My Hero Academia is one of the most exciting shōnen series of the last decade. It has some of the best fights in anime, a great hero vs. villain saga, and two characters who eventually see the best in each other. The series is centered around Izuku Midoriya. He starts the series as a person without superpowers (called "Quirks") in a world that values Quirks above all else. Eventually, he comes to inherit one of the strongest Quirks in the series when he becomes the ninth wielder of One For All, becoming the hero known as Deku.

His childhood friend/rival, Bakugo, is less than happy with Deku for the majority of the series and has a hard time accepting the fact that he is All Might's student. Their relationship starts out rocky, with Bakugo doing what he can to get in Deku's way, after bullying for a long time when they were kids. Midoriya never looked down on Bakugo, but had a hard time understanding his overwhelming animosity. As the series progresses, the two come to understand one another's perspectives. It's an amazing development between the protagonist and deuteragonist that highlights just how much people can grow and change within a series.

Bakugo Hated Deku During the Beginning of MHA

The Initial Actions of the Character Were Controversial To Say the Least

Bakugo spent most of the beginning of MHA bullying Deku. Before Deku had a Quirk, Bakugo saw him as useless, which is what the name 'Deku' means in the first place. Despite his constant bullying, Izuku couldn't help but be drawn towards the confident and energetic Bakugo. Deku is the opposite of an antagonistic person, so he never stands up for himself. Instead, he tried to be patient with Bakugo, which backfired as Bakugo couldn't care less for people taking time with him emotionally.

When they both get into U.A., Bakugo can hardly accept that his once Quirk-less neighbor is at the same level as him. He's constantly goading Deku on, trying to start a fight with him to prove his superiority. It's a low point for Bakugo as a character, but thanks to Deku and the rest of the students at U.A., he eventually grows out of his childish immaturity and is able to see the best in the people around him.

Deku Tried His Best to Bond With Bakugo

Deku was constantly trying to bond with Bakugo. Like a Chinese finger trap, the harder Deku tried to befriend Kacchan, the less Kacchan reciprocated his feelings. It's not hard to see from Deku's perspective as he was just being his usual kind self. Bakugo, however, is the exact opposite of everyone else, as he's a character who would rather fight than talk about his feelings. He kept challenging Deku to fight him to prove that he was still better than him, and eventually, Deku obliged him.

The last thing Midoriya wanted to do was have a useless fight with Bakugo, but he realized that it was something Bakugo wanted desperately. During their fight, Midoriya puts his foot on the metaphorical gas and tries harder than he's ever tried while fighting his rival. He decides to fight back to show Bakugo that he's not the spineless pushover he's been made out to be. It's a great fight that sees both boys going all out to prove their own points.

Eventually, the fight ends in a near draw, but that's not the best part. The most important moment of their fight comes with Deku finally understanding why Kacchan has been so upset. Bakugo believes that he should be the person to succeed his idol All Might, as All Might had to sacrifice all of his power to go and save Bakugo. It's a heart-wrenching moment that humanizes Bakugo. It's also the first time Deku was able to truly see from Bakugo's perspective, as he was the only person who could accept his friend's feelings.

Bakugo's Speech Brought Deku Back to U.A. High School

One of the Best Moments in the Series

The Dark Hero Arc was the aptly named darkest time in Midoriya's life. He had experienced loss after loss on the battlefield and thought that he had to stay away from his friends to protect them. He left U.A. without saying goodbye to his classmates, only leaving them notes revealing his identity as the ninth inheritor of One For All. The class unites under Bakugo to go find Deku and bring him back to school. When they eventually find him working alone in Kamino, Midoriya is in terrible shape.

He's been fighting on his own for a long time, ignoring sleep and meals in an attempt to catch as many bad guys as he can. He's alone, in pain, and desperate. When Class 1-A finds him, he wants to run away, telling everyone that he's doing it for their own safety. Bakugo challenges his pride, asking if Deku sees his classmates as obstacles that will only get in his way. Deku fights back against his class, but they're not letting him go that easily.

After a hard-fought battle, Bakugo approaches Deku. He gives one of the best speeches of the series, telling Deku that he's sorry for mistreating him all these years. He its that the reason why he bullied him for all those years was because he was jealous of his willpower and resilience. He even calls Deku by his given name, Izuku, for the first time in My Hero Academia, snapping Deku to his senses and allowing him to have a little more faith in his friends. When Deku collapses from exhaustion, Kacchan is the first to catch his body and him, showing that even after all the years of hate, Bakugo can finally see Deku for the man he is.

Bakugo Respects Deku as All Might’s Successor

It took a lot of fighting, insults, and tough battles, but Bakugo eventually sees Izuku as a solid successor to All Might. He accepts that his childhood friend is worthy and s him in the war. One of the most adorable moments in the series happens when Deku finally returns to U.A. High School and his friends all throw him in the bath. While they're bathing, Bakugo declares that Izuku is still his rival, but he has a hard time saying Midoriya's real name. Midoriya tells Bakugo he can keep calling him Deku if it makes him more comfortable.

Deku and Bakugo's friendship/rivalry is one of the best reasons to watch My Hero Academia. Not only are they two of the best-developed characters in the series, but they're childhood friends who want the best for each other. They each other differently, but that doesn't mean they don't want the best for one another. Bakugo starts the series only looking down on Deku because of his own insecurity, but he ends My Hero Academia as Deku's number-one er and the first person to go into battle alongside him.