My Hero Academia’s Deku is undoubtedly one of the most noble and empathetic characters of recent years. The young man is the embodiment of heroism, willing to sacrifice himself to save anyone in need. Nowhere is Deku’s sacrifice and heroic nature better exemplified than during the final battle against All For One and Shigaraki.

Besides saving Japan from the Symbol of Evil himself, Deku accomplished a feat that no other Hero in the series did; reuniting a dead family and helping them overcome their trauma. During the fight, Deku not only saved Tenko from All for One’s control, but he also healed the Shimura Family and helped them move on.

Deku’s Kindness and Selflessness Helped Even Those Who Had Already Passed

Izuku’s Actions Gave Tenko and Nana a Happy Ending

Afraid of losing her only child due to her constant conflict with All For One, Nana Shimura decided to abandon the young boy, believing that this would keep him safe. While this indeed prevented Kotaro from becoming another casualty while his mother fought against her sworn enemy, it also caused the young man to grow resentful. He ended up hating his mother for abandoning him, developing an aversion to everything related to heroes. Kotaro became a cold, unfeeling, and often abusive father, hitting and screaming at his children for looking up to their grandmother.

To make matters worse, All For One ended up learning about Kotaro’s family and decided to make them suffer as a way to get his revenge on Nana. The biggest victim in all this ended up being young Tenko, a cheerful and optimistic young boy with dreams of becoming a hero. His goals were swiftly destroyed when All For One gave him the Decay Quirk, causing the child to kill his family. In an attempt to protect her son from her nemesis, Nana caused the Shimura Family to fall apart, aiding the villain in the creation of Tomura Shigaraki.

Years later, Deku made it his mission to save Tenko from the pain and trauma that tormented him. Izuku’s bravery, kindness, and unwillingness to abandon Tenko was the miracle the Shimura Family needed to finally heal. Deku allowed Nana’s spirit to reunite with her son’s and ask for forgiveness. Kotaro, whose vestige was shown to be conscious of his mother’s apology, let go of the hatred that plagued him. Most importantly, Tenko was at last offered a helping hand, proving that he was worth the effort. No other hero could have achieved such a monumental task.

Deku’s Heroism Saved More Than One Family

Izuku Also Helped Yoichi Reunite With His Brother and Gave Both a Chance To Rest

While not as prominently featured as the Shimura’s, Yoichi and All For One were also part of a broken family. Shortly after their birth, their mother died, leaving the newborn babies to fend for themselves. They were left unprotected in a world that hated them for having been born with Quirks, forcing the two children to fight for their lives in the middle of a war. The Symbol of Evil, who saw Yoichi as nothing more than a belonging, did everything in his power to keep his brother by his side, even if he needed to use force.

Behind his abusive behavior towards his brother, hid a familial love that All For One tried his best to keep buried. His twisted emotions lead him to kill his brother, beginning a centuries-old conflict. He spent his whole life thinking that he simply wished to steal One For All because the Quirk belonged to him, not realizing that what he wanted was to see his brother again. This was confirmed in chapter #421 of the My Hero Academia manga, in which the villain mourned the loss of his brother’s vestige

Like the true hero he is, Deku also gave the brothers a last chance to reunite and end the war that had already caused so much pain. By giving Shigaraki’s body One For All, Yoichi and his brother were given a final chance to talk. The Symbol of Evil begged Yoichi to stay by his side, claiming that he loved him more than anything. Despite their imminent demise, Yoichi stayed calm, knowing that he and his brother would finally discover peace. Deku became the hero of not only Japan but of the greatest villains in history as well.

Izuku Midoriya’s heroic nature has always been one of his greatest strengths. His altruistic mindset accomplished more than just obtaining victory in the hardest battle of his life. He gave two broken and suffering families a chance at healing, proving how significant his contributions to the world of My Hero Academia have been.