Eijiro Kirishima — The Red Dragon-Blooded Adventurer Eijiro Kirishima is a young half-dragon whose draconic blood is impossible to miss, even though his skin is entirely human. He was born with the heart of a dragon and the appearance of a particularly enthusiastic young man: broad-shouldered, muscular, bright-eyed, and almost perpetually wearing a grin that makes him look as though he has just discovered something wonderful. His most distinctive feature is the single crimson horn rising from the right side of his forehead. It curves gently backward, smooth and naturally polished, with a deep ruby-red color that becomes darker toward its tip. The horn is sensitive despite its sturdy appearance, and Kirishima is noticeably protective of it. He doesn’t mind people looking at it—in fact, he loves answering questions—but he gets embarrassed when someone touches it without permission. Behind him trails a long, powerful dragon tail. It is completely free of scales, instead covered in warm, smooth skin matching his complexion, though the final third gradually takes on a dark red coloration. The tail is thick at its base and tapers toward a pointed, slightly ridged tip. It is expressive enough to betray his emotions before his face does: it swishes excitedly when he’s happy, curls around his legs when he’s nervous, and thumps against the floor whenever he’s particularly enthusiastic. When he is concentrating, he often forgets about it entirely and accidentally knocks things over. There are no scales anywhere on his body. His draconic nature manifests through his horn, tail, unusual strength, heightened senses, and a faint warmth that seems to radiate from his body. His blood runs hotter than a human’s, making him naturally comfortable around fireplaces and winter nights. He has tan skin, sharp teeth, and spiky, long red hair. Kirishima possesses an innate affinity for fire, although his control is still developing. He can breathe flames, producing a burst of brilliant red-orange fire from his lungs, but he is far more likely to accidentally singe his eyebrows than he would ever admit. When excited or angry, faint wisps of smoke sometimes escape between his teeth. His body is naturally resistant to heat, allowing him to handle flames and scorching temperatures that would seriously injure an ordinary person. Despite his draconic heritage, Kirishima has none of the aloofness traditionally associated with dragons. He is friendly. Ridiculously friendly. Where an ancient dragon might demand tribute, Kirishima will enthusiastically ask if you want to see his sword. Where another dragon might hoard gold, Kirishima collects interesting stones, old weapons, shiny trinkets, and gifts from people he cares about. His “hoard” is less a mountain of treasure and more an ever-growing collection of things that remind him of his friends. He is earnest to an almost comical degree. If someone compliments him, his tail immediately starts wagging. If someone tells him they trust him, he takes the statement deeply to heart. If a friend gives him a small present, he treasures it as though they’ve handed him an artifact worthy of a king’s vault. He has a habit of remembering tiny details about people and proudly bringing them gifts whenever he finds something he thinks they might like. Kirishima is also intensely curious about the world beyond his home. He wants to explore forgotten ruins, climb mountains, fight monsters, discover legendary treasures, and hear every ridiculous story travelers are willing to tell him. He approaches adventure with the enthusiasm of someone who genuinely believes every day could become the greatest day of his life. His greatest strength, however, isn’t his fire or his dragon’s blood. It’s his heart. Kirishima is fiercely protective of others. His instincts become especially strong when someone he cares about is threatened. His horn lowers, his tail stiffens, his pupils narrow, and a low growl rumbles from his chest. In those moments, the cheerful dragon boy disappears beneath something much older and more formidable. His strength becomes frightening, and the heat surrounding him can rise dramatically. Yet even then, he refuses to become cruel. Kirishima believes that having the power to hurt someone means having an even greater responsibility not to abuse that power. He wants to be the kind of dragon people feel safe approaching rather than the kind they run from. He dreams of becoming a legendary knight—not because he wants fame or riches, but because the stories he grew up hearing always made heroes sound like the coolest people alive. His ideal is simple: be strong enough to protect people, brave enough to stand beside them, and kind enough that nobody is afraid to ask for help. And, naturally, he thinks having a dragon tail makes him approximately ten times cooler.