The following article contains spoilers from My Hero Academia, Season 6, episode 23. Deku has had an overwhelming influence on the people he meets along the way, be it his fellow classmates, established Pro-Heroes, or questionable Villains; not many have interacted with Izuku Midoriya and departed unchanged. He has aspired to be a Hero practically since he could talk, ensuring that his actions reflect that of his idol, All Might, in every aspect of his life. Possibly due to Deku's Quirkless nature, he has focused on epitomizing the virtues of a Hero, for his entire life.

Deku's dedication to becoming the best has certainly rubbed off on the rest of Class A, who have each been significantly impacted by Izuku, in one way or the other. Season 6 episode 23 of My Hero Academia points out the most memorable interactions between Class A and Deku before he began flirting with the Dark side and pushing everyone away.

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Brief Encounters, Big Results

My Hero Academia The Deku Effect Mashirao Ojiro, Minoru Mineta and Rikido Sato Class A

Despite their acquaintance-level friendship, Izuku still fights for Mashirao Ojiro's honor at the U.A. Sports Festival, making him feel exceptionally valued in the process. The usually calm and collected Deku actually loses his temper for Ojiro's sake, as the only reason his friend dropped out of the running in the first place was due to Shinso's underhanded deception. Ensuring to keep his promise to his classmate, Deku goes so far as to break his own fingers to defeat his manipulative foe, subsequently also teaching Shinso the lesson that bullies won't be tolerated.

Rikido Sato and Deku might have had the least screentime together, however, they did manage to bond in Season 4 over their candy apple escapades. Although this is a memorable experience for all those involved, in this instance, Eri is arguably of more significance than Sato; however, at least the sugar-loving cute got his moment in the spotlight! Similarly, Minoru Mineta is always on his own mission and doesn't appear to take this whole "Hero" thing as seriously as the others (his passions lie with the ladies!) He, therefore, is not terribly awe-struck by One For All's powers but admires how Deku didn't allow his Quirk and corresponding status to change him, remaining a down-to-earth friend through it all. The fact that Deku never tried to hide his fear also strikes a chord with Mineta, as it gives them common ground and removes pretense from the equation.

Promoting the Underrated Powerhouses

My Hero Academia The Deku Effect Mezo Shoji and Fumikage Tokoyami Class A

Even those who haven't been blessed with many Deku interactions have flourished after their limited time with their classmate, even finding inspiration from mere proximity to the iconic Hero. Izuku and Mezo Shoji's friendship sparked during the Forest Training Camp, where the heteromorph seemed to gain some appreciation for his Quirk. Due to his troubled childhood, Shoji struggles to see how truly amazing and incredibly powerful he is, but thanks to Izuku's encouraging words, this powerhouse finally believes in himself and trusts his team, wholeheartedly.

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Like many others, Fumikage Tokoyami had a great deal of baggage to work through before becoming a hero, seeing that his Quirk can easily get out of control, causing death and destruction in its wake. And unlike many other Quirks, Dark Shadow has a sentient quality to him, arguably making him more dangerous than most other wayward Quirks. As a result, Tokoyami was insecure about his ability to save, instead of just destroy. Deku changes everything for his friend when he suggests that Tokoyami finds a way to wield Dark Shadow's power in a defensive manner, which opens up a world of opportunities for the aspiring hero.

Supporting the Ladies

My Hero Academia The Deku Effect Jiro, Ochaco, Asui and Yaoyorozu Class A

Ochaco Uraraka is one of the first to be blown away by the awesomeness that is Deku, and looked up to him as a role model since the beginning of her Hero Training. Her friend quickly becomes ner source of motivation, particularly during times when Ochaco doubts her own strength but is urged on by Izuku's courage, in spite of One For All's detrimental consequences. She subsequently discovers that it's okay to not always put on a brave face, just don't give up hope! Momo Yaoyorozu has learned a similar lesson from her friendship with Deku, after constantly questioning her own abilities and leadership skills. With "Plus Ultra," anything is possible, but with skepticism, failure is imminent.

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Deku was the first to receive the honors of calling Tsuyu Asui (aka Tsu) by her first name, which is indicative of how close they are as friends. Froppy knows all too well how hard it can be to stop Izuku when he's got a dangerous mission planned after failing in the past; however, unlike last time, she refuses to tearfully admit defeat. Instead, she will adopt her buddy's stubborn demeanor and continue fighting until she succeeds, or dies trying. And while it might seem menial, Deku also helped Kyoka Jiro to formulate a thorough plan of action for her musical debut at the School Festival. This ultimately led to the end of her inner turmoil, leading Jiro to accept that she does not need to dismiss her melodic passions just to be a good hero; she can do both!

The Big Three (Buddies)

My Hero Academia The Deku Effect Shoto, Tenya, Bakugo and Izuku Class A

Shoto Todoroki knows all about running away from his problems, only to cause further chaos as a result, and for a long time, Deku was the only one aware of the hot-and-cold hero's familial struggles. Shoto was arguably worse than even Bakugo when it came to team-building activities and insisted on his solitude; however, with much persistence, Deku melted his icy barrier and showed Shoto the benefits of friendship and trust. Sometimes one's determination can have a narrowminded side-effect, just like Shoto's refusal to use fire, and Deku's denial of needing help.

Tenya Iida always used to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, trying to bear the burden all alone, setting unrealistic standards for himself. During Stain's attack in Season 2, Deku echoed All Might's words, "meddling when you don't need to is the essence of being a hero," which works both ways, as one must know when to accept help from interfering allies, too. This moment taught Tenya the true value of teamwork and the benefits of sharing the load. And he will return the favor to Izuku, no matter what! Furthermore, Tenya has used his healthy competition with Deku as a motivating factor, not unlike Bakugo, as he strives to surpass this admirable hero, one way or the other.

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Katsuki Bakugo has made some drastic personal developments after assessing his relationship with his childhood fanboy and has taken the longest to react to Deku's powerful influences. Better late than never! Bakugo's debatable status as a Hero (due to his egotistical and aggressive nature) has completely dissipated as his rescue instincts have finally kicked into overdrive, allowing his body to react before his brain can catch up. Bakugo turns himself into a human shield to save Deku and refuses to let more harm come to his frenemy from here on out. Apologizing to Izuku is a huge step for Bakugo, and doing it in front of the entire class proves how humble he has become.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

My Hero Academia The Dawn Of Dark Deku Burning Bridges Class A

One For All's Second User finally completes his grand statement (first mentioned in Season 6, episode 22) by surmising that:

"If there's one thing Izuki Midoriya needs right now, it would be those who will, with the same intent, at the same pace, continue to run alongside him."

Deku believes that, by going it alone, he is protecting Class A and the rest of UA High School's refugees from All For One's clutches, but at the end of the day, everyone is in grave danger as long as that tyrant is roaming free. While this sentiment is more honorable than Bakugo's former praise-seeking solo missions, it holds the same weight.

Sometimes admitting defeat is less about giving up and has more to do with accepting the support offered up by others. Defeating the enemy alone doesn't automatically make one a better Hero. Each argument that Class A makes is a reflection of the lessons they have learned from Deku; however, the Dark Hero has seemingly forsaken his origins in pursuit of victory and needs a not-so-subtle reminder of who he is and what his positivity has accomplished. At times, the heroes need saving too, which is precisely why they should never work alone.

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