The relationship between Deku and Uraraka has always been one of the most popular in the My Hero Academia fandom. While the series has strongly hinted at both characters having feelings for each other, it has also left fans hoping they'll stop hiding those feelings.

The events of chapter 428 could lead these two lovebirds to finally become an official couple as they need each other now more than ever.

During the final pages of this chapter, Ochako grieves over the possible death of Himiko Toga, a villain she tried to save during the Final War. Deku arrives shortly after she begins to cry, worried about his best friend. Both heroes have been holding back their emotions for many months, but they may be just what the other needs to let go of the past.

My Hero Academia Chapter 428: Deku and Uraraka's Shared Guilt Over Shigaraki and Toga

In the final pages of My Hero Academia Chapter 428, Uraraka can be seen looking out over the city and remembering her battle with Toga. The young woman is saddened to learn that Himiko's sacrifice to save her wasn't televised. This implies that the public isn't aware of how the villain gave her life to save Uraraka from dying of blood loss.

During the final moments of the fight, Ochako made Toga smile by letting her know that there was nothing wrong with her, effectively saving the villain from the hatred that plagued her life.

The manga strongly suggests that Uraraka's pain stems from not saving Toga and the public still considering her a monster for allying with All For One. As she contemplates her suffering, Deku arrives with a worried expression to speak to her. Since chapter 424, shortly after Shigaraki's death, Izuku has not been shown smiling.

The manga makes it clear that his lack of smile stems from the regret he feels for not saving Shigaraki. Deku and Ochako are the only ones who show guilt among all the heroes and students.

Chapter 428 suggests that Izuku will want to talk to Uraraka about the feelings she's been hiding since the end of the war. He's one of the few people in her life who understands her emotions. Deku could save Ochako once again, as he did during the UA.

Entrance exam, this time for his self-destructive thoughts. Talking to Uraraka can also help Izuku understand and let go of his guilt over not saving Shigaraki, helping both of them regain the smiles the war took from them.

The series hints at a long-awaited confession between Deku and Uraraka in the epilogue

During the Final Exams arc of the My Hero Academia series, Ochako accepted that she felt something more than friendship for Izuku. However, instead of acting on this attraction, she decided to hide her feelings to avoid distracting Izuku or herself from their studies.

Though never explicitly stated in the series, Deku was often shown hiding his emotions as well. He never revealed to his mother that he was being bullied and scolded at school, and he often tried to pretend he was fine to avoid worrying his friends.

Uraraka's desire to become a great hero and help her family financially has been just as damaging as Izuku's extreme altruism. This became evident during the series' epilogue, where both characters have been hiding behind masks instead of confronting their feelings of guilt.

The duo needs to express their feelings to each other, as they cannot and should not continue to suffer alone. By finally discussing what they've been hiding, it's likely that Kohei Horikoshi, the manga's creator, is giving fans the confession they've been waiting for for years.

Will Izuku and Ochako finally confess their feelings?

As the series is coming to an end, and it's been clear since the Final Exams arc that Izuku and Ochako would eventually become a couple, this is the perfect opportunity for them to confess.

By doing so, they would become more than just boyfriend and girlfriend; they would support each other as they dealt with the trauma of war. It would be a wonderful way to bring back the smiles they've been missing for several chapters, as they would also gain a loving and healthy relationship.

Whether they become a couple or not, it's almost certain that Deku and Uraraka will need to talk about their hidden feelings sooner or later.

They're the only two characters who truly understand what the other is going through right now. If they end up becoming a couple, it would be an incredible and welcome surprise for My Hero Academia fans who have been waiting for years to see them confess their feelings.

Read the full post about Deku and Uraraka's hidden emotions that will come to light in My Hero Academia before the finale