#silly pika

[pikahlua]

Fourteen Days of MHA: Day 7

First Impressions

I've had something of a day, so I couldn't come up with much for this one. But since the topic is first impressions, I kinda felt like this would be the best one to use some unfinished stuff of mine? Stuff that's likely never gonna BE finished. Basically this is an excerpt from one of my write-ups that is a reenactment of my first impressions of Katsuki Bakugou the first time I watched MHA.

[excerpt begins below the cut]

Season 1: Episodes 1-2

I hate shounen rival characters. No really.

I find them repetitive, reductive, and tropey as all hell. They don’t read like real people to me. They don’t make any sense to me. As far as I can tell, they just exist to be difficult, to represent some boiled-down theme of competition that must contradict the protagonist’s perspective for the sake of being a foil. It’s just a mechanism to provide challenges to the protagonist when the storyteller can’t find a way to come up with creative new challenges. They’re all basically the same character with the same personality with the same hangups with the same insecurities with the same “character development,” and if you’ve seen one you’ve seen ‘em all.

Enter Katsuki Bakugou.

This basic bitch.

On principle I hate him. I hate his stupid little smug face. I hate his voice. I hate his goals. I hate what he does and how he thinks.

Actually, hate is too strong a word. Because what I really hate is being subjected to the monotony of another predictable rival/lancer character. So here I am, praying for a sign that there will be some sort of break in this monotony. Please, MHA, prove me wrong.

Okay, not gonna lie, this shot did something to my heart.

Oh? Oh, is he actually insightful? Are we gonna resolve his arrogant shit this soon?

I’m in shock too, Izuku.

...oh.

Oh great. Total slow burn. [heavy sigh]

Heh. Points for the lampshade.

Wait, is this show self-aware?

Season 1: Episodes 3-4

Okay Katsuki clearly took something away from that experience because he is doing the whole anime-boy-staring-out-the-window-in-contemplation thing.

Whatever. Aloof rival alert. Except it’s not an alert because they’re all like that.

Whoa, that escalated quickly!

Oh. He’s just like that. Gotcha.

That’s...actually notable, since “that day” was sometime in April and now it’s February. Okay, something’s definitely up, but I’m just not sure which version of The Rival we’re dealing with here. And maybe if I cared, I’d try to figure it out. But I don’t care enough to stop watching and think about it, so, meh, I’ll let the show tell me when we get there. [/the most naive]

God, I relate too much to both sides of the interaction.

Um. “Friends?” Is that-? Are you implying-?

Are you just a grump?

Oh, okay, I see what’s been up. He’s totally aware of how awesome Izuku is, and he’s jealous or in denial. Understandable, since he wants to be the top hero. Sucks to be the rival, my dude.

Actually, wait, if he’s been aware of Izuku’s greatness since episode 1 or 2, he’s like one of the few characters in this world who seems to get it? Which is...kind of surprising for this early on?

Season 1: Episodes 5-7

Wait, what?

Are you telling me he’s actually hot shit? Fucking great. Ugh.

Oh, oh my god, the show IS self-aware! Oh okay I’m totally here for this shit!

Oh, it’s a CATCHPHRASE.

[end of excerpt]

You already know how it all ends lol.

[pikahlua]

"Doing something important? You mean die???" AJSHDHSJJSJSDHSJKASHSJAK

[pikahlua]

I'm holding your hand tumblr user pikahlua I'm sorry ur fighting for ur life with these anons what even 😭😭 have strength 😭😭

I'm holding hands back tumblr user aromanticanniba-hey waitaminute...

[pikahlua]

I hope Deku eats Toads after he disrespected our baby girl, Toga, like that :|

I think he's more likely to eat seagulls right now.

[pikahlua]

"First."

- Katsuki Bakugou (chapter 410), December 25, 2023

[pikahlua]

funny izuku panicking in embarrassment at shiggy seeing dvk2 VS evil being forced to see up close and personal shigafo killing katsuki :(

Okay but what if memory!Katsuki shows up from Izuku's later memories and kicks memory!AFO's ass again like the petty gem he is?

[pikahlua]

the most hilarious possible thing that could happen at this point is Izuku's memories of DvK2 popping up and he's just like "NOOOO DON'T LOOK AAAAA" as he tries to hide it so Shigaraki can't see Katsuki pinning him to the ground

runner up is baby izuku protecting giant shigaraki from baby kacchan on the playground a la the very first scene

[pikahlua]

kudou unironically you are articulating my own personal ultimate bakudeku point of interest to the point of nearly spoiling my fanfic thanks