My Hero Academia has quickly become a fan favorite, with rabid fans picking apart the series and looking for any scrap of detail we can get our hands-on. To be fair, the series really is highly addictive, and the week-long wait between episodes and chapters can be quite painful for some.
Today we’re going to dive into the relationship between Deku and Uraraka. Is there something there? How sturdy is this ship? And how likely are they to become canon? We may not have those answers, but we can make some logical guesses based on the facts at hand. So we’re going to talk about those facts down below. You’ll have to tell us what you think, after reading all about their pairing.
Updated on August 12th, 2021 by Daniel Kurland: Deku is fortunate enough to spend time with many different groups of heroes, but despite all of his development he still holds an undeniable bond with Uraraka. The closeness between these two is something that’s the subject to heavy analysis in MHA and it’s led to some enlightening revelations about the relationship that these two share.
15 She's Able To Break Through His Blackwhip Quirk
Season five of My Hero Academia devotes the first chunk of its episodes to the grueling Joint Training Competition between the students of Classes 1-A and 1-B. This is an important demonstration in terms of how much everyone has grown in strength, but the competition culminates with an uncontrollable explosion of power from Deku’s new Blackwhip Quirk.
It’s Uraraka who is able to break through to Deku, calm his mind, and help restore order. It’s unclear if anyone else would be able to break through to his subconscious like this.
14 They're Each Others Secret Santas
My Hero Academia is an anime that typically places the focus on action sequences and suspenseful clashes of powerful Quirks. However, there are still crucial moments of downtime that act as helpful reminders over how these burgeoning heroes are still just teenagers at the end of the day.
During Christmas festivities, Deku and Uraraka decide to exchange gifts with each other, demonstrating how well they know one another. Deku receives Mochi Chips, while Uraraka is gifted a cute All Might keychain, which she goes on to make a permanent fixture on her belt.
13 He Trusts Her With The Secret Behind His Quirk
My Hero Academia’s most recent material presents Deku with his greatest challenge yet and he chooses to isolate himself from his typical support systems, with the aim to keep them safe from danger.
Deku gives personalized letters to his friends before his departure, but it’s Uraraka’s letter that’s the most substantial. Deku’s letter to her is not just full of gratitude and thanks, but he reveals to her that he’s inherited All Might’s Quirk and that he’s now the target of Shigaraki and All For One. He trusts her with a secret that very few individuals know.
12 He Can See Through The Uraraka Imitators
One of the most exciting trials in My Hero Academia is the Provisional Hero License Exam, which brings out the best in many characters and highlights how they all stack up against each other. A frightening surprise during this arc is that the villainous Himiko Toga infiltrates U.A. High under the disguise of Camie Utsushimi, but she later uses her Quirk to copy Uraraka.
Toga’s trick fools most people, but it’s only Deku who notices that this Uraraka acts out of character and that she’s an imposter. It’s something that only a true friend would be able to recognize.
11 They Help Each Other Excel At Their Work Studies
When Deku and Uraraka are around each other they’re usually one another’s biggest cheerleaders, but it’s encouraging to see that they’re able to carry over each other’s lessons even when they’re apart. Season five of My Hero Academia makes a return to U.A. High’s work study program where students return to various Hero Agencies.
Deku joins up with Endeavor’s Agency and Uraraka refines her skills under both Ryuku and Selkie. Uraraka’s water-bound detour incorporates much of what she learns through her time with Deku and she’s able to beautifully apply it to help out her team.
10 The Origins Of Their Ship Name
Every good ship out there must have a ship name. It's just a fact of life. On the very slim chance that you don't know what that is (unlikely), a ship name is what is used for any preferred ship, usually combining elements of their two names to for one (usually cute) name.
For Deku and Uraraka, that cute ship name is IzuOcha. Here we see their first names combined together, Izuku and Ochaco to bring us something new. It's may not be the cutest name out there, but it works.
9 Uraraka's Misunderstanding Results In Midoriya's Nickname
Back in the first season, Uraraka made a bit of a mistake. She called Midoriya "Deku," having heard Bakugo use that term (as an insult) and mistakenly assuming it was actually Midoriya's name. You see, she didn't think that it was the obvious insult intended, is that it's also very similar to a Japanese phrase which basically means "You can do it!"
This little tidbit is cut down in some translations, so instead Uraraka merely thinks that Deku is a cute name, and nothing more. Personally, we like the original reason behind the name so much more (the phrase, not the insult).
8 Uraraka's Incredibly Jealous When It Comes To Deku
There has been a fair share of jealousy shown between these two lovebirds. Or, more accurately, one character has been feeling a whole lot of it. We're talking about Uraraka. On several different occasions now we've seen her react negatively when seeing Deku interact with another girl (especially should that girl appear to be close to Deku).
There are three characters in particular that have triggered these feelings of jealousy in Uraraka; Mei Hatsume, Camie Utsushimi, and Melissa Shied. Mei caused those feelings thanks to her attention towards Deku (and that one time she accidentally shoved her cleavage up in his face). Camie (well, fake-Camie) caused them for fairly obvious reasons during their testing. Meanwhile, Melissa only appears in the movie, but she did seem both fond and impressed by Deku, and that was enough for Uraraka.
7 She's Terrified That He May Perish In Battle
During season four of My Hero Academia's Shie Hassaikai arc, Sir Nighteye says something to Uraraka that terrifies her. He leads her to believe that Deku will not survive his battle – not while also completing their goal.
Naturally, this leads Uraraka to freak out. She is not the type to want to lose anybody close to her, but least of all Deku. Her pleasure at seeing Deku alive and well is palpable, and could quite possibly end up being a turning point in their relationship.
6 Uraraka's Realization Of Her Latent Feelings Towards Deku
Speaking of Uraraka and her realizations, she's the first one to realize and acknowledge her feelings. She's well aware of the fact that she likes Deku. Though for a time she did try to deny it. She was forced to admit the truth back when she saw Deku interacting with Camie during their tests.
Technically speaking, Uraraka has yet to do anything since realizing her feelings toward Deku. She certainly hasn't told him how she feels or done anything to try and court him. But she still gets credit for being the first one to put her feelings into words (even if those words were just in her head).
5 Uraraka Still Prioritizes Herself Over Her Deku Concerns
While Uraraka is well aware of her feelings towards Deku, she has made a decision about them. That decision is that she needs to prioritize herself in this matter. That means she needs to focus on becoming a hero, and thus not let her feelings, or Deku, distract her.
This is a decision that is easier made than kept, as we've seen time and time again. Uraraka keeps finding herself in situations in which Deku distracts her, either by being his adorable self or by throwing himself headfirst into danger (as always).
4 Her Concerns Over Deku Become More Considerable
All things considered, Uraraka had been doing an okay job of keeping her feelings in check. Yes, that is a relative thing, considering how many people have figured out her feelings. But since Deku hasn't put two and two together, we're going to cut her some slack.
There is a point in the anime where Deku has some trouble with his quirk. This whole series of events forces Uraraka to step up once again, protecting Deku as her feelings come flooding to the surface. She's there as both emotional and physical support.
3 There's An Implicit Level Of Support Between Them
Deku and Uraraka are not in a canon relationship, not yet, at any rate. Yet for many intents and purposes, they may as well be. They're endlessly supportive and protective of one another, as we've seen so many times.
Deku will do anything to keep Uraraka safe and has been aiming to do so since the moment he first met her. Meanwhile, Uraraka will support him through all of his struggles, especially when his quirk is giving him trouble. She'll also back him against his bullies (looking at you, Bakugo). Talk about true relationship goals.
2 They're Both The Subject Of Mina Ashido's Playful Teasing
Every class has to have that one busybody who seems to know everybody's business and who has a crush on who. For class 1-A, that busybody is Mina Ashido. Trust us, it did not take her long to figure out that Uraraka had a crush on Deku. And while she hasn't been as blatant about the reverse, there's no doubt that she suspects Deku reciprocates those feelings.
On several occasions now we've seen Mina teasing Uraraka about this fact. And there have been a time or two (in the manga) that she's also taken the opportunity to tease the two of them together. If they hadn't been so busy being embarrassed, they might have noticed how the other person was reacting and learned something important.
1 Deku's Obliviousness Towards Girls & His Development In The Area
The last item on our list is the elephant in the room. Deku is basically an otaku, he's a massive fan of All Might, and up until U.A. High it sounds like he never really got to talk to girls. His reaction to talking to Uraraka on the phone all but confirms this.
What we're trying to say is that it's extremely unlikely that Deku has realized that Uraraka likes him. In fact, he probably wouldn't notice or suspect any girl liking him. He hasn't outright stated any crushes on his part, but he does react strongly to Uraraka's presence. Though perhaps he'd do that regardless of who it was? Only time will tell.