In My Hero Academia season 7, episode 3, which aired on May 18, 2024, the highly anticipated reveal of the U.A. traitor was finally made, and it turned out to be Aoyama Yuga. While this revelation might surprise some fans, the series had been dropping hints about Aoyama’s true nature for quite some time.
The episode begins with a training session for Class 1-A, who are utilizing the time bought by Star and Stripe’s efforts. Meanwhile, Hagakure overhears a conversation between Aoyama’s parents, where they inadvertently disclose Aoyama’s identity as the U.A. traitor. Midoriya, who appears unexpectedly, captures them.
One of the most significant foreshadowings of Aoyama’s betrayal is his seemingly overly friendly demeanor and his conspicuous absence during critical moments. This article delves into these foreshadowings, highlighting how they pointed to Aoyama’s eventual reveal as the traitor.
Foreshadowing the U.A. Traitor’s True Identity
The U.S.J. Incident Arc: After the battle trials, Class 1-A visits the Unforeseen Simulation Joint (U.S.J.) for training. When the League of Villains attacks, Aoyama, who was paired with Hagakure, disappears, and Hagakure is later seen with Ojiro. After the villains retreat, Aoyama’s desperate inquiry about his whereabouts raises suspicions, as it seems he wants to appear less conspicuous.
The Final Exams Arc: During the final exams, Aoyama is paired with Uraraka against Thirteen. In a critical moment, Aoyama points out that Uraraka is thinking about what Deku would do, which makes her blush and escape a dangerous situation. This could indicate Aoyama’s attempt to prevent the class from attending the forest training camp, as he had to inform All For One of their locations.
The Forest Training Camp Arc: At the forest training camp, Aoyama is seen hiding in the bushes during the villains’ attack. He makes eye contact with Dabi, but Dabi does not pursue him, suggesting a possible alliance.
The Hideout Raid Arc: After Bakugo’s kidnapping, Class 1-A plans to rescue him despite teachers’ orders. Aoyama advises against this, which fans initially attribute to cowardice. However, it might indicate his concern about complicating matters with All For One, to whom he reports their activities.
Provisional Hero License Exam Arc: During the Provisional Hero License Exam, while others from Class 1-A are actively participating, Aoyama is hiding. This behavior might reflect his desire to distance himself from the class due to his role as a spy.
U.A. School Festival Arc: During the U.A. School Festival, Aoyama is revealed to often eat lunch alone, foreshadowing his isolated nature as a traitor. Additionally, he writes “I Know” with cheese bits in Midoriya’s room, leading Deku to think Aoyama knows about One For All, possibly to divert suspicion from himself.
The Dark Deku Arc: When Deku leaves U.A. High School, thinking he is the cause of the League of Villains’ attacks, his classmates try to support him. Notably, Aoyama is absent during this time, suggesting his guilt and inability to face his friends.
With Aoyama’s true identity as the traitor now revealed, the series will likely explore his path to redemption in future episodes. This pivotal moment has been long foreshadowed, adding depth to Aoyama’s character and setting the stage for intense developments ahead.
The surprise reveal of Aoyama as the traitor in My Hero Academia adds a lot of depth to the story. It shows that even minor characters like Aoyama can have big roles in shaping the plot. This twist also makes us question who we can trust in the series.
Moving forward, it’ll be interesting to see what happens to Aoyama and how his betrayal affects everyone else. This reveal makes the story more complex and promises exciting new developments.
