TodoDeku

TodoDeku is the slash ship between Shoto Todoroki and Izuku Midoriya from the My Hero Academia fandom.

Anime
Shoto began an arch-rivalry with Izuku during the U.A. Sports Festival arc, claiming he would beat him using only his side that controls ice. The reason for this was because he did not want to use what he felt was his father's power, and wanted to prove to his father -Endeavor- wrong in that he wouldn't win with only the power received from his mother. Although in a rivalry, Izuku still admired and respected him, admitting that Shoto was far stronger than him.

Their fight in the festival changed Shoto's ways, and opened him up to massive character development. It is revealed that Shoto's past involved abuse and overworking, with his mother being driven mad and scarring his eye with boiling hot water. After this, his mother was sent to the mental hospital by Endeavor. Todoroki was devastated by this act.

Izuku was the breaking point that helped Shoto embrace himself, not by making him give into his father's will, but by making him realize that the connection between the quirks of a person and their parents are not what matters most, but being able to recognize it as the quirk that they as a person have. Midoriya even being super shy faced Hero Number 2 (father of Shoto) to defend the Todoroki. One of the most iconic lines stem from this scene, "It's your power, isn't it?!" said by Izuku. Izuku helping him during the fight, even knowing that Shoto was only using half his power and would most likely beat him when accepting his fiery side, was a sign that Izuku cared much more about helping Todoroki than winning.

After the fight, the two became closer, creating a strong bond of friendship. Shouto's starts to show less difficulty in approaching people and demonstrating how he feels. Izuku begins to strive even more to improve his individuality as he becomes more confident.

During Todoroki's fight against Bakugou, seeing that Todoroki due to the emotional state could not use his full power, Midoriya shouts in the middle of the audience "Don't lose! Do your best!" Todoroki listens and feels something that activates his firepower, but in the end, Todoroki cannot maintain the fire and because of the defeat, Bakugo does not accept the victory.

After the cavalry battle, Shouto told Midoriya everything he thought, both his past and his suspicions, and after all, both accepted their rivalry, with Bakugou listening between the two.

In the Vs. Hero Killer arc, Izuku was stuck in a bind while attempting to save Tenya Iida from "Hero Killer" Stain. This caused him to secretly send out a signal to his location on his phone, which Shoto-- although hesitantly, questioning whether he would really be in trouble- was the first and only one to comply and come to his area. Showing that despite not knowing each other for long, they have a deep understanding of each other, along with the fact that despite the Hero Killer not being an immediate threat to Midoriya's life instead being Tenya Iida the one in danger of dying, Todoroki still knew something was wrong and left his father and everything behind with the initial belief that Midoriya was in danger/something was wrong.

Later on during the aftermath of the fight, Shoto became angry on behalf of him and his friend Iida for having trouble against the law despite the fact they stopped a serial killer. Showing both his moral strength and how important Midoriya is to him along with Iida.

During the Forest Training Camp arc, Midoriya is shown to be in a bind concerning what to do with Kota Izumi, given how the child seems to hate heroes and Midoriya always wanting to help didn't know how to handle the situation that wasn't in an intrusive way to the child. So, later on Todoroki notices Midoriya's concern and Midoriya asks for his advice, showing how much he trusts and respects Todoroki's words. Todoroki because of this reminiscences of how Midoriya saved him by getting involved with his problems when he didn't ask for it, and tells Midoriya that words should always be accompanied with actions with the quote: "Even he's told all the right things, if you don't know his background then you'll only succeed in annoying him" along with ''"The important thing is, what the person who's saying it has done...and what they're doing now. I think that words are always accompanied with deeds." ''In which Midoriya smiles and agrees with Todoroki.

Later on during the Muscular vs. Midoriya fight, he remembers and uses the words of advice Todoroki told him and tells Muscular ''"A hero's job is to save people's lives. Turning words into actions!" ''as he goes One-For-All 100% Percent.

In Season 3, when Midoriya is in the hospital, Todoroki appears alone to visit Midoriya in the hospital. Showing how much Todoroki cares for Midoriya in such a short time knowing each other, given how rough their relationship started.

They both have things in common - such as their admiration for All Might and the desire to become great heroes - accompanied by their differences, which might be the reason their dynamic is very appealing to the fans.

They both have great respect and admiration for each other, both showing support and amazement when either of them have showed improvementwith their quirks or have done something admirable personality-wise.

Manga
Manga scene developed in the dining room. Izuku is saddened by the events that have happened with Eri and the fact that all the pressure from the mission falls on some of his colleagues and himself. He can not talk to his best friends, and says "Heroes can't cry." Todoroki gives him a serious considerate look and says "Even heroes cry sometimes." In an attempt to comfort him, he offers a portion of his soba noodles.

In the Endeavor vs. High End Nomu Battle Todoroki watches as his father is in a gruesome battle with the High End Nomu, Todoroki is shown to worry for his father despite their history, Midoriya is one of the first ones to notice his presence and worry for Todoroki's feelings as well. When the battle is over, Endeavor coming out victorious, Todoroki collapses in relief and Midoriya is one of the people who come to comfort him as well.

After the battle, Todoroki is given permission to go home and check on his father, Endeavor arrives and remembers how during his battle he remembered all the past mistakes he's done to his family and decided to atone for his actions, Natsuo Todoroki, Endeavor's third born child gets angry at him. However, Shouto is shown to be somewhat more accepting of Endeavor trying to atone and change as he remembers how Midoriya changed him with those simple words during the Sports Festival, Todoroki remarks this by saying: "One small inspiration can completely change a person. I know that better than anyone."

During the Joint Training Arc, Todoroki is paired in a battle with Tetsutesu Tetsutetsu, however Tetsutetsu's quirk shows to be complicated for Shouto's quirk as both his ice and fire don't seem to back him down, Todoriki then resorts to using one of his father's special moves and remembers Midoriya's "Its your quirk not his!/It's your power isn't it?!" and this fuels his fire to go to their most powerful state yet.

After the training, Todoroki sets out to look for Midoriya, after he finds him, he is shown to be dissapointed that Midoriya didn't trust him enough to tell him about this quirk, and is also remarks how disappointing it is for him after Midoriya went all out to make Todoroki use his full potential when Midoriya to Todoroki's eyes wasn't using his full potential either. Midoriya is shown to worry and quickly reassures him that Blackwip is just an extension of his original quirk and that it is a recent development as well. Todoroki who is very trusting of Midoriya believes him and compliments Midoriya for be his development for his quirk is amazing, Midoriya also compliments Todoroki for his fire reaching incredible levels as well, Todoroki takes this aside saying that he still has a lot to learn.

Mt. Lady & Student Interviews: Mt. Lady is invited to U.A. to perform an interview practice with the class. Todoroki is one of the first ones to go, showing off his own quirk super moves and how he handles interviews, Mt. Lady making various comments regarding his looks and Todoroki being adorably oblivious to this, in the audience Midoriya is shown smiling proudly and remembering Todoroki's words of improving his quirk. After all the turns, its finally Midoriya's turn and he is comically shown to be nervious and going stiff in his anxiousness, after his interview Midoriya comes to Todoroki and asks Todoroki how he doesn't get nervious, Todoroki in return is shown smiling very fondly at Midoriya.

(P.S. The School Briefs novels are moments Horikoshi wished to add to the manga, but couldn't since he had to move on. However, everything that happens in the novels is canon to the story)
In the My Hero Academia: School Briefs vol.1, Todoroki visits his mother Rei, at the hospital to ask her if she could attend the Parents Day event at school and they have a brief conversation about Izuku. During this, he bashfully states that "He's something special.", to which his mother smiles softly and replies that, "It seems like you've made quite a friend."

*Rei Todoroki can't attend the event due to rather obvious reasons, Fuyumi Todoroki (Shouto's sister) is the one that attends instead* 

During the Parents Day Event, the student's family members are recruited for a rescue mission for the students. Midoriya originally has a plan however this backfires at first, and the class goes completely havoc as everybody has no idea on how to save the family members, Midoriya seeing his plan backfire and the class going into chaos gets discouraged, Todoroki noticing his feelings reassures Midoriya saying "They all know we're in a tight spot. Our only chance of a sneak attack is from you" which Midoriya questions "You think?" And Todoroki responds,"You're good at that. Smashing the unsmashable and all that." Izuku moved by Todoroki's faith in him, almost cries but holds back his tears as they have parents to save.

In the My Hero Academia: School Briefs Vol. 2, the students are on their way to a school trip, during the bus trip Aoyama is shown to get motion-sickness and Todoroki being his partner in the seats gives up his seat to make Aoyama lay down. Todoroki instead opens up one of the aisle seats to sit down however this are shown to be small and uncomfortable, Midoriya feels bad about Todoroki having to give up his seat, then tells Todoroki that they can switch up seats, however Todoroki declines and sits down, making comments on how the seat is too small but it's fine, Midoriya can't take it and keeps insisting to switch up seats, commenting on how it's better as he is smaller than Todoroki so it won't be as comfortable, much to Todoroki's amusement, but he reassures him that he's fine.

As the school bus trip goes on the students chose to play games, Midoriya being the All Might fanboy is makes a game of Hero Trivia. He asks a rather complicated question regarding All Might and an old TV show where All Mighy saves a puppy, Midoriya asks what is the puppy's name. While everyone else pokes fun at him, ignores him, or comments on how they should play a more fun game, Midoriya gets embarrassed, however Todoroki is the only one to take his question into consideration and softly says "Is it Pochi?" Which Midodiya excited that someone actually played along replies ''"So close! Ponta, actually!" ''

Moments
Todoroki: "Midoriya? Bakugou? Are you guys okay?" Bakugou [coming out from under the rubble]: "Yeah, obviously who do you think I am?" [Midoriya stays silent] Todoroki (panicking):"Midoriya?! MIDORIYA?! ANSWER ME PLEASE!" Midoriya (weakly): "I'm...okay..." Bakugou (scoffing):"You can't even avoid getting hurt?" And Todoroki hurriedly kneels down and says, "Here, lean on my shoulder so I can hoist you up!" Todoroki: "Bakugou help me pick him up" Bakugou:"Psh, if Deku really wants to become a strong hero who can surpass me, if he can't even get up by himself, the what kind of hero is THAT?" Midoriya (smiling at Todoroki): "Its okay Todoroki-kun. I can...get up on my own..." [The scene ends with the three of them getting back to the other students.]
 * During the Todoroki vs. Sero fight, Midoriya sensed the feelings of Shouto's sadness, feeling a strong sense of wanting to help him and save him from his tragedy and his past.
 * All Might comment on "Izuku preferred the possible defeat of himself than to see [Shoto] suffer".
 * During the awards ceremony of the Sports Festival Todoroki tells All Might "Now I know why you're so interested in him" 
 * Todoroki's first word for season three was "Midoriya".
 * In the My Hero Academia U.A. Survival Camp Seiyuu Event. During one of the Drama Skits, Midoriya, Bakugou, and Todoroki end up getting crushed under falling debris from a shopping mall building, Deku is the one that gets hurt.

Fanon
The initials "Todo" and "Deku" were popularized by western fandom, while in Japan this ship is better known as TodoIzu. This is one of the most known and fan-supported due to the friendly and noble behavior they both forged in the anime/manga. TodoDeku is the most popular ship in Western fandom, and the second most popular in Eastern fandom. It is the most popular ship for Todoroki in both fandoms. Many who support TodoDeku do not like the ship BakuDeku, and typically support KiriBaku along with shipping TodoDeku.

On Ao3 (Archive of Our Own) TodoDeku is currently the 3rd most popular ship tag after BakuDeku and KiriBaku. It is the most popular ship for Todoroki and the second most popular for Midoriya.

Trivia

 * They are usually paired in official merchandises.
 * Todoroki's official theme song is called "Your Power" or "Kimi no Chikara" in Japanese.
 * For the 5th anniversary of My Hero Academia, there were released celebratory videos, featuring paired videos, group videos, and one dedicated to All Might. One of this videos features Todoroki and Midoriya named "I Want to Be Myself" with the song "Long Hope Phillia" in the background. The other paired videos are of Deku and Bakugou named "To the Best Hero", Kaminari and Jirou named "Killing with Sound", and Tokoyami and Tsuyu named "To Jump High" . Based on votes the TodoDeku video is the most popular, seconded by the All Might music video and third place going to the BakuDeku video. On YouTube it is the second most viewed after KamiJirou.
 * The Official My Hero Academia Facebook Account, published a post featuring Todoroki staring at Midoriya during that scene in the Swimming Competition on the first episode of season 3 with the quote: "Find yourself someone who looks at you like Todoroki looks at Midoriya"


 * The ship has been featured on the Fandometrics most reblogged ship list several times:


 * It was the twentieth most reblogged ship the week ending April 15th 2019 on Tumblr

Fandom
FAN FICTION
 * Izuku/Shouto tag on FanFiction.net
 * Izuku/Shouto tag on FanFiction.net

Navigation
TodoDeku ТодоДеку