mixingbowl | Try to believe walking down the lonesome road

Try to believe walking down the lonesome road

[With the start of their internships fast approaching, it's no wonder a good portion of the students in 1-A are too excited to properly concentrate during class. Aizawa, picking up on their lack of focus, eventually ends the class a few minutes early with a tired, exasperated sigh. Izuku grins guiltily at their teacher's retreating back. He can't exactly blame his classmates for distracted like this--picking their hero names and their first internship is pretty exciting. And a big step toward being pros.

Fidgeting with the bandages on his hands, Izuku turns in his seat and just happens to catch Todoroki's eyes. There's the barest flicker of hesitation before Izuku offers up a cheerful smile.] Todoroki-kun, have you already decided where you're going for your internship?

[The classroom's already emptying out, but there's no real need to hurry out like everyone else is. Besides, Izuku hasn't really gotten a chance to talk to Todoroki since the festival. Remembering how subdued Todoroki was during the medal ceremony has made it difficult for him to shake away his concerns. So Izuku gathers up his books slowly and waits for an answer.]

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[ Holding hands is much more pleasant than he was expecting. It's not as embarrassing as it seems to be for his friend, but he really doesn't want to let go. So he doesn't.

Shouto doesn't know very many girls outside of his sister and Momo. Both of them seem much more reasonable in comparison.]

I'm not sure she really believed it. And if we look like we aren't dating she'll try again. She's... Stubborn.

... Could you call me without the honorific?

[Izuku's grip tightens around Todoroki's hand slightly, and he looks done at the ground, suddenly downcast.] Sorry...I guess I wasn't convincing enough in the end. I-I'll try to be better at this if she talks to us again.

Without honorifics? [He echoes, blinking, before understanding dawns.] Oh! You mean...just "Todoroki". I can do that. [Though it would probably take a little getting used to.]

You're doing the best you can. It's okay. ... I think she knows more about romance than the two of us.

That will help. I already call everybody without them, so I can really use that. But you're usually polite. It'll sound like we're closer.

We could always check with Yaoyorozu-san if we need another opinion about her later on. [He looks back toward the gate, as if expecting the girl to still be watching them.] I...I mean, it might take a little longer than we thought to convince her, but she has to give up eventually.

[...right?]

I guess you're right. I use honorifics with everyone else, it'll stand out if I don't use one for you. Todoroki... [Izuku lets the name roll off his tongue experimentally, almost tacking on the "kun" at the end again, simply out of habit.]

[He gives a little nod. The girl isn't watching them right now, but she does glance back and frowns a bit. She doesn't believe they're dating, but she's going to have to find out why.]

I hope so.

... Sorry, is it uncomfortable?[Midoriya's a very polite person. He's not so sure he should be pushing for this.]

It's not! [The words come out practically jumbled together, with the way Izuku had rushed to reassure him.]

I'm just not used to...this. [Everything. Friends.] Kacchan's the only one I've ever called anything different... [Izuku trails off with an uncomfortable shrug. By this point, everyone in their class probably knows that there's tension between them.]

[He looks a bit puzzled at the rush of words. It takes him a bit to decode it but he gives a little nod.

Shouto's not used to this sort of thing either. But he's very thankful to have Midoriya in his life. He's not sure where he'd be without him.]

Just let me know if it ever gets too uncomfortable.

I will. [Some of the tension finally bleeds out of Izuku's shoulders as he turns to smile at Todoroki. His friend can be a bit hard to read at times, but Izuku's been gradually seeing more of those flashes of kindness from him, now that he knows what to look for.]

I don't think I'll have to, though. You're being so careful with me as it is.

[Careful... Well, Midoriya is his first and closest friend. He'd hate if he did anything to ruin their friendship, new as it is. If he ruined it by making Midoriya in comfortable he'd have to accept it, even if it would be a bitter, painful pill to swallow. So he'll do his best to not have that happen.]

I'm doing my best.

[Because Midoriya is very special to him.]

See? Then, you have nothing to worry about. [As they draw near to their classroom, Izuku's steps slow just a little. With the way his brows have furrowed, it's easy to guess that he's contemplating something.]

Todoroki-ku--I mean, Todoroki. [Izuku corrects himself with a flustered little laugh.] I know we're doing this to keep the girl from general studies from bothering you more, but... how should we handle this with everyone else? Should we tell them anything?

[Their classmates, he means. Unlike her, they'll still have to see their classmates after this is over. They're all stuck together until graduation, after all.]

[He enjoys the way his name sounds without the addition- but it seems hard for Midoriya to let it go. It's only been a day, he shouldn't need to worry about it.]

Momo already knows. I don't mind letting them know. I don't think they'd tell her that we're faking it.

[At the same time, he doesn't want to let go of Midoriya's hand. That's being selfish. He's already putting his friend in an embarrassing situation to begin with.]

I'll leave it up to you.

[Izuku thinks about it for a moment.] I-it might be easier to keep them in the loop. Like you said, I don't think they'd tell her... [Brightening up.] So, let's go with that!

Good morning! [His greeting is as cheerful as ever when he slides the door open. He's also conveniently forgotten that he's still holding Todoroki's hands, something that their classmates pick up on immediately.

"Dude!! Are you two dating??" And there's Kirishima, giving Izuku's shoulder a friendly nudge, while Izuku catches a few other comments like "I thought there was something going on!" and "Maybe we should have started that betting pool after all."]

Wh-wh-wh-what?? [Izuku stutters, face immediately turning scarlet. What are his friends even talking about???]

[He just promised that he'd let Midoriya take the lead on this. But now they're both too flustered to react properly.

Not that it shows on Shouto, because he's always been good at keeping his impassive mask up. But one of those comments gets to him.]

You were going to make a betting pool? Of Midoriya's love life?

["Like we wouldn't do the same for anyone else here." Ah, that would be Jirou. When Izuku chances a look in her direction, amid a chorus of agreements from the others, he spots a grin on her face. In the end, that's what makes him relax marginally, realizing that her smile is different from the ones he used to see on his middle school classmates' faces. He gives Todoroki's hand another squeeze to get his attention.]

It's okay, I don't mind. [WELL... that's not entirely true. He does mind, because it's embarrassing, but Izuku can tell that none of them actually mean any harm. It's just some teasing between friends.]

[ Shouto's gaze settles back on Midoriya at his side once his hand has been squeezed. In response Shouto strokes his thumb along the back of his hand. He doesn't really know how to comfort properly, but he's doing his best. ]

As long as you're sure.

[Izuku hopes Todoroki--or anyone else, really--doesn't notice the way his blush darkens in response. That little touch to the back of his hand, while reassuring, also makes his heartrate skyrocket in his surprise. No one's really touched him like that before.]

I'm...I'm sure! [To his horror, his voice emerges as a squeak, and Izuku ducks his head, wishing he had a scarf or something to hide his face in. Save him.]

[Lucky for him, Shouto's gaze is back on his classmates. But it seems like Midoriya isn't going to tell the class that they're just fake dating. He's pretty sure his own cheeks are starting to heat up, but he can't check if he's actually blushing.]

Let's get ready before Aizawa gets here.

[He'd rather not listen to the man complain. So he'll tug Midoriya over to his desk. He's very reluctant to let go of his friend's hand but he does manage it after a moment and settling in for the first half of the day.]

Ah...r-right! [Even if it seems like Aizawa's warmed up to him a bit since that first class, Izuku would rather not risk his teacher's irritation all the same. The prohero can be pretty intimidating when he wants to be.

It's not until he's seated at his own desk that Izuku realizes they never actually cleared things out with their classmates. Izuku lets his head fall forward onto his workbooks with a muffled thump, holding back his exasperated groan.]

[Class goes on as normal. Nobody wants to gossip when a teacher is up front, but in between classes they do turn to Midoriya and him and give thumbs up.

... There's not enough time to explain until lunch. And by then people have already scattered off.

Once again, Shouto's at Midoriya's side and holding his hand out. That girl shares their lunch time and Shouto needs his friend.]

Ready to go?

[At this point, Izuku's starting to realize it might be harder than he thought to find some opportunity to tell the rest of their class. Maybe they can try again tomorrow?]

I'm ready. [With only a moment of hesitation, Izuku carefully slips his hand into Todoroki's and leads them out of the classroom. The cafeteria's familiar chatter washes over them as they enter, and Izuku's lips curl into a smile when he spots Iida and Uraraka at their usual table.] Are you getting soba again [a split-second pause as he reminds himself not to use the honorifics] Todoroki?

[They can certainly try. If they both get too embarrassed to actually say anything, then they're going to have to keep this up. ... It's easier than he thought it would be. Being next to Midoriya, getting to be this close to him- it's nice.]

Yeah. It's my favorite.

Are you getting the katsudon? You seem to get it every day.

Katsudon's my favorite, too. [Izuku admits with a laugh.] And Iida-kun always gets the beef stew...I guess we all end up getting the same thing most of the time.

Hmmm. [Tugging at his bottom lip thoughtfully, Izuku falls silent as he considers the cafeteria lines. Then, he brightens up a moment later.] I know! I'll get the soba with you today. It's good to switch things up every now and then, right?

We all have our favorites.

[There's a tiny little smile on Shouto's features. It's unexpected to have Midoriya follow him to this line. He's... grateful to have him here. It's such a small thing, but he still appreciates him.]

Yeah. We can both get katsudon tomorrow.

[As they make their way over to the soba line, Izuku grins.] Deal.

[Suddenly, he feels a prickle at the back of his neck, and when he turns his eyes meet a now-familiar set of eyes squarely. Izuku almost flinches back when he realizes it's the girl from this morning.] Don't look now, but she's watching us. [It was probably too much to hope they wouldn't run into her during lunch, he thinks unhappily. He has nothing against her personally, but he does wish she'd leave his friend alone.]

[He gives a very tired sigh. Hopefully she thinks it has nothing to do with Midoriya. There's a short pause as he wonders what exactly he should do- but he resolves himself, letting go of Midoriya's hand and looping his arm around his waist.]

Let me know if you're not okay with this. [He whispers into his ear.]

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