It feels like years since My Hero Academia last touched on the potential romance between Deku and Ochako Uraraka. Now, the series has confirmed that Ochako is officially in love with Deku. She expresses her feelings in a powerful way that will please fans who have been waiting for their romance to blossom.
Ochako’s confession happens at the perfect moment and is presented in a fresh and unexpected way.
In chapter 394 of My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi, Ochako continues her efforts to connect with a rampaging Himiko Toga, whose endless clones are causing major problems for Japan’s heroes.
As Ochako shares her life story with Himiko, she reaches the part where she fell in love with Deku. This brings her to the present moment in her journey.
Ochako’s Confrontation with Toga Highlights Unresolved Feelings for Deku
Before this, My Hero Academia had moved away from the romance between Deku and Ochako, which was once a major plotline. Their cute interactions had stopped, and while a few scenes teased their romance, they didn’t fully deliver.
For example, Ochako confessed to Deku that she was trying not to see Toga as a victim, and she announced Deku’s best qualities via a loudspeaker to appeal to a mob that wanted to sacrifice him.
This latest development is the perfect follow-up to Ochako and Toga’s interaction after the Paranormal Liberation War. When Toga first admired Ochako, she said they were connected because they both loved Deku. However, Toga later seemed to move on from her obsession with Ochako. This became a problem for the heroes when Himiko became one of the most threatening villains in the final war.
The pressure on Ochako to reach Toga couldn’t have been greater. To connect with her, Ochako had to address the very thing that Toga believed linked them: their shared love for Deku.
My Hero Academia Shifts Focus to Toga’s Trauma, Offering Unexpected Connection
In a surprising twist, Ochako may have finally confessed her feelings for Deku, but it wasn’t the main focus of the scene. Ochako briefly mentioned her love for Deku between two other thoughts, but this wasn’t what allowed her to connect with Toga emotionally.
What truly touched Toga was when Ochako said she thought Toga’s smile was special and cute. This was significant because Toga’s smile, which her parents and others had criticized, was one of her most traumatic memories shown in a flashback many chapters ago.
All Toga ever wanted was acceptance, particularly for her smile. This was one of the main reasons she joined the League of Villains. Now, Ochako has given Toga the acceptance she always wanted, outside the League of Villains. It’s fitting that My Hero Academia focused on Toga’s deepest insecurities, allowing Ochako to address them without relying on Deku.
Deku and Uraraka Share an Emotional Moment Amidst Toga’s Fate, Relationship Progress Uncertain
In Chapter 429, Uraraka goes off by herself, and Deku finds her. Toga’s fate has been heavily weighing on Uraraka, and she finally breaks down about it in front of Deku.
Recognizing all that Uraraka has done for him, Deku tells her that she is his hero and that he wants to support her as she has supported him. They share their frustrations about their inability to save their respective villains (Toga and Shigaraki), but before Uraraka can admit her feelings to him, the rest of Class 2-A arrives, ending the scene.
While this scene didn’t advance Deku and Uraraka’s relationship to the next level, their feelings for each other are still very much present. This was an emotional and intimate moment they shared, despite being interrupted. Uraraka may need more time before she is ready to tell Deku how she feels, and this simply wasn’t the right moment.
She was in tears over Toga and likely not in the mood to reveal her feelings.
My Hero Academia fans might not see a clear confirmation of Deku and Uraraka starting a relationship before the series ends. However, it’s easy to imagine that in the near future, they will face their feelings and confess their love for each other. Until then, Deku’s declaration of Uraraka as his hero will have to stand as the most emotional moment between them in My Hero Academia.
