#bkdk analysis

And every time they do—

We see them working in perfect unspoken harmony.

it’s also an instinct, a longing in a way.

Izuku feels at ease when someone holds his hand, Katsuki’s instinct is to try and make him feel at ease, I don’t think it would be a stretch to say Katsuki associates taking izuku’s hand with comfort, home, and a kind of giving up, a vulnerability he fights against.

in DKVKC 2 Katsuki pins Izuku like this:

He holds his head down, and grips his hand/wrist tightly. He is trying to regulate his emotions, to keep both them, and deku in check. (Although this is more of a stretch)

Earlier than this, in the bakugou rescue arc, Izuku asks Kirishima to be the one to extend a hand (i.e comfort and reassurance) because he knows Katsuki won’t accept it.

because, although Izuku doesn’t know it yet—Katsuki perceives comfort and empathy as coddling and pity. He’s not okay with recieving it, and he’s not okay with giving it.

until—

(Yeah, I’m gonna be checked out until next week…)

because later, in mha 431 deku doesn’t take his hand. He doesn’t accept comfort, because he feels it’s disingenuous. He doesn’t want help, he doesn’t want to feel like a burden, like a deku.

They are no longer able to hold hands in a split second moment of battle, there is no war. There is no reason for them to seek eachother’s comfort anymore.

or so they think, anyway.

Now of course, I don't think Hirikoshi knows what "queer platonic" is. But I do think- that in creating bkdk's relationship, the aspects of what queer platonic is is what he was going for.

I say this especially since Shigaraki literally confirmed that they are the closest to each other, which means CANONICALLY, not figuratively or as a headcanon or any of that mumbo jumbo, Izuku and Bakugo are closer to each other than anyone else.

If this is the case, then that means they're at least either best friends, lovers, or siblings.

Obviously, they aren't lovers (canonically at least) because there's not enough evidence to support it.

However, I wouldn't necessarily consider them best friends or siblings either.

Obviously they aren't literally related, but "found family" is a possibility for them bejng siblings. Except, they don't necessarily give off that vibe. Even though they've known each other since a very young age, there was a period of time when they didn't even really talk to each other. The thing about siblings is that they grow up together, and then part ways. Instead, Bakugo is has CANONICALLY expressed that he wants to spend the rest of his life with izuku. He wants to "chase after" him. This isn't really your usual sibling dynamic, nor is is the dynamic of a best friend.

Furthermore, the kudoichi parallels to bakudeku weren't a coincidence, they were purposeful. Heros rising being the original idea for the finam ending of MHA, though not canon, speaks volumes. Hirikoshi wanted these two to be "destined," or in other words, soulmates.

This brings me back to them being queer platonic. I believe that when writing them, Hirikoshi intended for them to have a relationship that can't necessarily be "labeled." They aren't really best friends, not in the usual sense that best friends are at least. They don't hang out with the same people, and they don't seem like they immediately go to each other when they want a good laugh or to have some fun. If anything, there's a bit of codependency. Codependency when they're lost, afraid, alone, or need strength and guidance. They quite literally need each other. When Izuku was on his dark hero arc it was Bakugo that brought him back. When Bakugo was DYING, it was Izuku that motivated him to live and keep fighting.

In the epilogue Bakugo jumping from #15 to #5 in the hero ranks after izuku came back wasn't a coincidence. He was either holding himself back, or lacked any motivation to try until izuku came along. Also, izuku is #4 meaning that he now gets to "chase" after him and be at his heels.

Spoilers for the end of the manga and leaks of volume 42

Long analysis thread:

Izuku wants more, but he never thought he could even have a normal conversation with him, less be corresponded. So he says, "I'm too blessed" , like "I need to be grateful for what I have because I can't have more"

A post about love tokens.

I want to talk about the Christmas gift that Ochako got from Izuku and why it is the perfect symbol of a doomed love.

Izuku didn't choose that gift thinking of Ochaco. He was picking a generic gift for a classmate and friend. That they received each others gifts after a blind exchange and weren't thinking of each other at all when they picked them. In other words, it was random. Much like the IzuOcha pairing would look random and mashed together by coincidence if Horikoshi ultimately chose to pair them as endgame.

Ochaco might carry the doll around the same way she might carry a crush for Izuku, but the mochi that Izuku received has long gone the way of their romantic potential. I shall not elaborate.

Furthermore, the doll is problematic as a symbol for Izuku and Ochaco's relationship. Why?

Because All Might belongs to Izuku and Katsuki.

No, I don't mean that they have any claim on All Might the person, but these two boys have plotted their entire life's trajectory on All Might the Hero. Their entire relationship can be traced back to All Might. They bonded over their shared love of the hero as kids. The only reason Izuku is with Katsuki attending the same school is because of All Might. They share the secret of OFA with All Might and every time their relationship grows closer to reconciliation, All Might is there, watching over them. Their entire spiritual journey revolves around All Might and synthesizing the dual aspects of his heroic nature. All Might is their signpost and their get-a-long shirt.

Now if Katsuki had received the All Might doll--

Oh.

Because for Katsuki..the worst case is losing IZUKU. That’s why he follows him into every war.. to protect him. And that eventually led him to his death…That panel is in chapter 277.. so a little before Katsuki sacrifices himself to save Izuku. Which is another reason I don’t think this is a coincidence especially since Hori said speech bubble placements are very important to him.. as for OFA stars showcasing when he thinks of Izuku.. here’s evidence. These stars have NEVER shown up unless there was a thought about Izuku happening before or during their appearance.

IN FACT.. first time they EVER show up is when he follows Izuku into the first war with an excuse that he wants revenge but these stars give his true intentions away. He wants to protect IZUKU. That’s why he’s following him.

Here is the progression of the shape of Katsuki’s explosions changing for the very first time IN THE SAME CHAPTER (minus the 4th one) as he follows Izuku into the war where he later shows to be desperate to protect him and almost loses his life to save him.

And there’s more but these are my favorites! He has to think of Izuku for those stars to manifest. They show his connection to OFA (Izuku) It’s how he got access to the realm before his death.

As if Katsuki isn't the one out of the two who involves himself with the other.

Who was looking at Izuku when everyone else in the country was looking at All Might? Who mentioned Izuku's mysterious quirk after months of not talking about it?

Who called the fight at ground beta? FULLY KNOWING that that fight would change things.

Who started joining Deku's and All Might's meetings without being invited??? "Oh Kacchan, what a surprise that you're here--" NOT TO ME, I COULD SEE IT A MILE AWAY

IT IS SO FUNNY!

That all Bakugo wants is to be closer to Izuku. That despite Izuku proclaiming his admiration for Katsuki, Katsuki is the one take all the steps towards the other.

Because he admires Izuku too. He wants to be close to Izuku too. And of course, it isn't always so clear because Katsuki sticks to his old habits of yelling at or being frustrated by Izuku.

I once wrote Katsuki's feelings towards Izuku as him wanting to be a witness to Izuku's existence.

Katsuki wants to exist with Izuku.

Bakugo realizes it first , but Deku's realization hits him harder .

Katsuki is more self aware & seems to be more introspective with his emotions , so he probably gradually becomes aware of what his feelings are from before the war to the aftermath in the hospital . He slowly puts everything together in his head & assesses what his feelings mean , so by the time he comes to the conclusion that he's in love with Deku it's not even that surprising to him cuz he's been slowly building to that conclusion for a while . And at that point he just decides to accept it and try to do anything he can to protect Deku & help him .

Now Deku is different - he's open about complimenting Bakugo & doesn't deny that he thinks Kacchan is amazing , but he frequently hides his deeper emotions for Bakugo until they chaotically boil over , like when Monoma insulted Bakugo , when the LOV took him , and when AFO stabbed him . Deku represses the true extent of his feelings for Bakugo - like how he denied there being an external trigger for black-whip , & when Toga brought up the imitation=love thing but Deku avoided talking about Bakugo . Deku doesn't seem to be able to really stop & think about these feelings .