You Can Hate Endeavor, But My Hero Academia’s Worst Marriage Goes to Someone Else

There is no denying that Enji and Rei, Shoto Todoroki’s parents, have one of the most unhealthy and problematic relationships in the My Hero Academia universe. Their problematic Quirk marriage is plagued by physical and emotional abuse at the hands of Endeavor and his poorly controlled temper, creating a horrible living environment that negatively impacts the entire Todoroki family.

Although Enji and Rei’s marriage is inarguably disastrous, there is actually another relationship in the series that is even more awful. Pro Hero Hawks’ parents, Tomie and Takami, experienced an even worse marriage than Enji and Rei. Their marriage was not built on love, but came about due to obligation, and was filled with horrific abuse and pain that took a tremendous toll on Hawks during his formative years.

Hawks’ Parents Experienced an Even More Toxic Marriage Than the Todorokis

Takami and Tomie’s Marriage Was Doomed From the Very Beginning

Hawks’ father, known as Takami, was a criminal and one day, his crimes escalated to him committing murder. After he killed someone, Takami realized he needed to go into hiding to evade suspicion, and at this time, he met Tomie, Hawks’ mother, by chance. Tomie was willing to take Takami in and keep him hidden from authorities, using her powerful Quirk to protect him. During their time lying low, romance blossomed between the pair. Quickly, Tomie became pregnant with a child, Keigo Takami, who would grow up to be the Pro Hero Hawks later in My Hero Academia.

“I knew my parents were broken inside.” – Hawks

Neither Tomie nor Takami were ready to have a child, and Takami grew resentful shortly after Keigo’s birth, stating “if only that little punk’d never been born!” Any affection between the pair quickly evaporated with the birth of Hawks, once Takami and Tomie realized they were now joined together, like it or not. Keigo’s childhood was very abnormal, as he was not allowed to have fun or play outside often like ordinary children, since Takami was so worried he would be caught and convicted of his crimes. Takami started to take out his anger on Keigo and Tomie, and their marriage grew even more miserable.

Tomie and Takami Only Stayed Together Out of Obligation, Not Love

The Horrible Relationship Only Ended With Takami’s Arrest by the Pro Hero, Endeavor

Neither parent treated Keigo well. Takami constantly shouted at Keigo and even beat him at times, threatening him if he dared to tell the authorities what Takami had done. He also abused his wife, Tomie, in similar ways, because he was so afraid she would inadvertently cause his arrest. Takami’s paranoia caused him to trap Keigo and Tomie in the house as much as possible, making the entire family depressed. The house itself was in terrible condition, filled with trash, and the unhappy living conditions only exacerbated the issues in Tomie and Takami’s already rapidly deteriorating marriage.

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Tomie did a handful of nice gestures for Keigo, including buying him a doll of the Pro Hero, Endeavor. However, these few kind acts do not negate the fact that she continually allowed Takami to abuse the young child, turned a blind eye to his mistreatment, and often ignored Keigo herself. Confusingly, Takami and Tomie did not separate, even though no love existed between them. They felt tied together due to their child, and Takami knew that Tomie was aware of his crimes, so he could not escape without her potentially turning him in to the police. Their marriage continued in misery until Takami was finally arrested.

The Takami Marriage Never Received a Happy Ending or Any Kind of Resolution

All Three Family Members Split Apart Forever: Takami in Jail, Tomie on Her Own, and Keigo as a Pro Hero

While Enji and Rei Todoroki’s marriage was indeed filled with pain and deep-seated issues, at the end of My Hero Academia, Endeavor began working hard to change his behavior and mend his broken relationship with Rei. The Takami couple never had any kind of resolution like this though, and their story ultimately ended in despair and finality. Ironically, considering Keigo’s admiration for him throughout his childhood, Endeavor was the Pro Hero who finally brought Takami to justice and removed Keigo from his terrible circumstances. Now, Tomie and Keigo were alone, and had to support one another in their uncertain new lives without Takami.

Tomie was lost without Takami at first, because although their marriage was abusive, he was all she had known for so long. Their relationship left both her and Keigo with long-lasting trauma. Eventually, Hawks completely left his childhood and old life behind, paving a new successful path as a Pro Hero, but his upbringing left him with emotional wounds. Tomie did convey some remorse for her actions to Hawks when villains threatened her, leaving one last note addressed to Keigo expressing her regret for the way their relationship turned out and stating “I’m so very proud of you.”

Takami and Tomie’s Marriage Made Hawks’ Journey Much More Difficult

The Takami family never made amends or began working towards a healthier dynamic. Instead, the family members just drifted apart from one another. Tomie went off on her own, resigned to a life without seeing Keigo rather than accidentally harm him further, Takami went to prison, and Hawks became an established Pro Hero, training under the Hero Public Safety Commission. At the end of My Hero Academia, Endeavor gets a redemption arc, beginning to apologize to his wife and children and unpack the ways his negative behavior affected his loved ones, with plans to do better in the future.

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Takami never changed though, from what My Hero Academia showed audiences. The family was permanently broken and separated, and the family members were left to deal with the trauma on their own. While there is some hope for the Todoroki family in the final moments of the story, as many members of the family begin gradually working to heal together from the harm Endeavor caused, the Takami family story only ended in sorrow. Hawks may have built an admirable life for himself as a hero, but it was not without obstacles, and his parents’ unhealthy marriage played a major factor in the struggles he faced in My Hero Academia.

My Hero Academia

Movie(s)

My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (2018), My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019), My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission (2021)

First Film

My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (2018)

Cast

Daiki Yamashita, Kenta Miyake, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Ayane Sakura, Yûki Kaji, Aoi Yuki, Kaito Ishikawa, Toshiki Masuda, Marina Inoue, Yoshimasa Hosoya

TV Show(s)

My Hero Academia

Character(s)

Izuku Midoriya, All Might, Katsuki Bakugo, Ochaco Uraraka, Shoto Todoroki, Tsuyu Asui, Tenya Iida, Eijiro Kirishima, Momo Yaoyorozu, Fumikage Tokoyami

Video Game(s)

My Hero Academia: Battle for All, My Hero One’s Justice, My Hero One’s Justice 2

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