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

Chapter 7

The weight of the earlier incident still lingered as Niko made her way back to class with Tokoyami and Kirishima. But even as she replayed Dark Shadow's wild rampage in her head, something else nagged at the back of her mind-Todoroki Shoto.

She sat on his right., and that brief conversation had been... awkward, to say the least. Todoroki wasn't rude exactly, but his cold, dismissive response had left her confused and slightly put off.

"No. I'm not here to be nice and make friends."

The memory of his words lingered. Niko had wanted to get to know him better, but it was clear that Todoroki had his walls up, hard and unyielding. And now, with everything that had happened with Tokoyami, it felt like there was more going on with the students at U.A. than just training to be heroes.

As they approached the classroom, Niko's mind wandered back to that strange feeling she'd had when she first saw Todoroki-like she knew him from somewhere, but couldn't place it at the time. That serious look in his eyes, the way he'd shut down her offer of friendship without hesitation... it still bugged her.

Just as they reached the classroom door, Niko slowed her pace, letting Tokoyami and Kirishima walk ahead. She glanced down the hallway, and sure enough, there was Todoroki, standing by himself near the windows, staring out at the courtyard with that same stoic expression.

She hesitated, unsure if she should approach him again after their last conversation. But something about his presence-and the mystery surrounding Dark Shadow-pushed her forward.

Maybe he knows something, she thought. And if not... maybe I can still break through that icy exterior.

Taking a deep breath, Niko made her way toward him. "Hey, Todoroki-kun," she called out softly, hoping not to startle him.

He turned his head slightly, acknowledging her without fully facing her. His mismatched eyes-one blue, one grey-focused on her for a brief second before shifting back to the window. "Yes?" he said, his tone neutral but not quite as cold as before.

Niko decided to approach this carefully. "I wanted to talk to you about earlier... with Tokoyami-kun. Did you notice anything strange before Dark Shadow went out of control?"

Todoroki didn't answer right away, his gaze still fixed outside. But after a moment, he spoke. "I noticed the shift in energy. Dark Shadow is usually aggressive, but that was something else. It felt more... chaotic."

Niko blinked. This was more than she expected. Todoroki had noticed something. She stepped closer, her curiosity piqued. "Do you have any idea what could have caused it?"

Todoroki finally turned to face her fully, his expression unreadable. "No," he said bluntly. "But something must have triggered it. Quirks don't just lose control for no reason."

Niko frowned. "So you think it wasn't just Tokoyami-kun? Maybe something external?"

"Possibly," Todoroki replied, crossing his arms. "But it could also be internal. Emotional instability can affect quirks. Tokoyami's relationship with Dark Shadow has always been about balance."

Niko absorbed his words. She hadn't considered the emotional side of things-how Tokoyami's feelings or stress could influence Dark Shadow. But there was something about Todoroki's tone, a hint of understanding that went deeper than just observation.

"You sound like you've thought about this before," she ventured carefully, wondering if Todoroki was drawing from his own experiences.

For a moment, Todoroki's expression shifted, a flicker of something deeper in his eyes. "I know what it's like to struggle with your quirk," he admitted quietly. "Especially when there are parts of yourself you'd rather not face."

Niko's heart skipped a beat. That was the first time she had heard Todoroki say anything remotely personal. She could tell there was a story behind his words, something painful.

She chose her next words carefully. "You don't have to face it alone, you know. I know we don't know each other well, but... I'm here. If you ever need someone to talk to."

Todoroki looked at her, surprised by the offer, but his face quickly returned to its usual impassive state. "I appreciate it, but I'm used to handling things on my own."

Niko nodded, sensing she wouldn't get much more out of him today. But even so, something had shifted between them. Maybe Todoroki wasn't ready to be friends yet, but at least he wasn't shutting her out entirely anymore.

Before she could say anything else, the classroom door behind them opened, and Midoriya poked his head out, looking concerned. "Niko-chan, Todoroki-kun-class is about to start. Are you guys coming?"

"Yeah, coming," Niko said quickly, giving Todoroki one last look before following Midoriya inside.

As she returned to her seat, her mind buzzed with everything Todoroki had said. There was more to this than just a quirk malfunction. Something had triggered Dark Shadow's chaos, and if it wasn't purely Tokoyami's emotions, then what was it?

The thought stayed with her as the lesson began, her focus drifting in and out. She couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was brewing.

---

After class, as Niko packed up her things, she saw Tokoyami at his desk, his usual composure still fractured from the events earlier. He sat silently, staring at his notebook, Dark Shadow resting quietly at his side, now back to its small, obedient form.

She approached him, her earlier conversation with Todoroki fresh in her mind. "Tokoyami-kun, can I ask you something?"

He looked up, his red eyes focused but tired. "What is it?"

"I've been thinking about what happened," she said, lowering her voice so they wouldn't be overheard. "And I don't think this was just about losing control. Todoroki-kun mentioned something about balance... about how emotional instability can affect quirks."

Tokoyami's eyes narrowed slightly. "Emotions?"

"Yeah," Niko said. "Maybe it's not just about training harder. Maybe something inside you-something you're feeling-is affecting Dark Shadow. Have you felt... off lately? Like something's been bothering you?"

For a moment, Tokoyami didn't respond. He stared at the ground, clearly thinking, but his expression remained guarded. Finally, he spoke, his voice low. "There's always darkness inside. I've spent years trying to control it. But lately..."

"Lately?" Niko pressed gently.

"Lately, it feels like the shadows are growing stronger," Tokoyami admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "Like something inside me is slipping."