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

Chapter 11

The sun had just begun to rise over U.A. High School, casting a soft orange glow across the city as Niko made her way through the gates for another day of training. Despite the loss in yesterday's Battle Trial, she couldn't shake the strange flutter she'd felt during her brief exchange with Tokoyami.

She sighed, adjusting the strap of her bag as she walked down the halls. The trial had shown her how much she still needed to improve—her telekinesis was powerful, but maintaining it under pressure, especially against opponents like Todoroki and Dark Shadow, had drained her quicker than she anticipated. That, and her brief but awkward moment with Tokoyami kept replaying in her mind.

Shaking her head, she muttered to herself, "Get it together, Niko. Focus on the important stuff."

As she entered Class 1-A, she found most of the students already seated, some chatting and others reviewing notes. Midoriya was seated in the front row, scribbling furiously in his notebook. The sight made her smile—he was always so focused on becoming a better hero. Despite their loss, he had encouraged her to look at the trial as a learning experience.

"Morning, Niko!" Midoriya's voice piped up as she took her seat beside him. He looked up from his notes, eyes bright with enthusiasm. "I was thinking about yesterday's trial, and I think we did pretty well for our first try! We just need to work on countering Todoroki's ice and figuring out a way to block Dark Shadow without draining your quirk too fast."

Niko smiled. His optimism was infectious. "Yeah, it's all about finding balance. But you're right. We can't let the loss get us down—we'll get stronger."

As they spoke, the door slid open, and Tokoyami entered the classroom, his presence as quietly intense as ever. Niko caught his eye for a brief moment, and there it was again—that awkward flutter in her chest. He gave her a brief nod, and she quickly looked away, feeling her cheeks heat up.

Why is this so weird? It's just Tokoyami.

Before she could dwell on it further, Aizawa-sensei shuffled into the room, his usual exhausted expression plastered across his face. "Listen up," he began in his gravelly voice, leaning against the podium. "Today's lesson is going to be a bit different from yesterday's Battle Trial. You'll still be working in teams, but this time, we're focusing on rescue missions."

Niko's ears perked up. Rescue missions?

"The training ground we'll be using is designed to simulate real-world disaster scenarios," Aizawa continued. "Your job will be to evacuate civilians, minimize damage, and deal with any unforeseen dangers that might occur. This exercise isn't just about defeating villains—it's about saving lives."

Excitement buzzed through the room as the students whispered to one another. Niko felt a mix of anticipation and nerves. This kind of training would be new, but she was eager to prove herself.

Aizawa glanced at the class roster, calling out names for team assignments. "Midoriya, Uraraka, and Iida—Team A. Bakugo, Kirishima, and Kaminari—Team B." He went down the list, assigning groups quickly.

When he finally reached Niko's name, she held her breath. "Sakura Niko, Tokoyami Fumikage, and Todoroki Shoto—Team D."

Niko blinked. Tokoyami and Todoroki again? This was either fate or Aizawa's way of pushing her into the deep end. She glanced over at Tokoyami, who remained impassive, his focus already on the task at hand. Todoroki, seated nearby, offered her a small nod of acknowledgment.

Great. Here we go again.

---

The team arrived at the designated training ground, a large facility built to resemble a city in ruins. Smoke billowed from faux wreckage, and robotic civilians cried out for help from the debris. The environment was chaotic, and the mission was clear—save as many civilians as possible.

Aizawa's voice crackled over the comms. "Remember, this isn't just about speed. Prioritize the safety of civilians and think on your feet. The simulation will throw curveballs at you—be ready."

Niko stood beside Tokoyami and Todoroki, her heart pounding as the timer began.

"Any plan?" she asked, trying to keep her nerves in check. Working with both of them felt intimidating, but she wasn't about to back down.

Todoroki studied the layout, his calm demeanor reassuring. "I'll use my ice to create pathways through the debris. Tokoyami, you can send Dark Shadow to handle areas that are too dangerous for us to enter directly. Niko, your telekinesis will be essential for moving rubble and rescuing trapped civilians."

Niko nodded, grateful for his straightforward plan. "Sounds solid."

As they moved through the simulated disaster zone, the team worked in near-perfect harmony. Todoroki's ice allowed them to navigate through unstable structures, and Dark Shadow slithered through narrow spaces, guiding civilians to safety. Niko used her telekinesis to lift heavy beams and fallen debris, carefully moving civilians out of harm's way.

Everything was going smoothly—until the ground beneath them began to tremble.

Aizawa's voice crackled in their earpieces. "Earthquake simulation. Stay sharp."

Niko's eyes widened as the floor began to crack, a massive fissure splitting open ahead of them. She reacted instinctively, sending out a telekinetic wave to hold back the falling debris, but it was too much all at once. Her arms trembled from the strain, and she felt her quirk faltering.

"Dark Shadow!" Tokoyami called, sending his shadow creature forward to help stabilize the crumbling structure.

But in the chaos, Niko lost her footing, and before she could react, the ground gave way beneath her.

"Niko-chan!" Tokoyami's voice cut through the noise as he lunged forward, grabbing her wrist just as she began to fall into the fissure. For a moment, everything seemed to slow down—the world narrowed to just the two of them, her hand in his as he pulled her back from the brink.

Their eyes met, and Niko's breath caught in her throat. The intensity in Tokoyami's gaze, the way his grip tightened protectively around her wrist—it made her heart race in a way that had nothing to do with the danger they were in.

"Are you all right?" Tokoyami asked, his voice steady but laced with concern.

Niko nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah... thanks."

He let go of her hand, but the awkwardness lingered between them, unspoken yet palpable. She could feel her face flushing, but there was no time to dwell on it. They had a mission to complete.

Todoroki glanced over, his expression unreadable, but he gave a curt nod. "Let's keep moving. We're almost there."

Niko shook off the strange feelings bubbling up inside her and focused back on the task at hand. But as they moved forward, she couldn't help but steal one last glance at Tokoyami, her heart still pounding from more than just the adrenaline of the rescue.