"Wow!!!"

  Kaminari's bold decratio an uproar through the crowd in an instant.

  Though he'd used the word "please," his tone and fidence made it sound more like a and. This didn't sit well with several of the students watg, who were annoyed by how much attention he was getting.

  "Hey, don't get too full of yourself!"

  "Who does this golden-haired punk think he is?"

  "Just 'cause you sing, doesn't mean you're the best!"

  Meanwhile, Tetsutetsu grinned, giving Kaminari a thumbs up. "That's the spirit! You gotta have fidence!"

  "But… won't that make everyoarget him?" Iida asked, frowning with worry.

  Oddly enough, the one person who didn't seem fazed was Bakugo. Normally quick to anger, he stood silently with his hands in his pockets, watg Kaminari's back with a fierce glint in his eyes.

  Say whatever you want now, Bakugo thought. When this starts, I'll show everyone who's really on top.

  ---

  Just as Kaminari returo the Css 1-A group, the ss around the stadium shifted, and Midnight's voied out.

  "Time for the first event!"

  Without wasting a sed, Midnight ght to it. This was U.A.'s style, no unnecessary deys, just straight to the a.

  "Every year, students face challehat make them question their abilities," she said. "And the first event, which will decide your fate today, is…"

  Behind her, a holographic s popped up, dispying the event name in bold letters:

  Obstacle Race!

  Seeing the high-tech proje, Kaminari couldn't help but marvel. He khis world's teology was advanced, but seeing a perfect virtual dispy right in front of him still felt surreal.

  "All students from the eleven participating csses will pete in this race," Midnight tiurning to the s. "The course runs around the stadium, with a total length of four kilometers!"

  She raised her arm and gave a sly grin, lig her lips with anticipation. "And remember, U.A. pces a heavy emphasis on freedom… so as long as you stay orack, anything goes!"

  At this, a collective cheer rose from the crowd. Many students, especially those from non-Hero Courses, were thrilled. This was a rare ce for them to use their Quirks freely in front of an audience.

  "Alright, everyone, get to your pces!"

  Under Midnight's and, hundreds of students quickly gathered at the starting line. Kaminari noticed that the exit was a narro, barely wide enough to fit more than a couple of people at once.

  I see… Kaminari narrowed his eyes, realizing the strategy behind it.

  The lights above the exit fshed green, one by one, until finally, with the third beep, Midnight's voice rang out.

  "START!"

  In an instant, every student surged forward, rag toward the narrow opening. But despite being able to use their Quirks, most held back, hesitating in the initial crush.

  "They're still not used to it…" Aizawa noted quietly from the entary booth, the chaotic start with his usual calm.

  Present Mic, however, was his usual animated self. "Isn't that exit way too narrow?! They're gonna pile up like crazy!"

  "Out of the way! Don't push me!"

  Midoriya struggled in the crowd, quickly realizing the purpose of the narrow starting point. So, this is the first hurdle…

  "A built-in sing!" he thought.

  Just then, Todoroki took a. With a quick motioivated his ice Quirk, freezing the ground and trapping dozens of students in pce. In a fsh, the cold wind spread, immobilizing everyone's legs in a solid sheet of ice.

  "Sorry, but I'm going on ahead."

  As Todoroki began to slide over the ice, a burst of electricity crackled behind him, followed by a loud voice.

  "Better pick up the pace, Todoroki!"

  In a blur of golden light, Kaminari shot past him, leaving a trail of crag energy and a pyful taunt.

  "Kaminari Denki…!" Todoroki's eyes narrowed as he watched Kaminari's electrified form speeding ahead. Alright… you're not getting away so easily.

  Without holding back, Todoroki summoned more ice, leaping forward with powerful strides as he created a path of frozen pilrs beh him.

  Meanwhile, behind them, Todoroki and Kaminari's bitack had caused mayhem, leaving many students frozen or stumbling. But a few with stronger trol over their Quirks mao break free and sprint toward the exit.

  "Don't get too fortable!"

  With a bst from his hands, Bakugo rocketed into the air, snarling, "Half-and-half freak! Thunder idiot! I'm ing for both of you!"

  However, unlike in the inal timeline, Midoriya was struggling even more. Todoroki's id Kaminari's electricity had hit him head-on, leaving him paralyzed on the frozen ground, filled with a growing sense of desperation.

  "No… no, this 't be happening!" Midoriya gasped, his body refusing to respond. "I… I 't fall behind here!"

  His heart pounded as he remembered his promise to All Might, his resolve to show everyone what he was capable of.

  Move… he thought desperately, f every ounce of strength into his limbs. Move!

  ---

  Up ahead, Kaminari and Todoroki had already reached the first major obstacle: a group of massive "zero-point" robots, the same type they'd faced irance exam. T like buildings, the sheer number of them caused even Bakugo, Tokoyami, Tetsutetsu, and the other top students to hesitate.

  "So this is our first real test…" Kaminari muttered, eyeing the robotic giants with a smirk. But he had no iion of slowing down.

  In a burst of speed, he sprinted across one robot's outstretched arm, looking directly at a nearby camera as he charged forward.

  Suddenly, the golden currents surrounding Kaminari intensified, fring into a radiant, fme-like aura. His speed doubled, transf him into what looked like a living bolt of lightning.

  "Godspeed!"

  To the audien the stadium, Kaminari was nothing but a streak of gold fshing across the s. Eveellites broadcasting the event struggled to keep up with his movements.

  When the cameras finally caught up, the head of the leading zero-point robot was engulfed in a fiery explosioricity and fmes erupting in all dires.

  "W-What just happened?!"

  Present Mic stared at the s, wide-eyed. "That was Kaminari, right?! He just… vanished and then BOOM!"

  Aizawa squi the dispy, his expression thoughtful as he processed Kaminari's explosive power.

  He's developed a lot…

  But before Present Mic could finish reag, Todoroki struck. The robot o Kaminari was instantly frozen from its base up, as Todoroki glided underh it, his gaze cold and focused.

  Just watch, Dad, Todoroki thought, his resolve hardening. This time, I'll get first pce with my ice alone.

  But even as he thought that, his eyes were fixed on the golden figure bzing ahead.

  I o take him down first. Kaminari Denki… you're my target!