The Villainess's Journey To Heroism

Chapter 22: Whispers in the Kitchen

The aroma of breakfast wafted through the air, rousing Kirishima from his slumber. He stumbled into the kitchen, only to be greeted by the unexpected sight of Hina, washing dishes.

"Hina!" he exclaimed, surprised.

"Good morning, Kiri," she replied, her smile warm.

Mina, entering the kitchen moments later, gasped, "Hina, you're back! But when?"

"Early this morning," Hina explained, finishing the dishes. "You guys were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you."

"You should've woken us up!" Mina complained playfully.

Kaminari, already munching on a plate of food, chimed in, "You guys should try this, it's amazing!"

Kirishima took a bite, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, he's right!"

Izuku added, "You should try the sandwich. It's different, but really good."

Kirishima and Mina took a bite, their eyes widening. "What's in this? It's delicious!"

"If you think that's good, wait until you taste the strawberry cake later," Hina boasted, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Where is it?" Mina asked, looking around.

"I'll bake it for dessert tonight," Hina replied.

Before anyone could respond, Bakugou stormed into the kitchen, his presence filling the room with a palpable tension. All eyes were on him as he grabbed a sandwich from the table.

"WHY THE HELL ARE YOU LOOKING?!" he roared, his voice sharp and angry.

Kirishima, avoiding Bakugou's glare, mumbled, "No reason."

Bakugou scoffed, "Tsk!" and took a bite of the sandwich. He paused for a moment, then took another bite, his expression unreadable.

Hina, leaning in, asked, "So, Katsu, is it good?"

Bakugou, taking another bite, mumbled, "It's not bad."

Then, without another word, he left the kitchen.  Hina watched him go, a smile playing on her lips.

"Do you think he liked it?" Mina asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Probably," Kirishima replied, a casual shrug accompanying his words.

"Where'd you find all this ingredients, Hina?" Uraraka asked, gesturing towards the spread of food.

"It was a gift from a friend," Hina said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"So you skipped training so you could go and have fun with your other friends?" Bakugou interjected, his tone laced with a familiar edge.

"No one asked for your comment, Katsuki," Hina retorted, her voice firm.

"Is it true?" Kirishima pressed, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Maybe," Hina said, scratching the back of her head, a sheepish look on her face.

"Hina, did you get us souvenirs?" Mina asked, her mouth already full of food.

"You guys like books?" Hina asked, a playful twinkle in her eyes.

"Not that much," they replied in unison.

"Then no," Hina said, her voice light.

"What's it about?" Tenya asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Mostly about time and space," Hina replied, her voice dropping to a thoughtful tone.

"Is it educational?" Tenya asked, his voice laced with a hint of skepticism.

"For me, yes, but I don't know if it can be useful for you," Hina said, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Later
Hina's POV

The scene unfolds with I meticulously decorating a strawberry cake, a promise made to friends.

Suddenly, Katsuki bursts in, leaning against the fridge, his voice a mix of anger and controlled frustration. "Where were you all last week?" he demands.

Focused on my task, I reply, "Visiting a friend."

His eyes narrow, suspicion lacing his tone. "Who? Where?"

"Why do you want to know?" I ask, finishing the icing.

"Your door was open last night," he says, the implication clear. He knows something.

Before I can respond, Denki enters, interrupting the tense moment. "Is it done? Can I have the first slice?" he asks, his excitement bubbling over.

"Of course," I smile, handing him a plate. Katsuki, however, lingers, his gaze fixed on me. He whispers, "We'll talk later," before grabbing a slice and leaving.

"What's up with him?" Denki asks, tilting his head.

"I don't know," I reply, my mind still on Katsuki's words.

Just then, Mina and the others arrive. "No fair! I wanted the first slice," she complains.

"Sorry, Mina," you say, "Denki beat you to it."

Later

The scene was a quiet one, the only sound the scratching of my pen on paper. I had retreated to my room after a long day, seeking refuge in the comfort of my writing. But the tranquility was shattered by a sharp knock on the door.

"The door's open," I called out, my voice barely a whisper.

Katsuki waltzed in without a second thought, his presence filling the room with an air of simmering intensity. He immediately locked the door behind him, trapping me in a silent standoff.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice flat, my gaze fixed on the page before me.

"Why did you lie?" he demanded, his voice laced with a dangerous edge.

"About what?" I countered.

"You were here last night, weren't you?" he stated, his eyes burning into me. I said nothing, choosing to remain silent, to let him speak his mind.

"You keep too many secrets, Hina," he said, his annoyance simmering beneath the surface. "It pisses me off."

"Everyone has secrets," I replied, my voice calm, but my fingers clenched around my pen. I refused to look at him, determined to remain focused on my writing.

"I need to know," he insisted, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous murmur. I finally put down my pen, my body tensing as I stood up.

"Ask a question," I said, my voice steady, my eyes meeting his. I reached for a book on the shelf above my writing desk, my fingers brushing against its worn cover.