Dragon's Heart, Hero's Will

Chapter 2: Trial of Battle

Kirishima steps into the changing room with the rest of Class 1-A, nervous energy buzzing in the air as everyone suits up for their first hero exercise. He eyes his own hero costume, carefully designed to accommodate his quirk—a blend of durable, fire-resistant fabric and reinforced armor that’s flexible enough to stretch if he transforms. He’s always worried about it not holding up, especially if he loses control again, but he can’t let that show.

The others excitedly chatter about their costumes as they finish getting ready, but Kirishima keeps to himself, focusing on the task ahead. First real training exercise... I can’t mess this up. He adjusts the armor around his chest and back, making sure the openings for his wings are secure, though he hopes he won’t need them.

Once everyone’s suited up, they gather at Grounds B for their first trial. All Might stands before them, brimming with excitement, ready to explain the exercise. He’s larger than life—literally—and Kirishima can’t help but feel a surge of respect. All Might explains that they’ll be divided into teams, playing the roles of both heroes and villains. The heroes must capture a nuclear weapon the villains are guarding before time runs out.

Kirishima nods to himself. Simple enough. But I need to be careful. I can’t let the dragon out.

The lottery determines the teams, and Kirishima ends up with Hanta Sero. They’ll be playing the villains, facing off against Fumikage Tokoyami and Tsuyu Asui. Kirishima knows Fumikage’s quirk well enough—Dark Shadow can be fierce, and Tsuyu’s agility makes her a tricky opponent. We’ll have to be smart about this.

As the matchups are announced, Kirishima watches the first battle on the screens—Izuku Midoriya and Ochaco Uraraka as the heroes, against Katsuki Bakugou and Tenya Iida as the villains. His eyes lock onto Bakugou almost immediately. He’s still not sure why his dragon instincts are so drawn to him, but every time Bakugou moves, his body reacts. Kirishima’s jaw tightens as he watches Bakugou leap into battle, his explosive quirk lighting up the screen.

When Bakugou charges Midoriya, Kirishima can’t help but flinch. That’s not manly at all, he thinks, watching the vicious way Bakugou attacks. His aggression is wild, unrelenting, and Kirishima doesn’t understand why he’s so angry. His heart pounds as he watches Bakugou’s Howitzer Impact, sending shockwaves through the arena.

“Sensei, please put a stop to this!” Kirishima blurts, turning to All Might. “That Bakugou kid’s gone mental, at this rate he’ll kill him!” But All Might only watches closely, letting the fight continue.

As the battle ends, Kirishima is left with an uneasy feeling. The boy he can’t stop watching—this “omega” his instincts won’t leave alone—fights like a wild animal. Why is he so angry? Why is he so... unmanly?

---

Soon, it’s Kirishima’s turn. He and Sero move to the villain’s base, where they’re tasked with guarding the nuclear weapon. The clock starts ticking, and Kirishima takes a deep breath. I have to keep it together. I can’t let the dragon take over again.

Their strategy is simple: Sero uses his tape to create traps and barriers while Kirishima focuses on defense. Fumikage and Tsuyu won’t be easy to fight head-on, especially with Dark Shadow’s strength and Tsuyu’s speed, so they have to play smart.

The first sign of trouble comes when Dark Shadow crashes through one of Sero’s traps, obliterating it with ease. Kirishima grits his teeth, his body tensing as his dragon instincts stir. Stay calm. Just stay calm. He charges forward, using his hardened arms to block Dark Shadow’s strikes while Sero tries to flank Tsuyu.

But then something snaps.

Dark Shadow hits him harder than he expected, and Kirishima stumbles, his instincts roaring to life. His vision blurs, and before he knows it, his skin starts to shift—scales forming along his arms and shoulders, his strength surging beyond his control. The dragon wants to fight. It wants to tear through the arena, just like in the entrance exam.

No. Not again.

Kirishima forces himself to back off, clenching his fists to stop the transformation. His wings threaten to unfurl, his fire burns in the back of his throat, but he bites it down. I can’t let it out. Not here.

With a guttural growl, Kirishima regains control, pushing Dark Shadow back with a solid strike. Sero’s tape catches Tsuyu in the corner of the room, and together they manage to hold off their opponents just long enough for the timer to run out.

As the match ends, Kirishima collapses to his knees, breathing heavily. His dragon instincts are still thrumming beneath his skin, but he’s managed to stay in control—barely. He doesn’t know how long he can keep this up, how long he can keep hiding this part of himself.

I can’t let anyone know.