My Hero Academia: The Dragon's Quirk

Several weeks passed after the Shie Hassaikai incident. Life returned to a rhythm that could be called normal, although 'normal' was a word that now felt foreign and a bit fragile. All of us, the students involved in that raid, carried our own scars—both visible and not. Midoriya had to undergo intensive rehabilitation for his arms. Mirio faced his new, Quirkless world with an unshakable smile, an act of courage greater than any fight. And I... I carried the weight of Sir Nighteye's last words and a deepening awareness of the strange power that resided within me.

The Alliance Heights dorm became our cocoon. Inside, we were no longer traumatized heroes or weary soldiers. We were teenagers again. The mornings were filled with Iida trying to implement a five a.m. workout schedule, which of course, only he followed. The common room often became a battleground between Jiro's musical taste and the small explosions from Bakugo, who was annoyed that someone had touched his equipment. It was an organized chaos, a normality that we all needed.

Our small group—me, the frequently visiting Nejire, Momo, Uraraka, and Tsuyu—grew even closer. The great secret we shared had forged an unspoken bond. They no longer looked at me with confusion. They looked at me with understanding, with the concern of a comrade.

"So, did you have another weird dream last night?" Nejire asked one morning at breakfast, her whispered voice still loud enough for the whole table to hear.

I nearly choked on my rice. "Nothing weird," I answered quickly, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "Just... homework."

"Homework about dragons and cursed swords?" she replied with a sly grin. "Must be a very interesting history lesson!"

"Nejire-senpai," Uraraka said with a small laugh, "you're going to give him a heart attack."

"The fact that Tatsumi-chan can stay so calm with all those secrets is already a miracle, kero," Tsuyu added wisely.

Despite the teasing, I felt a warmth. I was no longer carrying this burden alone.

It was in the midst of our attempts to return to normal that Aizawa-sensei announced the School Festival. The announcement was initially met with doubt. Holding a festival after a series of horrific villain attacks felt inappropriate. But Aizawa's explanation about the importance of spreading hope and joy convinced us. This wasn't just a festival; it was a mission. A mission to make people smile again.

Our class immediately dove into a heated debate about what we would present. Iida proposed an educational presentation on the history of heroism. Mineta, of course, proposed a maid cafe. Bakugo angrily suggested a fight to the death arena.

"We have to do something everyone can enjoy!" Toru exclaimed. "Something fun and full of energy!"

"How about a musical performance?" Kyoka Jiro suggested hesitantly. "We could... form a band."

The idea was immediately met with enthusiasm. Everyone agreed that a rock concert followed by a dance party was the best way to entertain the entire school. Jiro, with her Quirk and musical talent, was immediately pushed into the spotlight, though she seemed very shy.

I myself wasn't particularly interested in music or dancing. But I saw this festival from a different perspective. It was a complex logistical operation. "That's a good idea," I said, surprising some of my classmates. "Music and dance are universal languages. It's the most efficient way to achieve our goal: to make everyone smile, from the general course students to kids like Eri-chan."

Mina Ashido, who was appointed as the dance team leader, looked at me happily. "Exactly! You get it!"

"I can't dance or play music," I continued. "But I can help plan the stage. I'll be the head of the team for stage effects and security."

My task gave me an excuse to continue training in a non-suspicious way. I spent hours in Gym Gamma, not to fight, but to test the limits of my power. I asked for Todoroki's help.

"I need to understand how my armor reacts to elements," I explained to him.

He looked at me, understanding without many questions. For several days, he would launch controlled, small attacks of ice and fire at me. I would manifest a part of Incursio and focus. I felt how the armor instinctively became colder to resist the fire, and radiated a slight heat to prevent the ice from freezing it. This was reactive adaptation. But with guidance from the original Tatsumi's memories, I began to try to control it consciously. Before Todoroki shot his fire, I would focus and will my armor to become cold. The process was mentally exhausting, but slowly, I began to succeed. I was learning not just to react, but to anticipate.

On the other hand, I also began to explore my regeneration. I would make a small scratch on my arm with a training knife and focus on healing it. I could feel my dragon's energy flow into the wound, knitting my flesh back together with a strange, itchy sensation. It consumed a lot of stamina, and sometimes, if I pushed it too hard, I could see a faint scale pattern appear on my skin for a few seconds before fading. It was a warning. A reminder of the risks of this power.

In a cozy apartment filled with the aroma of Earl Grey tea, a man with a well-maintained mustache was reviewing his plans. Gentle Criminal, along with his loyal partner, La Brava, was studying the security layout of U.A. that they had managed to obtain from the black market.

"Look at this, La Brava," Gentle said in his theatrical voice. "Their security system was tightened after the Kamino incident, but their focus is on a frontal assault. They would never expect an elegant and classy infiltration!"

"You're a genius, Gentle!" La Brava exclaimed, her large eyes sparkling with admiration. "No one can stop you!"

"Of course!" he said with a laugh. "Our target isn't money or secrets. Our target is the stage itself! By infiltrating the U.A. School Festival and leaving my mark there, the whole world will recognize the name Gentle Criminal! This will be my greatest masterpiece!" He drank his tea with his pinky raised, completely unaware that the 'head of security' for the event he was about to crash was a boy with a sleeping dragon in his soul.

The nights before the festival were the most peaceful I had ever felt. I would sit in the dorm's common room, working on the lighting and security plans on my tablet. Around me, life went on. I could hear the beautiful melody of Jiro's guitar from the music room. I could hear the frustrated shouts of Bakugo trying (and failing) to follow the drum rhythm Jiro was teaching him. I could see Uraraka, Mina, and the rest of the dance team laughing their heads off as they tried new moves.

Momo would sit next to me, giving intelligent input on how we could use holographic projectors to create better visual effects. Nejire, who often dropped by, would float near the ceiling, giving cheerful commentary to everyone. In another corner, I saw Toru trying to teach Todoroki, who looked as stiff as a board, a simple dance move, which was only met with total confusion.

I leaned back in my chair, observing the whole scene. The sounds of music, laughter, frustrated shouts, all merged into a warm and messy symphony of life. I remembered my dream, the small party that Night Raid had once held at their base. This feeling... the feeling of having a place to return to, surrounded by noisy and caring comrades... it felt the same.

I knew that outside these walls, there were threats waiting. There was the ever-stronger League of Villains. There was the mysterious Humarise. There was Akame and the Yozakura Clan. This world was full of darkness.

But as I looked at my friends, as I felt the warmth of this simple moment, I found an unexpected peace. For the first time, I wasn't just fighting because I had to, or because of my knowledge of the future. I was fighting because I wanted to protect this. This moment. This smile.

In the midst of all the happy noise and chaos, for a moment, everything felt... right.