**Chapter 36: Burst**
The arena was a roaring sea of energy, the audience's excitement pulsating through the very walls. From the upper stands to the lower rows, every seat was filled with spectators leaning forward, eyes wide, completely absorbed in the chaos unfolding below. The blaring sound of the cheering crowd mixed with the rapid-fire commentary booming over the speakers, making the atmosphere electric.
"Natsu isn't giving anyone a moment to think! He's charging headfirst into every team without hesitation!" Yamada's voice crackled through the arena's sound system, his tone buzzing with energy that mirrored the crowd's fervor.
In contrast, beside him, Aizawa sat cool and composed, his eyes half-lidded as though he'd seen this sort of recklessness a thousand times. Yamada, ever the lively commentator, couldn't help but ask, "Hey, Aizawa, was Natsu always this reckless?"
Before Aizawa could respond, a small, familiar voice piped up from Yamada's shoulder. "This is Natsu. He's always like this," said Happy, sitting comfortably atop Yamada's shoulder as if it were his rightful place.
Yamada blinked, taken aback, then turned slowly to face the floating blue cat. The mic, still live, amplified their interaction to the entire stadium. "What... are you doing here?" Yamada asked, his voice suddenly quieter, bewilderment clear in his expression.
Happy, ever the nonchalant one, stretched lazily and grinned. "This is the best spot to watch the fight!" His eyes sparkled with amusement, as if the roaring battle below was merely entertainment.
Yamada sighed, exasperation tugging at his voice. "That's not the point—you shouldn't be up he—"
But Happy cut him off with a cheeky question. "Want a fish?"
Yamada's face immediately fell into a deadpan expression. "No... thanks," he muttered, resigning himself to the absurdity of the situation. He shook his head and returned to the action below, the crowd chuckling at the unexpected exchange.
Down in the arena, Kaminari's eyes tracked Natsu's every movement. His brow furrowed as he muttered to himself, "This reckless approach... if Natsu keeps this up, every team's going to see us as a target."
But before Kaminari could voice his concerns fully, Bakugo launched himself into the air, soaring towards Natsu like a missile. His grin was wicked, his hand extended, fingertips nearly brushing the ten-million-point headband that sat securely atop Natsu's head.
The air crackled with tension as Natsu's fists ignited, flames roaring to life in an instant. "Come at me!" Natsu bellowed, his wild grin matching the intensity of his blazing fists.
From a distance, Jiro and Yaoyorozu exchanged a knowing look. They could see it as clear as day—Natsu didn't understand the concept of retreat. He was a fighter through and through, ready to face anyone head-on, no matter the circumstances.
Yamada's voice crackled through the speakers again, commentary rapid-fire. "Bakugo's flying straight at him! Referee, is this even allowed?"
Midnight's sultry voice answered, smooth and confident, "As long as he doesn't touch the ground, it's fair game."
In one fluid motion, Yaoyorozu and Jiro leapt to the left, dodging Bakugo's attack. Natsu, caught off guard by their sudden movement, stumbled, his footing momentarily thrown off. For the briefest second, Bakugo's expression flickered with surprise—he hadn't expected Natsu, the fight-hungry warrior, to dodge.
Bakugo hurtled through the air, missing his target, but before he could crash into the ground, Sero's tape shot out, wrapping around him and pulling him back to safety.
"Enough of this reckless stuff! We'll lose if you keep charging in!" Sero scolded, frustration clear in his voice as he pulled Bakugo back into formation.
Mina Ashido shook her head. "We need to stick together as a team!"
Kirishima, standing firm as the "horse," grinned, his unbreakable body steady beneath his teammates. "We've got the upper hand as long as I'm the foundation!"
But Bakugo's gaze was fixed on Natsu, seething with unspoken anger. "You coward!" he spat, eyes narrowing. "I thought you were a real fighter!"
Natsu turned, fire still flickering around his clenched fists, his voice low and controlled. "Why did you dodge him?" His question hung in the air, tension building.
Before Jiro or Yaoyorozu could respond, Kaminari raised his head, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Natsu, in a straight-up fight, you'd probably win. But that's your problem—you only want to fight. Bakugo, on the other hand, wants the ten-million-point headband. There's no point in engaging them when we already have what we need. Our job is to avoid unnecessary clashes."
As Kaminari's words sank in, the wind shifted. The faint rustle of Todoroki's hair was the only warning before his left hand began to glow, the air around it shimmering with intense heat. Iida, standing firm beneath Todoroki, locked his eyes forward, his engines roaring to life with blue flames that ignited the arena with anticipation.
Without a word, they moved as one.
"Do it, Iida," Todoroki commanded, his voice steady and calm.
"Recipro Burst!!!" Iida shouted, his engines flaring to full power.
In an instant, they shot forward with blinding speed, cutting through the air with such velocity that the wind seemed to tear apart around them. The sound of Iida's engines roaring filled the stadium, and the crowd gasped in awe as the pair rocketed towards Natsu's team, a blur of blue and orange.
Before Natsu could even process Kaminari's words, Todoroki's hand closed around the ten-million-point headband, ripping it from Natsu's head in one fluid motion.
Time seemed to freeze. Natsu's hair, pink and wild, blew in the sudden gust of wind, his eyes widening in disbelief. The crowd erupted into chaos, the roar of thousands of voices mixing with the sound of Iida and Todoroki skidding to a stop at the edge of the arena, smoke billowing from Iida's overheated engines.
Natsu stood in stunned silence, his fists still aflame, the weight of what had just happened slowly sinking in. Around him, his teammates wore matching expressions of shock, their eyes darting between Natsu and Todoroki's retreating figure.
On the massive screen overhead, Todoroki and Iida's faces appeared, their victory clear for all to see.
Yamada's voice rang out, triumphant and booming. "Todoroki Shoto has done it! What a move! This is the power of Endeavor's bloodline!"
Up in the stands, Endeavor watched, a satisfied smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He stood apart from the crowd, his presence commanding, as if he were a force of nature. His eyes fixated on Natsu, who still stood frozen in shock.
"So, you can use fire after all," Endeavor thought, his grin widening. "But this is where your story ends. Todoroki has inherited my flame. A boy like you doesn't stand a chance."
The arena buzzed with excitement, but amidst the chaos, Natsu's teammates watched him closely. Though his expression was one of disbelief, there was a flicker of something else—something that sent a chill down their spines.
Hidden beneath the mask of shock, a small, almost imperceptible smirk tugged at Natsu's lips. His fists tightened, the flames dancing more fiercely than before.
"Did you say we shouldn't fight?" Natsu's voice was quiet, but there was an undeniable edge to it. His eyes burned with renewed determination. "No... I was right from the start. The goal of this game is to crush every other team!"
The flames around his hands roared to life, brighter and hotter than ever before.
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