Chapter 8
“Just sign here and then she is free to leave,” the receptionist smiled brightly at Camie as she directed her mother.
The older woman signed the discharge forms and Camie followed her out the building. The drive home was silent as Camie had closed her eyes as soon as she got into the car. Her thoughts had calmed down over the course of her two conscious days in hospital. She had now gotten over the event for the most part and was now mulling over the aftermath.
The League of Villains are after something but what did they achieve by pretending to be me? Did they accomplish what they wanted to or are they still in the progress of doing it? Do they need to use my face again and if so does that mean that Toga and I will cross paths in the future?
Camie’s brow furrowed at that thought.
No, that’s a stupid question, I’m probably been watched. It would be more dangerous for her to see me again after this whole incident. It’s kind of ironic really; you would expect me to be happy about that but somehow the thought makes my heart sink. I grew attached to her in the short time I knew her. She just has a contagious cheery personality that sucks you into her pace. It’s a pity, if I knew that was the last time we would have seen each other I... I would have what? What could I have done?
Realisation hit Camie hard as her heart panged. Nothing, she could have done nothing. The situation wouldn’t have changed and the outcome would have been the same.
“Camie, we’re home,” her mother announced interrupting her thoughts but not stopping them.
It’s no use dwelling on what could or couldn’t have been. I should move on from this and focus on more important tasks. I have a hero license to start working for again. Let’s just move on from Toga and concentrate on other things for now.
“Are you awake?” her mother questioned.
She opened her eyes and smiled at her mother, “Yes, but I am feeling tired so I’m going to get some rest.”
The next day Camie woke up to the sound of hushed voice outside her bedroom door.
“She went through a lot, a day off won’t hurt anyone.”
“She’s already missed too much work; she’ll start to struggle if she takes too much time off.”
Camie opened her bedroom door her mother could respond. Her parents turned to look at her with expressions that mirrored that of a deer trapped in headlights.
“What are you doing up so early?” her mother asked, recovering first. “You can go back to sleep. I’ll call the school and let them know you’ll return tomorrow.”
“No it’s fine; I’m going to go today so I should probably start getting ready.”
Her father gave a nod of approval, walking off as Camie closed her door. She walked over to the bathroom to start her morning routine.
Half an hour later Camie sat at the table eating with the rest of the family.
“Would you like me to give you a lift to school?” her mother asked sweetly as Camie finished up her food and placed her dishes in the sink.
“No, I can walk,” Camie picked up her bag and made her way to the door.
“But..”
Camie interrupted before her mother could voice her concerns, “Mom, I always walk to school. I can’t let one little unrelated incident stop me from keeping my routine.”
Before her mother could argue and force her to take the lift she opened the door and stepped out to find a surprise waiting for her outside.
“Camie,” Inasa exclaimed as she stepped out. He had a huge smile on his face and waved his arms.
“Hey Inasa,” Camie said as she came up to him and they started in the direction of Shiketsu. “What are you doing here?”
“Turns out I actually pass by this area often on my way to school so I thought we could walk together,” he scratched the back of his head as he explained.
That’s right; a driver always drops Inasa off at school. The car often draws attention as it stops outside the gates.
“How did you know when I’d come out the house?”
“I didn’t, I was going to wait half an hour and then go without you.”
Camie looked at Inasa with wide eyes, “Half an hour? How long were you there for?”
Inasa looked at his watch before shrugging his shoulders, “Ten minutes or so.”
Camie let out a short laugh, “You didn’t have to wait and maybe next time ring the bell and I will try to hurry up.”
Inasa nodded as he looked ahead of them, a ghost of a smile on his face. At some point during their conversation they had joined a small stream of Shiketsu students that were also on their way to school. It was a ten minute walk from Camie’s house to the school and due to the short distance she had managed to persuade her mother to let her walk to and from school at the beginning of the year.
If Inasa walks with me from now on, maybe I can convince my mother that I can still walk.
Walking into the school grounds Camie greeted a few of her fellow students before she entered her classroom.
Her classmates realised she had come back but no one questioned her as to where she had been the past week. Either the teachers had told them or they just didn’t care.
“Everybody please take your seats,” Camie’s homeroom teacher said as soon as they entered the class. “Camie, it’s good to have you back, during one of the breaks please go see the principal.”
Inasa glanced at her as they took their seats, a questioning expression on his face. Camie shrugged her shoulders as she shook her head. She had no idea why she was been called.
Do they have questions for me too? Will I get in trouble for letting someone take my place or for disappearing without a trace? Do they want to know if I’m okay? Is it about all the work that I’ve missed? If any of these were the case, surely a teacher could handle that. I don’t see why I have to go all the way to see the principal.
The break came far too quickly for Camie and she soon found herself knocking on the principal’s door to announce her arrival.
“Come in,” a deep voice called from inside.
Camie opened the door slightly and stuck her head in, “I’m Utsushimi Camie, I was told that you wanted to see me.”
“Yes, come in and take a seat.”
Camie opened the door wider and stepped into the room before closing the door again. The principal sat in his chair behind the desk. He was a short man with greying hair and a kind but stern face. Two chairs were placed in front of his desk and Camie noticed that someone was already occupying one of them. Camie walked further into the room and bowed to both of the people in the room. As she straightened her back, Camie realised who the other man in the room was.
“This is the pro hero Gang Orca,” her principal said even though the man didn’t need an introduction. First years were taught about many of the pro heroes when they first entered the school and even then many people knew who he was from news reports.
“It’s nice to meet you Gang Orca sir,” Camie said before she took a seat.
“He is here on behalf of the hero license committee.”
“We have been discussing your case amongst ourselves after hearing from the police,” Gang Orca started. “Since the first phase was cleared, you’ll be able to partake in the provisional license training that we are going to hold and you’ll be given the chance to earn your license again.”
“The first phase? I didn’t...”
“Some of the committee pointed it out but without knowing exactly what happened in the hotel room, we can’t be sure whether that was you or a copy.” Gang Orca sighed as if the very thought of the topic tired him out. “This is a very rare opportunity; I hope you don’t disappoint us.”
Camie nodded quickly, “I won’t, don’t worry, I’ll try my best.”
The principal slid a piece of paper across the table, “This is the schedule for your training. You will have to miss out on your internship that you planned as you attend these lessons.”
Camie took the paper and scanned over what had been prepared. “We have a joint training with U.A?”
“Yes, two of their students have great potential but their personalities have something to be desired.” Gang Orca muttered.
“Oh,” Camie couldn’t think of anything else to say and was dismissed.
“What did he want?” Inasa asked as soon as Camie re-entered their classroom.
“He gave me a schedule for provisional license training because the committee has decided to let me take part.”
Inasa perked up a little and rushed to pull something out his bag, “Let’s check if we have the same schedule. They shouldn’t be different but you never know with quirk training.”
“Wait.” Inasa paused as Camie spoke, “You didn’t pass?”
His mood suddenly soured, “No, everything was fine until Endeavor’s son got in the way.”
Camie sighed, she knew about the exam for U.A and how Inasa felt about the pro hero and his son, “Inasa, you shouldn’t let people like that get to you.”
Inasa clicked his tongue, “I know. I’ll make sure to reel myself in next time we see him.”
Camie giggled, “Good, we don’t want anyone or anything else slowing us from becoming heroes.”