My Hero Academia: Who Did Deku End Up With?

Highlights

My Hero Academia’s ending divided fans due to unanswered romantic plot points and lack of closure for Deku’s relationships.
While Deku and Ochaco’s mutual feelings were hinted at throughout the series, the manga ended with no clear romantic resolution.
Fans debated whether Deku should have ended up with Ochaco or Bakugo, but the ending left Deku’s romantic status open to interpretation.

As a long-time fan of My Hero Academia, I must confess that the ending left me with a mix of emotions. On one hand, I was thrilled to see Deku finally becoming a true hero and saving the world once again. On the other hand, the lack of closure regarding his romantic life felt like a missed opportunity.

This article contains spoilers from My Hero Academia Chapter 430.

Just concluded, the series “My Hero Academia” has sparked a lot of discussion due to its divisive ending. Some viewers have embraced the finale crafted by Horikoshi, but others are struggling to come to terms with the multitude of storylines and what seems like a hurried resolution.

It’s undeniable that the conclusion of “My Hero Academia” was bound to stir up deep feelings among viewers. Given its long run, it’s natural for fans to form strong emotional bonds with the series. Yet, this doesn’t prevent fans from expressing their critiques about the ending. One aspect that left fans puzzled was the handling of Deku’s romantic life in the final chapters. Throughout the series, Deku has had several potential love interests, and fans have their own interpretations. However, Horikoshi took an unexpected route with these relationships in the finale.

How Horikoshi Got The Fans To Invest In Romance

Deku And Ochaco’s Feelings Were Mutual

My Hero Academia isn’t solely a romance manga; instead, it primarily revolves around students striving to become heroes, rescuing people, and combating villains. This series falls under the category of battle shonen, with action and battles being crucial elements. However, if the authors were to merely focus on action and narratives, the manga would lack depth and appeal. It’s the events surrounding the action that make the story as captivating as possible. Interestingly, it wasn’t the action that fans adored most in My Hero Academia. What truly resonated with readers was the exceptional character development and the profound portrayal of emotions by the author – these elements have been the series’ standout strengths over time. Remarkably, these aspects are also closely tied to the romantic elements within the story.

You’ve always been my Hero, Uraraka-san! – Deku

In essence, love is a powerful feeling, and Horikoshi has skillfully portrayed and woven it into his narrative. For example, in the Final War Saga, Toga’s battle with Ochaco, centered around love, stands out as exceptional. The culmination of this battle left fans heartbroken, and its impact continues to resonate among readers even today. It’s evident that Horikoshi is a talented author, and if he chose, he could have crafted a romantic ending for Deku that would be equally compelling.

From the onset of the series, it was clear to fans that Ochaco was Deku’s primary love interest. His feelings for her were not hidden; in fact, they were mutual. Throughout her journey as a hero student, Ochaco grappled with her emotions, often suppressing them. This struggle significantly shaped her character development. Over time, she learned to express her feelings and use them as a source of strength. Most fans anticipated that the series would conclude with Deku and Ochaco together, a union many felt they both deserved. However, ‘My Hero Academia’ never definitively confirmed this romantic relationship, leaving their eventual fate ambiguous. Both characters were deeply in love and supportive individuals who, in essence, complemented each other.

Deku And Ochaco Or Deku And Bakugo?

Deku Could’ve Had A Brilliant Relationship With Either Deku Or Bakugo

In the world of “My Hero Academia”, while Deku and Ochaco may be the most widely supported pairing, it’s important to note that there are other intriguing relationships as well. One such relationship is between Deku and his classmate Bakugo. Unlike the dynamics of Deku and Ochaco, Deku and Bakugo’s bond is unique. From their early days together, Bakugo has shown a bullying side towards Deku, which persisted for quite some time in the narrative. However, over time, Bakugo made up for his past actions.

Without a doubt, it can’t be disputed that Bakugo and Deku share a unique bond that is rare among the story’s characters. This bond becomes even stronger after Bakugo undergoes a change. He is deeply committed to Deku’s development, and above all, making amends for his past mistakes. What sets him apart is his desire to compete with Deku until the very end, while also caring for him. He feels grateful for having been rescued by Deku in the past, and this feeling continues to grow.

Bakugo recognizes Deku as the person who showed kindness towards him at a crucial moment, which significantly impacted their bond. Meanwhile, Deku’s feelings for Bakugo have remained constant over time. While it’s debatable if these feelings are romantic in nature, there’s no question that Deku cares deeply for Bakugo, whether as a friend or something beyond. However, the genre of their story – a shonen series – usually doesn’t allow the main male character to end up with his male best friend, making it challenging for their relationship to fully develop in that way.

It was foolish from the start to assume that Deku would ultimately be with someone, even though it could have been a great choice. In the world of “My Hero Academia,” Deku’s romantic relationship could only have developed if the author chose to establish one between him and Ochaco. Upon comparison, Deku seems more suited for Ochaco than Bakugo in terms of compatibility.

Who Did Deku End Up With In My Hero Academia?

Deku’s Ending Was Left Open To Interpretation

My Hero Academia: Who Did Deku End Up With?

Initially, Deku and Ochaco’s roles in the story were clear from the start, but the series finale left fans puzzled due to an ambiguous conclusion regarding Deku’s romantic life. Fans who had followed the story for years were left hanging as Deku ended up without a significant other, leaving his relationship status open to interpretation. Ochaco’s feelings for Deku remained consistent until the very last page of the manga, but it remains unclear if her affection persisted through the 8-year time skip or not.

In essence, Deku and Ochaco remain partners in their heroic endeavors, sharing a profound affection for one another. However, it’s been clarified that they aren’t an official couple, as stated in the latest chapter. It seems that neither character will be romantically involved with anyone else. Some readers may find the romantic subplot between these characters feels unnecessary now.

The author should have concluded the story by making a definitive choice regarding this couple’s relationship and sticking to it. Ideally, we might receive confirmation about Deku and Ochaco’s relationship in a future sequel or special scene, but until then, fans can speculate that they are not currently together. Readers are free to draw their own conclusions from the ending, but it is important to remember that an official confirmation has yet to be provided.

You can find “My Hero Academia” from Viz Media, where fans can read it officially and without charge on the Shonen Jump and Manga Plus app. The final chapter, My Hero Academia chapter 430, was published on August 4, 2024.

2024-08-11 00:05