After the match ups were revealed everyone was hyped up for the fights that were going to happen but there were those that were , very worried.
For example:
"Oh come on I'm the first match and that too against Todoroki seriously"
As Sero palmed his face with both hands in frustration.
"Well it could've been worse" Kaminari says while pointing towards Aoko and Bakugo who were bickering like usual.
"..... Guess it isn't so bad after all" Sero essentially resigns to his fate and walks to the waiting room to get ready for his match.
"So while we wait for the tournament let's focus on the various recreation events of the festival!!" To which everyone though a bit bump out that they'd have to wait but the recreational events were still enjoyable.
Events such as three leg racing where the Geetha sisters absolutely dominanted, ball throwing where Uraraka just_ got infinity again, tug of war with skyhigh class 1A actually beating UA due to them lacking their actual powerhouses and boulder rolling and so on that kept the audience more than entertained.
And so after a few minutes to prepare the ring where they'd fight both contestants were eventually called up to the ring for the first match of the freshman tournament.
"He's turned in an excellent performance to make it this far. And yet. What's with the plain Jane expression does it ever come off.
Hanta Sero from UA class 1A!!!!"
"Oh jeez way to introduce me sensei" sero lamented.
"Versus he who stands amongst the top!!! He who is still too damn strong.
From the same department and class Shoto Todoroki!!!"
Midnight took her position in the middle of the stadium outside of the ring as she raised her flag " are you ready?"
"I don't know if I've got a shot here. But_ I sure as well going to damn try!!!" Sero gets ready for combat while Todoroki remains silent.
Seeing this midnight lifts her flag and
"BEGIN!!!!!!!"
Immediately sero uses his tape quirks to try and bind Todoroki but.
A massive slab of ice emerges from his right foot that covers half the entire stadium including sero, ending the match in an instant.
"A bit too..... Much... don't yah.....think"
Sero was barely able to speak due to the fact that he was literally frozen.
"Hanta Sero can you.... Move?"
Asked midnight who took was frozen though only her right side that was facing Todoroki was frozen.
"I.... Can't..... it's....cold!!!"
"Todoroki wins!!!!"
And with that the first match ended with an absolute one sided landslide for Todoroki setting the stage for the future matches to come.
"Don't mind tape kid yah did good"
"Yah did good"
"But against that .... Sorry kid"
"Better luck next year!!!"
Most of the crowd who were currently busy trying to keep themselves warm were in fact, trying cheer up Sero due to the sheer disparity between the two combatants power level.
"Thanks..... I... Appreciate it.... everyone"
Sero barely replied as he waited to be unfrozen.
"I'm sorry I overdid it" said Todoroki as he approached him with the intend to unfreeze him.
"I don't... Mind dude"
And so he waited to be unfrozen, just when he was expecting heat to come from in front of him. It in fact, actually came from behind.
This caused Todoroki and everyone in the audience to look behind the giant block of ice that was melting at an accelerated rate as steam covered the entire stadium.
But for everyone there immediately knew who it was especially the heroes and Todoroki. While the heroes straighten themselves with a disciplined and respectful look on their faces , Todoroki had a scowl.
For the man that emerged from the steam after having melted the entire stadium size block of ice was in fact.....
THE NUMBER 2 HERO OF JAPAN
THE FLAME HERO
THE LAST EMBER
ENDEAVOUR!!!!
"Did you really let your emotions overrule your judgment again Shoto" said Endeavour as he folded his arm.
Endeavour was currently standing near the railing with his arms folded with his iconic navy torquoise costume glowing red with his flames burning across his body especially his shoulders that were covered with massive pauldrons.
And his face that battle hardened face , his red hair with flaming mask to cover his his face, but the mask did nothing to cover that deep and nasty scar on the left side of his face. A large scar that travels from his forehead across his eyes which were suprisingly intact to his cheeks that were completely gone exposing his teeth to his neck. A symbol and reminder of his greatest battle from 5 years ago.
Endeavour spoke again.
"Power without direction is just noise Shoto"
And with that the entire stadium became silent.
"A hero is not measured by how much power they possess… but by how much they don't use. Let's continue this talk later"
And with that he left walking back inside leaving a rather large silence in the stadium.
While Todoroki clenched his hands and just left without saying a word.
"Ok... That happened anyway let's get ready for the next match everyone!!!"
That finally got everyone to cheer up again.
But in everyone's mind the image of the number 2 hero remained the man who would've become the number 1 in any other country or in any other time period. A man whose actions spoke louder than words. The hero of the black legion invasion from 5 years ago.
That Endeavour had just walked in undid what his son had done and repremanded him for losing control and just left.
Yup this was going to be a lot more interesting from now on.