Why the Handling of Toga’s Fate in My Hero Academia Chapter 429 Isn’t as Bad as Fans Are Saying, Explained

With only one chapter remaining until its definitive conclusion, chapter 429 of My Hero Academia addressed fans’ lingering questions and uncertainties about the destiny of Himiko Toga and Deku’s current predicament with One For All.

While it cannot be denied that fans were disappointed with the ending that Toga received, it would be an understatement to describe their reaction. The majority of their disappointment and frustration stemmed from Toga’s tragic backstory and Horikoshi’s tendency to redeem his villains and give them a satisfactory conclusion. According to fans, Toga did not receive this treatment as she was confirmed to have died in her battle against Ochako Uraraka.

Despite Toga’s ultimate fate being confirmed in My Hero Academia chapter 429, it is important to note that her ending is not automatically negative simply because she met her demise. Upon delving into her full backstory, fans may come to understand that the way her story concludes is actually the most fitting and satisfying ending for her character.

Why Himiko Toga’s ending was the best possible sendoff for her character in My Hero Academia chapter 429

Despite the shocking revelation in My Hero Academia chapter 429 that Himiko Toga had passed away on the battlefield, many fans were disappointed with Horikoshi for not giving her a proper sendoff.

Despite Horikoshi’s choice to have Toga meet her demise in her fight against Uraraka, it may have actually been a well thought out decision. In order to fully comprehend this viewpoint, it is important to examine Himiko Toga’s character development in My Hero Academia, which ultimately solidifies the fact that her character could not have had a more fitting conclusion.

Despite her presence throughout the series, one aspect of Himiko Toga’s character remained constant – her unstable mental state and distorted view of love and friendship. Toga believed that expressing her affection for those she admired involved consuming their blood or even resorting to violence towards those who fit her idea of a perfect partner. This highlights the extreme and disturbing nature of Toga’s understanding of love.

Despite this, Toga’s affection towards others, especially Deku, is not inherently malicious and is just as sincere as the love that is felt by “normal”individuals. This was demonstrated in the Final War arc when Deku’s Danger Sense failed to detect Toga, even as she charged at him with a knife. This serves as proof that while Toga’s feelings are genuine, her distorted mental state prevents her from expressing them in a conventional way.

As a child, Toga had to pretend to be cheerful and well-mannered in order to fit in with society’s definition of “normal.”This was because everyone who knew her from her childhood days expected her to be that way. However, as she got older, she found it more and more challenging to maintain this facade and conform to societal expectations.

According to Re-Destro, Toga’s twisted personality and feelings were a result of her Quirk, which required her to consume the blood of others. This caused her to develop a natural desire for blood, and over time, her mentality became influenced by her Quirk’s nature. As a result, she came to believe that it was perfectly normal for her to express her feelings by harming and drawing the blood of those she was fond of.

Despite initially resisting her Quirk’s influence, she eventually succumbed to it and viciously assaulted her classmate, mistaking her intense feelings for him as a crush. This caused her to be shunned by her own parents and those around her, who labeled her as ‘inhuman’ and ‘rotten to the core’. The constant rejection and hurtful words from her loved ones left Toga mentally shattered, as she struggled to come to terms with the fact that she would never be accepted for who she truly was.

Despite her deceptive nature, Toga has consistently shown a desire for genuine connections and a sense of belonging. This desire drew her towards Ochako Uraraka, as they both shared a similar struggle. Uraraka was compelled to conceal her feelings for Deku, while Toga had to conceal her true self due to her Quirk. Thus, Toga was greatly hurt when Uraraka initially rejected her attempts at forming a bond.

During the heroes’ pursuit, it was revealed that Toga harbored a fear of being captured or killed, as evidenced by her reaction when she was apprehended by Eel Boy. Furthermore, her time with the League had caused her to adopt Tomura Shigaraki’s beliefs and principles, as demonstrated in her justification for rejecting society during her fight against Uraraka. She believed that society had always rejected her and she was simply returning the favor.

Toga and Uraraka as seen in My Hero Academia (image via Bones)

Upon careful consideration of all these factors, it becomes clear why Toga became determined to annihilate anyone and anything in her path during the peak of the Final War. Despite initially regretting her inability to befriend Uraraka and discuss matters of the heart, she ultimately abandoned this sentiment, convinced that both Deku and Uraraka were akin to her parents who had previously rejected her.

Despite the difficulties, Uraraka persevered and successfully connected with Toga, learning about her past and inner turmoil. As the battle reached its peak, Toga’s reluctance to harm Uraraka showcased the strong bond that had formed between them during their confrontation.

As the end drew near, Toga was overjoyed when Uraraka referred to her as the “most adorable girl in the entire world”. Toga expressed gratitude towards Uraraka for reaching out and attempting to comprehend her. In a heroic act, Toga made the decision to give all of her blood to save Uraraka, who desperately pleaded for her not to sacrifice herself.

Toga’s death on the battlefield is the optimal conclusion for her character because it allowed her to die on her own terms. Through her selfless sacrifice, Toga not only avoided capture but also protected the life of Uraraka, whom she held dear in her final moments.

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Horikoshi failed to give Toga the ending she deserved in My Hero Academia chapter 429
Horikoshi not turning Deku and Ochaco’s moment into a confession scene in My Hero Academia chapter 429 was more impactful than fans realize