Lightning in the Ashes (Katsuki Bakugou x OC Fem)

Chapter 22: What to expect

Returning to UA after their beachside night felt surreal to Valerie and Katsuki. Everything seemed sharper, brighter—charged with an energy they'd never shared before. The secretive glances, the stolen smiles, the gentle brushes of their hands—it was as if their connection had deepened tenfold.

Valerie barely had time to settle in before Mina was all over her. "Sooo..." Mina started, her grin devilish as she leaned in close. "How was it? Did he treat you right? Should I be asking about his size? Or was the boom-boom boy more like a fizz-fizz?"

"Mina!" Valerie shrieked, her cheeks burning as she smacked her friend with a pillow. Mina only cackled, completely unbothered. "You're impossible!"

"I'm invested!" Mina shot back, her pink eyes gleaming with glee. "You guys have been dancing around each other forever. I need details!"

"Not a chance!" Valerie huffed, trying to suppress her own laughter.

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Graduation loomed closer, and the campus buzzed with anticipation. Students filled the dorms with the chatter of future plans, packing, and last-minute goodbyes. The air was electric with excitement, but Valerie carried a secret that weighed on her mind.

She wanted to tell Katsuki, but every time she opened her mouth, the words caught in her throat. It wasn't something bad—not really—but the timing had to be right. Yet, with each passing day, her hesitance only grew.

It all started one afternoon in the common area. Mina, ever the observant one, cornered Valerie with a mischievous grin. "Alright, spill it," Mina said, arms crossed. "You've been acting weird for days now. What's going on?"

Valerie hesitated, nervously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's nothing. I promise."

Mina raised a sceptical eyebrow. "Girl, please. You're hiding something. I can see it in your face!"

Before Valerie could protest, Denki and Kirishima strolled by, catching the tail end of the conversation. Denki stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing at the two girls on the sofa a dramatic gasp escaped him. "Oh my God," he blurted. "She's pregnant!!!"

"What?!" Kirishima nearly shouted, his face paled. 

Kirishima froze, his expression a mix of shock and panic. "Pregnant?! With Bakugo's kid?!"

Denki's jaw dropped, and he turned to Kirishima. "Dude, this is huge. We have to do something."

Kirishima nodded gravely. "You're right. Bakugo's gonna need all the help he can get."

"What are you two boys talking about over there??" Valerie started, but the two boys were already gone, leaving her standing there with Mina, who was just as confused as she was.

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By the time they returned, their arms were loaded with shopping bags. Pink and blue baby blankets spilt out of one bag, a pack of tiny onesies peeked from another, and—most baffling of all—a deluxe stroller was wheeled in with great care.

The commotion in the dorms was immediate.

"Are those... baby clothes?" Sero asked, pointing at the haul with wide eyes.

"You guys bought a stroller?" Kaminari beamed proudly. "Of course! We gotta be prepared!"

Izuku, who had just walked in, froze. "Wait. Are you saying—Valerie is pregnant?!" His voice pitched higher than usual.

The common room erupted into chaos.

"This is insane!" Jirou said, half-laughing, half-horrified.

"Come on!! We need to give them as much support as we can!" Kirishima exclaimed.