deku’s mental resilience is honestly really incredible.
he can withstand an entire decade, from young childhood, of being discouraged by society and logical fact, not believed in by his own mother, put down/pushed away by his best friend, and laughed at by everyone else around him for his dreams–all because of something that was entirely beyond his control. and the only thing that could actually discourage him was a miraculous encounter with his idol.
he can withstand the hope and expectation for his greatest desire (a quirk) rising up to overflowing, and then being drained totally within minutes. and then nearly manic desperation, and crushing disappointment after. but still come out of it holding steadfast to his dreams and believing in himself. all when he was four fucking years old.
he can withstand the mental stress of life-threatening scenarios, and think and strategize within that stress just as well as (and sometimes even better than) people who are professionally required to experience it and think/strategize within it regularly. and, after its over, emerge with little to no psychological damage. as the equivalent of a goddamn freshman in high school.
he can withstand immense physical pain without any fear or hesitation, and still think quickly and effectively to achieve what he wants. he can efficiently theorize strategy and escape routes while under the influence of terrifyingly intense emotion and emotional stress. he can pull himself back from literally paralyzing fear within seconds, and was prepared to barrel right to the source of that fear.
and then, once safe, be entirely unaffected by any of the mental strain he experienced.
he hasn’t even turned fucking 17.
but yes, by all means, make him out to be a traumatized victim and not the terrifying monster of mental fortitude he is.
