WARNING: The following contains spoilers for My Hero Academia Chapter #319, "Friend” by Kohei Horikoshi, Caleb Cook and John Hunt, available now in English from Viz Media.
From the moment Deku announced his departure from U.A., anticipation for his inevitable reunion with Class 1-A has loomed on the horizon. While that has finally happened, Chapter #319 of the My Hero Academia manga also starts to show the extremes Deku is willing to go for his “friends.”
All this time, Deku has been enduring the burden of taking on All For One on his own to protect his friends and family, but it turns out they are as stubborn as he is. After Class 1-A tricks Endeavor into helping them locate Deku, their face-to-face reunion with their old friend is far from warm.
Class 1-A has stayed busy after the reveal of Deku being the One For All's wielder. A majority of the students had no idea of his powers but were quickly able to piece the overall story together. They come to the realization that the top three Pro Heroes, plus All Might, are working exclusively with Deku, but the actual details remain unknown. The students trick Endeavor into visiting U.A. and steal his phone, but the Pro Hero almost seems like he’s hoping Deku’s classmates actually prove helpful. He can sense the strong devotion they have toward their runaway classmate, and he believes Deku needs all the help he can get.
The real surprise in My Hero Academia Chapter #319 is that Class 1-A is ready to fight alongside Deku, not stop him. Deku is probably aware of this and knows they could potentially lose their lives if they join the battle. That is a greater burden for Deku to bear than fighting All For One on his own. He will most likely try to either run away by creating a great distraction or defeat his classmates without gravely injuring them. However, Class 1-A is highly motivated in their “bring Deku back” operation, and they currently have the upper hand. Deku is exhausted and mentally unstable, while all of the students are healthy and ready for battle.
Bakugo is the only one who truly understands Deku’s motive, even better than All Might. Ultimately, the confrontation between the two of them will set the overall tone for the battle. Whether Deku or Class 1-A wins, Bakugo’s words are going to have to open his eyes. It’s safe to assume the students came prepared with additional help -- like assistance from the Big Three -- but Bakugo’s knowledge of Deku’s habits will be the key to capturing him and potentially bringing him back home.
The battle is going to happen, and Deku’s chances of escaping are low. Class 1-A knows his tendencies, and Bakugo alone can almost handle Deku on his own. The stage is set for My Hero Academia's protagonist to receive a rude awakening, but it's also the perfect opportunity for All For One to strike. With Deku weakened and all of Class 1-A out in the open, All For One could simply capture Deku by force, or take one of his classmates hostage.
Class 1-A is made up of strong, determined and reliable young heroes. Deku has no chance against all of them, especially since he's on the verge of passing out. If he gets captured, he’ll only escape at an opportune moment. Regardless, no smiles will be shared from either side for a while. The true meaning of what it means to be a “friend” will be tested, and some boundaries may be pushed to the point of no return.
