Warning: Spoilers for My Hero Academia chap #394 The most controversial unrequited love story in My Hero Academy was perfectly discarded, as Himiko Toga finally put aside her romantic feelings for Deku. Toga was obsessed with the protagonist from the start of the series, but this created a strange and, many fans will say, pointless love triangle involving both of them and Ochako Uraraka, which became even stranger when Himiko later shared how she feels about Ochako.
Luckily, in Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia chapter #394, Himiko tells Ochako that Deku just reminded her of a guy she once liked, named Saito, before sharing all the insecurities she had about him. In fact, the villain makes it even clearer by saying that she easily falls in love with anyone or anything due to the feeling of rejection she has experienced all her life. Toga makes these shocking confessions after Uraraka tries to connect with the perpetrator by telling Himiko the story of her own life, including how she fell in love with Deku in the first place.
My Hero Academia completely undermines Toga’s feelings for Deku
Toga is minimizing his feelings for Deku in two ways. First, she’s basically compounding her fascination with Deku with every other affection she’s ever had while trivializing them all in the process, saying she loves everyone and everything. Second, she is putting her love for Deku in someone else, implying that her feelings for this Saito are stronger and that the only reason she liked Deku in the first place was because she was infatuated with Saito. Meanwhile, the fact that Himiko’s obsession with Ochako has no romantic motives sets it apart and elevates it higher than the rest of her obsessions.
The latest chapter is especially welcome after recent events focused on Himiko’s infatuation with Deku. When everyone in the love triangle including Deku, Ochako and Himiko was transported to one of the battlefields of the final war, Toga completely ignored Uraraka and charged at Deku. Luckily, this is just a red herring because Himiko is basically protecting herself from how badly Ochako rejected her at the end of the Paranormal Liberation War. This latest chapter is the first time Himiko allows herself to be vulnerable in front of Ochako and this leads to an unexpected victory for the heroes.
Deku and Toga’s “romance” never gained any real traction
Himiko’s obsession with Deku always feels superficial and even forced, especially when compared to Deku and Ochako’s romantic encounter. Basically, Deku and Ochako have been flirting or feeling awkward around each other since the day they first met. The series then ignores and teases Deku and Ochako’s relationship only fanning the flames. As a result, fans have been more invested in their relationship and longer lasting. As a result, most fans only see Himiko’s infatuation with Deku as an obstacle to the true romance they’re interested in, with little merit aside from making Toga an even scarier villain. My Hero Academy Himiko Toga’s decision to minimize her feelings for Deku means that not only does Uraraka finally confess her feelings for Deku but all the characters involved show signs of maturity.
My Hero Academy chapter #394 is available from Viz Media.