The Purpose of Kirishima’s Hero Costume

To people who are making fun of Kirishima for being topless, please know that Kirishima has to keep as much skin exposed as possible for practical reasons.

For one thing, his skin can sharpen and expand, ripping any clothing it comes in contact with. You can see that here down below when his sleeves (and pants) get ripped up due to his hardening.

Keep in mind also, this hardened skin is an effective weapon and armor. It can injure enemies it comes in contact with. However, his hardening becomes less effective as a weapon when it’s covered. Kirishima wears sleeves so that he doesn’t injure civilians with his hardening when he carries them. By contrast, if he wants his hardening to be an effective weapon and armor, he needs to have his hardened skin exposed.

The manga makes it clear that any clothes Kirishima wears will get shredded!

Now, some fans may wonder why his pants don’t get ripped up. Well…

1. His pants sometimes does get ripped up. Kirishima expects it to, which is why the fabric of his pants is more beat up.

2. He doesn’t harden and sharpen his lower body as much as his upper body.

3. His pants are loose-fitting, baggy, and made out of more durable material to prevent ripping. Unfortunately, this also means his legs won’t make a good sharpened weapon.

Look at this image in chapter 90. Kirishima has to roll up his sleeves to use the hardening on his arms, and his sleeves still get ripped.

Kirishima doesn’t walk around topless because he enjoys it. He’s not some sort of exhibitionist. He does it so that he can use his Quirk without anything holding him back. It’s common knowledge that Momo needs to have her skin exposed to use her Quirk, and this same rule applies to Kirishima as well, if not moreso. His classmates don’t bat an eye at Kirishima walking around topless because they understand he has to for practical reasons.

For the winter, Kirishima needs to somehow get a costume that won’t rip, won’t make his hardening less effective, and still keep him warm.