Chapter 14
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Toga called out as she ran up to where Camie was sitting.
“Don’t worry about it, I just got here.”
Toga took a seat on the bench next to her, “That’s what everyone says.”
Camie giggled, “I suppose you’re right.”
A prolonged silence fell upon the two as the breeze picked up slightly.
“I’ve just realised that we don’t have much to talk about,” Camie stated, “I don’t know an awful lot about you.”
“That’s to be expected don’t you think?” Toga asked while staring off into the distance, “You’re a hero in training and I’m a villain. We aren’t supposed to know a whole lot about each other.”
Camie pouted, “That’s stupid.”
Toga burst out laughing, “No, it’s actually very logical.”
“But I want to know more about you, not to be dictated by society’s view on the situation.”
Toga looked at Camie, her eyes widened slightly before returning to normal, and smiled, “What did you want to know?”
Camie brought her hand to her chin and rubbed her lips as she thought about what to ask first.
Her parents are a big no-no for her. What about the league? Would she answer my questions on them or would that raise her suspicions of me at all? Only one way to find out... but if it is off limits then what do I ask about? Favourite music or pet? Nah, that’s too basic.
Toga waited patiently before Camie turned to look at her with a sheepish expression across her face, “Why did you join the League of Villains?”
Doubt filled Toga but she pushed it to the side, deciding that this was a potentially harmless question, “I agree with their views.”
“What are their views?”
“That the world needs to change, society gives too much praise to strong quirks and often look down on or shun people with mediocre quirks. Quirks are not chosen and therefore people shouldn’t be judged by their quirk or made to fear their quirk.”\
“I haven’t really noticed a huge problem,” Camie pointed out softly.
“That’s the problem,” Toga sighed and ran her hand down her face, “Quirk discrimination has been around for so long that people don’t even notice it anymore. It has its place in society and has just been accepted as normal.”
“What can I do to help stop it?” Camie asked.
“You’ve already helped,” Toga smiled at the girl next to her, “You are speaking to me after seeing my quirk, treat me as a normal person despite me been a villain and for some reason you keep doing this against your better judgement.”
The two girls spoke a bit more before deciding to go home. Before parting they reached the agreement that they would meet again in the park every second night, starting Monday, to spend time together since Toga wasn’t always available during the weekends.
During school on Monday, Inasa noticed that Camie was very restless and as soon as the day ended she rushed home without saying goodbye. As the week went on, she repeated the same schedule every second day and on the days after those she would fall asleep in class. He had tried asking her about it but she never gave him a direct answer. She normally brushed the question off by changing the subject or claiming she had a bad night’s sleep the night before. Friday was one of the days that Camie couldn’t sit still; she kept looking at the clock and raced out of class as soon as the end of the day came along. Inasa knew that he should have waited for Camie to open up to him but curiosity got the best of him and as he exited the school he was already formulating a plan.
After her afternoon nap, Camie went to help her mother with preparations for dinner. The two stood in silence as they worked, sitting down to eat with her father after they were done. As usual Camie excused herself for bed early and waited in her room until her parents were sleeping. She had become quite familiar with the path from her window, down the tree and didn’t need to use her quirk to light the way anymore. It didn’t take long for her to get to the park either and she sat at their usual bench. Over the past week the two girls had designated the bench as their meet up place but often walked around the park while talking. At times they settled down either under a tree or on the park swings as they spoke about their days or anything else that seemed relevant at the time. Tonight was no exception as the girls walked, spoke and laughed. Being a weekend, the two decided to stay out a bit later than they normally did.
“I’ll walk you home tonight,” Toga said when they decided it was time to get home.
“You don’t have to,” Camie smiled at her.
“I want to,” Toga insisted. “I have time to spare and crime has picked up in the city recently.”
Camie cocked her head slightly, “I haven’t heard anything about that.”
“You wouldn’t have, it’s more behind the scenes,” Toga replied with a giggle.
The two walked in silence to Camie’s house, whereas before their silences were awkward this one was comfortable.
“Would you like to come in?” Camie asked as they arrived.
Toga looked at her with a mixed look of confusion and amusement.
“What?”
“No, nothing,” Toga said as she tried to hold in her laugh.
Camie was stopped from saying anything as Toga’s phone rang. The girl signalled Camie to be quiet and then answered the call once Camie nodded in acknowledgement.
“Hello. Twice?... Wait what?... Uh...Okay, I’ll be there now. ... No, not there. The house by the warehouse. ...Yes, I’ll see you soon. Bye”
“You have to go?” Camie asked as Toga hung up.
“Unfortunately yes, I’ll chat to you later,” Toga said with a smile as she ran off.
As soon as she was out of Camie’s sight her smile dropped and a grim look replaced it.
It just had to be tonight.