It started with them. It ends with them 🧡💚
Then: Izuku's fists are balled in desperation, defense, and fear as he stands up to Katsuki.
Now: Izuku's fist is balled in disbelief, excitement, and determination as the support suit activates and attaches itself to him, while All Might tells him that KATSUKI was the one to spearhead the project.
Then: Katsuki's smile is mocking and cruel as Izuku stands up to him. He sees Izuku as belonging on the ground with no worth, beneath him.
Now: Katsuki's smile is one of genuine joy and exhilaration as he flies alongside his partner. Now he sees Izuku belonging to the sky with limitless potential and opportunity, NEXT TO HIM.
Then: Katsuki is stating that "without a quirk," Izuku is defenseless and useless and that he doesn't stand a chance of becoming a hero, denying the possibility of his dreams.
Now: Even though Izuku is quirkless again, Katsuki is determined to make Izuku's dreams of becoming a hero a reality no matter what because he wants Izuku fighting by his side FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
Then: Katsuki's explosive fist flies toward Izuku's face as a threat and in violence. He uses his quirk to intimidate and harm Izuku. He spits out "Deku" as an insult and a name he attaches to weakness.
Now: Katsuki's open hand reaches out to Izuku in offering support and partnership. He uses his resources and his quirk TO LIFT IZUKU UP and fund his dreams. When he calls him "Deku," now, he's using it to encourage him and says it with admiration in his voice, now attaching the same name to hope and heroism.
Then: Izuku is knocked down, lying on the ground defeated with only the companion he defended at his side.
Now: Izuku is surrounded by his friends and lifted up by his former bully, rising up and ascending INTO THE SKY ALONGSIDE HIM AS HIS EQUAL.
Then: Izuku's expression is absolutely devastated as he lies on the ground, his dreams crushed while he looks up helplessly to the sky.
Now: Izuku's expression is pure happiness as his dreams are restored, looking forward to the future with hope AS THEY SOAR THROUGH THE AIR TOGETHER.
Katsuki goes from being the one who says Izuku can't become a hero to being the one who makes sure he becomes a hero again. The story literally begins with Katsuki destroying quirkless Izuku's dreams to RESTORING IZUKU'S DREAMS.
The fact that Katsuki becomes the catalyst for Izuku's hero return after being the one who once denied that dream is so incredibly beautiful and profound and symbolic and epic level proportions of storytelling. I'm actually never getting over this. Horikoshi, you are a brilliant genius, and I am forever grateful to you for My Hero Academia and these two absolutely amazing, perfectly written characters and their growth.
In short (the conclusion of the story in caps): Katsuki. Next to him. For the rest of their lives to lift Izuku up into the sky alongside him as his equal as they soar through the air together, restoring Izuku's dreams.
