**Chapter 30: The Red Star**
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The night before the grand sports festival, Natsu lay on his back on his bed, the soft moonlight cascading through the simple window in his room. His expression was calm yet serious, a rare moment of reflection. His hands were tucked beneath his head on the pillow, his casual home clothes contrasting the fierce determination that flickered in his eyes. The room was modest—simple furnishings, a small desk, and a window that opened up to the shimmering night sky, the stars twinkling like diamonds against the darkness. Natsu stared up at those stars in silence, lost in thought, while Happy, his faithful companion, was curled up, fast asleep on his chest.
As Natsu gazed into the vastness of the universe, he spoke softly to Happy, not caring if the cat was asleep. "This world of heroes... it feels fragile. Like it could fall apart if someone strong enough attacked." His voice was steady, but there was an undertone of concern. He wondered aloud, "Did that gate pull me here on purpose? Maybe because this world needs me? The students here... they're strong, but still, they seem a bit... weak."
Natsu's thoughts drifted to Aizawa, his teacher. "He shouldn't have lost to that Nomu," Natsu muttered, his brows furrowing slightly. Without opening his eyes, Happy responded in a calm, sleepy tone, "Our knowledge of this world is still limited. We haven't seen All Might or any of the top heroes fight for real yet. You should relax more, Natsu."
Natsu, his gaze still fixed on the stars, asked, "Do you think they'll be okay if we go back to our world?"
Happy, now more awake, responded with a slight sigh, "I want to return to Fairy Tail, to Lucy, Charlotte, and all our friends as soon as we can... but this world has its own heroes, I think they can protect it."
The room fell silent once more, the quiet ticking of the clock the only sound accompanying the peaceful night. That calm, however, was abruptly shattered when the door to Natsu's room was kicked open with force.
An old woman, holding a large staff, stood in the doorway, her shadow looming. Both Natsu and Happy immediately jolted, their eyes wide with fear. They scrambled to the window, competing to see who would jump first, but the old woman was quicker. She grabbed them both by the collars, dragging them back inside.
"You're not going anywhere!" she snapped, her voice sharp as a whip.
Natsu tried to feign sleep, pretending he hadn't seen her, but the woman was having none of it. She slammed the staff against his head, and he yelped in pain. "Ouch!" he cried, while Happy cowardly hid behind him.
The old woman, her black hair tied back, glared at him with disdain. "It's the third month in a row that you haven't paid your rent! Ever since you joined UA, you've been slacking off on your responsibilities. Do you want me to throw you out?"
Natsu, rubbing the spot where the staff had hit him, groaned, "I swear I'll pay... I promise."
She pointed her staff directly at his face. "I'll let it slide this time because tomorrow's a big day for you, but after that, you owe me at least one month's rent. Got it?"
Natsu nodded quickly, his head bobbing up and down in agreement. The old woman huffed, turning towards the door. As she reached the threshold, she paused, her back still turned. "I'll be watching the festival on TV tomorrow. Make sure you give me a performance worth watching, you lazy bum!" she called over her shoulder before exiting the room, slamming the door behind her.
As soon as she left, both Natsu and Happy let out a deep sigh of relief.
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The scene shifts suddenly, a stark contrast to the calm of the night before. Now, the air was electric with excitement. The stadium roared with the deafening cheers of thousands of spectators as the sports festival was in full swing. Several students had already passed the first obstacle, their faces reflecting a mix of determination, exhaustion, and anticipation.
At the front of the race was Todoroki, his icy calm demeanor contrasting the fiery energy around him. He was nearing the end of the second obstacle, and close behind him were Bakugo, Iida, Kaminari, Yaoyorozu, and Jiro, each pushing themselves to their limits, their expressions a mixture of focus and competitive spirit. Trailing not far behind were students from the other classes, their faces equally intense as they raced to catch up.
Suddenly, the large screen in the arena flickered, revealing a new face. Natsu Dragneel appeared, standing at the entrance to the course, his hand casually resting against the wall. The audience erupted in loud cheers, their excitement reaching new heights.
"Here he is! The star of the USJ incident, Natsu Dragneel!" Yamada's voice boomed over the speakers. "But it looks like he missed the start! Everyone was waiting to see you fight, Natsu, but will you really be eliminated here, in the last place?"
Despite being at the back of the pack, Natsu's expression was far from defeated. In fact, a grin spread across his face, and Happy, perched on his shoulder, shared the same smile.
Natsu glanced ahead, watching as his classmates pushed forward. "Do you see that, Happy? The students... they've really surpassed their limits. Each one surprised me. I found myself just watching, amazed by their abilities."
But his smile soon turned into one of determination. Flames began to flicker around his feet, glowing brighter and hotter. He clenched his fists and declared, "I'll see you at the finish line."
Happy, still calm, replied dryly, "I can fly, you know. I'll get there first." But before he could react, Natsu launched himself into the air, the heat from his flames causing a blast of hot air to push Happy back.
"Wha—!"
The crowd watched in stunned silence as Natsu blazed across the ground, flames trailing behind him like a fiery comet. His speed was unlike anything they had seen before, his entire body wrapped in a fiery aura.
The stadium erupted once again, the spectators unable to contain their awe. Their faces were painted with shock, amazement, and excitement.
Yamada, his voice filled with exhilaration, shouted into the microphone, "What a sight! Natsu looks like a red star streaking through the sky! And what speed! Can he really catch up to the other students?!!"
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