Sof

This included detail in the montage is heart wrenching. Almost like by this point in the retrieval arc, despite everything that’s happened, Izuku has so deeply buried in his heart the thought that Kacchan, his most precious friend whom he values so dearly, is the only person in the class who doesn’t like him. I can’t imagine how incredibly lonely that must be. For Izuku to feel like he might never share such positive and warm interactions with him. He’s got this ingrained resignation that seeing Kacchan laughing at all, even if it’s only watching him from someplace nearby like he’s always done, is actually enough for him.

*stamps foot down* (the concrete below splinters, the earth echoes, nearby locals hide under tables in confusion and panic)

Well it’s not enough!

Sensei drew this odd one out with clear intent..!

He wanted to show us that Izuku’s heart hides a feeling of sad hopelessness towards Kacchan that he doesn’t feel about anyone else. It’s a complex puzzle, layered by years of aching, that Kacchan is slowly and softly chipping away at. Izuku’s belief that he’s not loved by him. But we know it’s not true, it’s only his deep fear he hasn’t been able to confront and it is blinding him so much from the reality we are all now familiar with; that Kacchan has long since crossed that bridge because these days he simply can’t stop worrying or thinking about Izuku.

He scrutinised his most inner feelings and somewhere along the way, found he had been cherishing Izuku like he always meant to since they were four years old. Everything has changed about him for the better because of it. We see it, the class sees it, AM saw it but Izuku himself still can’t see it. He is that blinded by his pain from and his fear of Kacchan disliking him that it seems like everything between them lately has just been so confusing to him to the point where he can’t even form a worded response.

Do you feel it? The undercurrent of disconnect between them when the focus is on Izuku giving these dark, poker faced non-responses to a concerned Kacchan. These panels are added in to build up the growing tension between them. Izuku has been repressing his true feelings for so long because Sensei also wants to turn things around for him in a big way only befitting of these two. Izuku’s confused feelings about Kacchan must be broken down and reforged.

After their tension boils over and the container hiding Izuku’s thoughts and fears explodes wide open, it will force Izuku to see himself and Kacchan in a new light… and their time in the sunshine begins. A time for Izuku to get greedy and seek him out and make those happy memories of laughing together again with Kacchan because they both need and deserve it so very much.

It’s an inevitability that one day, Izuku is going to let himself feel so so loved by Kacchan and Kacchan is going to finally kill Izuku with the biggest, widest, most adorable laughing smile he has ever seen in his life

and Izuku’s heart will be gently reshaped 💚 ~