#as I had already done way back in the very beginning before Hero Exam License Arc came along

[mesozoic-system]

Bakugou Katsuki is not as bad as he seems.

Okay, fine. That's a lie. Bakugou is a loud and obnoxious asshole with little to no character development and will snap at anyone who breathes on him the wrong way.

Now that that's out of the way, let's move on to why he's like that.

You all know what PTSD is, yeah? If not, it stands for "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder". It's something that causes panic attacks, unnecessary aggression, trust issues, nightmares, anxiety, depression, and more. People will develop it after a traumatic experience. It takes years of therapy to recover... actually, most people never recover from it.

Fun fact: Katsuki canonically has PTSD. It's confirmed, and you know what? After everything he's been through, it's not much of a surprise. He's been through one tragedy after another and never seems to get a break.

When we first met Bakugou Mitsuki (Katsuki's mother) in chapter #96, we instantly realized how aggressive she was. I mean come on! She talked smack right in front of him and his teachers- in front of All Might who she knew her son was very fond of. Katsuki may be irritable, but to have your own mother backhand you in front of your own role model is a little much.

Later on in chapter #165 during the Provisual License Exams, we get a little more information that only points towards more abuse- and this time it's not so verbal.

Most people paid no real attention nor gave it a second thought in these panels, but remember when Katsuki suggested to use violence against the kids? Of course, you'd look at it and wave it off as "normal Bakugou behavior", but what he says next took me by surprise:

That's right. He was raised that way.

Which means either Mitsuki or Masaru (or both) had struck him in some way multiple times as he was growing up, and I doubt it was Masaru.

"Spoiled" my ass. He might have a strong quirk, but people don't turn into little monsters just by being praised. It'll definely boost his confidence, but not dramatically. This could also explain his aggression toward Midoriya. He realized how helpless he was and had power over someone else for once. But that's just a theory.

Okay, let's fast forward a bit. He's finishing up his third year of Middle School and is preparing for the UA entrance exams. He's pushed away his childhood friend to follow his own dreams and tells him to jump off the roof.

Literally.

And then he walks out the door only to regret it much, much, muuuch later in the series- y'know. The "character development" I was talking about.

Next time we see him though, he gets what he deserves.

One panel he's tramping through an alley with his friends, and the next, he's being swallowed alive by the most perverted-looking slime monster I've ever laid my eyes on.

While Izuku's dreams are being crushed by his own hero, Katsuki is fighting for his life in the middle of town. He's struggling, but all he could do was look back at all the dozens of fearful eyes...

Right there. Right now. Look at him:

He's terrified. He's humiliated and afraid and hurt and despite all of the heroes that were there, none of them had even attempted to save him.

And this is where it really starts. This is where it all begins. Next thing we know, Izuku's running straight for him... The boy Katsuki's bullied almost all of his life is risking his own in order to save him.

You know the story from there; All Might trains Izuku to withhold his power, they get accepted into UA, and then comes the Sports Festival.

Katsuki's already made up his mind: he's gonna win. He's willing to give everything he has to show the country what he's made of, and this may be his only chance to make up for the mishap several months ago. And Monoma, being a professional at making things worse by opening his mouth, rubs salt in the wound.

It was pretty easy to predict Katsuki's reaction: pissed off and more than ready to prove him wrong. He does, but it cost him his "first place" during the Calvary Battle. But that's okay 'cuz it's not over yet!

Welcome to the next and last stage of the festival: The Battle Tournament, where all the kids get to beat the shit out of each other until only one remains.

Turns out, Katsuki does win. It was a foolproof plan: get Todoroki to go all out on him so he can make a final impression before the end of the day. But it was obvious that Shouto was still unsure of himself, so Katsuki did what he did best:

He had to piss him off.

But instead of getting angry and bursting into flames like he had planned, Shouto threw away the battle at the last second, and everything Katsuki had worked for with it.

No shit he's gonna be upset! He worked his ass off to get where he was, and the whole point was to leave himself a footprint! His entire life had been dedicated to that moment, and it faded away right in front of him.

Midnight put him to sleep and he woke up and threw a temper tantrum.

Now this is was UA did wrong:

Why would you do that?! They were all aware of what happened to him only a few months ago, he obviously hasn't properly recovered from it, and they restrain him in front of thousands of people. They cover his mouth and gag him, lock his hands in a tiny metal box and expect him not to go insane. Helloooo?! Wake up! He's just a kid!

Several months go by and now it's time for camp. Katsuki is tired. They all are. It's been a long day of training and training and training, and suddenly villains come out of nowhere, and nobody is prepared. And who shows up? The League of Villains, and they're after certain students...

Tokoyami escapes safely, but Katsuki isn't so lucky.

Just think about that for a second. When we see Shigaraki holding a picture of him, it's the one where UA tied him up. He knows what this child has gone through and he pities him. To be honest, I think the LoV treated him much better than anyone ever has (except maybe Kirishima). They're hesitant, but they treat him with kindness. They didn't just want him for his quirk. They saw what the heroes did to him and wanted to help him get the revenge he deserved.

But when All Might showed up (more like "burst through the wall like the Cool Aid man"), Katsuki is instantly teleported in the strangest way possible... and the most traumatizing.

He chokes out this weird slime-like substance that devours him within seconds. Thankfully it only last that long, but then again, the Sludge Incident, remember?

Yeah, bet that brings back some memories.

But what must have hurt him the most was All Might's downfall and early retirement. He said it himself:

After several chapters, he finally burst. He's been holding all the pain inside of him until it bubbled over and he couldn't take it anymore. So he went to the only person he could- the person he hated and yet trusted the most.

Maybe the Class 1A concert helped him in a way. It seemed like it brought him down and maybe even relaxed him a little. And something incredible happens. Something we haven't seen from him at all until now...

(From here, I'll try to keep it short to avoid as many manga spoilers as I can. That and I'm tired...)

He began to change; started to support Izuku... in his own twisted way, of course. As chapters went by, he started to open up little by little. He admitted what he had done to Izuku in middle school to All Might, which had brought him some peace of mind. It wasn't quite the apology we had hoped for, but I guess it'll do.

And during the war, he made the greatest sacrifice, finally unlocking his quirk's full potential. Despite being unable to move, he used his quirk to throw himself in front of Izuku without thinking, taking a blow to his stomach. To his stomach.

He was impaled.

Holy shit.

Last time someone had been impaled was Nighteye, and he died from his wounds.

But Katsuki somehow managed to survive... And woke up ready to beat Izuku's ass if he didn't wake up.

Anyway, that's all I have to say (so far). However, I'm excited for Season 5 of the anime series! Can't wait to see our new story animated! I mean, I've been watching the episodes as they come out, but still.

-Blightcon

[daddysfangirls-anime]

Recommendation

Warning: language, fluff

Summary: a Shinso x reader where the reader is Aizawa’s little sister? And the reader is the youngest pro hero around so the principal put her 1-a to keep her identity under wraps.. (Maybe the reader puts recommendation after recommendation in for him to be in the hero class? Maybe she puts an internship request in for him?) 

Aizawa and (y/n) sighed as they looked up at the door they could hear Mic’s loudmouth. Neither of them wanted to go inside they both wanted to go back home and take a nap. The sibling looked at each other as if they could read each other's minds. They both took one slow step backward.

“There you are,” Mic said as he flung the door open revealing the sibling “ Come we’ve got a meeting to get to,” He said draping his arm over Aizawa shoulder and grabbing the back of (y/n)’s jacket dragging them both along while talking loudly. Everyone had gathered in the meeting room and took their seats (y/n) opted out of the chair and instead curled up under the table next to her brother’s feet. Throughout the meeting, he passed her papers or nudged her when she started to fall asleep.

(y/n) was Aizawa’s little sister born when he was in his mid-teens and before his father left their mother. She was a smart girl so smart in fact that at the age of 15 she had already graduated, became a Pro-Hero, and owned two of her own little businesses. And she was only just improving.

Her quirk was she could eraser other quirks by touch, low telekinesis the ability to moving small things with her mind, and she could not feel pain ( although that was more of a disability thanks to her damaged nerve system).

(y/n) was the youngest licensed hero in existents. She wasn’t known to the public but the pro- hero community was aware of her and knew who she was. She was very good at her job and every hero acknowledged that.

After the U.S.J attack (y/n) was recruited to go undercover into Class 1- A as to further keep an eye on and protect them. To say this task was hard was an understatement. Being a teenager was hard.

“ (y/n), the meeting over.”

“I know, I know, I’m just too tired to move,” she says as her brother nudges here with his foot. He sighs standing up he squats down and scoops her up carrying her to the teachers' lounge where she could get a few more extra minutes of shut-eye. They were up until 2AM patroling and a child needs their sleep.

“Alright, just don’t be late and don’t get caught.”

-

(y/n) groaned as she rubbed her temple. Despite being a teenager herself she didn’t understand those her age. She had managed to skip the boy crazy, hormonal, immature phase which most girls went through. She didn’t understand most kids her age having more responsibility than they understood or could handle. The only person her age that she could tolerate was Shouto Todoroki and the only person her age she actually liked was Hitoshi Shinso.

Shinso was a very misunderstood person. His outer appearance was a bit intimating to others and he honestly looked like he didn't know what sleep was but under all that he was a really good guy. He was smart, kind (to those he liked and didn’t think ill of him), mischievous, and curious. So curious in fact he figured out that that (y/n) was a pro- hero and Aizawa’s little sister but agreed to keep it a secret after getting threatened by the entire staff.

Shinso wanted to be apart of the hero course and he could have been but he wasn’t recommended at the beginning of the year and the entrance exam put him at a disadvantage with the robots. Which both she and Aizawa agreed was unfair. She could see the potential in him he just needed a bit of polishing and she was happy to do it.

Since after the sports festival (y/n) and Aizawa had both been training Shinso so that he could get into the hero course. It has been over a year and a half since then and they were still training him. While (y/n) thought he was ready to Join class 1-A or 1-B her brother didn’t and insisted he continues training until he thought Shinso was ready as he was one of the Hero courses teachers and the teacher training him. Even with this in mind thins did not stop her from dropping recommendation after recommendation on her brother’s desk.

Aizawa didn’t even look up at his sister when she dropped this recommendation on his desk although he did roll his eyes when he read it.

“LET HIM JOIN YOU GIANT DICK”

(y/n) groaned some more as she pulled out her sleeping bag and made a nice little nest next to Present Mic’ s desk. Usually, she would be under her brother’s desk but he had pissed her off today by pairing her with Mina for the day. She didn’t have anything against the poor girl she was just too energetic for her liking and today (y/n) was really tired. The girl had brought a headache upon her.

“No,” Aizawa said as he slipped the paper in his desk.

“He has potential it would be best to teach him with the rest of the hero course he is on their level now maybe even a bit higher.”

“No, he isn’t ready”

“He is more than ready and you know it... jerk” instead of getting up (y/n) wiggled her way out of the teacher faculty still in her sleeping back. She didn’t care that the other teachers chuckled at her she was pissed. (Y/n) was so mad she didn’t realize how far she had wiggled or where she had wiggled too. She stopped when she heard footsteps coming the way she watched as they stopped in front of her she looked up.

“Why are you squirming down the hall a caterpillar?” he asked standing above her in his training clothes.

“I’m upset but I’m also tired... I don’t know how I came up with this compromise but I don’t like it anymore” Shinso sighed picking her up and carried her to the training hall. She smiled a bit a year go Shinso couldn’t even lift her let alone carry her now he lifted and carried her effortlessly. Arriving at the jump he paces her in her usual spot against the wall and went to train.

“ I wrote another “ (y/n) said he knew what she was talking about another recommend.

“and he said no. Don’t you get tired of writing those”

“don’t you get tired of getting rejected.”

“no actually” (y/n) sat up looking at him strangely because well that was a strange response. “ Before people didn’t reject me I already had a label as a Villian and I never really act to try and change that. I mean I told them to stop but nothing else. Now I’m acting I’m working to be a hero. He can keep rejecting me but I know he believes in me just like you. That’s why both of them keep training me and why you keep throwing recommendations in your brother’s face.��

“I’ll get there someone day and when I do I’ll be ten times better than the rest of those Class A-1 best believe,” Shinso said winking at her as he grabs his scarf for practice.

“Who are you and what have you done with Shinso?” this amount of positivity was very unusual for him.

“I just had a good day and hearing what you did for me made it better.” walking over he squats down and kissed her forehead. “Thanks”

“aw, what are best friends for” (y/n) giggled. She laid back down and watched as Shinso trained with his scarf. She slowly drifted off to the sound of his training.

[intheticklecloset]

When Mirio Lost His Smile (My Hero Academia)

Primary Universe

Sir Nighteye, I must admit, is among my least favorite MHA characters, but I hope that despite my personal bias I was able to portray his and Mirio’s relationship accurately. Also, this fic takes place when Mirio is first starting out at the agency, so we’re going back in time a bit for this one. Enjoy!

~

“Mirio Togata, you’ve disappointed me.” Sir Nighteye’s voice was as serious as ever, his gaze piercing as his young student stood before him, trapped in his machine. He never thought he’d have to use it on Mirio – the boy was energetic and happy and almost always seemed to be smiling. Yet here they were.

“S-Sir?” The blonde sounded nervous, glancing at his cuffed wrists. “What is this thing?”

“It will not hurt you.” Nighteye fished a remote from his pocket and pressed a button. The machine whirred to life. “But it will serve as a form of punishment.”

“What have I done?” Mirio asked, turning his eyes back to his mentor. “Please, Sir Nighteye, tell me what I did wrong.”

“You are aware of how much value I place in humor and a good attitude, don’t you, Mirio?”

“Yes, Sir.” That’s when the first of the feathers appeared on either side of him, beginning their gradual, tickly journey up and down his exposed torso. Surprised, Mirio let out a yelp, followed by a grin and slight giggle. “H-Hey! Sir, whahahat is this thihing?”

“I’ve never once had reason to punish you. You are intelligent, capable, and always ready to take on the next challenge I give you. In addition, you’re always in a good mood. Your energy helps boost morale in my agency.”

“Sihihihihir!” Mirio was giggling steadily at this point, as the first set of feathers had picked up their pace and a second set was now focusing under his arms. He clenched his fists. “Whahahahahat are you dohohohohoing?”

“But today,” continued Nighteye, as though this situation were entirely normal, “you came into the office with an obviously unhappy attitude, and though you’ve remained diligent in your work, your lack of a smile has been quite noticeable.”

“Is thahahahahahat why you’re t-tihihihihihickling me?” Mirio sputtered. He was already flustered enough being tickled at all, but in front of his mentor for whom he had so much respect when said mentor was just watching him with that serious expression? “To mahahahahake me smile agahahain?”

“Partially, yes.” Sir Nighteye adjusted his glasses. “But also, I intend to figure out what it is that has made you so sour today.”

“Yohohohohohou cohohohould have just asked!” Mirio protested.

“And you could have gotten out of this already with your quirk, but here we are.” Nighteye stared hard at him. “Out with it, Mirio.”

Well, jeez, way to call me out, Mirio thought, blushing for the first time. He averted his gaze; he couldn’t stand to see his boss just watch him like this anymore. “I’m juhuhuhuhust stressed is ahahall.”

“Because?”

“Behehehecause of the prohohohovisional license exahahahaham.” Mirio squirmed, still giggling. The feathers’ pace hadn’t changed, but the longer they tickled, the more ticklish he felt. “I wahahahant to pahahahass it so bahahahad, S-Sir.”

“You doubt you can do it?” Nighteye quirked a brow at him.

“I knohohohohohow I can dohoho it. I juhuhuhuhust wahahant to do it the fihihihirst time. I dohohon’t want to hahahave to retake it.”

“I see.” Nighteye pulled the remote from his pocket, and for a moment Mirio thought he was about to let him go. But then the feathers began spinning faster, and a third set joined the first two – these ones lower on his body, near his knees.

Mirio jolted, his giggles rising in pitch. “Sihihihihihihihihir! I t-tohohohohohold you whahat’s wrong; why ahahahahare you s-stihihihihihill tihihickling me?”

“Why haven’t you used your quirk to escape it yet?”

Mirio could feel how hard he was blushing. “I-I dohohohohohon’t know! B-Behehecause…”

“Because you need it, don’t you?” And for the first time since this started, Nighteye offered a small smile. “You’re going to be a great hero one day, Mirio Togata. Don’t let your stress get the better of you. Always remember to smile, no matter what. If people see that you’re bothered, that’s not going to make them feel very safe if you’re the one sent in to rescue them, now is it?”

“Y-Yehehehehes, Sir!” Mirio replied out of habit more than anything.

Nighteye turned and started back toward his desk, leaving Mirio trapped in the machine, still being tickled gently but steadily, still giggling brightly. “Besides, you’ll pass the exam with flying colors. I don’t doubt you. You shouldn’t either.” He sat back down in his chair and returned to work as though nothing at all was happening in that one corner of the room. “Take all the time you need. You may return to your duties whenever you think you can smile on your own again.”

Too flustered by what was happening to him in front of the man he respected so much, Mirio used his permeation to escape the machine immediately after being given permission. He then hurriedly hid behind it to put his clothes back on. When he walked back to his own place in the office, Nighteye gave him another raised brow but said nothing.

Mirio beamed at him in response.

“Good.” Nighteye nodded approvingly, then refocused on what he’d been doing.

Mirio, for his part, found that he couldn’t stop smiling after that. He smiled through the rest of the afternoon, out the door that evening after dismissal, and even on the walk back home.

Thanks, Sir Nighteye, Mirio thought, constantly and pleasantly surprised by how good his mentor was at his job. I guess I really did need it after all.

[bumblingbeasblackhole]

Why Momo Yaoyorozu would have been a more effective hero as a plus size woman.

Hello all, it’s time for a BNHA rant. A rant in my opinion that is long over due, and that my friends is on one of my favorite characters in the franchise. Momo Yaoyorozu AKA Creati.

Buckle up lads were in for a hefty analysis. (Note the read more) I promise it’s worth the read.

Now, we all know Class 1-A’s vice class rep and resident braniac Momo.

Just in case you’re new here or need a refresher, Momo’s Quirk is called Creation. The basic breakdown of her quirk is that her body uses the Lipids (fats) in her body to create any inorganic material of her choosing.

Now, there’s two key things to remember about her quirk.

First, her quirk requires her to use her physical body reserves in order to function

Second, she has to know how to make those matierals. From bottom to top. That means she has to not only have a design of what she wants in her head but the exact molecular compounds to create those objects as well.

Momo to her credit does this well. She’s been flushed out slightly enough to see various instances where she’s had to improve either on her knowledge of materials and compounds or her speed to achieve the full creation of an item. It’s something we see from her constantly in both the Manga and the Anime.

For example, the first time we are (formally) introduced to Momo’s quirk she creates a few items

A staff for herself, a sword for Jirou, a net to contain the thugs, a thick insulated blanket large enough to cover both her and Jirou, and finally the remembrance of her hero suit.

These items all together begin to wear Momo out as she’s left panting and even tells Jirou that she has a hard time creating such taxing objects on her body. This is stated to the audience the first time we see her in action. It takes her time, concentration, and most importantly her body’s lipid reserves.

This is the first time we see Momo wear herself rather thin. While this in itself is impressive and a great introduction into the character and her abilities and strategic wit in a battle, the rather more harmful implications are yet to be seen. This incident, while foreshadowing her later issues, does not compare to other instances later on the series.

There are three key issues with Momo as she is currently.

Her body/character design inherently limit her abilities as a hero.

The push for her to be a sexy hero/character is ultimately determinetal to her effectiveness as both a character and a hero.

Her intellect is not reflected by the way she operates as a hero. Instead, it is often negated for the sake of her design.

These points seem vague or over harped but I’ll go into detail about them. (Hang in there, this is well thought out and developed, I promise)

But before I get into the key issues and solutions, there’s a lot that’s absolutely fantastic about Momo.

Momo is a great character because she is more than the typical snobby rich girl trope. In fact, she’s not at all snobby. She is the most helpful, kind, and oblivious rich character I’ve ever seen. It’s part of her personality sure, but it’s not the only factor. It’s more or less just a gag for laughs between the other characters.

She is also relatable in the way she has self worth issues, different from Midoriya’s self worth issues. She was never (that were aware of) beaten down or belittled. Her issues sprouted from the way she was confident in her abilities, intellect, and quirk only to be thrown in the deepend UA.

Which idk about y’all, but honestly that shit hits home. If you were ever the smart-kid-who-learned-quickly-and-skated-through-school-only-to-be-out-of-your-depth-with-new-self-worth-issues-when-that-is-no-longer-the-case (or anything similar) than you catch my drift. So score for relatability.

Alas, onwards.

Let’s tackle the first problem.

The way she treats her body now is detrimental to her quirk usage long term.

I’ll explain,

Momo’s quirk functions relatively similar to another hero we are later introduced too, Fatgum.

Now I know what you’re already thinking,

“Bea! She’s supposed to be sexy! She’s supposed to be feminine! Her quirk burns it all so she can look like that! Fatgum has to only store it all!”

On some levels you’re right.

On most though, incredibly wrong.

Momo’s figure is one of the main (and slightly controversial) aspects of her character. I mean, look at her design versus Fatgum’s

See the key differences? I sure do.

Fatgum’s quirk is called Fat Absorbtion. Basically it grants Fatgum the ability to adhere any objects to his body and make them sink into his body fat upon contact with it. And/Or he can build and channel all of the fat in his body into one overpowered and energized punch or attack. (As seen in the overhaul arc) which leaves his body, you guessed it, deprecated and thin. Much like Momo’s, they both use their body’s fat as a tool whether through expelling it or storing it for later use.

I point this out because we see time and time again throughout the series where Momo pushed herself to the limit where she has to expel extraordinary amounts of her body to get the job done. But in reality she only makes a few larger objects. This compared to Fatgum who uses his fat reserves strategically and only in the toughest of battles does he push his body’s reserves to zero. Whereas Momo does this constantly. This is because of her inefficient way of treating her quirk and ultimately, her design.

Let’s discuss some prime examples:

In the training camp arc, Momo makes roughly 15-30 masks for all of Class B students, and half of Class A. Which in itself is a tall order. When we see her again, she’s bloodied, exhausted, barely conscious, worn, and welded to Awase half alive. She even struggles as she makes the tiny tracker she places on the back of the Nomu. After this, in the hospital (pre Kamino rescue) she was unconscious for a day and half due to quirk overuse and dehydration.

Third, in the first movie, My Hero Academia: Two Heroes, we once again see Momo’s fatal flaw as she and a group of Class 1-A students race through the security tower on I-island. She uses her quirk to make cannons of course, a Momo signature, to fend off the security bots fairly early on in the battle. As she continues to make ammo and other items needed to win the battle Momo teeters on the brink of passing out from, you guessed it, dehydration and starvation. Jirou ends up catching Momo as she’s nearly passes out from the lack of fat/substance in her body after making the cannon and ammo.

Then we see the same issue in the second movie My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising. Where Momo is used both to create extra supplies on the island. She passes out after that alone and only wakes up later as the class is regrouping after four villains attack simultaneously. Even after rest and food, we see her later again to make two massive cannons as the first line of defense against the incoming villains. From the start of the second battle Momo is worn out and clearly lacking in lipids to participate fully in a fight. Here, she even keels over and says that she’s at her limit and looks like she’s on the brink of death via dehydration and starvation. Which she very much is.

We also so see this in Provisonal Licensing Exam arc when Momo, Tsu, Jirou, and Shoji are trapped together by a group from another school. Here this is important because the leader of that group has super intelligence granted to her by her quirk (and tea lol) has come up with a “fool proof” plan to beat the group. The bottom line of that plan is simple. Wear. Momo. Out. Which half way works too, until Momo figures out what the other group is trying to do and thinks her way out of that situation. Although, she does use up a decent amount of her body’s reserves before she figures out their plan.

^^^ this scene brings up an extremely concerning point. If a villain knows what her quirk is, and has i don’t know, seen her, then they’re going to do the exact same thing Saiko (the girl in the photo above from the licensing exam arc) attempted to do. Exhaust Momo’s resources.

Now, this has been brought up once in the actual show. During the training camp arc, we see each students training method (designed by Aizawa) in order to overwork and strengthen their quirks. For Momo, that looked like binge eating and creating simultaneously.

This also shows us that Aizawa is at least somewhat paying attention to the drawbacks of her quirk. He may not have been there for some of the more concerning times she’s over worked herself, but it’s not a hard thing to work out just by how she looks and how her quirk functions. He also sees how her speed with her quirk hindered her like in her battle against Tokoyami. However, this is the only time we see this. Plus, this is not nearly enough of solution to the problem. Which in all honesty is simple.

For all intensive purposes, Momo should be a Plus Sized woman.

Not just for diversity or validity of readers. Although it would have been a score for the plus size community since it’s always lacking here for us bad bitches but because it would have been more natural to her character. If she had a bulkier physique or even just a chubbier build she would be way more effective in a battle or even just as a hero.

Her quirk burns the fat in her body instantly while in use. Which means she needs to have a healthy reserve of it at all times, especially since I’m willing to bet her metabolism is crazy fast. Relying on the normal/average caloric intake is irrational for her quirks functionality. Her diet should look more like Fatgum’s where we see him constantly eating in order to fuel his quirk. At the very least, Momo needs to always have foods dense in fats on hand in case she’s in a dire situation where she’s running low on reserves. She would be much more effective that way. I cannot tell you the amount of times I’ve watched a scene where she’s wearing herself out and been exasperated by the fact that she didn’t have even a simple granola bar on her for emergencies.

Hear me out,

Plus size people are extremely capable of doing extraordinary things. As well as also being fit while still having a larger/healthier frame. It’s not all that uncommon. In fact, it’s something that fictional storytelling (an ex machina if you will) isn’t needed in order to cover the realistic applications. There are plenty of people in the word who are of a larger build and are also active, fit, and in overall good health standing.

In real life, Ashley Graham is an excellent example. For those who aren’t privy to this goddess, she’s a plus size model, mother, and fitness enthusiast.

Here’s just a taste of this wonderful goddesses workouts can look like:

(Credit Instagram : @ashleygharam)

Which brings me to my next point

The need for Momo to be sexy is detrimental to her effectiveness as both a hero and as a character.

I know, I know, half of Momo’s whole thing is being sexy, rich, and oblivious. I’m well aware.

But here’s a fun tidbit. Plus size women can be sexy too! Shocker I know! Sarcasm aside, having Momo be a plus size woman wouldn’t hinder her sex appeal if done correctly. In fact, I think it would only make her more appealing, marketable, and effective narratively.

Not that she really needs to be sexy at all, but we will swing back to that.

Remember Ashley Graham? The model I mentioned like a paragraph ago? Well, she’s an example that plus size women can be just as sexy/attractive as anyone else. Which only proves that Momo could still have been an attractive character even as a plus size woman. In fact, it would have been uplifting to see a plus size character who’s whole gag isn’t revolved around them losing weight to fit a societal goal, but instead a character who is plus sized, healthy, and proud. Who utilizes her body in a positive manner. I mean imagine the marketablility to younger audiences! If you still don’t believe me that a plus size woman can still be attractive and show skin like Momo would ultimately have to do in order to use her quirk, check out Ashley motherfuckin Graham doing just that

No matter how they would have gone on to design her as a plus size character, she could have still been stunning. Even if they kept her in the same costume design! Which is garbage but that’s a tangent for another time

But beyond equality and all that good stuff:

Momo being a plus size woman would mean she would have more ability for long term endurance in a battle. As it stands now, Momo taps out of a battle fairly fast. She’s tends to make one larger item and then she’s tapped. Which is highly inefficient in a battle. If anything it seems to be on par with how Midoriya’s quirk affected him in the beginning of the series. He had to sacrifice a part of his body in order to land an effective attack. Sound familiar? Well yeah. Because Momo does the same thing with Creation and she’s had it for years.

Each time Momo over uses her quirk, she’s left on the brink of passing out, if she hadn’t already, leaving her vulnerable and useless in the field alone. Each time she’s pushed herself past her limit she’s had her classmates to catch her when she falls. That’s not practical. Aizawa said it himself in the quirk apprehension test way back in chapter 6 of the manga.

So why is Momo considered differently? Why doesn’t Aizawa say something? Simple. He’s typically not around for these occurrences.

Momo doesn’t have to over use her quirk in simulations. She only does that when there’s real stakes and people on the line. The issue with that is that once she leaves UA, the stakes will always be real, all the time. Isn’t now the best time to nip this issue in the bud? I think so. But also I understand how Aizawa either hasn’t fully caught on, or hasn’t dealt with it. I mean, between villain attacks and our main character constantly almost killing himself recklessly in battle, he’s got a lot on his plate.

The other issue with her “sexy” design is that it negates from her overall character. In all official art we see for BNHA we see Momo typically left out, or hypersexualized. This detracts from her substance of being intelligent and creative. She’s often the butt of the joke when it comes to Mineta’s perverted jokes/schemes as well. Between the cheerleader outfits incident and the locker room scene Momo is constantly written off. Whereas Midnight, a pro hero and teacher at UA, who is known for her sexiness and uses it as her brand, uses her sexuality effectively without diminishing her actual worth as a hero or teacher. But then again Midnight is an adult, who is branded as the 18+ hero. Momo is a student and minor. But y’all still aren’t ready for that conversation yet.

Which brings me to the final point of this long winded rant. (Thanks if you’ve stuck around this long! We’re almost done! Follow me if you don’t already. I write stuff, paint stuff, and theorize/analyze stuff for bnha)

The way Momo is now, Discounts/Negates her supposed intellect

As I’ve mentioned already in this rant, how Momo operates now isn’t working out so well on her favor.

But that doesn’t really make sense considering she’s so fucking intelligent. I mean she’s literally top of the class academically. There is no reason for her to be so brilliant and also so bullheaded in her own quirk use. She shows us time and time again that she has brain power. Her quirk requires she be extremely intelligent in order to comprehend and apply molecular compounds in order to even sort of correctly use her quirk.

So it makes no sense that such simple solutions evade her constantly. Like I find it extremely hard to believe that Momo has never thought, “hmm I’m on the brink of death, maybe I should have eaten more” or “the last few battles left me weak, maybe I should find a solution or ask a teacher,” or even “man, my endurance isn’t all that great. I should work on that,” like anything along those lines would lead her intelligent brain to the conclusion that since whatever caloric intake she’s doing now is far to easy to burn through and perhaps the simple solution is to gain more fatty mass.

It honestly discounts Momo as a character if she’s constantly breaking down when such a simple solution is available to her. Plus on a more lighthearted note, it would be kind of great for Momo to be old money rich and plus sized. I mean it would be kind of ironically hilarious in my opinion.

Okay Bea, so what’s the point?

The point my friends is that female characters can be so much more. Especially Momo. There is always an opportunity for characters like Momo and Ochako (who’ll I’ll be breaking down next/soon) to have more substanse and impact to them than just being the second line of defense sexy characters.

Even in the actual universe that is BNHA, Momo as a hero student has far more potential than she is currently operating at.

Now, don’t get me wrong I understand that Horikoshi has a plateful of characters to deal with and Momo is probably on the bottom of the list, but it doesn’t mean we can’t imagine more for her. Because honestly it doesn’t even really matter if she changes for the better or not in canon, it’s the idea that there’s a character out there who all people can relate to whether it be average watchers/readers, plus size hopefuls, people with insecurities, readers/viewers who just like her quirk/design, or someone like me who saw a character and gravitated to the mostly relatable way she was written.

I love Momo as a character truly, she’s one of my favorites and I heavily associate with her. (Shocker I know, I mean she’s literally my icon that I painted myself) I am in no way tearing the character, franchise, or Horikoshi down. I am just observing what could have been (or could be but probably not) and pointing it out. So that maybe, just maybe, in the future there will be more characters who others can relate too. Other characters who are used at their full inspirational potential. But also, to point out some things that not only round out perspective on a character, but maybe even highlight how worth it it can be to look deeper into a characters through analysis. Hopefully I’ve done at least one of those things through this long post.

_____

Finally, thank you if you read this far into my gigantic breakdown.

Follow me if you don’t already and want too. If you do already follow me, please reblog so that others can read it if they want too.

I plan on doing more character breakdowns for BNHA, I’ve got a few already in the drafts and a cc if you have suggestions or questions. I also write fics for BNHA, so check out my AO3 link on my blog page for that. Also, you can bet your ass I’ll be writing a plus size Momo fic sometime soon. I’m really inspired on the topic (if you couldn’t tell already).

[makeste]

just another long rambling post trying to explain why I, a Bakugou fan, would treasonously want him to lose his quirk

this is something I had originally intended to post about later down the line, after we actually know for sure whether or not Bakugou is going to lose his quirk. but seeing as parts of this post (see: point #5) also indirectly address some issues that people had with the latest chapter (283) as well, I decided I might as well jump the gun.

this is a topic I’ve gotten a lot of asks about, and so I’ve tried to gather all of those various arguments into one single post with my own comments and rebuttals. however, the purpose of this post isn’t really to convince anyone or change anyone’s mind. it’s pretty much just an explanation of why I am so sold on the idea. I think it’s a little defensive at times, and I definitely feel like one of the side effects of getting asks like this...

...is that I feel compelled to explain that yes, as the veritable mountain of Bakuessays on this blog can attest to, I am in fact a Bakugou fan, and have not been standing here this whole time just waiting for the perfect moment to rip off my disguise revealing my secret “#1 Deku Stan!! BAKUGOU CAN SUCK IT” shirt underneath while cackling nefariously. like. just so we’re clear on that here.

I know I’ve said this repeatedly, but it’s precisely because I’m such an adamant fan of Bakugou that I’m excited over the story potential of him possibly becoming quirkless. as for why I keep bringing it up, honestly it’s mostly just because I keep getting the asks, lol. and so my options are basically to either say “ah you know what, you’ve convinced me,” or to keep trying to explain my reasoning at the risk of making everyone increasingly mad and/or bored.

anyway, so there are five arguments which I want to address, and they are as follows:

it’s repetitive/boring/we’ve already had the plotline of a prodigy student losing their quirk.

it cheapens Bakugou’s character development by directly “forcing” him to learn something, instead of him arriving at the conclusion on his own.

losing his quirk would put him on the back-burner, story-wise, and exclude him from further fights and story development.

Bakugou doesn’t need to learn anything more/there isn’t anything important Bakugou could learn by losing his quirk that he couldn’t learn in some other manner.

losing his quirk would mean him falling hopelessly behind Deku, and playing second fiddle to him when he should be Deku’s equal. it would render his whole story and all of his development meaningless.

before I get started, please be advised that this is a very long post. like, tragically long. idk I did my best to rein it in but it just got ramblier and ramblier sob anyways so here’s a cut.

okay!

1. it’s repetitive/boring/we’ve already had the plotline of a prodigy student losing their quirk.

have you ever heard people pose the argument that all of the good stories have already been told? the idea is basically that there’s no such thing as a truly original story anymore, because humankind has been telling stories for thousands of years and we’ve exhausted any and all original ideas by this point. the problem with this, though, is that it assumes that (1) stories must always be 100% completely original in order to be good, and (2) if the basic building blocks of two stories are the same, then those stories must basically be identical. which is very much not the case. classic story structures are classic for a reason. the best stories are based around themes and conflicts and story beats which have been reimagined in a million different ways, and which work precisely because they’re familiar, and because they still resonate with people each and every time. and each and every time, it’s still a different story, because even if the ideas and themes and even some of the emotions are the same, the people are different, and no two people’s stories will ever be exactly the same.

all of which is to say that firstly, just because someone has already lost their quirk doesn’t mean it’s not an interesting enough concept to explore again. but more importantly, Bakugou and Mirio are not the same person. Bakugou is a completely different character than Mirio, with a completely different personality and history, and completely different relationships with the other principal characters. in other words it is absolutely not the same story at all. Bakugou won’t react the same way as Mirio. he’s not a character who can be faded into the background like Mirio unfortunately was. and most importantly, he’s a character whose own personal history with the formerly quirkless main character makes this an extremely personal and compelling character arc which would hit in a vastly different way than Mirio’s. I don’t think it’s repetitive at all, any more than “the heroes fight the villains” is a repetitive plotline. basically this argument, which is subjective to begin with, just doesn’t hold any water to me, I’m sorry.

2. it cheapens Bakugou’s character development by directly “forcing” him to learn something instead of him arriving at the conclusion on his own.

okay there are two counterarguments that I want to make here. the first is that this has always been Bakugou’s character development process since day one. he has never simply just arrived at a zenlike conclusion on his own through stern self-reflection or anything like that. his entire story has been him learning and growing from one humbling experience after another. examples:

he stops bullying Deku after Deku saves his life.

he undergoes a huge shift in attitude after Deku beats him in their training fight on the second day of school. he eats a healthy serving of humble pie and listens to the constructive criticisms that Momo, Aizawa and the rest pile onto him afterwards, and the result is that he becomes less cocky and starts taking his training much more seriously.

he wins-but-loses to Todoroki in the school festival and it serves as a reminder that simply winning isn’t everything. being the best is meaningless if it’s handed to you. as a result his determination is fueled even more.

he is LITERALLY FORCED POINT-BLANK to work together with Deku in order to pass his final exam. he is dragged kicking and screaming. I can’t stress enough how completely unwilling he was to learn this lesson otherwise lmao. it’s abundantly clear that he would never have done this on his own had the lesson not been almost literally beaten into his own head.

his experience at Kamino -- being targeted because he was perceived as villainous, and feeling responsible for All Might’s retirement afterwards -- is perhaps the best example of how Katsuki takes a terrible experience and uses it to grow leaps and bounds as a person. he develops a new awareness of how his actions can potentially be perceived by others (a vital lesson if he ever hopes to make it to the top). and he’s profoundly humbled (I keep using that word, so I just want to pause a sec to clarify that I mean it not in a “humiliated and crushed” way, but in a “freedom from pride and arrogance” way; in other words this is ultimately a positive thing, even if it comes about in an unpleasant way) by the experience, enough so that he finally lets his walls of pride crumble enough to have his weirdly violent heart-to-heart with Deku. and as a result the two of them grow closer, and All Might sets him down the path of Win To Save and Save To Win. something which I feel compelled to note that he still had ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE ABOUT beforehand. this is another thing that literally had to be spelled out for him before he could grasp it. it’s very hard for me to conceive a way of somehow spinning this particular development, which is by far the most important in his arc to date, as being something he just “learned on his own.”

and I forgot to mention it, but him failing the provisional license exam also directly contributed to the character development mentioned above! that was what finally tipped him over the edge. even though he was reeling from everything that had happened at Kamino, he still had too much pride to actually open up to anyone about it until this second “loss” of sorts finally convinced him that he really was doing something terribly wrong, and pushed him to talk to Deku about it.

and that brings us to where we’re at currently! there are a few other things I didn’t mention, like Jeanist lecturing him on the meaning behind choosing a hero name, and his internship with Endeavor teaching him... something. tbd lol. but anyways my point here is that Bakugou has always been a character who learns chiefly through his mistakes and painful experiences. it’s extremely rare for him to just arrive at some new tidbit of enlightenment all on his own, and if it does, it often still originally stems from a past -- often painful -- experience. that’s just how he is. his stubbornness is one of my favorite things about him, but it’s also always hindered his growth to some extent, and has made it harder for him to change his viewpoint all on his own, even though he is to his credit very open to change once something finally does sink in. he’s someone who’s always trying to be better. it’s just that a lot of times he needs to be nudged and pushed in the right direction, particularly on those few occasions where the thing he has to learn is something that runs counter to his current viewpoint to such a degree that he’s resistant to learning it (see, again, working together with Deku in the final exam).

and that finally brings me to my second counterargument to this point, which is that I very strongly feel that having to learn something “directly” in this very blunt manner does not make it cheap. that actually comes off as a bit insulting to all of Bakugou’s previous character development if I’m being honest. his development isn’t cheapened just because something was harder for him to learn. he’s not less of a good person just because he had a harder struggle to learn those things, and needed help and guidance, and made mistakes along the way. I feel very strongly that people shouldn’t be judged on how they grow, or their reasons for that growth. that to me feels like gatekeeping the concept of being a good person. “Bakugou isn’t as good of a character because he only started saving others and caring about people after he got kidnapped.” like, come on. people grow through their experiences! that’s literally where all growth stems from, even growth that on the surface appears to be self-fueled and motivated. every single action, every single motivation, happens because at some point or other, that person experienced something that led to them thinking and feeling that way, and deciding to do that thing. we are the sum total of our experiences, I believe is how the saying goes. and that goes double for characters in a story, because watching them go through those experiences is how we the audience discover who these characters are.

anyway so this argument is also a miss from where I stand. if it takes losing his quirk for Bakugou to have an epiphany about true strength, and what truly makes a hero on the inside, then goddammit, good for him. that’s nothing to be ashamed of. in the end that’s still his hard-earned growth, and he’s not any lesser for having learned it through adversity instead of just stumbling upon the answer somewhere along the way.

3. losing his quirk would put him on the back-burner, story-wise, and exclude him from further fights and story development.

hard disagree here as well. losing his quirk would be the single biggest thing that ever happened to Bakugou. a development like that would almost demand we focus on it. perhaps not right away (just like we didn’t immediately focus on him right after Kamino), but it would be inevitable. in fact, I’d argue that Bakugou losing his quirk is one of the only ways to guarantee that the story puts his character development back at the forefront again at some point, and doesn’t just drop the plotline entirely in an “eh, good enough” manner. it’s a development that basically makes his character development the focus of the plot, instead of us only ever getting little side anecdote scenes of “slowly becoming less of an asshole” for the rest of the series. it’s character development on hard mode, to be sure, but the fact of the matter is that Bakugou is not the main character, and so his personal character journey is only going to make it back to the forefront of the story if and when something significant enough occurs so as to make it worthy of being a focus.

as for the other half of this argument, the thing to understand here is that “Kacchan loses his quirk” is NOT the beginning, middle, and end of that storyline all in one. it absolutely won’t be “welp too bad, guess you can’t be a hero after all” and that’s that. “Kacchan loses his quirk” is only the first act of a story arc that continues with “Kacchan struggles with the aftermath of losing his quirk”, and concludes with “Kacchan regains his quirk and reemerges stronger than ever.” how that will ultimately play out, I don’t know! Vestiges; Eri; OFA; the quirk-restoring bullets which the villains also had at some point unless I’m misremembering things; whatever! the key thing here is that I have faith that it will play out. every single argument you see here is in the context of me believing that the endgame here is not a loss for him, but a win. it’s actually the win, because if all goes well, he comes back stronger than ever because he’s finally done away with the one remaining thing that was holding him back -- that lingering unnecessary fear, insecurity, and pride that’s still at the root of so many of his actions even now.

which brings me to my next point.

4. Bakugou doesn’t need to learn anything more/there isn’t anything important Bakugou could learn by losing his quirk that he couldn’t learn in some other manner.

you’ve no doubt guessed it, but I once again disagree here lol. he definitely still has more to learn. Bakugou’s character development thus far has been extraordinary, but all the same, I still want more for him. I don’t think this is the best he’s capable of. his ceiling is much, much higher, and to say that this is as good as he gets is to underestimate him imo.

here’s an incomplete list of things that Bakugou, at present, is still clearly struggling with, numbered alphabetically so that I can explain afterwards how losing his quirk would address each one.

a.) he still obsessively compares his progress to Deku’s at every turn. we got a little bit of insight into his thought processes just recently in chapter 275, and it was extremely revealing. his rivalry with Deku has been a good thing thus far, but this is primarily because up until this point he has been able to keep pace with Deku. so much of his confidence and self-worth seems to hinge on this one specific thing which is notably outside his control, and that’s troubling to me. but more on that further down in a bit.

b.) he’s still incapable of admitting that he cares about people (which is endearing to be fair, but nonetheless indicates that he still views caring as a weakness, and is uncomfortable acknowledging or expressing it).

c.) he has not yet sorted out the problem of coming off as hostile, vulgar, and aggressive even when a situation necessitates him to be more cooperative. to put it plainly, he’s incapable of dialing back his personality even the slightest degree and as a result gets edited out of interviews and has his friends constantly scrambling to apologize and/or interpret for him. I know that a lot of people -- myself included -- actually adore this feral side of him and even consider it one of his most endearing traits, but still, the fact of the matter is that it’s not a good thing that he’s entirely incapable of even the slightest bit of emotional regulation. at some point he’s going to have to sort his shit out at least a little bit; even Endeavor and Mirko are capable of reining it in when it comes to dealing with the public at large and with the press. if he wants to reach the top ranks he still has a lot of growing to do here.

d.) he still thinks of his own worth purely in terms of physical strength. this is a big one. Katsuki has always defined his own world in terms of strength and weakness. “strong” is good; “weak” is bad. people who win are strong. people with quirks are strong. he has a good quirk so he’s strong. Deku doesn’t have a quirk so he shouldn’t be strong (which becomes a paradox and a source of great fear and confusion to him when he realizes on a deep subconscious level that Deku somehow is strong in spite of lacking a quirk). All Might is the best hero because he’s strong and never loses. he’s going to be even better than All Might, and he’ll do it by being strong and never losing.

except that these ideas are all limited, and limiting. physical strength is not the only kind of strength. All Might wasn’t the number one hero and the Symbol of Peace only because he was strong. Katsuki isn’t strong only because he has a good quirk. but he’s still stuck on this idea regardless, and everything he does, everything he is is defined by this idea. even now, with everything he’s learned, he’s still stuck in this limited perspective. and the very obvious problem with that is that it places him in a precarious emotional position where if he ever actually loses, or something happens to strip that physical strength of his away, his entire core of self-worth stands to fall apart as a result. he’s put all his eggs in that basket. and it’s the source of all of his insecurity, and it’s a weakness that’s just waiting to be exploited, and which is holding him back from discovering and acknowledging so many other good things about himself.

e.) and last but not least we’ve got what is by far his biggest current failing (and I say not to put him down, but rather in that same spirit of “learning to acknowledge your own weaknesses” which he himself has so readily embraced), which is that he is still only focused on himself. mind you, I’m not saying that he’s a bad person, or that he doesn’t care about other people! but I am saying that he is self-centered, and that’s just a fact, and I would defy anyone to try and argue otherwise tbh. he is constantly and completely focused only on his own goals. and on top of that he also has great difficulty seeing things from any perspective other than his own, which has been the cause of numerous clashes and misunderstandings with other people, some more disastrous than others (see: that one time he thought Deku must be looking down on him because he couldn’t conceive of a situation where anyone would actually want to accept help from someone else, rather than being self-sufficient, and thus assumed that Deku’s attempt to help him was in fact an insult). he casts himself in the role of the main character, and dismisses most everyone else as “extras.” and it took him an extraordinarily long time to learn the importance of learning from and helping other people (and again, this was something which had to be explicitly spelled out for him. I’ll say it again and again if I have to, because it’s so important in understanding where Bakugou is coming from and what his mindset is in all of this. he had to have it spelled out, because it was genuinely something which wouldn’t have occurred to him otherwise, because it’s so alien to everything he grew up believing up till that point, and because he has so much difficulty seeing other perspectives).

and again, I’m not saying this to dump on him or imply that he doesn’t care! because he does; we’ve seen that demonstrated on multiple occasions. he has compassion for others. he wants to do the right thing and he wants to be a good person, and he tries very hard in his own way. but he is nonetheless still stuck in his own perspective. he struggles with empathy and being able to see from other people’s points of view. and that is a huge barrier to his becoming the greatest hero of all time, and it’s probably the most difficult barrier to overcome. the behavior is something he can and has been chipping away at little by little, but the root causes of the behavior are still there.

anyway. so now that I’ve said all of that, which probably could have been its own essay in and of itself, how would losing his quirk do anything to address these issues? so let’s now break that down point by point as well, using the same alphabetical numbering system as before. I’m skipping the first one because I’ll address it further down, so we’ll start with b.

b.) it makes him more vulnerable in that it’s a huge blow to his pride. how is that a good thing you ask? because pride is always a double-edged sword. the downside is that losing it hurts his self-esteem (but more on that in a sec), but the upside is it opens him up more to accepting kindness from other people, and allowing himself to express kindness and caring himself in return. pride is almost always the biggest obstacle in doing that. so the short of this is that it could lead to us seeing a more open, willingly vulnerable side to him that would strengthen his relationships and serve him well in the long run.

c.) in a similar vein, the ego check would probably help to address some of his emotional instability as well. a not-insignificant chunk of his tactless exterior is basically just a projection; a tough guy persona he’s constructed over the years as part of his neverending quest to be strong. there’s also a fair amount of insecurity (interpreting everything other people say in the worst way possible and reacting with defensive hostility), arrogance/boastfulness, and fear of vulnerability (aka weakness) mixed in as well. so I could see the whole experience leading to a softening of his personality. in my ideal world this would mostly be just temporary, with his usual Bakuattitude gradually being restored piece by piece as his soul searching adventures wear on and he starts acting like his old self more and more. but I do think that in the end, the loss of that insecurity in particular would go a long way towards helping him gain the ability to chill out just a little bit more when the situation calls for it.

d.) it strips him of that physical strength he’s depended on and defined himself by his whole life. sometimes we need to lose something in order to see and appreciate the other things we take for granted or don’t even realize that we have. Katsuki has so many other qualities that make him a good person and a great hero. he’s intelligent, perceptive, brave, resourceful, and extraordinarily determined. he’s strategic and analytical and quick-thinking. he inspires devotion in others and is a natural leader. and he is honest and sticks to his principles and stands up for his beliefs. there is so much more to admire about him than just strength. so many other kinds of strength that he has. and stripping his quirk away would force him to see that at long last. he’s not just a nobody without his power. the things that make him a worthy hero at his core have very little to do with his quirk.

e.) and then the big one -- learning to see past himself. the truth is that Bakugou has always led a relatively privileged life. he was good at everything, the things he wanted came very easily to him, and he’s basically been at the top of the food chain since he was very young. but the downside of this is that it led to a deep-seeded fear of losing all of that, or failing to live up to it. and because he feared weakness so much, he’s spent his entire life looking down on weaker people. his fear of weakness led to him despising anyone with those “weak” qualities that he secretly feared, rather than having compassion for them. add to that the fact that he just has a hard time seeing outside of his own perspective, and we’ve got a situation in which perhaps the only way for him to really gain that kind of compassion and empathy is to experience some of these things for himself.

becoming quirkless is a way of presenting new challenges to him that he would have never faced otherwise. it forces him to answer questions he’s always been too afraid to ask. it forces him to look at himself in a way he never has before, to take a good long look at his own fears and desires. what if you can’t become the number one hero? do you just give up? do you stop trying? do you stubbornly push back against the inevitable? what happens if you do become weak? do you just accept that for the rest of your life? just sit back and watch as everyone else moves on without you? how can you fight without a quirk? what can you do without a quirk? why did you want to become a hero in the first place? why did you seek out strength? what was it for? why do you struggle with everything you have to reach the very top??

and I’d like to think that some of the answers to those questions are, yes, I am still strong. and, no, I can’t give up. and, no, I won’t accept defeat, no matter what. and, I’m not sure, but no matter what happens I’ll keep on fighting. and, because the person I admired taught me to never, ever give up. and, because I wanted to surpass my limits. and, because I want to be the best version of myself.

and that is growth. and it’s precisely the kind of growth you can’t achieve until you’ve searched deep within yourself and laid your soul out bare. and it will make him a better character, and a better hero in the end. and that’s what we’re all here for isn’t it? that’s literally what this story is about. the journey of these kids growing up to become spectacular heroes. so, just, I don’t know. is it really such a great surprise that I want to see it?

anyways, this was by far the longest of these answers and this post is really starting to wear on, so let’s just get to the last one and wrap this up.

5. losing his quirk would mean him falling hopelessly behind Deku, and playing second fiddle to him when he should be Deku’s equal. it would render his whole story and all of his development meaningless.

okay, listen. first of all, this argument often comes bundled with a whole host of other arguments about Bakugou’s relationship with Deku, and how the narrative has already given him numerous other “losses” to Deku, and how this would just be the latest and greatest loss of all. and I’m just going to say it straight up: this argument is ridiculous to me. actually, what it reminds me of is the very same flawed mindset that Bakugou himself has which I mentioned earlier (the forgotten point 4.a), where he is obsessed with comparing his progress to Deku’s at all times, and only considers himself a success if he beats out Deku. the idea here is basically that Bakugou and Deku are running along parallel tracks with the same end goal/finish line of becoming a hero. and so if Deku gets too far ahead and starts lapping Bakugou or something, then it’s like a slap in the face with regard to all of Bakugou’s hard work, and it makes Bakugou’s whole journey pointless because no matter what, he’ll never be able to catch up, especially if he loses his quirk, which is like the metaphorical equivalent of him spraining his ankle.

the thing is, this entire analogy is flawed. first of all, if Bakugou doesn’t sprain his ankle at some point, he'll miss out on discovering and healing a separate underlying injury that’s been unknowingly hampering his progress this entire time. and second, the race isn’t timed. it’s more like an infinite series of races where the finish line is never actually set in stone, because the finish line isn’t actually “beat the other person”; the finish line is “run as fast and as far as you possibly can, and do it in a better way than anyone has ever done before, and while you’re at it maybe stop and save a few million people, because being the best runner isn’t actually about being faster than each other, even though that admittedly makes this a pretty crappy analogy.” anyways though, so what this means is that the sheer magnitude and scale of this race is such that little victories and losses here and there are ultimately meaningless in the big picture. maybe Bakugou sprains his ankle. maybe Deku breaks an arm or two or three or four. maybe someone shows up at some point and starts uprooting the entire track all around them and they have to put the whole race aside for the time being, because what the fuck. and maybe after spraining his ankle, Bakugou eventually comes zooming back ahead on a segway. and maybe Deku stops running for a while without Bakugou there, because he loses sight of his goal without his rival there to keep him on pace.

but anyway! the point is that declaring a winner and loser in this race before we reach the end is kind of absurd in that it ignores the whole nature of the race and how long-term it is. you see the beauty of the race is that it’s actually the opposite of footraces in real life. in this race, the longer the two of them run, the faster and stronger they become. and this same logic applies to any hurdles which are placed in their lanes along the way. the goal of these hurdles isn’t to trick or punish or humiliate them; it’s to help them get even faster and stronger and ultimately closer to their goal. and also, tbh? it’s a long, long race you guys. and so sometimes, as a fan, you almost start to want to see those hurdles. because otherwise it’s just a lot of endless running and running and running. so yeah, go ahead and throw in a damn hurdle or two and some traffic cones and maybe even a long jump here and there. because that’s part of what makes the thing great to watch in the first place.

and I don’t care whether or not Deku is ahead right now, because I also love Deku too by the way, and because I’m not invested in prematurely declaring a winner. and if Bakugou himself gets upset that Deku is ahead? if Deku pulling ahead of him is enough to send him spiraling into despair, and questioning everything about his life, and losing hope and purpose? well then honestly I would say that’s all the more reason for him to go on and get that new character development, because I don’t want him to always be hindered by those kind of toxic thoughts his entire life. their rivalry should serve to make each other better, not bring each other down. so if Bakugou’s ego is still so fragile that he can’t handle a loss to Deku -- a loss, mind you, not the loss, because ultimately these are all just little battles, and not the actual war -- then I want him to grow the fuck up and get the fuck over that, goddammit. he’s a bigger person than that. I want him to grow beyond that. I want him to develop the real, actual confidence that allows him to bounce back from something like that, and to move on better and wiser and stronger, instead of getting dragged down by the pettiness of it all.

in short, if losing to Deku would really be enough to render his story meaningless, then maybe it’s time for Bakugou to find some meaning in his story that’s not dependent on him winning or losing to Deku. because I for one am not actually in this thing just to see which character “wins.” I couldn’t care less who actually wins. I just want to see my boy grow up big and strong and self-actualized, the better to kick ass without anything holding him back. that’s it.

so this brings me at last to the end of this seemingly neverending post. I have no doubt this won’t be the last of my quirkless!Bakugou debate posts in spite of me trying to comprehensively address every single point I could think of lol. but for now it’s my best attempt. and by the way, if it doesn’t actually happen, that’s fine! I love the idea, but I’m not gonna go full on “oh happy dagger” with it if it doesn’t actually pan out lol. the downside is it will mean that I’ve posted this entire 5600-word dissertation for nothing, but you know what, sometimes that’s just how fandom goes.

[shozaii]

Can I request todoroki x reader where he fails his exam in season 3 and goes to the girl for comfort even tho he’s really angsty, sad and mad

(a/n): oooo! this is definitely another challenging scenario to write! i’m really sorry this took a very long time, but i really hope i did my best!! thank you for your request, anon! <333🤍✨✨

this fic is also inspired from pretty boy by the neighborhood. 

masterlist.

------------------------

worth taking.

pairing: todoroki x fem! reader

another day, another new mission accomplished in your path in becoming a hero. you had to admit, it was definitely a new kind of experience; taking a whole new step as a first year in the glorious academy you were in. your parents would be proud. your friends looked relieved and happy at the same time. the girls in your class decided to have a really good nap of success. 

they even discussed about it right after they received their results. you smiled as you were crushed into a victorious group hug, with some already shedding tears of gratitude and happiness. how could they not? the endless amount of training, the support given to them during their tough times, the blood, sweat and tears all for this very day, determining their flawless win.

you smiled, holding your results in hand. with the same amount of enthusiasm, you decided to land your eyes on your lover. what did he get? surely it was going to be a number so high, it would make your jaw drop. he has grown so much over the past few months - thanks to his green-haired cinnamon roll of a friend. 

but the moment you took a good look at shoto, your sweet smile melted into a frown. a look of concern. all you saw was a dark, ominous aura emitting from him. his face was redder than ever, and one hand was clenching the results, while the other was balled up into a fist, grabbing hold of the side of his warmly pressed clothing.

his lips were now in an uncomfortable squirm. was that really him? what was going on? did he get someone else’s results? you even checked yours to make sure your name was listed on the paper you held. it was. so what about his?

you noticed two of your classmates - also his greatest friends - iida and midoriya, giving him a word or so. noticing that, you relaxed your tensed shoulders a bit more. when he also heard of the 3 month course, you begun to see even more changes. 

“todoroki failed the test?”

“no way! one of the best students in our class! what happened?”

“bakugou too! can someone tell me what’s going on?”

that explained your confusion under one second, but also started to falter your excitement. no; it didn’t drain you - but instead, it hurt you. to think that your boyfriend failed the test which of course, was terribly difficult. then again, had you really expected this? 

todoroki shoto, the same person who has inspired you to do so much more than ever, to go past your limits, resulting in today. it’s never wrong for someone whom you admired to fail, but by the end of the day, their sadness and anguish would be pain at its worst form.

what was making it worse was that he did not seem to try and look back at you. he constantly avoided you. it’s not like you didn’t try to talk to him, either. you were willing to wait for as long as it takes to actually say a word or two. but when you did get the chance, and when you did try to go for it;

“hey, sho-,”

“let’s go home before it gets late,” he said, picking up the pace in his footsteps.

you felt the sky above your head slowly beginning to catch fire. none of this was right.

you didn’t know what to feel either - if it was a sign of defeat, or was it just him not wanting to share his results, or maybe you did something earlier that made him really angry? okay, the last thought is just complete nuisance. neither of you have done anything to make one another angry. even if that happened, it was agreed to be very straightforward and direct with both of your feelings.

which was why, right here and right now, you couldn’t stop thinking of the same thing over and over. your eyes were tired, your mouth ran dry, and your sweat trickled down your forehead.

maybe i should check up on him, this could be my only chance.

seconds after you patted your bed, you heard soft knocks on your room door. weird. maybe one of the girls woke up, and they wanted to talk about how he behaved weird, because who hasn’t noticed anyway?

“shoto?”

“y/n.”

nothing was said no more, as he walked right into your arms. you tumbled a few steps back; you definitely were expecting a long, cozy hug, but not the kind of hug where you would feel him shaking. the burst of emotions you saw in him earlier, it all came down into one long embrace. 

and so you decided to maintain the silence. this wasn’t just the time yet. right now, it was time for you to cherish this, for you to actually take it in. let him take a breather because that’s exactly what he needed as you felt his warm, shaky breaths slither against your skin.

closing the door, you brought him to your bed, now claiming yourself as the bigger spoon. you left soft, smooth pats on his dual colored hair, proceeding to place a kiss on top of it. there it was, a fresh smell of his favorite fuji green tea shampoo.

as soon as you knew it, shoto was already laying on your lap, with his eyes closed. his chest rose up and down better, and his bangs were pushed back with your fingers.

“feeling better, love?” you asked, your other hand intertwining in his. 

“somewhat better. though i really don’t know what to say anymore.”

“that’s okay, take all the time you need.”

a few more minutes of silence passed by, with his body now returning to a calmer stance. he showed no sign of sitting up, but you didn’t mind either. you would never want the pretty boy, with his aura finally taking a full redemption phase, ready to take its toll before anything else were to ever happen. 

and so, he took in deep breaths.

“i know we promised to talk to each other.”

“mhm. here we are, sho.”

“who knew i would make such a huge mistake? i never knew i would be reminded of the past, i didn’t want to fail, either. i wanted to get my license and- just- i hate this, y/n. i just wish i could do so much better.”

“shoto. hey, look at me.

“do you realize how much of a blessing it is, for them to take you on a course, just to correct you for whatever you’ve done?”

“.....you think so?”

“sometimes it all takes time for the sweet, sweet smell of victory. besides, we’re all here to give you support. i’m always here, too. i have to admit, a part of me was worried you didn’t want to talk to me any longer.”

“no...i just, didn’t want you to see me that way.”

“sho... no. never. you’re still the same person, fail or win. why would i ever think of doing that? don’t you ever think that i will think bad of you, or would try and put you down. because you, shoto, are one of the best people i have ever met, and you’ve constantly inspired me to do better. keep doing what you gotta do. keep making your dreams come true.”

shoto’s hetero-chromatic eyes now looked like glass, the turquoise and gray colors glowing with new hope, and new sparks of life. and as they slowly met your (e/c) ones, you couldn’t help but smile, with how brightened up he looked.

“i can do this.”

“you can definitely do this, i have no doubt whatsoever.”

he sat up a little more, pecking your cheek. “and i’ll prove it to you too.”

you felt your face burning hot. “of....of course, love.”

------------------------

(a/n): asnkdjd here it is! i do hope you enjoy the read🥺 i just realized it’s been forever since i posted a todoroki x reader fic hhhhh

[wolfcrunch]

Endeavor?? Best written character?? you have to be fucking with me (but honestly why do you think that?)

he’s not the best written, but one of - I’d absolutely have to put Endeavor in the Top 10 out of all the current characters. some might even argue he’d be Top 5, but I’d leave that to personal interpretation.

Now before I go into it, I’m gonna say this so its loud and clear - Endeavor’s actions in no shape or form were right. When I’m talking about why I think he is one of Horikoshi’s best written characters, I’m not forgetting all the abuse he put his family through, because it would make me a hypocrite if I didn’t acknowledge his character beforehand.

Endeavor, when he is first introduced to the series, is shown as this…arrogant, hot-headed, rude hero who seems to only really be in it for the position. To show people that he holds a lot of power. To show people that he is one of the strongest there is out there. He is shown as intimidating - given the flames that often surround his face and shoulders as a design choice. He seems to have no need for fan service, and even seems to despise it.

Endeavor seems to only want to fight. Like he is there for the fame.

We see how much he has harmed and damaged his family multiple times throughout the series - he physically hurt his children and wife, as well as emotionally damaging her until she snapped, hurting their youngest son. Endeavor made his children suffer through a childhood of pain - all for a goal that they seemed to have no want to fulfilling for him. All so Endeavor would feel the satisfaction of taking down All Might from the number 1 position.

Except that never happens. All Might fights All For One, and is forced to retire, now rendered quirkless. Endeavor never gets that satisfaction from taking his rival down.

He’s now forced to take the number 1 position, and in turn is forced to face what he has done to his own family, finally being able to see now that he no longer is blindsided by All Might. He’s forced to see the damage that he himself has cause, the pain and suffering and hardships he has brought among them. He has no choice but to face it.

Now in a lot of media - at least, media I have read that have a somewhat similar character, characters like this tend to follow the same two trends.

You have the character that sticks to their old ways, or gets worse, or is killed off before any further character development really has the chance to happen.

You have the character who gets better or redeemed, but this isn’t shown within the series itself, and you never really see why or how they could be forgiven. Their personal journey is never shown.

With Endeavor, however…it deviates. You get this awful character who has done awful things…he sees his actions. He sees what he’s done. His family is very much the evidence of that…and he decides that he wants to change.

And we, as readers, get to see that change slowly unfold. And it isn’t just about what he wishes to do for his family, either.

We see it begin during the Provisional License Exam, he comes to see how Shouto does, but during that time, he sits down with All Might of all people.

All Might, the very hero he had fought to overtake, but just never could on terms of his own strength.

He sits down with All Might, the Symbol of Peace, and asks exactly what that means. For someone like Endeavor, to sit down and ask for advice?

It shows he wishes to improve as a hero, as well. And I think this is very important, because Endeavor is such a prideful, full-of-himself hero at the start. Yet here he is, now number 1 (although unofficially at that time), asking just what it means to be that hero. Just what it means to…take on his huge mantle that All Might has left behind. Boots that, even now, Endeavor can’t fill.

And he starts to change. And it isn’t hidden behind us going to the main characters - we are given an opportunity to experience for ourselves how Endeavor has started down this new path. He is given part of the spotlight.

We see how his mind lingers on what he’s done, and how he knows he can’t be forgiven. He openly admits that he doesn’t deserve the forgiveness of his family, he knows it is the last thing they should be giving him. He doesn’t want their forgiveness, really, and he isn’t going to force it from them. 

Endeavor is trying to…atone for his sins, I suppose, by doing all that he can now, in the moment. Now, this can never erase the past, but the fact that a character like this has acknowledged it as such and doesn’t expect his family, his children to forgive him is a big step for his character, because it goes against the Endeavor we knew at the start of the series.

And his children’s reactions make it even moreso, as we see three very different reactions.

Fuyumi wishes to be able to have a full family.

Natsuo hates Endeavor, especially considering whatever happened to Touya, and places the blame fully on Endeavor.

Shouto, who Endeavor seems to be reaching out to the most, sees him as two different people. He acknowledges that while Endeavor is a good hero…Enji is not a good father.

Endeavor doesn’t try to convince them. He doesn’t try to force them to see him as a good person. He accepts it, and wishes for them to watch him improve.

He goes even further - even after Natsuo’s several confrontations with Endeavor, even after the outright disaster any family meal he has with them seems…he decides to release any rein he has left on them.

And despite all of this - despite this seeming to paint Endeavor in a better light, Horikoshi never lets us forget what he’s done himself. He writes the Todoroki children’s reactions in a realistic manner. He constantly calls back, or flashbacks to Endeavor’s previous handling and “training” of his children. He never lets us forget what this Endeavor did in the past, because no matter how much he changes the way he handles everything, they are the same person.

Horikoshi doesn’t want us to outright forgive Endeavor, because he acknowledges that its something he doesn’t deserve. That its something he can’t just have - Endeavor has to earn it.

He’s set Endeavor up in such a way with the story that we just know this is going to backfire, too. Very likely at the expense of what happened to his oldest child, and - if the theory is true - what is now Touya’s current identity. Endeavor has been set up, taking this mantle much too big from All Might, and he has been set up for an eventual failure. To eventually have a downfall, to possibly have his crimes exposed.

And it will be one of the very things that helps crumble civilians already shaky fate in heroes. It will inevitably show Endeavor in his “true colours” despite how he’s come to try and make himself better for his and his family’s sake. It will set Endeavor, himself back, depending on what is revealed, and it will possibly be something that ruins him.

It will turn the tables, and everything Endeavor has tried to move past will come rushing back, it will bubble over, and no matter how much he tries to lessen the damage, there is only so much he can do. He will finally experience just what he’s put his family through, and it will be well deserved.

I don’t think Endeavor is one of the best written characters because of his change of heart, not because he’s now tried to change himself, because that can never take away what he’s already done. I think he’s one of the best written characters because of the way Horikoshi has woven his character and his actions into the story, and how it has slowly been building up, piece by piece, for the inevitable to happen. Because Endeavor’s past will come back to bite him in the ass - it’s just a matter of how, when and who. It’s just a matter of how much he can take.

Because he won’t get away freely from the past.

You don’t have to like a character to acknowledge that they’re well written, hell you can even hate him and its completely understandable. But Horikoshi has handled his character in such a different light than to what I see happen with these character types. And I cannot wait to see how Horikoshi further pushes him.

Endeavor has been set up to fall down from grace…and that is so, so much more satisfying than killing him off outright, or keeping him the same.

[katsukikitten]

Something Immortal

You lie awake on the eve of your sixteenth birthday. Left arm held up, illuminated in the soft moonlight revealing nothing but a bare forearm.

A forearm that will soon be marred with a hint to whom you are destined to search for until the end of time.

Rising, falling and rising again just to find this special person until you're lucky enough to both be living at the same time.

Least we forget the same region and even then what of the same age?

Surely a forty year old with a fifteen year old would be frowned upon no matter their label.

It would be much more acceptable to reset yourself should your marking show up black or even worse not at all.

But even so each lifetime the two of you were meant to grow to support one another. No matter your age, time or region, and especially so if you've never met.

Your forearm held the key to find your soulmate.

The word in of itself gave you mixed feelings, especially so when many people had died young, wanting to reset in hopes of being born closer to their mate.

But did one really *need* someone else to complete them?

Did the universe really need to unveil the mystery of the fated red string by placing it on everyone's forearm for all to see?

By an ever changing line acting more as an eerie mood ring than anything else.

Showing you through a thick line what the current emotional state of your soulmate was.

Golden like the sun for happiness. Sky blue for calm, content, deep blue for sadness/depression. Burning red for anger, orange for pain, grey for apathetic and black.

Well black was either they were in deep sleep, unable to present an emotion to you or they just passed or died in the past decade.

All changing in intensity the closer or further you got from them. Brighter and more vibrant the closer one got to their destined other half.

And that was if by some fucking chance your soulmate was even living at the exact moment you turned sixteen. Some appeared much later in life and some never appeared at all. Bare skin leaving those people broken, with little hope for love.

Or for them to cling to one another in a desperate attempt at SOMETHING, often leading to toxic, damning relationships doomed from the beginning.

Hell there were even horror stories of finding your soulmate. Of the two of you being born out of tune or during a period in which you both must learn a hard lesson putting the two of you through a toxic dynamic even if it was destined.

But that wouldn't be you as you counted down the seconds.

Praying to Kamisama above that no line would ever appear on your forearm. Leaving it a blank canvas, hinting at the freedom you so wished for.

Because to be a slave to a what if sounded worse than a lifetime of solitude.

Kamisama does not bless you as an angry red line slashes across your skin, raising it into a welt before it settles back in.

As if it had always belonged there. The color was of average intensity hinting you were either in the same city or the same country as no one was really sure of the math involved.

You heaved heavy breathes as rage poured into your veins like molten lava before you steel yourself. Turning to your side table where a flathead screwdriver sat over a three wick candle. The metal a bright orange as you pick it up, with it the power to put fate into your own hands.

Or so you hoped as you pressed the hot metal over the banded skin grinding your teeth as you did.

Pressing until it bubbled up beneath the heat, trundles of smoke wafting a putrid smell of burning flesh into the air until you could take the sear no more.

You move the screwdriver away, satisfied to see the band overshadowed by a bright red burn.

Your pained yet satisfied smile falters when your forearm begins to glow again, healing itself as once burnt flesh scars a ghastly pink over your indicator.

Leaving a faint glow that struggles to show deep blue and burning red at the same time.

You swallow thickly, settling for the fact that you have some semblance of control over your fate.

At least now that your fate bound tattoo is veiled beneath a thick pink scar that desperately tries to distort and disguise that damned band.

××××××××××××

"Transfer?!" Exasperation leaks from you like a dam threatening to burst, "What do you mean transfer?!"

"Transfer. You know move from one place to another?" He flicks an agitated wrist allowing a holographic dictionary page appear in the air. You swat at the knowledge gnat angrily.

"Yea I know what that fucking means!"

"Language." He growls but as always it dies on deaf ears. The room hums, electricity, wind and sun light all thurming through your veins. Pleading to be absorbed and reformed.

Instead you clench your fists harder.

"So what does that mean for me?" You slam your open palm against your chest a bit dramatically. He rolls his eyes as smooth hands begin to pack your things too.

"It means you're coming with me. You're a minor. Musutafu has more qualified and diverse hero schools just as it has a more diverse job market for my own quirk. What did you plan to do here? Monopolize the hero market and demand a high wage?"

"That's *exactly* what I was going to do!" Nails gnaw into callused palms, "I'm already in demand here."

"Against what? An occasional drunk? Y/N, there is no future for us here. We need to succeed for...." He clears his throat as you watch his fragile shoulders dip with the weight of it all. Of endless knowledge and still having no way to bring them back.

"I haven't even put in any transfer papers or taken any exams. The semester starts soon."

"I've done the transfer papers for you. Your exam is at the end of the week. I've applied you to UA. You're a shoe in for sure. That viral video that kid shot of you already had over 1,463,890 views and counting." The very video he speaks of appears as the definition of transfer did before. You swat this away as well with burning cheeks just before you pull the lighting from the storm and reform it into several different shapes before allowing it to escape in the form of a cat.

"You're just gonna transfer me at the end of my second year?!"

"Yes, now is the perfect time. They will get you all caught up there. A provisional license, an internship. Real guidance on your quirk." He says it all nonchalant. As if he weren't packing away the baby pictures of you and himself from the wall.

Or delicately wrapping up the shrine set our for what was supposed to be the two biggest supporters of your life.

As if he wasn't packing up your entire life in under the span of three hours.

You watch your dream of living a low profile with high pay in some almost off the grid town get stuffed into another grimy cardboard box.

"You're my big brother. You're supposed to support my dreams!" A scream rips up your throat as the lights flicker in the room.

"Well I'm not just your big brother any more Y/N, I'm your guardian. Whether you like it or not we ARE leaving and that's final. So go blow off some steam before the house implodes and when you come back. Pack. Your. Stuff."

You had never slammed a door harder in your life. Rushing towards the river as a summer storm begins to roll in. Lightening crackling on it's own across the sky as you run your left hand through your hair.

Eyes catching that fucking line peaking out beneath the burn, hardly ever changing from that damned red.

You were sure your mark reflected that of your soulmate's own, hinting that the both of you may be suspended in your own personal hells.

Good let them suffer as deeply as you do. Nails pick at the old scar subconsciously reopening just for it to close again long before the blood beneath your nails has a chance to harden.

The pain gives you focus as you close your eyes, breathing slowly and deeply.

Exhaling as the storm brings itself to a head.

Time seems to slow, almost freeze as you see with your minds eye the energy converting into something else all together.

Of the weight of the water finally to heavy from the clouds. Giving in to the call of gravity as if it were the song of a siren.

Of the negative charge calling to the positive, demanding, begging for it to come down to kiss if even for the fleeting moment of a second.

Nature calls to nature much like the undeniable bond that throbs on your arm.

Particles reach out towards the heavens as your hair slowly begins to stand on your goosed skin.

Your eyes snap open as your blood thrums through your veins, the lightening above targeted straight on your now out reached hand.

Power flows through you freely, overwhelmingly slow, threatening to fray every nerve you have should you not give this all of your focus.

Should you not release it, reshape it before you lose the battle.

Your left comes to meet your right before you make a fluid step, bringing your left down and straight out.

Lightening surges from your finger tips across the wide as it is ancient river. Branching out to kiss the heads of white rafts.

With each strike you bend the lightening to your will as if it were a simple dance. Reshaping the blinding blue and golden strikes into forest creatures that dart around the ground until they meet their end.

The movements take a lot of focus and brain power, sweat beads along your brow as your mind finally is numbed to your worries.

Still one gnawed at the back of your mind, clawing at the obsidian walls you thought you placed up. Whispering in a voice so distorted it was if they were speaking with gravel in their throat.

More people meant more chances of finding your souls mate.

Or worse yet your soul mate finding you.

The thought shakes you to your core, bringing down your wall as all of the possibilities flood the forefront of your mind.

Lightening strikes before you can sense it, you barely have enough time to react redirecting it into a deadly, much over powered strike across the river hitting a large electrical elk you created.

The sound it makes is just the composition of energy, still it echoes in your head as more of a scream then anything.

Before your own nerves on your right hand demand attention.

Having been struck without your mind in the proper place to absorb, your fingertips the only thing damaged but still the scars are there.

Foreign purple veins branch out in jagged directions, like a lightening strike just beneath your skin.

Giving a deadly reminder as to why you can never avoid to lose focus over something as trivial as a soulmate.

[babyredriot]

Todoroki for ‘You make me feel like I’m on fire’ please?

Butterflies on Fire

I’m so sorry this took me so long, my school work piled up because I have horrible time management, but here it is! I really like it, hope you do too! 

Word Count: 2281

Todoroki couldn’t help the way that his eyes would travel to you in a room. He couldn’t help the way his whole face would light aflame at the sight of you wearing your hero costume. The fabric hugging your curves in an almost sinful way. You two had grown up with each other for the most part, growing up together meant watching each other… change. He had watched you turn from cute innocent to a grown adult, and a hot one at that. You made his mind go wild anytime that you were in a five-foot radius of him. His thoughts would be riddled with the things he would like to not only do to you but do with you. 

Needless to say, being paired with you for a project in your third year, was something that he was sure was karma for something horrible he had done. How was he supposed to focus on anything to do with school when he was in the presence of someone as hot and intelligent as you? He would be able to get himself together if it were someone who had just one of those qualities, but considering that you had both and you could keep a conversation going with him, he felt like he was doomed. 

You two had been friends ever since your first year since you had become quick friends with Midoriya. He was a friend by extension at first, and then Todoroki became someone that you were very used to being around. The feeling was mutual as Todoroki had been comfortable around few people his whole life. You were one of the few that he was. Of course, this just added to the feelings that had grown in him when he had started to notice all of the little things about you. The way you: talked, cared about everyone else above yourself,  worked so passionately, and there yourself into any project you were given made him crazy about you. You slowly became someone that Shoto held on a pedestal. In a way, you inspired him to continue to work as hard as you did every day. He remembered the first time that your drive made him work even harder than he already had been. It was when everyone was working on their ultimate moves in class. Todoroki found himself working hard like everyone else, but every so often his attention would be dragged towards the grunts that would come out of your mouth. His younger self had wondered what was causing you to work so tirelessly on this one move. He observed from afar as you repeated your ultimate move over and over trying to perfect every little thing. Your quirk manipulated the atoms in the air around you. Allowing you to make certain areas around you denser, which could be used to your advantage for kinds of weapons. Todoroki watched as you tried to reach further away from your body with your quirk, stretching the area it effected to the extreme, bringing it back into your body only to push back out again with your arms. He was curious to what your end goal was, and when he saw the mastered version of it, he was not disappointed in the slightest.

At your provisional licensing exam he watched at you used your quirk to whip people with balls in the beginning portion. You were able to reach the atoms ten to fifteen feet away from you now, making you able to make an air whip. He watched as you cracked a boys shoulder with one of your balls, not even getting within arms reach of him. At this sight, he felt his body fill with an emotion he was not that familiar with. It felt warm in his chest and pushed up into his throat. Almost like he was driven by your actions and how you moved. He pondered over it as he went through his own motions to pass the exam. Was it pride for his friend that he was feeling? No. He had felt prideful for being Midoriya’s friend before and that did not feel like this. Had your actions set something off inside of him? He wasn’t sure, but he knew the next time he saw you, he was going to tell you just how incredible your ultimate move was.

He had wanted to talk to his mom about the feelings he was staring to have, but he did not want to bring something into her life that may not be there in the long run. So instead, he talked to Midoriya about it. The boy had gotten a tinge of pink to his cheeks when Todoroki spilled his emotions on display in from of him. Midoriya was not used to th heterochromatic eyed boy opening up to him this much. He was glad that he did, he had begun to notice how the two of you would act around one another. Not that Midoriya was oblivious enough to tell Todoroki flat out how you felt, instead he decided to help his friend through his emotions.

“It sounds like you have feelings for Y/N, Todoroki-kun, does it feel like you have little fluttering things in your stomach?” Midoriya picked at his food in front of him as he stared at his friend who was chewing his soba.

“What you mean like butterflies? Those things that Mina always talks about whenever she sees someone handsome?” Midoriya nodded at Todoroki’s comment. “I guess it feels like that, except it’s more. She makes me feel almost overly-excited. Almost like I have Butterflies that are on fire.” Todoroki poked at his food as he thought about the analogy. The butterflies in his stomach were there whenever he saw you, but had spread and were all over his body now anytime you got close to him. They crawled into his throat making it hot, and lit his chest aflame any time you would laugh. He would feel like he had ran a mile anytime you stared at him long enough. Everything put him on edge, in a good way, whenever you were around. Midoriya seemed to understand his friends words as he say you and Uraraka make your way over to the table with Iida tailing you both. He just hoped that one day Todoroki felt solid enough in himself that he was able to tell you exactly how he felt.

Unluckily enough for Todorki, he hadn’t gotten the chance to tell you until today. You both had been extremely busy with building your own careers over the years that any kind of alone time together could not be sought. Instead, focusing on how your friend group was seemed to take precedent any time there was time to spare. So, when you had been paired together to work on one of your final projects, an explanation on different hero tactics and how they worked, Shoto felt his cheeks go aflame. He cursed himself when he kept his eyes focused on his desk, feeling your eyes go to him once your names were called together. He could picture how you were looking at him, gorgeous, with your hand under your chin while beaming at him with all of the friendliness in the world. He was finally getting his moment alone with you. He needed to do something about it, if it wouldn’t happen know, then when? He most likely wouldn’t see you for awhile after graduation as you two got settled in new agencies. He had to do it now.

Sitting across from you now and watching as you explained a tactic to him, he felt that same feeling that had become a constant since that hopeless day in the licensing exam. You had chosen Mount Lady as the Pro-Hero the two of you would focus on. He had no problem with that, as long as he did not have to dedicate his night to watching his father fight, he didn’t care who you picked. He observed you as you intently watched Mount Lady swiping her giant leg out to stop a giant villain. He wasn’t watching the screen with half of the intensity as to how he was watching you. Your eyes crinkled in thought as you wondered how to reason a sentence on the report. He wanted to brush his hand out and touch your cheek, smoothing the wrinkles next to your eyes under his thumb, but instead he sat on his hands and commented on a grammar error you had made.

You nudged him playfully as he had been quiet for a number of minutes. “Todoroki, if I wouldn’t know any better I would think you were asleep, with how quiet your being. I mean normally your quiet, but today something seems to be bothering you. Are you okay?” Your eyes tried to search his, hoping that all of his secrets would come undone with your scrutinizing gaze. Your feelings for Todoroki had grown over the years, but with how reserved he had always been in his advances towards you, you figured he never wanted to pass friendship.

Todoroki met your eyes, letting a puff of hair come out of his mouth, ruffling his bangs a little. The different colored sides stuck out in two different directions, making you giggle. You felt yourself moving before you could even process what you were doing. You saw your arm move, then your fingers. Reaching them out to bring the strands back together to mix on his forehead. You couldn’t stop yourself. You knew he frozen under your touch the moment that your hand touched his forehead. So you quickly brought your hand back to lay next to your body and sent him an apologizing gaze.

“I’m sorry.” You said trying to think of any excuse you could make up, to no avail. He finally got composure over himself again and let his lips quirk up in a small smile. He wasn’t used to your touch on his face. it sent his whole body aflame. He felt his hear racing as he reached his own hand out and held it between his two much larger ones.

‘It’s okay, I just wasn’t expecting that.” You smiled a small smile at the new contact and felt your cheeks begin to warm up.

“Really though, Todoroki-kun, are you okay?’

“Please, I’ve told you it’s okay, call me Shoto.” He said feeling even more distant from you as you used his surname. You looked down at your hand, still wrapped around his and felt your smile grow wider.

“Shoto. Whats wrong?”

Todorki knew that it was now or never. He had put it off for too long. All of the times where he imagined this confession piled in front of him. The ways he would tell you how you made him feel and how much you meant to him. How you would react, how he would frame his face so you could see how much you truly meant to him. When push came to shove though, he couldn’t get any of those words out. He just felt the feeling bubble inside of his chest. The burning lapping at his heart and up his throat. Climbing higher and higher until it reached his ears. He felt them get hotter, no doubt a blush forming on his face already from the heat. He could only imagine how hot the left side of his body was becoming. The fire within him was building, making his blood feel like it was boiling. He still couldn’t string a rational sentence together though. Instead in his time of need, when he needed to use his words the most, he said the most obvious statement he think he would ever utter. “You make me feel like I’m on fire.”

Your eyes fluttered in confusion at that statement. Your brows furrowed as you thought over what he had just said. “Like in embarrassment? Oh Todo, I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I mean I know my crush on you may be annoying but I never meant to embarrass you. You mean the world to me and you should know how much you mean to me, but if that embarrasses you then I prom-“ Todoroki had put his hand over your mouth. His heterochromatic eyes had lit aflame with your sputtered out words. You thought that he was embarrassed of you? That was ridiculous. He couldn’t be anything but, and- wait- you had a crush on him? He felt the notion rush through his mind that you liked him back as he felt an almost uncharacteristic wide smile light up his face.

“You could never embarrass me Y/N. You inspire me. You make me proud to work towards being a hero. I was driven by hatred for my father, but then I got to know you more and knew that being a hero is a respectable profession. You’ve taught me how to trust and love again. I like you to Y/N. I should’ve  said something when I knew, but I was a dumb sixteen year old then.” Todoroki went on his own rant as you stared up at him with wide eyes. He felt your smile grow under his hand with every word he said. When he had finally stopped going in circles with apologies for not expelling himself better you finally peeled his hand off of your face.

“Well Shoto, better late than never.” You said as you grasped his hands in both of yours now. He smiled down at you with that dorky wide smile and felt the fire return to his face, this time, with even more butterflies.

[bokunohero-writings]

44 with sero pls?

Yes yes yes! I love Sero and writing for him makes me so happy sol I’ll gladly do so!!!! I am so excited to do this thanks for the request!!

Prompt: “Is that my shirt?” 

Sero Hanta

_____________________________________

The sun tiredly rose, and though the shutters of the curtain you could see the light slowly beginning to pour into the room, making the warm orange and brown tones giving off a peaceful aura. The citrus smell of the lemongrass plant next to the bed only accentuated by the burning of incense which could only mean that Sero was already awake. Still, you turned around with the false hope of seeing him lying next to you, searching for his presence only to find empty space beside you. You sat down on the edge of the mattress and rubbed your eyes, adjusting to the morning showers of gold. 

The week had been pretty uneventful, it was already Friday and your friends of class 1A had been unbelievably busy due to the training they had to undergo in order to be able to get their provisional licenses. You were proud of the effort that was put onto their improvement, however you couldn’t help but miss the shenanigans they always managed to pull you into. Most of all you couldn’t help but miss spending time with Sero, maybe that is what coerced  you to escape to his room in the middle of the night, lying next to his sleeping form only to feel him pull you close to his body before drifting away.

Your eyes focused on a paper lying on the desk next to a neat pile of notebooks, you stretched your arms out before standing up and grabbing the quickly scribbled note. You smiled as you noticed a messy sketch of your boyfriend, he was making a kissy face while winking, you could just imagine him sending you a kiss from across the room.

Morning gorgeous I am sorry I could not stay any longer, but I didn’t want to wake you up. Thanks for staying with me tonight It was super sweet! Even if you do drool when you sleep. 

Signed: Number one hero and number one in your heart 

You chuckled lightly, but still you couldn’t help but feel like something was missing, you just hoped the two of you could be together soon. Your eyes scanned the room around you, all seemed too much familiar by now; the get toghethers with his friends, the dinner dates and the late nights lying on the hammock laughing together about nothing and everything all the same; heart warming up at the thought. Your eyes landed on the open drawers of his chest, and just then you noticed how he had actually left in a rush, his pijama shorts lying on the hammock and shutters half open. 

You decided to help him organize a bit, not that the room was an utter mess but you just knew he’s arrive tired after training and you could only imagine how the last thing he would like to do was tidy up. Making the bed and letting the light in were the first chores you finished, only to fix his drawers at last. You folded his shorts neatly and stuffed them on the topmost drawer. Just as you were about to close the one he had left open you stared at the piece of clothing that was lying on the top, a cream colored shirt with yellow accents on the bottom and collar, and short bell style sleeves that ended just above the elbow for obvious reasons. He had been wearing it yesterday, you could recall seeing it on the floor next to the bed just before you made yourself comfortable. Hesitating only a little you grabbed the shirt and pressed it close to your nose, confirming that it was still soaked by his scent, tangy orange and smoky cinnamon incense. 

You slipped it over your shoulders, the collar wide enough to wear it one shoulder off, and then you put a pair of black jeans on. Stepping in front of the mirror you were glad to notice that you could pull it off as one of your shirts and maybe no one would notice but you, which is exactly what you were looking for. A whiff of his scent reaching your nose once more, making your beam as you closed the door that led to his room.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Sero wiped a bead of sweat that was running down his forehead as he slipped on his usual white shirt, stuffing the hero outfit inside his locker. He let out a huff of air before smiling and turning his neck just enough for it to crack, then stretching his hands up.

“You done?” Denki elbowed him on the side, making him cough. 

“Yeah! Just a little rattled up after today, sure it was productive! I did managed some pretty impressive tactics if I do say so myself”  He wiggles his eyebrows at his blonde haired friends 

“What do you mean today? The whole week has been exhausting!” Kaminari huffed, slinging his bag over one shoulder. 

“I know! But hey I can defenetely see everyone improving, I know we will kick the provisional licence exam’s ass!” 

The two boys left the building, and it had just come to notice that there was still some time before the sun began to set, meaning that they had been excuse earlier than usual.

“Time really does feel different inside doesn’t it?” Kaminari spoke, not noticing that his friend had fallen behind, smiling seemingly at nothing.

“Hey Denki! I’ll see you later, or maybe tomorrow, if Aizawa comes to the dorms tell him I’m already asleep!” The boy shouted to his friend who had now one eyebrow cocked watching as Sero ran off waving. He chuckled, shrugging, knowing fully well where his friend was headed with such excitement.

“Sure thing!” 

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Sero hadn’t noticed how tall the dorm buildings truly were, and maybe he was entirely too tired already to pull off the stunt he had planned without hurting himself. He wanted to surprise you, as you had been absolutely the best, helping him out and showing him support the last few weeks in which he had been admittedly absent  due to hero work. 

Now there he was, sitting on the edge of your building, just a few floors above your window. He wanted to drop by and spend some time with you, but he wanted to make it special, make you happy, hell, he might even hear your beautiful laugh. 

The thought of him making you smile filled him with the courage needed, he stood up and bracing himself he walked off the edge backwards, the inicial pull of gravity making his heart slightly somersault as it usually did. Swiftly he managed to shoot tape just a little over the edge, and he stretched his legs to land sideways on the wall, barely missing the first window, had he stepped on it he would be sent flying inside a stangers room. He smiled triumphantly, abseiling down your building before stopping right outside your window. 

A loud thud distracted you from your homework, you furrowed your brows thinking it might have been an unfortunate bird at your window, but when you turned your head to check your heat stopped at the sight of someone outside. 

Your heartbeat was fast and you felt a chill down your back, but as the feet dropped down you could now recognise a very familiar boy right outside your room. You walked over, thoroughly confused, and Sero waved at you when he noticed you approach him. 

You let your shoulders relax and immediately your frown turned into a smile, and you let out a chuckle as you thew open the window, pulling your boyfriend inside. 

Sero fell in your carpet, almost gracefully, almost, as he lost balance and ended up lying on the floor. However before he could stand you sat on lay on top of him, pressing soft kisses on his cheeks before sitting on his stomach. 

“You scared me you goof!” 

“You seem pretty happy about it tho” He chuckled, looking at you with adoring eyes, right then and there he could swear you were the prettiest thing he had ever seen, and the way your eyes sparkled as you smile just took his breath away. Suddenly he furrowed his brows as he inspected your outfit and he couldn’t even attempt to hide the cocky smile that was now plastered on his face.

“Is that my shirt?” He asked, recognising it as the one he had just been wearing the day before, which only meant you had been strolling about your day wearing something that was so obviously his. 

“It is...sorry, I just missed you” You felt slight heat on your cheeks at him noticing and the way he looked at you, with such love, only helped to get you all flustered up even more. 

“I like it...I love you” He chuckled

“I love you too, Hanta”

[tamakiamajikistentacles]

Stay Safe {Eijirou Kirishima}

She had woken up to a text from her boyfriend timestamped way too early in the morning.

"Work study needs the big guns! won't have my phone most of the day but I'll call you when I'm on my way back to the dorms. Have a good day in class and take great notes for me to copy"

Smiling, she typed back assurances of his capabilities and a request for his safety, the red heart emoji ending her message.

It wasn't too out of the ordinary for him to be leaving for his work study earlier than she left for class, but it had never been that early. Usually he was also late coming back to the dorms, so a lot of their interactions lately were either quick kisses good morning or good night depending.

The best days, though, were the days he didn't need to go into Fat Gum's agency and sat in class just like her. Those were the days she'd come to love because they got to see each other from dawn until hours after dusk; they could eat all three meals together, study together, curl up together in one of their dorms and just talk.

She was so happy for him when he began his work study and her pride shone on her face each time it was mentioned because he was barreling his way onto the hero scene at a breakneck speed. And God, did she love to see him advancing towards his dream.

With a sigh, she rose from her bed and set about getting ready for her day of classes.

School dragged heavily as it usually did when Kirishima wasn't around for lessons. She managed, of course, but days were so much brighter with the redhead to bridge the social gaps between classmates.

The class was smaller lately with several of the work study students out on concurrent days. Study groups formed shrank down to more manageable numbers in the evenings too.

It was after her own study group with Mina, Sero, and Kaminari was finished that she made her way up to her dorm room, the elevator doors parting and allowing her to trudge past Uraraka's room to her own.

She bent down to set her messenger bag next to her desk and straightened to open her laptop, allowing it time to boot up as she began her nighttime routine. All the while she was hyper aware of her phone's silence.

Once finished with brushing her teeth and hair, washing her face, and changing into her pajamas, she came back to her desk and sat down to work on her literature essay for Cementoss' class. It was due to be turned in on Monday so being half done on Thursday night was decent progress. Her goal was to be finished by Friday night so that her weekend was relatively free to spend with her friends and boyfriend since the weather was forecasted to be beautiful.

The hands on the clock ticked closer to double digits and the sound of Bakugo returning from his provisional license remedial course, cursing the time because of the sleep he would be losing, were all that she heard as she typed. Here and there the elevator would let out a ding or the occasional door would be heard opening and closing but as the moon rose higher in the sky, her phone remained quiet.

It was later than when he usually returned, and part of her was worried that he was overworking himself with the early start and late return, but he was his own person and she knew he would push himself to the ends of the earth to fulfill his dream of becoming a pro hero. Still, she would look out for his wellbeing regardless.

As it stood, she needed to look out for her own interests for the time being. With roughly one more page left to finish for her literature essay, she saved her work and turned off her laptop, the charging cord securely in place as she left it to power up overnight. She crawled into bed after flicking off her overhead light and grabbed her phone from her bedside table to tap out a quick message to her boyfriend.

“I hate that I didn’t get to see you today but I know you’re working hard out there with Fat Gum and Amajiki. Get some sleep once you’re back and I’ll see you as soon as I can Red Riot”

She made sure her ringer was set high enough to wake her from sleep and set it back on her nightstand, curling into her blankets in hopes that her text alert would go off sooner rather than later.

So it was with both sadness and worry that the next sound she heard from her phone was her morning alarm. With no contact from Kirishima, still, after over 24 hours, she felt a knot begin to form in her stomach.

Though it seemed that none of the work study students had been seen since the night before last either. Dorm neighbors confirmed that none of them had returned to their rooms at all during the night and speculation started to run rampant throughout the entirety of the class.

It wasn’t until 9:30 when she was sitting in Present Mic’s English class next to Mina that some light was shed.

Mr. Aizawa had not been in homeroom for the second day in a row, All Might taking his place as a substitute to go over more information in regards to their provisional hero licenses and an upcoming exam review. Aizawa’s absence was of course questioned but only the reply of “assisting with an important matter” was given.

Now Present Mic’s normally boisterous personality was dulled in a way that mirrored her own, worry and some confusion being read on his face as he stumbled through a lesson on adjectives. This had also been questioned—albeit more quietly—but before anything further could be said, the class was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Principal Nezu accompanied by Hound Dog came into the room and pulled Mic aside, Hound Dog observing the students until his gaze landed on her. Her brows furrowed before shooting up in surprise as a loud “WHAT?!” came from their teacher. Mic hurried from the room and Nezu turned to address the class.

“Good morning students!” he said cheerily, one paw lifted in a wave. “I must apologize for interrupting, but you see, Present Mic has a personal matter to attend to and will not be overseeing classes for the rest of the day. I do ask that you use your remaining class time productively as a sort of study hall due to the circumstances.”

Confused muttering rose from the students as a few of them grouped together to work on other assignments. Just as she began to turn towards Mina, Nezu called her name and advised she bring her belongings with a gesture to follow him.

“Yes, sir?” she asked hesitantly, fiddling with the strap of her bag.

“Once again, I do apologize for interrupting your class, however the matter that calls Present Mic away does the same to you,” he began as they walked down the hallway towards Hound Dog’s office.

She frowned. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“That is to be expected,” the principal mused as they entered the office and took their seats. “You are in a relationship with Eijirou Kirishima, am I correct?” At her nod, he continued, “Mr. Kirishima’s work study has involved him with the rescue of a young girl held captive by the Shie Hassaikai sect of the Yakuza. This operation began yesterday at approximately 8:30am and concluded just a short time ago at 9:15 this morning. While successful, the raid did leave several injured heroes, of which Mr. Kirishima was one of them. I imagine what I’m saying is extremely disconcerting, but I can assure you that he is alive and expected by preliminary examinations to make a full recovery.”

Owlish eyes blinked back at him, unfocused.

Hound Dog sighed sympathetically, the sound coming out as more of a snuffle as he reached across his desk to gently pat her hands where they sat clasped loosely on her lap.

“Of course, Hound Dog is here to provide any necessary guidance services that you may need, howe-“

“Can I see him?” she interrupted in a hoarse whisper. “Can I see Eijirou? Which hospital is he being taken to?”

Nezu smiled and extended his paws out over his head. “Why of course! I was just about to offer you the opportunity to accompany All Might, Present Mic, and myself to the hospital. Would you like to take your things to your dorm room or take them with you?”

“I’ll give them to Mina, she can drop it off during her break.”

“Very well, please meet us at the main gate and we shall visit our heroes, hm?”

She stood, bowing to the men in front of her. “Thank you both for informing me of the situation. I’m extremely grateful.”

Once she left the office, she hurried back to the English classroom to drop her things off with Mina, all the while her thoughts blurred between what the principal had told her and pure panic at the thought of the state in which she would find her boyfriend when she finally got to see him.

As she reached the classroom she scanned over her fellow students, noting the absence of Mina, Sero, and Kaminari, the three friends more than likely taking their now free time to hit the vending machines near one of the student lounges.

She laid a hand against the doorframe with a defeated sigh, her eyes closing tightly as they started to burn with the threat of overwhelmed tears.

“Hey.”

The gruff voice made her open her eyes, seeing Bakugo looking at her from his seat near the doorway, the noise of the other students purely static behind him.

“Was it about Kirishima?” he asked, crimson eyes locked with hers. His tone of voice implied that he knew the answer already.

She nodded, biting her lip. “He’s- I need to go to him, and I wanted to ask Mina to- I didn’t want to take my things-“

“Your dorm locked?” he interrupted, and she shook her head. “Leave your shit with me and I’ll drop it in your room. I’m on the same floor so it’s not a big deal.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, placing her bag at the foot of his desk.

He clicked his tongue and looked away from her. “Go see your shitty boyfriend.”

A tiny smile curled on her lips as she took one last glance to the ash blonde before heading out to the front of the school, joining the staff members at the main gate where a car was waiting to take them to their destination.

By the time they reached the hospital, it was nearly eleven. Her fingers were fidgeting with the sleeve of her blazer the entire ride and the nervous action refused to let up as she walked the secured corridors with her school’s staff members. The strong smell of antiseptics did nothing to calm the churning of her stomach the deeper into the current hero ward they ventured.

So many heroes were in different rooms being treated with various injuries, some grouped up speaking in low voices of what their role in the raid had been and others unconscious in beds they passed. It was overwhelming how large the operation had been, and yet not a single word had been said to anyone until it was over.

Her mind wandered to contemplating where her boyfriend was, worry sitting heavily in her chest at what state she would find him in when she got to him.

“Go ahead, Mic,” she heard Principal Nezu say, and she looked up in time to see Present Mic dart into one of the rooms on their right. As she passed by, she saw Mic clinging to Aizawa and noticed that, for once, he was speaking in a tone so soft that his words could not be heard.

Feeling as though she were intruding on a private moment, she looked away.

A moment later, All Might also broke off to hurriedly enter a room shrouded by curtains that came nearly to the linoleum floor. She could just make out Recovery Girl’s cane through the gap, and she hoped that good news would be found within the room.

She turned to ask Nezu if her boyfriend’s parents had been informed and if they were also in the hospital, but before the words could form on her tongue, a tall blonde man stepped up to the both of them, a Sukiya takeout bag in his hands.

“Principal Nezu!” he greeted. “It’s great to see you again, sir! I gotta tell ya, these students of yours are on track to be some amazing pros!”

“Ah, Fat Gum, it’s wonderful to see you as well! I’m happy to hear that our efforts to train the next generation of heroes are indeed paying off. In fact, I am accompanied by another of our students in the hero course, who is also the significant other of Red Riot.”

She introduced herself politely, feeling awkward at meeting one of the more well-known heroes in the area and the sensei of her boyfriend.

“Great to meet you!” Fat Gum said happily. “Kirishima’s told Amajiki and I so much about you during patrols, it’s great to put a face to the name! He was a huge asset during this operation, and he has so much to be proud of; he’s truly proved himself to be worthy of following in Crimson Riot’s footsteps. Without him, I don’t think I would be standing here talking to you.”

Warmth spread through her, a sense of pride in the man she was lucky enough to call hers.

“I’m sure you’re eager to see him—he’s down in room 22 on the right. Just to warn you, he’s pretty beat up, but he’s gonna be just fine!”

“Thank you so much!” she said, bowing slightly before rushing down the corridor until she came to the plaque reading 22 with “E. Kirishima” listed right below it.

She turned into the room, her steps hesitant as she took in the sight of the bandaged redhead laid on the bed staring out the window.

“Eijirou?”

He let out a quiet gasp before turning towards her, eyes wide with surprise at seeing her in front of him. Slowly, his lips curled into a smile, and he held out a hand towards her.

“Babe, I’m so glad to see you!”

She moved to his bedside and gingerly took his outstretched hand between the both of hers, sitting down in the chair to his left. Her thumb stroked the back of his hand as her eyes trailed over the bandages across his broad chest and the length of his arms. Even his handsome face had taken damage with gauze taped to his right cheek amongst other scratches and bits of dirt.

“Hey, I’m alright,” he said softly, squeezing her hand. “Don’t look so sad, okay? I’m really sorry I worried you.”

She rolled her lips into her mouth. “Honestly, I was worried when I didn’t hear from you last night and my stomach’s been in knots since Nezu told me you were hurt… but I’m so happy that you’re alright. I’m not upset, Ei, I’m actually really really proud of you.”

His lips parted in surprise. “Proud?”

“Yes, proud,” she chuckled. “On my way to your room I ran into Fat Gum who told me that you were a huge part of the raid and that because of you, he was still standing. He said that you’ve got so much to be proud of, and I know that he’s right when he says you’re going to be an amazing pro hero one day.”

Her boyfriend blushed and averted his eyes to look down at the cream-colored blanket over his legs.

“I like that I can make you blush,” she said with a small smile.

“I like that you can, too,” he murmured, raising his gaze to her once again. “I’m really glad that this mission went as well as it did. We saved a little girl, you know? She’s… she’s only six, and they were taking her blood so that they could use her quirk to make a drug that permanently takes away someone’s quirk. Lemillion… they told me that he was hit with the drug.”

She frowned, her grip on his hands tightening. The fact that the little girl was safe was absolutely amazing and gave her more cause to persevere in her pursuit of a pro hero’s license to help others just like her. But on the other hand, the idea that Mirio Togata could no longer live that dream after nearly completing his time at UA was devastating.

Another thought that sent a chill down her spine was what if Eijirou had been hit with the drug instead? If the enemy had gotten the shot in before he had activated his quirk, Red Riot would have been over before he truly began. The thought alone made her feel sick to her stomach—to think that the boy she had watched become a man wouldn’t have been able to live out his ideals on the world’s stage… God, she couldn’t even picture it.

“I’m so happy you came back to me in one piece,” she finally said, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. “Not sure I could’ve handled it if you were banged up worse than this.”

“I’m Red Riot, babe!” he said brightly, sharp smile reassuring. “It wouldn’t be very manly of me to make you worry and then be too hurt to comfort you! I’ve gotta stay safe so I can come back to you, after all.”

She giggled, feeling the apples of her cheeks flushed with the absolute adoration she felt for the redhead in front of her.

“Let’s get you healed so we can get back to Heights Alliance, yeah?” she suggested. “Everyone’s going to want to hear about your mission, but once they do, I get you all to myself, got it? We’ll have two days of cuddles to make up for by then.”

“Yes ma’am,” he grinned, moving towards her.

She leaned forward in the plastic chair, one of her hands lifting to run through his hair before coming down to cup his unbandaged cheek. Her lips pressed against his easily, each of them relaxing into the contact they’d been deprived of for over a day and a half.

Kirishima felt relief at being able to kiss her again. Throughout the raid he had worried that his spirit would truly break and he would lose her, or that he wouldn’t make it out of the underground maze they had been trapped in and she would be pulled from class once his own body was recovered. He had been terrified for either outcome because of the emotional connection he felt to her. He wanted to scream out that it was love, that he had found the girl of his dreams in high school and that five months in he knew she was the only one for him. But there was hesitance that it was too soon to say such monumental words.

Had he not made it through the mission, though, she would never have known how he felt about her.

Pulling apart, they lazily opened their eyes to look at one another once again. Her hand on his cheek moved back up to run through his hair, now limp from the worn gel he had used over a day ago to spike it up.

“Babe?” he whispered.

She hummed. “What is it, Eiji?”

His heart thundered in his chest as he prepared to tell her the three words he felt he should’ve said ages ago.

“I-“

“Kirishima, I’m so sorry it’s taken me so long to get in to see you, my dear boy.”

They both turned to see Recovery Girl coming into the room with Fat Gum behind her, this time holding a curry rice dish from Matsuya and looking plumper than he had when she first saw him in the hallway.

Her hand fell from his hair and returned to his, her gaze coming back to his eyes, questioning.

Kirishima smiled softly, giving her hands a squeeze. “We’ll talk about it when we get back to the dorms tonight.”

[gastricpierrot]

Title: Heartbeat

Series: Promare

Pairing: GaloLio

Rating: T

Summary:

Lio turns himself in after the final battle, the start of a new life he must get used to.

This is a story of how Lio Fotia navigates through the days that follow, learns that support comes in more forms than he’s ever familiar with, and deals with his alarmingly developing feelings for Galo Thymos.

Also on AO3

[Prologue][Chapter 1][Chapter 2][Chapter 3][Chapter 4][Chapter 5]

[Chapter 6]

Lio’s new roommates are pretty normal upon a first impression.

Gueira and Meis are assigned to different rooms as well; perhaps it is done on purpose to encourage them to mingle around with others. At any rate, Lio’s not too bothered. As long as he’s staying with people who know how to respect boundaries and keep their mess to themselves, he’s got no complaints.

The enrollment day of fire training isn’t too eventful. They're made to sit through hours of briefings once they report in and leave their belongings in their rooms, they’re given tours across the facility. It doesn’t take long for the excited faces around Lio to slowly dim as boredom and exhaustion set in. Lio finds himself stifling some yawns of his own and suppressing a growing tinge of annoyance. The main instructor in charge of their orientation is trying too hard, speaking too loud, and being too obnoxious. There really isn’t a need to project such a forced image of toughness just to convince them that their regimen would be grueling; Lio’s sure everyone who’s signed up and passed the physical screenings are fully aware of what they’re getting themselves into.

He diligently sits through the entire program nonetheless, even making sure to take notes when necessary. Their daily schedule begins at six in the morning and ends at five in the evening. Classes are interspersed between physical training, lessons consisting of the basics and the theoretical sides of firefighting and rescue work. Trainees are allowed to eventually choose from a handful of electives as well, mainly on mission strategy, Gear piloting, and equipment maintenance. Their eligibility to choose between streams are dependent on their scores for each screening test segment.

Lio didn’t struggle too much on the written exams—those lessons during his detention did end up helping him—but he must admit to have ran into some troubles during the physical ones. He’s a bit stiffer compared to a few years back, his reaction time seems to be slightly slower than he remembers. His muscle strength and endurance seem to have improved from all the time spent doing community service, though, but Lio personally isn’t happy with how he can’t seem to pull off more explosive movements like he used to easily.  

It frustrates him, not being able to move the way he did when he’s just a little younger. It makes him wonder just how much had he depended on the Promare, and how much of his abilities then had been his own prowess.

He forces himself not to think too much about it. All he has to do is train harder if he’s that unsatisfied with his physical capabilities. He no longer has the luxury of moping around.

Lio’s enrolled into the FDPP’s academy under special circumstances, with the help of Galo and his team captain vouching for him. His expenses are covered through a grant—a scholarship of sorts. Everything he needs while training is supplied to him free of charge as long as he meets the performance standards expected of him. He's to take up extra lessons to earn his driver’s license on Sundays, the only full free day given to trainees. Lio knows he wouldn’t have the time and energy to think of unnecessary matters.

His day ends with a simple meal with his brothers at the dorm cafeteria. Gueira and Meis offer to keep him company for just a while longer, but Lio’s had enough social interaction for the day. He itches for a shower, eager to finally catch his breath and settle down to the music of a rhythm game.

Until he remembers he’s not with his usual source of music. And he still doesn’t own a phone yet.

Lio spends his entire time in the shower stall wondering how he should pass the night.

When he returns to his room later, the atmosphere there is...odd, to say the least. All three of his roommates are there, seemingly have been talking fervently among themselves when Lio enters. They stare at him intently, and he stares back, raising an eyebrow in question.

Two of them then turn away to exchange gazes among themselves, and they leave the room without another word. Lio doesn’t pay mind to any of it, stepping aside to make way. They're not the first ones who gradually recognized who he is and stared. Lio’s already ignored a dozen frowns directed at him from the older trainees and even some of the instructors. People are going to judge his decision based on his past as a Burnish, it can’t be helped. What's important that he himself maintains a clear grasp of his own goals and motivations.

“You’re the Burnish leader, Lio Fotia.”

Lio regards his remaining roommate, a boy several years younger than himself. What he senses from him isn’t the animosity he’s used to dealing with whenever someone remembers who he used to be, but rather a buzz of...excitement? Lio can no longer see where this conversation would go.

“I was,” he answers evenly, confusion growing when the boy looks at him even more starry-eyed.

“I knew it!! I thought you looked familiar when I saw you this morning!” his roommate hypes, and at this point Lio’s thought process has completely crashed. The boy then extends his hand towards him, face red. “I really!! Admire you!!”

Now this is really not within expectations.

“I’m?? Honored??” Lio hesitantly shakes, half wondering if this kid has somehow jumbled up his figures of admiration. “But can I ask, whatever for?”

His roommate retracts his hand and cradles it close, looking like he’s decided he’s never going to wash it ever again. “Um?? I just think you’re really cool!!! Fighting for your people like that!!” He then seems to abruptly notice his own intensity and grows embarrassed, averting his gaze and rubbing his nose with the joint of his finger.

“Sorry, I was still kinda young when I read about you on the news so maybe I’m still influenced by my past naivety,” he says, sullen before he perks up again. “But I still think you’re amazing, though!! Especially when you turned yourself in, my respect for you really skyrocketed when that happened!”

“It’s honestly nothing to be admired for,” Lio protests weakly, also getting sheepish as the conversation progresses. He's truly not used to receiving such genuine sentiments from strangers, much less from someone who wasn’t once Burnish themselves. “It was just something I thought I had to do.”

“It’s because you were willing to take responsibility that I’m so impressed!” His roommate insists. “You owned up even though the things you’ve done have been largely circumstantial. And that’s right after you saved the world! That must’ve taken a lot of pride and courage.”

“It really wasn’t—” Lio begins but is immediately cut off with a louder “It is!!! Incredible in my eyes!! Please at the very least accept my appreciation!!”

And what else can he do other than try not to get even more flustered and mutter a thank you? He really is too helpless in the face of people who aggressively throw praises at him like this.

“And another thing!!” The boy continues, and holy heck this kid is even more of a hurricane than Galo, Lio couldn’t help but think as he only blinks and lets himself be swept away by the flow. “How close are you to Galo Thymos??”

This, though, Lio’s expected to hear at least once while he’s here. Galo’s the super rookie of his team when he first started, the hero of Promepolis within a mere few years of being in service. With the sheer amount of merchandise Lio has stumbled upon while he wandered the streets and peeked into shops, he doesn’t doubt there’s at least one person in fire training who looks up to him. He's basically the local celebrity!

“We’re friends,” Lio answers, not one to reveal more unnecessary information that may cause troublesome misunderstandings. He figures if he mentions about being housemates with Galo for a bit the poor guy would lose his mind.

Sure enough, just knowing that they’re still in contact with each other almost sends his roommate into a fit. He makes an odd noise at the back of his throat, face growing redder with excitement.

“What kind!! Of a person is he???”

And for a moment, Lio’s stumped. It’s not a question he can answer as offhandedly as before. Galo...isn’t someone who could be summarized within a handful of words. Lio is certain that he’s yet to see many more sides of him; parts of him he may like, parts of him he may not. There’s still so much more to know, so much more to learn about.

“He’s as you see him on TV.” Lio makes his way to the bottom bunk he’d called dips on, taking a seat at the edge of his mattress. “Loud, obnoxious. Confident.”

He doesn’t notice how his tone softens as he goes on.

“He’s dumb, but not stupid. He's got an annoying habit of butting into people’s business, always trying to help even when it’s got nothing to do with him.”

He’s selfless, ambitious. He’s a nerd for his interests. He cooks well and keeps his home surprisingly tidy. He eats too much pizza for his own good. He’s too reckless for his own good.

“You seem really fond of him,” Lio’s told in the end. His roommate seems bemused, like he realized he’s accidentally stumbled upon something a bit too private. Lio ponders over his words for a moment. Well, yeah. He is fond of him. Otherwise he wouldn’t spend quite so much time with him, now would he?

“He’s been really good to me,” Lio says, hugging his elbows. “I hope to make it all up to him one day.”

“I’m sure you will!” His roommate assures, and he only smiles slightly in response.

“I’ll do my best.”

They engage in a little more small talk before Lio excuses himself, climbing on fully onto his bed and pulling the curtains shut. He lies on his side, pillow in his arms. Breathe in deeply, then out. Over and over.

He didn’t think he still remembers how to feel homesick.

xXx

The hardest part about fire training is arguably having to wake up at five in the morning to compete for the washrooms and shove breakfast down his throat within an hour.

Apart from that, though? Lio would say he’s doing pretty good. Physical training is tough, but he doesn’t think it’d kill him. He's used to physically demanding construction work, being almost constantly at it for five years. His current regimen might make use of completely different sets of muscles, but Lio’s long learnt to pace himself well and to avoid thinking of doing things like it’s a competition.

Most trainees seem to have been athletes as far as he can tell, all having the physiques one would expect to need for fire training. This also means that the younger ones in particular, are keen on showing off to one another throughout the first few days. Rivalries are declared and coarse encouragements are exchanged, and Lio can’t help marveling at how carefree youths could be, to treat job training like it’s some sort of social activity. They'll be stuck together for the next three months or so; he supposes it probably is worth building rapport among each other for the long term.

Speaking of rapport, Lio discovers the reason why his two other roommates left the room after a single look at him the night before. It turns out that they were trying to decide if Lio really is the Mad Burnish Lio, and upon finding out that he is and that the remaining guy is a huge fan, they just didn’t bother staying behind to watch him fanboy. It’s truly something Lio could never have imagined, but it’s nice to know that not every non-Burnish who recognizes him hates his guts. As insignificant as it is, it makes his chest feel just a little lighter.

Lio’s first week passes in a flurry of activities, each so new and energy-consuming that he could hardly stay upright at the end of each day. It’s almost impossible to muster enough focus to go over the textbook materials they’ll be quizzed on when he is uncomfortably aware of every muscle on his body and they are all aching. Lio has to admit that he does grow a little discouraged especially when the nightly headaches begin—until he remembers that even Galo has managed to pass the same program.

Now he definitely can’t lose. Even if it means developing a coffee addiction along with Meis and Gueira.

Sunday eventually rolls around, and Lio finishes his first driving lesson without a hitch. It’s just an online course about road rules and other such theoretical information regarding driving, held within the training facility’s computer lab over three hours. Lio’s supposed to revise the course contents over the week and pass the exam next Sunday if he wants to progress to the hands-on part of the lessons. He's not too worried about either; traffic rules seem straightforward enough to remember and he’s familiar with riding a motorcycle. He might be a little rusty after having not used his beloved Detroit for so long, but he’s confident he won’t fail. Mostly.

At any rate, that’s for future him to worry about. Present him exits the room with a slight, subconscious bounce in his steps, glad that his week is finally over. His heartbeat quickens just a little from anticipation as he heads toward the gates.

He hears the ruckus before he sees it. Galo’s standing to one side of the facility entrance, and he’s currently surrounded by a small group of excited firefighter trainees asking for autographs and training tips. He glances up just as Lio approaches, and his grin widens the moment he spots him.

“Sorry, you guys—I'll have to be going now!” he announces with an apologetic laugh. The trainees around him are fortunately understanding enough to instantly give him space, though they do give Lio strange looks when they realize he’s the one Galo’s been waiting for. The only one who speaks up is Lio’s roommate who also happens to be there, cheerfully telling him to have a great time and to be safe while he’s outside.

“Lio, you’ve made a friend!” Galo observes excitedly once they walk a bit further off to look for a place to eat. Lio wonders if it really is something that warrants that much disbelief in his voice.

“He’s my roommate,” he says, the corners of his lips curling upwards, nonetheless. “Kid’s pretty nice.”

“Look at you already going around getting along with people!!” Galo swings an arm across Lio’s shoulders in his enthusiasm. “You need to tell me everything that’s been going on while you were gone!!”

Lio’s now used to this sort of contact with him, their close proximity a comfort he realizes he misses just lately. He lets himself indulge in the moment for bit before protesting halfheartedly. “Galo, it’s hard to walk like this.”

“Right, right.” Galo withdraws his arm, and Lio bites back a wince when cold air immediately fills his absence. “Sorry, it just feels like I haven’t seen you in a while?”

“It’s only been a week,” Lio reminds him, though he can’t say he doesn’t understand. It’s only been a week, yet the sleepy mornings and quiet nights and soft “welcome home”s and “I’m home”s already feel so far gone. It feels like Lio hasn’t heard the jingle of Galo’s mobile game in forever, hasn’t humored Galo’s unpredictable energy spikes in a long while. His days have never felt quite complete ever since he left the apartment.

His days have never felt quite complete without Galo in them.

They keep up their idle chatter all the way until they find an eatery they both fancy. Lio waits until they’re seated and have made their orders before he continues sharing about the shenanigans he’s witnessed during fire training, the friendly rivalries going all around, the one time Gueira ingested so much coffee to study for a surprise quiz that he was out of it for the next day and a half. Galo’s a great listener as always, knowing well where and how to react, never shy about sharing his own anecdotes of mischief he’s seen and participated in back when he was training himself. It’s been quite a number of years since Galo attended the academy, yet so many things seem to remain unchanged. The system, the course contents, the facilities—and the trainee behaviors most of all.

Lio finds it all strangely fascinating.

“But all that aside,” Galo takes a sip of his melon soda, “I think you really are amazing, Lio.”

Lio doesn’t think he’ll ever be used to this compliment coming from Galo in particular. “What’s with that again, all of the sudden?”

“No, it’s just that it’s been on my mind for a while and—” Galo fiddles with his fingers, pausing a split second to gather his thoughts— “You’re already doing so well even though you looked so lost just a little more than a month ago! I’m just really glad that you seem to have found a goal again.”

“And who do you think helped me the most to get where I am now?” Lio places his elbow on the table and rests his chin against his palm, a lopsided smile across his lips as he gazes at Galo. “You’ll always be the most amazing one in my eyes, Galo. People look up to you, people strive to be like you. You stay true to yourself no matter what you face.”

And I’ve always thought that someone like me will never be worthy of staying by your side.

Galo frowns the moment he catches the words Lio muttered last, ready to argue when Lio speaks first.

“But I don’t want to give up,” he declares, adjusting his posture to sit a little straighter, a little prouder. “I’ll catch up to you soon enough.”

And at that, Galo grins, eyes bright. “I’ll be looking forward to that, then!”

Then as his elation fades, he seems to suddenly recall something. There’s a sly lilt to his voice when he speaks again. “Though, aren’t you being the romantic one this time, Lio?”

Lio gets the reference soon enough, and tilts his head in feigned innocence. “Why? Did it sound like a romantic confession?”

“Well, yeaaah.” Galo crosses his arms and squints, familiar enough with Lio by now to recognize certain signs indicating his verbal traps. “Kinda.”

Lio, on the other hand, isn’t nearly as bothered. “Good. I suppose it is one.”

...

“Huh?”

Lio remains calm, mostly because his brain hasn’t exactly caught up to his mouth just yet in the heat of the moment. He watches Galo’s reaction in fond amusement, heart beating just a tad faster as the words tumble out on their own, unrestrained as though freed by the realization that has finally dawned him.

“I’m in love with you, Galo.”

[bbq-hawks-wings]

Deku!

I know it’s been a while, but this ask was in response to a post I put out asking others to give me characters from HeroAca other than Hawks to stretch my character analysis skills to see what theories, predictions, or just interesting observations I find. Because this is outside the realm of my usual character subjects and my style may not be well known in this tag - I ramble and am long-winded, hence the cut to not be obnoxious to scroll past. As a manga reader I won’t add any information past the anime’s run so far if you’re curious and want to hear what I have to say.

Deku’s an interesting character to look at in the series because compared to the way we find out about literally every other character, we outright know what he’s thinking or what he’s doing or how he’s feeling, so any development we see from him we pretty much see it coming from a mile away. He’s an open book.

In contrast, not many fans were able to see how Aoyama may have been struggling with feelings of inadequacy over his abilities - particularly in the Sports Festival Arc; and this became obvious with the license exam in season 3, but the point goes that while many fans saw it coming, there were those who weren’t able to read between the lines and saw him as a two-dimensional joke character meant to fill up the class roster up to that point.

We don’t really have that level of mystery or uncertainty with Deku. As the main viewpoint into the series and the world Horikoshi is building, we’re basically experiencing everything that’s happening vicariously through Deku. Yet, it’s not like there’s no room for theories, specularization, or characterization with his character. I’ve already said I’m avoiding spoilers so theories and most speculation are out of the question as I can only vaguely hint that there’s some potentially neat thematic parallels beginning to be explored in part through him, but that’s about as many of the beans I can spill without dumping out the whole thing.

I had some neat stuff to talk about before I actually sat down and started writing this and realized so much of it was spoiler-y; but at least in way of my opinions on Deku, I haven’t actively rooted for the main anime protagonist like this in a while and his likeability is off the charts. That said, he’s not a stellar role model just yet, mainly due to his hero complex. We’ll see some of the nuance of this subject explored in the next season, but by and large Deku’s drive to save people can use some level-headed reigning in before he acts. There are many times where his action is completely appropriate and justified - almost always when there’s someone right in front of him that needs saving; and let me make it perfectly clear that the unyielding drive to help someone in distress is a positive quality through and through; but when he goes out of his way to break the rules and disregards the repercussions in order to save someone I’m kind of surprised he hasn’t gotten in much bigger trouble so far what with his history of it at this point.  That’s all to say that he’s a loose canon in the series so far and needs more experience before he’s real top hero material.

However, I don’t think this lone wolf mentality is what Horikoshi is trying to glorify or endorse through the series. My guess is that the series as a whole is philosophically leaning towards the Good Samaritan principle. (I said I wasn’t theorizing, but I guess I’m a liar now.)

If you aren’t familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan, it’s a parable in the Bible Jesus told about doing the right thing in helping others, no matter who you or the other person is - even if under normal circumstances the person you’re helping would despise you. This story is so iconic that there’s a type of law named after it - The Good Samaritan Law.  (And if you’re unfamiliar with it you should read it and the other parables in the Bible, they’re not just moral tales but might get you good points on an English/Literature essay if you reference them well.) 

It differs from place to place and not all countries have them, but the principle is if you think someone is in immediate danger and you attempt to save them they can’t turn around and sue you for “wrongdoing.” For example, if you see a baby or an animal locked in a car on a hot day and you smash the windows to pull them out and get them cooled down, whoever owns that car can’t sue you for smashing their windows and damaging their car. There’s a lot more nuance and fine print, but that’s the basic idea. In many cases where this law exists it actually legally obligates the bystander to help. The hope is that these laws help reduce the Bystander Effect (really neat if you look it up, but also scary and very humbling) and encourage people to help those in imminent danger without fear of negative repercussions.

Something I didn’t quite realize until now is that with the advent of a superhuman society, the Good Samaritan Principle is largely done away with all the way across the globe. Even if people are in active, life-threatening danger, you can’t use your powers to step in unless you have a hero license or you risk getting in serious legal trouble. To an extent this is understandable in a precarious and delicate situation - just look at the precision called for in the second half of the Provisional License Exam; but it occurred to me that not only are everyday people discouraged from getting directly involved they’re actively penalized if they do! If a hero was already on the case or shows up while you stall for time it makes sense to not insert yourself and complicate matters - you wouldn’t get in the middle of a hostage negotiation, for instance. Yet, that’s not what we see reflected in the series. There’s an over-saturation of heroes to the general public so that there’s almost always a hero close by to swoop in which rarely ever leaves an opening for someone else to step in while a hero is on their way; and the problem with this is that it leads to an over-dependence on heroes to intervene in other’s lives instead of taking the responsibility into one’s own hands as a citizen of the community.

This has repercussions that are directly echoed across the series, even (and especially) up to date. If you’re not a hero, you’re supposed to step back and let a “professional” handle it. If there’s truly no “Good Samaritan” exception in the world of HeroAca then that really gives Deku a solid ideal to embody and work towards in his world. He outright inspired All Might at the beginning of the series because he demonstrated the Good Samaritan Principle when rescuing Bakugo.

“It doesn’t matter that he hates me and bullies me and steps on my dreams. It doesn’t matter that I’m not a hero and can’t even stand up for myself. It doesn’t even matter that I don’t have any kind of superpower to use in this situation. He’s in danger and if I don’t do something now he’ll die! I can’t let that happen, and I won’t let that happen!”

That’s literally the parable in a nutshell. He even gets reprimanded for it after the fact, but he certainly doesn’t apologize for it. Deku is the personification of the “hero’s heart.” It’s recklessly helping others when they need help, and the moment he recognizes that someone is lashing out in pain (a la Todoroki or Shinsou or even Bakugo) he instantly recognizes that even though they may be against him in the moment and that threat needs to be reigned in, they’re still as much in need of saving as someone falling from a building. While All Might deterred crime through threat of force, Deku is on track to deter them before they even get to that place at all, and his character is making a case of normalizing this mentality instead of drawing black and white lines in the sand and chasing the symptoms of the disease rather than the cause. (I’m literally having a big brain moment typing this, “All Might-y power” in one generation vs “Deku” as someone who might normally be worthless but only needs a nudge to become “Dekiru/ I-can-do-it!”)

It���s a theme resonating through the series about how heroism and villainy both have roots in the heart, and while there are threats that have to be dealt with in the immediate and physical, there’s still an emotional and psychological component that has not only gone unaddressed for too long but is directly responsible for the surge of villains in society. You can already see it in so many of the League of Villains’ members (and some of the more troubled heroes) - if someone had been there to reach out their hand and metaphorically save them when they personally needed it in their lives (“It’s okay, I’m here.”) then they probably never would have become bad guys in the first place.

When all’s said and done, I think that’s the point of Deku’s character in the story, why he’s the main character, and why he’s going to be the greatest hero in the world.

~~~~~

Wow, that was more satisfying to write than I thought it would be. And to you, Momo and Uraraka anon, I have heard your question and I am trying to get it out soon. I just have… Much work to do.

After that, though, I hope to open HC requests again soon!

[chatterbox-meta]

On Narrative Consequence

Or, a meta on how every single one of Katsuki Bakugou’s and Enji Todoroki’s misdeeds have directly or indirectly resulted in their misfortune.

Before I begin, I would like to say sorry for postponing other metas I’ve promised to write in favour of this meta. Well, I say meta, but this is more of a rant than anything. Namely, by writing this, I am mostly venting my frustration with a certain belief somewhat widespread in the MHA fandom - that Katsuki and Enji have never been properly punished for anything they did.

First, let’s examine what “proper punishment” even means. The answers probably vary from person to person, but the most consistent ones I’ve seen centered around legal punishment, verbal calling out and, sometimes, an “eye for an eye” type of retribution. I’ll get to the last two later, but the first one - legal punishment - is genuinely not something either Katsuki or Enji have gotten.

“But Chatterbox! That means the people who say they weren’t punished properly are actually right!” Well, yeah, if this was real life then legal punishment would be the only appropriate response for crimes like spousal and child abuse, as well as certain bullying tactics like suicide baiting.

However, My Hero Academia is not real life and Katsuki and Enji aren’t real people. They’re fictional characters within a narrative and that narrative has a way of dishing out its own punishment. Just because the two of them haven’t been sent to jail/juvie doesn’t mean they were immune to karmic narrative punishment. Such punishment is obviously not possible in real life since karma doesn’t exist, only direct action, but in a story like MHA, the author can write events to serve that purpose.

With that in mind and to put it bluntly, you’d have to ignore large chunks of canon to claim the two weren’t punished. In fact, many events in MHA are designed to hit Katsuki and Enji specifically where it will hurt them the most and in a way that will make them learn their lessons and retain them. Let’s go over the things that happen to them and what actions led to that.

Katsuki Bakugou starts off the series as a bully convinced he’s standing at the top and determined to keep our loveable protagonist Izuku down because, deep down, he (perhaps irrationally, at that point) believes Izuku has whatever it takes to surpass him and fears the failure and loss of identity that would mean for him. Of course, this merely explains his actions and doesn’t justify them, so what is his punishment?

Well, the punishment the narrative decides for him is making those fears come true.The entire story until about the end of S3 (so, for the first 120-ish chapters of the manga) is about Izuku being built up and Katsuki being torn down.

Sometimes this is done incidentally (the Sludge Villain case, which both shakes up Katsuki’s belief in himself as the strongest and leads to Izuku earning One For All, while also serving as karmic punishment for Katsuki going too far with his bullying earlier*), but most of the time it’s a direct result of his mistakes (his loss to Izuku in the Heroes vs Villains excercise/DvK1, him being unable to reach out to Shouto to bring out his full power like Izuku did at the Sports Festival, his temper tantrum attracting the League of Villains and costing him any respect he might have earned by winning, his attitude making him fail the provisional license exam while Izuku passed, etc.).

*(Obviously this only works as punishment from a narrative standpoint, anyone who says a real 15-year-old deserved to almost be murdered because they were a bully is, uh, not someone I’d want to associate myself with.)

I already went into depth about precisely what and how Katsuki loses over the course of the series in this very long character analysis, but the tl;dr version is that he goes from believing that he is the strongest and Izuku is the weakest to believing that he is the failure who caused All Might’s end and Izuku is the prodigy chosen to be All Might’s successor. Izuku keeps building up his self-esteem while Katsuki keeps losing it. In other words, his punishment for trying to tear down Izuku is being torn down himself.

Some would argue that this doesn’t count because Izuku didn’t tear him down personally and instead that this is just the natural and inevitable result of Izuku getting stronger and Katsuki having to face reality. Putting aside that a character like Izuku wouldn’t want to personally tear him down, here’s where we go back to the verbal calling out, the “eye for an eye” and the more “direct” punishments.

A shocking amount of people believe that Izuku has never called out Katsuki for his behavior, some even going so far as to say that Izuku doesn’t realize what Katsuki’s doing is wrong due to Stockholm Syndrome or something. This infuriates me because it is supposed Izuku Stans doing a disservice to Izuku’s character. While it’s true that Izuku doesn’t hate Katsuki himself (I go into detail about why here, along with the reason why he’d forgive him), but he absolutely hates a lot of his actions and can and will let him know that.

Even way back in S1, when he is still a meek terrified kid, he stands up to him. When Katsuki confronts him after the entrance exam and threatens him, Izuku doesn’t budge, he tells him that he’s going to UA and there’s nothing he can do about it, causing him to back off.

During DvK1, despite Katsuki acting more unhinged than usual and trying to either beat him up or provoke him into using OFA, Izuku looks him in the eye and tells him the insulting nickname he gave him is now the name of a hero. He even kind of taunts him by saying he has Katsuki’s weaknesses recorded in the notebook Katsuki burned and threw away!

And he keeps doing it! When they have to work together to fight All Might and Katsuki refuses to do so, even lashing out violently, Izuku yells at him right back and even punches him hard eventually. Granted, it was mostly because it looked like Katsuki would give up on the one thing Izuku admires about him instead of for revenge, but still.

Izuku accepts Katsuki’s challenge in DvK2 not just because he wants to give Katsuki a chance to let out his emotions and find answers, but also because he wants to air his grievences (what he really thought of Katsuki, how it felt to chase after him) and give Katsuki answers in the form of a resounding “I’ll surpass you” and an OFA powered punch to the face.

Another common claim is that the adults and kids around Katsuki never do anything about him. This may have been true in middle school, but UA? Aizawa restrains him and negates his Quirk the second he tries to attack Izuku during the Quirk Apprehension test and tells him to stop wasting his talent after DvK1. When Katsuki grabs an unconscious Shouto by the shirt after their match, Midnight knocks him out and then he’s chained and muzzled.** All Might spells out what he’s been doing wrong after DvK2.

**(Sidebar: it amuses me that this is called out as inhumane treatment and too harsh punishment, even though the adults had no way of knowing whether Katsuki would attack again or what it would take to calm him down, by the same people who claim Katsuki isn’t punished enough. Well, which is it?)

The adults absolutely intervene when he steps out of line. And even when they don’t, they tend to have a reason. All Might didn’t stop the Heroes vs Villains excercise because he knew that if he stepped in, Izuku wouldn’t feel like he’s proven anything, to himself or to Katsuki. He didn’t step in for Izuku’s sake, not Katsuki’s.

As for the End of Term Exam, Aizawa didn’t put Izuku on a team with Katsuki because he “wanted Izuku to get along with his abuser,” but because he knew that Izuku had great leadership and cooperation skills except when he’s with Katsuki and his inability to force difficult people to work with him would cost him in the field. Besides, neither Katsuki nor Izuku can afford to have bad blood between them in high-stakes situations. It might be harsh, but Aizawa was doing it for both of their sakes.

The only thing the adults could have done differently is come up with a more long-term solution to the problem, preferably by actually talking to the people involved, but this was aknowledged after the duo broke curfew to fight.

In conclusion, Katsuki has, in fact, absolutely been called out by the people around him and punished by the narrative thouroughly.

Phew, that got longer than I planned... Where was I? Ah, yes, Area Man Misplaced In The Role of Father.

Enji Todoroki spent his life desperately trying to reach All Might’s spot as number one hero. When he feared his own skills would never be enough, he hatched a plan to get into a Quirk Marriage and then make one of his offspring surpass All Might in his place. Why he thought that was a good idea, I don’t know, but it fits the psychology of the typical Stage Mom, living her, uh, I mean his dream vicariously through his child, Shouto.

In any case, in order to accomplish his goal, Enji was willing to use any means necessary, icluding brutal training of a toddler, physical violence against his wife whenever she tries to interfere and... whatever... happened to Touya. Nothing outside of that goal mattered to him, “unsuited” children like Natsuo and Fuyumi (who presumably only or mostly inherited Rei’s Quirk) were tossed aside and ignored.

So, how does the narrative punish this sorry excuse for a hero, father and husband? By giving him exactly what he wanted, the number one spot? Apparently so!

“But Chatterbox! Isn’t that Endeavor being rewarded by the narrative?” You would think so, but interpreting it that way is actually completely missing the point of Endeavor’s Arc! Because everytime I think of how it’s presented, I’m reminded of a line I might have heard in Disney’s Princess and the Frog: “Did you get what you wanted? S’ what you got what you need?”

After All Might’s retirement, the number one spot was left open for Endeavor to take his place. This is what he’d wanted for a long time and believed he would never get himself. But Endeavor didn’t earn that spot, he was given it, and he knows it. He may have taken his place, but he never truly surpassed All Might and, now that he’s out of commission, neither he nor Shouto (who doesn’t seem to care anyway) ever will.

In other words, every single one of his efforts, every horrible thing he’s done to his family up until that point... It was all for nothing. He may have been at least somewhat aware that what he was doing was indeed horrible but just surpressed that knowledge for the sake of achieving his goal, but now that his goal has amounted to nothing and he feels lost and aimless, he’s finally forced to reflect on his deeds.

But even asides from that, who is Endeavor, the hero with the most solved cases in history, the one who saved countless lives? Well, not much of a number one hero, even with his family situation not being public knowledge, it turns out. After Kamino, the people didn’t just need a hero who would defeat villains, but a hero who would reassure them that everything will be okay and discourage criminals by his mere presence. That he would uphold Peace. Endeavor’s victory never felt more hollow, because the people don’t need him, they need another All Might.

So, Endeavor approaches the man himself for advice. But Toshinori tells him he can’t be him, nor should he attemt to. The age of All Might is over and the public needs to accept that, if they want to prove to Shigaraki that they can go on without him. Toshinori thinks Endeavor should be his own hero, the kind of hero people like Hawks saw in him, the only one who wasn’t lured into complacency by All Might; the tenacious, dedicated and efficient powerhouse against whom villains wouldn’t dare stand against.

And yet, that, too, feels hollow. Because even if All Might and Hawks believe in Endeavor, even if the rest of society comes to believe Endeavor... What does any of that matter for Enji Todoroki? The man who ruined his family for the sake of his own ambitions? Enji now knows that he’ll probably never be a true hero, let alone number one, because of what he’s done, even if the entire thing remains a secret.

Still, he has no other choice. He’s number one, understanding for the first time the enourmous pressure and burden that comes with the position. And, of course, the villain attacks, leading to Enji getting his face torn open by High End, coincidentally (really, within the narrative, it’s not a coincidence at all) on the same side that Shouto got his burn scar. But that is fine, because for the first time he’s fighting not for the sake of his ambitions but for the society that needs a pillar, no matter how unstable or rotten it is beneath its shiny and sturdy marble surface.

For that reason, though this is never expicitly stated, he can’t even “properly” punish himself by going public with his crimes - imagine the utter trainwreck the new number one hero revealing himself to be a former abuser would be, in the wake of the chaos and uncertainty caused by All Might’s fall? When it comes to his family, atonement really is the only option at this point.

So Enji’s punishment is getting exactly what he wanted, at the cost of carrying the world on his shoulders knowing he’ll never be what it needs, getting disfigured and having to face his broken family. Speaking of, what about that family? Aren’t they letting him get off scot-free? Contrary to popular belief, no.

Natsuo doesn’t want to forgive him or even aknowledge his efforts to change and be the hero they can be proud of, he wants nothing to do with him. Shouto is willing to see those efforts and is curious to see what the results will be, he wants Enji to make good on his words, but he still agrees with Natsuo and doesn’t forgive him or want him in his life beyond the pragmatic uses of his experience as a pro. Above all else, he wants to carve an identity outside of his father’s former wishes and outside his hatred for him.

Fuyumi does forgive him unconditionally, but it has less to do with Enji genuinely earning her forgiveness and more to do with her desire for a happy, normal family. Rei also seemingly forgives him, but for her, it might simply be a desire to let go of the hatred that made her scald her child’s face. It would be so easy for her to simply blame all of it on Enji, but she can’t, not all of it.

And Enji himself certainly hasn’t forgiven anything, nor does he demand forgiveness from others and fully accepts the consequences of both his sins and his dream.

I don’t think Enji’s quite done paying his debt yet, there is still the issue with Touya and I bet the LoV would be salivating at the chance to expose him if they found out (in fact I hope that happens, not because I have a thirst for punishment but because I think it would be a fantastic plot), but so far, he definitely hasn’t gone unpunished.

Before I end this long-ass rant (holy shit, this has gotten way out of hand), I have one more thing to address: what is the purpose of a punishment? It’s to stop bad behavior and make the perpetrators realise what they’re doing is wrong. In that way, I believe the narrative punishment of Katsuki and Enji was successful.

So, what, exactly, would even be the point of “properly” punishing them further? Vindication? For whom, the characters or certain audience members?

Again, in real life, learning your lesson, feeling regret and trying to do better isn’t a get out of jail free card (though certain places do prioritize rehabilitation over punitive justice, finding that the former significantly lowers the rate of re-offending), but in fiction, priorities are different. It’s not about making things even (would anything ever make them even?) or treating characters “fairly” or teaching the audience basic morals, it’s about what would be the most interesting to read about.

Everyone’s opinions are different, but honestly?

The story of two boys growing past their relationship as a bully and a victim, past even the destructive rivalry of tearing each other down, and embracing the relationship of pushing each other past who they are now by borrowing each other’s best qualities?

And the story of a man who wants to be a father and a hero even though it might be impossible, of a family that might just one day find closure in the belief that all the years of suffering amounted to something in the end?

I’d take those over some sanctimonious, heavy-handed morality tale of an ao3 “fix fic” any day. Yes this entire rant is actually me being salty after seeing too many self-righteous “I’ll adress what Horikoshi won’t uwu” fic authors, fucking sue me.   

[stimhands-iida]

TodoDeku Week (Day 2 - Insecurities)

It’s both @tododeku-week and shindeku week, and my multishipper ass is suffering so I’m juggling ships based on the day. Today it’s TodoDeku time. 

Title: The Group Project

Summary: Todoroki asks Midoriya about his past. 

Trigger Warnings: Abuse, suicide mention

It wasn’t exactly a secret that Bakugou and Midoriya did not get along. All of 1A was well-aware of this. The problem was that nobody knew why. Not even Todoroki, who had been dating Midoriya for a few months now.

Todoroki wasn’t the best with discussing emotions. He trusted his boyfriend and figured that, if Midoriya wanted him to know what had happened, he would tell him. Otherwise, it wasn’t his business. That had been Todoroki’s general attitude on the subject. That is, up until today.

The students had recently returned to classes, following All Might’s devastating match against All For One. And while Aizawa was prepping the students for their license exams, some of the other teachers had decided to go easy on them. History class had assigned a group project. Teams of four would research and present on someone from the first generation of pro heroes. And of course, Midoriya’s team consisted of himself, Todoroki, Iida... and Bakugou.

Working together was frustrating, to say the least. Getting Bakugou to participate was kind of like pushing an angry boulder up a steep mountain. He just slumped in his seat, glaring and grumbling, while Iida rattled off ideas for the project. Usually, Midoriya was enthusiastic about schoolwork. But now he was uncharacteristically quiet, fidgeting with his pencil and only occasionally daring to make a suggestion. And all it took was a single glare from Bakugou to send him into a panic, stammering out the rest of his sentence and then sitting in sad silence for the next ten minutes. It hurt Todoroki to see Midoriya like this. Midoriya was... he was someone Todoroki looked to for warmth, for inspiration. He hated that look of shame and self-hatred in his boyfriend’s eyes. It just seemed so unfair, that someone who took up so much space in Todoroki’s heart would feel so small.

And clearly he wasn’t the only one upset about it.

“It is absurd! It is absolutely ridiculous that we are halfway through the schoolyear and Bakugou is still acting like a petulant child!” Iida paced back and forth in Shouto’s room, hands waving furiously as he spoke. Todoroki sat cross legged on his bed, eyes following Iida’s movement in a way that resembled one of those cat clocks.

“There has to be a way to put an end to this. But we don’t even know what the problem is to begin with! I have already attempted to ask Bakugou, and he gave me an answer that, quite frankly, I am very skeptical about.”

“What did he say?” Todoroki asked.

“Apparently, according to Bakugou, Midoriya was somehow tricking him into thinking that he was quirkless out of spite. Which does not really sound like Midoriya to me at all,” Iida sighed. “Midoriya’s version of the story I would trust much more, but...” He trailed off, looking down guiltily.

Todoroki cocked his head to the side curiously. “But what?”

“Well, after my outburst during the summer break, I don’t think I should push him.”

Shouto nodded. “It looks like something he doesn’t enjoy thinking about. I haven’t asked either, for that reason.”

Iida looked at him urgently. “...Do you... think you could try?” In his head, Shouto began to consider it. Misinterpreting his silence as hesitation, Iida blurted out a bunch of comments about how there’s no obligation to do such a thing of course and he totally understands if Todoroki is uncomfortable and he can-

“I’ll do it,” Todoroki said.

Iida bowed and thanked him loudly several times. Then, resuming his pacing at a slower speed, he wondered, “Now if only we could find a way to get through to Bakugou about his participation in this assignment...”

“...You could talk to Kirishima,” Todoroki suggested. Which seemed to be the right thing to say because Iida brightened up considerably.

“That is an excellent suggestion!! Thank you again, Todoroki. I will go find Kirishima immediately. You see if you can discuss things with Midoriya.” And with a swift movement, he was out the door.

After a few moments of processing what had just happened, Todoroki grabbed his phone and attempted to roll out of bed. Unfortunately, he put such little effort into this that he found himself upside down with his legs still on the bed. But not really caring, he held his phone above his head and started typing.

Shouto: Bored. Can I come over?

Izuku: Sure!!! :D Just give me a few minutes. I’ll text you when I’m ready.

Shouto: K

In not much time at all, Todoroki was in Deku’s room, examining his All Might merchandise as his boyfriend scrambled to arrange some chairs at his desk so they could do homework together.

“I’m finished! Now we can... TODOROKI!!”

He looked over as his two-toned boyfriend fell face first onto his bed. “...I’m tired,” Todoroki mumbled into a pillow. Abandoning his homework, Midoriya giggled and flopped down next to him.

They cuddled in soft silence for a few moments. Then, Todoroki turned over and looked at Deku with a much more serious expression. “So. Group project.”

Several beats of silence. After a moment, Midoriya laughed. “Is... is that your whole sentence, Todoroki?”

A half-smile emerged on Todoroki’s face. He loved the sound of Midoriya’s laugh. But he wasn’t done here. He propped his head on his hands and tried again. “What happened between you and Bakugou?”

Midoriya’s face dropped for a moment before he attempted a very transparent smile. “Oh-aha, t-that’s nothing. It’s really not a big deal. Just some middle school bullying, you know?”

“Bullying?”

“Oh no!” Izuku stammered. “That just made it sound worse! It’s really not anything important. Other people have been through way worse.”

Todoroki paused. “By other people...” he looked at Deku. “...do you mean me?”

“W-Well... yeah kinda,” Deku looked down as his fingers fidgeted. “It’s just... You’ve been through so much, and I wouldn’t want to bother you with some trivial problems I’m working through. I don’t have the right to complain.”

Todoroki sat up. He put a calm hand over Midoriya’s nervous fingers and held them close. “I don’t care about my own problems right now,” he said. “I care about yours. I care about you. So your problems matter to me. Even if they’re small.”

Midoriya gulped. “You...you’re sure?”

Todoroki nodded.

“Ok,” Midoriya sighed. Then, remembering something, he stammered again. “It’s just that there are certain things I can’t-“

“You don’t have to tell me everything. Tell me what you want to tell me.”

The green-haired boy seemed visibly relieved. He began to recount the story of his childhood. How he hadn’t discovered his own quirk until much later than usual and so he was assumed quirkless. How the other kids laughed at him. How Bakugou pushed him further and further away as he clung more and more desperately to his former friend. How Bakugou raged whenever Midoriya tried to help him. The awful things he said as he threw Deku’s book out the window. What was strange, though, was that Midoriya played the story up almost as a comedy. And each terrible thing that happened to him was the punchline to some joke. Midoriya laughed anxiously each time. Todoroki never laughed.

“So I think Kacchan thinks that I look down on him. And I’ve tried to explain that I don’t, but he just doesn’t listen,” Deku concluded.

Todoroki was shaking.

“He... told you to...” He couldn’t finish the sentence. The thought of Midoriya... No. He just couldn’t think about that. Shouto blinked and gripped Midoriya’s hand tightly. “None of those things he said are true. You’re not useless. The world wouldn’t be better off without you. I wouldn’t...” His voice broke. He was tearing up. Shit. This wasn’t supposed to be about him.

“Todoroki...” Wide-eyed, Midoriya was also starting to tear up. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have...”

Todoroki shook his head. “No. Thank you for telling me.”

“You... aren’t going to do anything to Kacchan, are you? He worked hard for UA, and if he knew I got him in trouble...”

“You worked hard too though.” Todoroki gripped Midoriya’s shoulder. “I won’t say anything if you don’t want that. But you deserve to feel safe.” As an afterthought, he added, “There are pro heroes out there already that are like him. That are like my father. But there’s no one like you.”

Now Midoriya was REALLY tearing up. He leaned over and grabbed Todoroki in a crushing hug. After a second, Todoroki hugged right back.

The two stayed like that for some time. Eventually, they let go and began to discuss how to approach the topic with their teacher. Before Todoroki left for the night, Midoriya grasped his arm. “Thank you,” he whispered. “I’m... really glad I could talk to you about this.”

Smiling quietly, Todoroki turned back and kissed him gently. Then, he closed the door behind him, not needing to say any more.

[franeridart]

Can i ask what (& why) Mina dragon is protecting?

You mean in the pic I posted? That’s just Baku and Kiri haha they’re there more for scale than anything else, really

Anon said:What role do Denki and Sero have in your take on the fantasy AU?

Sero’s a simple normal non-magic herbs merchant and amateur healer, Kaminari’s a lightning mage and a swordsman! They both also stumbled their way into being bards of sort, more for fun than anything else really - they used to travel alone and then they travelled together, till they travelled into the dragons’ territory without even realizing. Somehow, they managed to not die and get on the prince’s good side enough to be allowed to freely roam and maybe stay if they so wished

(they so wished)

Anon said:Ahh are you okay? If everything’s bad and all, feel better soon 🌟

Ahhhh, you’re sweet ;u; thank you!!

Anon said:Hey, I just really wanted to thank you! I only found you a couple months ago but your art has really inspired me. I owe a lot to you on finding an art style that’s comfortable for me. Not to mention, everything you do with Bakugou and Kirishima is the damn cutest thing and I can only love them more~! So thank you for all your lovely work!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh man that makes me super happy to hear!!!!!!!! I’m really really glad my messy art could help you like that haha and thank you so much for the compliments too aaaahhhh!!!!

Anon said:If you ever get around to some more fusions, how about some of the teachers with some students like midnight-bakugou and aizawa-momo?

ngl I have about maybe forty asks in my inbox with fusions suggestions in them, and I’m just letting them pile up cause… that au hasn’t been fun lately, but I think it might be again in the future? Maybe? So I’m leaving those there and waiting for inspiration to strike again - that said, I’m sort of intrigued about these specific combos :O why Midnight and Bakugou specifically? The more I think about this the more I can’t tell if what’d come out would be something sexy or just utterly ridiculous lmao

Anon said:Just imagine Kiri and Baku getting married, and Fatgum is the one to give Kiri away and they couldn’t decide on a best man so there’s like 5 people giving speeches and there are Manly Tears shed.

What do you mean imagine, isn’t this exactly how it’s gonna go hahaha tho I can totally see Bakugou being 100% unaware of the best man situation, at some point after maybe the third speech he’s like is this done can we go now but nope there’s more people - Kirishima has a vague idea of it but as far as he knew it should have been only Denki and Hanta and Mina? Maybe? Most of the oragization of the wedding was left in Mina and Kaminari’s hands after all. But since everyone noticed that Bakugou’s already short patience is disappearing fast and  since 1A is made of a bunch of assholes once Mina’s done Jirou’s like, okay my turn, and then it’s Deku, and then it’s Uraraka, and then Todoroki and Tokoyami and Hagakure and Tsuyu and Iida and Momo too why the hell not - Kirishima’s crying and laughing and Bakugou’s 1% touched and 99% ready to blow up, which, honestly, is exactly how a wedding between these two is supposed to end

Anon said:Hello.-wave- I know this isn’t a question but i love your art work and how you made Baku and his red haired boy friend (i forgot his name :( ) just bounce off each other so perfectly. Now I hope those two actually be a couple in the anime. :)

Ahhhhh I doubt they’ll actually become canon haha it’s a Jump shounen after all - but I’m glad you like the way I portray them!!!!! thank you so much!!

Anon said:TINY DRAGON BAKUGOU IS THE BEST AAAAAA (He’d be like the tiniest, bitchiest cat.)

HAPPY YOU LIKED HIM OMFG!!! and yes, yes that’s exactly how he is haha

Anon said:I wanna tell you how much I love you. Except… there are no words that can express just how much that is. I’ve tried writing to you off-anon before, but, I’m just too shy. (Even using anon, I’m really nervous.) Seeing your artwork always brightens my day. I enjoy reading your tags, comments, replies. I really appreciate your hard work and thank you for sharing it with us. I’m sorry for bothering you and you don’t have to reply. I hope you have a very lovely weekend!! ^^

You’re so sweet orz so damn sweet oh my god, thank you so much for every kind word ;O; I hope you’ll have the best week, anon!!!!

Anon said:Dragon Baku be lookin like a mango, I love him so much. Bless u Fran

A mango!!!!! Amazing, I was thinking about an explosion as far as colors go but a mango incredible I’m never unseeing that ever hahaha thank you, by the way!!! I’m glad you liked himmm!!!!!

Anon said:OOF SO ARE THEY BOTH DRAGON SHIFTERS??????

YES THEY ARE!!!!!

Anon said:How do you think Bakugou and Kirishima would react to finding out their kid was getting bullied in school? What would they say to them?

What a heavy question holy shit, I’m actually not sure? I’m not even sure a kid raised by Bakugou and Kirishima would ever let themselves be bullied, really, so the real question here is why is this kid being bullied? Based on what the answer to that is, they’d probably react in different ways. And what they’d tell the kid would change as well, of course. Well, either way they’d probably go raise hell inside the school, both of them

(then again we’re talking about Bakugou (a former bully himself) and Kirishima (a kid that used to physically fight bullies) and their kid, so maybe the actual conversation - in case the kid were ever to actually admit to it, cause Bakugou and Kirishima’s kid might not even ever do that - would probs go something like,kid: “what if there were someone at school I was having problems with?”baku: “kill them” kiri: “Katsuki! you don’t kill them, you talk to them, and if they try to touch you you punch them as hard as you can right on the chin just like we taught you”)

(When the next day they’re called in because their kid has made a classmate bleed Bakugou fist-bumps them and Kirishima put on his hero face and voice and tells the principal that next time if they don’t want their kid to defend themselves they should make it so that they didn’t need to in the first place)

Anon said:I started reading black clover because of that one sketch you did, and i had such a tough time stopping so I can get school work done 😅 in one day I’ve read 122 chapters and I didn’t want to stop

AHHHHH I’M SO HAPPY YOU LIKED IT!!!!!! It’s such a nice manga oh boy ;O;

Anon said:Imagine Bakugou seeing Kirishima being attacked or hurt by a villain. I imagine he would immediately explode and charge in to kill said villain? I’m not sure if you’ve seen it, but I also think of that scene in RWBY Volume 3 with Blake and Yang.

I haven’t watched it, sorry ;-; but yeah! Bakugou protecting Kirishima is something I’m waiting for the actual manga to deliver, so I try not to think too much about it to keep it fresh in case Horikoshi’ll ever be that nice to me haha but anyway we sort of saw how he reacted to Kiri being in mild “danger” during the license exam, so I guess for him to actually lose his mind and explode/get angry Kiri should be in serious danger. Like, post-Rappa fight type of danger, probably.  Ahhhhhhhh boy, I seriously hope Hori will be kind enough to make something like that happen (………not that I want Kiri hurt, tho ;–;)

Anon said:Fran, Fran!!! New dgm chapter on the 16th October!!!!!!!!!!

I KNOW! And I won’t be here for it, can you believe ;~; I’m sad o

Anon said:what are your thoughts on trans kiri??

More or less the same as my thoughts on trans baku! I don’t share the headcanon myself, but there’s a lot of good art and works out there with that headcanon which I enjoyed a lot, and if that’s how you wanna see the character then go for it! Who’s even got the right to stop you hahaha

Anon said:Ooh, u read erasermic fics?? Got any faves??

Seems like I only got two in my bookmarks :O x x (and the second is an hp au haha) (I’m sure I read and loved more tho, I’ll have to come back on this when I have the time)

Anon said:Another thing about Invisible girl and Aizawa using his quirk on her. They used a tail as an example of erasing quirks and the tail was still there but it was like a dead limb. So if he used it on her she may actually be visible. I was thinking about this for awhile and I think it might work that way.

That might be! But then again, that still depends on why she’s invisible - if that’s just the way her skin is made then I don’t think Aizawa’s quirk would change anything? I dunno tho, it’s hard to headcanon about Tooru since we know so little about her!

Anon said:sorry I asked about eri-chan and I agree I really want her to be able to but what about her completely destroying her entire ability?? like not giving people their quirks back but make it so she can’t erase them anymore?? if you get me??

OH YEAH SORRY I TOTALLY MISREAD YOUR ASK OH MY GOD I’m not sure she can do that tho? Like, assuming destroying quirks is her quirk to begin with, I’d assume her body would be built in such a way that she’d be immune to it? It’s just the way I see it, tho :O