Tropes
- Armor-Piercing Question: Nana Shimura, All Might's predecessor and Tenko/Tomura's grandmother, is just a manifestation like the others within Deku, but asks him this question: Can he be capable of killing Tomura Shigaraki, her grandson, if someone like that can't be redeemed?
- Armor-Piercing Response: When a reporter is among the press asking why Endeavor and other Heroes don't seem too concerned or feel terrible about the people being homeless or injured thanks to Gigantimachia, he responds that crying about it won't improve things; they must take action to make any progress to ease their fears. The reporter tries to grill him further, but quiets down when she sees the sad look on his face and has the response sink in, telling her that they do feel bad and they are going to do something about it.
- Bittersweet Ending:
- Midoriya resolves with the other One For All wielders that while killing Tomura Shigaraki is a suitable option, it's considered a last resort for him. As far as he is concerned, Shigaraki looks like someone who needs help, and wants to save him from All For One. However, now feeling that the two will come after him since the Jaku City attack, he makes the decision of technically "dropping out" of U.A. High School so no one else will be at risk. He is later seen wearing his Hero costume, preparing to fight a "giant villain".
- During a press conference, Endeavor and Hawks confirm some of Dabi's claims, particularly ones regarding their respective past and family, while denying any reports about One For All to keep Midoriya and All Might out of the media. Endeavor vows to continue carrying the public burden of unease as he and other Pro Heroes prepare for the crisis ahead. Their first act is to help set up U.A. and other Hero Schools as refuge shelters, prioritizing sutdents' families before focusing on everyone else.
- Call-Back: As the 1st wielder explains how One For All is more compatible with Quirkless people, Midoriya remembers All Might confessing at the U.A. Sports Festival that he used to be Quirkless himself.
- Driving Question:
- The light shadow that accompanies the other OFA wielders is revealed to be a vestige of Toshinori Yagi/All Might, but how is he here when he is still alive and had no initial Quirk like them?
- Uraraka finishes her narration with this question: "If Heroes are the ones who don't hesitate to take the hardest path, then who will be willing to follow them when they are suffering?" This particular question will be put to the test as the season continues, now that Midoriya has headed out solo to find All For One and Tomura Shigaraki.
- Internal Reveal: With rumors about One For All spreading around the public, Hawks asks All Might to explain in full detail about it. He currently decides to confide in only Hawks and Best Jeanist. Midoriya, meanwhile leaves letters to his fellow Classmates of 1-A about his Quirk as he leaves U.A.
- Ironic Echo: The very first episode had Midoriya say "a giant villain" in excitement, anticipating a Hero or two to stop it. In the end of this episode, he says it in a more quiet and somber tone, as not many heroes are around anymore, leaving him to jump in to stop it.
- Irony: From the start of the series, Midoriya had always wanted to attend U.A. and become a Hero, but had no Quirk to make him qualified to be one until All Might deemed him worthy of inheriting his. That same Quirk is revealed to be compatible to him compared to his predecessors because he (and All Might) had no Quirks to begin with. With everything that happened since the start of the season up to this point, One For All is now considered a giant target on Midoriya's back for Shigaraki and All For One to go after, and so he is forced to "drop out" of his dream school in an effort to protect everyone close to him.
- It's Not You, It's My Enemies: Midoriya's reason for leaving.
- Journey to the Center of the Mind: The 1st wielder states that All For One's recent attempt to steal One For All, and the evolution of One For All itself, has allowed all of the predecessors to gather to one spot in Midoriya's mindscape for him to interact with, when it was impossible to unless there were certain conditions. Also, Midoriya is slowly able to converse with all of them when his mouth was covered up during his first trip.
- Meaningful Echo: Midoriya is briefly seen as a small child while expressing his desire to save Shigaraki. Much like when he tried to help Bakugo that long ago, which resulted the latter resenting and bullying him for years, his childhood desire to help everyone in need remains unwavered despite Shigaraki's long list of atrocities.
- The Reveal: Because of One For All possessing multiple Quirks, the predecessors who had Quirks themselves had a shortened lifespan if they didn't die in battle first. Yagi/All Might and Midoriya were both Quirkless before inheriting it, so they only had to worry about physical strain of honing in on its power. Unfortunately, with the ratio of Quirk to Quirkless people tipping over by the year, there may not be that many suitable Quirkless left in the current generation to pass OFA to, if it ever comes to that. With all this in mind, thanks to Yagi doing a bit of research about the 4th's death, the predecessors come down to one conclusion: One For All works best for Quirkless individuals, and Izuku Midoriya may be its last user because of it.
- Secret Test of Character: Nana's Armor-Piercing Question turns out be this. With Midoriya's answer, she and the 1st User express their gratitude about his resolve and, barring the two facing the wall, the rest of vestiges follow the lead. Nana soon expresses regret for putting their latest successor through such a test, but proud that he "passed".
- Significant Wardrobe Shift: Not a huge one, but Deku's costume is a bit worn down, and adds a yellow scarf resembling Gran Torino's. The biggest difference is that his mask now shows his eyes to be much darker, almost like All Might's, but may represent the somber tone set for the rest of the season.
- Sympathy for the Devil: Midoriya expresses hindsight that he felt he would have had more options on how to deal with the Villains he faced in the past, if he knew why they became Villains in the first place. He does understand that some would still need to be stopped through force, which is why he believes he can save Shigaraki, or at least wants to, but might have to kill him if that's not possible.
- Tragic Keepsake: In a montage of Pros preparing for a new fight, a still of Mt. Lady is seen holding the late Midnight's worn-out mask.
- Villain Respect: Dabi is impressed that Endeavor is enduring whatever the public wants to throw at him after their encounter in Jaku City. However, it seems less of a respectful "Nice work, dad" and more mockingly "I guess I'll have to make you suffer more, dad".
- Wham Line:
- "You might be the last wielder of One For All."
- "In April, Deku left our Hero Academy."
- Wham Episode: The truth about One For All is revealed, and Midoriya leaves U.A. to pursue All For One and Shigaraki.
- Wham Shot: Midoriya's classmates all receive varied letters from him discussing the truth about his Quirk and, shockingly, his decision to drop out of school for their safety.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Uraraka calls Midoriya an idiot for leaving them.
The Final Act begins.
