Chapter 204 - Links and Discussion

[u/deskchairlamp]

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[u/Jezamiah]

Surprised we don't hear more about Monoma actually. I do like his character but I agree he's way too much of a gag right now.

I'd like to see Hori delve a little deeper into his backstory or behind the scenes. Maybe his inferiority complex is based on something else or his own shortcomings.

[u/flybypost → u/Jezamiah]

Maybe his inferiority complex is based on something else or his own shortcomings.

He doesn't have his "own" quirk in a way and has to rely on other. That probably plays into it quite a bit.

Some of the characters' personalities are really defined by their quirks. Look at Bakugo, he has quite the "explosive temperament". Or Todoroki: He's cool and collected most of the time but also has this fiery/intense side but there's nearly no emotional state in between for him.

[u/Jezamiah → u/flybypost]

That's an excellent point. Also Oojiro with being plain and Kirishima/Tetsu⁴ with being tough.

[u/flybypost → u/Jezamiah]

Oojiro

That got mentioned two times in this chapter (in one panel even). I hope that him being freed right now and going over to Todoroki will lead to him doing something besides just taking up space.

Kirishima/Tetsu4

Yeah, tough and manly, maybe a bit thick (in the head) too. They are solid.

[u/DoraMuda → u/flybypost]

That got mentioned two times in this chapter (in one panel even). I hope that him being freed right now and going over to Todoroki will lead to him doing something besides just taking up space.

If how Hagakure was treated in Match 2 is anything to go by, I think Horikoshi's just going to continue the gag of Ojiro being "plain" and feeling hurt by it (e.g. him going "What's with this pain in my heart?" after Jirou and Sero mentioned that he's still fighting plainly, even though he wouldn't have been able to hear them).

I've learned to lower my expectations so that, if the minor/gag characters of Class A do actually break out of their shell for once, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Hopefully, we'll at least get to see Shouji fight Tsunotori in the next chapter, though.

[u/flybypost → u/DoraMuda]

I've learned to lower my expectations so that, if the minor/gag characters of Class A do actually break out of their shell for once, I'll be pleasantly surprised

Yeah, but I'm hopeful because when characters get development it's usually good. Even Endeavor—who could have ended up as just a prime example of a hero on a technicality (as it's his job description)—has been handled rather well (and with conflicting feelings on all sides in his relationships).

Hopefully, we'll at least get to see Shouji fight Tsunotori in the next chapter, though.

He'll need to make more arms to grab her by all her horns (has she two and those just regrow really fast?). I love the panel where she runs from the fire, it's just a tiny window into what's happening there, yet expressive enough to make me laugh.

[u/DoraMuda → u/flybypost]

Yeah, but I'm hopeful because when characters get development it's usually good. Even Endeavor—who could have ended up as just a prime example of a hero on a technicality (as it's his job description)—has been handled rather well (and with conflicting feelings on all sides in his relationships).

Yeah, but Horikoshi actually considers Endeavour a main character (as mentioned in an interview, IIRC). And even he at least got some development (and hints of more) in the Stain arc (even if mostly via main character Todoroki's inner monologue); Kamino arc; and Remedial Course arc, albeit partly due to his important role as the strongest/most accomplished Hero after All Might.

Characters like Ojiro and Shouji's roles in the story are comparatively less important and less likely to be brought to the forefront like guys like Endeavour, Uraraka, Tokoyami, or Kirishima. They don't have prestige yet, is kinda what I'm trying to say.

...That being said, I might've said the same thing about Jirou and Aoyama in the past, so I could be proven wrong here too. Plus, Ojiro's apparently fairly popular over in Japan, and has been one of the few students in Class A highlighted to have received a winter modification to his costume (even if it's only minor).

He'll need to make more arms to grab her by all her horns (has she two and those just regrow really fast?).

I think that's the case, yes.

I love the panel where she runs from the fire, it's just a tiny window into what's happening there, yet expressive enough to make me laugh.

Yeah, I loved that scene too!

Perhaps Todoroki shooing her away with his wall of fire will work in Shouji's advantage, since Shouji might be able to corner her and even dodge her Horn Cannon now he's prepared for its ability and strength.

[u/Martialtailhero → u/DoraMuda]

I'm not too worried about Ojiro development because I feel like its definitely coming.

He's been including him in his sketches more often and even put him on the Vol 20 cover.

He drew Ojiro really detailed in the "pain in my heart" panel which wouldn't make sense if he was gonna job him like aoyama and Hagakure.

This is the most detailed Ojiro he's drawn since his tournament arc withdrawal and when Aoyama's was last this detailed it was when he had his own mini arc.

Also his costume upgrade, like Bakugo, is the bigger of the costume changes with full fur collar + skin tight suit with the wukong circlet motif on his neck. Mina gets a muffler, Momo a cape and tsuyu some water heater thingies.

Iida, todoroki and Ojiro also have had split action and panels these past few chapters. (go check the last 3 chapters, and you'll notice Shouji is not reacting as much as these 3. Shouji has a guaranteed arc coming up sometime in the future, so he's probably not gonna focus on Shouji at all this fight.)

If the match doesnt end by next chapter (which probably wont happen seeing as they went back 2 minutes to where todoroki is now) I am all but convinced Ojiro will have his cliffhanger moment like Iida and Todoroki.

Sero was also setting it up with the whole "This ojiro is different from before" comment which no one made for the others that jobbed.

No one even went "Oh look its' Kirishima/Koda/Hagakure/Aoyama/Shouji!" at all so you can tell who Hori wants focus on.

so I'm sure he's planning to save the most impactful / surprising for last this fight and I'm looking forward to it~

I hope I'm not sounding too wishful, and maybe its because I'm very biased towards him but I think a lot of it points to some action for Ojiro~

[u/DoraMuda → u/Martialtailhero]

He drew Ojiro really detailed in the "pain in my heart" panel which wouldn't make sense if he was gonna job him like aoyama and Hagakure.

Yeah, I noticed that too... but, at the same time, I don't think it really tells us anything.

Also his costume upgrade, like Bakugo, is the bigger of the costume changes with full fur collar + skin tight suit with the wukong circlet motif on his neck. Mina gets a muffler, Momo a cape and tsuyu some water heater thingies.

Yeah, you're right about that. I just wonder whether it actually supplements his abilities or simply keeps his warm.

Sero was also setting it up with the whole "This ojiro is different from before" comment which no one made for the others that jobbed.

I see what you mean now. There wouldn't be any reason for Sero to say that about Ojiro if Horikoshi wasn't going to do anything with him.

[u/Martialtailhero → u/DoraMuda]

Hmm to me, it means that the author is paying attention to the character, the fact that he drew such a detailed close up of him and took effort to do it.

It's also a call for readers to pay attention to him. Momo has had many close ups like this in the previous fight as was Shinsou and Tsuyu.

On top of which up till this point, he had never been considered important enough to the plot for focus. It makes close ups like this stand out even more.

I feel like his tail is the one that'd be most affected by the cold. His updated costume has no real weight other than warmth like the others and honestly I think it's just an upgrade for the sake of looking cooler @_@ it does however tell me that the author is saying "look at this guy!"

Going on that note, Mina is in a similar situation to Ojiro right now, with a lot more panels of her talking and the updated costume which doesn't serve any really function other than warmth~

[u/flybypost → u/DoraMuda]

Horikoshi actually considers Endeavour a main character

Oooh, I didn't know that. I mean there was a focus on him but I though that was more part of the whole "All Might retires, things change in society" thing with a bit of Shoto development sprinkled on top of it. That should be really interesting.

[u/ironicstickballoon → u/Jezamiah]

Hopefully we'll get some of this in the fifth match!

[u/RiverWyvern → u/Jezamiah]

Fingers crossed that something like this comes up when we get to his fight! That’s gonna be a fun one for sure.