Do you think Bakugou was about to have a panic attack after the combat training against Deku and Uraraka? Or was he just really freaked out at the fact that he lost to Deku ?
Honestly, i think it’s a very likely possibility.
He was in shock, he began shaking, and it looked a lot like he started hyperventilating… i’m no expert, but to me, that sounds a lot like the start of a panic attack or an emotional breakdown.
As petty as it sounds (and trust me, it is very petty)… right here, Bakugou’s entire world view had just been destroyed. Texas smashed that shit, yo. It’s not even dust, it’s nonexistent.
for his entire life, Bakugou believed that he was better than Izuku. It was a fact, pure and simple. He defined himself by this, and it was a major part of his identity. He was better than Izuku. Its what he believed, it was his entire reality, it’s how the world always was, and how the world would always be.
Except, it’s not. Izuku just beat him. he might be collapsed, unconscious, and on the ground… but he still beat him.
again, as petty as it is, and it is EXTREMELY PETTY, Bakugou believed that he was better than Izuku since he was 4. he defined a large part of his identity on this simple idea. and in this one moment, it was completely shattered.
i honestly believe that, if All Might hadn’t been there, Bakugou would’ve had an emotional breakdown or a panic attack. All Might putting his hand on Bakugou’s shoulder snapped him out just enough to prevent a breakdown/panic attack, but he was still very shaken.
i think watching the other student’s matches helped to stave off Bakugou’s possible breakdown/panic attack. By watching them, he came to realize that it wasn’t just Izuku who was better than him, all the other students were just as strong as, if not moreso.
Look at the first panel. he’s still in shock from his match against Izuku. but in the second, he’s starting to realize that he’s not the best, and he’s being forced to accept it. he’s being forced to accept that everything he believed was wrong.
i actually went to get the official translation of this scene because the scanlations don’t do it enough justice.
“That icy bastard! No way I can measure up to him, either…!!”
Bakugou just admitted that he didn’t think he could go up against Todoroki. For his entire life, he thought he was better than everyone, not just Izuku. now, he’s admitting that he doesn’t think he can beat someone.
Losing to Izuku shook him to the core.
(side note: i think that quote here is one of the reasons why Bakugou was so pissed when he won during the Sports Festival, because he wanted to win against Todoroki in a fair fight. he wanted to test himself, to see how much he’d grown. Todoroki didn’t fight back at full force, however, and Bakugou won because of it.
He truly believed he couldn’t win against Todoroki at this point, but by the Sports Festival he had trained hard and had enough confidence in his abilities to fight against someone he once thought he couldn’t beat. really, it’s no wonder Bakugou was so angry after it all.)
If Izuku hadn’t spoken to Bakugou at this scene, i think it would’ve really hurt him. you could tell it was still stewing in his head as he was leaving the school. I think Bakugou would’ve fallen into a depression of sorts, or maybe become self destructive, if he didn’t let out those feelings and emotions somehow.
(and by self destructive, i mean pushing himself to unhealthy levels. training himself harder, and harder, and harder, so he’d never be in that situation again, until he just couldn’t handle it anymore and he collapsed from exhaustion. for an example, think Vegeta.)
seriously, just look at Bakugou here. he looks totally numb, disillusioned, and completely unlike himself.
there’s fire in those eyes. there’s no explosive temper or anger or pride. there’s nothing.
Izuku’s declaration here helped Bakugou let out all those feelings and emotions. it gave him an outlet to express his frustrations. how, for the first time, he didn’t feel like he could beat someone. how he lost, how he fucked up, how he’s gonna get fucking better and he’s how he’s gonna beat EVERYONE, because he’s gonna be the best, dammit.
it allowed him to cry, and vent, and express himself in a healthy way, instead of holding it all in, stewing in his head, and letting it out in a self-destructive way.
i really think that, if it wasn’t for All Might and Izuku, Bakugou could’ve easily had an emotional breakdown, a panic attack, or fallen into depression. but because of their interference, despite how small it was, he was able to snap out of it and vent his emotions in a way that helped him accept what happened and move on from his loss.
he’s no longer stewing on the past and his mistakes, he’s focusing on the future and what he’s gonna do to get better.
so yes, i do think that Bakugou was close to a panic attack after his fight with Izuku. it didn’t happen, but i truly believe that it was a very near thing.
