BnHA 315 ā Comparisons, parallels, and observations
I feel like this is the AFO Rising chapter (maybe even arc). I previously speculated that AFO āengineeredā the Nagant encounter to torture Deku psychologically by forcing him to see the dark side of hero society. There was no way for Deku to āwinā the battle ā he is either captured or disheartened (in addition to isolated and injured). But I was NOT expecting AFO to explode Nagant in such spectacular fashion right after she takes Dekuās hand! Given the size of the boom, Iām surprised any part of her survived. Since AFO popped up at the end of this chapter like an evil deus ex machina, letās talk AFO for a bitā¦..
- When AFO was first introduced, we knew he was manipulative and would use his power to garner respect and loyalty. (Weāve also seen how AFO manipulates Shigaraki towards destruction without AFO having to get his hands dirty.) This transactional quid pro quo is the ātransparencyā of AFO that Nagant mentioned, but boy was she wrong (more on that in a bit).
- Similarly, Yoichi/First and All Might reference AFO ābreakingā people and tossing them aside. But we havenāt seen AFO use direct methods of control over his followers, and other than OFA users and the Secondās rebellion, we havenāt really seen what AFO does to followers who donāt behave according to his order.
- We didnāt realize that Third was speaking literally a few chapters back. As in, AFO doesnāt just use manipulation ā he uses invasion and remote control, and he does it for pawns and his masterpiece (Shigaraki) alike. Those under his control ā including Nagant ā have no idea AFO is a parasite inside their bodies. This is the exact opposite of a ātransparentā quid pro quo system.
- And if AFO has remote control of others, what about OFA? Iāve heard the OFA horcrux theories, but we also know OFA doesnāt behave how AFO wants it to. In addition, we know this from when All Might talks to AFO in Tartarus, so there might be more to be revealed:
- After this chapter, it seems AFO is very much afraid of the human heart/soul and our capacity to grow, change, and heal. Heās generally dismissive of hope, spirit, etc., calling that fantasy rather than reality. But I think itās a bluff because he knows those are what can defeat him. Learning and growing isnāt fickle; itās POWERFUL. Thatās why he explodes Nagant after Deku says she has the āsoul of a heroā and she takes his hand. Thatās why saving the villains will really matter and be essential for the endgame.
- I think Endeavor and Hawks are right that AFO has no soul and is no longer āhuman.ā
- Nagant says she learned everything from the HPSC, but sheās using AFOās playbook. Using Overhaul like a pawn? Threatening his life to prevent a hero from fighting at full power? Total AFO moves. Also, interesting that she mentions fate, and we know Izuku previously ātwisted fateā with respect to Overhaul (as All Might recalled a few chapters back). Hopefully Overhaul will be more useful to Nagant as a healer than a target ā Iām not a Nagant stan but I do want a female character to survive an injury like All Might, Endeavor, Best Jeanist, Bakugo, Gran Torino, Hawks, Aizawa, Dabi, Re-destro, etc. I think Mirko is the only female to add to that list.
Finally, I thought Nagantās dreamy āwhat a guyā was a little odd (itās the last full sentence she says). Itās quite the contrast to her opening calling him āboy in greenā. So, does Deku proving heās a true hero suddenly make him manly? We know Kirishima would think so (I miss him!!) but itās weird coming from an adult. Like she swoons because he broke her arm but also healed her soul? And sheās not turned off by his insistence on ābringing backā the light in hero society (that she doesnāt think was ever there)?? I guess it doesnāt matter because AFO wins anyway by traumatizing Deku.
Hereās hoping for some Dadmight to comfort Deku in the next chapter, or to discuss the HPSC/dark side of hero-ing, or to show off whatās in the briefcaseā¦.