Sorahiko Torino

Sorahiko Torino, also known by his hero name Gran Torino (グラントリノ), was a retired Pro Hero, formerly a homeroom teacher at U.A. High School, and a mentor to Toshinori Yagi and Izuku Midoriya.

Ever since the Hideout Raid Arc, despite being retired he continued assisting the Police Force in investigating the League of Villains.

Appearance
Gran Torino was an extremely short, elderly man with heavy wrinkles and a scrawny built. He had a light complexion and yellow eyes. His hair is grey and spikey, styled short with some bangs hanging forward and a trimmed beard.

His hero costume consisted of a full-body monochrome suit along with a yellow cape, a belt with the letter "G" on it, very thick yellow gloves and boots, and a dark domino mask which resembles two diamonds.

In contrast with his now-extremely short and rather shriveled appearance, he was quite tall and handsome with a well-built physique in his younger days, having at least rivaled All Might's hero form in height. Gran Torino kept a similar appearance over his life down to his short grey hair; currently, he also wears a smaller version of the costume he wore in his younger years.

Personality
Initially, Gran Torino appeared to be a senile old man who constantly forgot and asked Izuku Midoriya's name, often calling him "Toshinori". Even though he was the one who sent Izuku the internship offer, he would often fail to recall Izuku's name for more than a moment. In reality, this proves to be nothing more than a façade for messing with his newfound protégé.

Gran Torino was actually a very intelligent man with an incredibly broad perception. He proved to be a far more capable teacher to Izuku in a mere week than All Might did in almost a year. He was able to read Izuku's progress and personality, just by watching him at the U.A. Sports Festival and indirectly taught him the first step to mastering One For All with a simple parallel between Izuku and his favorite dessert (taiyaki). His sharp mind was also evidenced when he was able to accurately predict All For One's strategy based solely on the media covering the aftermath of Hero Killer: Stain.

As a mentor, Gran Torino appeared to be very hard on his students. Every time All Might spoke about or to Gran Torino, he started freaking out and shake profusely because of his memories of their brutal training. Gran Torino also never hesitated to yell, berate, or hit Izuku for his mistakes. He also extended this to Toshinori who he reprimanded for not visiting him on occasion and telling him to keep his focus when he fights his enemy All for One for the last time. Nevertheless, he did not hesitate to praise his students when they deserved it such as when he complimented Izuku for his gradual skill with his power and when he complimented All Might's victory over All For One.

Abilities
Overall Abilities: Despite his old age, Gran Torino was a very powerful combatant. Gran Torino was the one who taught the world's number one hero All Might how to fight and use his Quirk. He is an excellent teacher and was wise enough to teach Izuku Midoriya on how to better use One For All as well.

Gran Torino was strong enough to defeat a low-tier Nomu with little aid from Endeavor, something several Pro Heroes could not manage to do. He was also capable of knocking out Dabi, Spinner, Magne, and Twice in an instant using single attacks. Gran Torino was also present at least two of the battles against All For One, and proved instrumental in helping All Might defeat the Symbol of Darkness in their rematch. Gran Torino was even able to defeat and arrest Kurogiri while fighting off Gigantomachia.
 * Enhanced Strength: Gran Torino possessed great physical strength, as he was able to knock out capable villains with quick blows. In his prime, he struck All Might so hard that the future symbol of peace vomited. This memory haunted the world's strongest hero for the rest of his life. Even in his old age, Gran Torino was also able to carry All Might's muscular form, as well as completely outclass Izuku in terms of strength. He was also able to fracture the pavement when he attacked a low-tier Nomu in Hosu.
 * Enhanced Durability: Gran Torino was quite durable, as he was able to remain conscious despite taking a direct punch from All Might. He also was at the center of the battle between All Might and All For One and escaped with only minor injuries.

Keen Intellect: Gran Torino taught both All Might and Izuku how to use One For All, despite never possessing the Quirk himself. In just under two days, Gran Torino taught Izuku what All Might had been trying to teach him for almost a year. Gran Torino was able to give All Might solid advice on how to defeat All For One as well.

Quirk
Jet (ジェット): Sorahiko's Quirk allowed him to shoot air from the holes on the soles of his feet. This gave him incredible speed and the ability to fly short distances. The air used for propulsion came from Sorahiko's breath.

Despite the flight capabilities his Quirk grants him, Gran Torino could not propel himself too far into the sky, revealing there’s a limit to how far he could propel himself.
 * Immense Speed: Gran Torino was one of the fastest heroes in the world. All Might claimed that Gran Torino could move faster than the eye can see and Izuku confirmed this during his fight with the speedy old man. Gran Torino's speed was so great that he could knock someone out before they could even see him. He was also able to easily evade attacks from enhanced creatures like the Nomu.

Equipment
Holed Boots: Gran Torino wore boots with a number of holes on the bottoms. This allowed him to use his Quirk without his footwear getting in the way.

Chapter Appearances

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Trivia

 * Gran Torino's name is most likely a reference to the  by the same name. In the film, Eastwood portrays the role of an elderly mentor for a teenage boy, teaching him how to be a man.
 * Gran Torino's favorite food is taiyaki, and he enjoys oversleeping.
 * Kohei commented that Gran Torino emits a "Dagobah" feeling, a reference to from Star Wars. Yoda teaches Luke Skywalker and taught Obi-wan Kenobi, Luke's initial teacher. Similarly Gran Torino teaches Izuku and taught Toshinori, Izuku's initial teacher. Both characters also hide their true strength and pretend to be senile.
 * Horikoshi confirmed in a post SDCC interview that Gran Torino was intentionally based off of Yoda, and that his feet and Quirk were designed after shower heads, and how water came out of them.
 * Gran Torino's Hero costume appears to have been inspired by videogame character, featuring large, round limb pieces on top a bodysuit. Coincidentally, Kohei Horikoshi inserted a direct reference to the series in Gran Torino's debut arc during Chapter 48.
 * Gran Torino's design may also reference, another character from that series and Mega Man's older brother. Proto Man shares many features with Mega Man, but also wears an unique dark visor and flowing yellow scarf, which Gran Torino's mask and cape resemble to an extent.

Quotes

 * (To Izuku Midoriya) "'I have to get stronger quickly', you say. It's true. Time is not on your side—nor on your enemies'. And they won't wait for you to get stronger."
 * (Inner monologue) "The greatest hero, huh... He doesn't look or act at all like you, but... I still see him on you, Toshinori. Nana chose you... and you chose this boy... so let's both help him make it, Toshinori. So that by the time you're past your prime... this kid... his name... will be hailed as the symbol of peace..."

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