Solstice and Eclipse: Part III

Chapter XIII: New Beginnings

Author's Note: To my Patreon members, you will notice that I have changed the ending of this chapter. Please do not share what changes were made, as I will be introducing it later but in a more impactful way.

Studies have shown that having a morning routine helps increase productivity, decrease stress, and allows one to better focus their mind for the day to come. For some, that meant checking their emails while others preferred to start their days with a relaxing shower. For Katsuki Bakugou it meant immediately dropping to the floor to hammer out one-hundred push-ups at the sound of his 5:30 am alarm, which was consistently the first sound to break the morning silence in the 1-A Alliance Dormitory.

Bakugou knew his classmates liked to poke fun at him behind his back for his early self-assigned bedtime, but he could ignore their jibes so long as it meant he had the first hour of the day to himself, uninterrupted by the others. Despite what he knew everyone thought about him, he did have his own ways to relax. But he also knew if his peers ever discovered just how much he enjoyed cooking he would never hear the end of it. So, he woke early enough to take pleasure in his morning routing while still hiding it from the other inhabitants of the dormitory.

Throwing on a burgundy t-shirt, he made his way downstairs still in his pajamas, doing his best to stifle a yawn. As much as he hated having to live with his classmates, the state-of-the-art kitchen UA had provided served as compensation, though just barely. This particular morning, he was rather looking forward to cooking up some tamagoyaki.

Stepping into the kitchen, he threw open the large fridge and pulled out several cartons of eggs. He'd been sure to pick up enough the other day to serve twenty-one people, not that he'd ever tell anyone that. Cracking each egg with masterful precision, he whisked the first batch until he was satisfied with their consistency. Next, he added a dash of soy sauce and mirin, a measured amount of sugar and just a bit of salt to draw out the sweetness before setting aside the mixture to grab his skillet from beneath the island sink.

Resurfacing from behind the counter, Bakugou turned on the stove and had just finished oiling the pan when his eyes landed on an unexpected observer sitting on the couch in the attached living room. How long had that blindfolded bastard been sitting there? And how had he not noticed him? He must have walked right past him without even noticing.

"Your oil's going to burn." (L/N) said plainly, not bothering to look at Bakugou.

With a growl, Bakugou turned his attention back to his cooking. He would have yelled at (L/N) were he not afraid of waking the others. Plus, tamagoyaki was not a dish he could leave unattended. He looked up briefly as (L/N) made his way for the sink, pouring himself a glass of water.

"You're rolling the eggs wrong." He said as he took a sip.

"What the hell'd you just say?"

"You need to move the pan while you're rolling the eggs," (L/N) set his glass down, "not just use the chopsticks."

"Like you know anything about cooking." Bakugou scoffed.

With a shrug, (L/N) refilled his glass and returned to his spot on the couch. He was surprised to find Bakugou awake this early, he thought to himself as he drank his water. He hadn't been expecting anyone else to be up at this hour. The only reason he was even awake was because he was used to having a two hour walk to school each morning.

In the kitchen Bakugou was still glowering at (L/N) out of the corner of his eye. Considering the other man's words, he discretely held the pan beneath the counter, almost like he was afraid of someone seeing, and flicked the pan as he rolled the tamagoyaki. To his surprise (and irritation), he found the chopsticks slid beneath the layer of eggs allowing him to roll them easier.