𝐓𝐨𝐣𝐢 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫: 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐲

1, 2, 3, Action!

The warehouse was dimly lit, with only slivers of light piercing through the high, narrow windows, casting long, eerie shadows across the floor. The air was thick with tension and dust, the scent of metal and old concrete heavy in the atmosphere. Y/N sat across from Toji at a makeshift table, the only piece of furniture in the vast, empty space. The silence between them was thick, charged with the gravity of their mission.

Toji leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he studied the crude map spread out on the table between them. "We need to take them out one by one," he said, his voice low and measured. "Strike when they're isolated. No room for mistakes."

Y/N nodded, her eyes following the path his finger traced on the map. "I understand," she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her. "But we need to be careful. They'll be expecting us to make a move."

Toji's gaze lifted to meet hers, his piercing green eyes scrutinizing her. "You hesitated back there," he said bluntly. "Why?"

Y/N's heart skipped a beat, and she looked away, unable to meet his intense gaze. "I... It's nothing. I just didn't expect-" she murmured, but then was interrupted.

"Nothing, huh?" Toji leaned forward, his tone mocking. He was now holding eye contact with Y/N, who was looking up to meet the ravenette's eyes. "You can't afford to be weak. Not now. Not ever."

Y/N bristled at his words, her fists clenching in her lap. "I'm not weak," she snapped, her eyes flashing with anger.

"And don't think for a second that I've forgotten what you did."

Toji smirked, leaning back again, his expression infuriatingly smug. "Good. Use that anger. It might just keep you alive."

They fell into silence again, the tension between them palpable. Y/N's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She hated him for his betrayal, for the way he had manipulated her. And yet, she couldn't deny the strange "pull" she felt towards him, the inexplicable connection that had formed between them.

But right now she could kill that bastard. Y/N became angry because of his cocky attitude.

Toji, for his part, was equally conflicted. He had always prided himself on his cold-heartedness, his ability to detach himself from any emotional entanglements. After all, he had -over the years- managed to built walls around him, that didn't let anyone inside.

But. He admired her strength, her determination. And though he would never admit it, he respected her.

As the night wore on, they continued to plan, their conversation becoming more tactical, more focused. Y/N's mind raced with strategies, but there was always a weird tension, that neither of them could fully understand.

"We'll start with Sato," Toji said after a while, his voice breaking the silence once more. "He's the weakest link."

Y/N nodded. "He frequents the old warehouse district at night. We can catch him off guard there."

Toji's lips curled into a grin. "Perfect."

---

About half an hour later they found themselves perched on a rooftop overlooking the decrepit warehouse district. The air was cool, the city lights casting an orange glow over the horizon. Y/N scanned the area below, her eyes sharp, every muscle in her body tense with anticipation.

"There," Toji whispered, pointing to a figure moving stealthily between the buildings. "That's him."

Y/N's heart pounded in her chest as they moved silently, descending from the rooftop and slipping into the shadows. They followed Sato, their movements synchronized, their breaths quiet.