The Villainess's Journey To Heroism

Chapter 14: A Found Necklace

The sun beat down on the bustling city streets as Katsuki, Hina, and Best Jeanist patrolled, their hero costumes a stark contrast to the everyday attire of the civilians around them.

"So, Bakugou," Best Jeanist began, his voice laced with a hint of amusement, "what do you think the purpose of patrols is?"

Katsuki scoffed, his fiery gaze fixed on a group of teenagers loitering on a nearby corner. "To beat up any criminals we see, obviously," he growled.

Best Jeanist sighed, shaking his head. "While that might be a part of it, it's not the whole picture. Patrols are about providing a sense of security and peace of mind for the public."

Just then, a group of fangirls squealed as they recognized Best Jeanist, their eyes sparkling with admiration. He smiled politely, acknowledging their cheers. "As I was saying," he continued, "patrols are about reassuring the citizens that their heroes are watching over them."

Hina, meanwhile, was recognized by a group of parents, their faces filled with gratitude for her heroism in saving the young child from the fire. "Thank you for saving my son," one mother said, her voice choked with emotion. "He was so scared, but you were so brave."

Katsuki, however, was not met with such praise. A group of young boys, their faces filled with mockery, pointed at him and called out, "Hey, it's the Sludge Villain guy! You couldn't even handle a single villain!"

Katsuki's face contorted with rage. "Shut your mouths, you little brats!" he roared, his voice echoing through the street.

Best Jeanist, with a sigh, placed a hand on Katsuki's shoulder. "Bakugou, calm down. You're better than that."

Hina, trying to stifle her laughter, watched as Katsuki, in a futile attempt to control his anger, tried to reason with the boys. "Look, I was just a kid back then," he said, his voice strained. "I've learned a lot since then."

But his efforts were in vain. His words, laced with irritation, only served to further enrage the boys, who began to cry.

"Bakugou," Best Jeanist said, his voice firm, "you need to learn to control your temper. Your pride is going to ruin your potential to be a great hero."

As the patrol concluded, the three heroes parted ways, each carrying their own thoughts and experiences from the day.

Back at U.A. High School, the students of Class 1-A gathered, their faces a mixture of exhaustion and relief. The internships were over, and they were back in the familiar halls of their school.

Eijiro and Hanta, their eyes twinkling with amusement, poked fun at Katsuki's new hairstyle.

Hina walked into the classroom, her hair back to its normal, flowing length. "Hey, Bakugou," she said, "your hair looks good."

Katsuki's face flushed red with anger. "It's not fair!" he yelled. "Why does your hair get to go back to normal?!"

His outburst caused his hair to spike up again, a testament to his uncontrolled emotions. Eijiro, watching in amusement, grinned. "Look it's back to normal."

Mina, her voice filled with admiration, complimented Tsuyu and Kyoka for their bravery in confronting real villains during their internships. "You guys were amazing!" she exclaimed.

"And Hina," she added, "you did a great job saving that kid from the fire. You're a real hero."

The girls turned to Ochaco, their curiosity piqued. "How was your internship?" they asked.

Ochaco, her face glowing with pride, struck a pose and practiced her fighting form. "It was very fruitful," she said, her voice filled with confidence. "I learned a lot about myself and my abilities."

Denki, his eyes wide with admiration, commented, "You've changed so much, Ochaco. You're a lot stronger now."

Minoru, however, shook his head. "Don't believe it, Denki," he said, his voice laced with cynicism. "All women are evil. I learned that the hard way during my internship with Mt. Lady."

Denki, ignoring Minoru's comment, turned to Izuku, Shoto, and Tenya. "You guys went through the most during the internships," he said, his voice filled with concern. "What happened?"

Most of the class gathered around them, their faces filled with worry.

Shoto, his expression stoic, replied, "Endeavor saved us from the Hero Killer. We were lucky."

The next day, Hina sat in the classroom, her heart pounding with nervousness. She had been invited to meet Katsuki after class, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

"Hina, what's wrong?" Kirishima asked, his voice filled with concern. "You look like you're about to faint."

Hina, startled by Kirishima's question, stammered, "I... I don't know. I just feel... nervous."

"Nervous about what?" Kirishima pressed, his eyes filled with curiosity.

Hina, her voice barely a whisper, explained that Katsuki had asked her to meet him after class.

"What did you do?" Kirishima asked, his eyebrows furrowed with concern.

Hina shrugged, her face filled with confusion. "I don't know. I didn't do anything."

Later, during homeroom class, Shota, his face stern, announced that the class would be going on a trip to a forest lodge during summer break.

"But," he warned, his voice a low growl, "if any of you fail to pass the end of term test, you will be stuck in remedial school."

The students, their faces a mix of excitement and apprehension, listened intently to Aizawa's words. The end of term test, they knew, would be a crucial test of their skills and determination.

Later

The bell signaling the end of class rang, and Hina nervously made her way to the designated meeting spot. She found Katsuki leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Katsuki, without a word, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, familiar object. It was her necklace, the silver dragon charm glinting in the afternoon light.

A wave of shock washed over Hina. "My necklace!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief. "How did you...?"

A flashback flickered in her mind. After hearing about her necklace going missing, Katsuki had been strangely quiet. He had spent the rest of the day searching, scouring the fire-ravaged area with a determination that surprised even him. He had found it, tucked away beneath a pile of debris, and had kept it safe ever since.

Hina, her cheeks burning with a blush, watched as Katsuki turned and walked away, his back stiff and his shoulders tense. He didn't even bother to acknowledge her gratitude.

As she watched him go, a realization dawned on her. Despite his fiery temper and short fuse, there was a soft side to Katsuki, a side that she hadn't seen before.

She quickly put on the necklace, the cool silver against her skin a comforting reminder of his unexpected kindness. Then, with a newfound sense of courage, she hurried after him.

"Thank you, Katsu," she said, her voice a gentle murmur.

Katsuki stopped in his tracks, his head snapping towards her. "What the hell did you call me?" he roared, his face contorted with anger.

Hina giggled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Katsu," she repeated, her voice laced with playful defiance. "It's a nickname."

Katsuki, his anger momentarily forgotten, stared at her, his expression a mix of confusion and annoyance. He opened his mouth to retort, but then he simply shook his head and continued walking, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Hina, her heart fluttering with a mixture of excitement and nervousness, walked beside him, her steps light and her smile bright. She had never seen this side of Katsuki before, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth and affection for him.