My Hero Academia’s final databook has been released in Japan, and details from the new book are starting to be translated and making their way across the internet. One of the most interesting findings, however, has to do with the Quirk that Tomura Shigaraki, once known as Tenko Shimura, was born with.
It was revealed late inMy Hero Academia’s final battle that Decay was not Shigaraki’s original Quirk. In reality,Decay was a manufactured Quirk created by All for One, and it was deliberately given to young Tenko in order to cause a tragedy, after which All for One would swoop in and become the boy’s savior, earning his trust and respect. This dark plan worked flawlessly and helped turn Shigaraki into the monster that he is today. But fans couldn’t help but wonder: what Quirk was Shigaraki born with? Was he Quirkless before, or did he have some original Quirk stolen by All for One?
Shigaraki’s Original Quirk Was Used by All for One
All for One Didn’t Just Take Tenko’s Quirk, He Used It
According toearly reports on X (Formerly Twitter), All for One not only took the original Quirk that Tenko Shimura was born with, but he actually used it in the final battle. The Quirk in question is unnamed, but it produced a glowing ring around All for One’s feet, helping him to rocket through the sky as he raced the Rewind Drug to reach Shigaraki in time. It makes some sense that Tenko, the grandson of Nana Shimura, would also have a Quirk that has to do with levitation and flight.Based on what’s known about the Quirk, it seems to generate repulsor fields to push the user along.
Interestingly, this repulsor field element actually makes Tenko’s Quirk quite a bit similar tothe newMy Hero Academia: Vigilantesprotagonist Koichi Haimawari, who likewise uses repulsive forces to slide along the ground and up the side of buildings. It’s quite possible that Tenko’s Quirk could’ve had other applications which might be valuable, as Koichi eventually discovers about his own Quirk over the course ofVigilantes' story.
Shigaraki Got His Original Quirk Back, and Never Knew
When Shigaraki Received All for One, He Received His Own Quirk Back
It’s interesting to note that if All for One stole Tenko’s Quirk and kept it, then subsequently gave the original All for One Quirk to Shigaraki while keeping a duplicate for himself,that means Shigaraki actually did regain his original Quirk, although he was never really seen using it. One wonders how Shigaraki might’ve reacted to this knowledge, and what his life might’ve been like if he had kept his original Quirk. It’s quite possible that, with a Quirk like that, Tenko Shimura might’ve become a great hero like his grandmother.
There’s something especially dark about knowing that All for One used Tenko’s Quirk in the final battle, as if he was maximizing all the value he could extract from his “successor.” At least All for One’s use of the Quirk allowedMy Hero Academiafans to learn this secret, as heartbreakingly tragic as it may be.
