Try to believe walking down the lonesome road

[inheritance]

[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.]

Comments

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[Is it? Blinking in surprise, Izuku shakes his head.] It's not that much.

Um. [Izuku says, eloquently, a beat later when he notices Todoroki's staring at him intently.] Todoroki...?

[glaciers]

[ Maybe it just feels like a lot to him. He just doesn't have that much experience to work from. No matter how he words that in his mind it's a little too sad to say.

His gaze gets pulled up to Izuku's eyes once he's called for. ]

Midoriya. [ There's a softness in his voice he wasn't expecting. ]

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[Todoroki saying his last name isn't usually something worth noting --except this time it is. The softer way it's spoken this time makes Izuku's eyes widen slightly.]

Yes? [He asks, hesitant to raise his voice any higher than what it's at right now. There's a strange sort of feeling in the air between them now, and Izuku isn't sure what to make of it.] I-is something wrong?

[glaciers]

[ Did he say something strange? He says his friend's name all the time. But he doesn't say it in the quiet hushed tone. He doesn't say it like a secret present- not usually. ]

Nothing.

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[Izuku smiles at him uncertainly, still feeling a bit off-kilter from this whole exchange.] If you're sure....?

[Oh. Right then, Izuku realizes he's still holding onto Todoroki's wrist. He lets go slowly, feeling an odd kind of reluctance as he does.]

[glaciers]

I am. We should finish eating, the next class is soon.

[ The temptation to chase after Midoriya's hand is a new and strange thing. Better not to think of it too much. ]

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Oh--right! [Still flustered and confused, Izuku digs into his soba with renewed enthusiasm.

What could all of this mean? It feels as if something's changed between him and Todoroki, but...it doesn't feel bad, exactly.]

[glaciers]

[Something has changed, but since it doesn't feel uncomfortable he'll chalk it up to something he doesn't have to stress out about.

Shouto resumes his own lunch, sneaking little glances of Midoriya now and then.]

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[Though Izuku's trying not to watch Todoroki too obviously, their eyes still end up meeting at one point.

Izuku startles, blushes, and quickly goes back to his food.]

[glaciers]

[His left side is heating up from the embarrassment and he has to cover his shoulder in a thin layer of ice before he bursts into flames.]

[inheritance]

[It's almost a relief when the lunch period reaches its end, and the students begin heading back to their classrooms.

Izuku chances another look over at Todoroki as they put their trays away, having felt the heat from Todoroki's side during their meal.] Okay?

[glaciers]

[He follows Izuku, taking his hand again.]

I'm fine, Midoirya.

[He'll start walking towards their classroom.]

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[His breath catches slightly as Todoroki takes his hand again. They've been holding hands for the majority of the day. Why is he still reacting like this every time?]

Okay. [Izuku says, feeling inexplicably shy.] That's good.

[glaciers]

Are you?

[Again, he rubs his thumb across Izuku's hand. Midoriya seems more out of it than normal. ]

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I-I'm fine!! [It's a struggle to keep his voice even, when he's hyperfocused on that point of contact.

At this point, Izuku expects to feel himself blushing whenever he and Todoroki lean in close or exchange touches like this. Why is this happening?]

[glaciers]

... If you're sure.

[He'll believe Midoriya, if that's what he says. Even if that stutter means Shouto's a bit worried. But it's fine. He'll walk toward Midoriya's desk and very reluctantly let go of his hand.]

[inheritance]

I'm sure. [Izuku plops into his seat and sighs a little. Their seats are only a few desks away, but suddenly, after sitting together so closely all lunch, it feels much further.

Their last classes of the day pass by quickly, until finally Aizawa waves them all off for the day. Izuku turns in his seat and looks over at Todoroki, perking up immediately.]

[glaciers]

[By the end of the day he's packing away his stuff, thinking about the... not date that they're going to go on after class. It takes a moment, but he notices Midoriya looking at him, and Shouto gives him a little nod.

The rest of their classmates are already filtering out.]

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[Once his stuff's packed up, Izuku stops by Todoroki's desk, already filling with anticipation.]

Ready, Todoroki? [Leaving out the honorifics is getting easier, the more he does it throughout the day.]

[glaciers]

I am.

[Does he need to hold Midoriya's hand again? He doesn't think the girl is around since the hero course gets out an hour later. But at the same time, it'd be weird for them to stop holding hands. Or at least that's what he's telling himself. He has a perfectly reasonable reason to take Midoriya's hand.]

Lead the way.

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[Izuku makes an aborted movement with his hand, like he's reaching for Todoroki before realizing Todoroki isn't reaching back. Embarrassed, he drops his hand back to his side.]

A-alright, let's go! [He feels silly--of course Todoroki wouldn't hold his hand when there's no reason to.]

[glaciers]

[Midoriya wanted to hold his hand? He thought it was just something he was putting up with to help him. Shouto takes his hand in his own, this time it's the cold hand. He wants this contact, even if there's no real reason for it.]

How far away is it?

[inheritance]

[Izuku startles, then settles, hand curling around Todoroki's easily. Part of him knows he shouldn't be getting so comfortable with the hand-holding, but Izuku guiltily continues to hold onto Todoroki like this anyway. While hugs from his mom have always been given freely, friendly touches from classmates and friends have always been scarce before this. Izuku can't help but think about how nice it is, now that someone's willing to give him the contact he hadn't even realized he wanted.]

Not too far. It's just down the street from the cafe. [Izuku happily tugs Todoroki along through their joined hands, weaving through the students.]

[glaciers]

[These casual little touches, this easy way of being able to touch each other- he doesn't want to let it go. They're only doing it because they're pretending to be boyfriends, but Shouto wishes it could last forever. It seems more than strange to ask Midoriya to keep pretend to date him for this small benefit. Maybe, if he's really lucky, Midoriya would want to keep holding hands anyway.]

Does it also have a name with a pun?

[inheritance]

[A surprised laugh escapes him, drawing some attention to them as they pass by other students, but Izuku doesn't even notice, focused on Todoroki as he is.]

Are you going to be disappointed if it doesn't?