Did Deku give up on being a hero in My Hero Academia? Explored

The final chapter of My Hero Academia was released on August 5, 2024. While the ending left many fans feeling sentimental about the conclusion of the series, there are also those who are struggling to come to terms with the author’s decision to end it in a questionable manner. Instead of becoming the number 1 hero, the series ended with Deku taking on the role of a teacher.

Even though Deku ultimately became a hero who relied on a suit for combat, the post-finale panels also revealed that he may have abandoned his dream to become a hero if not for the persuasion of others, similar to All Might’s convincing him to wear the suit and continue his heroic path.

Notice: This article includes possible spoilers from the My Hero Academia manga series and reflects the author’s personal opinion.

Did Deku Give Up on Becoming a Hero in the Final Chapter of My Hero Academia?

Izuku Midoriya as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

The latest installment of My Hero Academia, chapter 430, began with a startling revelation: Izuku Midoriya was now a teacher at U.A. High School and was discussing the location of their next class with Shouta. This revelation was then followed by a significant time jump of eight years, sparking hope among fans that Deku would make a triumphant return as a hero after this period of time.

Despite an eight-year time skip, fans’ expectations were not fulfilled as Izuku Midoriya remained a teacher at U.A. High School while his classmates pursued their hero journeys in various departments.

Uraraka as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

Uraraka, Iida, Tsuyu, and Momo remained dedicated to raising awareness about the awakening of quirks by visiting various schools as heroes. Shouji continued his advocacy for the rights of heteromorphs, while Hatsume embarked on her own journey as a supportive hero, eventually establishing her own company.

Furthermore, Bakugo and Todoroki, Izuku’s rivals, emerged as the most highly regarded heroes in the hero society and engaged in a fierce competition to claim the prestigious #1 spot.

Despite the immense suffering he had endured, Aoyama still chose to return to the Hero Society. This raised doubts about whether Izuku had also given up on his dream of becoming a hero.

All Might making Deku believe that he can be a hero (Image via Shueisha)

Deku required assistance in order to believe that he could thrive in the Hero Society even without a quirk, similar to how All Might provided him with both the courage and the Iron suit to persist in chasing his aspirations in the present-day Hero Society.

Despite becoming a teacher, he may have still harbored a desire to become a hero. However, the series never provided a clear explanation for why he didn’t pursue this dream. It is possible that he was intimidated by the prospect of competing with established Pro Heroes, especially with only a small fragment of One for All within him.

Perhaps he refrained from discouraging those without quirks because he had been bestowed with One for All by the Symbol of Peace. Therefore, it is difficult to determine why he ultimately abandoned his dream of becoming a hero, but it is possible that the circumstances he faced played a role in his decision.

Deku was a flawed character from the very start

Deku as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

Despite being quirkless, Izuku Midoriya was determined to become a hero and had always been inspired to do so.

Despite being declared quirkless, he continued to research other heroes and became depressed. However, he should have focused on physical training instead.

Even without receiving One for All from All Might, he could have still become a local hero. Instead of using his quirklessness as an excuse to not try to become physically stronger, he could have become someone obsessed with the top-rated heroes of the Hero Society.

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