My Hero Academia chapter 426: Shoto, Toya, and the Todoroki family's story concluded as Spinner gets an unknown visitor

Following the tease from the final panels of the manga’s previous release, My Hero Academia chapter 426 was understandably expected to focus on Shoto and the Todoroki family. Officially released earlier this weekend, the latest installment in author and illustrator Kohei Horikoshi’s original My Hero Academia manga series did indeed give focus to the Todorokis.

However, My Hero Academia chapter 426 didn’t exclusively focus on the Todoroki family, using the focus on them to include other characters relevant to their storylines, such as Hawks. The issue also concluded with a key setup for the subsequent release, seemingly confirming that the “new character” fans have seen is someone they’re all too familiar with.

My Hero Academia chapter 426 all but confirms Shigaraki’s survival via an unknown visitor for Spinner

My Hero Academia chapter 426: Too little, too late?

The Todoroki family fully reunites in My Hero Academia chapter 426's opening pages (Image via BONES)

My Hero Academia chapter 426 opens up with a focus on Fuyumi and Natsuo Todoroki. Both are shown to have slight burns on their bodies while telling their mother, Rei, that she doesn’t need to come. Rei, who is burned much worse than they are, says the same goes for them two. Enji, also known as Endeavor, interrupts and says Rei doesn’t need to come either. It’s revealed he’s covered in bandages due to his burns and is also in a wheelchair.

Shoto then arrives, saying that, like all of them, he wasn’t brought here by a sense of duty but something else. As the focus shifts to reveal the five Todoroki family members standing before Dabi/Toya Todoroki, who is in a tank-like life support system, an attendant confirms he can only speak for a few minutes a day. The attendant also adds that in Toya’s current state, he is slowly but surely heading towards death.

My Hero Academia chapter 426 sees Shoto and Dabi glare at each other before Dabi comments on how they’re all coming out of the woodwork like he’s a tourist attraction. Rei tries to speak, but Enji interrupts her, saying he’s here to discuss what’s to come. He then says he’s retiring as a Pro Hero, which was his plan even before the war started, but reveals the fact that he can no longer walk on his own has cemented this.

Endeavor's current status is confirmed early on in My Hero Academia chapter 426 (Image via BONES)

He then says the Pro Hero Endeavor burned to death thanks to Dabi’s flames truly being stronger than his own. Dabi sarcastically offers his condolences before ridiculing Endeavor for essentially doing too little, too late. Endeavor says he’s right and knows everything about him since he has always watched him from afar. Endeavor recognizes that Toya wanted him to do the same but didn’t.

My Hero Academia chapter 426 then sees Endeavor say that Toya’s flames come from his own heat no matter what anyone says, revealing he’s been rewatching the indictment video daily. Endeavor then says he will visit daily from now on, and they should talk likewise.

A panel showing a still wheelchair-bound but bandageless Endeavor speaks to a standing and relatively well-off Toya appears (although he’s still missing some limbs). Toya also still has his Dabi scars. Dabi says nothing, prompting Endeavor to say he knows it’s too late. The attendant then comments on his increasing heart rate, suggesting this is too big a burden right now.

My Hero Academia chapter 426: Change and rebirth

Shoto and Dabi/Toya have an incredibly touching moment in My Hero Academia chapter 426 (Image via BONES)

My Hero Academia chapter 426 sees Enji ignore the attendant here, instead telling the others they should make good use of the extra time Shoto gave them with Dabi. Likewise, he invites Dabi to hate him or throw other emotions at him while Dabi silently observes. Fuyumi and Rei share sentiments similar to Dabi’s heart rate increases, prompting the attendant to say that’s enough for today.

Shoto, however, has one last question for Dabi, asking him what his favorite food is. Dabi doesn’t answer, prompting Shoto and the others to begin leaving, but he eventually says soba, which prompts Shoto to respond by saying it’s the same for him. Dabi then remembers what Shoto said to him during their fight about their paths crossing, whether he likes it or not, causing Dabi to cry and apologize to Shoto specifically as the Todorokis leave.

My Hero Academia chapter 426 then cuts to the Todorokis outside, where Natsuo says goodbye to Endeavor and says he won’t see him ever again. He furthers that he’ll be marrying his girlfriend and starting a family with her which Endeavor won’t ever meet. Endeavor accepts this and apologizes once more as Fuyumi discusses her new job and how supportive one of her student’s mothers is in that area.

My Hero Academia chapter 426 makes it clear that Natsuo's hate for Endeavor has wavered somewhat from recent events (Image via BONES)

Natsuo then tells Endeavor he has fulfilled his responsibility and has been punished enough, asking why he can’t just stop now. Endeavor responds that while Natsuo doesn’t have to watch, Endeavor will continue to apologize and give reparations for the rest of his life. He adds that he’ll make sure he’s the only one anyone can blame, asserting that if there’s a reason he survived, protecting his children’s futures is it.

My Hero Academia chapter 426 sees Natsuo say it’ll be hell on Earth, to which Endeavor says he’s the one who created this situation in the first place. Natsuo responds that this is the first time he’s ever thought Endeavor was cool as he gives Shoto and Fuyumi a ride to where they’re going. As they leave, Shoto yells out to his parents that he has Class A by his side and will be fine. He is also on the path to becoming who he wants to be.

As they depart, Endeavor’s sidekicks arrive, prompting Rei to tell Enji that people are looking out for them, even if it's hell. She shows him his phone, which reveals Hawks asking how things went and what he can do to help. This seemingly causes Endeavor to smile as he looks up at her.

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My Hero Academia chapter 426 then shifts focus to Hawks and Lady Nagant, where the former is shocked to hear the latter doesn’t want to leave prison despite having permission to do so. Speaking to him from a cell, Nagant says the outside world still scares her, as does the prospect of being used again.

Hawks laments wanting her help with so many things, but she responds that they first need to watch and see how society reacts to what Izuku Midoriya showed them during the final war. She then jokes about taxpayers feeding her for a little longer, prompting Hawks to stick his tongue out and call her a villain. The focus then shifts to outside the prison, where Gentle Criminal and La Brava reunite as free citizens thanks to their contributions to the final war.

My Hero Academia chapter 426 then sees Hawks walking by, reading texts from Rei saying they’re fine while thinking how tough they are. They then comment on Hawks going through a lot as the new, young president of the Hero Public Safety Commission. The issue ends with Hawks wondering how things will change while making a phone call, as an unknown person seemingly visits a hospitalized Spinner.

My Hero Academia chapter 426: In summation

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Unsurprisingly, My Hero Academia chapter 426’s greatest strength lies in its conclusion of the general Todoroki family’s storyline and the various individual relationships and plots within. Each and every member of the Todoroki family is given a satisfying ultimate conclusion here, especially Endeavor, whose devotion to penance pays off in ways he and his fans never thought possible.

The issue also does a great job of establishing where the epilogue is headed next in its final panels, which is likely to be a recurring trend throughout these closing stages. Likewise, it seems fans will finally get an answer on who this “new” character is and whether or not it’s Tomura Shigaraki in the next issue.