WHAT ELDRICH
ABOMINATION HORROR IS THIS GUY’S QUIRK
WHAT IN THE FUCK DID
HE DO TO KIRISHIMA LIKE. YALL KNOW THAT RICK AND MORTY EPISODE WHERE RICK
ACCIDENTALLY TURNS EVERYONE INTO KRONENBURG MONSTERS? THIS IS THAT
so if deku gets injured a couple more times he won’t be able to use his arms anymore but he also knows losing the use of at least one arm is a shonen protag requirement so there’s a big dilemma here.
IIda is so mad about Midoriya doing stuff when he is injured bc!!!! it’s like his brother!!! that he punches him. Iida. I don’t think giving him more injuries is the solution.
Momo insists on going with the Gang so she can physically prevent them from doing anything stupid. GOOD PLAN MOMO I APPROVE. Iida decides he will do the same thing because he’s a copycat.
Then we have this conversation which is the best:
Kirishima: so Uraraka made a good point, that Bakugo will hate it when we rescue him
Todoroki: oh GOD yes he definitely will
Deku: It’s going to scar him psychologically. so deeply that it will never heal. it would probably be kinder to let him die. I know this better than anyone.
Todoroki: so just to be clear we’re doing something literally no one on the planet wants us to do, including Bakugo.
Kirishima: But we’re doing it! solely because we have a lot of FEELINGS!
Deku: YUP. LOVE THIS SQUAD.
IIda: oh my god
Momo: what is wrong with y’all.
then:
I LOVE MY SONS.
so they need to GET DISGUISES to be COVERT and Momo practically jizzes herself on the street like “LET’S GO TO THE THRIFT STORE” and it is instantly the best thing I have ever seen:
DEKU IS A GANGSTER NOW AND HE IS TERRIBLE AT IT
TODOROKI IS THE OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB MEMBER HE WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE DEEP DOWN. (~*THE STOIC BUT TROUBLED TYPE*~)
Momo is the slightly buzzed, bling encrusted uptown mama OF HER DREAMS
Oh man, I totally didn’t pick up on Bakugo’s motivations. I just pegged him as an insufferable sadistic shithead, really. As much as I enjoyed the dunking-on I couldn’t understand why everyone didn’t just yell at him to STFU every time he opened his mouth.
I mean, he IS a insufferable sadistic shithead who enjoys feeling dominant over others and crushing them or whatever, his motivations are entirely selfish, they just happen to align with the side of good, which is kinda hilarious. A Villain can never be the best in Bakugo’s eyes because they rely on subterfuge and catching people off guard. The way they took Bakugou- they didn’t fight to the finish. They came in, used the advantage of surprise, hit weak spots, caused distractions, took hostages,then retreated strategically.That’s just like, admitting you’re vulnerable and wouldn’t win in a head on fight (to Bakugou). They also have a ~cause~ with the whole “hero system is unjust” thing which Bakugou doesn’t care at all about. As far as I can tell, he honestly doesn’t feel like society is holding him down nor does he want to Change the World.
Bakugo just wants to be the BEST and nobody like Deku will ever think he’s vulnerable!!! And All Might, someone who can win even when caught off guard, is the best and most invulnerable in Bakugou’s view. NO ONE thinks All Might needs help! All Might doesn’t ever feel vulnerable or afraid!
What will be interesting is what will happen when Bakugo finds out All Might IS actually vulnerable and gets afraid and CAN lose. And chose someone very vulnerable and afraid and capable of losing to be his successor. That’s going to be the thing that has the potential to break his worldview.
As for why no one tells him to shut up, I don’t think that would have much point, he’s not going to listen. Tuning him out is the most effective coping strategy if the adults aren’t going to discipline him properly.
Mmmm! And all that leads into “why does he fear being vulnerable so much”.
And you know, that’s probably going to be a plot point. Like, I noticed that Muscular looked an AWFUL lot like Bakugo, wouldn’t be surprised if he factored in. Though I’m actually really into that? Like, I’ve seen enough media by now to be tired of the “every major character flaw has a cause trope”. I kinda want Bakugo to just be a shithead because…he’s like that, ya know? That’s just his base personality, no real reason, he’s just a straight-up asshole, he doesn’t need healing or redemption or closure, maybe he’ll grow up and learn to stuff it, but don’t pathologize it, some people are just frickin awful for no real reason.
Also I mentioned this already but since I’m already typing – I noticed how Shigaraki’s whining abot heroes being paid clashed with Uraraka’s motivation and I really want her to have a big showdown with him. Like, not that predictab;e Shonen Protagonist vs Act 1′s Villain showdown, but give that fight to HER, make her prove herself, see how she grows. That would be beautiful.
Well, I think that the explanation for that is fairly simple and was already demonstrated- because of his talent he was told by everyone that he was cool and invincible and invulnerable as a kid and was repeatedly sold this idea that’s how people like him SHOULD be, so the idea of NOT living up to that image of himself he now believes in so strongly makes him really upset. A superpowered version of toxic masculinity, if you will. It IS just how he is, but how he is was shaped by how people treated him and the narrative he came to believe in.
I don’t really believe people are ever awful for no reason, just that reasons aren’t necessarily tragic or sympathetic- if you’re born into power, the idea of losing that power is terrifying. If society tells you that you should be this way, you’ll come to believe you should. Bakugou’s circumstances aren’t tragic, what is tragic is the society that taught him winning is the only thing and vulnerability must be avoided at all costs. I don’t think the manga is going to pathologize it or make it something beyond that. It’s probably not too late for Bakugou to be corrected and see the flaws in his worldview, especially since he’s still a kid
. Whether he will or not remains to be seen. if we’re going from a realistic standpoint, it could go either way. If we’re talking the way shonen narratives go, I expect he’ll develop in a positive direction, though i don’t think anyone should hold their breath for a complete personality change.
That’s a good idea with Uraraka, I’d really like that conflict and it has great potential. I wish I had faith that Horikoshi would also see the potential there and give Uraraka that role, but…I don’t. I’d love to be proven wrong though.
1) that Deku calls Bakugou fucking “Kacchan” after all these years even though theyre in fucking high school (and despite what an ass Kacchan is to him) 2) that Katsuki “would burn Deku’s house down for looking at him funny” Bakugou somehow takes zero issue with this
In part I feel like Bakugou hasn’t noticed. Like, that was normal when they were kids and somehow it never occurred to him that MAYBE it’s a little childish now that theyre 15 like
Kirishima: “Bro, isn’t it a little weird how you hate Deku but like you’re so chill with him calling you Kacchan?” Bakugou: “Huh?” Kirishima: “You know, like it’s a pet name. I mean it’s adorable as fuck bro don’t get me wrong, you’re a cute Kacchan. It’s just weird you let Deku do it.” Bakugou: -defensive and now worried for his masculinity- “What do you mean!? That’s just………..what Deku does okay? Lay off. I’ll fucking kill you!” Kirishima: “Yeah okay whatever you say ~~~Kacchaaan~~~”
Deku opens his locker one day and finds there’s a note in there from Kacchan
To Deku:
Here’s a list of things you have permission to call me
1) Hyper-masculine Destructor 2) Exploding God of Power 3) Number One Hero in training 4) Bakugou-sama 5) Nothing. Don’t talk to me. 6) Not fucking “Kacchan”
–Exploding God of Power
Deku shows the note to Iida and Uraraka. Uraraka says it’s probably smart to respect Bakugou’s wishes and call him by what he wants to be called.
Uraraka now refers to him as “Not Fucking Kacchan”
I was rewatching Uraraka vs Bakugou and Midoriya vs Todoroki at the gym today and theres a few important things i wanna point out that i missed with my old recap
Okay really it’s one thing but Deku has this habit of just rolling over submissive to people who intimidate him, until they say one negative word about someone Deku cares about
Then Deku goes right for the jugular and it’s great
Bakugou: Move, loser Deku: O-o-o-h-h-h Kacchan I didn’t see you!!! Ah whoops s-s-sorry I’m heading on out of here sorry to be in your way I-I-I I’m going now!!!! Bakugou: You piece of shit, you told Gravity Girl to mess with me, didn’t you Deku: Hey Baku-bitch listen the fuck up for one second k? Uraraka came up with that strategy all on her own, because she’s smart, and if I catch you insulting her ever again you can catch these fucking hands,
Endeavor: Move, loser Deku: O-o-o-h-h-h-h Endeavor I didn’t see you!!!! Ah whoops s-s-sorry I’m heading on out of here sorry to be in your way I-I-I I’m going now!!!!
Endeavor: Dont hold back fighting Shouto–I need him to surpass All Might as my ultimate creation and beating you is the first step. Deku: Yo hey Endeavor u take criticism? You’re a horrific piece of shit and Todoroki owes you nothing. He’s his own person. And that’s not you so. Crawl back into the sewer you spawned in and never come back out.
“Ah heck oh no I annoyed Kacchan! I’ll just keep walking dont want any beef with Kacchan!”
*insults Ururaka*
“Fuck you I take that back now I’m angry.”
“Oh geez oh man it’s Endeavor I gotta just keep walking he’s a scary dude.”
After the Fall of All Might, it
doesn’t actually seem all that important to worry about his love life.
In fact, at that point, nothing much
seems important. Todoroki just privately decides he’s not going to try to
discuss the matter with Midoriya anymore. Too many other things were occupying
both of them, so it just doesn’t seem like something that even matters anymore.
The world seems different, anyhow.
Now that All Might is no longer the number one hero, now that it was revealed
so publicly that All Might was no longer as strong as he used to be, the world
is a very different place then it was, and everything just seems small in
comparison.
Which is why it comes somewhat as a
surprise when Midoriya seeks him out.
*
Todoroki hadn’t put that much
thought into what it would mean that they all live on campus now. Just another
part of the world that has changed, post-Kamino Ward. All things considered,
it’s a very minor thing compared to all the other changes
But apparently it means that it can
be ten o’clock at night, and Midoriya can knock on his door, and then they can
be alone in Todoroki’s bedroom and that, all of the sudden, feels like a very
big change.
“I, um, know we haven’t talked.
About the whole—” Midoriya starts, and he looks embarrassed and flustered and
maybe like he doesn’t want to be having this discussion.
And if Midoriya doesn’t want to have
this discussion, Todoroki doesn’t want to make him. “It’s alright,”
Todoroki says. “If you don’t want to talk about it, we don’t have
to.”
How is the soulmate conversation supposed to go? In movies or dramas, the
couple realizes they’re soulmates, becomes very teary-eyed, and then they
embrace artfully on screen. In real life, surely it must be more awkward than
that. During one Sports Festival, Midoriya went from rival classmate to
destined soulmate, and that would have been a difficult transition to make
under any situation. Now, Todoroki is thankful for the opening of friendship,
and he’s not sure what else was supposed to happen.
"Or if you’re in love
with someone else—”
“N-no! That’s definitely not
it! I don’t—I mean, I guess I never really thought much about—love or
anything like that,” Midoriya says, flailing his hands and blushing
slightly. “It’s just—” he takes in a deep breath, and Todoroki once
again feels bad.
“You don’t really have to do
this,” Todoroki says, not sure what “this” is but wanting to do
everything he could to make Midoriya feel better, “We can still keep—”
“I might not be your
soulmate,” Midoriya blurts out.
Todoroki blinks. This wasn’t at all
what he expected Midoriya to say. “I am not an expert, having just the
one, but I’m pretty sure you are,” Todoroki says quizzically. “I know
I’m new at this—”
He breaks off, all of the sudden
remembering that he’s only sensed Midoriya’s Quirk since before school started,
and how that’s not usually how it goes, with soulmates, unless Midoriya had
just been born a couple months ago.
Or if he just got a Quirk a couple
months ago.
“I—wasn’t supposed to talk
about this. I promised I wouldn’t. But, the thing is, I did just get my Quirk
recently. It’s not exactly mine. Which made me wonder if, perhaps, that
meant you weren’t my soulmate, either. Not mine, that is.”
There’s a lot not being said with
that statement. But it is perhaps not as confusing as it would have been if
Midoriya had talked to him right after the Sports Festival. Now, Todoroki has a
lot more context for things he didn’t know were possible, previously. Like the
idea that Quirks could be taken away, or that Quirks could be put into
monsters, and he thinks about how he always thought Midoriya’s Quirk was a lot
like All Might and—
“All Might is not my
soulmate,” Todoroki says, closer to hysteria than he’s ever been before.
“No, no, no,” Midoriya
says, “Although, ahh, no, All Might agreed, but he didn’t know—he really
didn’t know what it meant. That I found you, that is. He said he never felt
like he had a soulmate, and that’s not how—how it works. He said the Quirk is
mine, now, but he wasn’t sure how soulmates factored into that, and I thought a
lot about that, and it just seemed like maybe it would be wrong to let you believe I was your soulmate, when we
weren’t sure if that was the case, especially if we couldn’t
prove otherwise. So I wanted you to know that. I didn’t want you feeling—stuck
with me.”
Todoroki still has no idea what is
going on, but he feels like he shouldn’t ask. If Midoriya made a promise to All
Might, then whatever is going on with their Quirks isn’t something Todoroki
should ask about.
But the way Midoriya says that—st
uck with me—his self-deprecating laugh and nervousness, it all makes it
seem like Midoriya is thinking that Todoroki doesn’t want Midoriya
to be his soulmate, and that’s crazy. Our entire class visited you in the
hospital. Not our other three injured classmates, every single person in our
class decided, “I have to visit Midoriya.” You were broken beyond
imagination and Kirishima still thought you could find a solution to save his
friend, and you did, you did. Iida and Yaoyaozuri created an
impossible situation, “rescue Bakugou without using your Quirks” and you found
that solution. You saved me with just three words.
It seems impossible to think anyone
wouldn’t want to be Midoriya’s soulmate.
“It doesn’t matter,”
Todoroki says, causing Midoriya to flinch, and Todoroki knows he’s doing this
wrong. “Whether or not you’re my soulmate, I mean. I still like you. I
would still like you even if we weren’t soulmates.”
“Oh,” Midoriya says,
wide-eyed and unsure.
And since the only thing seems to be
to prove it—and they are alone in Todoroki’s bedroom—Todoroki leans
forward and kisses Midoriya on the lips, since he figures he’s better with
actions then words anyway.
Midoriya promptly turns completely
red and falls to the floor, so Todoroki is not entirely sure he did the right
thing.
“Todoroki-kun!” Midoriya
says.
“I like being friends,”
Todoroki says quickly, if that’s what Midoriya wants then he’s happy with that.
“And if we’re not soulmates, then I still want to date you. But if you
don’t, then being friends was always enough.”
“Oh,” Midoriya says again.
He’s still red (and still on the floor) but he says, “I didn’t know that
was an option. Dating. I’m not entirely sure how to do that.”
“Me neither,” Todoroki
says. “But I think we can figure it out.” Midoriya definitely can, at
any rate. If there’s one thing Todoroki is confident on, it’s that Midoriya
Izuku can figure out anything.
A/N: The end!! I think I’m done =D
Thanks to the readers! It will be up on ao3 in it’s entirety soon!!
Thanks
to everyone reading!
Part One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, and Seven! Sorry for the long post, just really wanted to finish it up =)
just moving along like everyone else 