Pro Hero Arc

Fourteenth in My Hero Academia and fifth within the Rise of Villains Saga, this arc spans chapters 184 to 193 and episodes 87 to 90, following the U.A. School Festival Arc and leading into the Joint Training Arc.

It is Endeavor's arc. The Hero Billboard Chart JP confirms him as the new number one, and the story spends its length testing what that title costs him, publicly against the strongest Nomu yet produced, and privately against a family he damaged getting to the top.

As November closes, Eri transfers to U.A. under Shota Aizawa's supervision, since her horn, the seat of Rewind, is regaining size and power. The Wild, Wild Pussycats visit Class 1-A, back from hiatus after dropping from 32nd to 411th on the chart, and mention that Tartarus is investigating how many Quirks All For One hoarded and for how long, which may bear on Ragdoll's stolen Search.

The rankings are broadcast from Kamino with the top ten onstage. Ryukyu, Yoroi Musha, Wash, Kamui Woods, Crust, Mirko, and Edgeshot fill the lower spots; Best Jeanist misses the event while recovering from All For One; Hawks takes second, and Endeavor is named number one. When the others recite the expected platitudes, Hawks seizes the microphone and argues that the approval rating is the statistic that matters, and that a day this significant demands something better than safe words. Endeavor's entire comment is three words: just watch me.

Backstage Hawks pushes for a partnership, citing Nomu rumors in Endeavor's territory. Over lunch in Kyushu he explains that the rumors have spread nationwide with no traceable source, that the fear itself is the product, and that he wants a world where heroes have time to breathe. Then Hood, the High-End Dabi released from a warehouse, crashes through the window asking who is strongest.

The fight is one-sided at first. Hood regenerates instantly, carries at least six Quirks, thinks and speaks, and hurls Endeavor through an entire building. Hawks evacuates the civilians until Hood floods the streets with lesser Nomu, leaving Endeavor alone and overheating. Prominence Burn reduces the creature to ash, but its head detached in time, and the regrown body drives bone blades through Endeavor's torso and face, threatening his left eye and dropping him. The nation watches its new number one lying in the street until the fan he disappointed that morning screams at the camera crew that his flames are still lit. Endeavor rises, Hawks' feathers give him speed, and a Plus Ultra Prominence Burn hurls both of them clear of the city and incinerates Hood. He lands with one arm raised.

Dabi arrives to congratulate him, walls the area in blue flame, and greets Endeavor by his real name before Mirko forces him to withdraw through Daruma Ujiko's warp. The meeting was staged: Hawks arranged the attack as part of his cover, though Dabi broke the agreement, and the Hero Public Safety Commission has in fact planted Hawks inside the League.

Surgery and Recovery Girl's healing save Enji's life and his eye, leaving a large scar over his left eye and cheek. He goes home to Fuyumi, Natsuo, and Shoto, and Natsuo finally says everything aloud: that a win over a monster does not settle what he did to Rei, to Shoto, or to Toya. Enji answers that he means to confront everything he did and make it right. Shoto tells him Endeavor the hero is remarkable, that Natsuo was right about everything, and that he wants to see what sort of parent the man becomes. Enji goes outside to talk to his son.

Rei, still at Fujiya Hospital, reveals that Enji has visited many times and always brings the flowers she once mentioned liking, though she has never been able to face him. Shoto's mother is named, Natsuo is introduced, and the dead brother Toya is spoken of for the first time. Hawks, meanwhile, carries the strain of his double life and apologizes to Endeavor only in his own head.

Izuku, exhausted from training, dreams his way into the vestiges of One For All and watches All For One force his Quirkless younger brother to accept a power, the moment the whole lineage begins. The first user speaks directly to him, something All Might insisted was impossible, and tells him he can be shown no more while he can only manage twenty percent. Izuku wakes with his room wrecked and One For All glowing in a hand he never activated.