My Hero Academia is finally reaching its epic conclusion with Deku right at the center of it all. The latest chapter of the series saw Kohei Horikoshi put an end to the story that has been going on for so long. With only the epilogue left, there is room for growth for various side characters, concluding the tale for the protagonists once and for all.
Battles fought and battles won. Lives lost and lessons learned. The journey that fans have followed for so long has reached an end that was inevitable. There is a difference between an ending and a conclusion. While an ending is simply to finish, a conclusion is to complete. One way in which Horikoshi can do this is by passing the mantle onto someone else.
Deku’s Loss is Another’s Gain
Izuku Midoriya’s role as the protagonist of My Hero Academia has now properly come full circle. When first given All Might’s powers, Deku had a goal and a responsibility. Now all of that has long since been fulfilled with him becoming the Greatest Hero and saving everyone from the biggest threats that came before them. The world always needs a hero. That is how there remains a balance.
People like All Might, and Deku step up as these heroes, becoming Symbols of Peace due to their strength, determination, and outlook on life. With Midoriya having lost his Quirk once and for all, there stands a need to fill in the gaping hole that is created with the absence of a bigger hero. Bakugo could have filled in that gap but due to the injuries and scars he sustained during battle, as confirmed by chapter 424, that possibility dies quicker than one would like.
With their stories coming to an end, Kohei Horikoshi needs someone to continue holding onto the peace of the world. The next optimal candidates that can take on this role are Shoto Todoroki and Mirio Togata. Two of the most powerful heroes in the manga after Deku and Bakugo have a big chance of taking on this mantle after the best of the best were forced to step down.
The Hero of All Heroes
There are two heroes who are absolutely perfect for taking on the role of the Symbol of Hope after neither Izuku Midoriya nor Katsuki Bakugo can do it anymore. Mirio Togata holds the advantage of being trained under All Might’s sidekick, Nighteye. He was initially the potential successor for All Might’s One for All and can hold his ground with great strength. He is powerful, funny, and also a follower of the symbol of peace. He is a beast in battle undoubtedly. However, one classmate of Deku’s still stands stronger.
The ideal candidate leaps and bounds more powerful than Mirio Togata and also a classmate of the two protagonists, Shoto Todoroki might be the perfect successor. He has proven time and again how formidable of a fighter he is. There has never been a doubt about his skill and vigor.
Unlike Deku and Bakugo, the injuries sustained by Todoroki are primarily psychological. While his physical wounds can take time to heal, but eventually will, his emotional scarring can very easily turn into a motivational light. His journey is one that sees only growth and improvement. That is, Shoto Todoroki’s story is clearly not yet over. If Kohei Horikoshi was to pass the baton onto someone else, he would be the prime candidate.
My Hero Academia is available to watch on Hulu and Crunchyroll.
