MASSIVE SPOILERS YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
All For One’s past as "The Family Friend" in My Hero Academia is a calculated and sinister chapter of his long, villainous history, showcasing his manipulative nature and long-term scheming. Below is a detailed overview of his actions during this period, as described in the provided context, focusing on his role as the family friend to the Shimura family and his broader schemes.
All For One as "The Family Friend"
During his time as the "family friend" to the Shimura family, All For One operated under the guise of a seemingly benevolent figure from Koga Constructions, a front company he used to fund his criminal activities. His actions during this period were a meticulous blend of psychological manipulation and strategic planning, all aimed at orchestrating the creation of Tomura Shigaraki as his successor and a vessel for his ambitions.
Befriending Kotaro Shimura: All For One approached Kotaro Shimura, the son of Nana Shimura (the seventh One For All user), sometime after Kotaro’s daughter, Hana, developed her Quirk. Posing as a friendly associate from Koga Constructions, he cultivated a relationship with Kotaro, exploiting his existing resentment toward heroes due to his mother’s abandonment. All For One subtly reinforced Kotaro’s disdain by suggesting that heroes are unreliable, planting seeds of bitterness that would shape Kotaro’s harsh parenting style.
Encouraging Tenko’s Birth: All For One manipulated Kotaro into having another child, suggesting it would benefit Hana by providing a sibling to rely on in case heroes failed them. This led to the birth of Tenko Shimura (later Tomura Shigaraki). This was a deliberate move, as All For One saw Tenko as a potential "fragile vessel" he could mold, unlike Hana, who was too old to manipulate effectively.
Stealing Tenko’s Quirk: When Tenko was born, All For One secretly stole his original Quirk Factor, inherited from his parents, before it could manifest, rendering him Quirkless. This ensured Tenko’s vulnerability and dependency, setting the stage for All For One’s later manipulation.
Implanting the Decay Quirk: At age five, All For One, disguised as an old man, encountered Tenko after he heroically saved friends from a truck. Under the pretense of kindness, he offered to walk Tenko home and secretly transferred the Decay Quirk to him. This Quirk, derived from an incomplete copy of the Overhaul Quirk (stripped of its restorative properties), was engineered for destruction. All For One’s intent was to destabilize Tenko’s life, knowing the Quirk’s destructive power would lead to tragedy.
Orchestrating the Shimura Family Tragedy: All For One’s manipulation culminated in Tenko’s accidental murder of his family due to the uncontrollable Decay Quirk. By encouraging Kotaro’s harsh treatment of Tenko’s heroic aspirations, All For One ensured a volatile home environment that pushed Tenko to a breaking point. After Tenko killed his family and exacted revenge on his abusive father, All For One found him under a bridge, offering false comfort and a new home, positioning himself as a savior.
Grooming Tenko into Tomura Shigaraki: All For One took Tenko under his wing, providing guidance to channel his violent urges. He instructed Kyudai Garaki to preserve the dissected hands of Tenko’s family, using them to suppress his positive emotions and keep his trauma fresh, ensuring his hatred and destructive impulses dominated. When Tenko killed two street thugs, All For One rewarded him with their hands and renamed him Tomura Shigaraki, cementing his identity as a villain. The name "Tomura" (meaning "to mourn") and the surname "Shigaraki" (inspired by a tragic story All For One admired) reflected his twisted mentorship.
Broader Context of His Actions
While posing as the family friend, All For One was simultaneously engaged in other schemes to expand his influence and pursue his obsession with acquiring One For All. His actions during this period align with his lifelong pattern of manipulation, Quirk theft, and cultivating chaos:
Long-Term Obsession with One For All: All For One’s interactions with the Shimura family were part of his broader vendetta against One For All, stemming from his murder of his brother Yoichi, the first user. Knowing Tomura was Nana Shimura’s grandson, he saw him as a tool to erode the willpower of One For All’s users, believing Tomura’s hatred could help him steal the Quirk.
Villain Factory and Experiments: Concurrently, All For One was running the Villain Factory, a secret organization using the Trigger drug to create Instant Villains and Next-Level Villains to test Quirk potentials. He also mentored Number 6, a blank-slate child, shaping him into a potential vessel by giving him the stolen Overclock Quirk. These experiments were part of his contingency plans to create a being rivaling All Might.
Underground Masquerade: All For One organized illegal fighting events like the Underground Masquerade to harvest Quirks, distribute drugs, and test Quirk-boosting substances. His attempt to steal O’Clock’s Overclock Quirk during this event further demonstrates his relentless pursuit of powerful Quirks.
Manipulating Others: He coerced families like the Aoyamas into servitude by granting their son Yuga a Quirk (Navel Laser), using their debt to make Yuga a mole at U.A. High. Similarly, he rescued and attempted to groom Toya Todoroki as another potential vessel, though Toya’s obsession with his father made him uncontrollable.
Analysis of His Role as the Family Friend
All For One’s role as the family friend was a masterclass in psychological manipulation and long-term planning. By infiltrating the Shimura family, he exploited their vulnerabilities to create Tomura Shigaraki, a symbol of fear tailored to his specifications. His actions were not merely cruel but strategic, designed to:
Cultivate Hatred: By engineering Tenko’s tragic circumstances, All For One ensured Tomura’s hatred for heroes and society would grow, making him a perfect candidate to challenge One For All’s legacy.
Maintain Control: Using the family’s hands and psychological manipulation, he suppressed Tomura’s positive emotions, ensuring loyalty and dependence.
Advance His Agenda: The Shimura family was a pawn in his larger game to dominate society and steal One For All, with Tomura as a key piece to erode the Quirk’s willpower.
This period highlights All For One’s ability to blend into society, using his charisma and false benevolence to manipulate those around him while advancing his villainous empire from the shadows.