~𝔏𝔬𝔳𝔢 ℌ𝔞𝔰 𝔑𝔬 𝔅𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔞𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔰~ (Tokoyami Fumikage X Reader)

Chapter 4

As the quirk assessment concluded, the students filed into the bustling cafeteria, where the air buzzed with laughter and conversations. Niko felt a rush of relief; the pressure of the test was behind her, and now it was time to unwind.

After grabbing her tray filled with a colorful assortment of food, she scanned the room. The usual chaos reigned: Bakugou was at the front of the line, loudly complaining about the food while Iida tried to calm him down, his glasses gleaming with the intensity of his arguments.

"Ugh, why do they always serve this slop?!" Bakugou shouted, slamming his tray on the counter.

"Maybe because you're too picky!" Kaminari chimed in, laughing as he joined the fray. "At least it's not the training food!"

Niko chuckled, shaking her head as she made her way to a table where Tokoyami sat alone, his plate of food untouched, a rare look of contemplation on his face.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked, pulling out a chair across from him.

"Of course," Tokoyami replied, his tone calm as ever. "I welcome the company."

As she settled in, the noise around them faded into the background. "How was your lunch?" she asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

"Quiet, as usual," he said, glancing toward the chaos at the other end of the cafeteria. "I prefer to observe rather than partake in the chaos."

Niko laughed softly. "Yeah, I can see that. But sometimes, you gotta jump into the chaos a bit. It's fun!"

"Fun can be... subjective," he replied, a hint of a smile forming at the corner of his beak-like mouth. "But I suppose it is refreshing to share this moment with you."

Just then, Bakugou, who had finally grabbed his food, stormed over, his eyes narrowing at Tokoyami. "What are you doing sitting here in the corner like a bat? You should be out there showing off your quirk!"

"Why? So I can get blown up by your ego?" Tokoyami replied coolly, his voice steady.

"Shut up! You think you're so cool just because you've got that shadow thing?" Bakugou shot back, crossing his arms.

"Enough, Bakugou," Iida interjected, rushing over, his hands waving. "This is lunchtime, not the training grounds! We should support each other instead of arguing!"

Niko glanced between them, sensing the tension. "Hey, Bakugou-kun, Tokoyami-kun just had a great showing during the assessment. It's okay for him to relax."

"Yeah, whatever," Bakugou grumbled, turning to grab a seat. "Just don't get too comfortable, bird boy."

"Bird boy?" Dark Shadow hissed, its form flickering in agitation.

Tokoyami raised a hand slightly, calming Dark Shadow. "It's fine," he said, turning his attention back to Niko. "Let him have his fun."

Niko couldn't help but smile at the banter, even as Bakugou continued to mutter under his breath. "You know, I think there's a reason you're all friends," she said, trying to lighten the mood. "Even if it's a bit chaotic."

Just then, Uraraka and Midoriya joined the table, bringing their own food. "What's going on?" Uraraka asked, noticing the tension. "Did Bakugou start another fight?"

"Just the usual," Niko said, shaking her head. "But it's more entertaining than I expected."

Midoriya glanced at Tokoyami. "You did amazing in the assessment, by the way! Your control over Dark Shadow has really improved!"

"Thank you, Midoriya," Tokoyami replied, his tone softening slightly. "I've been working on it."

"Yeah, and Niko was awesome too! You should have seen her!" Kirishima added, bouncing over with a tray of food. "That telekinesis was incredible! You created a whole cyclone of debris!"

"Thanks!" Niko said, feeling a warm glow at the praise. "I was just trying to keep up with you guys."

As the conversation flowed, Bakugou rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a small smirk. "Just don't expect to beat me anytime soon."

Niko laughed, feeling the camaraderie of the group settle around her. "Challenge accepted."

With the noise of the cafeteria surrounding them, laughter and light-hearted jabs filled the air, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. Niko felt a sense of belonging, even amidst the chaos, her connection with Tokoyami and the others growing stronger with each passing moment.

As the lively chatter continued, Niko felt a rush of excitement at her new friendships. Just then, the cafeteria doors swung open violently, drawing everyone's attention. A group of upperclassmen stormed in, their expressions fierce and determined, casting shadows over the bustling crowd.

"Hey, listen up!" one of them shouted, his voice booming across the cafeteria. "We've got a challenge for you first-years!"

The energy in the room shifted instantly, curiosity and apprehension rippling through the crowd. Bakugou narrowed his eyes, clearly unimpressed. "What do you want?" he growled, leaning forward in his seat.

"We're hosting an unofficial competition this weekend-a hero training exercise. Only the best can participate!" the leader announced, a smirk spreading across his face. "And we're here to see who can handle the heat!"

Niko's heart raced-this could be an incredible opportunity, but it also sounded dangerous.

"Are you in or out?" the upperclassman challenged, glancing around the cafeteria. "We'll be waiting for your answer."

As the tension mounted, Niko glanced at Tokoyami, who seemed unfazed but focused, his crimson eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation.

"Looks like we've got a choice to make," he said, his voice steady. "Are we ready to step up?"

Before Niko could respond, Bakugou stood abruptly, fists clenched and a fierce determination in his eyes. "I'm in! Let's show them what we're made of!"

The cafeteria erupted into chaos as students began to cheer, excitement building. Niko felt a surge of adrenaline, her pulse quickening. This was the moment she had been waiting for- a chance to prove herself.

"Count me in too!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the noise as she turned to Tokoyami. "What about you?"

Tokoyami hesitated, looking between Niko and the group of upperclassmen, weighing his options. "I...," he began, his expression unreadable.

But before he could finish, the power suddenly flickered in the cafeteria, plunging them into darkness. Gasps filled the air as the lights sputtered back to life, revealing the upperclassmen smirking with an ominous glint in their eyes.

"Looks like you'll have to make your choice fast," the leader taunted, stepping forward. "Or you might just miss your chance!"

Suddenly, the ground shook violently, and the cafeteria erupted into chaos. Tables toppled, and students screamed, scrambling for safety. Niko struggled to keep her footing, her heart racing as she grabbed onto the edge of the table.

In the midst of the chaos, Tokoyami's voice rose above the commotion. "Niko-chan! Get back!"

But it was too late. A dark figure emerged from the shadows of the cafeteria, a hulking mass that seemed to absorb the light around it. The entity surged forward, heading straight for the upperclassmen.

Niko's breath caught in her throat as she realized this was no ordinary shadow; it was a creature of pure darkness, a manifestation of Tokoyami's quirk gone rogue. Dark Shadow was out of control.

"Tokoyami, what is that?!" she shouted, fear creeping into her voice.

"Dark Shadow is out of control!" he replied, his eyes wide with shock. "It shouldn't be able to manifest like this!"

The upperclassmen shouted in panic, scrambling away from the monstrous shadow that threatened to consume everything in its path.

"Niko! We need to get out of here!" Tokoyami urged, his calm demeanor shattered by the sudden turn of events.

But as Niko turned to run, she felt a powerful surge of energy-Dark Shadow's energy-pulling her back, as if it were calling to her.

In that moment, she realized that the challenge was no longer just about proving themselves against upperclassmen; they were about to face something far more dangerous than they had anticipated.