Shoto's small part in My Hero Academia chapter 431 is Horikoshi at his best
My Hero Academia chapter 431, titled More, was released alongside Volume 42, marking the end of the series. While the manga originally concluded with chapter 430, the ending received mixed reactions due to the lack of closure regarding the issues of many prominent characters.
Although Deku's decision to become a teacher and the fate of his relationship with Ochaco were explored in the extra pages of Volume 42, Shoto only received a few panels. The lack of acknowledgment surrounding Shoto and the struggles of his family was indeed felt within the fandom.
However, Shoto's limited panels in My Hero Academia chapter 431, which mentioned his love for food, might have wrapped up his arc in one of the most ingenious manners.
Disclaimer- This article contains spoilers for My Hero Academia chapter 431 and reflects the author's opinions.
My Hero Academia chapter 431: Shoto and his favorite food is one of Horikoshi's most ingenious plot device
Shoto Todoroki received a few panels in chapter 431 of the manga, where he visited Toya's altar while declaring the recent discovery of his liking for food. Although this single dialogue is easy to overlook among the numerous events happening in My Hero Academia chapter 431, food has always served as one of the strongest indicators of Todoroki's relationship with his family.
The four Todoroki siblings were conceived and deemed experiments by Endeavor, who was on a quest to merge his Hellflame quirk with his wife's Ice quirk and create a quirk strong enough to surpass All Might. Although all of the siblings were born with a combination of these quirks, Shoto was the only one deemed to be a successful experiment.
This eventually resulted in him being isolated from his siblings, who were deemed "failed experiments." This, along with Endeavor's rather violent outbursts, created a truly dysfunctional family.
Shoto's diet was heavily regulated by Endeavor to ensure his growth into a hero capable of surpassing All Might. This further muddied the perception of food within the Todoroki family. The fragile state of the family is further exemplified by one of Shoto's most tragic moments, which occurred in the kitchen where Rei poured hot water on his face.
Food later became a comfort for Shoto during his days at U.A. Academy, which also served as the key setting for many of his integral scenes. Even the actual reconciliation of the Todoroki family occurs at the dinner table.
Endeavor himself acknowledged his longing for a time when he would be able to reconcile with his family and have a peaceful dinner. The Todoroki siblings not knowing each other's favorite foods serve as another allegory for the level of isolation and turmoil that Endeavor inflicted upon his own family.
Todoroki's dialogue in front of Toya's altar within My Hero Academia chapter 431 is a simple yet effective way of describing how much his character has grown. His dialogue might also indicate that he has finally found an attribute of himself that is above his job as a hero and the position he was supposed to hold.
Final thoughts
My Hero Academia ended with a total of 430 chapters and recently received extra pages and scenes with the release of Volume 42. Although the perception around My Hero Academia was negative due to it feeling shallow and unfulfilling, the extra pages in My Hero Academia chapter 431 from Volume 42 have addressed most of those issues, including the concerns around Deku's hero status.
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