Dragon's Heart, Hero's Will

Chapter 53: The Search Begins

The hospital doors slam shut behind Bakugou, and he’s welcomed by the familiar sight of UA’s towering campus, the looming dorms casting shadows in the fading twilight. His body aches from the bruises, but nothing compares to the raw sting gnawing at his chest—the absence of Kirishima, the uncertainty of where he is now.

With his hands shoved deep into his pockets, Bakugou trudges back to the dorms. He could already imagine the chaos waiting for him inside—questions, accusations, worry. He clenches his teeth, prepared for the barrage of concerns.

Sure enough, as soon as he steps into the common area, the loud hum of chatter dies instantly. All eyes snap to him, a silence hanging thick in the air before the Bakusquad moves in.

“Bakugou!” Mina’s voice cuts through first, her usual cheer tinted with fear. "What happened? Is Kirishima okay? Where is he?" Her pink skin pales slightly, her energy faltering.

Kaminari and Sero hover behind her, their faces a mix of concern and confusion, while Jirou stands quietly by, her hand fiddling nervously with her earlobe.

Bakugou’s jaw tightens, his gaze hardening, but there’s no fire in his eyes—just exhaustion and frustration. “He’s… gone,” Bakugou growls, pushing past them, his words heavy with finality. "Don’t ask me stupid questions. I don’t have answers."

But Mina grabs his arm before he can move too far. “Gone? What do you mean? Where did he go?!” Her voice cracks, a note of desperation Bakugou isn’t used to hearing from her.

He yanks his arm free, glaring at the floor. “I said I don’t know! He’s out there, and I’m gonna find him, but you all need to back the hell off.” His tone is sharp, cutting, but the usual heat behind his anger feels distant, hollow. The fire that usually fuels his temper is replaced with something else—worry, guilt, and fear he won’t admit.

The others glance at each other, uneasy, but no one presses further. Even Kaminari and Sero stay silent, their concern etched into their expressions. They know this isn’t the moment to push Bakugou further.

Mina nods, though she still looks pained, before stepping back. "Okay… okay. Just, please… let us help, somehow." Her voice is softer now, almost pleading.

Bakugou doesn’t respond. He stalks off towards his room, the weight of their concern still lingering in the air.

---

Later that Night

Bakugou tosses and turns in bed, sleep impossible to grasp. The dim light of the moon filters through his curtains, casting long shadows across the room. Every time he closes his eyes, he sees Kirishima—no, the dragon—flying off into the sky, chains snapping, fire in its eyes. It wasn’t just a rampage. It was Eijiro trapped inside, calling out, needing help, and Bakugou had failed to save him.

With a frustrated grunt, Bakugou kicks the covers off and sits up, running a hand through his unruly hair. He can’t sit here and do nothing. That’s not him. He’s not going to let them lock Eijiro up in their minds as some villain.

He throws on a jacket and pulls on his boots, careful not to make noise. It’s late, and he doesn’t need anyone asking questions. He slips out of his room, moving with practiced stealth through the dorm’s hallways. The Bakusquad would stop him, Deku would get in his way, but none of them understand what he feels—the crushing guilt for not being able to protect the person who matters most.

---

Outside, Under the Stars

The night air is cool, a stark contrast to the heated storm brewing inside him. The campus is quiet, the only sound the faint hum of distant city lights. His breath fogs slightly in the air as he steps into the shadowed grounds, fists clenched, his mind racing.

"Where the hell did you go, idiot?" Bakugou mutters to himself, eyes scanning the skyline as if Kirishima might reappear out of the darkness.

He begins walking, heading for the last place he saw the dragon—Kirishima’s dragon. Maybe there are clues, something he missed in the chaos. Maybe…

No. He doesn’t believe in maybes. He’s going to find Kirishima. He has to.

His thoughts spiral, mixing anger with frustration, with grief he refuses to call by name. Kirishima’s absence feels like a wound, one that refuses to heal until he’s back, safe, at Bakugou’s side where he belongs.