Quintessential Shadows: Quintessential Quintuplets x Male Reader

3rd POV

The night was quiet. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the faint scent of grass and the lingering aroma of the evening's meal. The distant chirping of crickets filled the air, blending with the soft rustle of leaves. The moon hung high above, casting a silvery glow over the clearing.

Y/N barely had time to react before Nino threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms tightly around him.

His body froze on the spot, caught off guard by the unexpected embrace.

Her warmth pressed against him, her heartbeat pounding against his chest-fast, erratic.

"Umm... Nino...? What are you doing...?" Y/N asked hesitantly, blinking in confusion.

But she didn't let go.

Instead-

"Where were you?"

Her voice trembled, almost breaking.

"Do you even know how scared I was...?"

Y/N felt something warm against his chest.

It took him a moment to realize that Nino was crying.

Her shoulders shook slightly, and her grip on him tightened, as if afraid he might disappear if she let go.

Y/N's expression softened.

His hands hovered in the air, unsure of what to do.

Nino... crying?

She was usually so stubborn, so fiery, so strong-willed.

Yet, right now-

She looked so... fragile.

"Nino..." Y/N murmured, his voice gentler than before.

The girl in his arms sniffled, her face buried against him. He could feel her warmth, the slight tremble of her frame, the way she clutched at his shirt as if trying to hold onto something real-something that wouldn't disappear.

A few seconds passed in silence before he finally sighed.

Slowly, he placed a hand on her back, hesitantly patting her.

"Sorry."

Nino sniffled again but didn't answer.

Her breathing was still uneven, but little by little, it steadied.

"I was looking for you."

At those words, Nino finally pulled back slightly, her tear-streaked face looking up at him.

Her violet eyes-usually sharp and confident-were red and puffy, glistening under the moonlight.

"Idiot..." she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You should've found me sooner..."

Y/N let out a dry chuckle, scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah, yeah. My bad."

The tension in the air slowly dissipated, replaced by something more familiar, more comfortable.

Y/N let out a breath and sat down on the cool grass, stretching his legs as he gazed up at the sky. The stars twinkled above them, scattered like tiny diamonds against a vast sea of darkness.

Nino hesitated for a moment before plopping down beside him, her arms wrapped around her knees.

Silence stretched between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

After a while, Y/N broke it with a chuckle.

"You know, for someone who has defeated twenty-five members of a crime syndicate and can master any weapon just by touching  it, you get scared too easily."