Chapter 4
Toga’s words were pushed to the back of Camie’s mind during the next week. The hero classes were preparing for the hero license exam. Normal lessons took place in the morning but during the afternoon the students were put through a tough training programme to help them prepare.
Monday was a physical training exercise. The students ran laps around their school property and were expected to swim two lengths of the pool in between each lap. After Camie completed her laps she was paired with another girl from her class and the two had to spar without using their quirks.
“This is to prepare you for times in which you’d have to rely on your own strength when encountering a villain.” Their instructor explained while demonstrating a few moves to practice. “You never know what will happen in the exam or in future battles. It’s good to always be prepared for the worst.”
While the students were getting ready to leave after a very tiring training session, their instructor called them to gather around for an announcement.
“We have prepared copies of the U.A sports festival for you all to study. Watch them carefully and take note of the students’ quirks, this will help you during the exam. We will have a quiz about it tomorrow so don’t forget to grab your copy before leaving. You are dismissed.”
Camie grabbed one of the disks on her way out. A yawn forced its way out of her mouth on her way home. She wanted nothing more than to go to sleep once she reached her house, however she placed the disk into her computer when she entered her room. Before Camie could start the recording of the festival she was called down to eat with her family.
After Camie had washed up and gotten ready for bed, she finally entered her room again. She dragged her feet over to her desk and collapsed into the chair. Her arm slowly made its way to the mouse and she clicked play which allowed the recording to play.
Before the class started their afternoon training on Tuesday, the teacher called for their attention. “I am handing out the quizzes that you all took earlier today. Please check your paper and go over any questions that you got wrong. This is just a reminder that this will allow you to have a slight advantage during the exam.”
Camie took her paper from the teacher, turning it over; she saw that she had managed to get every question correct.
At least the lack of sleep was worth something.
“Camie, how did you do?” She turned her head to see that Inasa was standing next to her desk. She showed him her paper and he congratulated her with a hint of pride in his tone.
For different reasons they both didn’t have many friends so Inasa was probably the closest thing Camie had had to a friend.
“Except for Toga of course...wait Toga!
“Are you coming Camie?” Inasa asked, dragging her out of the budding thought. “We’ve been told to head to the gyms to change into our sports clothes.”
Camie followed him out of the classroom.
Their quirk training passed by in a blur and haze covered Camie’s vision as a result of using her quirk so much.
“How was training love?” her mom asked as soon as she arrived home.
“Tiring.” The one word answer would have finished the conversation but luckily her mother had prepared a follow up question.
“What do they have planned for tomorrow and Thursday?”
“Strengths and weaknesses in certain quirks as well as teamwork,” Camie replied “I’m exhausted; I’m going to head to bed.”
Eventually Friday arrived. The heroes in training left the school after morning classes and headed to the hotel they would be staying at.
“Please remember that once we have arrived, you will be split up and given the keys to your rooms. You can unpack and have some free time for a while before meeting at the dining hall to eat. After eating, you are to report back to your rooms for lights out. We will leave right after breakfast tomorrow morning so make sure you are all ready for the exam. I will not explain this again so please don’t ask me what you have to do once we arrive.”
Their teacher then sat down and fell asleep for the rest of the bus drive. Camie decided to do the same. It had been a long week and she wanted to catch up on some sleep so that she’d be well rested for the next day.
The bus shuddered to a stop and Camie was shaken awake by Inasa, “We’re here sleepyhead.”
The class used their free time to sit and discuss what kind of heroes they hoped to be in the future and what pro heroes they would want to intern with after they had earned their licenses. Soon some nervousness started to settle in with the excitement that spread across the room.
Most students lay awake for a long time before falling asleep, finding that their stomachs were unsettled. Doubt started to creep into their minds but was quickly chased away when they thought back to their hard work and training.
Camie lay awake for a different reason. Sure, at first it was because she battled to sleep due to nerves but as she lay awake her mind began to wander. Her thoughts settled onto the one thing that often found itself on her mind. The one person.
Toga.
She said she’d see me this weekend. Is she coming to cheer me on? Is she allowed to do that or is it against the rules for outsiders to watch? Wait...could she be coming from another school? Come to think about it, she hasn’t told me her quirk yet. I should have just asked her what it was last Saturday.
Before she realised it, Camie had tired herself out with her over thinking and had fallen asleep.
The next morning after breakfast, the classes had gathered outside to board the busses.
“Camie, where is your hat?” one teacher scolded.
Camie’s hand shot up to her head as her eyes widened, “Oops,” she grimaced, “I forgot it upstairs.”
The teacher sighed and placed his head in the palm of his hand, “Just hurry up and go fetch it.”
She turned around and rushed back into the building. Repeatedly, she pressed the elevator button, urging it to go faster. Finally she managed to board the small, moving box and make it up to her floor. Running down the hall, she flung open the room door after unlocking it and stopped dead in her tracks.
“Toga?”