The following contains major manga spoilers for the upcoming Season 6 of My Hero Academia.
For a show with such wholesome beginnings, My Hero Academia has had quite a few character deaths. Some of the most notable include Sir Nighteye, Pro-Hero Snatch and Magne from the League of Villains, but none have been more controversial than UA's very own R-Rated Hero Midnight. She was one of the Paranormal Liberation War's most prominent losses and her death was wildly grieved by many fans, but how exactly did Midnight die? And why was her death rather controversial among MHA fans?
During the Paranormal Liberation War, Midnight was a member of the Pro-Hero group tasked with raiding the Meta-Liberation Army's headquarters at Gunga Mountain Villain. It's easy to understand why she was placed at the operation's front lines; her Somnambulist Quirk, which placed anyone who smelled Midnight's pheromones in a deep sleep, was the perfect neutralizer for villains who would have been difficult to put to sleep by force.
How the Pro Hero Midnight Was Killed in MHA
My Hero Academia's Midnight had an amazing and deeply caring personality. Even while in active duty, Midnight went the extra mile to ensure that her UA students were calm and clear-headed before the mountain villa raid began. Given the severity of the Liberation Army's threat, first-year Hero Course students from UA were included in this special operation. Most of them served as backup, but a few had exceptional Quirks, including Honenuki Juzo, Kaminari Denki and Kinoko Komori. Before the battle began, Midnight knew how terrified they must've felt and shared some words to help ease their nerves, advising them to fight as if protecting the person who was most important to them.
When the raid began, Midnight quickly proved she wasn't all talk. She incapacitated several weaker villains before attempting to take down Gigantomachia herself when the behemoth finally stirred. Although supported by Kamui Woods, her attempts to activate Somnambulist against Gigantomachia were foiled by Dabi and the other members of the League of Villains, resulting in a prolonged fall from a dangerous height. Midnight survived the drop, but was in no condition to defend herself against the other villains who quickly swarmed her injured body.
Why Midnight's Death Was Poorly Received By MHA Fans
The exact circumstances of Midnight's death in My Hero Academia are unclear since it occurred off-screen. However, one of the villains who cornered her in those final moments has since taken credit for the murder. The unknown assailant has since resurfaced during the ongoing war, gloating about his hand in Midnight's death to Mina Ashido and Kirishima Eijiro. His reappearance suggests that more details about Midnight's death could be revealed later, though it isn't guaranteed.
The violent nature of her death -- coupled with the secrecy surrounding it -- upset many readers who weren't expecting a Midnight death at all. Given her popularity, the fact that her actual cause of death remains unknown is added insult to injury for fans of the character.
Additionally, Midnight's noble sacrifice was barely acknowledged in-universe; neither was she mourned, save by a few of her students and colleagues. She continued to fight until her last breath to take Gigantomachia down, delegating the task to Yaoyorozu Momo once she realized she could no longer complete it on her own. Out of all My Hero Academia's deaths, Midnight's was the one most befitting a Pro-Hero, so it's sad that such a kind-hearted and brave person has been forgotten so soon. Midnight simply deserved better.