Chapter 49

Amelia closed the door behind her with a soft click, her heart still racing from the boldness of what she'd just done. She leaned against it, trying to steady herself.

Did I really just do that?

She had kissed Izuku on the cheek—and not because of some flustered accident. No, she had done it on purpose. Her heart pounded in her chest as she replayed the moment in her mind. The soft brush of her lips on his skin, the warmth of his face, and the adorable way he'd stood there, frozen, with that surprised smile.

Amelia had known for a while now that her feelings for Izuku went beyond simple friendship. There was no point in denying it anymore—she liked him. A lot. His kind nature, his unrelenting drive, his endless compassion... It had all drawn her in from the beginning.

But now? Now, she'd acted on those feelings, and the reality of it hit her all at once. She threw herself onto her bed, hugging a pillow to her chest as a soft groan escaped her.

What was he thinking? Izuku was the sweetest, most caring person she knew, but his obliviousness to emotions—especially romantic ones—was legendary. She could only imagine the confusion written on his face right now. Maybe he was still standing there, dumbfounded, or worse—maybe he was overanalyzing the situation, trying to figure out what it all meant.

"Ughhh, what if I just made things awkward?" she muttered into the pillow, her cheeks burning. She had no idea how he'd react to it all.

But then, that small smile of his flashed in her mind—the one he'd given her right after the kiss, just before she darted inside the dorms. He hadn't looked upset or weirded out. No, Izuku had looked... happy. And maybe even a little flustered.

Her heart skipped a beat, remembering that expression. She couldn't help the soft smile that crept onto her face. Maybe, just maybe, she hadn't completely blown it.

Okay, calm down, she thought, sitting up. She needed to get a grip. She liked Izuku, that much was clear. But right now, what she needed to do was focus—there was so much happening with the training camp, the League of Villains, and especially the mind-controlling villain still out there.

But how could she focus when all she could think about was that small moment they had shared?

Reaching for her phone, Amelia paused, her thumb hovering over the screen. Should she text him? Would it be too soon? Would it seem weird? She shook her head, tossing her phone back onto the bed. She'd wait. He'd probably text first... or maybe not.

Before she could overthink it any more, her phone buzzed.

She almost dropped it in panic but quickly unlocked the screen. It wasn't Izuku—it was a group message from Mina, Momo, and the other girls, chatting excitedly about the pool day. Amelia let out a small breath of relief but felt a pang of disappointment.

Shaking her head, she tossed her phone onto the bed and sighed. Just go to sleep Amelia, she thought. Everything would be clearer in the morning. At least, she hoped it would.

Sighing, she fell back onto her pillow, covering her face with her hands. She didn't regret the kiss—not at all—but now she had to figure out where they stood. Whatever happened next, she was sure of one thing: her feelings for Izuku weren't going anywhere. Now, it was just a matter of whether he felt the same way.

Amelia was still lost in her thoughts, the feeling of her lips brushing against Izuku's cheek replaying over and over in her mind when a sudden knock on her door startled her back to reality.

"Amelia, it's Aizawa. Open up."

Her eyes widened. She scrambled off the bed, quickly straightening out her shirt and brushing her fingers through her hair. She wasn't expecting a visit from her homeroom teacher this late.

Opening the door, she found Aizawa standing there, arms crossed, his usual tired expression giving nothing away.

"Can I come in?" he asked.

"Uh, yeah, of course," she stepped aside, motioning for him to enter. He walked into her small dorm room, taking in the surroundings with a quick glance before turning his attention back to her.

"You'll want to pack for tomorrow," Aizawa said without preamble. "You're joining the Class 1-A and 1-B students for the training camp."

Amelia blinked, her surprise clear on her face. "Wait, I am? But... I thought I was still recovering. I mean, after everything with the mind-control villain, I didn't think I'd be able to—"

"That's exactly why you're going," Aizawa interrupted, his tone firm but not unkind. "You'll be going as a student, just like the others. The Wild, Wild Pussycats will be assisting with the camp, and one of their members, Shino Sosaki—better known as Mandalay—has a Quirk that could help you."

Amelia's heart skipped a beat. She didn't know she would meet the Wild Pussycats, and Mandalay in particular. "Her Quirk... it's telepathic, right? She can send messages into people's minds?"

Aizawa nodded. "Exactly. Mandalay's Telepath allows her to send mental transmissions to others. While she can't receive thoughts in return, she has years of experience controlling and refining her abilities. Given the nature of your own Quirk, she's the best person to help you understand and control it—especially after what happened with the villain who took control of you."

Amelia stood still for a moment, processing this new information. The idea of training alongside her classmates was exciting, but the chance to actually get help from someone who understood her powers? That was huge.

"Okay, so... what do I need to do?" she asked, feeling a mixture of nerves and anticipation.

Aizawa's expression softened slightly. "Pack what you'll need. Clothes, essentials, and make sure you're prepared for some rigorous training. We leave tomorrow morning." He paused, his gaze more intense now. "This camp isn't just about physical endurance—it's also mental. You're going to be pushed hard. I don't need to tell you how dangerous the current situation is."

Amelia swallowed hard, understanding exactly what he meant. The League of Villains was still out there, and the threat was growing. But this camp could be her opportunity to finally learn to control her powers and fight back.

"I'll be ready," she said, determination flickering in her eyes.

Aizawa gave her a small nod. "Good. And Amelia, one more thing—don't isolate yourself. You're a part of this class now. You'll need to trust them as much as they'll need to trust you."

She nodded, feeling a warmth spread through her. "I understand. Thank you, Aizawa."

With that, Aizawa turned to leave, but as he reached the door, he glanced back at her. "Get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."

Once he was gone, Amelia took a deep breath and sat on the edge of her bed. She was going to the training camp. She was going to train with her classmates, and more importantly, she was going to learn how to control her Quirk with Mandalay's help.

Excitement and nerves churned inside her, but underneath it all was a growing sense of hope. She could do this. She would do this. For herself, for her friends... and for Izuku.

With that, she stood up and began packing, her mind already racing with thoughts of what lay ahead.