Deku, Heroism and Education
There’s a lot of discourse over Deku’s actions in Chapter 431 with one of the biggest being him rejecting Bakugou’s invitation to join his hero agency. Many claims of it being OOC and even starting the #NotMyIzuku tag to show their discontent. While many have some valid forms of complaints, this is not one of them as many would ignore the journey and growth Izuku has in terms of his relationship with his passion, the education system, and his personal ideals. And they ignore the main message of chapter 431 and the results of Deku bringing in a more empathetic/helpful world.
In the beginning, Izuku’s middle school experience was seen by many as the lowest point of his life. His relationship with his peers were non-existent/antagonistic and the adults in these settings are less than willing to join in. While these teachers don’t add to Deku’s workload, they’re not helping.
Deku’s actual struggle with education comes in the forms of All Might and Aizawa. The optimist and the cynic. These two teachers give Deku different perspectives on the heroes. All Might is always encouraging to a point with Izuku and having unwavering faith in him while Aizawa stands as the best obstacle in front of him. Aizawa confronts and questions Deku’s methods. Sacrifice his arm to get one good hit in or act practical to ensure he lives longer. It gets to a point where their two opposing styles initially sets them up as a tense relationship.
Aizawa and All Might set up the dichotomy and the varying levels of what kind of teachers Deku has in his life. Gran Torino and Sir Nighteye help Deku discover and reinforce what ideals he wants as a hero, encouraging him to break the mold of All Might while keeping his nature alive. Endeavour oddly enough would be the most technical mentor in helping Deku master his powers.
The teachers in his life have become important figures in his life. Up to the point where Deku puts his body on the line to protect Aizawa, not just for his quirk but the fact that he wants to protect someone important. It’s why he tries to talk sense to Touya by remarking that the Endeavour who taught him was someone worth hearing out.
Even in the Vigilante Arc where Deku was supposedly alone, he had the past users of One For All mentor him on their powers. His mastery of each power wouldn’t be so substantial without their help. Again, Kudo and Nana challenge his ideals when it comes to the idea of saving Shigaraki. Banjo, En, and Bruce help him master his power. Every milestone Deku had whether it be for his ideals or his powers were shaped by the people he’s encountered.
This point of view helps lay a foundation for why Deku puts his stock into being a teacher and why even if he had OFA that he would still be a teacher. Teaching and inspiring the generations after him is his own way of saving the world. Like All Might he can reach for anyone and save them with a smile on his face, unlike All Might he doesn’t need to fight, especially not in the empathetic world he brought on.
This is how Deku defines his sense of heroism away from All Might and what truly separates them. To become the guiding figure that every one of his mentor’s was.
This is an important part which Bakugou even acknowledges in Chapter 431. He doesn’t ask about the agency invite, he explicitly mentions his passion for teaching and whether or not he’s willing to leave it to start an agency.
At this point in time both Bakugou and Deku have grown up to a point where they can know what they want from life and what makes them happy. And it’s maturity on Bakugou’s part that he asks Deku first and foremost what he wants from his life and what later prompts him to discuss what else Deku wants from his life.
I understand many wanting a bigger reaction to being invited or wanting him to fulfill the dream of the Wonderduo, but this conversation and Deku’s answer highlight the boundaries and preferred life Deku desires. His dream of being a hero was fulfilled when he stopped Shigaraki and pursued a career that lets him be in the same position as All Might and even AFO. A mentor to guide others. The world to him will be safe as long as there are those who will help educate and guide others.
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