#mha 348

[bakuhatsufallinlove]

So so sorry that I continue to beat a dead horse-I was just really curious if Katsuki's continued softening toward Izuku, +say a setting in which they're dramatically recounting their story for a formal documentary, would make it fitting for K to use more BJ-like/polite language. Seems the answer is a resounding no! And with 430 suggesting it's AM's hands in 377, how appropriate would it be for AM to say these lines? eg. use kare for Izk (less a Q abt the joke narration, more abt AM&Izk's rlshp)

Dead horse or not, I appreciate you clarifying what you were trying to ask about. I stand by my statement concerning Katsuki's language and characterization, but since you opened the door to a few different topics, I'll go ahead and explain some things.

In Japanese, formal speech and polite speech are technically different things. They overlap significantly, but one can in fact use formal speech without politeness and politeness without formality.

Take a gander at this little comparison.

From Wikipedia

I conflated the two a little in the way I talked about Katsuki because he uses neither while the 348 narration uses both: plain formal structure (de aru) combined with word choices that do not denote casualness or intimacy and thus read as polite (kare rather than aitsu).

However, this distinction is worth making because Best Jeanist generally does not speak politely, he speaks in flowery language with occasional formality.

The floweriness and formality are key parts of his characterization; he is a fanciful, image-conscious dude. He is classy and chic.

Interestingly, both Best Jeanist and All Might exclusively use watashi as their first-person pronoun, which can sometimes be notable for adult men. In situations that demand politeness (speaking to your superior at work, your teacher, etc.), watashi is standard and unremarkable. In social situations among peers or when they themselves are the boss at work speaking to their employees, many men will switch to ore to casually assert their masculinity.

All Might's use of watashi is actually a bit surprising—it contrasts with Endeavor, who uses the more expected ore. This is one of my favorite details about All Might and, to me, he comes across as a lot more approachable, humble, and gentle than you would expect because of it. I see it as an expression of that deep conviction he holds to be the Symbol of Peace. He views himself as a servant to the people; the need to assert his masculinity is not even on his radar.

Best Jeanist's watashi reads similarly, but he also reflects a very specific flavor of Japanese masculinity that is rooted in delicacy, self-control, intellectualism, virtue, etc.. English-speakers pretty regularly mistake this kind of masculinity for femininity, and it tends to make a mess of discussions about gender in Japanese media. As I said in my post about Monoma's speech patterns, gender and social class are huge factors in how the issue of formal vs. casual language is perceived.

Onto your question about All Might and Izuku: All Might uses plain (informal) Japanese and the second-person pronoun kimi for Izuku, both of which are normal and expected of him as the social superior in their dynamic. He has indeed used the third-person kare for Izuku.

In his position, All Might has the "right to be rude" to Izuku, so he could easily use casual words like aitsu instead, but I think he chooses more neutral words to avoid coming across as overly harsh or derogatory.

All Might makes considerations to sound gentle and supportive of his young pupils. For his part, Izuku is a respectful young man who idolizes All Might. He consistently and without exception uses polite Japanese towards All Might.

Izuku's politeness makes moments like these really fucking funny.

Chapter 62

"I'M SO SORRY, ALL MIGHT!!" Izuku screams in polite Japanese while unleashing a massive explosion unto him.

Chapter 65

"PLEASE STEP ASIDE, ALL MIGHT," Izuku utters determinedly in polite Japanese before punching the ever-loving shit out of All Might.

I know you're not necessarily asking about 348's narrator anymore, but just for the sake of argument, I can't say for certain that All Might has never used plain formal Japanese, but I also can't think of a time I've seen it.

But admittedly, the appeal of All Might as the narrator is the same as why I thought Best Jeanist would be delightful, except it's maybe even funnier because All Might has lightly scolded Katsuki for insulting Izuku before:

Chapter 217. Katsuki calls Izuku gomi (trash) and All Might tells him not to say that.

Hilarious to imagine All Might epically recounting the tale of the final battle only to suddenly swerve, forced to concede that, yeah, okay, Young Bakugou was right: that boy is a damn nerd.

But are you really one to talk, All Might?

Anyway, I think the social dynamics of Japanese can be hard for English-speakers to understand sometimes. Compared to Japanese, English grammar doesn't have such distinctly defined systems of formality, which leaves word choice as the main distinguishing feature people tend to notice.

But these things don't exist in a vacuum, so it is important (and fun!) to step back and consider the many layers to how people express themselves. :D

[greenhappyseed]

These two panels. Toga alone and isolated amidst a wave of chaos and fighting surrounding her. But in the first one, Ochako was merely observing. She didn’t intervene. Now Ochako has a second chance to reach out.

[epickiya722]

This line by Tsu? I can't wait to hear it.

Her in that chapter? Thank you, Tsu! ✨️

[bkdk-prophet]

MHA 424 SPOILERS - Bkdk holy shit

People cannot fault bkdks for thinking bkdk might be canon cause the amount of content?? The deliberate choice to give Katsuki most of the love interest tropes?? Izuku controlling his heart and being reluctant to voicing out his more personal feelings to and because of Katsuki ?? The suspicious and constant marketing?? Giga Jump cover with pastel colours and cherry blossom petals, distinctly different from other Giga covers?? Bkdk and Ochaco’s Japanese VA’s joking about Katsuki being the “heroine”?? Horikoshi recommending romance manga, particularly “Blooming Love,” which has main characters that resemble bkdk?? Nobuhiko Okamoto (Katsuki’s VA) making a BL manga (Boku no Kamikakushi) that has a childhood friends to lovers premise, with one of the main characters being named “Uzuki”?? The whole of Chapter 348 with the Katsuki sounding narration, telling us that Izuku’s oblivious to romantic feelings cause he’s a “damned nerd,” and the scenario Deku described to be romantic containing “holding hands” in an amusement park?? Bkdk’s Japanese Voice actors frequently being in amusement parks and posting abt them?? Bones’ change of heart, Bones’ change of heart. Ochaco’s All Might keychain, which was symbolic of her romantic feelings for Deku, becoming a symbol of her and Toga’s connection?? Katsuki having his own All Might themed card that also shares a connection with Izuku?? The fact that Hori cld’ve made the falling art canon, but instead made a distinction between Katsuki who, even when supposed to be at the hospital, flew all the way to Izuku to give him the final push and Ochaco who stays with the paramedics and cheers for Izuku from a distance?? The fact that it’s not even the first time similarities and distinctions were made between Ochaco and Katsuki?? Katsuki declaring that he envisioned a “forever” with Izuku??

It’s not even abt shipwars or abt who gets the most content, I am simply questioning the intent behind these choices cause they’re not pointing to the expected ending. Call me delusional but I’m sure it’s just not me who sees these all laid out. Like, I’m still trying to lower my expectations cause romance was never Hori’s focus—maybe his intention is to make them platonic soulmates and I will be fine with that—but dude. dude. The romance of it all is insane.

[izukatsude]

some people might have pointed this before when it came out but since I just have read the jp raws, I decided that it’ll be nice to point it out again!

and it’s about MHA chapter 403! especially this particular panel!

to begin with, I have a little knowledge about kanjis in japanese language since I’m still learning them but this particular line really really intrigued me.

which is this japanese line and its english translation:

when I first studied japanese, the common knowledge that I know was feelings, or thoughts translates to 思い in japanese, not 想い. that’s why it intrigued me. what does 想い mean? basically, it has the same meaning as 思い— feelings, or thoughts, which is why the direct translation was “feelings.”

however, that’s not the case in japanese language.

we know that different kanjis yet same word means different in japanese. for example: if it's hayai 早い, it means “early,” and if it's hayai 速い, it means “fast.” both having the same hiragana, はやい yet different meaning in different contexts.

so after researching (link), I found out that 想い is much more personal than the norm 思い. its much more deeper in the sense of “feelings” for someone special.

which is why we can conclude that during this panel of katsuki being revived, looking at izuku and izuku locking eyes with katsuki, “their feelings become one” is much deeper sense that only the two of them would know because it is something that only the two of them had shared.

time stopped. raindrops stopped falling. just them looking at each other. they are sharing the same heart and mind. (izuku implicitly telling toga that his idea of love is sharing the same heart and mind on chapter 348). and finally, their feelings become one.

[pikahlua]

MHA Chapter 395 spoilers translations

This week’s initial tentative super rough/literal translations under the cut.

tagline 1 No.395 幸せの上に　　堀越耕平 ナンバー395 しあわせのうえに　　ほりこしこうへい NANBAA 395 shiawase no ue ni   Horikoshi Kouhei No. 395 Above happiness  Kouhei Horikoshi (Note: There are many ways to potentially translate this title. “Ue” means top, above, beyond, before, regarding, because of, and many other similar things. I take this title to either mean there’s something more important than the speaker’s happiness or the speaker is doing something because of their happiness.)

tagline 2 トゥワイスが消え… トゥワイスがきえ… TUWAISU ga kie... The Twices vanish...

1 だよな… da yo na... “That’s right...”

2 分倍河原は……いいやつだったもんな… ぶばいがわらは……いいやつだったもんな… Bubaigawara wa......ii yatsu datta mon na... “Bubaigawara...was a good guy...”

3 トガヒミコ… TOGA HIMIKO... “Toga Himiko...”

4 好きなものになりたくて握った筈のナイフを すきなものになりたくてにぎったはずのナイフを suki na mono ni naritakute nigitta hazu no NAIFU wo The knife I should have gripped because I wanted to become someone I like

5 怒りと憎しみで握っていました。 いかりとにくしみでにぎっていました。 ikari to nikushimi de nigitte imashita. I gripped with rage and hatred.

1-2 私が生きやすい世界にする為に わたしがいきやすいせかいにするために watashi ga iki yasui sekai ni suru tame ni For the sake of making a world easy for me to live in

1 今になって"個性"を伴った「変身」の負担が いまになって"こせい"をともなった「へんしん」のふたんが ima ni natte “kosei” wo tomonatta 「henshin」 no butan ga The burden of Transform now after the accompanying [other] quirks...

2 痛い いたい itai “It hurts.”

3 "伝わるゼロ・グラビティ"の "つたわるゼロ・グラビティ"の “tsutawaru  ZERO GURABITI” no “The transmitted Zero Gravity is”

4 巻き添えになったヒーロー達も軟着地させてる… まきぞえになったヒーローたちもなんちゃくちさせてる… makizoe ni natta HIIROO-tachi mo nanchakuchi saseteru... “letting even the heroes who became involved land softly...”

5 人を介した分解除も緩やかに進行するのね… ひとをかいしたぶんかいじょもゆるやかにしんこうするのね… hito wo kai shita bun kaijo mo yuruyaka ni shinkou suru no ne... “Even your Release is progressing gently out of concern for people, huh...”

6 お茶子ちゃん… おちゃこちゃん… Ochako-chan... “Ochako-chan...”

7 結局 けっきょく kekkyoku “In the end,”

8 どこまでいっても落としたりはしないのね どこまでいってもおとしたりはしないのね doko made ittemo otoshitari wa shinai no ne “no matter what you do, you won’t drop anyone.” (Note: This is the same phrasing as the line about Izuku being a nerd no matter what in chapter 348. Literally, the first part of the phrase means “no matter where you go,” but the idiom in English would translate to “no matter what you do.”)

9 寒い…血が出すぎた　頭と体がつながって���いみたいに…全く動けない… さむい…ちがですぎた　あたまとからだがつながってないみたいに…まったくうごけない… samui...chi ga de sugita   atama to karada ga tsunagattenai mitai ni...mattaku ugokenai... I’m cold...I bled too much. It’s like my head and body aren’t connected...I can’t move at all...

10 動かなきゃいけないのに…！まだ…！ うごかなきゃいけないのに…！まだ…！ ugokanakya ikenai noni...! mada...! But I have to move...! I still...!

1 血なんて一生くれてやる ちなんていっしょうくれてやる chi nante isshou kurete yaru I’ll give you my blood for the rest of my life!

2 …カァイイ？ ...KAAII? ...I’m cute?

3-4 あなたの笑顔が素敵だと伝えなきゃと思ったの あなたのえがおがすてきだとつたえなきゃとおもったの anata no egao ga suteki da to tsutaenakya to omotta no I thought I must tell you that your smile is lovely.

5 世界一 せかいいち sekai ichi The cutest in the world.

(Note: The sound effects are of Ochako gasping for air and her teeth chattering from cold.)

1 致死量の血が出てる ちしりょうのちがでてる chishiryou no chi ga deteru “You’re losing a lethal amount of blood.”

2 私が刺した後もあれだけ動いてたから… わたしがさしたあともあれだけうごいてたから… watashi ga sashita ato mo are dake ugoiteta kara... “Because you were still moving that much even after I stabbed you...”

3 お茶子ちゃん おちゃこちゃん Ochako-chan “Ochako-chan,”

4 敵連合は ヴィランれんごうは VIRAN rengou wa “the League of Villains

5 全部ぶっ壊すの ぜんぶぶっこわすの zenbu bukkowasu no “will smash everything,

6 壊れた先にあるのは こわれたさきにあるのは kowareta saki ni aru no wa “What lies beyond the destruction is”

7 きっと… kitto... “surely...”

8 私が生きやすい世界 わたしがいきやすいせかい watashi ga iki yasui sekai “a world where I can live easily.”

(Note: There’s a sound effect “chiu” present for Himiko sucking up Ochako’s blood.)

1 でも demo “But”

2 お茶子ちゃんが言ってくれた事嬉しかった おちゃこちゃんがゆってくれたことうれしかった Ochako-chan ga yutte kureta koto ureshikatta “I was happy about what you told me, Ochako-chan.”

3 生存競争って私言ったけど… せいぞんきょうそうってわたしゆったけど… seizon kyousou tte watashi yutta kedo... “I said this was a competition for survival, but...”

4 お茶子ちゃんがいなくなるの"だけ"は おちゃこちゃんがいなくなるの"だけ"は Ochako-chan ga inakunaru no “dake” wa “That only Ochako-chan will go away,”

5 やっぱり嫌 やっぱりや yappari ya “I absolutely hate it.” (Note: To be clear, I think she’s saying that despite this being a competition for survival, she hates this result where only Ochako is the one who dies.)

1-3 この気持ちは本当だから このきもちはほんとうだから kono kimochi wa hontou dakara “Because this feeling is genuine,”

3-4 私の血全部あげる わたしのちぜんぶあげる watashi no chi zenbu ageru “I will give all my blood to you.”

1 ーー…暖かい ーー…あたたかい --...atatakai --...warm

2 でも…ダメだ…！そんなことしたら demo...DAME da...! sonna koto shitara But...you can’t...! If you do something like that...

3 前に死にかけた時 まえにしにかけたとき mae ni shi ni kakata toki “Before, when I almost died,

4 仁くんがこうやって助けてくれた じんくんがこうやってたすけてくれた Jin-kun ga kou yatte tsukete kureta “Jin-kun helped me like this.”

5 仁くんの"個性"はもう無いから私がお茶子ちゃんになる じんくんの"こせい"はもうないからわたしがおちゃこちゃんになる Jin-kun no “kosei” wa mou nai kara watashi ga Ochako-chan ni naru “Since Jin-kun’s quirk is gone, I will become Ochako-chan.”

6 他者の"個性"が使える以上血もその人そのものになる ひとの"こせい"がつかえるいじょうちもそのひとそのものになる hito (kanji: tasha) no “kosei” ga tsukaeru ijou chi mo sono hito sono mono ni naru “Even more than being able to use someone else’s quirk, my blood will become [the same as] that person’s blood.”

7 ダ… DA... “You...”

8 メ… ME... “can’t...”

9 ……捕まえたら… ……つかまえたら… ......tsukamaetara... “......If you caught me...”

10 私が死ぬまで血を届けに会いに来るつもりだったの？ わたしがしぬまでちをとどけにあいにくるつもりだったの？ watashi ga shinu made chi wo todoke ni ai ni kuru tsumori datta no? “were you planning to come visit me to deliver your blood until I died?”

small text 傷口閉じるよ きずぐちとじるよ kuzuguchi tojiru yo “I’ll close the gash.”

11 お茶子ちゃんは…ただ"敵"を捕まえるだけでよかったのに おちゃこちゃんは…ただ"ヴィラン"をつかまえるだけでよかったのに Ochako-chan wa...tada “VIRAN” wo tsukamaeru dake de yokatta noni “Ochako-chan, even though it would have been fine to just capture the villain,”

12 ただ異常者を排除するだけでよかったのに ただいじょうしゃをはいじょするだけでよかったのに tada ijousha wo haijo suru dake de yokatta noni “even though it would have been fine to just eliminate the the freak,”

13 ヒーローらしく正しい事をするだけでよかったのに ヒーローらしくただしいことをするだけでよかったのに HIIROO rashiku tadashii koto wo suru dake de yokatta noni “even though it would have been fine to just do the correct thing like a hero would,”

1 なのにさ nanoni sa “even so,”

2 なのに余計な事"考えて"… なのによ��いなこと"かんがえて"… nanoni yokei na koto “kangaete”... “you nevertheless think about unnecessary things...”

3-4 お友だちいっぱい傷つけて刺してきた相手をさ… おともだちいっぱいきずつけてさしてきたあいてをさ… otomodachi ippai kizutsukete sashite kita aite wo sa... “about the person who hurt and stabbed so many of your friends...”

5 変だね へんだね hen da ne “that’s weird,”

6 お茶子ちゃん おちゃこちゃん Ochako-chan “Ochako-chan.”

7 あな…た…こそ…！ ana...ta...koso...! “You...are...!” (Note: This is a phrase that essentially means “Speak for yourself!”)

8 こんな…！ konna...! “Something like this...!”

9 私は"好き"に生きるの わたしは"すき"にいきるの watashi wa “suki” ni ikiru no “I like how I ‘like’.”

10 だから捕まってあげられない だからつかまってあげられない dakara tsukamatte agerarenai “That’s why I won’t let [anyone] capture me.”

11 お茶子ちゃんの「捕まえる」と一緒…でも おちゃこちゃんの「つかまえる」といっしょ…でも Ochako-chan no 「tsukamaeru」 to issho...demo “That includes your [version of] capture, Ochako-chan...but”

12 刺してごめんね さしてごめんね sashite gomen ne “I’m sorry for stabbing you.”

13 怒鳴ってごめんね どなってごめんね donatte gomen ne “I’m sorry for yelling at you.”

14 本当よ ほんとうよ hontou yo “Really.”

1 …燈矢くんが …とうやくんが ...Touya-kun ga “...Touya-kun”

2 お家燃やしてくれたんだ おうちもやしてくれたんだ ouchi moyashite kuretanda “set my home on fire for me.”

3 嫌な事が詰まった普通のお家 いやなことがつまったふつうのおうち iya na koto ga tsumatta futsuu no ouchi “My ordinary home full of horrible things.”

4 なかった事にしてくれたの なかったことにしてくれたの nakatta koto ni shite kureta no “He let me pretend like nothing ever happened.”

5 嬉しかった うれしかった ureshikatta “I was happy.”

6 でも…なくなっても心には残るの でも…なくなってもこころにはのこるの demo...nakunattemo kokoro ni wa nokoru no “But...even if it’s gone, it will remain in my heart.”

7 お茶子ちゃんはなかった事にしなかった おちゃこちゃんはなかったことにしなかった Ochako-chan wa nakatta koto ni shinakatta “Ochako-chan, you didn’t pretend like nothing ever happened.”

8 それは痛くて辛いけど それはいたくてつらいけど sore wa itakute tsurai kedo “That was painful and harsh, but”

9 触れられた時ーーー ふれられたときーーー furerareta toki--- “when you touched me---”

10 心がワクッて こころがワクッて kokoro ga WAKU tte “my heart got excited”

11 戦いは避けられなくても たたかいはさけられなくても tatakai wa sakerarenakutemo Even if this battle is unavoidable,

12 その奥にあるものを無視はしたくない そのおくにあるものをむしはしたくない sono oku ni aru mono wo mushi wa shitakunai I don’t want to ignore what’s behind it.

13 軽くなったから かるくなったから karukunatta kara “because you made it lighter.”

1 ありがとうねえお茶子ちゃん ありがとうねえおちゃこちゃん arigatou nee Ochako-chan “Thank you, Ochako-chan.”

2 嬉しかったよ うれしかったよ ureshikatta yo “I was happy.”

3 本当に嬉しかったのお茶子ちゃん ほんとうにうれしかったのおちゃこちゃん hontou ni ureshikatta no Ochako-chan “I was really happy, Ochako-chan.”

4 その人そのものになりたくて そのひとそのものになりたくて sono hito sono mono ni naritakute I wanted to become many people,

5-6 羨ましくて愛しくて血を飲み干してきた うらやましくていとしくてちをのみほしてきた urayamashikute itoshikute chi wo nomihoshite kita so I drank up the blood of those I envied, those I cherished.

1-3 ヒミ…コ…ちゃ… HIMI...KO...cha... “Himi...ko...-cha...”

4-5 はぁい haai “Ye-...ep!”

6 もしも moshimo If only

7 もっと早くに識れたなら もっとはやくにしれたなら motto hayaku ni shireta nara I had figured it out sooner,

8 血を飲み干したくなるのと同じくらい ちをのみほしたくなるのとおなじくらい chi wo nomihoshitaku naru no to onaji kurai then as much as I want to drink up the blood,

9 血をあげたくなるような ちをあげたくなるような chi wo agetaku naru you na it would have made me want to give blood.

10-11 そんな"好き"に出会えていたら そんな"すき"にであえていたら sonna “suki” ni deaete itara If I was able to meet [someone I] ‘liked’ like that,

12 世界はもっと生きやすかったかな せかいはもっといきやすかったかな sekai wa motto iki yasukatta ka na I wonder if the world would have been easier to live in.

1 それでも soredemo Nevertheless,

tagline 想い伝えて… おもいつたえて… omoi tsutaete... Conveying thoughts...

2 私はトガヒミコ わたしはトガヒミコ watashi wa TOGA HIMIKO I am Himiko Toga.

3 好きに生きて好きに生きた すきにいきてすきにいきた suki ni ikite suki ni ikita I live the way I like. I lived the way I liked.

4 世界一笑顔がカァイイ せかいいちえがおがカァイイ sekai ichi egao ga KAAII My smile is the cutest in the world.

5 普通の女の子！ ふつうのおんなのこ！ futsuu no onna no ko! I’m an ordinary girl!

[dekusleftsock]

Toga Himiko - To want a savior

When we think of Himiko, we often come to the conclusion that she is a girl of tragedy. Someone who has repeatedly been rejected by the society around her, and turning her into a “real villain”.

But have we stopped to think that Toga has already chosen to be saved? Let’s talk: the mind and choices to Himiko.

What is a hero?

Now, I’ve kinda talked about being a hero a lot. But I wanna ask the question, what does being a hero mean to Himiko?

Lets go back to our first introduction to Toga, why did she join the league?

Horikoshi often describes Stain as a “dark hero” or vigilante over an actual villain, making Himiko’s inspiration feel out of place (im not completely sure on this, I think he did? If I’m wrong sorry!! Working off of a vague memory I read of an interview). Stain has always had a motive, and that motive is to rid the world of “bad” and “corrupt” heroes. In stains belief system, a Hero is someone who is willing to sacrifice everything for the safety of others. Things like monetary pay or an egocentric Justice, things that Iida or Ochako have as reasons to be heroes at the beginning of mha, are villainess things in his mind. (Stain also questions the ideas and boundaries of what “true villainy” is because, to be honest, it’s a pretty relative term. It depends on your morals and ethics over anything else, and that kinda gets muddled and fuzzy the bigger the group. Also, are villains and criminals different? Like aoyama?)

So what does this mean for Himiko? Well, we don’t really know. We’re working off scraps, a vague idea of “being free”. Maybe she believes that fulfilling stains ideas will somehow bring this freedom, because she will only be around “true heroes”.

What we do know, is that she sees Izuku’s sacrifices with his beat up body, and Ochako’s impressive tenacity and empathy for others, and she adores it. She LOVES THAT SHIT. Of course, she could also just be attracted to Dekus blood or Ochakos life, but I think it’s more than that. Other than age, there’s no one in the league or general villains (that we know of) that she has developed these admirations or crushes on. She loves the league, but she certainly doesn’t admire them.

But she does admire Ochako and Izuku.

She “chose” two hero students specifically. Two students that have repeatedly proven themselves for their heroics. They are the ideal heroes in Stains eyes, because they repeatedly sacrifice.

Because Toga Himiko, would like to have someone who would sacrifice for her.

Do you want kill me too?

Himiko doesn’t hate heroes. She never has. Heroes have never been considered to her as a direct issue. Everyone else in the league was somehow done wrong by a hero, one way or another. Usually, this wrongness is then taken in as a vulnerability for someone else (like afo) to nurture into a festering hatred. Shigaraki and Dabi both experienced this, and spinner simply followed in Shigaraki’s footsteps after the (poorly written) fantasy racism that he experienced. (I refuse to just say racism, because it’s not at all an accurate portrayal of how racism works and it will continue to NEVER BE an accurate portrayal. Ever. I want to make that clear)

Himiko, however, has had an indirect grooming to some extent. This puts her in an interesting place of vulnerability; one that afo exploits and Ochako ignores.

Going all the way back to 289, this chapter encompasses two things: Himiko’s crush and Himiko’s hope.

Her crush, not understanding of what she’s saying or asking, is obviously confused by this inadvertent confession. Ochako doesn’t realize until 348’s “unrequited love��� chapter what this whole scene meant to Himiko.

Because, not only is this her direct confession, but an inadvertent call for saving. Of course, Himiko’s idea of being saved by Ochako, and Ochako’s idea of saving Himiko, would be very contradictory.

But it’s still there.

This is Ochako’s chance.

And she BLEW IT!

And god, she knew it. She knows that’s what this is, that’s what this realization was.

Because Ochako is supposed to be the hero that makes other people smile, not to be the one smiling.

Her thinking of Himiko during her speech? That was Ochako realizing her call for help.

Thinking of Himiko after her confession to Izuku? She realized that it was, not only a call for help directed at Izuku, but that her previous interaction was a confession.

The real Himiko Toga

So, that begs the question hero, who is the real Himiko Toga?

I don’t think this is about not loving someone. Himiko does love people, she only wanted to “become” Jin when she desperately needed to be. Because Jin loved Shigaraki and Dabi, Jin loved Toga Himiko.

And that’s something that she can’t do right now. She can’t love shigaraki, she can’t love afo, she can’t even love dabi, the man who gifted her that vile of blood. She can’t even love herself because of it.

That is, if love is the only factor here.

She can still love Dabi or Shigaraki, she can still admire afo, but that doesn’t mean she admires their hatred or loves their destruction. Jin loved people, he loved the life he built in the league. Himiko admired that happiness, she loved and cared for him. Thats why she can use his quirk but no one else’s.

What if, she needs to both love and admire someone? What if she never loved Izuku, but admired his heroics, like Ochako?

The scene that ochako thinks of here is actually Himiko calling out Ochako directly on loving someone.

This is about their shared crush, but was that crush ever real? Did it ever even matter? Is it just about their first interaction, Ochako’s obsessive rumination over this one interaction? Is this a callback to “ever since I met you, I just couldn’t stop thinking about you”?

What if it’s all of those things? It’s not so far fetched to believe that Ochako needs to use her thoughts, her love, and her admiration to save Himiko.

Because this is Ochako and Himiko’s acceptance of their crushes, heartbreaks, and admirations. Admiration and love get so muddled over time. There is a difference, especially when that admiration only holds you back, like in Ochako’s case, like in Himiko’s case. But they’re still apart of the same concepts.

Himiko’s love also isn’t just romantic, it’s familial or platonic. She’s rough around the edges, but the Himiko that went to Ochako to see if she would be saved is still there. And that’s why she’s not letting her go anymore.

Because Himiko Toga, the real one, still wants to be saved.

[junkdrawernoggin]

I genuinely can't tell what's different about my two fics. Maybe because the popularity and the demand for BG3 right now. My first fic is a UFO for MHA, 5 chapters and 16k words. It has 26 kudos and 348 hits. Posted the most recent chapter like 7 months ago.

My BG3 piece from last night is by no means even close to my best work (I'd consider myself an average writer, but I only did one edit pass compared to the 5 that the MHA fic has had). It's almost entirely dialogue and just...y'know eh.

It's 6.6k, the longest single chapter I've ever written. It's been up for maybe 12 hours and it has 19 kudos! It has 223 hits! Those numbers are insane. If it continues the way it's going, it'll surpass my MHA piece in 24 hours.

Idk thank y'all for checking it out. I'm really excited. I hope to clean it up when I'm done with classes today.

+ Not only that but it's about my OC! I mean it's mostly about Astarion through my OC's eyes but isn't that so crazy? This character I made and love with my whole heart is being seen by other people! How unique. How lovely to experience that.

[aussie-the-hedgehog]

So, I'm catching up on the MHA manga where the anime left off.

I'm on 349 now with about 45 chapters to go.

I need to buckle up for whatever the war arc has in store. The first two arcs (Star & Stripe, U.A. Traitor) were already emotionally gripping. I have been spoiled on some things, such as the identity of the traitor, but I'm still looking forward to see what goes down.

Read on for potential spoilers, though nothing overly spoiler-y.

Deku and Ochaco's chat before the final war arc was so touching. It was sweet when they both called the other "weird" in a sweet, gentle way.

I love the panel in 348 when Deku has to go back to fight Shigaraki after he initially got separated from him. I'll leave the panel here and let it speak for itself.

(All credit goes to Shonen Jump, Kohei Horikoshi and anyone else involved).

It gives a nod to the conversation I mentioned earlier. When anything sweet comes up between them, it always brings a smile to my face.

I'll drop back to give any more thoughts I have.

Also hope to bring that Inko and Ochaco dinner fanfic to you very soon! Life's been very chaotic lately, but I'm still eager to share it with you.

[lesser-mook]

MHA CHP 348 (Toga’s Plotarmor is INSANE)

Again, Toga is trash, 100% trailer trash. A fuckin clown.

The whole premise of her backstory basically: She's fucking weird, people point it out, now she's a villain because people "just don't get it" or mom didn’t pat her on the back for sucking off a dead birbs wounds for it’s life juices.

Which is...underwhelming and typical, given with how fucked in the head she is, you'd think she was like a rape victim, or a Human trafficking survivor or something. That alone would be a better origin story.

And with how fast she is, you'd think she has formal training like ANY of the Robins that were taught by Batman. Seriously why tf is this little shit so goddamn proficient at assassination fight styles...borderline Ninjutsu.

And what's more infuriating, Deku has Smokescreen, Float, Fa Jin, Full Cowling, Black Whip, the whole fucking Math equation.

Why isn't he using any of that to put this little girl down, OBVIOUSLY her "love" basically makes her the Venom to his Spider-sense. (Dumb shit btw)

OK, great, that's established, now let's switch it up, just use Black whip to restrain this fuckin punk, have Ochako Gravitize her and move on. BOOM, done.

I read the My Villain Academia Arc, i know she’s deadly, but why are we pretending she really goes hard like that?

Toga is not even that dangerous to how Deku is now, between Full Cowling and Black whip it's not even a goddamn fight.

How is it people can say Deku would pimp slap Homelander but he's legit getting circles ran around him by this B lister? What?

Toga, & Mirko- Horikoshi really needs to let go of his Authors boner for these two garbage cans and just kill them off.

There's NO REASON why Ochako didn't bring in Toga during Jaku arc, and there's no reason why Deku, DEKU as he is now, didn't bring her down here and now.

NOW he speeds off so the girls get their little mini-boss fight, away from the from the fights that matter.

JAKU ARC ALL OVER againTYPICAL.

She escapes Ochako in Jaku arc, now Deku speeds off before he & the girls can just put down Toga, finally.

And this happened because Horikoshi knows Toga doesn’t stand a chance, if the characters are allowed to just put her down.

Yes Tomura needs to be stopped, but it would take all of 3min or 30 sec to just black whip her into submission.

Toga’s plotarmor is kicking ass.

[bakuhatsufallinlove]

Now that 430 is suggesting 25yo Izuku has been the one narrating most of the story, could it be that 25yo Katsuki is the narrator of the "kuso nado" line after all? I bring this up b/c in you said previously the use of "kare" ruled Katsuki out—but could it be that 25yo K does use "kare" now for I? Especially say in a more formal "interview like" setting where he's recounting this story? (If nothing else, perhaps we can use this as a chance to talk about what language 25yo K might use for I.)

WILL THIS IDEA EVER DIE???

Let's do this point-by-point.

1. We have always known some future version of Izuku was narrating. This isn’t new information, it just narrowed down his age, which changes nothing.

2. Katsuki is seen screaming rude language at the press in the final chapter. In what universe is this a man who would change his behavior in an “interview-like setting”?

3. The anime gave us a narrator and it was a perfectly reasonable one. Present Mic is our exposition guy in the anime, and likewise he is the narrator and emcee of the stage musicals. Nobody was mad when he was reciting explanations of people’s Quirks.

4. If you read my posts on this topic, you’d know everything about that narration’s language rules Katsuki out, not just “kare.”

Katsuki has never used formal language towards Izuku or about Izuku, and he never will. This isn’t up for debate. Katsuki does not shift away from informal third-person addresses for Izuku regardless of who he is talking to or what circumstances he is in, and that is completely normal. For him to do so would suggest they have lost their close bond and become completely distant and detached from each other. Everyone was reasonably incensed over the (unfounded) assumption that Katsuki and Izuku drifted apart during the eight year time skip, but now you’re saying you want that?

Izuku and Katsuki already use the most familiar language with each other. Katsuki switching from temee to omae for Izuku is the only change of note, and notice my point about this being a return to how Katsuki referred to Izuku when they were kids, before their relationship fell apart. They are the closest they can be. Even if they were dating, it wouldn't change how they talk.

Do you know how I know that? It is partly based on my own observations of real people, but also, it's because that's how shipping doujinshi portray them.

From confessions and living together as a couple to scenes of them getting married, Katsuki and Izuku retain their canon-typical communication dynamics in Japanese fanworks.

I have never once seen Katsuki use polite Japanese in doujinshi. Fanworks are completely self-indulgent, so they include all kinds of wild, out-of-character behavior that just scratches an itch for the creator and their audience. The utter absence of this for Katsuki tells me not only that it reads as out-of-character, but also that it offers no satisfying emotional benefit in exchange. In Japanese, there's nothing romantic about the idea of Katsuki using formal language for Izuku.

Conversely, I can't tell you the number of times I've seen Katsuki whip out a sudden omae at the height of an emotional moment, driving home the tenderness he feels towards Izuku. Or the times during an established relationship story when Katsuki just casually defaults to omae for Izuku unless he's scolding him and uses temee. This is what reads as romantic, this is what comes across as believable and normal for them.

The narrator is not Katsuki and cannot be Katsuki. Nothing would be gained if it were Katsuki.

Just be charmed that an omniscient narrator went out of their way to say, “damn, that Bakugou kid was right about him” and laugh at the funny fucking joke, buddy.

[greenhappyseed]

MHA Ch. 382 leak reactions

SHINSOOOOOO!!! I’m glad to see him controlling Machia, but also heading towards AFO. I wonder what happens if he takes control of AFO while AFO is rewinding — it would certainly stall AFO’s escape, but how would it affect Tomura? And the OFA-AFO resonating/hearing each other thing? (Seeing Shinsou — the kid who didn’t even make it into the hero course and is fighting now under a special exemption from Mera — go up against AFO and hold his own would be amazing.)

It’s funny how AFO exploded into a younger version of himself only a few chapters after Tomura burst out of AFO’s potato-faced vestige and began wearing his old TomurAFO skin like a flannel tied around his waist.

I feel so awful for Toga. She abandoned most of her hope back in Ch. 341 (when Toya teased her for having a heart, and asked if she was really ready to put an end to the world), and then she slammed the door shut in Ch. 348 when Izuku rejected her confession. She said it was hard to live, even though she’s full of love. Now AFO hypes her up, saying she has yet to unleash her full power…and it’s a dud. Toga loves Toya and Tomura but her clones can’t use their quirks. If Twice could do it, and she’s now Twice, why can’t she fully be him and make clones that can use quirks? Does this mean she doesn’t love him enough? Toga’s so dejected that is her “love” is always getting in the way, no matter what her goals are. The Twice clones are telling her to exterminate the heroes but she just…can’t. There’s still that small part of her that doesn’t love destruction. Yes, she wants to be like her friend, Jin, but she doesn’t want to be the person who puts an end to the world.

Anyone else enjoying that Tsukauchi — a random Tokyo detective who accidentally discovered Toshinori Yagi’s big secret — is now in charge at HQ? And forging all kinds of random connections? Like the idea that Tsukauchi is going back and forth between La Brava and Hawks is HILARIOUS because those two are high maintenance and oh yeah, there’s also a multi-stage battle for the end of the world happening too.

[epickiya722]

If there has been one time I was genuinely annoyed with Izuku is this scene right here. And just know I will be again when it's animated.

There was no reason for him to stay and chat with Toga over what she meant by "boyfriend". Absolutely no reason.

Izuku, honey, you are everything to me but oh my gosh...

She just said she wants to be me, how she wants to suck your blood. And your reaction is to clarify what she meant by "boyfriend"?

IZUKU, GO! FUCKING GO!!

She is not the villain Izuku need to be facing. And I know some people will argue "but he wants to save people" but...

You know how hero characters will have that specific villain character? Yeah, no, Toga was not his. His was currently in the sky far, far away.

He should have skedaddle the fuck out of the there the first chance he got. When he realized Danger Sense didn't click, he should have moved and got the going. Like, Izuku, you are my favorite character of this manga/anime... but no! YOU GET THE MOVING OUT OF THERE!

Toga is for Ochaco (and Tsuyu, thank goodness for her, real MVP of that bit) to face. She is Ochaco's villain to save.

I'm so glad though Horikoshi didn't have him stay there longer and turned that whole thing into some meaningless catfight over Izuku.

Note: Just so we're clear here, I know Toga mentioned the word "boyfriend" before this part. I read the manga just like the rest of you. I'm not dumb. What I'm talking about here is that Izuku stayed on the fact she said "boyfriend" and even continued to stay to clarify even though right after that she said all this. Maybe it's just me, but the moment she mentioned sucking blood and wanting to be a person, "boyfriend" would have been thrown right out the window. I'm sorry, that's just me.

[chandralia]

I had to find these screenshots again, but they were both absolutely correct for this btw

and the cover of shonen jump for that chapter literally being green and orange…

[pikahlua]

[MASTERPOST] My Hero Academia Spoilers/Manga Translations Part 2

Continued from Part 1 here.

Ch. 369

Ch. 368

Ch. 367

Ch. 366

Ch. 365

Ch. 364

Ch. 363

Ch. 362

Ch. 361

Ch. 360

Ch. 359

Ch. 358

Ch. 357

Ch. 356

Ch. 355

Ch. 354

Ch. 353

Ch. 352 (full chapter)

Ch. 352

Ch. 351

Ch. 350

Ch. 349

Ch. 348 (clarification on Izuku’s response to Toga)

Ch. 348 (first three pages complete)

Ch. 348

Ch. 347

Ch. 346

Ch. 345

Ch. 344

Ch. 343 (full chapter)

Ch. 343

Ch. 342

Ch. 341 (first six pages)

Ch. 340

Ch. 338

Ch. 337

Ch. 336 Part 1

Ch. 336 Part 2

Ch. 336: The MHA 336 leak(???) translated

Ch. 335

Ch. 334

Ch. 333

Ch. 332

Ch. 330

Ch. 329

Ch. 327 (but only the first three pages)

Ch. 326

Ch. 325

Ch. 324

Ch. 322: What Katsuki needs to say

Ch. 322

Ch. 321

Ch. 320

Ch. 319

Ch. 318 Part 1

Ch. 318 Part 2

Ch. 318 Part 3

Ch. 310 Translation Notes

Ch. 302 Translation Notes

Ch. 290-291 Dabi’s broadcast translation

Ch. 284 Translation Notes

[notanythingyet]

“Because for all his triumphs, he was still just a…”