Why Deku Shouldn’t Have Lost One for All

Deku’s journey with One for All in My Hero Academia ended when he chose to sacrifice his power in order to connect with Shigaraki in the hopes of finally destroying All for One. While it was certainly an extraordinary moment for the series, there is a discussion to be had about whether it was the right move to make for Deku’s character and the story as a whole.

For many, this was an unexpected turn of events, with the assumption that Deku would end the story triumphant, while still retaining the power of One for All. For others, this was very much in line with how the story was progressing. But, which path had the stronger case, and which one would ultimately serve the story more? With a couple of chapters focusing on Deku’s post One for All life, we can see how Deku reacted to the loss and chose to pursue heroism on his own terms. But, what would an alternate universe look like where Deku kept One for All?

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Why Deku Should Have Lost One For All

Deku’s Heroism Was Never Tied to Having a Quirk

Before elaborating on why Deku shouldn’t have lost one for all, it’s important to consider the arguments about why he should have lost it. When it comes to Horikoshi’s storytelling, it did seem like it was trending towards Deku losing One for All. Horikoshi’s inspiration and motives behind making Deku, as well as how he guided him throughout the series, spoke towards wanting to continually challenge him and test his spirit, constantly putting the weight of the world on his shoulders, while showing why Deku was the only one who could take up this task. With that in mind, Deku losing One for All is consistent with how Horikoshi handled him throughout the story, contributing to the noble sacrificial image of Deku he was consistently trying to perpetuate.

Not to mention, how he lost it was very fitting as well. Even though it was at his discretion what to do with One for All, he chose to sacrifice it to Shigaraki so that he could save him, and not just merely destroy All for One. He gave up perhaps the most important thing in the world, to ensure others would be safe and that he could be a hero for a person who never really had one. So, it’s hard to say that Deku losing One for All was wrong; it was certainly a decision that had merit and support from the narrative. However, when considering the implications for the story if Deku maintained One for All, there are perhaps even more interesting events that unfold.

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Why Deku Should Have Kept One for All

Deku Earned This Power

So much of Deku’s character arc throughout the series is learning to understand his worth, and that he doesn’t need a quirk in order to be a hero. For that reason, it’s perhaps understandable why some would be content to see Deku lose One for All. However, there is another important moral that was added to the narrative along the way that made losing One for All not such an easy decision.

From the very beginning, All Might reassures Deku that he gave him One for All because he earned it. He wasn’t endowed with a quirk at birth like others; instead, he had to prove through his actions that he was heroic enough to be bestowed it. Later on, we learn even more about why One For All is uniquely suited for Deku or vice versa; it is because he is quirkless that he can make the most of One for All. With all of these elements in the story, it is of great narrative importance to recognize that Deku has not only proven himself a worthy hero, but indeed worthy of this power.

Therefore, seeing Deku be able to keep One For All is significant as it reaffirms his work throughout the series. Deku has sacrificed so much for others, and while he may have felt blessed to do so, it would have been incredibly rewarding to see his efforts and resilience acknowledged by keeping the power that he had cultivated.

Challenging Deku and One for All on How to Move Forward

All Might, Nana, and the other vestiges in One for All mention how this power was made to overcome All for One, but as we see in the series, especially towards the end, an important part of the story’s theme is overcoming fate. For that reason, challenging both Deku and One for All to see a post All for One society, and how they could use this power in service of a hopeful future would be an interesting arc to explore in a sequel series or, at the very least, a post-canon story.

We first see with All Might how this destiny affected him. Once he lost One for All and began training Deku, he questioned what his purpose was, what he had to live for after being the Symbol of Peace for so long. But by the end of the story, he found a renewed purpose, realizing that he still had a lot to live for. Having a similar arc for the One for All vestiges and Deku would be extremely gratifying, with Deku being the last holder without passing it on and having him live out the rest of his life cultivating the power. For Deku, a character who once felt worthless for not having a quirk, how would he juggle the responsibility of having perhaps the most powerful one of them all?

From a storytelling standpoint, with how the themes changed and grew throughout the story, it would be a very fulfilling conclusion if Deku kept One for All.

My Hero Academia is available to stream on Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime where available. You can also read the manga on VIZ’s Shonen Jump app or website.

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