#ch ~430 I think

[gayandfullofdismay]

😭😭😭😭

[ahaha-ahahaha]

yesss absolute win for momo

she got the costume she deserves

[uozlulu]

Finished BnHA. Here's the TLDR; version of my reaction:

Yay: We didn't end up in a Boruto situation and it's nice to see everyone grown up living their best lives

Boo: Almost of the League died and there was no catharsis in the climax. It was a part-tragedy, part-business as usual kind of ending

It was nice to get imagery like Bakugou offering a hand to Midoriya at the end of the story, but we never really see outside of that grandmother character, people helping those who could end up villains. So, like Naruto, in some ways it feels like not much has changed in society, it's just the main character's position in it that changed.

If we do get a sequel where Midoriya is a teacher, etc...etc...I'd really like to see Horikoshi (and whoever is the equivalent of Toyotaro or Ikemoto and Kodachi will be) do something with the concept of reaching out to someone who could end up in another League of Villains and really show us if/how the society has changed after all that happened. Because I feel like reaching out to others is a legit theme of the manga and I feel like we just didn't get there in a satisfying way.

I'm not going to hold my breath about it, but that's where I'd like to see things go since we didn't get that kind of exploration with the League.

Anyway, it could have been worse, but man, I think it could have also been better.

[daetko]

ᐟᐟ☆ mha texts : texts with your boyfriend . . .

♯ characters included: kaminari, bakugo, todoroki, sero, midoriya, kirishima

⊱ cw: “y/n” usage, fluff, swearing, gn reader mostly (in kirishimas last one reader is referred to as 'girlfriend')

⊱ a/n: couldn't think of a proper prompt after ch 430 dropped i think it gave me brain damage,, if u have a specific prompt in mind my requests r open!

⊱ masterlist

an 2.0: bakugo denki midroiya n kirishima have one extra cause i could only think of them when i saw these lolol anyway next smau is the bakusquad texts one!!!

also reply/send an ask to be on the taglist!

[infamous-light]

Fragments of Us Ch. 3

Dom! Wanda Maximoff x Bratty! Gender Neutral Reader

Ch.1 Ch.2

AO3: Fragments of Us

Summary: A collection of snippets featuring Wanda and you, set in various situations ranging from lighthearted and intimate moments to intense ones.

Requests for snippets/drabbles about Wanda are welcome!

Word Count: 430

Warnings: Spanking, magical restraints

A dangerous glimmer flickered within Wanda’s eyes as she languidly crossed one leg over the other, the red satin robe riding up her thighs. Sitting poised on the edge of the bed, her gaze bore into you, its weight almost tangible as you stood before her.

“You’ve been such a naughty little brat.” Wanda said, her voice a low, menacing purr.

You swallowed hard, your heart pounding in your chest, but the playful spark of defiance in your eyes refused to waver. You knew exactly what you had done. Earlier, at the party, you had deliberately teased Wanda – standing a little too close to someone, letting your laughter stretch a beat too long, all while knowing it would stir that possessive side of her. Now, the repercussions of your little game were catching up to you.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” You replied, offering a mocking smile as you feigned innocence.

Wanda’s lips curled into a slow, knowing smirk. She recognized the provocation for exactly what it was. With a casual flick of her wrist, your legs buckled, the sharp pull of her magic forcing you to kneel before her. Then, a warm, crimson haze coiled around your wrists, binding them tightly behind your back. Wanda reached out, her fingers gripping your chin and tilting your face upward, forcing you to meet her gaze.

“You think you can just keep testing me, don’t you?” She asked, arching an eyebrow.

You met her gaze with a shit-eating grin, unapologetically challenging her. The corner of Wanda’s lips quirked.

Before you could respond, her magic enveloped you, lifting you effortlessly and positioning you across her lap. The sudden motion made you yelp, your pulse racing as you tried to wriggle away, but Wanda placed a firm hand between your shoulder blades, pressing you face-first into the mattress.

“Let’s see how long that bratty attitude lasts when you’re properly punished.” Wanda said with a cool, assured tone as she tugged your pants down halfway.

You opened your mouth to protest but your words were cut off when her hand connected sharply on your backside. A startled gasp escaped your lips, and before you could fully process the sting, Wanda delivered another harsh smack, then another, each one landing in quick succession. Heat bloomed across your ass and the defiance within you melted away, replaced by a soft, needy whimper.

Wanda's chuckle rumbled low, full of dark satisfaction.

“Now, are you going to behave?” She asked, her voice gentle yet commanding.

All you could do was nod, completely submitting to Wanda’s mercy.

[class1akids]

What are your thoughts on Bakugou being ranked 15? Ignoring that rankings still exist.

Do you think this is Hori saying that Bakugou doesn’t care about being number one anymore and that his main goal is to be heroes with Deku? And that being rivals with Deku is all he wants now?

Or is it saying that Bakugou never grew or developed since he was a teenager to better conduct himself in public?

I kind of answered this question already when Ch 430 revealed that Shouto was ranked higher than Bakugou.

Basically, no, I don't believe that Bakugou is holding back (for him that's a sign of disrespect, and he has no reason to be disrespectful towards people like Mirio, BJ, Mirko who are all ranked higher than him, plus saved his life).

Also, since higher ranks get better money, if Bakugou wanted to finance Deku's suit, it makes no sense for him to not try to get the best ranking possible.

I was a bit surprised that he was 15th - I thought he would be 8-10 based on what Deku was saying in Ch 430, with Shoto, Shoji, Kirishima and Iida all ranking above him.

So I personally think that the type of hero work that's mostly around these days is not the best fit for Bakugou and the way Hawks changed the ranking criteria (which is never explained by the way) doesn't favor him.

What I mean is:

Bakugou has a highly offensive quirk and great battle sense. But big threats like AFO don't exist anymore. When it comes to catching car thieves in a highly populated urban environment, his quirk does not give him edge over someone like Sero or even Mineta.

He has to hold back his power all the time. Because his quirk is so offensive and destructive at full power, he has to constrain it. If he let out full-power cluster, he'd be faster than Iida probably, but also would destroy all the buildings along his path. So he has to tone down his explosions, so they don't break the windows or even disturb people.

His quirk is also not great for rescue. Not useful in fires, only so much he can do in earthquakes, in floods, not to mention never put him close to a snowy mountain, if you don't want an avalanche.

His quirk is not great for little crowd pleasing. E.g. Shouto can go on patrol on a hot summer day and earn lots of favors with the public just by cooling down the streets - Bakugou at most could entertain the kids with fireworks - but does he do that?

Attitude - he's just not interested in pleasing his fans and has no natural desire in him to make random people happy like some of the others do.

Lack of charity work - he is focusing his caring on a smaller group of people; Deku's suit, giving rides to Edgeshot, others too probably, but he gets no points for that.

Basically, Bakugou's quirk, battle tactics, leadership skills and attitude is built to shine in big, legendary fights and there are just not that many of those anymore.

He became the shonen comic book hero who struggles a bit with the realities of a peaceful, mundane life (431 was a bit tongue-in-cheek about that).

[The only thing that really puzzles me is why Mirko ranked so much higher than him, when she's just a female copy-paste Bakugou with the same attitude issues]

[honey--mustard]

Finding out that 431 was not drawn by horikoshi makes it make a lot more sense with the art style differences and just the overall mischaracterization of the characters. And I think let's a lot of people breathe because of the questionability of its canonicity.

He said that he considers 429 as the real ending and 430 as a curtain call. 431 is just an extra story and more of a what if story of after the ending.

So it's more like an OVA or filler episode if anything.

I don't think it really changes the fact that it is canon in the universe but not in the main story if that makes sense but i think he put this little note in there for us because he's letting us decide where MHA ended between these 3 chapters.

Idk if this makes sense at all but I've seen people fighting about this rn when I think it was really cut and dry what he meant with this little note. I actually don't even know why they would put this extra chapter in there considering how much dissatisfaction it has brought to everyone in the fandom.

Although considering that horikoshi clarified what he considers is the true ending I think he doesn't really even care about this extra chapter at all.

So I would take this chapter with a grain of salt. It's really up to you where the series ended in my opinion and I think that's what horikoshi is saying as well. For me the series ended at ch 430.

[randomprose]

*inspired by ch 430*

He Tian honest to god did not mean for it to happen. 

When Mo Guan Shan had slapped him when he woke up and saw He Tian hovering him, when He Tian saw just how tired he looked, he really did intended to go back to his room and let Mo Guan Shan sleep alone in peace. 

If anyone asks, He Tian genuinely did not mean to end up staying anyway.

He doesn’t know what kind of face he actually made, but it must’ve been pitiful enough for Mo Guan Shan to tug him back by the sleeve of his bathrobe. And He Tian was all too willing to be pulled and smashed down on the mattress, happy to share the same pillow with Mo Guan Shan’s arm curled around his back a warm welcomed weight.

(He Tian is quick to catch on that, in the future, all he’ll ever need to do is pout and adopt a kicked-puppy look to tug at the heartstrings of Guan Shan’s bleeding heart to make him yield to whatever he wants. Later, much to He Tian’s further delight, he will find out that this only works for him. He’s glad that the feeling is very much mutual.)

Mo Guan Shan retracts his arm and puts it under the covers after a while when he’s feeling cold. He Tian, already cozy enough in just his bathrobe and content enough to lie beside Mo Guan Shan like this, lets him and doesn’t bother going under the covers.

He Tian asks if he’s asleep and Mo Guan Shan doesn’t deign to answer it because it’s such a stupid question. 

How can he even think about sleeping when he’s too busy trying to stop his heart from jumping out of his ribcage all because He Tian is lying there beside him. It’s so fucking stupid, he knows, because it’s not like they haven’t shared a bed before, but this is just the effect He Tian has on him.

But He Tian must’ve thought he’s asleep because in the next beat, he says, “No matter where we go in the future, we have to be together, okay?”

And Mo Guan Shan is reminded of that time they stayed at the motel after He Tian got into a fight with his brother and got his finances cut off. 

“We are not allowed to renege.”

That’s what He Tian had said. And now he’s saying, ‘We have to go together.’

‘It’s like he’s saying good bye but at the same time he’s not,’ is what Mo Guan Shan thinks and his mind goes back to the words on a random page in He Tian’s notebook, written in black and still visible under the lighter blue ink used to scratch it out aggressively as if an unbidden thought he never meant to manifest beyond the dark recesses of his mind. 

‘Will he be sad if I leave?’

And Mo Guan Shan, against his better judgement and against the voice of reason and practicality he so clings to because he’s not sure how long this—whatever the hell this…thing between them is—is going to last, wants so desperately to answer: Yes, I will. I will be so fucking devastated. So, no, you’re damn right we’re not allowed to go back on each other, and, yes, wherever the hell we decide to go next, we have to go there together. 

But Mo Guan Shan may be young, yet he’s not such a naive little thing, and so he keeps his mouth shut and continues his pretense at sleep.

“We have to go together,” He Tian whispers more to himself as lets the words ground him. He says it with all the conviction he can muster. He says it like a promise. As if saying the words will speak the thing into reality. 

There’s no guarantee, but hell if He Tian isn’t gonna try his goddamn hardest to make it happen. 

But even if it doesn’t, even if He Tian fails to prevent or change the inevitable, even then he wants Mo Guan Shan to know that that’s what he wants and even if he leaves him behind, it is only because he didn’t have any other choice. 

He Tian reaches over with the ear piercer Mo Guan Shan gave him in a bid to make his promise tangible. 

A hole pierced through the ear—through skin, muscle, and bone—can be a permanent thing, right? Mo Guan Shan had been the one to offer and procure the piercer, He Tian agreed and is following through, and this is just another show of devotion, isn’t it? A seemingly simple innocuous ritual, but no more less sacred that will bind them together? This is just another type of forever.

He Tian is only sixteen—young, impulsive, and green—but he knows that whatever it is he feels for Mo Guan Shan now will not fade away.

Still, he hesitates.

Would Mo Guan Shan really want something permanent from He Tian? Something he would have and carry for the rest of his life? What if he wakes up one day and realize He Tian is no good after all? That he is rotten and a curse and everything his greedy little hands touch inevitably wither away and die?

A hole pierced through the ear—skin, muscle, and bone—can be a permanent thing. Everlasting. What if a day comes when Mo Guan Shan no longer sees it as a promise but a prison? A mark of ownership instead of devotion? A permanent scarring He Tian left him that will never heal and Mo Guan Shan will have to live with. Just like She Li did.

He Tian hesitates and Mo Guan Shan feels his hand hovering him and doesn’t understand what he’s waiting for. It was him who asked, it was him who bought and gave him the piercer, and he has just been waiting for He Tian this whole time.

Although he does find the usual brash and confident and arrogant He Tian hesitating…strangely endearing and so Mo Guan Shan takes pity on him and gives him the last push he needs. 

He opens his eyes and almost smiles when He Tian startles. 

“Wanna pierce my ear?” 

What are you waiting for?

Mo Guan Shan sees the look in He Tian’s eyes and understands. Somehow, lately, he’s been finding it easy to look at He Tian and just know. He tugs down at the hand hovering over his ear, feeling the rough texture of the bandage on He Tian’s pointer finger brush the shell of his ear and his thumb caress its lobe. He feels nothing but anticipation and a strange kind of calm, like the relief of a well earned surrender.

“Go ahead.”

I want this. Do it. I’m all yours.

[roninreverie]

For her Birthday! 🥳 Mt. Lady modelling her new post-war outfit!

In ch.430, you can see her neckline is different, gloves are shorter, waist point direction is opposite, and there is color on her hips now, so IDK what that means for her leg detailing, but I was speculating.

IDK why, but much like Best Jeanist, I think she could go a shade darker after the war. If she adopts a dark-blue outfit, then she would be blue/orange, Kamui would be blue/gold, and Edgeshot would be blue/red, and I just think that's nice for the Lurkers (or a Mt. Kamui duo-team if the Lurkers disbanded while Edgeshot recovers *cough-cough*).

I'd still be cool if she stayed purple. Just having fun with it. Guess we'll find out one day if the anime let's us see more!

All that said, there is a "Babe the Blue Ox" joke in here somewhere with this color and those horns...

And I'm sure Kamui's outfit changed too, but it is so small, I am not sure.

[cherryblossombombs]

Idk, as much as it also could've been that 431 was horikoshi's plan all along (because it just seems that not even SJ or officials want to acknowledge the chapter on twitter), there's still too many holes in it (in my opinion).

Like, he couldn't bother to stay true to his art style? There was quite a few art errors. 430 chapters of little or no errors just goes out the window by 1 chapter? Like he had ochako use all five of her fingers (for 430 chapters she always had one pinky out to prevent her quick from activating. so unless she suddenly now is able to control her quirk, idk).

He couldn't even bother to actually give them a romantic hand hold? (He's done gentle and la brava more justice than he did with iz///ch)

And he had to say at the end "oh 430 is the ending, 431 is just an extra where the camera's are off (he always called himself the cameraman).

Not to mention that after 431, he couldn't even bother to draw art of the supposed "true pairing" of the story lol.

And that's just from chapter 431, there are other instances from chapter 1 to 430 (and outside the series, such as interviews, extras, official art, etc.) that goes against the "I was a dudebro this whole time lol" theory. It may seem that no one was on board with this.

I honestly believe that someone higher up wanted 431. All this does is strengthen my theory that 431 wasn't supposed to exist, that horikoshi wasn't going to end the story by 430 (I think he still had more chapters in order to conclude the majority of the story) and that bkdk was going to get their handhold/agency (I think it was being approved by a lot of people in SJ, but something or someone stopped it at the last minute).

I just can't think that hori would allow himself to trash his whole theme and characters this badly within 1 chapter. He literally said back in August that 430 was the ending, then suddenly 2 months later 431 suddenly was in progress? No, I'm sorry. He must've gotten a call sometime in October where they wanted him to at least imply iz//ch to keep some type of shonen formula consistent.

Again, this is just me, you can mock or complain that my post is delulu and need to accept iz//ch is canon, but it doesn't convince me any less. Go argue with a wall.

[kibouhero]

A note about Ch. 431 and my Izuku muse

OOC: I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I hated the epilogue chapter. After I saw the leaks, it completely killed my drive to write Izuku and Katsuki. It feels like going through a divorce or something.

It has less to do with the lack of a certain ship being confirmed canon (while another WAY LESS developed ship was heavily implied) and more to do with the fact that Izuku felt out of character and crushed under the weight of his guilt for what happened during the war arcs. I refuse to believe that the Izuku from chapter 430 is the same Izuku in 431.

I don't know how he could not only still miscommunicate with Katsuki eight years later, but actually reject his offer to work with him at his agency. I get that he loves teaching, but it just feels like a giant slap to the face for readers who grew up reading this manga since the beginning. What the hell was the point of "save to win, win to save" and "the end and the beginning" if at the end of the series, Izuku declines his childhood dream to work alongside of Katsuki?

And I'm sorry but the whole "if you think everyone is special, then no one is special" pivot is such bullshit. Up until that specific chapter, it was clear that Katsuki was always seen as a special person to Izuku. This is Izuku "Kacchan and everyone else" Midoriya. Katsuki has always been the exception.

Seeing him forced towards Ochako (and her being literally shoved towards him from her clearly sapphic dead ex-love interest) just feels all types of ick to me. This is especially after Katsuki implies that Izuku views no one as special. So Ochako's suddenly the special one and Katsuki isn't? Out of literally nowhere...

So, given how much I feel this goes everything Izuku once stood for, my Izuku's going to be canon divergent from Chapter 431. As far as I'm concerned, the series ended with Chapter 430 and any post-canon threads I write with him will not reference 431.

[that-spider-fan-over-there]

BNHA 429: It's not really a win when the only comfort is that Izuku/Ochako didn't became canon during a breakdown.

Honestly I think this is the most confused I've been with this story, so this might be the most openly critical I've been. (I've rewritten this five times already, so if it looks all over the place, I apologize).

"Joki Joki" being Tenko was debunked, which. You know what. Fair. Creating a character that looks like him only for be someone else with a tragic backstory five chapters before the finale? That's kinda cruel.

Harsh backstory for a small-role guy, by the way. A mutant Quirk (that we'll probably know only from supplemental material, if at all) his family didn't have, mouth sewn shut, locked in a basement for years, family leaves him and (probably) a Decay Wave was his only escape? And they say the world of BNHA isn't a harsh one /hj

I'm glad they didn't pull a Teen Wolf (iykyk). Ochako thinks Himiko is dead, Izuku's a shoulder to cry on. For... *counting* 4 pages of holding it in, 2 of actually talking about it, all of the 8 being about Izuku being nice but hypocritical (emotional suppression my dear beloathed Ch. 430 I fear you-).

Izuku says she's "his hero"- it's true, he thinks all his friends are his heroes. But we're shown 2/4 times (Blackwhip and the mob, but not Tenko cornering him in the mall, or their first meeting?) which made me realize he's the only named character/hero she "saved". The "who saves the heroes" thing? Not like she helped other heroes, that plot went to- oh.

Also, the whole "putting others before yourself", the only example listed that comes close to this is her giving some of her Entrance Exam points to him. The others are just her being nice to him, repressing her feelings, Blackwhip was the only other moment that kinda counted. The only "other person" she put before herself? Himiko.

I'll believe Himiko's dead when I see it; blood transfusions don't kill the donator. They take a minimum of 4hrs max. They sent Spinner and Touya to a hospital, but not Himiko, who was unconsicous, winging a transfusion out? Yeah, that's bullshit, "hope for a sequel" is becoming more and more of a plea.

I wish I could say I liked the breakdown, but all I think is "Ochako's a character development tool, with redundant, pointless arcs, and all she got is doomed yuri, trauma and reassuring words from a LI".

I didn't see Izuku crying at first; removing "Joki Joki's" 2 pages, the "talk" took 8/15 pages, I kept wondering when did he ever relied on "her strength", it's not like he trusted her enough to talk about his feelings, secrets or anything.

Class A interrupting was funny, I'm with Katsuki: Does Izuku still have embers (he does). I'm sorry to Ochako, I just didn't care anymore. I knew he didn't tell anyone else, lol (<- I'm shaking him into opening up-). But if he wasn't willing to open up about that I wonder what else doesn't Class A know. Does Inko know her son's dreams are over again or…?

Uh. One For All, crystalization of power from everyone's hopes, LFtR vestige scene, remaining embers looking a bit stronger, "Control Your Heart" is still a thing, "holding someone's hand makes me feel at peace", we have that talk with Katsuki, rule of narrative means if he opens up there's a chance this story can end on a hopeful note, Izuku fans here's how we can still win- (I'm inhaling hopium, I know)

I'm confused Hawks isn't getting ditching the Hero Billboards, just expanding it for "ordinary people". Isn't that continuing part of the problem? Part of why Dabi was created, why many heroes don't care about being a hero? I get it's to inspire others to be everyday heroes, but this if backfires in-universe...

Aoyama's farewell party with Eri singing was as sidelined as the 3Baka (… actually no, 3Baka is still more sidelined sob) and it hurts, but hey. Monoma got a statue before Katsuki, I just know if he isn't traumatized about his corpse he will brag. (I'm trying to find positives in this chapter)

The last pages. I know it's symbolic. Society extending a hand, Izuku "inspired" them to move. It's what Izuku was talking about in Ch. 1, "saving people is the coolest thing a hero can do". It's even from his poem inspiration "Called useless by all/Neither praised/Nor a bother/Such is the person/I wish to be".

But it doesn't come just from Izuku fighting giving up OFA, but from him still failing Tenko, who was doomed from the start, the LoV never knew who he was before "Tomura" (so. Spinner how's the book working out-). And no one else wants to, look at Ch. 427.

If it was still an ambiguous "AFO searched for Tenko", fine Ig, but since Ch. 419, it's half "No one helped Tenko except AFO" and half "Tenko never had a chance to live". I'm not saying them hating Tenko isn't justified. Look at what they have to rebuild. But ditching the "Tenko's whole life was planned" part, they still don't know the LoV came to be because they thought a child looked scary. Jeez, no one knows they were victims of ostracism, abuse, manipulation. Why they turned out the way they did.

And it ends on Izuku and Ochako smiling with the "future where heroes can relax" line. It's adorable, but they're still dealing with the guilt of Tenko and Himiko being gone. But I guess it's fine because they're smiling now? Because people are now doing something? So the reward from almost dying is: Bystander syndrome is chipping away?

*sigh* I guess the TL;DR for my opinions are:

Joki Joki isn't Tenko but damn if he isn't a woobie,

If I don't see the corpse Himiko isn't dead, I refuse,

Somehow Ochako's breakdown was more about Izuku, and we still didn't get introspection, just because it's comforting words doesn't mean they don't feel hollow,

It sounds like I hate her: I don't hate Ochako, I just hate the way she's written in "Tell, Don't Show" for Izuku, even my opinions about the breakdown are more about "dude what are you talking about" rather than it being about her and her alone, so I can't take her as seriously,

I think I just became Katsuki ATP: yeah yeah she's crying but what about Izuku and OFA- oh it's mostly fine.

The fun bits were relegated to two pages and small panels but I like to think Monoma goes to Katsuki's room to brag about the statue, Eri deserved to have a full page to sing

Hawks, I fail to see the point of switching Hero Billboards to "Everyday Ladybug" Billboards,

Bystander Syndrome is one thing, how are they gonna prevent another instance of the LoV if they don't know it was discrimination that started it all or that Tenko was a walking Greek Tragedy?

Izuku and Ochako's smiles give "Aw, it's adorable. Oh it's traumatized" vibes.

Yeah no, I'm not buying it. If Edgeshot can still live, why can't Himiko or Tenko? Why does Izuku still have embers, if we have one chapter left? What is the reasoning for "twisting fate", "saving and winning", "perfect victory with zero casualties", "I wanna save that little boy" if it ends on standard shonen ending?

Hell, OFA had dead people communicating with our protagonist and antagonist, and is connected to the deuteragonist, and you're telling me it doesn't mean something good can happen to Tenko?

... God now I just hope the next one isn't a timeskip, just Izuku and Katsuki holding hands, talking and being honest to each other (especially Izuku because oh boi I have seen some Writing Critics and I can't say I disagree) (maybe we'll confirmation on what actually happened to Himiko and Tenko, what about OFA, but that only depends on the page count of the next one).

Once again, sorry if it's all over the place, this chapter just. It wasn't great, in my (overthinking) opinion. I'm still unconvinced Himiko and Tenko are dead dead, until the last page of BNHA, we now have BKDK talking left, so let's see what the next one will bring. And I'm not rewritting all of this, I'm tired XD

So, yeah, that's my thoughts! Thank you for reading!

[izvmimi]

ok sorry to make the jjk post about mha but i think that reblog highlighted my main issue with ch 431

ik the discourse around it has been beaten to death but i’ll keep it brief

to me, with the epilogue we get the fundamental sense that the main quartet have grown and healed but only shoto really seems to have made any positive movement while the remaining three (izuku, ochaco, katsuki) appear to have a sense of stagnation vs scrambling for the next step. it’s particularly odd given that there is a pretty modest time skip of eight years, which begs the question, how truly were you living emotionally/psychologically after everything that transpired? why is today the day you are being asked how you feel about herodom instead of it being an incremental question? why did you choose just today to choose to move on (as the most common positive interpretation implies)?

trauma and processing thereof are incremental and take time. what i think is so jarring about 431 and to an extent 430 as well is the apparent lack of processing vs over-processing that results in the feeling of the characters no longer being the same people they once were at heart. yes, they grew up but the story started off with innocence and hope. to take those things away and call them a casualty of adulthood is painful and dismissive to me.

yuuji’s final scene does that show of processing thereafter vaguely and succinctly and in an immediate fashion answers the question of ‘is our mc okay’ in a far more satisfying way. he carries scars but he is still the same person, because despite it all, he still likes the snow.

[fareasterncurlew]

My predictions for Komi's final 18 friends before 100. I feel we probably have already met all of them so far, so here who I think they'll be.

I don't think I have any wild predictions, but I'm posting this so I can see how wrong I was when the series eventually reaches it's conclusion.

Also, I started writing this before ch. 441 dropped, but the newest chapter has only made me more certain about my first guesses, which brings us to...

83: Maruko Tadano

Considering the current arc, this one seems pretty likely. We still don't know if she's related to Tadano (though I assume she is), maybe we'll learn next chapter when they inevitably become friends. That is, if the next chapter is about them at the family restaurant along with the next four...

84: Setsuko Hatohori (Egypt); 85: Sakura Sankoichi; 86: Tsubaki Sankoichi; 87: Ajisai Sankoichi

My theory is that Komi will befriend all the applicants from ch. 437 and we will continue to see them throughout the application process. I'm now even more sure of this after the recent ch. 441 and hopefully we see them again next chapter.

88: Nokoko Inaka

It's bound to happen at some point, I feel it will happen soon after the current arc but that's just a guess. I believe she's one of the most likely on this list to become Komi's friend, though maybe she'll sign her name a little later on.

Inaka has been around since being in Komi's first-year class, similar to my next entry...

89: Toshio Seikimatsu; 90: Hana Soboku

Seikimatsu has been around since the start of the manga and was the catalyst for Tadano starting conversation with Komi, that alone should be enough for him to be Komi's eventual friend. I hope he gets to take his girlfriend on a double date with Komi and Tadano like he wants, solidifying both as Komi's friends. They also both were with Komi, Tadano, and Kawai's group in ch. 403 & 402, and Soboku and Komi greeted each other in ch. 430.

91: Lily Sukida

Another character who has been around for a while. Sukida has popped up a lot so I assume Oda is planning on doing something with her character. Given that she currently doesn't approve of Komi's relationship with Tadano, I assume that will have to be resolved before they become friends.

I wonder if Sukida would have reacted differently in ch. 423 if Komi had questioned her with Rumiko instead of Tadano (she was okay with Tadano pretend dating Rumiko in ch. 433, why not herself?) but I digress, seeing Miss Tadano / Tadano in the girls' uniform again was nice too and perhaps will be part of how they'll later become friends.

92: Goro Suteno; 93: Hajime Gokudo; 94: Yae Hamaki; 95: Makina Kusari

These four have been in the story since the start of second year and have had an ongoing plotline focused on Katai.

My prediction is that upon realising Katai isn't Komi they'll assume Komi is some sort of delinquent mastermind controlling Katai from the shadows, or something silly like that, and choose to "work for her" (sign her book).

They're not the most talked about when considering possible friends, but I think they have a reasonable chance considering their current thing is, while being a misunderstanding, focused around "Komi." Speaking of characters I don't see often being brought up in these discussions...

96: Miwa Omojiri

A little outside Komi's normal friendship age range, but she recently befriended Michita so we know Komi doesn't exclude older friends. She's been around awhile, I think she could make a good friend if she had another chapter or two.

She's also the only character (besides Shiina) yet to become a friend who has their name in ch. 416.

Also in ch. 416, in the background, you can see Inaka as well as the next entry...

97: Komorebi Hiki; 98: Susumi Shujo; 99: Aoi Netsuno

Hiki and Susumi will undoubtably be a friend after ch. 436's last page. I presume Aoi will join them later and also become Komi's friend.

Considering how Oda likes to number the friends I think the order of these three will go "Hiki, Susumi, Aoi;" this is part of the reason why I don't think Hiki will be friend 100. Which leads us to...

100: Muzuka Shiina

Who didn't see this one coming? I know other people also suspect Shiina will be friend 100, and I agree. I wonder what's holding Shiina back from considering Komi a friend, hopefully we'll see when she inevitably becomes one.

This is all the friends up to 100. If this is where the manga chooses to finish this is how I think the list will go. However, I have another theory...

101: Yo Fuki; 102: Teruyoshi Jimochi; 103: Maheto Haheto; 104: Luna Neguse; 105: Fukuyoka Muchi; 106: Kanchi Gai; 107: Yakugaku Komata; 108: Hamaru Tsubo; 109: Shota Kori; 110: Takaomo Fuechi; 111: Kaoru Fukitsu; 112: Marin Saotome

Yep, I think all the other class 3-1 students will be Komi's friend as well. My theory is that upon almost reaching her goal, Komi will become closer with her classmates and want to become friends with all of them, but can't because of her arbitrary goal. Perhaps Shiina will make her realise that making 100 be the limit is silly and prompt her to become friends with the rest similar to ch. 323.

There are some other characters that could be candidates if Komi made more than 100 friends, but this post is getting long already.

Anyway, that's my silly little theory on who the last Komi friends will be. Hope you enjoyed reading :).

Most of these are pretty safe bets. I wonder what differences other peoples lists have to mine.

[class1akids]

All in all, is 431 like canon (part of the manga volumes) or just like an online bonus thing. I collect the mangas and even though Horo tends to pivot and what not it all made some sort of sense not the best but yknow readable UNTIL 431. Its so bad im honestly reconsidering just selling the collection i have so far

Yes, Ch. 431 is published in Volume 42 like a regular chapter, with a regular chapter number (as opposed to something like 430.5) and is presented as such in the table of contents.

But between Ch 430 and Ch 431 there is a foreword where Hori explains that 429 is the real end, 430 is the curtain call and 431 is like an extra where "he puts down the camera and releases the characters" - whatever that means. Imho, he's basically creating a plausible deniability for fans who don't like 431 to say that it's not canon or that it's just one possible branch of canon.

From what I've seen from Japanese fans, they seem to think that whatever he says, he/WSJ chose to publish it in a volume and fans can't just un-see that.

But remember, a ship doesn't need to be canon for people to keep loving it and creating fanworks for it. In my previous fandom, AtLA, Zutara remains hugely popular despite it not being canon. Ships with a lot of emotional content have a lot of staying power.

Of course, if the source material doesn't spark joy for you and just reminds you of a bad feeling, it's fine to distance yourself from it fully.

[shoko-komi]

This Special Edition of The Komi Report is split into multiple posts. This is Part Two. Click here for Part One

5. It's Emoyama, Continued

I'm only listing the final chapter, but the whole little arc about Emoyama is basically the 5th pick. It added a new word to my vocabulary – Emoi. I'd say that on its own warrants a place here. But that's far from the only reason. 

With Najimi tagging along for the ride, these chapters feel like old times again. Komi's got a problem communicating with a classmate, the three stooges (Komi, Tadano, and Najimi) put their heads together to reach an understanding, and goofs ensue. It's fun, it's funny, it's light, and it's sweet. And it's well set up, with Emoyama's reason for crisis (peeling the unripe fruit of Emoi) having occurred quite a while beforehand. 

Add onto that how long Emoyama has been around - she even appears as a teaser in the (current) final scene of the anime... 

...along with Lily Sukida. Now that's what I call venerable. Anytime a character like her finally gets some serious attention it's a surprise, a delight, and a treat. Komi's world is full of sleeper agents waiting for their moment. (Just btw, I super ship Sukida and Emoyama now. Maybe I should write a fic....) 

Plus... 

...it gave us this. Sledgehammer Komi...... 

I love you, Emoyama. And your mother

Honourable Mentions 407 – Interview  409 - Can't Say Sorry  416 – The Rest  417/418 - Ogiya/Super Awesome  427 – Cool  429/430 - Fuki's Story  433 – A Date with Rumiko 

Funniest Joke

Comedy is extremely subjective, so take this category with a grain of salt. But given how much I've had to say about Kawai, I doubt you'll be too surprised: 

When tf did she have time to make this??????? It's all of the buildup that makes this so memorable to me; how Kawai is so serious and intimidating until she bonds with komi. Then it's like a switch flips in her head. She's such a dork. 

The whole of 393 is one joke – Kawai made a DVD about how they'd benefit from marrying her – so I'm saying the whole chapter gets the funniest joke award and calling it day. There's no better way to explain why this one's a winner than to show you some screenshots, so enjoy: 

I love you, Kawai (it bears repeating) 

Most Emoi Moment

This award would have gone to the kiss, but there's an underdog who I think has worked harder for it. She's captain of the track team; an aspiring restaurateur; an old friend, a bitter rival, and a true hero; and she's never won a damn thing in her life. She needs this. 

She's Makeru Yadano at the year three sports carnival!!! I bet you were surprised this chapter wasn't mentioned among my top picks; not even the honourable mentions!! That's what we in the biz call a fake out. I could never forget my girl Makeru. 

Something I noticed while writing this - Yadano probably would have won... 

...except that Komi got a head start. You can see that Yadano starts a moment behind (because her teammates are Sarutahiko and Inui, RIP). A relay race is a team effort, so can you really say that Yadano lost? Maybe I'm undermining her personal growth moment. Whoops. 

emoi...............................

I would also like to pay my respects to Benujit Spopo, a walk-of-fame KCC gag in my opinion. It appeared this year! 

(From Ch. 404 – Tales from the Summer Festival, Part 2) 

I love you, Yadano

Reader's Choice

Now is the time. This is the moment. The most coveted and prestigious award of all – the Reader's Choice Award. (It's the most coveted and prestigious because it's determined by democracy 🫡) 

For this category, the Komi Report received a record-shattering four votes - that's right!! Four votes!!! From you, the readers. 

The votes were extremely varied, and it turned out to be very useful that most people named multiple chapters in their submission. I used a sort of preferential voting system – I tallied everyone's first choice and there was no winner, so I added everyone's second choice, then third etc etc. 

Thus we find our victor. With a landside two votes, the 2023 Reader's Choice Award goes to: 

*drum roll* 

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Paam pa du paam!! Chapters 417 & 418 – Ogiya & Super Awesome!!!! 

Well deserved!!!!!!!! Ogiya's story is heartbreaking; he was driven to become a literal man baby to escape the terrible price of popularity. Then Komi becomes the most assertive we've ever seen her as she keeps pushing him to accept her friendship. In the end, barriers are broken down!! Emoi!!!

I'm looking at this now... and Komi saying "It's alright. I'm super strong so I'll make sure you're alright" and the look on Ogiya's face.... that's making me tear up...

I love how Tadano and Ogiya are said to have been hanging out at other times before this event. It creates the feeling that these characters have lives when we aren't looking at them – very cool! It also demonstrates that Tadano attracts socially maladjusted people like a magnet. I'd say it's his gentle nature. 

My warmest thanks to everyone for their submissions. 

Conclusion

Phew... I'm knackered. I've been typing this in a document and the word count has passed 4,000... wowzers! 

If you've come this far, I extend to you my sincerest gratitude. I would have prepared and posted this even if I didn't expect anyone to see it, so to have someone read it all the way to the end is very cool. Maybe you even... enjoyed it?????? 

Here's my resolution for 2024 – I will strive to write every Komi Report as thoughtfully and conscientiously as I wrote this one. The weekly editions will be way shorter, of course. And I won't spend a whole week writing them, but each and every one will have the same love put into it 💪 

I hope this 2023 Annual Edition of The Komi Report got you excited about Komi Can't Communicate; whether that excitement is from being reminded of all the good times we've had, or from being annoyed by my opinions. Either way, you're thinking about Komi. 

I win. 

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Now that your appetite for Komi Can't Communicate has been whet:

Check out my Komitano AMV on youtube

Or my live action Komi-san compilation video

Thank you very much! Komi returns on January 5th, 2024. I'll see you then!!