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

Chapter 17 (continued)

Niko's heart was still pounding as she and Tokoyami stood in silence after Kirishima left the room. She fidgeted awkwardly, unsure how to break the tension hanging in the air. They were supposed to join the others, but neither of them moved.

Just as Niko was about to make an excuse to leave, she felt something warm and steady wrap around her shoulders. Tokoyami pulled her into a gentle hug, his arms firm but not overwhelming. Niko's breath hitched, her mind going blank as she felt the weight of his embrace.

"Tokoyami-kun...?" she whispered, surprised by the sudden closeness.

For a moment, Tokoyami didn't say anything. His grip tightened slightly, as though he was trying to say everything through this one gesture. It wasn't awkward; it felt natural, as though they had both been waiting for this without even realizing it.

After what felt like an eternity but was only a few seconds, Tokoyami pulled back just enough to look at her. His crimson eyes were softer than she had ever seen them before, the intensity replaced by something warmer, something... tender.

Before Niko could say anything, she felt a soft pressure on her cheek—Tokoyami had leaned in and kissed her, the touch of his beak gentle against her skin. Her eyes widened in shock, her heart pounding in her chest.

It was brief, barely more than a second, but it left Niko breathless.

When he pulled back, there was a faint flush on Tokoyami's face, but his expression remained calm, composed, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

"Call me Fumikage," he said quietly, his voice steady but filled with something deeper—something that made Niko's heart skip a beat.

Niko could only nod, her mind still reeling from the kiss, from the closeness, from everything. "F-Fumikage" she echoed softly, her voice barely a whisper.

He gave her a small nod, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Then, without another word, he stepped back, his usual cool demeanor slipping back into place as though nothing had happened.

"Let's not keep the others waiting," he said, his tone returning to its usual calm.

Niko could barely process his words, her mind still spinning from the kiss, from the way he had said his name. She quickly gathered herself, though, following him out of the training room and trying to ignore the heat still burning in her cheeks.

As they stepped into the hallway, Niko glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He seemed completely unaffected by what had just happened, but she knew better now. There was something deeper beneath the surface, something that was slowly, quietly growing between them.

And now, she had a name for it.