WARNING: The following contains spoilers for My Hero Academia #320 “Deku vs Class 1-A” by Kohei Horikoshi, Caleb Cook and John Hunt, available now in English from Viz Media.
The My Hero Academia manga has been chock-full of exciting moments for the last several chapters. Now, Chapter #320 sees Deku facing off against Class 1-A. It's a clash that, while odd to see at first, was bound to happen given the students’ opposing views of what a hero is supposed to be. While watching Deku face off against his classmates is undeniably thrilling, the action isn't the best part of the fight. Rather, it's the strategy 1-A employs to try and convince Deku to return with them.
The Class 1-A students must know they can't beat Deku in a power battle, so they focus instead on quick attacks meant to trap him. Since Deku is also doing his best to escape, they really have their work cut out for them. Each time they manage to corner him, his classmates echo their plea for him to return to U.A. However, Deku’s unprecedented strength means they only ever have him for a few seconds at a time, so they have to make their words count.
They each choose a significant memory or experience they've shared with Deku throughout MHA to try and remind him of their friendship. These range from simple favors to Quirk tips they’ve shared with each other, while Fumikage Tokoyami even reminds Deku that his versatile use of Darkshadow, and resulting power boost, were all birthed from him. The memories they share make it clear he remains very important to them and that they care about his well-being.
Deku’s safe return means so much to all of them that even Koji Koda, whose defining trait is barely speaking loud enough to be audible, shouts to Deku at the top of his lungs that he's still welcome at U.A. Kaminari recognizes he and Deku don't have much in common but doesn't hesitate to remind him they're still friends -- and jokingly confirms everyone’s suspicions that Deku badly needs a shower.
Shoto Todoroki’s message to Deku is that he looks like he has a burden he needs to share. His speech and sincere offer to bear Deku’s cross with him are moving, but the one that hits the hardest is probably Tsuyu Asui’s.
Long ago in My Hero Academia, when Bakugo was kidnapped by the League of Villains at Training Camp, Tsuyu had said some harsh words to her friends to discourage them from attempting to rescue him. She apologized to the Bakugo retrieval squad when they returned, but it’s obvious she still felt bad about the incident. Tsuyu tells Deku she hasn't been moping or crying this time, and that she and the rest of Class 1-A are ready to walk the path he is on with him because he's so important to them.
The most notable absences from My Hero Academia Chapter #320's heartfelt confrontation are Bakugo, Tenya Iida and Ochaco Uraraka -- but that doesn’t mean they won’t have some words for Deku too. After all, Iida and Uraraka were Deku’s first friends at U.A. They’ve spent the most time with him and are the closest people he has to best friends. Bakugo is also Deku’s oldest friend, and their rivalry and relationship are sure to grow more complicated since Bakugo saved his life.
