Warning: Contains spoilers for chapter #415 of My Hero Academia.
My Hero Academia just teased that a major theory about Shigaraki and All For One could be true, and the big reveal could end up justifying the series’ controversial choice to save Shigaraki for the finale.Deku’s decision to redeem Shigaraki has caused much debate among fans, with many claiming his crimes are too great. However, the latest chapter hints he may be worth saving after all.
A major theory spawned from Shigaraki’s backstory is that Decay was never Shigaraki’s original quirk but was given to him by All For One much like Deku was given One For All, and chapter #415 teases that this theory could be true. The chapter reveals glimpses of Shigaraki’s childhood memories as he continues to fight Deku, the most crucial being a scene of a man leading Shigaraki by the hand.
Last seen in chapter #235, this man who brought Tenko home one day has been suspected to be none other than All For One, who supposedly gave Tenko “Decay” on that day. The possibility that All For One may have given Shigaraki the quirk that ruined his life recontextualizes his character and may provide more reason for Deku to save Shigaraki beyond his own convictions.
Only Deku Could Beat Shigaraki, and My Hero Academia Finally Explains The Reason Why
Chapter 414 of My Hero Academia proves that Deku is the right choice for battling Shigaraki, and it’s not just because of One for All.
My Hero Academia Teases Decay was Never Shigaraki’s Original Quirk
My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi, chapter 415, “Rejection”
Despite seeming like an insignificant part of Shigaraki’s childhood when first shown, its inclusion in chapter #415 suggests there may be some significance to this memory after all. All For One is known to hold grudges, especially against the previous users of One For All. It isn’t a stretch to assume that All For One would target Nana Shimura’s family, especially after she distanced herself in order to protect them, and considering the mysterious stranger also bears a strong physical resemblance to All for One
All For One was already in need of a pawn to steal One For All, and it seems all too convenient that he found Nana’s grandson, Tenko, right when he was at his lowest after murdering his family. In fact, a huge reason All For One was able to groom Shigaraki into the perfect pawn for his plan was because All For One was the first person to reach out to Shigaraki after he was orphaned. Another coincidence to consider is that Tenko started developing his so-called allergies and itchiness after meeting the mysterious man in chapter #235, implying this may have all been a part of All For One’s grand plan.
Tenko was assumed to be quirkless before he developed Decay as he still hadn’t shown signs of manifesting a quirk even at five years old, by which age quirk factors usually reveal themselves. Most importantly, Decay did not run in Tenko’s family, nor did any remotely similar quirk factor. While there have been rare cases like Eri, where a child can develop a completely unrelated quirk, the coincidences are simply too many for this to be the case.
Shigaraki’s Tragic Origins Paint Him in a Sympathetic Light
The moment Shigaraki murdered his family is a pivotal moment in his character arc that changed the course of his life and the possibility that All For One may have been responsible for ruining his life makes him seem all the more pitiful. Admittedly, this does not dismiss Shigaraki’s crimes and wrongdoings, but it does paint him in a more sympathetic light that helps justify Deku wanting to save him.
If this theory does turn out to be true, it would only strengthen the existing parallels between Shigaraki and Deku. Shigaraki may have started out quirkless just like Deku, both dreaming of becoming heroes regardless of their circumstances. Similarly, both were given very different quirks that led them down very different paths. Deku was given the power to become a hero, while Decay fueled Shigaraki’s resentment and destructive tendencies, leading him down the path of villainy.
That said, it’s unclear how Shigaraki will react to the revelation. Perhaps he will feel manipulated and resent All For One, or blame Nana even more for ruining his life. The shock of the revelation might even help Deku finally break through his barriers instead. Either way, My Hero Academia‘s climactic battle is sure to have plenty of twists and turns in store.
My Hero Academia is available from MANGA Plus and Viz Media.
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My Hero Academia
In My Hero Academia, some humans have superpowers called quirks. Izuku Midoriya, nicknamed Deku, is not one of them. Deku has always idolized heroes like the number one hero, All Might, and since he was a child, he has always wanted to be a hero. However, his lack of a quirk has always held him back, but a chance encounter with All Might after discovering a classmate in danger sets Deku on the path to becoming a true hero. My Hero Academia centers around Deku and a class of heroes-in-training at UA. This school shapes young quirk users into future heroes through fake rescue missions, combat training, and other hero-tempering tasks. With young Deku inheriting the “One-For-All” quirk, he will learn what it means to be a true hero while facing off with dastardly supervillains.
- Cast
- Aoi Yuki , Ayane Sakura , Christopher R. Sabat , Yûki Kaji , Nobuhiko Okamoto , Luci Christian , David Matranga , Justin Briner , Kenta Miyake , Clifford Chapin , Daiki Yamashita
- Release Date
- April 3, 2016
- Seasons
- 5
- Website
- https://www.funimation.com/shows/my-hero-academia/
- Franchise
- My Hero Academia
- Production Company
- Bones
- Number of Episodes
- 113
