My Hero Academia has greatly fleshed out its villain characters in recent anime seasons and manga chapters, such as Dabi's infamous reveal as Toya Todoroki. The yandere villain Himiko Toga has also gotten a lot of attention recently, exploring in intimate detail why she rejected mainstream society to become a knife-wielding villain.
Unlike other League of Villains members, however, Himiko Toga never used a villain's name to hide her identity. Even Tomura Shigaraki's name is actually a new identity that was forced upon Tenko Shimura at a young age, but "Himiko Toga" is the only name that a bloodsucking villain has ever known. Chapter 392 of My Hero Academia's manga reminds fans once again that Himiko Toga values personal authenticity above all else. At this endgame stage, a villain's name wouldn't do her any good.
Himiko Toga Values Her Authentic Self As An Outcast
Chapter 392 of My Hero Academia focuses primarily on Himiko Toga's perspective as she engages in an ongoing battle against Class 1-A and Ochaco Uraraka. The chapter delves into Himiko's tumultuous childhood and her struggle to reconcile her true, bloodthirsty nature with society's expectations. From a young age, Himiko had a fascination with blood that perplexed and horrified those around her, including her parents, classmates, and strangers. As she grew older, she faced pressure to conform and suppress her true self for the sake of being "normal," but eventually, she discarded this facade and embraced her true nature, becoming a true villain and criminal.
Chapter 392, along with previous flashbacks and conversations, reminds readers that Himiko fights not for revenge or recognition, but for acceptance of her authentic self. Hero society failed to provide a place for individuals like Himiko Toga, as well as heteromorphs like Spinner and Mezo Shoji. The existence of "right" and "heroic" Quirks necessitated the existence of "wrong" Quirks associated with a perceived "wrong" lifestyle, such as Himiko's. However, Himiko refuses to compromise her true self to please society and is determined to dismantle the rigid hero society that tried to suppress her.
In this chapter, Himiko reflects on her friend and fellow villain, Twice, who once suggested that she should have her own villain name. However, their perspectives differ; Twice used his villain persona as a means to escape his confusing true self, while Himiko seeks acceptance of her authentic identity. Although Twice's suggestion may have been well-intentioned, Himiko likely declined it because it contradicted her genuine desires.
Himiko Toga is resolute in her pursuit of a world where she can be accepted for her bloodthirsty, yandere self. She consistently uses her real name and even wears a schoolgirl uniform as her villain costume, symbolizing her recent past as a student. This deliberate choice exposes her face and reveals her real, legal name, risking capture by the authorities and potential tracking. However, the freedom to express her true self is paramount to Himiko, a sentiment that her allies like Twice and Dabi may struggle to comprehend fully.
Himiko Toga Fights For A World Free Of False Names
Himiko Toga fights strongly to remain true to herself and advocates for personal authenticity and self-expression. However, her aspirations may extend beyond this as she aligns herself with Tomura Shigaraki's cause. Many of the villains, including Himiko Toga, are not only fighting to defend themselves against costumed Pro Heroes but also to expose the flaws of hero society, dismantle it, and establish a new world order. They seek to redefine society's norms and reject the authority of Pro Heroes in determining what is right or wrong. Both sides, heroes and villains, adopt costumes and false names to protect their identities during this struggle for the future of society. If either side emerges victorious, the need for disguises and costumes will become obsolete. The winged hero Hawks expressed his hope to create a lasting peaceful world where heroes like him are no longer required.
In her own villainous manner, Himiko Toga and her comrades share a similar sentiment, although their individual motivations for envisioning a post-hero society led by villains may vary. Himiko specifically desires a world where individuals like herself can openly embrace their true selves, regardless of how dark or disturbing their Quirks and interests may be, and where individuality is celebrated. Such a society would never impose conformity or force people like Himiko Toga to pretend to be someone they are not for the sake of societal expectations. In this envisioned world, victorious villains would shed their costumes and villainous aliases since there would be no heroes left to combat. This would be the ultimate reward for Himiko Toga, with peace becoming an added bonus resulting from their triumph in the battle for society's future.
By Chapter 392 of My Hero Academia (MHA), the Pro Heroes, U.A. students, and villains have all reached the climax of their respective journeys. Within the span of a few hours in the story's universe, the final confrontation is set to determine the outcome. Given this context, it is simply too late for Himiko Toga to adopt and utilize a villain name, as it goes against her core themes and principles. Even during the early stages of the conflict between the Paranormal Liberation Front and Pro Heroes, such as the battle at Jaku Hospital, it was already too late for Himiko and other villains to concern themselves with concealing their true identities. If the villains emerge victorious, names and costumes will become irrelevant, and if they are defeated, there will be no need for regrets as they will not have a future in which to reflect on their choices.
