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My Hero Academia 389: Dabi's hopes ignite; the Todoroki family drama escalates - - News | my hero academia | GamesHorizon
Dabi versus Todoroki in anime (Image via Studio Bones)

My Hero Academia 389: Dabi’s hopes ignite; the Todoroki family drama escalates

Stuart RayBy Updated:6 Mins Read Anime

Family is regarded as the basic building block of society, but like that of My Hero Academia with Todoroki and his family, what happens when this basic bond between kin of blood gets fractured? We have a father aiming to be the best in the world, and his desire for professional success becomes so intense that he abuses his family members. Yes, we are looking at you, Enji Todoroki or Endeavour as they call you.

There’s his wife, whom he married simply to replicate her genes but never found love in this marriage. The lack of love and desire for fame got passed along with the genes, into the oldest son Toya Todoroki. Toyo is initially set up to be the number 2 hero Endeavour’s successor but is soon revealed to have faulty genes. His tragedy is set up in that he starts to believe in this parentally-imposed destiny, only to be replaced by his youngest brother, Shoto Todoroki.

Shoto’s childhood was a mess, not least due to his mother being forced to throw hot water on his face, his growing grudge against his father and the long-term absence of Toya who only returns as a villain, an undead force of raging flames hell-bent on revenge on his father and brother. This happened, just when Endeavour had begun to have his redemption arc and earn the forgiveness of his son, messing up the dynamic once more.

Now that the drama reaches its climax, and the Todoroki family’s feuds set up the world ablaze in a song of ice and fire (pun intended), we can expect to see these dynamics and bonds being tested. There’s no doubt in our minds that Todoroki and his family have become one of the mangaka’s most beloved plot points to explore, especially in context of recent happenings

My Hero Academia chapter 388 sets up Dabi’s emotional wreckage by titling the chapter as his original name

As the chapter opens, a flashback occurs. The Todoroki family ignores the directive not to stare at the location where Dabi built the Heat Sphere. Rei orders one of the cars to transport his sister up to the battle after realising how grave the situation is and pleading with Natsuo to defend her. The action in My Hero Academia chapter 388 then jumps back to the present, where Rei is still on fire and the Vehicle has been obliterated.

She ignores Endeavor’s warning that she will die if she stays any longer and screams out to Toya. A mother’s love shines through now as it had with Shoto, but the siblings soon come to join them. Endeavour asks whether she intends to give their son the same treatment after realising that she is using her Ice to keep herself alive. Rei is alerted that her other two children have joined her in the struggle when Dabi says “mom” before the words “Natsu” and “Fuyumi” after she sees Rei.

Fuyumi responds that she does not want to lose any more people as her mother chastises them for being present. Natsuo implores his older brother to revisit Toya’s grievances from when they were kids and wonders what could have happened if he had. Endeavour considers launching Dabi away from the rest of his family with his fire in the hopes that they may survive the fight.

The final panel of My Hero Academia chapter 388 spoilers shows the Todoroki family embracing an adult Toya who is wearing Dabi’s long coat and has no scars. It’s odd that Shoto Todoroki isn’t present in this picture. This picture might hint a sad ending for the story when the drama gets resolved, considering that it might foreshadow a happy life for Toya only in the absence of Shoto in this alternate reality, where the latter’s absence ensured that the oldest brother’s position never got usurped.

How My Hero Academia chapter 389 builds up on Dabi’s pain

In the opening scene of My Hero Academia chapter 389, there is an explosion at the Dabi vs. Endeavour site. The command centre reports that although the temperature rise has slowed, it has not decreased and the heat has not dissipated. As a result, there is still a chance that Dabi will explode and unleash a level of havoc never before seen.

Dabi looks at his family and realises they are there for him as Fuyumi, Natsuo, and Rei use their ice to protect themselves and calm down Dabi in the skies. He regrets the delay and wonders if getting everyone to look at him had always been so simple. A crack forms on his face as he muses on this. A woman is seen praying in the Philippines at a café, maybe for Endeavour and the Todoroki family.

Since the youngest Todoroki has not yet arrived, the Masegaki Elementary kids see the conflict from inside the robot cars and declare that all is not yet lost. The specifics and make of the Ice Jet that Shoto and Iida have acquired are unknown, but they are revealed in My Hero Academia chapter 389 spoilers. While still within the Jet, Shoto triggers Phosphor, causing the outside to disintegrate and fall apart.

The crack across Dabi’s face symbolically replicates the crack in his family and the crack across hero society that was ushered in by the very actions of All for One. It is difficult to predict where the manga will go from here, or whether Dabi even has a chance for redemption and reconciliation considering his pondering of an alternate future where he is united with his family. However, Shoto’s position in the same is dubious.

My Hero Academia is focused around heroes who save people, and one of the themes that recently have gained traction is the idea of saving villains too – from their own dark sides. While Lady Nagant and Gentle Criminal have showed that villains can turn over a new leaf and saved from their fate, it is important to see how this story deals with Dabi. Dabi is no innocent and has killed several people for his own selfish motives, but like Shigaraki and Toga, have been manipulated by All For one. It remains to be seen if his family become the heroes in h is life and save him from his destitute destiny.

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Stuart loves anime, writing, and writing about anime. Someday, he hopes to illustrate his own manga from his novel!