WARNING: The following contains spoilers for My Hero Academia Season 5, Episode 12, "The New Power and All For One," now streaming on Crunchyroll, Funimation and Hulu.
My Hero Academia's 100th episode follows up on the conclusion of Class 1-A and 1-B's joint training battles, looking ahead at the season's next challenges. While things slow down after the recent action, it gives a chance to revisit everyone's Quirks -- including Midoriya and Monoma's -- while Bakugo and Todoroki achieve a significant milestone.
While My Hero Academia Season 5, Episode 12 looks to move ahead, some important moments from the joint training need addressing. Midoriya's explosive new ability is impossible to overlook, but Shinso's quick thinking and performance in his two matches look like they've likely secured him a transfer to the hero course. However, which class he'll end up in is a story for a different school year.
As Monoma spouts off his usual banter, Midoriya thinks back to when he first acquired One For All; All Might had told him that a body unprepared for the Quirk would explode from the power. Midoriya is grateful that Monoma didn't blow up when he copied One For All, but as Monoma mentions how "Midoriya's Quirk was a blank," the young hero is left perplexed by what that means. However, Aizawa interrupts, telling Monoma that he has some questions about his Quirk.
After class, Midoriya and Bakugo train under All Might's supervision. Bakugo pummels Midoriya with explosions, trying to force him to produce his new Blackwhip Quirk. Before this one-on-one training session, All Might met with them to discuss One For All. All Might mentions how he'd never heard of Blackwhip's original wielder and reiterates that his master didn't know that Quirks were passed on through One For All. The conversation takes a grim turn when Bakugo notes the similarities to All For One and questions if Blackwhip's appearance means something could be brewing with the dangerous villain.
The sparring between the two doesn't last much longer as Midoriya realizes he's subconsciously suppressed Blackwhip, realizing he wasn't powerful enough to use it. As he starts muttering about ways to unlock it, Bakugo impatiently leaves. Midoriya is left by himself, disturbed to realize how similar his Quirk is to All For One's.
Back at the dorm, Class A and B are socializing together, going over the matches, and having a good time. Kirishima gets a pep talk from Tetsutetsu, Iida is excited that they're having beef stew for dinner, and yes, Mineta finally gets some comeuppance. We see him strapped down in a Clockwork Orange-type situation, with Aishido happily doing her best to reprogram his pervy ways.
Todoroki comes to chat with Midoriya, mentioning his surprise that Midoriya has a second Quirk. During their first fight in the Sports Festival, Midoriya made a big fuss about Todoroki not using both his Quirks, and therefore not using his full potential. Midoriya hurriedly explains that Blackwhip is more of a hidden part of his Quirk, and it surprised him just as much as it did everyone else. Todoroki then laments about his own performance -- and we see that he's texted an excited Endeavor asking for help mastering the Flashfire technique. It's another step toward rebuilding their relationship.
The next day, Aizawa finishes up a presentation on Shinso with the other teachers, who confirm that he will officially be enrolled in the hero course. As Aizawa leaves, Present Mic catches up with him and asks if he's mentoring Shinso because he sees something of the boy in himself or if it's because of someone named Shirakumo. Aizawa rebuffs him, and Present Mic backs off -- but it will be interesting to see who this Shirakumo is down the line.
Outside, Eri, Togata, Midoriya and Monoma meet with Aizawa. After Eri's initial distrust of Monoma recedes, he attempts to copy her Quirk at Aizawa's suggestion. Aizawa is hoping that since Eri can't control her Quirk, the older and experienced Monoma might be able to copy it and teach her how to use it responsibly. But, unfortunately, it doesn't work, and Monoma mentions how her Quirk is a "blank" just like Midoriya's.
Monoma explains that he can't use a "stockpiling" Quirk like Midoriya or Eri's. Monoma copies the nature of a Quirk, but if it needs to accumulate something and change it into energy, he can't copy what's been collected. For example, if he copied Fat Gum's Quirk (which relies on stockpiles of fat), Monoma would be left unable to use it as he's too skinny. Midoriya is still relieved that Monoma didn't explode, though everyone's disappointed he won't be able to help Eri.
Eri still feels guilty that her Quirk put people in danger, but Midoriya reminds her that her power saved his life. He explains that her Quirk is like a knife: it can be dangerous if misused, but it can produce great results like tasty food when used carefully. He thinks about his own Quirk and how even if it did come from All For One, he will use it to make the world a better place, just like Eri.
That evening, it starts to snow, and everyone waits for Bakugo and Todoroki to finish the last day of their remedial courses. If all goes according to plan, they will no longer need to work with Gang Orca and will have their Provisional Hero licenses like everyone else in Class A.
Meanwhile, a massive tidal wave races through the streets with villains surfing on it and stealing people's bags and valuables in the city. Luckily, there are heroes there to stop them -- Todoroki and Bakugo, with their new provisional licenses and All Might there to watch. Todoroki carefully uses his Quirks to stop the villains in their tracks, while Bakugo uses his to fly around, saving people and collecting their valuables. They've matured and grown, ready to move on with their hero careers, which All Might praises them both for.
My Hero Academia Season 5, Episode 12 closes with Bakugo and Todoroki arriving back at U.A. for a surprise party. Midoriya cheerfully tells Bakugo that now they can do hero work together, and Bakugo furiously yells at Midoriya not to patronize him. Everyone in Class A is changing and evolving, but some things stay the same, and despite their strengthened bond, Bakugo isn't going to start being nice to Midoriya anytime soon.
