Key recommendations
- Kirishima and Mina's friendship started in middle school and they were inspired by each other.
- They supported each other throughout the series, helping each other become better heroes.
- Their bond remained strong post-manga, evolving into a deep friendship based on admiration and respect.
In any series, relationship dynamics are important to developing stories and keeping viewers. My hero academy it doesn't disappoint in that regard, with some interesting relationships that develop over time and make great contributions to character growth. Among them is the relationship between Eijiro Kirishima and Mina Ashido.
Their combined journey throughout My hero academy it not only shows how they grew individually, but also how their bond influenced their personal character arcs. The next article will look at the evolution that took place in their relationship, such as how it sculpted them both as individuals and as heroes, and where they stand with each other at the end of the manga.
The early beginnings of their friendship
How Kirishima and Mina first met
Kirishima and Mina have known each other since middle school, long before they attended UA High School. Their first meeting itself reveals that Kirishima has always felt a lack of self-confidence, while Mina's fearless attitude and natural charisma completely inspired him. But this constituted the basic basis for their friendship, valued by admiration and respect. Mina's boldness and self-confidence influenced Kirishima to decide to become a hero, as he found in her all those characteristics that he wanted to develop in his personality.
These moments of his early friendship with Mina are the ones where he actually looked up to her as a role model. Where danger presented itself, she rushed headlong without a second thought. In comparison, Kirishima was originally fighting bravely at that time. This dynamic tends to set the tone for their future interactions; Mina indirectly forces Kirishima to become a better version of himself.
Immovable force meets support destruction
Hardening and melting duo
As they progress through UA High, Kirishima and Mina begin to have a more definite effect on each other's growth. Kirishima begins to show development as a hero who conquers his insecurities by gaining confidence, especially in fights. Mina's supportive nature and confidence act as a catalyst for Kirishima to gain the courage he needs to improve his quirk to face greater challenges. Mina, on the other hand, is starting to learn from Kirishima's more recent persistence and determination. While Mina has been an outspoken and strong-headed girl since day one, Kirishima's growth into a more defined hero helps him refine his skills and means of heroism.
Throughout the series, it's clear that this couple, while not a main romantic couple, works well. Mina's bright persona balances Kirishima's more serious persona and his more self-critical persona, and their interactions with each other make them fun to be around and essential in their own arcs.
Key moments that define their relationship
A number of moments in both the anime and manga cement the bond between Kirishima and Mina as a noteworthy one. He vividly remembers when, in middle school, Mina fought against a group of bullies, one that served as a turning point for Kirishima himself. He then decides to be like Mina, taking her as inspiration to improve his quirk and become mentally and physically stronger.
If I break then I will strengthen again! Stay strong! Protect others! Even if it means your life! – Eijiro Kirishima
Another critical moment is during the Provisional Hero Licensure Exam, where Kirishima's hardened weirdness is pushed to the limit. Although Mina is not directly involved in this fight, the consequences of her previous actions and encouragement are expressed in Kirishima's mental strength as he remembers the confidence and resilient attitude that Mina showed and fuels his determination to succeed. These moments reflect how their friendship, built on mutual admiration, continues to propel them to greater heights as heroes.
The roles they played in each other's arcs
Kirishima and Mina have always supported each other, but both played an incredibly different role in each other's heroic development. For Kirishima, Mina is this figure of courage and energy, thus aspiring him to be a better hero. This can be seen a lot as Kirishima goes from being a shy, self-doubting student to a battle-hardened hero who stands proudly among his comrades.
Mina's arc is a bit different, as it's heavily informed by Kirishima's development. As he grows stronger and more confident, it starts to pay off for Mina to truly see the value in persistence and hard work. Born a genius, Kirishima's meteoric rise through blood, sweat and tears takes a toll on her as she takes her rise as a hero more seriously. By the end of the manga, both characters have clearly influenced each other's trajectory, and their friendship stands out as a testament to how complementary and powerful different personalities can be to each other.
Where is their relationship after the end of the manga
Status of Kirishima and Mina's Link Post-Manga
Now that My hero academy series ended, it seems that Kirishima and Mina's relationship is pretty consistent. Throughout the series, the two never meet, but their close friendship has matured over time into something deeper. Towards the end of the manga, the two are truly great friends, and both heroes couldn't be more serious about their responsibilities in the hero world.
Friend and foe alike were all mixed up, and we could see nothing around us! – Mina Ashido
In many ways, their friendship has remained one of the constants throughout all the chaos going on in the series. They are close friends who encourage each other to succeed, and their interactions are filled with warmth and mutual respect. While fan speculation can always dream of something more between them, the show has opted to keep their bond as one of unwavering friendship.
The relationship between Kirishima and Mina has always been one of the purest and sweetest My hero academy. It's really a friendship between these two characters, based on mutual admiration and respect, that would be able to help both characters grow in dealing with their own personal issues. Even though they didn't end up together, it remains one of the most striking connections in this series because it's so important to have people who believe in you.
