Within the vibrant community of My Hero Academia, discussions frequently center around characters like Toga and Dabi, raising questions about their backstories and how different choices might have shaped their lives. In stark contrast, Shigaraki Tomura’s narrative rarely garners the same level of debate. Fans largely agree that his descent into villainy feels predetermined, with little room for alternative interpretations.
While Toga and Dabi have been subjects of speculation regarding how interventions in their formative years could have altered their paths, Shigaraki’s trajectory appears more inevitable. Observers often note that his fate seems inextricably linked to events in the series, with the only hypothetical scenario involving his potential connection to Deku’s journey.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the My Hero Academia manga.
Shigaraki’s Singular “What If”Scenario: A Possible Connection to Deku
Tenko Shimura’s path into villainy diverges significantly from those of Toga and Toya Todoroki. His transformation into Shigaraki was essentially sealed when Nana Shimura left him to confront All For One. This abandonment deeply affected his father, Kotaro Shimura, who channeled his anger towards Nana into hostility against his own son, perpetuating a cycle of abuse that left Tenko traumatized from an early age.
The situation escalated when All For One bestowed the destructive Decay Quirk upon Tenko, leading to an accidental tragedy—he inadvertently wiped out his entire family and left his home in ruins. With nowhere to turn, Tenko roamed the streets, desperately seeking help. Sadly, societal perceptions of his appearance led the world to ignore him, assuming a hero would eventually swoop in to save the day.
With no one coming to his aid, Tenko’s despair deepened, nudging him closer to antagonizing the very hero society he once admired. It was during this vulnerable period that All For One intervened, presenting himself as a savior to Tenko. In that moment, All For One became the villainous figure who ultimately shaped Tenko’s destiny, cementing his path towards villainy.
The only glimmer of hope for Tenko’s potential redemption might have occurred had a hero stepped in during his darkest moments. Even then, given All For One’s vast array of Quirks and manipulative tactics, it’s plausible that he could have taken Tenko away from any would-be savior, thus continuing to mold him according to his own nefarious designs.
This leads to the conclusion that Shigaraki’s only meaningful “what if”scenario in My Hero Academia could be if he had encountered All Might. Had that occurred, he might have followed a transformative journey similar to that of Deku, who, despite starting with no Quirk, blossomed into a hero.
In contrast, characters like Toga and Dabi could have potentially shifted their fates even later in their lives, since they were not deliberately pushed into villainous roles by anyone. With the right kind of guidance in moments of reflection, both could plausibly have sidestepped their tragic destinations.