If there is anyone who understands the "gravity" of the situation, it has to be the one with the power to alleviate gravity itself.
Tropes:
- An Aesop: Don't take things or people for granted. The ones who help you can either continue to do so or be in a position where they can't, so it's best to appreciate them while you can and perhaps even help them in their time of need.
- Arc Words: Nezu mentions more than once how "the first/extra step" is sometimes needed for empathy and understanding. Even with all the preparations and heroes on hand, none of that will matter if people they are protecting aren't confident enough to trust and help them. Once Uraraka is seen as the first to emotionally defend Midoriya, then Kota and the "Ordinary Woman" rush over to comfort him, then the "Star-Headed Man" gives everyone a pep talk to help the heroes. Eventually, they all step forward to give Midoriya and the others their support.
- Bittersweet Ending: Thanks to Uraraka and a few familiar citizens and friends Midoriya had met or rescued in the past, the refugees in U.A. find that there are still heroes in and out there who are laying down their lives to protect them, and they have to at least assist them in a way that has them be ready for their next battle. Because of this, they abandon their earlier protests and welcome Midoriya back to his school to finally get cleaned up and well-rested. While they won't be able fix the Villain crisis immediately, Midoriya promises that they will stop it all the same together. All Might, meanwhile, heads out to find any more people seeking refuge while thinking back on his role as Midoriya's idol and mentor... with Stain not too far behind.
- Breather Episode: While the drama is tense, there are no action-packed fights or dangerous Villains after anyone this time. The worst the students, teachers, and Pros have to deal with are the angry yet concerned citizens who have evacuated their homes.
- Brutal Honesty: While Uraraka tries to reassure the crowd, she doesn't mince any words involving everyone's situation.
- One For All may be a special power that Midoriya possesses, but it doesn't automatically make him special; he's still only a high schooler who has made himself carry everyone's burden.
- She tells the citizens that, as of this moment, she is unable to just say that "everything will be all right", because she and the other Heroes are just as scared as them, despite continuing the fight against Villains for their sake.
- Broken Tears: Midoriya, after hearing Uraraka's words, falls and breaks down in tears, supposedly shedding months of stress and anguish during his time away from school.
- The Bus Came Back: Among the crowd listening to Uraraka's words is the "Ordinary Woman", the tall mutant woman Midoriya saved during his time away from U.A, who is able to recognize him by his Hero outfit. Kota is also seen along with Tomoko Shiretoko, fomerly Ragdoll of the Wild Wild Pussycats, as well as the parents of Midoriya, Bakugo, and Uraraka. Even the "Star-Headed Man" who talked to and supported Midoriya in the very first episode of the series makes an appearance.
- Bystander Syndrome: Back when there were more than enough Heroes to go around, the citizens of Japan usually have to simply stand by and watch the spectacle as their costumed savoirs face the typical Villain. It was typical average day that doesn't exist anymore now that many of those Heroes have left because of their scrutiny and inaction. The "Star-Headed Man" believes that everyone became complacent after All Might had set an example of the average Hero in Japan, and have forgotten that they are all people just like them. If they ever want their lives back, they should do the bare minimum and help the remaining Heroes to the best of their ability.
- Contrived Coincidence: When they last met, Midoriya had saved the tall mutant woman from paranoid vigilantes and asked All Might to take her to a nearby shelter. However, several of them have recently denied entry to heteromorphs like her despite the ongoing villain crisis, yet U.A. took her in immediately. The two just happened to cross paths again due to each other's predicaments, and she now knows that the same boy attends the very school she and many others are taking refuge in. She and Kota give him a comforting hug, and she feels fated that she can finally thank her "Crybaby Hero" in person, despite the circumstances.
- Crazy-Prepared: Nezu claims to have paid top yen (his own, in fact) to soup up U.A's defenses, making it overshadow Tartarus. Along with the giant barrier, he requested compressing floors below to trap or delay intruders, remembering the threat of Shigaraki's Decay or Toga's Transform. He even called for an elevator system that allows the dorms and shelters to go underground a la Evangelion, and can transfer them to neighboring schools like Shiketsu with the same system.
- Dramatically Missing the Point: One of the loudest protesters keeps trying to argue with Uraraka of why Midoriya shouldn't come back. "He shouldn't be around us because of his power", he says. "He chose to leave and we chose him back", she says. "Just because he's covered in grime, we should be as well", he asks? "We Heroes should be the ones covered in grime, but we need a chance to wash it off now and then", she retorts. Eventually, the young man runs out of excuses, realizing just how much hell one boy has been through for people like him and how much he needs a break; not because he has given up, but because he has to be healthy again to fight on.
- When one other person suggests taking Midoriya to Shikestu High instead, the one next to him believes that school would face the exact same problem, but no one to back him there.
- Fantastic Racism: The "Ordinary Woman" already had to deal with the vigilantes who attacked her simply because of her appearance at night but, up until she came into U.A, she claimed to have ran into several shelters that have turned her away because she is a heteromorph. In fact, it appears that many heteromorphs in general haven't had much luck either even when they need help, bringing back the discussion of discrimination within the superpower society.
- Hard Truth Aesop: As Uraraka puts it, just because you have have a special talent or ability, doesn't mean you are better or more important than everybody else. As Bakugo explained last episode and here, there are some things you can't do by yourself and may need as much help as you can get in order to achieve them.
- He's Back!: With his friends, and now the people, by his side, Izuku Midoriya's "Dark Hero" phase comes to an end. He declares that together, they can take back the peace they lost.
- Hope Spot: Before Uraraka, Best Jeanist attempts to calm the crowd and assure them that a well-rested Midoriya is needed to help them continue against the Villain threat. Unfortunately, many of them aren't yet convinced and refuse to help, still expecting the Heroes to do everything.
- Implied Death Threat: As some of the mob's anger intensities, Izuku's Danger Sense blares in his head, implying that some angry citizens feel like doing more than just kick him out.note
- Jerkass Has a Point: Some of the crowd aren't very confident in having someone who is targeted by Villains like Shigaraki in the same place they are. They aren't exactly wrong either, as their well-being is exactly why Midoriya chose to leave U.A in the first place.
- Jerkass Realization: Ever since the Jaku City incident, the citizens have buried the Heroes they once looked up to with blame and frustration. After seeing the state the young boy Izuku Midoriya is in just by shouldering that burden, as well as hearing Uraraka's words and a couple of allies comforting him, one more citizen backs them up by saying they should be grateful there are still Heroes fighting for them, and continuing their current attitude will only make things worse for everyone. If nothing else, they should do as Uraraka and the U.A. faculty ask and allow Midoriya and other Heroes to recuperate so they can be ready for the next fight.
- Meaningful Echo:
- The last time Midoriya fell on his knees to cry was when All Might told him he can be a Hero, even before he inherited One For All. He cries again here, after hearing Uraraka's words that U.A is his Hero Academia. Both of these moments seem to have given him a feeling of belonging.
- Uraraka saved Midoriya from an embarrassing faceplant during his first day in U.A. In a way, she's saving him again in this episode; this time from the angry crowd, and maybe even himself, showing that there is someone who will be by his side if or when he ever needs it.
- Midoriya reminds the audience that this series is the story of how he became the "World's Greatest Hero". However, he adds that this episode begins the story how everyone became the "Greatest Heroes", referring to his friends and perhaps even the people who aren't official Pros or Heroes themselves.
- No Name Given: As with their appearances in the manga, "Ordinary Woman" and "Star-Headed Man" remain unnamed as their role of citizens, while insignificant in the bigger picture, had their lives changed by Midorya for the better. This applies to the other citizens who further defend the heroes, also like the manga.
- One Degree of Separation: Hawks believes that One For All has become more than a powerful Quirk. It has become a bond for everyone that Midoriya had encountered. All Might passing it onto him, Class 1-A expressing their friendship to him, Uraraka putting the people's trust to him. He sees this as a chance to shape a bright future he dreamed about; if everyone relied on each other instead of a few people, Heroes will "have too much time on their hands" in the best possible way.
- Posthumous Character: Uraraka's flashback shows the Pro known as Eel-Boy. Unfortunately, he was one of the Heroes who fell during the PLF raid.
- Rousing Speech: Uraraka uses this to convince the refugees to allow Midoriya back in the school he attends, extending to the Heroes deserving rest so they can be ready as well.
- Rule of Symbolism:
- Kota and the "Ordinary Woman" are two of the most notable characters Midoriya saved at some point, with the woman being more recent, so they are the first people from the crowd to return the favor after hearing Uraraka, giving Midoriya their support.note
- The "Star-headed Man's" own speech compares the Hero Society everyone once knew as a 'stage' made by All Might, with the Heroes as its 'stars' and the people its 'audience'. Now that the stage is gone, he believes they should start doing what they can to assist the Heroes, as the ones who haven't quit yet are pressing on, even after the pursuit of fame and fortune is gone.
- Skewed Priorities: Uraraka remembers when she was younger Pro Hero Eel-Boy was still standing after a heated battle, but she was more focused on the people cheering for him. This is implied to be her "origin" as to why she is interested in financially providing for her parents whenever she officially becomes a Pro Hero, since she wants to see people smile.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Uraraka begs everyone to take a very good look at Midoriya's state. As she soon stated, he has a great power, but he's not exactly the Chosen One. After weeks, if not months, of endless wandering, fighting and rescuing, with little to no rest or food, he's already at his breaking point. The crowd's rage doesn't help at all and they finally realize that he and other Heroes are enduring everything for their sake.
- Talking the Monster to Death: The crowd is the "monster" and Uraraka is the one doing the talking. She takes it upon herself to convince them that Midoriya deserves to return to his school, if even for a while.
- Title Drop:Uraraka: I'm begging you... let U.A... continue to be his Hero Academy!
- Wham Shot: While giving it her all during her speech, and expressing a desire to make people smile, she remembers her clash with Toga and how the otherwise bloodthirsty Villain left in tears.
This is the story of how I became the World's Greatest Hero, sure...
But not just me...
It's the story of how we all became the greatest of heroes.
But not just me...
It's the story of how we all became the greatest of heroes.
~Izuku Midoriya
