Thought I ought to bring this over here for the Tumblr crew since itās making a little buzz in the other place and I want to gather all my thoughts in one place.
So, back in 2022 I was in my feelings about Izuku (when am I not?) and wrote the following little sad headcanon on twt:
Made myself sad thinking about how the original Japanese word for Quirk is ākoseiā, which means āindividualityā or the unique part of a personality. Itās no wonder Deku thought he was plain and useless. Everyone has literally been telling him since he was 4. š Like, thereās no way at that age he could separate people talking about his lack of meta-ability from his own unique value as a person when theyāre using the same damn word. Thatās the kind of stuff thatās going to stick with you. š„ŗ
Fast forward to 2024 and chapter 412, and as always, I was browsing the jp fandom tweets for reactions after the official release. They often pick up on things we miss like Katsukiās childlike language, the NTR implications of the kudoichi plot etc.
As I scrolled, I realised there was a HUGE disconnect between what we in āThe Westā were experiencing (mostly rage at yet another translation āchoiceā) and the existential questioning that was occurring among Japanese readers.
This is just a tiny glimpse, but you should know that every single one I saw was doing the tweet equivalent of staring into the middle distance with a haunted look.
Itās all about the panel below, which was mentioned by the incomparable Pikahlua, as it is unusual in writing āmukoseiā without the speechmarks that signify āquirklessā (to use the English term) rather than ālacking individualityā.
Horikoshi always uses speechmarks around āKoseiā when talking about quirks, so the implication here is that Izuku never believed he had actual individuality/personality.
Using this interpretation, Kudou observed that Izuku held the hope that even people who were detestable (Katsuki) and those who had no individuality (Izuku) still had human hearts.
Read that again. Izuku hoped that both he and Kacchan, despite their shortcomings, had human hearts. He thinks his only worth is as a vessel, a holder of OFA, and without that heās barely human.
Ever noticed how some parts of the fandom complain that Deku is a boring MC, that heās just āniceā, and we never get his opinions on things? Yeah.
Remember how hard he cried when All Might said he could be a hero? That was the first time in his life that someone acknowledged him as someone with potential, with worth. (In ch2 he also says āI have no reason to refuse!!ā when offered OFA, which always struck me as slightly anticlimactic but makes way more sense now).
And remember how he cried in a similar way when Ochako told the world that he wasnāt special but that he had a special power? She couldnāt have known she was reinforcing his deepest held insecurity, and for a moment his mask slipped. Or maybe he was touched by her assertion that he was just a āregular high school kidā? We donāt know, but itās worth taking a look at these moments in this new light.
You staring into the middle distance with a haunted look too yet? I know I am.
If youāre interested in the bright side (I needed this, I hope it helps):
Narratively speaking, this is the angst section that will lead to Midoriya Izuku: Rising and the happy ending they all deserve.
And the person most likely to disavow him of this sense of inherent worthlessness is the one person who added to it the most in their childhoods.
No one else can reassure Izuku that he is special, that heās worthwhile andācruciallyāthat he always has been, because heās the only one who knew that all along.
If you need more reassurance, remember that their Origin and Rising chapters so far have all involved each other and have mirrored the emotional journey theyāre both on.
Bakugou Katsuki: Origin: Katsuki struggles to accept Izuku and work as a team to battle All Might. Eventually does the bare minimum to cooperate by lending him his gauntlet.
Bakugou Katsuki: Rising: Katsuki coordinates the pro heroes and sacrifices himself to save Izuku. His body āmoved on its own.ā
Midoriya Izuku: Origin: Izuku is bullied by Katsuki, tries to save Katsuki from a villaināhis body āmoved on its ownā, and is consequently told he can be a hero by All Might.
It isnāt a reach at all to pretty safely assume that Izukuās Rising chapter will also be intrinsically linked to Katsuki, and it is his cooperation, faith and love (however you interpret it) that will finally save Izuku from his own sense of worthlessness. Closing the circle.
So yeah, this bit could be rough for the next few chapters, but I have faith that Horikoshi will wrap it up in a way that will be so rewarding and satisfying.
Iām gonna stop now because Iām ill and I need to rest my head, thanks for reading! š®āšØ
