On his journey to become the number one hero, Izuku Midoriya, or Deku, has been through a number of trials and tribulations. Some of the situations he's found himself in are extreme for anyone, even a fictional teenager. But, using his wits, strength, and some luck, he manages to pull through in the end. Deku has gone out of his way many times, which shaped the story as well as his character.
Deku is known for thinking his plans through and therefore making some good decisions. Though some of Deku's more recent decisions in the manga are a bit more divisive, most of his decisions in the anime were, and continue to be, extremely important.
10 He Said, "It's Your Quirk, Not His!"
When Deku told, or rather, yelled these words to Shoto Todoroki, it gripped fans. Even though they were opponents battling in the sports festival, Deku took the time to encourage Todoroki, which says a lot about his character.
This moment naturally also left an impact on Todoroki, as it gave him the push he needed to finally use his father's fire Quirk. Deku trying to help his friend reach his full potential, even though said friend was his opponent, was a heroic thing to do.
9 He Reclaims What Was Used To Bully Him
The name "Deku" was originally used as an insult by his childhood bully, Bakugo. It doesn't exactly have a meaning, but there are supposedly a few Japanese words it sounds like it could be derived from. Bakugo used it in a derogatory manner when he realized that "Deku" was another way to read the kanji for "Deku."
However, once in high school, Deku meets Ochaco Ururaka, and she says that she believes that "Deku" sounds like someone who can "do anything." Thanks to the positivity of his new friend, he reclaims what was once used to hurt him. Not only does it not hurt him anymore, but Deku even decides to make it his hero name.
8 He Helps A Little Girl Smile
Eri is a little girl who has apparently never experienced happiness before. This fact is heartbreaking but not surprising, as she has been used and abused by the villain Overhaul for most of her life. However, thanks to Mirio Togata, and of course Deku, her story just might have a happy ending.
The U.A. School Festival is around the corner at the time Eri is rescued. Deku, wanting the little girl to have a good time, decides to ask if Eri could attend. The girl is allowed to, and she indeed has a great time. While watching Class 1-A's musical performance with Mirio, she can't help but smile uncontrollably for the first time in her life.
7 He Restores A Boy's Faith In Heroes
When Kota Izumi meets Class 1-A, he despises heroes. None of the class members attempt to get close to him. None except for Deku.
Deku does not give up on the boy. On the contrary, he winds up getting closer to Kota when he saves Kota from Muscular. Kota apologizes and even sends a thank you letter, realizing heroes are not all bad. Kota even looks up to Deku enough to get shoes that match Deku's, but he gets embarrassed when Deku points out the resemblance.
6 He Shows Bakugo Kindness
No matter how poorly Bakugo treated Deku, Deku never gave up on him. Most people would not stick around to be yelled at, threatened, and bullied by someone they were nothing but nice to, but it would appear that Deku sees right through Bakugo.
Deku stands up to him in his own way but continues to stick by him. This shows that Deku's perseverance extends beyond hero work. And it pays off, as Bakugo has now learned a lot about himself from his found-again friend and has had an amazing character arc. These boys now have the chance to have a proper friendship (and rivalry).
5 He Developed An Application For Shoot Style
Deku's Shoot Style is one major way that Deku has distinguished himself as a hero. He realized, with the help of All Might, that he did not want to exactly copy All Might's punch-based fighting style. Thus, Deku looked to his legs.
Deku used a kick-based fighting style as his special, signature move. He made everyday leg day and even had special iron-soled shoes made by Mei Hatsume of the support course. In this way, he not only became stronger but stepped out of his mentor's shadow just a bit.
4 He Told Bakugo About One For All
When All Might first passed down One For All to Deku, the whole affair was hush-hush. Few people even knew what All Might's Quirk was in the first place, let alone the fact that he could give it to someone else. Having to keep this secret was a bit of a burden for Deku, but there was one of his peers who he tried more than once, to let in on the secret.
Bakugo knew that Deku was not the "wimp" he once was, and he knew that Deku was favored by All Might. Bakugo was going to figure out the secret behind his newfound powers even if it killed him. A confrontation occurred between the two, and Deku knew it would just be more trouble to lie, so he confided in his old friend. In doing so, the dynamic between them changed for the better, and they are now able to have a healthy rivalry.
3 He Went After Sludge Monster
Choosing to run after the sludge villain is definitely one of the most important decisions Deku made in the series. This one choice is what put the rest of the story in motion. It's the first time he gets to truly prove himself, and it gets him noticed by his idol.
Deku decided to try and save his childhood friend from a villain, even without a Quirk. None other than All Might happened to be watching, and he saw the courage this boy had. Deku proved here that he may have it in him to become a hero, and, as they say, the rest is history.
2 He Saved Ochaco And Passed The Entrance Exam
The practical exam to get into U.A. High consists of destroying robots to earn points. Unfortunately, Deku did not earn a single point, but what he chose to do instead still managed to get him into the school while proving himself in an even better way.
As Deku was running out of time to complete the test, he saw Ochaco Uraraka getting attacked by a zero-point robot. He used the rest of the time to save her, ending with no points. This heroic act wound up doing him a favor, as he soon after found out there was another category of points. Deku's choice earned him "rescue points," which allowed him to pass.
1 He Accepted One For All
Training his body to handle the power of One For All was no easy task, but through sheer willpower, Deku chose not to give up. For ten months, he went through excruciating training.
It was certainly a shock to hear that Deku's idol wanted to pass down his power to him. He knew this was the first step to achieving his dream of becoming a hero, so it was a no-brainer to accept what All Might had given him. This one choice was what allowed him to become the hero he always wanted to be.