Why is Eri so special in My Hero Academia? Explained

Despite being a supporting character in My Hero Academia, Eri is often viewed as a unique character. She was first introduced in the Shie Hassaikai arc and played a crucial role in the plot. Her quirk, the Quirk-Destroying Drug, was particularly noteworthy as it could nullify any quirk simply by being administered to a person.

Eri’s Quirk had the unique ability to reverse the aging process of any individual, which made her a target for Overhaul. In his pursuit to obtain her Quirk, Overhaul resorted to kidnapping Eri and sedating her guardian, who also happened to be her employer. He used his research to create a Quirk-Destroying Drug, which was later utilized by the antagonists in crucial situations.

This article contains the author’s opinion and potential spoilers from the My Hero Academia manga series.

Why Eri is so special, explained

Mirio's quirk eliminated due to the Quirk-Destroying Drug (image via Bones) — Mirio’s quirk eliminated due to the Quirk-Destroying Drug (image via Bones)

The Quirk-Destroying Drug is a product designed to eliminate the quirks of individuals. This drug was developed using genetic material from Eri, the granddaughter of the leader of Shie Hassaikai.

After the arrival of All Might, the Shie Hassaikai organization, a Yakuza (mafia) group responsible for overseeing criminals worldwide, fell into inactivity. One of its members, Kai Chisaki, could not accept this change and eventually transformed into the infamous Overhaul.

Upon seeing the downfall of Shie Hassaikai, Chisaki suggested to his superior that they exploit Eri’s body to create a medicine that could potentially eradicate quirks.

Worried for the safety of his granddaughter, the boss refused Chisaki’s proposal. As a result, Chisaki grew impatient and rendered his boss unable to act. He subsequently seized control of Shie Hassaikai and initiated the creation of the Quirk-Destroying Drug.

All for One reverted to his younger self (Image via Bones)

Chisaki first introduced the Drug when he sought aid from the League of Villains and convinced them to utilize it. This substance effectively neutralized Mirio’s quirk after Overhaul administered it into his body.

Additionally, the peculiar ability was utilized against Aizawa, but he quickly amputated his limb before the substance could fully take effect. Following Overhaul’s defeat, the League of Villains obtained the drug and Dr. Garaki altered it to have the ability to reverse the age of those who consumed it. This new capability was demonstrated by All for One during the ultimate battle, as his body underwent a transformation into a youthful form.

Eri’s Quirk

Eri’s uniqueness in My Hero Academia was due to her possession of the quirk known as Rewind. This ability allowed her to reverse the age of any individual, enabling the regeneration of previously irreversible injuries such as lost limbs or damaged organs.

During the fight between Izuku Midoriya and Chisaki, Eri’s quirk was demonstrated when she used it to rewind Deku’s body and heal his arms. This enabled Deku to utilize his Full Cowl technique without harming his limbs. However, as Eri was unable to regulate her quirk’s power, Aizawa’s quirk was needed to stop her.

Eri’s role in the series

The first encounter between the heroes and Eri (Image via Bones)

Eri portrayed a vulnerable character in need of protection from the corruption of society. Chisaki illicitly used her own body to produce a harmful substance without the girl’s consent. Throughout these experiments, Eri’s grandfather, her guardian, was not present.

Despite having the opportunity to protect her before the Shie Hassaikai incident, Izuku and Mirio were unable to save her as they had not yet witnessed Chisaki’s true nature. However, when faced with Chisaki during the fight, Izuku and Mirio put everything on the line to protect and rescue her from his grasp.

Despite being saved from Chisaki, it was difficult for her to shake off the shadow of fear he left behind. However, she persevered and was able to overcome her fear, eventually finding her smile once again. Eight years later, she joined the music club at U.A. and was mentored by Jiro, who had become a Pro Hero by then.