Warning! Spoilers for My Hero Academia chapter 323 ahead!
Class 1-A student Ochako Oraraka just made the case in the latest chapter of My Hero Academia that the only way Deku can survive—and surpass All Might—is if he receives help from civilians. This stunning plea comes during a dark time as an angry mob blocks Deku from seeking refuge at U.A. High.
For the last few chapters, Deku has sought the villain All For One on his own after leaving the safety of U.A. High to protect his friends and everyone staying there. The young hero knows that All For One wants his quirk and that everyone around him is in mortal danger. The students of class 1-A later learn where Deku has gone and, after subsequent failures, finally bring the tired Deku back with them to U.A. High. But the civilians staying there have just made it abundantly clear that they don't want him there despite the efforts of class 1-A.
By chapter 323, the fear that has gripped the people of Japan has now reached a breaking point. They know that Tomura Shigaraki is looking for Deku and therefore don't want him anywhere near them. They have already left the comfort of their own homes for protection, so why should they invite additional danger after having made all of these other sacrifices? The heroes try to reason with the angry crowd that they need to keep Deku safe because he's their greatest asset. But their pleas fall on deaf ears. The panicked mob tells them that the lawlessness that has descended upon Japan is their own fault and that they need to protect their asset without putting them at any more risk.
After hearing enough of this, Ochako Oraraka uses her anti-gravity quirk to float up to a high building with a megaphone and tries to appeal to the people's hearts. She reveals that Deku might be their greatest asset, but it's only because he possesses a special ability. Deku himself isn't special, she says, and that should he not be allowed to stay at the school, he will die. But if everyone helps him, then he has the potential of becoming a greater hero than All Might. Ochako Oraraka also makes the case that Deku originally left to protect everyone and that he tried to stay away for as long as he could even though it put his own life in jeopardy.
The people's fear could very well be greater than their own humanity, which would normally allow them to feel compassion and empathy for a boy who has been shouldered with an incredible burden, even though he might not be strong enough to face this responsibility alone. Although it would be a heartwarming turn of events if Deku is allowed to stay at U.A. High even if it puts everyone's lives at risk, the story would undoubtedly suffer as a result. The vast majority of the series has already transpired at U.A. High, and Deku's departure was a breath of fresh air even though the old formula was entertaining. But one thing is clear: whether or not Ochako Oraraka's plea appeals to the mob or falls on deaf ears, it's clear that Deku's very life and his ability to become more powerful than All Might are all contingent on the citizens of Japan in My Hero Academia.