Dragon's Heart, Hero's Will

Chapter 8: The Battle Tournament Begins

After the intense Cavalry Battle, the arena is buzzing with anticipation as the final event of the Sports Festival approaches. The students have a short break to recover, but the tension is already mounting. This is it—the battle tournament. One-on-one fights to determine who will come out on top. Kirishima can feel the pressure building in his chest, but beneath it, a thrill runs through him. This is what he’s been training for. He has to prove his strength and show everyone that he belongs here.

Standing off to the side, Kirishima watches as Midnight starts explaining the rules of the tournament. The students are paired off, and one by one, the matchups appear on the large screen above the stadium. His heart skips a beat when he sees it—his name next to Bakugou’s.

A quick glance at Bakugou confirms that he’s already grinning, his eyes blazing with excitement. “Shitty Hair, huh?” Bakugou sneers as he catches Kirishima’s eye. “Guess I’ll have to show you what a real fight looks like.”

Kirishima can’t help but grin back, despite the sudden rush of nerves. “Looking forward to it!” he shouts, trying to keep his voice light, though his heart is hammering in his chest. He’s seen Bakugou fight before—brutal, relentless, and explosively powerful. This isn’t going to be an easy battle, but Kirishima wouldn’t have it any other way. His dragon quirk surges beneath the surface, eager to be unleashed, but Kirishima pushes it down. He needs to stay focused and in control.

As the matches start, the stadium is filled with roars from the crowd. The battles are intense, each student giving their all. But Kirishima can’t focus on anything but his upcoming match. His mind races as he tries to strategize. Bakugou is unpredictable, his quirk explosive and fast. Kirishima knows he can take hits with his hardening quirk, but the constant barrage of explosions might overwhelm him. He has to play it smart.

Finally, it’s their turn. Kirishima steps into the ring, his body tense with anticipation. The crowd roars, but all he can hear is the pounding of his own heartbeat. Across from him, Bakugou stands with his usual cocky smirk, his palms already sparking with tiny explosions.

“Ready to lose, Shitty Hair?” Bakugou taunts, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Kirishima grins back, though his nerves are on edge. “We’ll see about that. I’m not going down without a fight!”

The signal is given, and Bakugou moves first, launching himself at Kirishima with a massive explosion. Kirishima hardens his body just in time to block the attack, the force of the blast pushing him back a few feet. The heat from the explosion is intense, but Kirishima doesn’t flinch. He knows Bakugou’s strategy—hit hard, hit fast, overwhelm his opponent. But Kirishima isn’t going to let that happen.

He charges forward, his fists hardened and ready. Bakugou dodges easily, his explosions giving him the mobility to stay out of Kirishima’s range. But Kirishima is persistent, throwing punch after punch, each one harder than the last.

“Is that all you got?” Bakugou taunts as he dodges another strike. He launches another explosion, this one bigger, sending Kirishima skidding across the arena floor.

Kirishima grits his teeth, his body aching from the constant attacks. Bakugou’s relentless, but Kirishima won’t give up. He pushes himself to his feet, charging forward again. This time, he manages to land a punch, his hardened fist connecting with Bakugou’s side.

Bakugou grunts in surprise but quickly recovers, launching another explosion at close range. Kirishima takes the hit, his hardened skin absorbing most of the damage, but the force still knocks the wind out of him. He stumbles back, trying to catch his breath.

“Come on, Kirishima!” Bakugou yells, his voice filled with frustration. “Is that all you’ve got? Fight me for real!”

Kirishima’s instincts flare up again, his dragon quirk pushing to the surface. He can feel the urge to transform, to let his inner beast take over and unleash its full power. But he holds back. Not yet. Not here. He has to control it.