Why 1-A's Loving Class Rep Is The Best

Why 1-A's loving Class Rep is the best

I understand why people are disappointed that Iida took a backseat after the Stain arc. And since the story shifted from the original trio to the New B3, and with the manga nearing its climax, the chances of Iida getting more focus again, are pretty much nil.

You could check out the stage plays for more Iida, though.

But let's keep in mind, that Iida has come a long way: Remember how condescending, rigid, and selfish he was during the entrance exam?

I appreciate Iida a lot for how willingly he acknowledges his mistakes, how he always internalizes his learned lessons, and how he does his best to do better.

And I love how supportive he is. He assures Uraraka that her motivation of becoming a hero to gain financial stability for her family, is just as perfectly respectable as any motivation, that is based on idealism. He calls Asui “Tsu-chan-kun” because while he's uncomfortable with calling her “Tsu-chan”, he wants to respect and accommodate her wish as much as he can.

The hero Ingenium: Always running to help lost children.

One of the funniest and simultaneously most heartwarming Iida-scenes to me, is when he tells Aoyama to “never stop twinkling – whatever that means.”

Aoyama stands out as an oddball, among oddballs, and none of his classmates has any idea what he's talking about - including Iida. But Iida's completely sincere with his statement: "Yes, do your best to go after your calling - I'll support you the whole way!"

Look at my son. He loves his friends so much.

Let’s be proud of what character development 1-A’s Class rep has achieved until now, and just headcanon a dozen of joyful varieties of the rest of his journey.

Saying their goodbyes: Shouto, Katsuki

Shouto

Nee-san spoke first, “Please be careful, Shouto. I... I’m so sorry for being such a useless older sister. I wish, I cou-"

"I will. And you're not useless." That felt insufficient. Shouto tried moving his hand over his sister's head, like he had seen Asui doing with some of their classmates when they got upset. "Please teach me how to make soba properly, when I get back."

At this, Fuyumi's eyes turned watery.

Shouto faltered. Then he froze.

Natsu-nii had pulled him into a hug.

Perhaps not wanting their sister and mother to hear, Natsu-nii said into his ear: “Punch him in the face. Pummel his ass." And with an even lower voice, his brother whispered: "And if there's any possibility… please drag him home.”

Shouto flailed. Then he remembered what he did, when okaa-san had asked for his permission to hug him during one of his first visits, and put his hands lightly on Natsu-nii's back. For few seconds, his fingers gripped his older brother's sweater tightly.

Shouto turned to their mother. She had lagged behind his siblings slightly.

He knew that the loss of Touya-nii back then, had completely shattered whatever small parts of their mother had been left, that hadn't already been broken by their father. But Touya-nii had killed so many people. And his flames were so strong, surpassing those of Endeavor's.

Shouto didn't know what to say to his mother. But he had to say something, so he settled on, "Okaa-san, I won’t let our family hurt any more people. I promise.”

“I know. I’m sor…” His mother stopped. Instead, she reached out to wrap his left hand between her own smaller ones. “Thank you, Shouto. I’m grateful for having you.”

Shouto swallowed hard. His hand stayed in between his mother's palms, until the heroes were signaled to move out.

Katsuki

“You will win.”

“What do you take me for?! Of course I will!”

For that, the hag decked him over the head.

Katsuki was about to let his mother know, that she hit like a ninety-year old. But before he could, his old man caught his gaze. Something in his father's eyes made Katsuki close his mouth again.

With her hands on her hips and her chin tilted up, his mother said: “Absolute victory. That's what you've always spouted. And absolute victory requires making it back. Preferably, in one piece. Although I don't expect that - no, I'm not underestimating you. But I'm also not an idiot. And neither are you."

At this, Katsuki averted his eyes. The hero students involvement in the PLW was still kept secret from the public. Aside from Icyhot, none of the students who got hospitalized had been allowed visits from their families.

Katsuki knew from his old man, that his mother had stood in front of the hospital every single day, until they learned that their son had been released and escorted back to his dorm.

During phone calls, he had tried to downplay his injuries. It wasn't because he agreed with the Commission's dumbass decisions.

It had been futile anyways. Katsuki saw from the expression of his mother's face, when she first laid eyes on him after UA's emergency shelters went into effect, that she had guessed the severity of his injuries right away.

His mother combed her hand slowly through his hair. Katsuki fought against the urge to tilt his head towards her.

"So. I expect an absolute victory, where as much of you makes it back as needed... to take the decking that you’ll get for being disrespectful to your mother. Got it?”

“…yeah, yeah. Just watch me.”

The hag gave his hair a slight pull.

And so, Katsuki's schoolmates, teachers, and anyone else in their vincity, got subjected to an encore of the Bakugou-screamo-musical, until it was time for the son to leave.

Hanta embodies characteristics we all should strive towards

Not gonna lie, I hoped for more from Sero's "big moment" in the latest chapters, even if the lack of prior build-up might have been jarring.

But I'll take what I can get.

Sero's drama-free normalcy is exactly why I appreciate him.

He has no extraordinary personal stakes in this battle of all battles:

He's not part of a long-line of wielders of a special power, that is crucial to defeating the big bad.

He's not part of a family, who has to take responsibility for a past full of painful mistakes.

He's not even part of the main character's close circle, who just by association, wouldn't have been able to stay out of this whole mess.

He's just an unremarkable, average guy.

Except, not really.

He's none of the things mentioned above, and he still showed up at a very high personal risk.

The majority of people wouldn't do this.

Sero doesn't need extra-dramatic motives to do the best, and give the most, that he can.

Sero Hanta: "Just" along for the ride, but giving his all!

Also: We got a Seroroki friendship moment.

Katsuki and Izuku are not best friends, part 3

The start of "To the Limit" was a perfect fit for their escape. Forever one of my favourite music moments in this series.

When Deku designated Kirishima to be the one holding his hand out to Bakugou, he wasn't only thinking about the pure likelihood of Bakugou being willing to hitch their ride. I'm convinced that Deku took what Uraraka said before the Bakugou-Rescue-squad went to Kamino, to heart: Deku thought about Bakugou’s potential feelings regarding who would hold out their hand to him.

Let’s fast-forward a bit:

This was the wrong way for Deku to offer Bakugou a helping hand. At this stage of his character development, Bakugou would have not been able to accept this type of help from most people, but least of all from Deku.

This had been the right way to help Bakugou. Deku's narration during the scene confirms his own recognition of it. And Bakugou didn't lash out against this help from Deku, only because he didn't recognize it as such.

Let’s fast-forward a bit more:

By the time Bakugou and the rest of 1-A launched Iida at Deku, he had accumulated enough character development, that his actions mirrored Deku's thinking during Kamino:

Speed is Class Rep’s thing, so having him chasing Deku had the highest chances of success - but it's also better for Deku’s comfort. Because with Iida, Deku doesn’t have to fear being called a stupid for having done what he did or having all of his shortcomings pointed out.

When it’s his turn to try and talk Deku into coming back with them, bad-boy-turned-good-boy Bakugou doesn’t do any of that crap. But the treatment that Deku had received from Bakugou for most of their long acquaintance, has conditioned him to expect such reactions from him. Deku couldn’t have guessed anything different from him.

With Iida, Deku feels secure. Iida is Deku’s friend unreservedly, so the emotional defences that the rest of 1-A have chipped away at, are better broken through by their Class Rep.

My point is, for all that meddling when you don't need to be is supposed to be the essence of a hero, I think that both Deku and Bakugou would feel like it's not their place, to do so in regards to the other, as long as there are better suited people who want, can, and will take care of that.

To put it differently, there are some things that Bakugo and Deku can do for each other. And there are other things, that they can’t - including things that most would view as essential to a (best) friend.

Type C: Spending time with each other voluntarily

Aside from Deku trying to hang out with Bakugou when they used to be little children, I can only remember one instance, where they spend time with each other one-on-one voluntarily:

After Bakugou learned about OFA, and was trying to help Deku with his training.

Again, they “hung out” because it was for a higher purpose. I also accidentally lied: The training sessions weren't one-on-one. They happened with their mutual idol All Might.

Real friends spent time with each other voluntarily for no reason, other than the joy of being with each other.

I can't see Deku and Bakugou getting ice cream together. I can’t see them going to the arcade together. Except for serious hero work-related stuff, I can’t see them doing anything together one-on-one.

At no point in the story, have I ever gotten the impression that either of them wanted to spend time with each other, because they enjoyed each other's personality and company.

And why would they? Referring to my previous post on this topic: Due to their history, neither Deku nor Bakugou feels truly comfortable around the other.

For all of their inferred closeness, both hold reservations towards the other, that friends - especially best friends – shouldn’t have between each other.

While the permanent absence of one of them would spark great sorrow and rage in the other... I'd dare to say, that their presences in each other's life doesn't exactly spark joy.

...

If I had to put a label on their complicated relationship: Like I mentioned before, rather than friends, I feel like Deku and Bakugou are more like siblings, who don't particularly get along.

Due to their chosen aspirations, Deku and Bakugou's paths became intertwined, and will probably remain so... with having to watch each other almost-dying for the nth time, they are trauma bonded for life anyways.

Even the way Bakugou yells at Deku during their training sessions, made me think of an older brother who's truly annoyed about having to spent time tutoring their younger sibling, but doesn't want them to fail their exams. Especially since in this case, "failing exams" = getting killed by villains.

...

In light of Bakugou's heavy injuries and Deku's fairly certain permanent loss of OFA (at the time of writing this post), it is uncertain, how each of their futures will look like.

Assuming that both will still become pro heroes: I think Deku and Bakugou will live and breathe each side of All Might’s legacy with each other (as well as with any of their peers proceeds on the hero path, after the war).

In such an outcome, I headcanon that Deku and Bakugou will continue to work and train together as adults. However, I don’t see them calling each other much on their days-off.

I just don't see them confiding in each other beyond anything that isn't hero stuff and/or All Might-related. I don't see them talking to each other about worries such as romantic relationship difficulties, child-rearing issues, aging parents problems, their mortgage... (well, perhaps their mortgage. I can see Bakugou bitching to Deku about this topic. Be it scolding the latter, or even complaining about it himself.)

Meaning that as grown-up heroes, I headcanon Deku and Bakugou doing stuff for each other like taking more of the other's workload, so that they can take care of things in their private life, when it's needed.

But when Deku needs friends, he has learned to go to Iida and Todoroki. And when Bakugou needs friends... Kirishima and Kaminari would break into his home and force their company on him.

…

As it is with a lot of families, you might care, you might even love them…

It doesn’t mean, that you want to or should be around each other more often than necessary.

Yeah, no thanks. I'd say, hardworking Pro-Hero Deku deserves relaxing days off, without somebody going off on him permanently.

Shouto and his adoptive sisters, part 1

I headcanon that Todoroki is especially protective of Uraraka (e.g. in Movie 1 he intentionally placed himself right in front of her) and Asui, because they remind him of his sister, who is both cheerful and caring, and to whom he couldn’t be close to in the past. Despite being the youngest Todoroki sibling, and the one who received the brunt of their father’s abuse, I think Shouto might still feel partly responsible for the distance between him and his siblings.

It seems like Todoroki joined Deku & co for lunch regularly, right after the back-alley trio returned from Hosu. I headcanon - especially since I've watched their background shenanigans in the BNHA stage plays (the plays are hilarious, go look them up on yt!) - that Uraraka started to uraraka-handle Todoroki around the place, just like she has been doing with Deku and Iida since the start.

And no, their friendship doesn’t consist of Todoroki buying her expensive shit with his father’s credit card. Todoroki was someone who rejected his father’s instructions for years, even though it would have benefitted his hero training greatly (makes 100 % sense from the emotional angle, and 0 % sense from a sheer utilitarian angle). I headcanon that he also refuses to ask his father for money for anything. Fuyumi took care of that, otherwise Todoroki might have just walked around in clothes that he's grown out of, just because he didn't want to ask the old man for anything.

I also don’t think that Uraraka would accept huge amounts of money/monetary gifts from her friends, no matter her own financial circumstances. Even - or rather especially - if she'd thought that Todoroki's spending his father's money on her to piss of the latter. I think Uraraka would have an outlook like, “Don’t do things mainly to oppose someone. Do things for yourself!” which redirects Todoroki’s actions away from his father but turns his focus towards himself.

Uraraka would grab Todoroki and their friends, and they would go to the nearest playground. Each of them teaches Todoroki how to play their favourite (and entirely free of costs) childhood games. The games he wasn’t allowed to play, when he was younger.

He will catch up on them now. Together with his friends.

...

In my mind, this was canon:

For sure, Uraraka's first impression of Todoroki is of him being an awkward oddball... which I headcanon is one of the reasons why she went out of her way to befriend him.

The parents of class 1-A, and their favourite kids

Parenting is hard: Trying to keep their stupid impulsive kids from getting themselves killed.

Let's be real, while I can see parents usually loving all of their children equally, most don't like their children equally.

Iida and Yaoyorozu’s mutual favourite child is without question, Asui. She’s the kid who helps out with the other children the most, courtesy of being an older sister within her own family. Iida also listens to Tsu-chan-kun, whenever she tells/signals him smt like: ~Dad, it’s okay. The others aren’t toddlers anymore, they should do/know/learn it by themselves. ~

And Yaoyorozu always worries about her, whenever the weather turns cold - the memory of Asui collapsing in that frozen room during the license exam, remains fresh in her mind.

Parenting is hard: Both are parents, who would be tearing up themselves, when they see one of their kids being in pain.

Iida has another favorite child: Tokoyami-kun.

Class Dad went from telling his goth son off for sitting on, instead of at, the latter's school desk, to being in awe of him, telling him how he's "so wise" (ty, Michael J. Tatum for the awesome line delivery).

A couple of outings with Class Dad.

Not to mention, Class Dad internally praising Fumikage for being the only one out of his boys, who has proper sleeping manners. The light novels have a few stories in which Iida and Tokoyami are hanging out, and mainly interacting with each other within smaller groups (I think Iida might have been vocal with his praise, when Tokoyami “saved” a little girl from getting lost in the amusement park).

I don’t think there are many kids in 1-A (I can only think of two. Guess who?) who wouldn’t be able to hold some kind of at least semi-enjoyable conversation with any of their classmates, at any given time. However, I wouldn’t have expected Iida and Tokoyami to spent a noticeable amount of their very limited leisure time with each other. I found that dynamic to be a sweet little surprise.

Parenting is hard: ... but Iida definitely enjoys his role to a certain extent.

Yaoyorozu also has another favourite child. Although I picture it more as a favourite younger brother: Kaminari-san.

I might expand on this some other time.

Parenting is hard: The class reps totally deserve a vacation away from their children... but then they wouldn't be able to relax, because they would be away from them.

Sometimes, at the end of a long day, choke-full of classes, hero training, and whatever trouble 1-A members have managed to get themselves into, Yaoyorozu makes a large pot of tea to bring over Iida, who has already spread out markers and sheets of paper over the large table in the dorm's common room.

Class rep positions may not mean much in a lot of places in our real-life world, but UA is not a normal environment. Since moving into the dorms, Iida and Yaoyorozu’s (admittedly, many of them self-imposed) responsibilities have only been increasing.

Thankfully, there is a lot of trust and appreciation for each other between 1-A's co-parents class reps.

Which makes it easy to sit down and work out an elaborate plan of action for illnesses in their home, together.

Because having this many kids in such close living quarters, means being guaranteed an in-house germ factory when flu season inevitably arrives.

...

Where are the class 1-A during COVID quarantine fics? Gimme pls.