I’ve noticed that many action-packed shonen anime don’t really prioritize romance – it often feels like an afterthought. But when the story takes place in a school setting, completely ignoring romantic relationships just doesn’t feel realistic. Kohei Horikoshi, the creator of My Hero Academia, seemed to understand this, and that’s why I was so pleased to see one of the best couples in the shonen genre actually develop within the story itself.
A special episode of My Hero Academia premiered on May 2, 2026, officially bringing together fan-favorite couple Izuku Midoriya and Ochaco Uraraka. This pairing is already being celebrated as one of the best new couples in recent anime, and fans are thrilled to see their relationship develop.
My Hero Academia Special Episode ‘More’ Marks The Beginning Of Izuku and Ochako’s Dating Life
My Hero Academia’s latest episode, “More” (Episode 171), primarily adapted a one-shot story originally published with the final volume of the manga. The episode centered on Izuku Midoriya and Ochako Uraraka, the series’ main characters, with smaller parts for characters like Toga and Bakugo. The main goal of the episode was to explore Ochako’s feelings for Izuku, as intended by creator Kohei Horikoshi.
Toga kept appearing in Ochaco’s dreams because Ochaco had been hiding her romantic feelings for Izuku since the end of the war. Izuku was experiencing similar feelings, so they both decided to be honest with each other and explore a relationship. This marked the start of their dating life together.
How Horikoshi Wanted To Depict Love In Chapter 431 Of The Manga
Kohei Horikoshi, the creator of My Hero Academia, intentionally kept romance from being the main focus. As a shonen manga geared towards young boys, he believed action and a strong storyline were more important to that audience. However, he also understood that some romantic elements were inevitable given the school setting, a point he acknowledged in comments included with volume 42 of the manga.
Given that the story takes place in a school, it felt wrong to avoid romance altogether, but finding the right balance was tricky. Luckily, Deku was usually focused on other things, so he didn’t notice any romantic attention, which actually worked out well for me.
When the story reached chapter 394, it briefly introduced the idea of love. Because of this, I knew I’d eventually need to address it. I hadn’t originally planned for romance to fit with the core themes of My Hero Academia – which are about saving others and being saved, and the journey of becoming heroes. Therefore, I decided to explore it in an epilogue, almost as an afterthought.
I didn’t want to focus on romance directly, but on love as a component of something bigger. I’m curious to know if I succeeded in showing that,” says Kohei Horikoshi, the author of My Hero Academia Volume 42.
Kohei Horikoshi cleverly added a romantic conclusion for Izuku Midoriya and Ochaco Uraraka in an extra chapter at the end of the manga. He hadn’t resolved their relationship within the initial 430 chapters because of potentially negative reactions from fans. The passionate ‘shipping’ community can be quite critical, and finalizing their relationship earlier could have upset those who preferred different pairings. Therefore, adding a final chapter to the last volume allowed Horikoshi to properly address their relationship and give fans a clear idea of their future together.
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Why Izuku Midoriya And Ochaco Uraraka Form The Best Ship In Anime
Izuku Midoriya and Ochako Uraraka are a popular pairing among fans of modern action anime. While romance isn’t usually a strong point in this genre, and My Hero Academia isn’t drastically different, the series does a better job of developing its main characters. This leads to more engaging moments and a more satisfying connection between them compared to many other action anime.
From the start, Izuku Midoriya and Ochako Uraraka have clearly had feelings for each other, and those feelings have always been mutual. They’ve both been so focused on their duties as heroes and handling everything around them that they haven’t had time to explore a relationship. Now that the danger of the Paranormal Liberation War has passed, it’s a natural next step for Izuku and Ochako to start seriously thinking about their future together.
I noticed something really significant at the end of the recent My Hero Academia episode. Izuku and Ochaco both clearly expressed wanting to explore a deeper connection with each other, and it feels like that’s where the story is going. Judging by how the author has been developing things lately, it’s pretty obvious they’re rooting for these two and want their relationship to be a major part of the story’s romantic focus.
Izuku and Ochaco’s Future
The romantic relationship between Izuku Midoriya and Ochaco Uraraka is currently unresolved. The story last showed them beginning to date after admitting their feelings for each other, but their journey hasn’t been fully explored. Only the author, Kohei Horikoshi, can reveal what happened to them if he continues the My Hero Academia series.
The author hasn’t said if or when he’ll continue the story beyond the current ending, including any plans for a return in 2026 or later. He has mentioned, however, that he’s working on a new manga, as reported in Weekly Shonen Jump. He expects to release this new project within the next few years, which suggests he’s focused on new work rather than adding to the conclusion of My Hero Academia.
Essentially, the conclusion to Izuku Midoriya and Ochako Uraraka’s story is probably definitive – there won’t be any further developments. However, it’s a satisfying ending that establishes a beloved and dynamic couple within the shonen genre, and could inspire many future stories.
All episodes of the My Hero Academia anime are currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
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2026-05-07 01:38