Recently, the My Hero Academia manga series has followed the conflict between Izuku Midoriya and Tomura Shigaraki. The hopeful hero and leading villain have the center of attention from their peers and readers alike. However, the ending of chapter #288 (titled Save Takeo!!) brings back a familiar rivalry between Ochaco Uraraka and Himiko Toga.
The two first fought in chapter #80 (Establishing the Bakugo Bodyguard Brigade) after Toga was tasked with draining the blood from three of the young heroes. Toga's quirk (called Transform) allows her to turn herself into a lookalike through their blood, which she can do easily by using a machine she carries with her. The lunatic League of Villains member finds Uraraka and fellow class 1-A student Tsuyu Asui in the woods. The three fight, but Uraraka eventually pins down Toga using her newfound martial arts skills. While it seems Toga has been apprehended, the villain stabs Uraraka, draining some of her blood before making her escape.
Now, the two find themselves facing off against each other once again. Mid-conflict, an emotional Toga takes off to find Uraraka and Asui, saying she has a question that needs to be asked. She manages to catch Uraraka off guard by transforming into an older woman before leading her away, settling for only one half of the duo she initially hoped to catch. The two end up in an abandoned house, where Toga pins down Uraraka and confesses some confusing feelings. She asks, "What would you like to do with me?" while holding a knife against her. The question goes unanswered by Uraraka, who expresses that she will arrest Toga should she get in her way.
The chapter ends with this strong declaration from Uraraka. The hero's disdain for Toga has boiled to the surface and is showing clearer than ever before. The idea that Toga may have killed a woman just to speak with her pushes Uraraka over the edge. This may be the breaking point for one (or both) of them, but it does not seem like the fight between them is over just yet. So, if an all-out battle does ensue, who would be expected to come out on top.
Both girls have proven they are strong fighters, despite often being underestimated. Their quirks could not be more different, but both prove to be incredibly powerful. Just looking at the fighting skills, one would most likely place their bets with Uraraka. Her martial arts skills allowed her to overpower Toga once before. Since she has only improved her skills since then, she may have the upper hand. However, Toga does have an advantage over Uraraka. She understands her on an emotional level, which may come from projecting her own feelings for Midoriya onto her rival. During their first fight, Toga distracted Uraraka by bringing to light the hero's crush. Toga often finds herself driven by love and infatuation, while Uraraka tries to push those feelings aside. Manipulating the hero through her emotions may be the key to preventing Uraraka from arresting her.
In the end, the end result of a fight between them would come down to each individual's ability to use their own strength to their advantage. Uraraka's precise fighting skills have more intention than Toga's impulsive style. However, Toga's ability to read emotion and get inside another's head has allowed her to get the better of Uraraka in the past. Nothing keeps her from being able to do the same in this fight. Both have teams waiting for them to come back, whether that be the 1-A students or the League of Villains, but a full-fledged fight between them may leave one team waiting indefinitely. My Hero Academia #288 is out now.