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

Chapter 18

The days flew by after the Sports Festival, a blur of excitement and triumph. Niko remembered the thrill of the competition, the adrenaline of her quirk combining with Tokoyami's in their joint efforts. Despite the fierce competition, it was Shoto Todoroki who claimed first place, showcasing his powerful abilities in a stunning display of skill. Niko felt proud of her friends, especially as she and Tokoyami had managed to place among the top ranks, their teamwork earning them admiration from their classmates.

As time flew by, it was the end of their first semester. And now it was summer break. Aizawa-sensei broke out the news that they'll be having a summer camp for a week.

---

The bus rumbled to a stop at the edge of a vast forest, the towering trees casting long shadows over the dirt road. Class 1-A, buzzing with energy and excitement, quickly gathered their things and disembarked.

“Finally! Time to show what we’ve got!” Kirishima exclaimed, grinning as he flexed his arm. “This camp is gonna be manly!”

Niko chuckled at his enthusiasm, adjusting her bag as she looked around. The fresh scent of pine filled the air, and a warm breeze rustled the leaves, giving the forest an inviting, yet mysterious, feel.

Uraraka stretched her arms above her head. “This place looks awesome! I can’t wait to start training.”

As the class gathered in the clearing, four figures appeared atop a cliff, standing in formation. Niko squinted up at them, recognizing them immediately from their distinct outfits.

“Everyone, meet the Pussycat Heroes!” Aizawa’s voice called out.

The figures leaped down from the cliff with incredible agility, landing gracefully in front of the students. Mandalay, Ragdoll, Pixie-Bob, and Tiger — the four pro heroes that would be overseeing their training — stood tall and confident, their presence immediately commanding attention.

“Welcome to the Summer Camp!” Mandalay greeted them with a bright smile. “We’re here to toughen you up, so don’t expect this to be a vacation!”

Pixie-Bob’s eyes gleamed with excitement as she pointed toward the vast forest ahead. “We’ll be pushing you all to your limits! So get ready for some hardcore training.”

Tiger flexed his muscles, his booming voice adding to the excitement. “Hope you all brought your A-game because we won’t be going easy on you!”

Niko exchanged a glance with Tokoyami, whose calm expression remained unchanged, though his eyes gleamed with determination. “This is going to be intense,” she whispered to him.

“I welcome the challenge,” Tokoyami replied, Dark Shadow flickering behind him, ready for whatever lay ahead.

Before they could react, Pixie-Bob thrust her hands into the ground, and the earth rumbled beneath their feet. Massive rocks and dirt formed a pathway through the forest, spiraling ahead like a natural rollercoaster.

“You’ll be starting your training right now!” Pixie-Bob announced with a smirk. “Make it to the camp before sundown — that is, if you can!”

In a blink, the ground beneath the students crumbled, and they were launched into the forest.

---

Hours later, at the camp...

The sun was beginning to set by the time Class 1-A finally arrived at the camp, bruised, exhausted, and covered in dirt. After hours of fending off the various beast-like constructs created by Pixie-Bob, the students were more than ready for a break.

“Ugh, that was rough,” Kaminari groaned, slumping down by the campfire as he wiped the sweat from his brow. “I’m toast.”

“Man, it was wild!” Kirishima said, still grinning despite his fatigue. “But we did it!”

Niko collapsed next to Uraraka, her muscles aching. “I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.”

Uraraka laughed tiredly. “Tell me about it. But hey, we made it!”

Tokoyami stood nearby, leaning against a tree as Dark Shadow withdrew. “This was merely the beginning,” he said in his usual stoic tone, though Niko could sense that he too was exhausted.

Just then, Mandalay approached the group, her smile softening slightly. “You’ve earned a break for tonight. The hot springs are ready if any of you want to relax before dinner.”

“The hot springs?!” Kaminari immediately perked up, his eyes sparkling. “Now we’re talking!”

---

Later at the Hot Springs

The setting sun cast a warm glow over the campsite as steam rose from the hot springs nestled between the rocks. After such an exhausting day, the thought of soaking in the warm water was a dream come true for the students.

The boys and girls were split into separate areas, a wooden wall dividing the springs. Niko sighed contentedly as she sunk into the water, feeling the soothing heat ease her aching muscles.

“This is exactly what we needed,” Ashido said, floating beside Niko. “I’m gonna stay in here forever.”

“I’m with you on that,” Uraraka chimed in, resting her head against the edge of the spring. “Tomorrow’s going to be even more intense, so we should enjoy this while we can.”

Niko let the warmth of the water wash over her, the stress from the day slowly fading away. She leaned her head back and gazed up at the darkening sky, stars beginning to twinkle overhead.

“So, Niko,” Ashido said with a teasing smile, “you and Tokoyami have been spending a lot of time together lately. What’s up with that?”

Uraraka raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Yeah, I’ve noticed that too! You two seem pretty close.”

Niko’s face flushed as she sat up a little straighter. “It’s nothing like that! We’re just… friends.”

Ashido grinned. “Uh-huh, sure. Whatever you say.”

Before Niko could protest further, the loud, exaggerated voices of Kaminari and Mineta echoed from the boys’ side of the springs.

“We should totally try to peek!” Mineta whispered loudly, earning a collective groan from the girls.

“Don’t even think about it!” Yaoyorozu’s voice called from across the spring. “You’ll regret it!”

“Trust me, it’s not worth the trouble,” Tokoyami’s calm voice rang out from the boys' side, sounding unimpressed by their antics. Niko couldn’t help but smile to herself. Typical Tokoyami, always level-headed.

“Well, I guess that’s our cue to get out,” Niko said with a sigh, standing up and wrapping a towel around herself as she and the other girls began to make their way out of the hot springs.

As she stepped out, Niko glanced toward the boys' side of the springs, her gaze lingering for a moment longer than she intended. She shook her head, trying to push the flustered thoughts away.