Tenya admires his older brother, Tensei (also known as Turbo Hero Ingenium), and wants to become like him. He dislikes being manipulated and was angered that Mei used him to advertise her gadgets during their match. Tenya values honor and fair play, as he agreed to use the support gadgets Mei gave them for their match in the Sports Festival so that they could fight on equal terms.
This became clear when Tenya admitted that seeking vengeance against Stain was not the way a real hero should act and decided to leave his left hand unhealed as a reminder of his mistake and a motivation to pursue true heroism. He is also a very humble person, willing to admit his mistakes and eager to improve himself. For example, after assuming that Izuku had figured out the true nature of the entrance exam, Tenya acknowledged him as a worthy peer and has since held him in high esteem. Because of this, he has a habit of jumping to conclusions, then enthusiastically speaking or acting based on those conclusions. He tends to take everything very seriously. He may look severe, but he's actually a very straightforward, earnest, diligent and serious person.
