### Chapter 12: Showdown – Todoroki vs Natsu, Part One.
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a faint amber hue over the colossal structure of Building B. This building, now the battleground for the second match, stood undamaged, unlike its counterpart, which had been ravaged by Midoriya's devastating power. The air around was tense, carrying the weight of anticipation, as if the city itself held its breath.
Inside the uppermost floor of Building B, Todoroki and his teammate Shoji stood in a dimly lit room. The cold light filtering through the narrow windows cast long shadows on the metallic floor, the sound of their boots tapping on the steel echoed slightly, enhancing the hollow silence around them. In the center of the room, a black, sleek "nuclear warhead" prop sat ominously, its smooth surface reflecting the pale light.
Todoroki paced slowly, his eyes never leaving the prop. His hands were tucked behind his back, and his mind calculated every possible outcome. Finally, he stopped, his hand resting lightly on the cold surface of the warhead. His voice, calm yet carrying an undercurrent of determination, broke the silence.
"The objective is to defend this for ten minutes. But frankly, that sounds boring. I think I have a better idea."
Shoji, standing quietly by the door, his multiple arms folded neatly, raised an eyebrow and responded, his voice measured. "A better idea? What are you planning?"
Before Todoroki could answer, the scene cut to the observation room, where the students were gathered, their eyes glued to the multiple monitors displaying the live feed from the cameras placed around the battlefield. A thick silence hung in the air, broken only by the occasional flicker of static on the screens.
Iida, freshly returned with Uraraka and Bakugo, walked in briskly. His expression was sharp as he scanned the room. "Has the match already started?" His voice was a mix of urgency and curiosity.
Kaminari turned around, grinning. "Nah, you made it just in time."
"How's Midoriya doing?" Mineta chimed in, concern evident in his voice.
Uraraka's face tightened for a moment before she answered softly, "He's with the nurse. This one was rough. Like during the entrance exam... when he hurt himself helping me."
The room fell into a heavy silence as the students exchanged somber glances, thinking back to Midoriya's unyielding determination. Bakugo clenched his fists, teeth grinding as the memory of his defeat resurfaced, his mind swirling with resentment: *Deku... you damn bastard...*
All Might, standing at the back of the room, his face unusually stern, decided to break the tension. "What's done is done. Focus on the fight ahead. Learn from what you see."
Mina Ashido, leaning forward and resting her chin on her palm, muttered, her eyes shifting toward the screens. "Who knows how this will go... Anything can happen."
Mineta snorted. "It's Todoroki we're talking about. Do you really think he's going to lose?"
Kirishima, his expression unusually serious, countered. "Don't underestimate Natsu just because of Todoroki's name. Sure, Shoto's Endeavor's kid, but..."
Yaoyorozu smiled faintly, her fingers tapping rhythmically on her chin. "We don't know much about Natsu. Personally, I'd put my money on Todoroki, but there's something... odd about Natsu. The way he spoke to Todoroki, without an ounce of fear... Is it confidence, or...?"
Kaminari chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Come on, guys. We're talking about Natsu. He probably doesn't even know who Todoroki is."
The room fell silent for a moment, as everyone blinked and exchanged glances. Strangely enough, they all seemed to share the same silly thought: *He's probably right.*
Meanwhile, down in the lower floors, Natsu and his teammate Sero strolled casually through a dim corridor. The air around them was thick with tension, though Natsu's carefree smile betrayed no sign of concern.
Sero, visibly uneasy, glanced sideways at Natsu, who walked confidently with his hands behind his head. "Seriously... Did you *have* to provoke Todoroki before the fight?"
Natsu's grin only widened. "Isn't it better this way? Now he'll go all out."
Sero threw his hands up, exasperated. "How is that better for us?!" After a sigh, he added more seriously, "Okay, just answer me this: You *do* know who Todoroki Shoto is, right?"
Natsu's blank expression gave Sero all the answer he needed. "He... He really doesn't know, does he?" Sero muttered to himself before sighing again. "Never mind. Todoroki's Endeavor's son. You know... the Number Two Hero?"
Natsu's smile didn't falter. "And?"
Sero could only stare in disbelief. He wasn't sure if Natsu was fearless or just completely clueless.
"At least tell me you know what we're supposed to be doing in this exercise. You *did* show up late, after all."
Natsu's eyes sparked with excitement, his hand tightening into a fist. "All we have to do is beat them down, right?"
"Exactly!" Happy, the blue flying cat, cheered from Natsu's shoulder, pumping his tiny fist into the air.
Sero groaned, rubbing his forehead. "What's with that thing anyway? You should leave before you get hurt." Then, looking back at Natsu, he added, "I don't know if I have good luck or bad luck having you as a partner. But whatever, if we're playing by your rules, let's do this. I think I can take Shoji... What about you? Can you handle Todoroki? There's no way I stand a chance against him."
Before Natsu could answer, the temperature in the hallway plummeted. Sero's breath became visible in the sudden chill. A sharp cracking sound echoed down the corridor as frost began creeping along the walls, freezing everything in its path.
Without hesitation, Natsu grabbed Sero's arm, pulling him upward just as a wave of ice engulfed the corridor. The floor, walls, and ceiling became a frozen landscape, the air biting and frigid.
Sero's wide eyes reflected the shimmering ice as they landed back on solid ground. His heart raced, while Natsu, landing beside him with a soft thud, still wore that familiar grin.
Crack! The ice beneath their feet fractured slightly from the impact of their landing.
Sero's voice, breathless with shock, finally broke the silence. "Did he launch an attack before even knowing where we were?"
Natsu, still smiling, clenched his fists, flames flickering faintly around his knuckles. "This is gonna be fun."
Happy, hovering beside them, shivered, rubbing his arms and sneezing. "It's like we went from summer to winter in a second. I hope I don't catch a cold."
Sero, snapping out of his daze, looked back at Natsu. "So... what's the plan now?"
Natsu raised his glowing fists, his eyes scanning the icy ceiling above them. His grin widened as the flames around his hands grew brighter. "Isn't it obvious? We turn this place upside down!"
Upstairs, Todoroki stood calmly, his hand resting on the icy wall. Shoji watched him carefully as the frost on Todoroki's hand began to melt away.
"Think that'll be enough to stop them?" Shoji asked.
Todoroki's cold gaze drifted to the prop they were meant to protect. His voice was as calm as ever. "Of course not. That was just a little greeting. Let's see what Natsu does next..."
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