lukewarm save will feel - if they've suffered so much, they should be grateful they're even getting a bit of relief.

But the thing is. Because these horrors are so atrocious and clearly the results of how corrupted and dysfunctional and cruel Hero/quirk society is, I really have no choice but to loathe Hero society and basically all who upkeep it, and wish for its complete upheaval.

Scissors-kun revealed to be the victim of one of those years-long confinement cases, undergoing years of neglect and social isolation, and then even mutilation, all because his family can't accept his quirk, and no Hero even knowing of his existence to save him from his own family - him being saved by Old Lady holding his hand doesn't bring me joy. I don't see change. I see an injustice that occurred long before the League ever started their terrorism and continued even after they were defeated, and only recently alleviated partly because the League lashed out and forced some reckoning, and even this help Scissors-kun received is the lowest of bars.

It makes me want the society that allowed something like this to happen to him to be utterly destroyed.

[todorokistheories]

Why I'll Never Forgive Endeavor - An Analysis

tw: abuse, domestic violence, dehumanization, and everything you expect to come with talking about the todorokis

Endeavor was right in calling Shouto a masterpiece, because that's all he ever was to him. Just a canvas to imprint whatever beliefs he had onto. Shouto was never made to be a person. He was made to be an object, an immovable force, something Endeavor can sculpt to his desire.

We see this through Shouto's demeanor. His inability to show emotions the way others do to that extreme of a level is usually a trauma response. He's purposefully blank, lest he face the wrath of Endeavor noticing the stain on his perfect painting.

Dabi even mentions this.

Endeavor wasn't the only one who saw Shouto as a means to an end. Dabi did too. He calls Shouto a puppet and trophy son throughout the series genuinely does not seem to consider that he has feelings at all. He wants to break him, because Shouto was given the life he was promised, but he can't see past what Endeavor told him to be like class 1a did.

Dabi's plotline was never about reconciling with Shouto, it was about destroying everything Endeavor thought made him great.

Endeavor controlled every moment of Shouto's life from the day he was born. Training, probably diet, every single second of every day was planned to expect max power and effort. He wanted a machine that he could show off, like fucking Tony Stark or some shit.

This is why when Midoriya says "it's your power," it's so impactful. He essentially told Shouto "you don't have to be what he made you to be." He was finally given permission to choose, something no one in his life (not even his mother) gave him. When you're a kid like that, you don't have the perspective that you can change. Midoriya believed that he could, so Shouto did.

Shouto wanted his father to see him as valuable outside of what he could do for him. But he never gets that. That is why the ending is so important for Shouto.

Shouto's arc is, at a base level, finding purpose outside of what his father expected.

You know who was given the freedom to do that from the get go?

Touya.

Let's get into the meat of the issue. Endeavor genuinely cared about Touya. He gave him permission to be great. He told him that there is more to his life than being Endeavor's 'mini me' and that Endeavor would support him in what he'd pursue.

He didn't do this with Fuyumi or Natsuo, but I think at this point he would've been willing to care about them if they offered something he thought was valuable. Because at the end of the day, even if Touya wasn't going to be a hero, Endeavor believed he'd still do great things. That he would bring honor to their name.

Endeavor only started caring about how he treated his family once he saw what it did to Dabi. His wife's mental breakdown didn't do it. The disfiguration of his youngest didn't do it. Breaking his child down until all he was was just another puddle of vomit on the floor at the age of five didn't do it. Not even the death of his beloved child did it.

But seeing how he ruined Touya's potential did.

Endeavor's change only came from the knowledge that he was his own ruin. His apologies come from a place of selfishness and it destroyed his family.

The thing that both Shouto and Dabi had in common is that they both just wanted to be enough for Endeavor. And at the end of the day, and the manga, I truly don't think that was ever achieved.

And that is why I can never forgive Endeavor.

[yellowbluemoonshine]

Main Hero Trio Potential

I would like to talk about Izuku, Ochaco, and Shouto and why they deserve better as characters. The theme of Bnha is about true heroes, asking the meaning of hero, and it's a story about how kids should learn to be better heroes, not just as jobs but as real heroes. Deku, Ochaco, and Shouto are characters who are shown their overwhelming empathy abilities, and kindness. The meaning of hero is saving others so it fits, they are naturally kind people who want to people but at the same time, they are more than that. They are not just good kids who always do right. Their characters are more than that and I would like to focus on how the story could/can/should focus on that.

Izuku;

Izuku is a character who is always shown as a kind kid but his main flaw is he is really obsessed with heroism too much. On one part; he hurts himself and makes him unable to see the flaws of society but on another part; this is the reason he could see Shigaraki as a victim. He didn't just magically see Shigaraki’s childhood/past, his one look was enough for him to want to save. Once again, let's remember that Izuku is the only one who talked about ‘saving the villain’. Not even Todoroki’s or Uraraka’s thought about it. It's just Izuku finding an excuse to save anyone.Another interesting detail is the difference between class 1 A and Deku. Compared to blessed kids or ‘normal’ kids, Deku doesnt seem to belong in there because he is an outcast. He is not golden child, a not lucky kid who was born with an amazing quirk, he is the kid who is constantly rejected and bullied by society and people for something over which he had no control.

Deku is a lot like league of villains. Shigaraki is literally his foil. Deku is like Toga who obsess and imitate their idols. Both Touya and Deku idolized their abusers and it lead them to self destruction because they feel worthless and they do everything they do feel worthy. Deku is like Spinner who is just ‘normal dude’, bullied for something he had no control. Deku is like Twice, failed by hero system.

The thing about Deku and what makes him different is he is or at least he was written to be challenge against system and even the world. He would save Shigaraki even whole world said No. He would speak up for abuse victims and started questioning the system he blindly followed and even Allmight. I mean remember the time Deku call Allmight out for hiding things. Remember the time he called put Endeavour for what he did at spor festival. Remember the time he asked Allmight what Shigaraki said about not being able to save everyone.

Since Deku is written to be outcast, it makes more sense him to empathize with people like league, just like Batman who had ‘one bad day’ and wants to help people/even villains because they had ‘one bad day’ too, just like him. If Deku’s unable to criticize the system challenged and let him have the great potential he always has would be amazing.

Ochaco;

Ochaco gets less screentime she deserves, she gets shine whenever she gets involved with Toga and thats the thing. Even though, Ochaco seems to have character flaw (that her repressing her own needs), for some reason, story doesnt focus on it enough. The parallels between Ochaco and Toga is more than just ‘romance’. Ochaco isnt just repressing her romantic feelings, Ochaco is repressing any kind of ‘negative feelings’ to not be burden to others. She displays toxic positivity, she always notice people’s feelings because she pay attention to them all the time because she cares. Story should’ve this part of Ochaco more. Same as Toga who was once just like good, well-behaved girl like Ochaco but had mental breakdown at some point. Its fine to talk about romance and honestly, IzuOcha can be great, if it gets developed properly but their story is more than that and deserve focus on how to neglecting your own needs for others make you end up crazy.

And another interesting detail that wasnt talked enough. Remember when Shigaraki talked about ‘how heroes hurt their families only to help strangers’ and guess who isnt doing that? Ochaco. She always prioritize people around her and honestly, that actually makes her true hero but its hardly mentioned. Deku and many heroes should learn this from her. Ochaco is kind of hero who is also reminding of the humanity of heroes and honestly, let her interact with Shigaraki or Dabi, let Deku interact with league of members more, they have so much potential in there.

Shouto;

I think the most important part of Shouto’s story and the difference between him and other kids is his goal isnt really getting stronger. Every hero kids focus on trying to be more tough, stronger (well, thats how heroes are raised in this society like soldiers) while Shouto is getting softer because he was already treated like a tool as child so he knows thats not gonna work to be better heroes which is something Deku and Ochaco lacks. Shouto desperately wants to be invidual, just a person with feelings and by focusing on that, thats why he could easiely see the similarities between him and his villain brother. He can speak up his mind more than others. He is a lot more honest and his dark feelings than other characters.

I think this is why his character arc is a lot about inviduality. He is one of the prime examples of why kids shouldnt used as child soldiers and groomed. This could go anywhere. He or other characters who knows his story could speak up about why they shouldnt use kids for this.

Just like Ochaco, Shouto is kind of hero who prioritize family and invidual feelings over strangers, something Deku needs to learn. Tododeku has potential there. Honestly, Shouto and Ochaco would get along well since they have so much in common and Ochaco would realize when he was in trouble and Shouto would know how to show his graditute.

- - -

Of course, other hero characters and hero students have interesting potential too. Bakugou doesnt need villain foil, his dark foil is Endeavour, he is supposed to learn not to be like him and him learning Todoroki story and being called out for his actions could actually be good start of his change and redemption. He could learn the real meaning of winning and be the one who can turn toxic competition to healthy one.

Aoyama and Deku’s quirkless arc could’ve exlpored with this tratior plot, instead of ‘you being quikless is the reason you can hold one for all’. Iida’s obsessions with rules eventually could turn into questining them so that he can help his friends. And honestly characters like Monoma and Shinsou’s story would be really interesting to explore. And honestly Endeavour’s story makes more sense as villain. Dark heroes like Hawks and even Lady Nagant or corrupted side of hero society hsould’ve explored and adressed more.

- - -

What getting away of their potential is simply author’s writing story as black and white. Story stopped adressing the social issues which became the biggest fall of almost all charcters. At some point, kid heroes vs adult heroes shouldve happen, not necessarely as fight but as mindset. Deku’s getting bullied because of being quirkless isnt exlpored and since heroes have to be right, heroes lost their character flaws. Deku used as narrative tool to make heroes better, you can tell its not Izuku is talking, it is author’s talking and defending bad heroes. Since Izuku is good person and mc, he always is right so he is used for this purpose. It ruins Deku’s character more than Ochaco and Shouto because Izuku is the kind of character who supposed to empathize with villains side because he was once outcast too.

- The scene Deku rejected Toga only happenned to make Toga-Ochaco interaction. Dabi doesnt need Endeavour’s appravol. We could get a scene where both Toga and Dabi give up on their obsessions to help league and Shigaraki since league is exist in story for a reason.

Ochaco isnt explored well because author doesnt know how to handle female characters. I think Shouto is luckier compared to those two since he is not written to be outcast like Deku so it makes sense for him to not think about saving them and he is not female character so he gets better fihgting scene and more screen times but his character is not explored and his feelings is not explored enough, despite being one of the main characters. Other than this, someone else already mentioned this before, i think Shouto’s liking and worrying abour Endeavour doesnt make sense. I mean, how could you care about someone whom you doesnt have one good memory with? I didnt think about this before but they are actually right. I always saw Dabi as proof that Shouto still secrelt despises his father but respressing it because of system and eventually confronting it which would be better writing, in my opinion. Unfortunately, story started to focus more on power and less on characters.

Well, we dont know how story will goes or end up but at least, i really wanted to talk about their great potential as heroes. Especially Deku, Ochaco and Shouto. Their characters is actually interesting and they have great potential both as heroes and characters. I also want those three to hang out together with villains at the end.

[writersmorgue]

Febuwhump Day 5 - "that's gonna scar"

Read on ao3

word count: 654

TWs in tags

╞╪╪╪╪╪╪╪╪╪╪╪╪╪╪╪╪╡

This had been a long time coming. 

Although Fuyumi tried her hardest to prevent it, in the end, she was the catalyst. Now she lies motionless on the floor, victim to another childish temper tantrum. 

After the initial impact, she’d passed out briefly, only waking to Shouto checking her breathing with a hole worried in his lip.

She could move now if she wanted to, but she’s scared. Not of her father, not of the pitiful shell of the man he was not thirty minutes ago. 

No, she’s afraid of her brother. 

“Touya, I already told you, it was your sister-, not me.”

“SHUT UP you pitiful excuse for a man, you’re going to blame your goddamn daughter for the mental breakdown you CAUSED?! Shouto is permanently scarred because of your insolence, you brute!” 

“You weren’t there-”

They had long since passed the demands for his oldest to quit talking to him like a judge to a prisoner. Endeavor seems to have accepted his fate, being considerably weaker than his son, now that he has proper quirk protection. 

“YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT I WASN’T THERE!” Touya screams, pointing an accusing finger at his father, “I do everything I can to keep my family away from you, and as soon as I leave for one goddamn mission my sister falls apart. I should’ve seen this coming, but damn it I wish I didn’t have to.”

Endeavor scoffs, though it’s strained, “If she didn’t escalate the situation I wouldn’t have had to take such drastic force, you’re a hero, you know how-”

“Don’t throw your flimsy little excuses at me. She was punching your chest because you threatened to destroy her career if she was to date a woman publicly. You are five times her size, her forearm is the size of your goddamn micropenis. There was no reason for you to raise a finger at her.”

“You don’t understand-”

Touya shakes his head, blue eyes flashing dangerously as he stares down at the other man, silencing him without words. 

“No, I think I understand perfectly, Endeavor. And I think when you go to work tomorrow, you’ll have to explain to the press that the shiny new burn you’re sporting is in honor of your youngest son. An apology, for making his life hell, and relentlessly abusing the rest of your family as well.”

“You wouldn’t dare-”

“Oh, you know I absolutely would. I only wonder if you’ll be able to handle what you’ve been crushing us with for the past decade. Fire is dangerous, you know.”

Blue flames lick the air as Touya closes in on their father. 

Fuyumi moves, sitting up and tucking Shouto into her side. He doesn’t seem worried, but she thinks this isn’t something he should see. 

She’s not sure if she wants to watch, herself, but she can’t deny the morbid fascination of watching her abuser get what’s coming to him. 

“You- Touya don’t!” Endeavor shouts when the first of his son’s Hell Fire attacks his face. It shreds through the skin surrounding his right eye as the man screams, the sound of his boiling blood like fizzy soda. 

Fuyumi finds her hand begins to slip, allowing her baby brother to witness the retribution. 

She finds maybe it’s not so bad, that maybe the screams of her father are what she needs. Her face barely even stings, now.

Shouto’s hand meets hers and tangles their fingers together. Neither tremble in fear, but in dreadful satisfaction. 

Touya’s grin is manic. He drags his hand down to his father’s neck before finally relenting. 

“Wow, Endeavor, you took it like a champ.”

The man stares at his son through his remaining eye, tears evaporating away into the air. 

His voice is incomprehensible, and Fuyumi doesn’t bother trying to parse it. 

“I think that’s gonna scar, don’t you, ‘Yumi?”

She hears the question for what it is.

“Yes, I think it will do just fine.”

[bnhaobservation]

I accepted that Enji will get his redemption and forgiveness(even if he doesn’t f*king deserve it) but I can’t accept that he will have no punishment for all he did while his oldest son is going to jail for the rest of his life.

Like, I get they committed different crimes but both of them should pay. It only shows that as long as you are a hero you get second chances and a lot of support while villains are forgotten forever.

Well…

…there's something which plays in Enji's favour here and it's not the fact he's a hero but how Japanese law is.

I'm by no means an expert but, from what I know, for start Japanese law does not explicitly provide for domestic violence in terms of prosecutorial considerations, so one should try charging for assault and/or injury.

Another interesting thing is that the Japanese police are not obliged to investigate when an incident is reported.

Rei doesn't even press charges for the abuse she and Shouto received, nor for the neglect her other children suffered.

Touya reported Shouto's abuse and the neglect he received, but he did it on the national television (sort of, as they hijacked it) and not by the official channels and, anyway the police can shrug the report off because they aren't obliged to investigate, and this regardless of Enji being a hero or not.

There's also to point out Touya doesn't offer evidence beyond any reasonable doubt (he would need, for example, a medical certificate proving Shouto's injuries), it's just his word of what he observed as a child, but, not only his credibility is compromised by how he's a Villain accusing a Hero, but also by how he was a child at the time.

In Japan children can testify but their credibility is often put into discussion because they 'might not have remembered correctly or not have understood what happened'.

Oddly enough Touya didn't mention the abuse his mother received, which I always found weird (why not to dig the knife in Endeavor deeper? did he not know his mother got beated? true, he's never shown around when it happens but… or did Horikoshi forgot about ti when he wrote 'Dabi's dance'?).

I mean, Rei was hospitalized for a mental breakdown, and I don't know if this would require her being checking her physical state in Japan (so maybe there's no medical certificate testifying her abuse) but, considering how the doctors know it's better if she doesn't meet Enji and how she probably had to explain why she assaulted her son, it would be easier to prove Enji's intention of wanting to assault Rei than Shouto.

In fact, as said before, children have little credibility, and even though Touya is an adult now, he's describing what he witnessed as a child. People could have said he mistook training for abuse or disciplining for abuse… but they couldn't have used the same excuse with Rei.

If he had said 'as a child I saw my father slapping my mother and causing her to fall on the ground multiple times' it would have been harder to think he was mistaken.

Again, the fact he was a child still don't play in his favour and being a Villain accusing a Hero he still has zero credibility and zero evidence, but it's still a more solid accusation than saying he saw his father abusing Shouto.

Ironically, the only evidence Touya has to back up his words is that Enji confirmed them in the press conference.

His family though, is still not interested in pressing charges and the police have already their hands busy enough due to the circumstances they're in, so, even if Enji weren't the Number 1 Hero, they likely wouldn't have investigated him because they had no time.

I'll add also something else in regard to Japanese law.

Although in Japan anyone who has the professional responsibility for the care or treatment of the minor (under 18) has the duty to report if said minor is abused (so Rei, Shouto's grandparents if they knew, people working for Enji as well as Shouto's teachers or the family doctor if they noticed something should have reported Enji), there are no repercussions not reporting child abuse.

And even though Japan has recently revised the abuse prevention law so that it states that parents, foster parents and heads of child welfare centers are banned from physically punishing children while attempting to discipline them there are no penalties for offenders.

"Higurashi no naku koro ni", despite being a horror visual novel (with a manga and an anime transposition) shows how a report of child abuse is handled in Japan. It's said the portrayal is realistic enough because the author also worked as a civil servant in that sector and so he knew what he was talking about.

The abuser in the story is well known by the police, but... basically they do nothing until the whole town raises a fuss.

With all this said, I'm not surprised Enji doesn't get investigated/prosecuted for what he did to his family.

The police has better things to do, there's no evidence and the victims don't press charges.

On another side, in Japan to be on the receiving end of negative public opinion IS A HUGE DEAL, which in some cases might make a person's life impossible.

It's vaguely hinted Touya expects societal repercussions to fall on his father (and his family as well) and not legal ones.

However the story kind of skipped devoting time on them and not so much because they might be a given for Japanese readers but because people in Japan is depicted as more angry at Endeavor for failing to prevent destruction and the escape of the criminals than disgusted for what he did to his family.

In the press conference, even though people wasn't happy he admitted the mistreating of his family (they would have preferred it was something Dabi made up) in the end all they show they cared for was the damage they suffered, it how the Heroes mistakes caused them to lose their beloved ones.

If the people were to ask for the Heroes to be punished, it wouldn't be because Enji abused his family, but because his abuse caused the birth of Dabi who caused them damage as he was among the ones riding Gigantomachia during his rampage.

You might notice Heroes actually don't get a lot of public support... but that's because they are blamed for causing harm to society, not for what Touya exposed they did.

No one really cares about Twice's death or Shouto's abuse, they're just angry because the Heroes failed to put them at ease and take down every Villain.

So yes, I'm with you when you say it's unfair the police is doing nothing for what Enji did to his family, as he caused to them so much damage... but it's not like he doesn't get punished because he enjoys of special privileges... and I'm speculating here but it's possible that Horikoshi is depicting things like this to denounce the situation.

People don't care of how Enji abused his family, police doesn't care, the law doesn't care, but not because he's a Hero but because that's how's things work and this is much worse than them not caring because he's a Hero. It means that they wouldn't care about the abuse Takami or Shimura Kotarou or Himeko's parents committed either, and here we're not talking of a Hero but of a criminal and common people.

But Japanese readers are bound to care, they're bound to remember how poor Shouto was abused, how Touya was neglected to the point of breaking, how Rei was driven to madness.

And maybe the fact that readers will care and will remember will push them to make the difference in the future.

Shonen manga like to teach things to their readers and teaching them abuse his bad and should be stopped is a good teaching.

At least that's what I'm speculating but I might be wrong, of course.

Thank you for your ask!

[ao3feed-izuku-midoriya]

What makes a hero?

What makes a hero? by RavenWithAKnife

Katsuki is denied entry into UA because of his violent tendencies. He blows up (quite litteraly) and has to fix his act before he gets any worse.

or

“I didn't get into UA.” He found himself whispering, being vulnerable in an uncomfortable way. Deku had always been able to pick him apart, he'd known he'd turn into this, but yet he sat there in worried confusion.

“That's it?” Deku gawked, mouth flapping open. If he tried quick enough, Katsuki thinks he can struggle away in the moment of surprise. But before he could even force his arms, which were sore from the explosion that had rattled off earlier, to move, an unwavering fury swam in Deku's eyes, and suddenly it was Katsuki's bones that creaked under the force. “That's it? This whole thing? You hurt- hurt innocent people because you didn't get into a hero school? What the fuck? Kacchan, what the fuck?”

Words: 10845, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 13 of A little birdy told me “fuck you” then flew away

Fandoms: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Characters: Bakugou Katsuki, Midoriya Izuku, Kirishima Eijirou, Todoroki Shouto, Iida Tenya, Yaoyorozu Momo

Additional Tags: Villain Bakugou Katsuki, Hero Bakugou Katsuki, Bakugou Katsuki Gets Therapy, Bakugou Katsuki Gets Character Development, Bakugou Katsuki is a Mess, Bakugou Katsuki is Bad at Feelings, Midoriya Izuku Has One for All Quirk, Mental Instability, Mental Breakdown, I Tried, Bakugou Katsuki Redemption, Bakugou Katsuki Gets a Hug

Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46202455

[erasurecloud]

“entirety of the chapter was how Rei’s bloodline was messed up and that’s why she and Touya went crazy.” Oh right yes so Enji plays no fault in it at all then huh? It’s because they were destined for crazy because of Rei’s family, got nothing to do with Enji’s wrong doings or treatment 😒 or the trauma caused within that household? Got everything to do with genetics? Yep they went crazy because of that most definitely not because of the shitstorm that was that household and Enji’s treatment/wrongful actions! Yes absolve him all you want but at least he knows he is at fault!

….the Himura’s are an inbred family. Mental issues are a common effect of inbreeding.

Touya is said to have inherited a lot from Rei (her weak constitution). Rei & Touya are the only two who snapped and had mental breakdowns despite Enji mistreating his entire family.

Fuyumi, Natsuo, & Shouto all kept their sanity.

Rei & Touya lost their minds due to the results that the Himura’s inbreeding had on them as individuals.

Im not absolving Enji of any of his wrongdoings. But considering Shouto endured the most direct mistreatment yet didn’t have the same kind of mental breakdown as Rei or Touya, I’d think it’s fairly safe to assume that those two have something else inherited to cause that kind of psychological break.

[ao3feed-todoroki]

The Worst Brother Award Goes to...

The Worst Brother Award Goes to... by CocoB0n

“Touya, take care of them…” She had said the night she left, burned hands close to her chest. “I need to leave for a little while… I can't keep watching you…” Then like a burning photograph, it disappeared from his dreams. It was best to forget those painful memories anyway.

After Rei's mental breakdown, Touya makes a promise to his mother. As she was dragged away, he told her he'd take responsibility of his siblings. At only 18 years old, he's working a full time job at the local daycare, being a full time babysitter to all of his siblings, and oh yeah- has an obnoxious bird that can't seem to leave him alone.

OR; Touya becomes a daycare worker and Hawks goes there to drop off his adoptive brother Fumikage.

Words: 5964, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Dabi | Todoroki Touya, Takami Keigo | Hawks, Todoroki Shouto, Todoroki Fuyumi, Todoroki Natsuo, Todoroki Enji | Endeavor, Todoroki Rei, Tokoyami Fumikage, Shigaraki Tomura | Shimura Tenko

Relationships: Dabi | Todoroki Touya/Takami Keigo | Hawks, Dabi | Todoroki Touya & Todoroki Shouto, Dabi | Todoroki Touya & Todoroki Family, Takami Keigo | Hawks & Tokoyami Fumikage, Dabi | Todoroki Touya & Shigaraki Tomura | Shimura Tenko

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Daycare, Dabi is a daycare worker, Good Sibling Dabi | Todoroki Touya, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Takami Keigo | Hawks and Tokoyami Fumikage Are Siblings, Found Family, Civilian Dabi | Todoroki Touya, Pro Hero Takami Keigo | Hawks, Todoroki Enji | Endeavor's Bad Parenting, Kid Fic

Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/44859862

[basicallykiyotaka]

Honestly, your post about "happy Todofam au" art is real! If it's not a alternate universe or an AU where they are a normal happy family etc, and is based on canon-timeline. Then people should really pic a earlier time period when they were actually happy, or hell if you are basing it in "the canon-timeline" you'd still have to change it up in some kind of way, like they weren't really happy when Natsuo was born and they definitely weren't happy when Shouto was born. However, we can make it where the outcome was slightly different, like instead of the family becoming more broken a change in a slightly brighter direction, or like when Touya attacked baby Shouto that's when it shifted that's when Enji decided to change for the better, and got himself(and Touya) therapy. I get if they did it that way it wouldn't be a completely happy family with two in therapy, but at least it would/could be a way of showing the family was healing and becoming a happy family.

You're so right.

Canonically, things where going well and then Touya hurt himself and Enji and Rei kind of panicked and with very little idea on how to handle children decided that if Touya wasn't going to listen, what more could they really do? Touya was getting more frustrated with made Enji more frustrated and it all just kept building for years until Shoto.

I have read practically every happy todofam fic on AO3. Not a single person has ever had the change start there even if it would work so well. All you need to do is have that cause Enji to have a mental breakdown so that he's actually able to listen. He's not against therapy, he just needs to be in a position where he's willing to listen, and after being at this for five years, I can see him realistically cracking and sobbing his eyes out.

The best thing about the todofam canonically is the healing journey, so why not take full advantage of that? Let Touya get help, let Enji and Rei go to therapy together, show me how they build a better relationship with their young children before it gets too bad.

I love seeing people draw the Todoroki siblings. I love seeing art of the family happy and doing family things. If you're going to use the canon universe as your reference point, actually understand what's going on and show me an accurate dynamic or give me a reason why they're not as they should be. I want to see them smile.

I have my issues with MHA fanfic writers because they're too busy turning Deku into their OC to see the best fucking story imaginable sitting right there. And while the todofam longfics I have read are great (shoutout classicequinox and grimmijaggers), there's still more with the concept you can do.

[mistyrosewriter]

Waking up in Isekai

Please read below:

Rating:

Explicit

Archive Warning:

Major Character Death

Category:

M/M

Fandom:

僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga)

Relationships:

Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku

Midoriya Izuku/Todoroki Shouto

Midoriya Izuku/Shinsou Hitoshi

Characters:

Akatani "Yamikumo" Mikumo

Midoriya Izuku

Bakugou Katsuki

Todoroki Shouto

Shinsou Hitoshi

Class 1-A (My Hero Academia)

Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead

Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic

Kayama Nemuri | Midnight

Snipe (My Hero Academia)

League of Villains (My Hero Academia)

Additional Tags:

Guides

Espers

Isekai and Transmigration

Aged-Up Character(s)

Bullying

Mental Breakdown

Mental Anguish

AU

Panic Attacks

Alternate Universe - Still Have Powers

But they're not just their Quirks

Alternate Universe - Creatures & Monsters

Guns

Implied/Referenced Domestic Violence

Language: English

Chapters:1/?

Summary:

"Humanity has created multiple different variants of what causes there to be the appearance of Espers (or Awakened as some sources call them) and Guides.  Some of those sources talked about abnormalities, and some anomalies, some also just said tears in between dimensions were the cause.  Yet for all the thought processing that went behind those stories, no one on earth actually expected such things actually to come about.  In fact, when the whole shift had started, people were confused, not really sure what to think of the whole thing.  Some cryptid enthusiasts jumped on the first sightings of creatures never before seen yet they started showing themselves.  Then the enthusiasm died as more and more dangerous things began to appear along with the first appearance of Espers and Guides.

Akatani Mikumo scoffed as he reread this part of his current online novel."

[ao3feed-hawks]

The Worst Brother Award Goes to...

The Worst Brother Award Goes to... by CocoB0n

“Touya, take care of them…” She had said the night she left, burned hands close to her chest. “I need to leave for a little while… I can't keep watching you…” Then like a burning photograph, it disappeared from his dreams. It was best to forget those painful memories anyway.

After Rei's mental breakdown, Touya makes a promise to his mother. As she was dragged away, he told her he'd take responsibility of his siblings. At only 18 years old, he's working a full time job at the local daycare, being a full time babysitter to all of his siblings, and oh yeah- has an obnoxious bird that can't seem to leave him alone.

OR; Touya becomes a daycare worker and Hawks goes there to drop off his adoptive brother Fumikage.

Words: 5964, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Dabi | Todoroki Touya, Takami Keigo | Hawks, Todoroki Shouto, Todoroki Fuyumi, Todoroki Natsuo, Todoroki Enji | Endeavor, Todoroki Rei, Tokoyami Fumikage, Shigaraki Tomura | Shimura Tenko

Relationships: Dabi | Todoroki Touya/Takami Keigo | Hawks, Dabi | Todoroki Touya & Todoroki Shouto, Dabi | Todoroki Touya & Todoroki Family, Takami Keigo | Hawks & Tokoyami Fumikage, Dabi | Todoroki Touya & Shigaraki Tomura | Shimura Tenko

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Daycare, Dabi is a daycare worker, Good Sibling Dabi | Todoroki Touya, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Takami Keigo | Hawks and Tokoyami Fumikage Are Siblings, Found Family, Civilian Dabi | Todoroki Touya, Pro Hero Takami Keigo | Hawks, Todoroki Enji | Endeavor's Bad Parenting, Kid Fic

Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/44859862

[tonya-the-chicken]

It’s not just you I don’t remember that far back either except for a traumatic event of two but even then those were only instances. Touya’s quirk change should’ve been either 6 years old or after Shouto was born. For the latter, imagine if Enji stoked a rivalry, believing it would be a good thing, but then Touya’s quirk hurt himself and he started spiraling when Enji distanced himself from Touya’s inner pain while proud of Shouto for merely existing.

I feel like it would make more sense to make Touya older at the moment and to postpone Natsuo's birth. Like, if the change started at 6, then they tried to cope with it somehow and came to the conclusion they had to have more kids, it'd be 8 years difference with Natsuo and 10 with Shouto. That would make all of Touya's abusive actions more conscious but tbh I wouldn't mind. I am not a particular fan of fandom running after him with "poor baby in the constant mental breakdown". There are not many things tied to his age in his story. Maybe the growth spurt but I don't see how it is important

Enji loved Touya too much to stroke a rivalry, I think 😰

[ammmyturtle]

I kinda disagree with young Touya having no empathy and only thinks of himself. What Endeavor did was literally pinning his children against each other. And Touya, as an 8 year old, had a mental breakdown. Parents picking favorites is already very destructive when it comes to sibling binding, not to mention Enji just literally, replaced Touya. Idc what he said, he can be all flowers and sunshine with his words but his actions speak louder. Touya’s mental health was clearly deteriorating and having intense mood swings. He was switching from lashing out and regretting a couple of times. He cannot cope with his trauma, he lashes out, hurts the wrong people, he regrets… he didn’t really have a good support system cuz like Natsuo is 8 (not blaming him!), way too young to comprehend what his brother was going through. He needed professional help, which sadly he never received any.

Shouto was the abused child, and Rei had put most of her attention on him, to protect him. But sadly this hyper focus on Shouto just means that now the other three kids will again experience the uneven love and affection from their mother. Natsuo even confessed he got a bit jealous of Shouto in the novels. Shouto gained the experience of having unconditional love and affection. I’m sure Rei loved all her children, but it was given in an uneven way.

I agree that what makes Shouto and Touya different is Touya experienced father’s love. Shouto was hurt by Rei, but because of the love he received, he can quickly differentiate and identify who is the true abuser here (Endeavor). But when it comes to Touya, when he’s emotionally abused, he cannot identify the abuser clearly. Because the one who hurt him, and the one who loved him, are the same people. He went through a lot to cope with this fact. Internalizing it (I’m defective/ a failure), externalizing it (it’s mom/shouto’s fault) and making excuses for Endeavor (he’s just busy with work). But he just cannot cope, because he knows who is the true abuser, who is actually at fault. Coupled with serious self harm issues, social pressure and puberty…

Rei's Abuse Saved Shouto

This sounds batshit fucking crazy but hear me out.

tw: abuse, domestic violence, child abuse, everything that comes with talking about the todorokis

Touya exists as a cautionary tale for "the abused becomes the abuser" in the sense that he never truly learned empathy. Everything was for him, always about him, and that was his life until he suddenly faced the trauma of realizing he wasn't a masterpiece in his father's eyes. The fact that he attacked Shouto, a tiny little baby, only further proves my point that Touya never actually learned how to think outside of himself.

Empathy is taught, it's not an innate skill.

Fast forward to Shouto who, yes was also heavily abused, but additionally witnessed the abuse of the only person at the time who was allowed to show him kindness. Touya grew up with his dad loving him, Shouto did not. Touya was told that he, as a person, was special. Shouto was not.

We see throughout the series that watching his mother be abused fundamentally changed the way Shouto saw everything. When his mother disfigures him he immediately blames his father and wants her back. He knows what it's like to be Endeavor's punching bag in a world where you have no support and no way to escape.

He wanted to protect his mom before he even understood what was happening. She was all he had, and all he needed was for her to be able to be there for him. Endeavor never let that happen.

This is in no way saying that Rei's abuse was the only thing that could've saved Shouto from following in Touya's footsteps, but it's the only thing from the series itself that explains it.

[nnanii]

and that’s the tea!!