Deku vs Koichi: Two heroes, two journeys — who left more impact in the end?

Izuku Midoriya, also known as Deku, and Koichi Haimawari might exist in the same universe, but their journeys as the main characters are poles apart. Deku, the face of My Hero Academia, is the classic underdog turned chosen one. Koichi, the protagonist of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, is the everyman. I believe that both of them had to endure hardships, although these obstacles never stopped them from protecting the innocent, and that is their common point.

But when I sit back and ask myself who left more of an impact by the end, I find myself leaning toward Koichi. While Deku had the world’s strongest power handed to him with a support system to match, Koichi had to figure it all out on his own, with nothing but a weak Quirk, street smarts, and heart.

I would like to begin by acknowledging that Deku was born with a handicap of having no powers in a world where the majority of the population had a Quirk. But the story quickly pivots when All Might decides to pass on his powers to him. From that point on, Deku works hard. He trains like hell to be worthy of All Might’s gift.

He studies heroes, takes notes, strategizes, and puts his body on the line more times than I can count. He’s not lazy or entitled. Midoriya definitely earns the victories he gets. But the truth is, he never really has to face the darkness alone.

Meanwhile, there is Koichi. When My Hero Academia: Vigilantes began, he was a completely average college student with a below-average Quirk. In my opinion, what truly sets him apart is that he acts when others look away. He sees someone in trouble, and he runs toward them, even if he’s shaking with fear.

Unlike Midoriya, Koichi becomes a hero not because someone gave him the chance, but because no one else stepped up. And somehow, despite the world ignoring him, despite the system rejecting him, despite everything stacked against him, Koichi makes a difference. Not in the spotlight, but in the margins. Not with power, but with persistence.

That being said, I don’t want to dismiss what Deku’s story brings to the table. If Vigilantes didn’t exist, I’d still believe Deku’s arc had value. There’s power in the idea that someone who was told “you can’t” gets to prove everyone wrong. There’s beauty in Midoriya's vulnerability, in how much he loves being a hero, and in how deeply he cares for the people he saves.

Understanding the reality of the opportunity given to Deku in My Hero Academia

In this real world, most of us aren’t handed a powerful tool in the world and told we’re worthy. Most of us are Koichi. We fumble. We hustle. We fail quietly and try again. And when we succeed, it’s not because fate chose us; it’s because we kept going when no one was watching.

Deku’s ending, in contrast, almost feels mythic. A little too clean. Yes, he suffers and bleeds, but the sheer magnitude of the powers he gains makes it harder to feel grounded. One For All develops into a multi-Quirk arsenal. He’s praised as the last hope. It’s a lot to relate to, and for some fans, a lot to believe.

Finally, it is also important to look at the support system that backed Deku all the time. Midoriya is constantly supported by people who believe in him and care deeply about his success. All Might becomes a mentor. Class 1-A becomes a family. Even pro heroes like Endeavor, Hawks, and Gran Torino take him seriously.

And Koichi starts with nothing, and there is a point where he has to fight against everyone just to save one person from being labeled as a villain.

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Final Thoughts

After finishing both series, I say with full conviction that by the end of their respective stories, both characters fulfill their dreams. Midoriya becomes a pro hero, and he’ll likely go down in history as one of the greatest heroes the world has ever known. Koichi never gets that kind of spotlight. But his influence is quieter, more personal. He’s the kind of hero who slips through the cracks of history but stays etched in the hearts of the people he helped.

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