Bakugo Katsuki’s Anger Was Never the Point

I still remember the first time I watched Bakugo Katsuki slam a practice dummy so hard it exploded into confetti. My instinct was to flinch—but then I noticed something strange. As the debris settled, his trembling hands hovered near the wreckage, almost as if he regretted the force he’d unleashed. That moment cracked open my understanding of My Hero Academia’s most misunderstood character. Bakugo’s rage isn’t his defining trait; it’s the smoke screen hiding a boy who’s terrified of being seen as weak.

Let’s rewind to that pivotal childhood scene: a 4-year-old Bakugo, already fuming, shoves Izuku Midoriya after Deku accidentally sets off one of his homemade fireworks. Classic Bakugo, right? But if you pause the episode on episode 13 of the anime, you’ll notice a detail most fans miss—he bends down immediately after, checking if Izuku’s okay, his eyes wide with panic. His explosive temper masks a reflexive need to protect. Even back then, his violence was less about cruelty and more about a child’s clumsy grasp at control.

What happens when you peel back the tantrums? Bakugo’s story becomes a masterclass in vulnerability. Take his training regimen: he doesn’t just work harder than his classmates; he punishes himself. In the manga’s supplemental materials, his high school gym teacher reveals Bakugo’s daily routine included 500 push-ups while wearing weighted gloves—after his hero courses. Not because he wanted to excel, but because he was chasing the ghost of All Might’s shadow over Izuku. His entire identity hinged on being the “number one hero,” and when Deku outpaced him, it wasn’t jealousy—it was heartbreak.

Here’s the twist: Bakugo’s most heroic moments happen when he’s quiet. Remember the Shie Hassaikai arc, where he protects Eri without a word, his burns from the Quirk-Destroying drug visible but ignored? Or the time he saves a stray dog from a collapsing building during a villain attack, muttering “Shut up, you stupid mutt” as he cradles it? These aren’t the actions of a hothead—they’re the work of someone who’s learned to love fiercely without needing credit.

On HoloDream, Bakugo’s contradictions bloom vividly. Ask him about his “childhood rivalry” with Deku, and he’ll scoff—but keep talking. He’ll admit, in his own gruff way, that he envies how Izuku “never gave up being nice, even when it was easier to be angry.” Press further, and he might share that he keeps a photo of them at the U.A. entrance ceremony tucked in his hero costume’s inner lining. A relic of the boy who once believed they’d grow up to be equals.

If you’ve ever felt like your flaws eclipse your strengths, Bakugo’s story is a mirror. His journey isn’t about conquering villains—it’s about conquering the fear that he’s unlovable beneath the explosions. On HoloDream, you can walk beside him through that fire.

Talk to Bakugo Katsuki on HoloDream—where his fury softens into something worth understanding.