One of the most emotional moments in My Hero Academia occurs when Shota Aizawa and Present Mic attempt to reach the consciousness hidden inside Kurogiri. What initially appears to be a simple confrontation between heroes and a villain quickly becomes a tragic reunion involving their deceased friend, Oboro Shirakumo. The scene reveals that Kurogiri is far more than a loyal servant of All For One and Tomura Shigaraki.
For years, Aizawa and Present Mic believed Shirakumo was gone forever after his death during their student days. However, the discovery that his body had been transformed into the Nomu known as Kurogiri changed everything. Their attempts to awaken Shirakumo become one of the most personal battles in the series. Kurogiri’s eventual response to them raises important questions about identity, memory, and whether the real Shirakumo still exists beneath All For One’s programming. Let’s break down exactly how Kurogiri responds to Aizawa and Present Mic and what it means for the story.
Kurogiri Is Actually Oboro Shirakumo
Before understanding Kurogiri’s reaction, it is important to understand who he truly is. During the My Hero Academia: Vigilantes storyline and later in the main manga, it is revealed that Kurogiri was created using the corpse of Oboro Shirakumo, a close friend of Aizawa and Present Mic. After Shirakumo died in a tragic accident, his body was secretly taken and used in All For One’s Nomu experiments.
Although Kurogiri developed a completely different personality, traces of Shirakumo remained buried within him. This revelation explains why Aizawa and Present Mic become determined to save him rather than simply defeat him. They are not just fighting a villain. They are trying to reach a friend they lost years ago.
The emotional weight of this discovery turns Kurogiri into one of the most tragic characters in the series. He exists between two identities, neither fully Shirakumo nor fully the artificial being created by All For One.
When Kurogiri is captured, Aizawa and Present Mic attempt to trigger Shirakumo’s memories by reminding him of their shared past. They speak directly to the friend they once knew, hoping that emotional memories can break through the conditioning placed on him.
For a brief moment, their efforts appear successful. Kurogiri’s expression changes, and fragments of Shirakumo’s personality begin surfacing. This is one of the clearest signs that the original person still exists somewhere inside him. However, the process is incomplete.
Rather than fully becoming Shirakumo again, Kurogiri experiences an identity conflict. The memories of his old life clash with his programmed role as Tomura Shigaraki’s protector. This internal struggle becomes central to his eventual response.
Why Kurogiri Responds to Both Heroes and Spinner
The decisive moment occurs during the Final War Arc when both Present Mic and Spinner attempt to reach Kurogiri at the same time. Spinner desperately wants Kurogiri to help save Shigaraki, while Present Mic wants his old friend to return. According to discussions surrounding Chapter 373, Kurogiri’s response appears to acknowledge both calls simultaneously.
After being exposed to Shigaraki’s severed hand and Spinner’s plea, Kurogiri awakens and declares that he is “the protector of Tomura Shigaraki.” However, his appearance noticeably changes as parts of Shirakumo’s face become visible. This suggests that his response is not purely Kurogiri speaking.
Many readers interpreted this scene as evidence that Shirakumo and Kurogiri are merging rather than one identity completely replacing the other. The remnants of Shirakumo’s heroic instincts remain active, but they are expressed through Kurogiri’s mission to protect Shigaraki.