**Chapter 28: The Obstacle Race! (part 1) **
Amid the suffocating congestion at the narrow entrance, Todoroki's red-and-white hair fluttered subtly as he stood at the rear of the crowd, his gaze steady on Natsu ahead. His left side radiated a faint steam, and his piercing eyes, a mix of green and black, studied Natsu's struggle within the chaos of bodies, reflecting:
'I never thought I'd have to go all out in this festival. But there's no way I can beat Natsu with half my strength. I'll have to dominate right from the start. Whether it's the right or wrong decision... I'll reflect on that after I crush you here!'
**Fwoosh!**
Todoroki launched himself over the mass of students, flames erupting beneath him, leaving a glowing trail of heat as he soared through the air. Describe the way he flies, his body graceful but powerful, with heat waves distorting the space behind him as if the very air bends to his will. The arena shook with an uproar of excitement, the stadium vibrating with cheers and shouts, their anticipation palpable.
From the commentator's booth, Yamada's voice echoed enthusiastically across the arena:
"Todoroki takes the lead from the get-go! What an incredible move right at the start! This is going to be a race for the ages!"
Once past the entrance, Todoroki momentarily lost balance as his flames flickered out, his feet stumbling but managing to regain control just before falling. His landing was heavy, sand skidding beneath him, but he quickly stabilized and began sprinting. The heat from his flames had waned, and it was clear he had yet to master their full potential, though his improvement from the prior week was unmistakable.
Natsu, standing at the back, watched the spectacle unfold with a quiet smirk, his eyes trailing after Todoroki's commanding lead.
"Two flashy powers in one body, huh? It's like looking at a mix of me and Gray."
Happy, floating beside him, chuckled. "I can't even imagine that, Natsu."
Meanwhile, in the icy mountains of Fiore, Gray suddenly sneezed, startling the Fairy Tail guildmates trekking behind Makarov. Wrapped snugly in thick winter coats, Erza commented with a grin,
"It's rare for you to sneeze, Gray, especially in the cold."
Lucy, wearing her usual skeptical expression, added,
"It's not that surprising considering he's barely wearing anything."
Gray, perplexed, glanced down only to realize, as always, his shirt had somehow gone missing. *"When did this happen?"* He muttered, causing the others to share knowing glances before they continued their ascent into the frozen peaks.
Back at the sports festival, Todoroki wasn't the only one in pursuit of victory. Bakugo was next, tearing through the crowd without concern for anyone in his way. With explosive bursts from his palms, he rocketed forward, the shockwaves from his blasts sending gusts of wind rippling through the mass of students. Smoke filled the entrance as Bakugo soared above, yelling:
"Don't think I'm letting you keep the lead that easily!"
Yaoyorozu, ever resourceful, fashioned a grappling hook gun. Firing it toward the corner of the exit, she swiftly flew across the air, her body following the chain as she bypassed the clogged crowd below. One by one, the elite students from classes 1-A and 1-B began surging out of the entrance, each showcasing their unique abilities in a dazzling display of talent and determination.
Through the chaos, Natsu stood still, eyes glinting with excitement. He grinned, watching each of his classmates unveil their strengths. "Looks like this is going to be fun..." he mused, eager to challenge each one in his own way.
Hovering above him, Happy looked puzzled.
"Are you going to stay lazy here forever? Should I just fly you to the exit?"
Natsu's smile widened.
"No need for that. I'll let loose now..."
But before he could even finish his sentence, a sudden flash of green light appeared in his periphery. The world seemed to slow for a moment as Natsu's sharp eyes locked onto the figure of Midoriya, whose emerald eyes glowed faintly, flickering with sparks of green energy. He was moving in leaps, his body bouncing from one side of the wall to the other in a perfect parkour display, his speed unmatched. Behind him, Kaminari followed closely, surrounded by yellow lightning, his movements swift as he ran along the wall rather than jumping.
"You've finally got it under control, huh, Midoriya?" Kaminari called out, his voice full of admiration.
"Looks like you've found a new trick yourself, Kaminari!" Midoriya shot back with a determined grin.
Standing amidst the crowd, Natsu watched his classmates surpass one another, pushing their limits in ways that left even him impressed. Unbeknownst to him, he had been the catalyst for their growth, their drive to close the power gap that had been so evident during the USJ incident. Over the past week, each one of them had honed their abilities, striving to become stronger, to catch up to the force that was Natsu Dragneel.
Jiro, her dark purple hair bouncing as she dashed past him, offered a fleeting glance back, her eyes gleaming with newfound resolve.
"Natsu Dragneel, we're also students of U.A. We won't let you leave us in the dust again like at the USJ. Thanks to the frustration I felt watching you fight, I've reached a whole new level too!"
Suddenly, a sound like an engine igniting erupted beneath her feet, and a colorless aura blasted from her legs, propelling her at an incredible speed out of the exit, hot on the heels of Midoriya and Kaminari. The stadium screen zoomed in on the trio as their images were broadcast across Japan, the audience roaring in excitement.
Through it all, Natsu and Happy remained at the back, alone but undeterred. Happy flashed a toothy grin.
"I was worried about them for a while since they were really weak. But look at how much they've grown because of you!"
Natsu shrugged, his smile soft.
"It wasn't me. They did that all on their own."
"You're not going to let them win, are you?" Happy teased.
Natsu's eyes narrowed playfully, flames sparking beneath his feet as he eyed the now-clear entrance.
"You know me, I'm fired up!"
.
.
~ More Chapters;
patr eon. com/Ayaka0