I’ve always had a head cannon that Toshinori is a very emotional person. Like when he was a kid he would sob at the drop of a hat just like Izuku. Telling him a sad story or seeing a puppy/kitten would make him tear up and sniffle.
When he met Nana she found it cute, but would gently try to get him to control his emotions better, “Nobody’s going to want to be saved by someone who’s snot-nosed crying! Instead, try to smile, show them there’s nothing to be scared about!” Gran Torino was much harsher, demeaning him whenever he let the control over his emotions slip. He was trying, but he was still young. When Nana died, Toshinori found it even more difficult not to break down at things that reminded him of her throughout the day.
Gran Torino used him as his own personal punching bag, beating the feelings right out of him. It was easier that way, to hurt physically than emotionally. When Grant Torino sent him to America, he made a promise to himself, that no matter how terrible things got, no matter what horrors he’d see, he wouldn’t cry. The people deserved someone who could be positive, a Symbol that there was still hope. He learned to stuff his emotions down, only showing the bright smile that made everyone feel safe, and hiding everything else.
He had almost perfected it, always smiling, always positive, the kind of guy everyone wants to be around, until he met Izuku. The snot nose kid reminded him of himself at that age, and those emotions that he held so strongly below the surface started trying to make their appearance again. Perhaps out of fear, and as he was taught, Toshinori tried to reason with Izuku to hide his tears, man up, like he had to. “Seriously! You gotta stop crying so much if you want my quirk! Come on, kid.” It’s too dangerous to feel. If you have to, keep it inside. Don’t let anyone see that you’re not as perfect as you pretend to be.
But Toshinori found the control over his emotions slipping. His entire life was changing and he could nothing to stop it. He couldn’t save anyone anymore, more of a burden than a hero now. The constant ache of being helpless, along with the pain ever steady in his side grew more and more overwhelming.
Kamino hit, and Toshinori found the control over his emotions slipping. Everything he knew was over. He couldn’t find it in himself to even smile. What was the point anymore. No one would find his corpse-like face comforting. But when he saw his boy running to him, he was filled with a joy that, maybe he was doing something right. Izuku was still alive, he didn’t engage in a fight with AFO like he feared. Telling the boy that he was proud of him words he missed from Nana, and wished he could have heard from Gran Torino he could feel his voice wavering, embracing his boy the best he could with his broken body. And when Izuku clings back, like he had feared he may never have gotten see his mentor alive again, it painfully reminded Toshinori of the day he lost his own. Emotions overflowing, and frustrated with himself, he allowed his tears to fall.
“What’d I say about keeping your word, you little crybaby?
I thought we agreed that you’d stop it with the waterworks.”
I always felt Toshinori was very numb, emotionally dull, especially in his Small Might form. He’s been drained, granted, but more than that, he’s put up a front for so many years, that it’s most likely a bit of relief to not have to constantly outwardly appear happy handsome, as he may believe. But I believe the years from constantly smiling has imprinted on him to the point he constantly bears his teeth. Though with his excessive weight loss, the grin that used to bring joy to millions, now looks like painfilled grimace. And perhaps that’s fitting.
Besides showing an occasional grin or that silly side that everyone loved All Might for, he’s very emotionless now. I believe he’s emotionally detached, allowing himself not to be happy 24/7, but still keeping himself from outwardly expressing his negative feelings. Nobody wants to see how messed up, how damaged you are.
Doesn’t help that now his own body is forcing him to remain in a calm state. In one of the only instances we see All Might actually excited about something, his body appears unable to take the emotional strain.
And he’s forced to go back to a calmer state.
Again here he only transforms into his muscle form, only flexing his muscles, and again his body resists it.
And you can practically see the self-hate in his expression at his body’s weakness.
In the few instances he’s actually allowed himself to cry, it’s been brief, as if he’s still holding back, resisting the emotion as much as he physically can. Once the floodgates open, I fear they may never stop.
