Uncovering GouDeku: The lost Japanese MHA Ship
Rediscovering the mysterious lost BKDK pairing that was exclusive to Japan and Japanese fans circa 2016.
I will be using credited fanart in this post due to the fact this is a fanon creation and is only explainable through fanart.
You must obviously know BKDK, also known as Bakudeku and about 16 other nickname variations, top anime pairing of AO3 2025, so on so forth...
You might also be privy to Katsuyami, lovingly known as prototype BKDK based on their proto designs of Akatani Mikumo and Bakugou Katsuki (also known as Gougou Katsuki)...
But did you know there was a second, more elusive version of Katsuyami?
Enter: GouDeku.
No, not Dekugou, an obscure but used ship name for DKBK, this is specifically GouDeku, with this Kanji: 郷デク.
The Deku in this scenario is about the half way point between canon Izuku and Yamikumo.
As per illustrator Zero in their 2016 Artlog, Deku is portrayed as having more slanted eyes, more windswept hair and only 4 freckles on one side vs Izuku and Yamikumo's 8 freckles.
This design is the basis for "official" "Deku"'s apperance and is standardized amongst the dozens of artworks, Doujinshi and posts. You can see the slight variations of this version of Deku in illustrators Aodaisho's log comparing Yamikumo/Katsuki/Yuu (left), Izuku/Katsuki/Ochako (middle) and Deku/Gogo/Yama (right).
For Deku, in English he has three distinct names but in Japanese they'd use ヤミクモ for Yamikumo, 出久 or いずく/イズク for Izuku and デク for Deku obviously.
Artists tended to give Deku darker colored hair and eyes, having longer bangs split down the middle and is usually portrayed as a support student/gadget creator who seems fairly 'antagonistic', possibly on the same wavelength as Monoma. I assume this wasn't the case for all fan Deku's but the few that manages to portray his actions, Deku is usually being an outgoing leader with a snarky streak.
The inspiration of this deku is directly correlated to, unsurprisingly, Yamikumo's illustration page but SPECIFICALLY focusing on the crossed out version of Yamikumo, pairing with the fact that previously-named-fiendkid was supposed to be a gadget making quirkless boy.
Now what about Katsuki?
Pinning down the variants of Katsuki is...not an easy feat. Canon Katsuki is brash. Katsuki from Katsuyami is typically portrayed as a lovesick puppy with slight yandere tendencies. Gougou is just canon Katsuki but more subdued/calmer. I've been calling him a "standard shoujo bishounen" from some of the artwork, but he still gets those canon angry moments: Umisato has a great piece showcasing them, where Katsuki is sporting some real Katsuma Heroes Rising looks.
Gogo is very hard to distinguish from Canon Katsuki apperance wise, however. Katsuki of Katsuyami is very easy to pinpoint as he has very specific mannerisms and his trademark cardigan, theres no real differences between Gougou and Canon.
Gougou is specifically based off this prototype illustration from Horikoshi regarding early Katsukis hero suit and name. I don't how they specifically engineered a calmer, more shoujo esq version of this man from this artwork but glad they saw they vision.
Despite the difficulties telling the Katsukis apart, another Aodaisho illustration showcases the three of them side by side. I think this piece helps portray them in their own manner, even if slightly confusing tone.
Also, if curious, they differentiate each Katsuki via Kanji/Kana: カツキ is typically used for Yamikumo's Katsuki, 勝己 for Canon and 轟郷 for Gougou.
And one last fanart plug, Aodaisha drew this, which I did my best to translate to show some of the differences between each couple.
I thought I knew everything about Bakudeku but I learned something new! I really want to make GouDeku a thing again, as GouDeku was huge in 2016, and then died around 2018, with some lone posts here and there in 2019-2022 on pixiv.
AND WE CAN REVIVE THEM WITH YOUR HELP!!!
Lets go GouDeku nation!