#bonus chapter spoilers

[waestlandbaby]

The revelation that Andrew never told Bee about Neil until Aaron brought him up, because Andrew cares about Bee as both his counsellor and as a trusted 'adult' figure in his life, he cares what she thinks of him and is scared to lose that relationship, and he's seen how Nicky's parents reacted to him being gay, he's watched Aaron react in disgust to Nicky and his comments (although that's been contextualised now), seen how the world in general reacts to queerness, Andrew 'i want nothing' Minyard once again clinging so tightly to the things he wants it's hurting him

[red-sneakers]

Why I don’t dislike TogaChako’s ending as much as I dislike DekuBaku’s:

Is the TogaChako ending bury your gays? ABSOLUTELY. And that is a fact worthy of disappointment and frustration. However, I believe TogaChako’s ending makes literary sense and is perfectly in character, especially for Toga.

Toga has always said she has romantic feelings for Ochako AND Izuku. She wants to talk about Izuku with Ochako. Toga wouldn’t be sad or jealous about Ochako being with Izuku. She’d be (and is?) overjoyed at the idea. I firmly believe she’d love nothing more than to be in a polyamorous triad with them, if given the chance.

Toga’s character arc was about learning that she is lovable, and that the better way to show her love is by caring about other people’s happiness, instead of taking from them. She shows this love by pushing Ochako toward happiness.

Ochako’s feelings for Toga aren’t disrespected by the narrative either. She’s spent 8 years unable to move on with her life without Toga, dedicating herself to helping children like Toga. It takes a hallucination (or visitation?) of Toga telling Ochako she loves her and it’s okay for her to move on for her to consider doing so.

Does it suck that the WLW couple can’t be the happy ending? Yes. But I still find their ending beautiful, in a way, and I think it is completely within character and the theme of their relationship.

But dkbk.

DekuBaku’s ending isn’t just heartbreaking; it doesn’t make sense for the characters and themes of the show.

Izuku’s dream was to be a Pro Hero, like All Might. His underdog passion for that dream is what made many of us fall in love with his character from the start.

Throughout the story, the narrative emphasizes that Izuku’s strength is Katsuki’s weakness, and visa versa. At the turning point in Izuku and Katsuki’s relationship, All Might (DekuBaku’s ultimate mentor) tells them that by combining their strengths, they could be the best heroes together.

I’ve felt this was a main theme of the show: Izuku and Katsuki both represent the best and worst qualities of a hero, and they must learn to complete each other.

Can people grow up and change their dreams? Of course. But it’s not satisfying in a fantastical story like this one, especially when all that change happens during a time skip. Are we supposed to be proud of Izuku for no-longer dreaming of fighting beside Katsuki above all else? How can I, when Katsuki (who has earned his character development like no other) is losing his dream in the process?

[screechin-outloud]

still thinking about how Aaron put together that Andrew accepted Wymacks offer only if he also signed his family probably because he wanted Aaron to be able to become a neurosurgeon

he remembered that from the time that he told his mother that he wanted to be a doctor and she laughed at him

and aaron spent all that time thinking andrew hated him

[bees-figurines]

Andrew Minyard passively saw his long lost brother watch a medical tv show and say 'I want to do that' while his abusive mum laughed and dismissed him and he said to himself I will get you into med school. You will do that. AND HE DID.

[lightlytoastedcashews]

the biggest thing i took away from the short stories is how much andrew minyard cares about people. he signed onto the foxes to give aaron a chance at college. he went through with the kit to give aaron a legitimate chance at trial. he gave neil the armbands so that he wouldn’t have to look at his scars all the time. he constantly sacrifices himself for others so much so that he ends up harming himself sometimes. andrew minyard, who still gets called heartless when he has one of, if not the biggest, hearts in the series.

[pikahlua]

Oh? Please, Madam

What Izuku rejects is the opportunity to be Katsuki's SIDEKICK. He doesn't reject being a hero or competing with Katsuki. He rejects working FOR/UNDER Katsuki. Which is hilarious because Katsuki accepts (apparently multiple times) showing up as a guest lecturer to help out Izuku's class. Katsuki tells Izuku that "If everyone is special, no one is special," which has the potential for SO MUCH DOUBLE MEANING. But what there is no ambiguity about to me is he's basically telling Izuku "Hey, notice this. I'm treating you special. You're special to me. NOTICE."

It's also implied that Izuku sees Katsuki more regularly than he sees most others from their class, which is emphasized by the previous chapter when Aizawa complains to him about Katsuki's behavior in public affecting his ranking. Katsuki basically tells Izuku he needs to start thinking about himself more, and he also ends their final interaction with a "See ya [later]." Katsuki is NOT talking about Ochako, but Izuku takes some of his advice as the impetus for going to talk to Ochako (specifically they just wanna talk more after the dinner since the dinner is now over and they didn't get to talk). So what was Katsuki thinking of? I personally read his "See ya later" as "You'll figure it out, just go handle what you gotta right now and you can catch up to me later."

Hilariously, Izuku calls Katsuki out for being the one to say "If you don't start thinking a little more highly of yourself, you won't notice the things you should." Izuku's response is basically, "Look who's talking." Again, the potential for double meaning here is painfully obvious. He could be referring to SO MANY THINGS and we're meant to infer what that is. WE GET TO GUESS. Izuku could be saying "You did stuff just as bad as what you're saying," or "You're STILL not noticing something, Kacchan."

And Izuku taking inspiration from Katsuki's words to go talk to Ochako is meaningful in another way--IT MEANS IZUKU LISTENED TO HIM. Katsuki is having an influence on Izuku in a way to improve who he is just like Izuku did for him in high school. Izuku takes Katsuki's advice seriously. NO ONE HAS EVER GOTTEN HIM TO UNDERSTAND THIS LESSON BEFORE NOW. It ends with Izuku and Ochako deciding to talk more, but what it shows us is the beginning of Izuku considering himself more. If Izuku follows Katsuki's advice long enough, he'll end up back in the competition with Katsuki just like Katsuki expects him to. That is just as easy of a conclusion to make from the theme of "inevitability" that Shouto gives us (and that Izuku also takes to heart).

This ending implies that inevitably Izuku's gonna catch up again, basically. Things will continue to change. So yeah, we get a beginning where he and Ochako meet up to talk, but it's just a beginning. It's one night of chatting. They're seeing if something's there now (which kind of implies that there wasn't much there before), but it's left open-ended. And I think it's left open-ended what happens with Ochako on purpose because anyone can read how that ends up however they like. You just have to decide as a reader what's "inevitable" for Izuku Midoriya from this point on. Me? I've decided Izuku is taking Katsuki's advice to treat people who mean more to him better. Ochako is just the beginning. Izuku has other people in his life he needs to show love to as well (because that's what this is, Izuku is learning to show people that they're important to him, that he loves them, because saving people doesn't do that--he saves EVERYONE). And then maybe he'll start to see how the people who love him treat him special too, like guest SPECIAL (same kanji) LECTURER KATSUKI BAKUGOU.

tl;dr there is a lot left open to interpretation and it's probably on purpose, read the chapter however you like, just like we did with the last chapter.

...and my interpretation which is the correct one is that Katsuki tells Izuku, "Here let me show you how to love people, damnit!" to give him the character development everyone has been begging for him to have for years, to realize that saving people doesn't mean they're special to him if he's known for saving everyone ever, so like, maybe go show them you care in OTHER ways, Izuku, and also I'll be waiting right here for you to come show you love me you jackass (and he does, he does come show him that)

[1am-s0-veryt1red]

"bkg should be higher than 15" bkg debuted at no. 4 and dropped to 15 because he can't stop yelling at people HAUSHDHS

[little2nerdy]

been thinking more about the aftg extra content, specifically the conversation between bee and andrew when she asks if he had a r*pe kit done. throughout the entirety of the drake attack & aftermath andrew had aaron’s wellbeing/future as the first thing on his mind. he went through a traumatic experience and then chose to go through another to make sure he had all the proof he needed to prove aaron’s actions were in self defense even at the cost of andrew’s own well being so that he could ensure his brothers future.

and then consequently aaron finding out that andrew told bee that he wanted to be a neurosurgeon and that he would do anything to make sure aaron got that chance to succeed. aaron finally realizing never really understood andrew until this point.

[deadliestpieceontheboard]

ANDREW'S FIRST SMILE WASN'T FOR KEVIN'S TATTOO IT WAS FOR AARON. IT WAS FOR AARON.

[rainingriversofyou]

There was only one thing that Bryce Quinlan would describe her as: “A warrior.”

-House of Flame and Shadow

Art by Jodi McCafferty / jodicreatesartwork

[jeanmoreausautismstickers]

spoilers for the bonus chapters under the cut!!!

it's a tie between aaron talking about katelyn and him realising Andrew told bee about neurosurgery!!

I really really really enjoyed getting to read about him and how he feels about katelyn just because I've been begging for months for that but !!

why did Andrew tell bee that's what he wants to go into?? do they talk about aaron?? did Andrew bring it up?? did he tell her about aarons mother and the way that she laughed him out of the room ?? (broke my heart btw)

there's so much to this chapter that opened so many questions but I loved getting to read about the twins and how Andrew ans bee interact it was so cute

SOMEONE TALK TO ME ABOUT AARON AND ANDREWS THERAPY SESSION IN THE BONUS CHAPTERS.

I'm FOAMING AT THE MOUTH and absolutely NOBODY is talking about it

[copypastus]

One last Nesta for @nestaarcheronweek

Ember Quinlan the MVP of standing up for Nesta. Take notes Cassian.

[red-sneakers]

I have a lot of thoughts, which I may or may not share on here, but one I’m stuck on is

Why would Horikoshi end the story with the world’s favorite character so sad?

He got his All Might Card signed… But he’s dropped way down in the ranks. He’s not competing with Izuku anymore. After reading the whole translation, I don’t think Izuku rejected being his hero partner, but he’s clearly not working toward that as a goal anymore. And Katsuki looks heartbroken. Even if he’s not gay, he’s heartbroken that the person he worked his whole life to fight beside isn’t working for that. Katsuki doesn’t smile once in the bonus chapter.

I’m not against unhappy endings in literature, but I don’t understand this one. What is the message? Is the narrative still punishing adult Katsuki for his actions as a preteen? Do straight people see this chapter and not read Katsuki as devastated and dead inside?

[somewhere-in-the-rain]

I’m still not over the fact that Xaden abandoned all his intentions of just repressing the crap out of his feelings, flew to Montserrat, and immediately started flirting with Violet just because he didn’t see her for a couple of days and was worried she was getting close to another man, who she’d been nothing but distant towards for weeks.

He is SO dramatic I can’t even 😭

[faithless-hoaxx]

"Trusting he would keep a discreet eye on her most precious charge, Betsy collected her keys and purse and left the house. ."

Her MOST PRECIOUS CHARGE

Andrew is Betsy's MOST PRECIOUS CHARGE

excuse me while i go sob

[pikahlua]

I just want to be very clear, because I've suddenly opened a floodgate of people searching for hope apparently, that, even before I had read most of the chapter, the ending page was an open enough ending for me that if the full read turned out badly I would have just said "Hahahaha nope, this chapter doesn't fucking matter" and then went on shipping bkdk and writing fics about them. Because I'm far too invested in loving the things I love for that shit to stop me now. Don't y'all wanna love those two dumbasses with me too?