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

[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?

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[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?

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[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?

[glaciers]

...

A little bit.

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[Izuku just grins at him.] I'll keep that in mind next time.

[They're just past the school gates when Uraraka and Iida catch up with them. "Have fun on your date!" They call, as they walk past. Izuku pauses. Oh... right. Even if he and Todoroki had technically decided to meet up often so Todoroki could try new things, it hits Izuku now that others might see their outings as dates.]

[glaciers]

[ Once again Midoriya is being cute. It can't be possible he's the only person seeing this, right? Why doesn't Midoriya have swarms of girls asking him out?

When they're finally away from the school gates he brings it up. ]

Didn't you want to tell the class about us?

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Y-yeah, I did. [Biting his lip nervously, Izuku looks down.] I've been thinking, though... maybe it's better if we keep it between us and Uraraka-san and Iida-kun. And Yaoyorozu-san already knows, doesn't she?

It's not that I don't want to tell everyone else. [There's some guilt in his voice, mixing with a touch of uncertainty.] But...It's safer if less people know...right? Ishida-san's a lot more persistent about this than I thought she'd be. I don't want her to find out we're just faking it and come looking for you again.

[glaciers]

... I don't mind whenever you decide. I'm not ashamed of dating you or anything of the sort.

[ He thinks it's obvious how much he's been enjoying the little perks. Handholding is something he didn't know he wanted so much. ]

The important thing is that you're comfortable. We can just keep it to our close friends.

[inheritance]

[As much as Todoroki saying he's not ashamed of Izuku flusters him, there's something else that Izuku can't help but notice. Slowing to a stop, Izuku turns to face him.]

That's not true. [Rather than his usual smile, Izuku's frowning just so when he leans in toward Todoroki earnestly.] The most important thing here is making sure you're comfortable, Todoroki. I don't want you to be unhappy because Ishida-san or anyone else is bothering you.

[glaciers]

[He wants to make that frown into a smile and he has no idea what to do with that urge. So it's another thing that gets filed away for much later.]

I am comfortable. That's why I asked you in the first place. I wouldn't have asked anybody else to date me. That's why my own comfort is a nonissue.

[While he's sure Iida would say yes to a proposition like this, he's not so sure about his own feelings on dating his other friend. It seems like it would be much more uncomfortable being dragged into Iida's enthusiastic pace.

When he thinks about it, it was ever only going to be Midoriya.]

[inheritance]

[Izuku holds back a sigh. He has a feeling that they're both only going to stubbornly try to accommodate one another without getting anywhere. The most he can do now is just make sure Todoroki doesn't pull out of this because he thinks Izuku's uncomfortable. Todoroki is the important one here, in Izuku's opinion.]

I'm comfortable with telling our closer friends. [It sucks, keeping everyone else in the dark, but Izuku wants this plan to work. This way, Todoroki will be left alone, and Ishida will be able to move on--a win for everyone all around.] Let's just keep it at that for now.

[glaciers]

[ When it comes down to it, he knows they're both incredibly stubborn people. If they don't want to do something they definitely won't. Shouto especially, after the life he's lead.

He gives a little squeeze of Midoriya's hand. ]

I'm fine with that.

Now, you promised crepes.

[inheritance]

[Immediately, Izuku's smile returns.] I did promise crepes.

[They take the same route toward the cafe, but rather than leading them down the street this time, Izuku stops them at a shop just at the intersection. With a private little grin, Izuku looks pointedly at the sign--"Sweets Palace" it says, no pun in sight--and then back at Todoroki.] Sorry to disappoint.

[glaciers]

[ Yes that's better. Midoriya always looks best with a smile.

It takes him a moment to remember to look up at the sign. He supposes not every shop could fit in a pun. Even as much as he enjoys them. ]

I'm sure the crepes won't.

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Time to try them for ourselves! [He tugs Todoroki along as he pushes the door open, a tiny chime announcing their arrival.]

Let's see what they've got. [Making a beeline for the menu, Izuku scans the words hopefully until--] Yes! They have apple and cinnamon!

[glaciers]

[ It's very strange to enjoy being tugged around, but he still does. He'd let Midoriya bring him anywhere, he's certain.

... What a wild feeling. ]

Your favorite. It looks like they have strawberry and chocolate.

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My favorite! [Izuku repeats all too happily.

He leans over into Todoroki's space so he can see what Todoroki's looking at.] Does that mean you're getting the strawberry and chocolate? Oh, it's got a star next to it--I think that means it's their most popular one.

[glaciers]

I'll try it. If everybody likes it so much it can't be terrible, right?

[ Even after they stop fake dating he hopes Midoriya is this comfortable with him. Having him so close and so comfortable in his space is doing some weird things to his heart. But he can't say they're bad things. ]

And you'll get to try it too.

[inheritance]

Oh yeah, we're sharing. Maybe you'll--[His cheek brushes against Todoroki's shoulder when he shifts, and he grows flustered, drawing back now that he's aware of their proximity.]

M-maybe you'll like the apple and cinnamon flavor, too. [Izuku finishes lamely.]