#reason number 36756775 kohei is an amazing writer who can put in so much nuance into his characters dialogues and scenes

[oshiawaseni]

Trails of Love Hori's been paving down in the build up for the series' ending

Part II: Decoding the love story being told through other characters

Part One | II. Gentle/La Brava | Part Two -> KamiJirou

.•° ✿ 3. KiriMina ೋღ

Kirishima and Mina have been acquainted since middle school and are tied together with themes of admiration. They also have a lot of other parallels with BkDk and Horikoshi's purpose behind these similarities became even more intriguing with the addition of chapter 383. This chapter came while I was still writing the Hori trails meta so it's inclusion is a bit of happy accident, but it helps reinforce our understanding of what Hori is up to.

I've always been interested in KiriMina because they're the only other pair besides BkDk that have history together which pre-dates U.A. So I was curious about where Hori was going to take them.

In this meta I will be exploring many similarities and parallels between KiriMina and BkDk, as well as share my thoughts on Horikoshi's intention in writing them this way.

These are some of their similarities:

They knew each other before U.A just like BkDk

Kirishima lacked bravery/confidence like Izuku

Kirishima admired Ashido's confidence and bravery like Izuku did for Kacchan

When Kirishima entered U.A he aimed to be more confident and personable, just like Ashido, in the same way Izuku wanted to be like Kacchan and copied his confidence and movement style.

Chapter 383 reveals Ashido also struggles with feelings of weakness and blames herself for the death of Midnight and others in the war, in much the same vein as Kacchan's guilt he felt about being an end to All Might's hero career because of his "weakness".

Kirishima admired Ashido's ability to connect and bring people closer together and he wanted to have that same influence on their classmates at U.A. Aizawa once described BkDk as the heart of his class who instilled their passion into everyone. But in contrast to BkDk, KiriMina have always gotten along well and have actively strived to help their classmates do the same.

When asked about Kirishima's role in helping Katsuki after the LoV abduction arc, Horikoshi spoke about the bittersweetness of Izuku not being able to do it himself. Kirishima was written as an important bridge that connected Izuku to Katsuki again, and in doing so, he became someone who brings their classmates together like Ashido. With encouragement from their classmates and teachers, Izuku and Katsuki's bond began to heal and they became pillars of hope whose passions inspired those around them to go beyond their limits.

There are also parallels between Kirishima and Izuku in their ideals of heroism.

Izuku's idea of heroism and sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong also lines up with Kirishima's ideals of heroism. The story of Izuku running into danger to save Katsuki had also inspired Kirishima to do his best to become a hero.

In the fight against Gigantomachia, there's a parallel of Kirishima running through the flames to save Ashido, just as Izuku ran through the flames for Katsuki's sake in chapter one.

And a narrative seed was planted when Kirishima pushes Ashido out of the way and tanks a heavy hit in place of her. This scene is mirrored shortly after, when Katsuki does the exact same thing for Izuku, saving his life.

The amount of similarities these two couples have with each other is so striking, isn't it? We never really knew why Hori has been building these two up as mirrors of BkDk, until the recent chapter 383, where they went up against the same villain BkDk did at the start of the manga and the most important similarity was revealed of all.

Mina's facial expression and explosion of acid coming from her hand is very similar to Katsuki's. Although she often emulates Katsuki, Ashido primarily took on Izuku's role during this chapter's story, and Kirishima is the one being saved from the sludge villain by her in this call back to chapter one.

In a moment of weakness, Ashido is overcome by exhaustion and almost faints, and Kirishima catches her - which may call to mind the time Izuku fainted of exhaustion at the end of his Vigilante arc, and Katsuki leaping forward, just in time to catch him.

Ashido apologises to Kirishima, just as Katsuki did with Izuku, and that's where their similarities with Katsuki and Izuku stop, because Kirishima gives Ashido his answer... while Izuku, has always kept his own to himself...

However, anyone who has been paying attention to the story, knows Kirishima's next words to be absolutely true for Izuku, too:

There's nothing to forgive, because Katsuki is Izuku's hero.

Kirishima's answer to Ashido, are Izuku's missing words to Katsuki’s apology in chapter 322. Katsuki is Izuku's light and hero, but Izuku never got the chance to tell him this. Katsuki had poured his heart out to Izuku, and never received Izuku's reply.

There has clearly been some things left unsaid between Katsuki and Izuku, and this indirect reference to BkDk via KiriMina only serves as a tool to highlight this even further and generate more intrigue and anticipation for what BkDk will be saying to each other some day.

It's also very possible that these words are something Katsuki needs to tell Izuku, as well. Kirishima calling Ashido “baka” is very akin to Katsuki’s tsundere behaviour towards Izuku, so these apologies and affirmations of Ashido being Kirishima’s hero may yet be more seeds Kohei has planted for Izuku and Katsuki to mirror some day.

Katsuki has never told Izuku what he means to him, and it seems that Edgeshot, having become a part of Katsuki's heart, is the only one who really knows the true shape of his love and how Katsuki was waiting for Izuku to come save him.

Because Izuku has always been Katsuki’s hero, and this goes back as far as the river scene.

And aside from referencing Katsuki's apology, these words of: "I'm seriously sorry I've been such a let down" could also be describing Izuku's current feelings towards ‘failing to protect what he cares about’ and his most important person dying on his own because they got separated when Izuku got caught and dragged away by Toga. Izuku must feel incredibly guilty for what has happened, and like he has let Katsuki down completely. These may serve as important call back lines for BkDk, for an intimate scene they will share together.

So KiriMina is another couple Hori has SPEAKING for BkDk, for events that are both in the past and, very likely, in the future as well.

Hori has already brought back the #2 baka couple (#1 is BkDk, soon™) a second time and inserted their dialogues to help remind us that Katsuki's very last moments alive were filled with thoughts of Izuku by his side, which brought him happiness to mask over his fears and pain. And now KiriMina’s situation paralleling BkDk's own dynamic and scenes together, seems to have been written in almost as if to get people wondering what the true nature of BkDk's relationship might be, even though they aren’t featured in the chapter.

I think Hori wants people to come to the conclusion that the words and thoughts Kirishima and Mina are expressing, are yet another layer that serves to fill in the blanks of how Izuku and Katsuki feel about each other. Whether or not these affirmations are to be taken romantically, or are words that will be said between them is up to Kohei's discretion. However, by bringing BkDk's relationship to the forefront of a lot of reader's minds, Hori is taking a well-planned step towards his goal of making their deep bond and connection of love a central focus of the story later this year.

Next up - Kamijirou! Back to Gentle/La Brava Back to Part One

#bakudeku #bkdk canon #bkdk #kirimina #hori trails #bnha meta #kana writes #long post #*sweats* #op #must read meta #Thinking back on it #Ashido's cute little quirk update to Kirishima is VERY similar to how #Katsuki proudly shows off his own quirk upgrades to Izuku after his apology #like they both want to impress the other and make them proud :') #sorry for any mistakes t.t hope you guys enjoyed this!!! #reason number 36756775 kohei is an amazing writer who can put in so much nuance into his characters dialogues and scenes #and all roads lead to bkdk