Shigaraki's Last Words In My Hero Academia Are the Perfect Closure for the Series (2024)

Warning: The following contains spoilers for My Hero Academia!!

Shigaraki stood as one of My Hero Academia's most ruthless and vile Villains for many years. His hatred for the world manifested into a destructive force threatening to end the peace Deku and his friends fought so hard to achieve. Yet, when his time finally arrived, Shigaraki appeared to be a completely changed man, no longer holding the same anger and hatred that inspired him to destroy everything.

Instead of hatred and pain, his last words were filled with hope, creating an emotive and gratifying ending to his character and the final battle as a whole.

Nonetheless, it seems as if Kohei Horikoshi, the creator of the My Hero Academia manga series, used Shigaraki’s last words also to bring his story to a close, signaling the beginning of a new era.

Shigaraki’s Last Words Of Encouragement Marked The End Of The Flawed Hero Society

The young man was excited to see what new world Deku and his friends would make

Moments before his vestige was erased along with his body in My Hero Academia chapter #423, Tomura Shigaraki had a brief conversation with Deku. During this chapter, only brief moments of this talk are shown, giving Shigaraki’s character a satisfying ending. The young man was pleased with his actions, claiming that he stuck to his ideals and kept on destroying everything he disliked until the very last moment. Deku quickly answered that, despite everything, Shigaraki managed to destroy all that mattered, the corrupt Hero Society who hurt him and All For One’s reign of terror.

In chapter #424, it was revealed that Tenko’s final speech went on a little longer. Deku told All Might that in his final moments, Shigaraki smiled at him and told him that those who survived the war should do their best to create something better. These words signified that Tenko managed to let go of his hatred and regain the hope he once had in the Heroes of the world. Nonetheless, the League Of Villains leader’s final wish may also be Horikoshi’s way of signaling the end of the struggle for Deku, his friends, and even the readers themselves.

Hero Society is in a place it has never been before, with most of the world in complete chaos after the war. There is no Symbol of Evil working in secret to take over the world, nor is there a corrupt organization like the Safety Commission to uphold the unjust and biased system. The Heroes, civilians, and even the Villains who survived the war against All For One can create anything they want. They can work hard to prevent another Villain like Shigaraki from being created.

Tenko's Speech Was The Perfect Introduction To The Manga's Epilogue

Horikoshi used these words to make fans aware of the story coming to an end

While Shigaraki’s words mark the beginning of a new and bright future for Deku and his friends, they are also a reminder for fans of Horikoshi’s work that the story is ending. The adventures of Izuku as he worked hard to become the Number One Hero have been a special part of fans’ lives for many years. The story created by Horikoshi has touched the hearts of many, becoming one of the most influential manga in history. Nevertheless, as with anything good, it must come to an end, and Deku’s journey is approaching its conclusion.

Horikoshi, knowing how special the series is to so many fans, must have wanted the epilogue to be as inspiring as the rest of the series. Shigaraki’s words may refer to the world of the franchise, but they apply just the same to the real world. When the My Hero Academia manga ends, fans will have a whole world at their disposal to do what they want. They will be free to follow their dreams, just like Deku did. As Tenko said, their future will depend on what they choose to do from that moment onwards.

Shigaraki’s final words, while not fancy or especially profound, worked perfectly to introduce the final moments of the My Hero Academia manga. The manga will undoubtedly remain one of the world’s most iconic and beloved series. Despite the story coming to an end, the lessons Horikoshi taught fans throughout the years will stay with them forever.

My Hero Academia (2016)

In My Hero Academia, some humans have superpowers called quirks. Izuku Midoriya, nicknamed Deku, is not one of them. Deku has always idolized heroes like the number one hero, All Might, and since he was a child, he has always wanted to be a hero. However, his lack of a quirk has always held him back, but a chance encounter with All Might after discovering a classmate in danger sets Deku on the path to becoming a true hero. My Hero Academia centers around Deku and a class of heroes-in-training at UA. This school shapes young quirk users into future heroes through fake rescue missions, combat training, and other hero-tempering tasks. With young Deku inheriting the "One-For-All" quirk, he will learn what it means to be a true hero while facing off with dastardly supervillains.