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

Chapter 15

The battle at the USJ raged on, with Class 1-A fighting valiantly against the relentless villains. Niko had barely caught her breath after helping Tokoyami reign in Dark Shadow, but there was no time to rest. The villains were still coming, and despite their best efforts, the exhaustion was catching up with all of them.

In the middle of the chaos, Niko noticed Tokoyami pushing himself harder than ever, Dark Shadow lashing out at anything that came close. His movements were getting sluggish, his control over Dark Shadow becoming less precise. It was clear that the earlier struggle had taken a toll on him.

Suddenly, a villain-one Niko hadn't noticed-launched an attack from behind Tokoyami, sending a powerful shockwave that struck him in the side. Niko's heart dropped as she watched him stagger, the impact too much for him to bear. Dark Shadow tried to shield him, but Tokoyami had already collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"Tokoyami-kun!" Niko shouted, rushing to his side without hesitation.

Her breath came in ragged gasps as she knelt beside him, pulling him gently into her arms. His usually sharp and steady presence was now quiet, his body limp from the battle. Niko felt her heart twist painfully in her chest at the sight of him like this. He had been pushing himself so hard, and now he was hurt because of it.

"You idiot," she whispered, trying to fight the panic rising in her chest. "You should've been more careful..."

Her hands trembled as she held him close, her fingers brushing through the feathers on his head. She told herself to focus on the battle, that the others still needed help, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from Tokoyami. Seeing him like this, so vulnerable, struck something deep within her.

Niko's mind wandered, thoughts swirling between the chaos of the present and the strange connection she had been feeling with him. The moments they had shared, the quiet tension, the way he always seemed to be there when she needed him-it was all flooding back in this moment.

Without realizing it, she found herself leaning closer. His breathing was steady but faint, and she gently adjusted his position in her arms. Her heart raced, pounding in her ears as her thoughts consumed her.

What am I doing?

And yet, she couldn't stop herself. She was so close now, her face inches from his beak. Her emotions got the better of her, the relief that he was still alive, the fear of losing him-it all mixed together in a blur. Before she could even think it through, she pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his beak.

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. Her heart thudded in her chest as she pulled away, blinking as if waking from a trance. Did I just...?

Heat rushed to her face, her hands trembling. But before she could fully process what had happened, Tokoyami stirred in her arms. His eyes fluttered open, and for a second, Niko froze, wondering if he had noticed.

"Niko-chan...?" His voice was hoarse, still weak from the fight. He blinked up at her, his expression calm but slightly dazed.

Her heart skipped a beat, panic flooding her system. Had he seen? Had he felt it?

But instead of reacting, Tokoyami merely sat up slowly, taking in their surroundings. "The villains... are they still coming?"

Niko opened her mouth, her mind racing to form a coherent sentence. "I-I... no, we're safe for now," she stammered, feeling the blush creep up her neck. "But you... you fainted."

Tokoyami glanced at her briefly, his eyes betraying nothing. "I see. Thank you for helping me."

For a second, Niko thought he hadn't noticed the kiss, that maybe she had imagined it. But then, there was a flicker of something in his eyes-a brief, knowing look-before he looked away, keeping his expression carefully neutral.

"I'll need to be more careful next time," he added, as though nothing had happened. But Niko could sense it. He knew. He had to know.

The silence between them stretched, heavy with unspoken words. Niko's heart was still racing, but Tokoyami kept his focus forward, pretending as though the moment had never happened. And yet, there was a tension in the air, something lingering between them that neither of them addressed.

"Let's regroup," Tokoyami said finally, getting to his feet with a wince. "We still have a battle to finish."

Niko stood up as well, her face still flushed, but she nodded in agreement. "Yeah... right."

They moved forward, side by side, but the moment stayed with Niko, her heart beating a little faster every time she glanced at Tokoyami. He might have pretended nothing had happened, but she knew better. The memory of that brief, stolen kiss would be with them both-whether they acknowledged it or not.