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

Chapter 10

Niko's telekinetic barrier trembled as Dark Shadow relentlessly battered against it. Sweat dripped down her brow as she struggled to hold the pieces of rubble in place, but she could feel the force overwhelming her. Midoriya had been blocked off by Todoroki's ice wall, leaving them in a stalemate—but not for long.

"Dark Shadow!" Tokoyami's calm voice echoed through the room, commanding his quirk with precision. "Go full power."

The shadowy beast roared, expanding in size as it lashed out with renewed strength. Niko's barrier shattered with a deafening crash, sending debris flying. She stumbled backward, her energy spent. Dark Shadow surged toward her, but before it could strike, Tokoyami raised his hand.

"Enough."

The shadow froze in place, retracting slightly at his command. Tokoyami stepped forward, his crimson eyes narrowing as he approached Niko. For a moment, his intense gaze caught hers, and she felt a strange flutter in her chest. The heat of the battle faded for just a second, replaced by an awkward silence.

Niko, still catching her breath, blinked up at him. "You... really didn't hold back, huh?"

Tokoyami's expression remained stoic, but there was a flicker of something behind his eyes—concern, maybe? "I couldn't afford to. You fought well, but hesitation leads to defeat."

Niko nodded slowly, her face still flushed from the battle. "Yeah, I can see that..."

She took a step forward, intending to move past him and help Midoriya, but her legs wobbled from exhaustion. Tokoyami instinctively reached out, his hand catching her elbow to steady her. The touch was brief, but it made her pulse quicken.

"I—thanks," Niko mumbled, her voice catching in her throat.

Tokoyami withdrew his hand quickly, almost as if the contact had surprised him too. He cleared his throat, looking away with an unreadable expression. "It was... nothing."

The awkward silence stretched between them for a second too long, and Niko could feel her face burning with embarrassment. She wasn't sure what was more disorienting—the intensity of the battle or this unexpected moment with Tokoyami.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Midoriya's voice called out from behind the ice wall. "Niko! Are you okay?"

Niko snapped out of it, shaking off the strange feeling. "Y-yeah, I'm fine! But..."

Todoroki's icy barrier crumbled as he stepped forward, his voice as calm and composed as ever. "It's over."

Midoriya had made one last push to reach the weapon, but Todoroki's ice blocked him at every turn. Dark Shadow was too fast, too powerful for Niko's telekinesis to handle in her exhausted state. The match was lost.

All Might's voice boomed over the speakers. "The Villain Team wins!"

---

Back in the observation room, the atmosphere was tense. Niko and Midoriya stood side by side, catching their breath as they watched the playback of the battle. While they had fought hard, Todoroki and Tokoyami's teamwork had been flawless. Every move was calculated, and they'd used their quirks with devastating efficiency.

Midoriya frowned, his hand on his chin as he analyzed the footage. "We were close... but their defense was just too strong."

Niko sighed, crossing her arms. "Yeah, we just couldn't get past Todoroki-kun's ice, and Dark Shadow... was intense."

From across the room, Tokoyami stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. He glanced briefly in Niko's direction, and their eyes met for a split second before he looked away. She felt that strange flutter again, but quickly pushed it aside.

There was no time for distractions—not when she had so much to work on.

As the class began to wind down from the day's exercise, Niko walked toward the exit, her thoughts swirling with everything that had happened. Before she could leave, a quiet voice stopped her.

"Niko-chan"

She turned to see Tokoyami standing behind her, his posture as composed as ever, but there was a hint of hesitation in his eyes. "You fought well today," he said simply, though there was an unusual softness to his tone.

Niko blinked, surprised. She hadn't expected him to say anything. "Thanks... You, too. You're really strong."

There was an awkward pause, and Tokoyami shifted slightly, almost as if he was unsure of what to say next. Niko bit her lip, feeling the tension hang in the air between them.

"I'll... do better next time," she added, trying to break the silence. "Maybe I'll even beat you."

Tokoyami's beak quirked upward into the faintest hint of a smile. "I look forward to it."

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Niko standing there, her heart racing for reasons she didn't quite understand.