BKDK JUST STABBED ME, shot me and twisted the knife…because I just realized all they ever wanted was to hold each other’s hands.
And every time they do—
We see them working in perfect unspoken harmony.
it’s also an instinct, a longing in a way.
Izuku feels at ease when someone holds his hand, Katsuki’s instinct is to try and make him feel at ease, I don’t think it would be a stretch to say Katsuki associates taking izuku’s hand with comfort, home, and a kind of giving up, a vulnerability he fights against.
in DKVKC 2 Katsuki pins Izuku like this:
He holds his head down, and grips his hand/wrist tightly. He is trying to regulate his emotions, to keep both them, and deku in check. (Although this is more of a stretch)
Earlier than this, in the bakugou rescue arc, Izuku asks Kirishima to be the one to extend a hand (i.e comfort and reassurance) because he knows Katsuki won’t accept it.
because, although Izuku doesn’t know it yet—Katsuki perceives comfort and empathy as coddling and pity. He’s not okay with recieving it, and he’s not okay with giving it.
until—
(Yeah, I’m gonna be checked out until next week…)
because later, in mha 431 deku doesn’t take his hand. He doesn’t accept comfort, because he feels it’s disingenuous. He doesn’t want help, he doesn’t want to feel like a burden, like a deku.
They are no longer able to hold hands in a split second moment of battle, there is no war. There is no reason for them to seek eachother’s comfort anymore.
i know I'm a hopeless romantic and also a bakudeku fanatic, but when I say bakudeku is queer platonic canon- i deadass mean it (exluding 431 which is a whole 'nother conversation to be held)
Now of course, I don't think Hirikoshi knows what "queer platonic" is. But I do think- that in creating bkdk's relationship, the aspects of what queer platonic is is what he was going for.
I say this especially since Shigaraki literally confirmed that they are the closest to each other, which means CANONICALLY, not figuratively or as a headcanon or any of that mumbo jumbo, Izuku and Bakugo are closer to each other than anyone else.
If this is the case, then that means they're at least either best friends, lovers, or siblings.
Obviously, they aren't lovers (canonically at least) because there's not enough evidence to support it.
However, I wouldn't necessarily consider them best friends or siblings either.
Obviously they aren't literally related, but "found family" is a possibility for them bejng siblings. Except, they don't necessarily give off that vibe. Even though they've known each other since a very young age, there was a period of time when they didn't even really talk to each other. The thing about siblings is that they grow up together, and then part ways. Instead, Bakugo is has CANONICALLY expressed that he wants to spend the rest of his life with izuku. He wants to "chase after" him. This isn't really your usual sibling dynamic, nor is is the dynamic of a best friend.
Furthermore, the kudoichi parallels to bakudeku weren't a coincidence, they were purposeful. Heros rising being the original idea for the finam ending of MHA, though not canon, speaks volumes. Hirikoshi wanted these two to be "destined," or in other words, soulmates.
This brings me back to them being queer platonic. I believe that when writing them, Hirikoshi intended for them to have a relationship that can't necessarily be "labeled." They aren't really best friends, not in the usual sense that best friends are at least. They don't hang out with the same people, and they don't seem like they immediately go to each other when they want a good laugh or to have some fun. If anything, there's a bit of codependency. Codependency when they're lost, afraid, alone, or need strength and guidance. They quite literally need each other. When Izuku was on his dark hero arc it was Bakugo that brought him back. When Bakugo was DYING, it was Izuku that motivated him to live and keep fighting.
In the epilogue Bakugo jumping from #15 to #5 in the hero ranks after izuku came back wasn't a coincidence. He was either holding himself back, or lacked any motivation to try until izuku came along. Also, izuku is #4 meaning that he now gets to "chase" after him and be at his heels.
anyhoo this being said, even though bakudeku didn't become canon in a typical sense, I think it'd be crazy to just discount everything there is about them- everything that's been PROVEN and crumble that down to them simply being "rivals"
Spoilers for the end of the manga and leaks of volume 42
Long analysis thread:
I am devastated because of the leaks
Because of Katsuki.
His journey throughout the story consisted about taking accountability for his mistakes: the bullying he did.
And oh, he did learn. He did take accountability.
From win to save, he learned to save to win. He helped Izuku train OFA. Got impaled and saved Izukus life.
Then, he apologized without expecting an answer, because he meant it. Katsuki understood that Izuku didn’t have to respond. (Seriously, what would he say? Thank you for taking accountability for making myself miserable during highschool?) Izuku left that past behind ever since he took the “Deku is worth nothing” and rephrased it to: the Deku who can do his best. What I most like about his apology, is that Deku didn’t answer, and Bakugo didn’t demand nor expected one, because it wasn’t necessary. It was Bakugo’s thing to do.
Then, Katsuki died while thinking about him, because Izuku went from the kid he pushed away, to a man he admired:
Fighting through the pain: this is the path you have been walking all this time.
I have to win, right, Izuku?
Can I still catch up to you?
Then, he got another chance at life. He promised that he would never get in between his way, recalling the times he used to bully him.
Here is what makes me weak for him. The way he never forgived himself for what he did. Katsuki was linked to Izuku forever with that way of thinking and acting: although he apologized and walked forward, he never forgot what he did. And he atoned and atoned and atoned. Which isn’t bad. Don’t get me wrong.
But everyone has to move on: he apologized. got impaled for him. And then, much later, built Izuku a suit. HE, of all people, the one who used to bully Deku for being quirkless, gave him his dream BACK.
That’s another fact that makes me weak. Because Bakugo’s heart changed: he believed quirkless people were losers. He bullied. Now, he understands his mistakes and has tried to atone for so, so long. He is not the same and will never do that again.
(What about his foul mouth? You could ask. Man. That is literally a façade. Or that’s how I interpret it. Bark don’t bite. Bro is a dumbass, but is not a bad person.)
All this leads me to the dream he made for himself and Izuku in it: to compete forever. He never cut the link to Izuku. Never got over him. Never stopped atoning.
To sum up: it hurts me that after so much atoning for Izuku, he never atoned for himself. He just got attached to him, revolved his life to Izuku.
Izuku did move on: life makes you walk different paths. He found something in teaching that, clearly, topped off his desire to compete with his childhood friend. He moved on. Remember: 8 years have gone by. Izuku moved on from OFA but Katsuki DIDN’T!
And that’s why his ending hurts. Because he never let go. And that makes me so, so, so sad.
In twitter some say it’s karma. Deku doesn’t have to stick to him for his entire life and I agree: I am happy for Izuku and the path he forged to walk. A new dream. A new person. Not the 17 year old he was.
But Katsuki never let go of the dream he built at 17 and always knew that he would ensure Izukus his dream back. (While Izuku didnt know it would happen so he moved forward…)
Izuku is noble and wants to keep teaching, he has kids to motivate and yada yada. It’s amazing how he has evolved as a character and as an adult. His dream isn’t the same as Katsuki’s anymore. Not the same 17 year olds wanting to compete for the rest of their lifes.
And now, cut to the present. Izuku rejects Katsuki because his dream has changed.
I do believe Izuku recognized Bakugo’s efforts. He has said he is welcome and appreciates the suit!!!! He is happy to be able to fight alongside class 1A!!! this dialogue seems to be forgotten somehow!! My point is: their goals are different now. Izuku moved away from OFA once he lost it / Bakugo never forgot it and kept fighting for it building a suit, that Izuku is thankful for! But seems like competing w his childhoodfriend isnt his main goal anymore
And this change didnt happen quickly because there has been a timeskip! Of 8 years!
However, readers believe it was rushed because all that introspection was cut. I don’t blame you, in fact, I agree with you all. An elypsis wasn’t the right choice to make, but how could have Horikoshi finished the manga!? He cant keep drawing forever! This mangaka was suffering the last year, taking a lot of breaks because his health was in shambles. Therefore, a timeskip it was. But maybe not the best choice to the story, I guess.
But stories sometime need to be concluded. Cant keep holding on for them forever. You can blame it on writing decisions. Anyway, let’s get back to the main point.
The ending hurts from Katsuki’s perspective because he got rejected, because he never let Izuku go. And now, he has a chance to. To develop himself as a man separate of Izuku.
As a shipper it hurts like hell, but man. Katsuki did love him. Take it as romantic or platonic i dont care. But Katsuki cared. A lot. Izuku, I am sure that too. But rejecting the offer doesn’t mean he hates him or is a bad person: he never asked for that suit, he reshaped his dream.
And I repeat. The truth hurts. Reality hurts. And still, this ending was… truly realistic, from their point of view. In that manner, it satisfies me. But on the other hand, as a fan, as a shipper, a fanfiction writer, the ending hurts and I will cope with fan content on my behalf.
The ending wasn’t ass. It was realistic. That’s my take.
(I won’t talk about Izuocha. I do believe it was rushed and off. That’s for another post. Pls don’t talk about Izuocha in this post since they are not the main focus)
Izuku doesn't believe Katsuki is gonna like him back, so he tries not to think about it
Izuku wants more, but he never thought he could even have a normal conversation with him, less be corresponded. So he says, "I'm too blessed" , like "I need to be grateful for what I have because I can't have more"
Like look at that sad expression, why would he be sad in that happy moment if it wasn't because he wanted more?
I want to talk about the Christmas gift that Ochako got from Izuku and why it is the perfect symbol of a doomed love.
Izuku didn't choose that gift thinking of Ochaco. He was picking a generic gift for a classmate and friend. That they received each others gifts after a blind exchange and weren't thinking of each other at all when they picked them. In other words, it was random. Much like the IzuOcha pairing would look random and mashed together by coincidence if Horikoshi ultimately chose to pair them as endgame.
Ochaco might carry the doll around the same way she might carry a crush for Izuku, but the mochi that Izuku received has long gone the way of their romantic potential. I shall not elaborate.
Furthermore, the doll is problematic as a symbol for Izuku and Ochaco's relationship. Why?
Because All Might belongs to Izuku and Katsuki.
No, I don't mean that they have any claim on All Might the person, but these two boys have plotted their entire life's trajectory on All Might the Hero. Their entire relationship can be traced back to All Might. They bonded over their shared love of the hero as kids. The only reason Izuku is with Katsuki attending the same school is because of All Might. They share the secret of OFA with All Might and every time their relationship grows closer to reconciliation, All Might is there, watching over them. Their entire spiritual journey revolves around All Might and synthesizing the dual aspects of his heroic nature. All Might is their signpost and their get-a-long shirt.
Now if Katsuki had received the All Might doll--
Oh.
They both carry talismans into battle, but the weight is not the same.
OK HEAR ME OUT.. We know Hori is sneaky like this. Izuku says the worst case is losing their teacher but look behind him! Katsuki who’s explosion shows in form of a sharp OFA star (which ONLY happens when he thinks of Izuku and wants to save him, I’ll show evidence later) looks like he’s reaching FOR IZUKU.
Because for Katsuki..the worst case is losing IZUKU. That’s why he follows him into every war.. to protect him. And that eventually led him to his death…That panel is in chapter 277.. so a little before Katsuki sacrifices himself to save Izuku. Which is another reason I don’t think this is a coincidence especially since Hori said speech bubble placements are very important to him.. as for OFA stars showcasing when he thinks of Izuku.. here’s evidence. These stars have NEVER shown up unless there was a thought about Izuku happening before or during their appearance.
IN FACT.. first time they EVER show up is when he follows Izuku into the first war with an excuse that he wants revenge but these stars give his true intentions away. He wants to protect IZUKU. That’s why he’s following him.
Here is the progression of the shape of Katsuki’s explosions changing for the very first time IN THE SAME CHAPTER (minus the 4th one) as he follows Izuku into the war where he later shows to be desperate to protect him and almost loses his life to save him.
And there’s more but these are my favorites! He has to think of Izuku for those stars to manifest. They show his connection to OFA (Izuku) It’s how he got access to the realm before his death.
"And I don't expect anything to change between us"-- Excuse me??? Like sit the hell down LMAO
As if Katsuki isn't the one out of the two who involves himself with the other.
Who was looking at Izuku when everyone else in the country was looking at All Might? Who mentioned Izuku's mysterious quirk after months of not talking about it?
Who called the fight at ground beta? FULLY KNOWING that that fight would change things.
Who started joining Deku's and All Might's meetings without being invited??? "Oh Kacchan, what a surprise that you're here--" NOT TO ME, I COULD SEE IT A MILE AWAY
IT IS SO FUNNY!
That all Bakugo wants is to be closer to Izuku. That despite Izuku proclaiming his admiration for Katsuki, Katsuki is the one take all the steps towards the other.
Because he admires Izuku too. He wants to be close to Izuku too. And of course, it isn't always so clear because Katsuki sticks to his old habits of yelling at or being frustrated by Izuku.
I once wrote Katsuki's feelings towards Izuku as him wanting to be a witness to Izuku's existence.
Katsuki wants to exist with Izuku.
Wants to exist alongside him in all meanings of the word.
"Deku fell first but Bakugo fell harde-" No . I think they have both fallen REAL hard , both around the same time as kids . Here's a real one for y'all :
Bakugo realizes it first , but Deku's realization hits him harder .
Katsuki is more self aware & seems to be more introspective with his emotions , so he probably gradually becomes aware of what his feelings are from before the war to the aftermath in the hospital . He slowly puts everything together in his head & assesses what his feelings mean , so by the time he comes to the conclusion that he's in love with Deku it's not even that surprising to him cuz he's been slowly building to that conclusion for a while . And at that point he just decides to accept it and try to do anything he can to protect Deku & help him .
Now Deku is different - he's open about complimenting Bakugo & doesn't deny that he thinks Kacchan is amazing , but he frequently hides his deeper emotions for Bakugo until they chaotically boil over , like when Monoma insulted Bakugo , when the LOV took him , and when AFO stabbed him . Deku represses the true extent of his feelings for Bakugo - like how he denied there being an external trigger for black-whip , & when Toga brought up the imitation=love thing but Deku avoided talking about Bakugo . Deku doesn't seem to be able to really stop & think about these feelings .
After all this time , Deku still hasn't caught up with his feelings yet , but when he does it'll hit him like a ton of bricks .
