My Hero Academia - One Shots -

Fumikage Tokoyami - She Was Happier

How could he compete?

How could someone like himself compare to a prodigy? No, his quirk was not the issue, nor his appearance to his knowledge. In fact, this fate he'd forever been linked to had been set in stone - inevitable.

Since childhood, Tokoyami had harbored feelings for his friend - his best friend. She was the first person who put an effort into knowing him, digging him out of his quiet, emo feathers and dragging him to the light, sometimes quite literally. She had been his first friend, confidant, and eventually love, his well-hidden feelings only growing throughout the decade of their friendship, still continuing to bloom in high school.

But he couldn't help but want more. To be her boyfriend, the one without the space, was all he desired. He wanted a life with her, to spend time together, devote his affections to her alone, and eventually grow old as a pair. Perhaps his dreams could become a reality, they really could, other than the fact that someone he could call his friend, his classmate, his rival, stood in the way.

"You're staring at him again," he said, sighing as the girl didn't even spare a glance.

"I'm not," she simply replied, her eyes not drifting from the other boy's stoic form as he packed away his books, only proving her friend's point further.

Tokoyami's feathers furrowed as his brow scrunched up, clearing his throat to gain the h/c haired girl's attention. The disturbance, thankfully, to him at least, drew her shining, e/c eyes back to his own form. Although, his expression contorted into one of disbelief as she noticeably fidgeted.

"Fumi, I was not staring!" she defended. "Simply just gazed over in a direction and he was there."

"You seem to gaze in that direction an awful lot, considering you have to look somewhat behind yourself. This isn't a new thing, f/n."

"You're... You're right! It just isn't a thing at all!"

Defiantly crossing her arms with a "Hmph", y/n began to unconsciously glance around the room, her eyes falling on the half n' half boy once again.

"If it's not "a thing", then why's that look always on your face?"

"What?" she asked, immediately turning around to face the birb. "What look?"

Tokoyami sighed at her obliviousness to her own expression, the one he wanted to receive, not explain.

"You look a certain way when you see him," he informed, wishing he would just shut his beak. "You look at him... and it's like you staring at some sort of galaxy..."

"And?" she asked, secretly hiding her blush as she turned her head, watching her other classmate once more.

Tokoyami looked down, his frown clear as he spilled the harsh truth, one they both already knew, yet didn't choose to admit aloud.

"You love galaxies..."

"Yeah... I do... But let's be honest, someone as amazing as Todoroki would never like me back."

Oh, if only she recognized how wrong she really was. Tokoyami had seen it all: the amorous glances which easily turned into dreamy stares, how Todoroki's jaw fell slack in admiration as she honed her quirk in training, the d*mned blush that washed over his cheeks whenever she smiled at him.

Everyone could easily see that Todoroki was smitten with his classmate, all except for the girl who loved him just as much in return. Unbeknownst to y/n, she was chipping away at her closest friend, though he was kind enough to never risk her happiness for his own.

But that was something Tokoyami dared to rethink.

He wasn't mad, simply frustrated. Practically all his life, he had watched out for her, protecting her the best he could. Her emotions always came before his, despite what they were.

In happiness, he celebrated her joy; in anger, he calmed her storms; in pain, he comforted her. He had always been there. Viewing another in what should have been his place seemed so unpleasant - completely discomforting.

Tokoyami would have given anything to look away from the sight, yet he couldn't. His crisp eyes widened as his arms fell slack, carelessly dropping the pair of books he held. Dark Shadow, thankfully catching them, remained quiet, unable to speak a comforting word to his partner, only tugging gently on the edge of his shirt.

He strained to glance away from the new couple, watery tears, ones he hadn't felt in years, finally brimming. His gaze fell to his shoes, his steps becoming a distraction as he walked away, no destination in mind - just anywhere but there.

His steps gradually increased in speed, eventually becoming faster and faster before he broke into a raging sprint, blinded by condensed teardrops. A trail of clear liquid cascaded down his beak, wetting his dark, silky feathers on their way. He didn't bother to hide his face, not a body visible as he scanned the familiar area.

Hours upon hours of his childhood were spent in this particular park, all with the y/n. The swings, slides, monkeybars as well - everything had been used by them, together. He was her best friend... still was. But the feeling of change was sour, unwelcoming.

Tokoyami took a seat on the nearest bench, clenching its metal frame as he relentlessly cried, not releasing a single sound. He was alone for the first time, and she was his reason. Reason of joy, pain, sadness, confusion - she meant everything to him.

But she wasn't his. After all, Tokoyami had just witnessed her with another man, a man that was not and could never be himself. Todoroki had been the one grabbing her hips, pulling her in, kissing her lips, and giving her the attention she longed for - the love she deserved.

Just the thought drew more water to his eyes, his heart absolutely aching.

Yet, he could see.

Despite his tears, despite his cracked, broken, tattered admiration and unrequited love, he could see how happy she was, even if her partner wasn't himself.

She was happier... That was all that mattered.