it's been a year since the last chapter of MHA came out and this is STILL so insane to me
If you've ever organized a fandom project like a cupsleeve event, a zine, or cosplay group, you'd know how hard it is to lead a project that takes months, sometimes even a whole year, to fulfill. You'd know how much effort it takes to reach out to people and make sure they give the same commitment that you do.
So imagine Katsuki Bakugo doing this, VOLUNTARILY, for 8 long years. Class 1A all contributed financially, yes, but he was the one who initiated and led this project from beginning til the end.
And this is a techy hero support gear. As the head of the project, he probably coordinated with engineers and scientists and other experts from all around the world. People would chat him day and night, he would have to send e-mails and take phone calls at random hours of the day. He would have to message everyone in his class individually to follow up on their monthly contributions, meet up with Mei to check prototypes...
And for what? What did he gain? Why do all that for 8 years?
EIGHT. YEARS. People don't even stay in a romantic relationship for that long! Not even presidencies last that long. It's just. So much effort and commitment.
Tell me, would you also be willing to set aside a portion of your monthly salary just for a high school friend to fulfill their childhood dream - a dream that might cost millions of pesos? I've been working full-time for 3 years now. I love my friends dearly but I can't even save a million pesos for my /own/ dreams, let alone fund someone else's.
Katsuki probably saw that Izuku has accepted his fate and resigned his childhood dream of being a hero, but he REFUSED to accept it. Just as how he cried for Izuku's sake when he found out OFA was fading, he raged and persevered for Izuku's sake too. He knew Izuku better than anyone, better than Izuku himself, and he knew that he would always dream of being a hero.
Some have teased that Katsuki was probably broke, living on ramen noodles every day throughout those 8 years. But it's also... sad, if you think about it. Katsuki was a famous, handsome pro hero at his prime. He could have had a penthouse condominium in Tokyo with the money he makes, but he probably decided for a simple small unit to save aside money for Izuku. In every single financial decision he made in the last 8 years, he probably prioritized Izuku.
Izuku, who probably had no clue that Katsuki did all this for him for the past 8 years. Who sacrificed so much so that they could be heroes, together, side by side.
I don't know what else you can call this but love. The selflessness, the devotion, the commitment... Idc if it's platonic or romantic, but it IS. LOVE. And if you still don't see this as an act of love, idk what to tell you??? (except maybe you're homophobic, because if this exact same story had happened but with Katsuki's character being a girl, no one would deny that she did it for love)
anyway, im happy. the ending didn't end with bkdk canonically kissing, but it doesn't feel like the ship was rejected either. the fact that it's canon that they care so much for each other, until the very end of the manga, is enough for me.
annaxmalina
jacobvanloon
janainaart
stormborns
germansingergirl
