Chapter 46: Shoto and Kakashi’s Choice

"What is that?!"

Shoji, standing behind Todoroki, suddenly felt a sharp pain in his copied ears, his vision blinded by an intense golden light. For a brief moment, he couldn't see anything at all.

*Crack!!*

The light, faster than sound, illuminated the room before the harsh, electric buzz reached his ears. But that wasn't what concerned Shoji. He had been hit by electricity.

"Ah!!"

Shoji's scream lasted only a moment, the golden light and sound vanishing almost as quickly as they had appeared. When the light dimmed and the sound faded, Todoroki glanced around. His ice wall, cracked but still standing, had protected him but something was missing.

"He's gone!"

Todoroki frowned as he scanned the area, realizing that Shoji had disappeared.

To be honest, he didn't fully understand what had just happened. After unleashing his ice attack, all he had heard was the rapid crackling of electricity, followed by the blinding flash of golden light. His instincts had kicked in just in time, allowing him to freeze the area around him, forming a protective wall of ice.

But now, Shoji was nowhere to be seen.

From outside, Kaminari's voice echoed, though his tone carried a mischievous edge. "Hey! Hero, how about saying goodbye to your partner?"

All Might, who was watching from a nearby rooftop, stared at Kaminari in mild disbelief. "What's with these kids today? First Iida, and now Kaminari... why are they so eager to play 'villain'?"

In the control room, the other students exchanged glances. Yaoyorozu, suppressing a smile, suddenly chuckled. "He's... rather charming when he's like this."

Ashido Mina nodded enthusiastically. "He's like the evil prince from a movie!"

"Well, he's still a little behind me in style, but... yes, I see it," Aoyama Yuga added with a dramatic flick of his shining cape.

On the screen, Todoroki silently emerged from the building, locking eyes with Kaminari, who stood waiting outside. Poor Shoji was slumped against a nearby telephone pole, completely paralyzed, watching helplessly.

"I became a prisoner... within a minute..." Shoji sighed to himself, feeling a mixture of frustration and disbelief.

"How did you break through my ice?" Todoroki asked coldly, his voice betraying a hint of confusion.

"You want to know?" Kaminari shrugged, a sly grin spreading across his face. "I did it with a 100-yen coin."

He flicked a small metal coin into the air. It caught the sunlight, flashing brightly before he caught it again with a smooth, practiced motion.

"Stop joking around," Todoroki muttered, frowning deeply. He didn't believe Kaminari's explanation for a second.

"A joke? Maybe," Kaminari said nonchalantly. Then, cutting off whatever Todoroki was about to say, he gestured toward Shoji. "You should be more worried about your partner, don't you think?"

Todoroki glanced at Shoji before calmly replying, "Rest there for now. I'll get you out soon."

As he spoke, Todoroki's right side began to emanate cold air. It was clear he was preparing for a serious fight. But Kaminari wasn't done playing yet. He raised his hand and pointed back at the building behind him.

"But hero, the nuclear bomb inside is about to go off. Ready to abandon your partner?"

Todoroki's expression froze.

All Might, the only one who could hear their conversation from his rooftop vantage point, was stunned by Kaminari's words. "This boy... he's far too convincing as a 'villain.'"

Kaminari's voice took on a taunting edge as he continued to press Todoroki, adding a cruel psychological pressure to the young hero's already heavy burden.

"We don't have much time left. Make your choice, hero!" Kaminari's grin widened. "It's simple, really. Give up your partner and stop the bomb... or fight me and watch the bomb explode, taking the whole city with it."

"If I were you, I'd forget about the partner. You're a hero, right? The mission comes first. That's what professional Heroes do, isn't it?"

Todoroki's face darkened. He knew this was just an exercise, a training scenario. But the point of the exercise was to act like real, professional Heroes. That meant making decisions as a pro Hero would in a real-world situation.

And Kaminari's words were tearing at him.

"The mission... or the partner?"

This wasn't just about the training anymore. It felt personal. Kaminari's words echoed the difficult choices Todoroki would face in his future as a hero.

"The mission or the partner."

This was the same question Kakashi, from another, harsher world, had faced long ago. Back then, Kakashi had chosen the mission over the lives of his comrades. Now, Kaminari watched with interest, wondering what Todoroki's answer would be.

All Might, still observing from his rooftop, felt a chill down his spine. "Young Kaminari... just how did you come up with something like this? Playing with someone's heart to this extent... it's terrifying."

He decided then and there that, after this session ended, he would have to speak with Principal Nezu. Kaminari's potential needed to be watched closely, this boy had the cunningness of a villain, and if he ever strayed too far into the darkness...

The timer continued to tick down, but Todoroki remained silent, lost in thought. His inner turmoil was evident to everyone watching the screens back in the control room, though they couldn't hear the conversation.

In Todoroki's mind, two voices argued back and forth.

"The bomb is the bigger threat. If it explodes, it won't matter if I save Shoji. Everyone will die."

"But if I give up on my partner now, what will I do the next time? And the time after that? Will I give up again? Faster each time?"

"If I choose the mission over and over again, will I still be myself?"

"Will I become... like him?"

Todoroki's thoughts drifted to his father, Endeavor. His father's cold, relentless pursuit of strength, his emotionless gaze... it all weighed on Todoroki's mind, suffocating him.

"No. I'm not like him. I'm not the same."

"I'm not the same!!"

Suddenly, Todoroki raised his head, and Kaminari could see a fierce determination burning in his eyes. Ice began to rapidly form at Todoroki's feet, surging forward to attack.

"You've chosen your partner, huh..." Kaminari smirked, impressed. "Good choice. But..."

"BEEP— Time's up! Villains win!"

Kaminari grinned as he glanced at the timer. "You hesitated too long, Todoroki."