What Are The Best Monoma X Fanfiction Stories To Read?

Any discussion about Monoma from 'My Hero Academia' fanfiction is basically incomplete without mentioning the Kendo ship. It's wild how much fic there is for a pairing with so little direct screen time, but I think it works because their dynamic is inherently fic-friendly. We see them as classmates and they're often framed as a complementary pair—her grounded practicality versus his chaotic theatrics. Writers get to explore that 'opposites attract' tension and build a whole relationship from the ground up, which is way more fun than just rehashing canon moments. It's a ship built entirely in the gaps, which is honestly the most satisfying kind to read. I've also seen a weirdly persistent amount of Monoma/Bakugou content, especially on AO3. It's not for everyone, but the appeal is obvious: explosive ego meets copycat ego. The fics usually go for a rivals-to-lovers or even enemies-to-lovers angle, with a lot of verbal sparring that eventually melts into something grudgingly affectionate. It's a very specific flavor of angst and aggression that a certain segment of the fandom seems to crave. Monoma/Shinsou is another niche but growing one. The 'quirks aren't everything' shared trauma angle gives it a melancholic, understanding vibe that's a total mood shift from his other ships. You don't get bombastic fights, you get quiet conversations in empty common rooms at 3 AM, which is my personal catnip.

The dynamic between Kendo and Monoma in 'My Hero Academia' is such a goldmine for fanfiction writers—his chaotic energy against her grounded leadership creates endless sparks. One standout is 'Fierce Rivalry, Tender Hearts,' where their competitive banter slowly morphs into something deeper during a joint training camp. The author nails Monoma’s theatrics without making him a caricature, and Kendo’s patience feels authentic, not passive. The slow burn is agonizingly good, with Class 1-B’s antics as a hilarious backdrop. Another gem is 'Copycat’s Gambit,' which reimagines their relationship post-war arc. Monoma’s vulnerability beneath the bravado gets explored in a way the anime barely hints at, and Kendo’s role as his emotional anchor is beautifully written. The fight scenes are crisp, too—you can practically hear Monoma’s smug quips mid-battle. Both fics balance humor and heart, making them must-reads for this pairing.

Monoma x crossover fics are this weird little corner of fandom that somehow works because his whole schtick is copying others. It’s like he was designed for crossovers, honestly. I usually just add his name to a general crossover search on Archive of Our Own. The tagging system there is messy but functional. For something more specific, I’ve had luck digging through Tumblr tags—people will sometimes reblog good finds with #monoma neito or #bnha crossover. It’s scattershot, though. You’ll find a lot of incomplete stuff and weird Power Ranger team-ups. My favorite is a surprisingly solid one where he ends up in the ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ universe and tries to copy cursed techniques. The author really ran with the logical limitations of his quirk in a new magic system. It’s on AO3, but I can’t remember the title. It wasn’t super popular, maybe a dozen kudos. Basically, you have to be willing to sift. There’s no centralized hub, so it’s a mix of AO3, occasional FF.net relics, and Tumblr link dumps. The pairing tag with 1-A students gets more traffic, but crossovers are a true niche hunt.

Monoma and Bakugou’s dynamic is such a goldmine for fanfiction—opposites attract, but with so much explosive energy. One of my absolute favorites is 'Copycat Symphony,' where Monoma’s quirk obsession clashes hilariously with Bakugou’s short fuse. The author nails their banter, making every interaction crackle with tension. It’s got a slow burn that feels earned, not forced, and the side characters from Class 1-B and 1-A pop in just enough to keep the world feeling alive. Another gem is 'Mirror, Mirror,' which flips the script by having Monoma copy Bakugou’s quirk during a joint training exercise gone wrong. The identity crisis that follows is both hilarious and weirdly deep. The writer really understands how Monoma’s insecurity and Bakugou’s arrogance could actually complement each other, if they’d just stop yelling for five seconds.

Well, that's a pretty niche ship to ask about! Monoma's kind of a polarizing character, so you really have to know where to look. The vast majority of his content lives on Archive of Our Own, no question. The tagging system there is your best friend—search 'Neito Monoma' and then filter by relationships. You'll find a ton of Monoma/Class 1-A pairings, with Bakugou and Midoriya being huge. The real surprise lately has been Monoma/Shinsou content booming, especially since their rivalry has so much 'enemies to something more' potential. Don't sleep on specific 'My Hero Academia' fanfiction subreddits either. They often have dedicated threads or links for rare pair requests, and that's where you might stumble onto a writer who specializes in Monoma-centric stuff. Tumblr's fandom tags are still weirdly active for art and fic snippets that point back to AO3 or personal writing blogs. It's less organized, but sometimes you'll find a hidden multi-chapter fic hosted on someone's Tumblr sideblog that never got cross-posted. Honestly, Wattpad feels pretty sparse for him; most writers there seem more focused on the core trio. If you're deep in the ship, your home base is absolutely AO3, with Reddit acting as a decent bulletin board for new finds.

Genres built around rivalry really let Monoma's dynamic with, well, anyone shine. I'm thinking of those alternate universe settings where everyone's powers are reimagined—maybe as supernatural gifts or advanced tech. In a modern magic AU, watching Monoma try to copy spells through sheer intellect and arrogance, only to be repeatedly thwarted by someone whose power is innate, writes itself. The tension isn't just about winning a fight; it's about fundamentally different philosophies on talent. Found family stories can flip the script on him too. Imagine a scenario where he's reluctantly forced into a team after a disaster, and his copy quirk is the only way to temporarily 'borrow' a fallen comrade's ability to honor them. The emotional weight of him using a power that isn't his, for a purpose bigger than his ego, creates a fascinating internal conflict. He starts as the insufferable outsider but slowly earns a place, his mockery becoming a weird form of affection. Hurt/comfort is another obvious one, but I prefer when the 'hurt' is psychological. Monoma's whole shtick is a performance. A genre that deconstructs that—maybe a mystery or a psychological thriller where he has to copy the quirks of victims to solve a crime—forces him to drop the act. The relationship develops through shared vulnerability, not through trading barbs in a training exercise. That feels more substantive to me than the usual sparring-to-lovers track.

Okay, so this is actually a pairing that's super hit-or-miss for me. The most popular storyline, hands down, is the classic 'Villain Deku / Vigilante Deku' angle. Monoma gets looped in because his copy quirk is either a perfect foil or a horrifying mirror for a Izuku who's gone off the deep end. There's a lot of 'Class 1-A Betrayal' fics where Deku leaves UA after some massive injustice, and Monoma, of all people, is the one from the rival class who sees the truth and offers a hand. It's a great setup for exploring Monoma's supposed arrogance as a cover for his own insecurities, and having him recognize those same feelings in a spiraling Izuku. Another massive trope is the 'Quirkless Deku' AU, but with a twist: Monoma copies a quirk and gives it to Deku, either by accident or on purpose, sparking a whole weird dependency or partnership. It's less common than the villain arc, but it's got a dedicated following. Honestly, a lot of the fics I've clicked on end up being kinda repetitive—same angst, same betrayal plot beats. The ones that stand out are the rare fluff pieces where their rivalry just slowly melts into begrudging study sessions and then something more. Those are harder to find, but they feel like a real breath of fresh air when you stumble on them. I guess the appeal is really in the contrast—the loud, performative rival versus the quiet, determined one—and seeing how that tension bends without breaking. Makes for some interesting character studies when the writer bothers to dig deeper than the surface-level animosity.

The Monoma x Midoriya dynamic always struck me as having this weird, untapped potential for a redemption arc that actually feels earned. A lot of fics that pit rivals together just have them bicker until they kiss, but for Monoma, it's different. His whole deal is this desperate, performative need to prove Class B is just as good, which masks a deeper insecurity. A writer who really gets that can use a pairing—especially with someone like Midoriya, whose whole identity is wrapped up in earnest self-improvement—to force Monoma to strip away the act. I've seen a few stories where the catalyst isn't romance, but a shared injury or a forced team-up where their usual methods fail. Monoma's copy quirk is literally about temporary adaptation, which becomes a metaphor for his personality. Watching him realize that mimicking Izuku's persistence won't work, that he has to build something of his own, is where the growth lives. The best ones don't erase his theatrics; they refine them into a genuine confidence that doesn't need to put others down. Ending with him finally giving a compliment that isn't backhanded feels like a bigger victory than any confession scene.

Monoma Neito just screams ‘powerful inferiority complex wrapped in performative arrogance,’ doesn’t he? A lot of stories I’ve clicked through lean hard into that. There’s this recurring beat where his compulsive need to prove himself—to be seen as more than just a copycat—clashes with a partner’s genuine, quiet admiration. It creates a push-pull dynamic that writers love to mine for angst or, surprisingly, for really soft hurt/comfort moments. You also see a ton of ‘rivals to lovers’ frameworks, but it’s less about physical competition and more about intellectual and emotional one-upmanship. The tension often comes from him misreading someone’s straightforward kindness as pity, which triggers his defensive theatrics. The emotional payoff usually involves him slowly, reluctantly accepting that he can be valued for his own mind, not just his Quirk. Some fics go darker, exploring the isolation and resentment that might fester in 1-A’s shadow, while others are pure fluff about him being secretly thrilled when someone actually enjoys his dramatic presentations. The common thread is a deep craving for recognition, twisted through his particular brand of theatrical pride.

Those two have such a fascinating dynamic in fan works because their core motivations are actually weirdly similar? They're both driven by this desperate need to prove something—Monoma wants to show Class B is just as good as Class A, and Izuku wants to prove he deserves to be a hero at all. That shared intensity gets twisted into this beautiful, messy rivalry-turned-obsession in fic. Where the exploration really shines, though, is in how their methods clash. Monoma's all about borrowed strength, performance, and psychological warfare. Izuku's raw power, analysis, and earnest determination. I've read fics where Monoma starts out trying to 'break' Deku just to prove a point, only to get completely blindsided by Izuku's genuine, unshakeable kindness. The contrast isn't just for conflict; it becomes a mirror. Monoma sees his own insecurities reflected back, but without the bitterness he coats his in. Some authors flip it, too. There's a whole subset of stories where Monoma's copying quirk lets him understand One For All's physical toll on a visceral level, creating this unexpected empathy. He becomes the only person who truly gets what that power feels like in the moment, which is a connection even Bakugou doesn't have. That shift from contempt to a grudging, specific respect is where their personalities really get unpacked.