Katsuki’s Answer: Even if One For All is a cursed power...
Remember those incomprehensible pages of Katsuki’s visual thoughts in chapter 285?
I’ve connected three dots, thanks to chapter 322.
At the beginning of Deku vs. Kacchan, Part 2, Katsuki asks Izuku an earth-shattering question that has shaken him to the core.
And All Might gave him an answer at the end of the fight, but...
There’s a difference between knowing the answer and understanding it.
(manga spoilers below the cut)
All Might answers Katsuki that both Izuku and Katsuki saw something meaningful in All Might that inspired them to be heroes.
They both hold a piece of the puzzle, but they need each other’s pieces to complete the picture.
Save to Win. Win to Save.
This moment is the starting point of their respective developments as they grow into the ultimate heroes. Izuku focuses on acquiring strength, on learning to win so that he can save people. Katsuki focuses on heart, on learning to save people so that he can win.
Katsuki’s journey culminates in chapter 285, where he demonstrates an epiphany about the virtue of self-sacrifice.
I’ve begun collecting the Japanese raw scans and typing out the kanji/kana, romaji, and my own basic literal English translations for a reason: to find language motifs.
There’s something interesting about the end of Katsuki’s apology speech to Izuku in chapter 322.
“As for your path as the successor of One For All, there’s nothing wrong with the ideal All Might represents by itself. And yet now, you’re swaying on your feet. There are walls you can’t overcome with only your ideal of All Might. Whatever you cannot handle, we all will handle. In order to surpass the ideal of All Might, whether it’s you or the refugees at UA or the people of this city, without exception, we will save to win.”
I did what I could for this speech in my meta dissection, but you should note that Katsuki doesn’t literally say “ideal of All Might.” What he’s actually doing is pronouncing the word “ideal” as if it’s the words “All Might.” The kanji 理想 means ideal, but it’s normally pronounced “risou.” However, the furigana above the kanji in Katsuki’s speech bubbles reads as “OORU MAITO” for “All Might” instead.
Given the content of the speech, I think Katsuki is referring back to his question leading into Deku vs. Kacchan, Part 2.
“If the way you admired him was correct, then does that mean my admiration was wrong?”
And his speech about Izuku’s ideals being correct but insufficient refers back to All Might’s answer.
“If either of those feelings is missing, then a hero won’t be able to carry out the justice he wants to carry out.”
Katsuki’s final words in the chapter 322 page refer to “save to win” only, no mention of “win to save.”
Basically, he’s telling Izuku, “You’ve got the Win to Save ideal down, but you need my Save to Win ideal, too.”
This apology, this speech, is a continuation of the revelation Katsuki has in chapter 285 as he saves Izuku from Shigaraki.
So, those three incomprehensible pages?
They are comprehensible now.
“I don’t want to speculate and talk about things I’m not sure of...”
One For All could be cursed. It could be killing Izuku.
“He’s the one who basically created One For All, right? Isn’t it an offshoot of his power? Multiple quirks... It’s the same as him.”
All For One is so powerful because it grants the user access to multiple quirks, potentially an unlimited number. One For All is similar, also being a conglomeration of multiple quirks.
“Even if One For All...is a cursed power...”
As it’s a conglomeration of multiple quirks, One For All is the only power they have that’s on the level of All For One’s power.
Katsuki remembers bullying Izuku in middle school.
Katsuki needs to apologize to Izuku for everything.
“At the same time, it’s...”
Katsuki remembers cheering on All Might as a kid along with Izuku and their other friends. All Might is shown winning and saving.
Saving and Winning. Both are necessary. All Might represents both those ideals.
Both Izuku’s and Katsuki’s admiration were right, just incomplete.
Both are necessary.
Katsuki remembers Izuku’s notebook tossed out the window.
Izuku wrote down his analysis of multiple quirks in that journal. Katsuki swore after Deku vs. Kacchan, Part 2 that if Izuku could write down and absorb strength from those around him, Katsuki could do the same. That is strength derived from others, from multiple quirks, from teamwork.
“I’m not gonna be Deku forever... Kacchan, I’m...”
Katsuki realizes Izuku always thought he was lagging behind. We know now from chapter 322 that Katsuki always felt that Izuku was ahead. Izuku doesn’t know his own value, but Katsuki does.
“I’m the Deku who always does his best!!”
Katsuki watches in revelatory horror as Izuku fights Shigaraki alone.
If Izuku is dying of a curse, a curse he can’t get rid of because they need it to defeat All For One, Katsuki has to save him in order for their side to win. And if Izuku is nearing death, Katsuki has only so long to apologize to him. Katsuki realizes Izuku’s prospects of surviving this fight are low so long as he doesn’t act in accordance with All Might’s advice. Izuku won’t be able to carry out the justice he wants to carry out.
Katsuki wants to fight alongside Izuku, and he proclaims such in chapter 322.
Chapter 285 is the moment Katsuki takes up the complete mantle of Save to Win, all so that Izuku can Win to Save.
It’s the moment Katsuki truly understands that both their ideals of All Might were right.
