AlthoughMy Hero Academia’sepilogue chapter #431, “More,” has cleared up many controversies and curiosities regarding the series, not every question fans had was answered, and one particularly pressing plot point in the story was never resolved, although the mangaka, Kohei Horikoshi, insisted it would be by the ending ofMy Hero Academia.Deku’s father, Hisashi Midoriya, was never revealed, even though Horikoshi promised to show him in one of the final chapters of the manga.
In multiple interviews for years, Horikoshi fielded fans’inquiries about Deku’s fatherby stating that Hisashi was currently working overseas on business, but would return in a later chapter to be reunited with his son, Deku, and his wife, Inko Midoriya. Now that the last chapter ofMy Hero Academiahas been published, it has become abundantly clear that Hisashi will never be revealed, leaving fans wondering why. Horikoshi has not explained why he made this decision, butthere are a few potential reasons for the absence of Deku’s father.
My Hero AcademiaHas Ended, but Deku’s Father Was Still Never Shown
Despite Horikoshi’s Promises To Reveal Him Eventually, He Remains One of the Story’s Most Pressing Mysteries
As far back as San Diego Comic Con 2018, Horikoshi was asked frequently about Deku’s father and why he was not a primary character inMy Hero Academia.At this event, as he did anytime someone asked for further details about Hisashi, Horikoshi stated,“Deku’s father will be revealed in the future.“At some point in time, he was planning to write Hisashi Midoriya into the story in a greater role, but whether it was mere oversight or a conscious decision not to include him, Deku’s father seems to have slipped through the cracksin the manga’s ending epilogue.
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Hisashi is surrounded by mystery and very few details are known about him, and what little Horikoshi has confirmed about him only serves to arouse fans' curiosity further. TheMy Hero Academiamangaka stated thatHisashi is out of town on business for work and has been for years, explaining his absence. He also has a fire-breathing Quirk, although his son was born Quirkless. Although Horikoshi never confirmed whyhe decided not to reveal Deku’s father, there are a few possible reasons to consider now that the manga is over for good, and it seems his identity will never be disclosed.
There Are a Number of Potential Reasons Deku’s Father Never Appeared
From Lack of Time For a Complete Arc to His Overseas Work, There Are Many Explanations for Hisashi’s Absence
One explanation for the fact that Hisashi never appeared is that, as the story progressed to more battle-focused arcs like the Paranormal Liberation War,Deku’s family life became less relevant to his time at U.A. High Schooland his journey as a hero. Since most scenes were focused on his development as a hero, increasing mastery of his Quirk, and battles with villains, he understandably did not go home often or spend much time with family, so it would have been quite difficult to naturally insert Hisashi into the series at this time in a way that would further the plot.
Another possible reason is lack of time left in the story to create a satisfying arc for Deku’s father, because Horikoshi had so many other story arcs to tie up and complete by the finale. So many heroes and villains had been introduced already and to spend time bringing in a brand-new person would havetaken time away from the development of these long-standing charactersthat deserved satisfying conclusions to their character arcs. It makes sense Horikoshi did not want to bog down the narrative with yet another new character, sinceMy Hero Academiahad already been running for over a decade.
While His Father Was Not Present, Deku Shared a Strong Bond With His Mother
Inko Balanced Both Encouragement of Deku’s Dreams With Genuine Concerns for His Safety
One final factor that may have contributed to Deku’s father’s disappearance is Hisashi’s own busyness with his work overseas. As a character with a powerful Quirk, his efforts were needed elsewhere, leaving him unable to return home until Deku already graduated from U.A. High. Whatever the reason, although it is unfortunate fans haven’t been able to meet Deku’s father after all, his lack of presence didcreate more opportunities for Horikoshi to show Deku’s bond with his mother, Inko, instead. This small silver lining strengthened the relationship between Deku and Inko as they depended on one another without Hisashi there.
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Deku’s relationship with his mother has been loving and close since his early childhood days, as she encouraged his dreams of being the number one hero like All Might. Even once they discovered he was Quirkless, Inko was still Deku’s top supporter, while urging him to have reasonable expectations about what was possible, since he did not have Quirk. When he inherited One For All, she carefully weighed concerns for his safety with wholehearted support for her son’s dream of attending U.A. and becoming a Pro Hero, evendesigning and making a hero costume for him that he proudly wore.
It Would Have Been Interesting To Meet Hisashi, but Inko Provided Love for Her Son in His Absence
Her and Deku did have arguments on occasion, like when U.A. requested everyone move into dorms for safety after Bakugo’s kidnapping and Inko initially refused out of worries that Deku would not be adequately protected. Eventually, Inko was convinced by Deku and All Might to encourage her son’s goals and allow him to go, while still advocating for his safety and sternly warning All Might to ensure he was not put in unnecessary danger.Inko is one of anime’s best moms, proven through her actions on multiple occasions inMy Hero Academia, and although fans sadly never got to know Hisashi,the beautiful bond between Deku and Inko helps alleviate some of the disappointment.
My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is a multimedia franchise that follows a young boy named Izuku Midoriya, who dreams of becoming a hero despite being born without superpowers. These superpowers, known as “Quirks” are found in most people after birth, but Izuku wasn’t so lucky - until a fateful encounter with All Might, Japan’s greatest hero, Izuku inherits his Quirk and enrolls in U.A. High School to learn the true meaning of heroism. Alongside his classmates, each endowed with unique abilities, Izuku faces rigorous training and lethal threats from villainous forces.
