Do Todoroki and Deku become friends throughout the My Hero Academia story? They’re both strong fighters and spend time together in training, but do they really get along?
Todoroki and Deku do become friends. Deku convinces Todoroki to stop self-protesting against his fire quirk, and Todoroki outright refers to Deku as his friend during internship introductions of the Endeavor Hero Agency arc.
Beginnings of Todoroki And Deku Becoming Friends
Todoroki and Deku first met during the UA High School entrance exam. The pair didn’t have a lot of opportunities to interact. Deku was way too far behind in skill to catch Todoroki’s attention or respect.
Deku was aware of Todoroki’s father, Endeavor, but he didn’t know he’d be competing against his son for a spot in UA. He also was not aware at the time that Todoroki was self-protesting against using his fire quirk. Endeavor purposely married a woman with an opposing ice quirk in order to breed a child with dual quirks. Todoroki’s refusal to use his fire quirk is a protest against the negativity that Endeavor put on their family. That includes Endeavor sending his mother to the hospital after leaving a scar on Todoroki’s face.
Deku and Todoroki didn’t become friends until the Sports Festival Arc. Deku helped Todokroi get over his complex of never using the fire-side of his quirk, an act of resistance against his father. During their fight, Deku was able to convince him that his quirk, although a result of his father’s design, was still Todoroki’s own. He shouldn’t be ashamed to use it. This dialogue triggers a flashback where Todoroki recalls hearing similar advice from his mother.
Recent Developments
As the story goes on, Deku and Todoroki spend more time together. Deku gains a better understanding of how to utilize his quirk and he quickly becomes one of the best fighters in his class. During situations of high stress, like when Stain pinned down Lida, Deku and Todoroki intervened as the two strongest combat-quirk users in the class.
You really get a better sense of their friendship during the Endeavor Hero Agency arc. Todoroki asks Deku and Bakugo if they’d like to intern at his father’s hero agency. The trio spend time working together under Endeavors wing and Deku is invited multiple times to the Todoroki household.
Todoroki outright says “Don’t try to act like a Dad in front of my friends” when Endeavor is introducing himself to the trio during internship introductions. Although he’s stoic and measured, Todoroki does view Deku as a friend.
Todoroki and Deku do become friends through their time at UA together. Deku could not originally get on Todoroki’s radar. They became friends after Deku convinced him to let go of his protest against using his fire quirk. Torodoki has outright referred to Deku as his friend. The two are always needed in battle together as they’re the strongest combat-quirk users in their class besides Bakugo.