All Might x Student!Reader (Boku no Hero Academia)

Chapter 26 - Different Form

You shifted again, trying to ease out of Toshinori's grasp, but his hold on you didn't loosen. No matter how you twisted, his arm remained wrapped tightly around your waist. It left you with no choice but to stay there, lying next to him, your heart racing. You glanced up at his face, which was calm but strained, like he was struggling with something in his sleep. His breathing was uneven, almost as if he was having a bad dream.

What could he be dreaming about? You stared at him, unable to look away, curiosity overriding your discomfort. Something about the way he looked while sleeping, so different from the composed man you'd met, drew you in. Why weren't you getting up and leaving right away? Anyone else would have escaped by now, annoyed or embarrassed that they'd ended up in such a strange situation. But for some reason, you couldn't bring yourself to move.

Without thinking, you reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead, your fingers moving on their own. His hair was softer than you expected, and before you could stop yourself, you let your hand drift higher, gently stroking his head as if trying to soothe him. His breathing began to calm, and the tension in his face seemed to fade. You sighed, dropping your hand back to your side, your cheeks warming with a mix of shame and something you didn't want to name.

You were acting ridiculous. What kind of person did this? You barely knew him, and here you were, petting him like some sort of weirdo. Your face burned with embarrassment as you covered your eyes with your hand. It wasn't like you had much experience being this close to someone. You'd never woken up beside anyone before, never had the chance to see someone's face while they slept. You shook your head, trying to snap yourself out of it. There was no use dwelling on your reaction. It wasn't as if it meant anything.

When you opened your eyes again, you tried to look away, but it was difficult with his face just inches from yours. The way you were positioned, you couldn't turn your head in any other direction without staring straight at him. You would've rather looked anywhere else—out the window, at the floor—anywhere but here. But lying still was pointless. You needed to find a way to free yourself, no matter how complicated things might get.

But was waking him up the best option? You hesitated, reconsidering. It could be awkward to explain how you ended up in his bed in the first place, especially when you had been trying to wake him gently at first. Entering someone's room while they were sleeping was bad enough; trying to explain how you'd ended up tangled in his arms was even worse.

Determined, you reached up and gently grabbed the arm that held you, trying to lift it just enough to slip out. To your dismay, the pressure around your waist tightened as Toshinori instinctively pulled you closer. His chin now rested against the top of your head, your face just inches away from his neck. His warmth radiated against you, and you felt trapped, the situation growing more embarrassing by the second.

You tried to shift again, but the movement only made him hold you tighter. His face buried itself in your hair, his breath warm against your scalp. You felt your pulse quicken, and for a moment, you were frozen with panic. As if things couldn't get any worse, his lips moved slightly, and you heard him mutter softly, "...(Y/N)... no..."

Your eyes flew wide open at the sound of your name. "What... the... hell?" you whispered to yourself, the shock hitting you like a bucket of ice water. Why was he saying your name in his sleep? And why did it sound like... like that? What was he dreaming about? Horrified thoughts raced through your mind. Had All Might actually left you in the care of a... no, that was ridiculous. Still, you couldn't ignore how weird this was.

You shoved against his arm with all your strength and managed to wriggle out of his grip. As soon as you were free, you jumped off the bed, your bare feet landing on the cold floor. Your face was hot with embarrassment, but there was anger there too—an unsettling mix of emotions that you didn't have time to sort out.

Your sudden movement must have disturbed him because Toshinori's eyes fluttered open. He blinked a few times, groggily pushing himself up into a sitting position. His gaze landed on you, standing there on the other side of the bed, and confusion flashed across his face.

"(Y/N)?" he said, rubbing his eyes. "What... what are you doing here? Did something happen?"

You stared at him, your pulse still racing. For a second, you didn't know what to say, your mind blank from the shock of the last few minutes. But when the words came, they spilled out in a rush. "What am I doing here? What are you doing, dragging me into your bed like that?!" you burst out, your voice louder than you intended. "You held me in the weirdest way, and then you said my name in your sleep—like... like you were having some kind of... dream..." Your voice trailed off as you realized how ridiculous it all sounded, but you couldn't back down now. "I can't believe All Might left me with you. This was a mistake. I'm going to find somewhere else to stay."

You took a step toward the door, but before you could reach it, Toshinori sprang up, his hand slamming against the wood to keep it closed. The sudden movement startled you, and you froze, your heart leaping into your throat. He stood close behind you, close enough that you could feel his breath against the back of your neck.

"Wait," he said quickly, his voice low and urgent. "Let me explain."

You kept your gaze fixed on the door, refusing to turn around. There was a nervous energy in the air, making it hard to think clearly. The memories of being held against your will flashed in your mind, a reminder of a time when you'd been powerless. You tried to push it away, but fear tightened its grip on you.

"Please... just let me out," you whispered, your voice trembling despite your effort to stay composed.

Toshinori's hand wavered on the door for a moment, as if he was reconsidering his actions. "I'm not trying to trap you here," he said quietly, his tone sincere. "I swear, it wasn't like that. I was... I was dreaming about you, but not in the way you're thinking."

You risked a glance over your shoulder, seeing the guilt etched on his face. "Then what?" you challenged, not ready to let your guard down.

He took a step back, giving you some space. "I was having a nightmare," he admitted, his voice unsteady. "In my dream, you were in danger. Someone was trying to hurt you, and I... I couldn't save you. I tried to protect you, but I was powerless." He shook his head, his expression pained. "When I woke up, I didn't know what was real. I didn't realize I'd... pulled you close."

His explanation hung in the air, and you could see the earnestness in his eyes, the way his hands trembled slightly at his sides. You wanted to believe him—part of you did—but the discomfort still lingered. "I don't know..." you muttered, looking away. "It just... it felt wrong."

"I understand," Toshinori said, his voice soft. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have reacted like that, asleep or not. But I promise, I wasn't thinking anything... inappropriate." He swallowed hard, his face slightly flushed. "It was just a dream. I'm sorry if I scared you."

You bit your lip, your anger beginning to ebb. He sounded sincere, and it didn't seem like he was lying. Still, something didn't sit right. You stepped away from the door, crossing your arms as you struggled to process everything. "You said my name," you pointed out. "It wasn't just any dream. It was... personal."

Toshinori's gaze fell to the floor. "Yes," he admitted. "But it wasn't what you're thinking. It was about you because... well, there's something I haven't told you. It's not a secret, exactly, but..." He hesitated, glancing up at you as if searching for the right words. "There's more to me than what you've seen. And I think it's time I show you the truth."

You raised an eyebrow, unsure of what he was getting at. "What do you mean?" you asked, your suspicion flaring up again.

Toshinori took a deep breath, stepping back to give you more room. "Stand back," he said quietly, his tone shifting to something more serious. "I'm going to show you... who I really am."

Before you could respond, a faint mist started to swirl around him. It was barely visible at first, just a subtle shimmer in the air. But then it grew, thickening and whirling faster until the white fog seemed to envelop him completely. You took an involuntary step back, your eyes widening as the mist began to dissipate, revealing a figure standing in front of you.

The man who emerged wasn't Toshinori—or at least, not the frail Toshinori you knew. He was taller, broader, and unmistakably familiar. His posture, the confident set of his jaw, and those piercing blue eyes...

All Might.