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]

[Not trusting his voice for the moment, Izuku just nods hurriedly. Why is this happening? He's comfortable with Todoroki, and has been since they'd made that first trip to the cafe together. Izuku can't, for the life of him, figure out why he'd suddenly feel so nervous around his friend.]

Th-that's it, really! I was just wondering whether you'd like the flavor or not.

[Izuku fidgets with the corner of the menu he's holding.] If...if you're set on the strawberry and chocolate, we should put our order in.

[glaciers]

[ If that's what Midoriya says, then Shouto will simply accept it. There's no reason he'd lie, right? ]

If it's sweet, I probably will.

I'll cover you this time. Since you treated me at the cafe.

[inheritance]

Oh! [Izuku's eyes widen as he turns his attention back to Todoroki. It figures Todoroki would remember.] You don't have to do that.

[The employee, who had been waiting patiently for them while they browsed the menu, catches Todoroki's eyes from being the counter and smiles politely.] Are you two ready to order?

[glaciers]

I want to.

[ Midoriya wouldn't deny him that, right? Not when he used that line on him before. ]

Yes. We'd like one apple cinnamon crepe and one strawberry and chocolate.

[inheritance]

[He thinks about protesting, but discards the thought as soon as Todoroki puts the order in for them. With a resigned, but fond smile, Izuku nudges at Todoroki's shoulder with his own.]

That means it's my turn next time, okay?

[glaciers]

[ He can't help the small curl on his lips. So he is going to get away with this today. Even if it means they trade off, it seems fair enough to him. ]

That's fine.

[ It does feel alarmingly like a date, if he's being honest. Or at least the way he assumes dates are. Or maybe this is just what friendly outings are? He might have to talk to Momo about this later. Not now though. Now is for Midoriya and crepes. ]

I'll get every other time.

[inheritance]

[That sounds fair enough to him. It's an agreement that'll keep both of their stubborn attitudes satisfied, he thinks.]

Okay. It's a date--[Izuku freezes in horror, then turns an alarming shade of red as he sputters.] I-I-I-I mean!! It's a deal! Deal! N-not date!

[He hides his face in his arms, wondering if there's a quirk that allows people to literally disappear. In that moment of profound embarrassment, Izuku would gladly trade One for All for such a quirk.]

[glaciers]

[Oh he didn't know Midoriya could get that red. And then he registers exactly what Midoriya said.

And suddenly his left hand is on fire and he has to cover it with his right, icing it over.]

I, uh, I wouldn't mind. That. The first thing. I-It'll help.

For... At school. I mean.

[inheritance]

The...the d-d-dating? [Slowly, Izuku lowers his arms so he can peek over at Todoroki through them. By some miracle, Todoroki isn't judging him for the slip up at all, and it's all Izuku can do not to sag in relief.]

You think turning these, um, meet ups into dates will help with that?

[Never mind that they were technically dates to begin with--a fact that Izuku seems to be completely oblivious about.]

[glaciers]

... [It's amazing he hasn't set his entire left side on fire. A minor miracle, to be sure.] Yeah. In case somebody at school asks about the whole dating thing. We can use these as cover.

[Dates to begin with doesn't even entre his mind.]

[inheritance]

If you think it'll work, th-then... let's go with that. [His voice gets softer and softer until it's just barely above a whisper at the end.

Suddenly, Izuku can't help but feel extra nervous about all the "dates" they'll be having from now on. He's never been on a date before. What if his lack of experience blows their cover?? ] Do you think we'll have to do anything differently if we're pretending to be on dates?

[glaciers]

[Why is Midoriya asking him? Does he think he knows anything about dates? He knows nothing. Momo's the one who knows about romance, Shouto knows nothing. It's terrifying to have Midoriya relying on him for this. Hero work? Fine. This? Not at all.]

Uh... I don't think so? Holding hands and spending time with each other should be enough.

[inheritance]

Oh. [Relief spreads through him, and keeps him from panicking some more.] That makes sense. So...we just keep doing what we've been doing already. That doesn't sound too hard.

[If Izuku were more confident and willing to believe that the people around him could actually like him romantically, he might consider what his own words imply. As it is, though, the possibility doesn't even occur to him.]

[glaciers]

[ The funny thing is earlier this very day Shouto literally told Midoriya he thought he was cute. Everything about what Shouto's been doing today, from asking Izuku to fake date him to complimenting him to paying for his food- all of it screams how interested he is in Midoriya. But of course, he assumes it's screaming out friendship because he's woefully underprepared for this type of thing. ]

It's easier than it sounds, I think.

[Once the crepes have been made Shouto trades the money for the two sweets, handing Midoriya's over.]

[inheritance]

You think so? [With the crisis adverted (for now), Izuku relaxes and takes the offered crepe from Todoroki.]

Thanks. [Cradling the sweet in his hands, Izuku wanders further into the shop and picks a table next to the window again. He slides into the chair, looking at Todoroki with anticipation.] Try yours first!

[glaciers]

[ Maybe Midoriya just likes people watching. He had those hero notebooks, didn't he?

But he'll look at him for a moment before looking down at his own sweet. ]

... Do you like watching me eat?

[ It doesn't bother him though, taking a bite of his treat. And again he looks completely delighted by it. ]

[inheritance]

[His gaze jerks up in surprise, eyes widening.]

S-sorry... [He trails off and then sinks down in his chair.] Is it really weird?

[glaciers]

[He chews slowly, delighting in the bright taste of strawberry mixed with melted chocolate.]

... I don't mind.

[It would probably be weird if it was anybody else, but it's Midoriya. So it's fine.]

[inheritance]

[If he didn't have the crepe in his hands, Izuku would be tempted to cover his face again.]

I-it's not the food. [Izuku mumbles, eyes glued to the table like he's fascinated by it, not just trying to avoid looking at Todoroki.] I just like seeing you happy when you try new things like this.

[glaciers]

[He's kind of glad Midoriya is looking down. That way he can't see the blush starting to color his cheeks.]

... If I'm happy it's because you bring me to places where I can be. Happy, I mean.

It's partially because of you.

[inheritance]

[Though Izuku wasn't looking at him before, that changes as soon as those words register. Izuku slowly lifts his head until he can see Todoroki's face.]

Todoroki... [His expression softens, warmth spreading through him.] If that's what it takes, then I don't mind taking you to more places you can feel this way.

[glaciers]

[The blush hasn't really gone away, but he hopes Midoriya will attribute that to the food. He's had a history of it.]

... I'd like that. A lot.

[Especially the part where he gets to be around Midoriya much more.]

Whenever we have a free afternoon?

[inheritance]

[Lucky for Todoroki, Izuku's distracted enough to miss the blush.]

Yeah. [The smile he gives Todoroki then is both pleased and a touch bashful. He's still stunned that Todoroki hasn't tired of him yet, despite them spending a lot of time together since the festival and Stain's attack.] We were planning to meet up more often anyway.

[He pauses.] Why don't we alternate between, um, "dates" like this one, and training sessions?

[glaciers]

[ He doesn't think he'd every get tired of Midoriya. Spending time with him is easy and calming. Especially on days like this, where they're just two normal kids. ]

That sounds good. I'm still meeting my mom in the weekends, but the weekdays are fine.

... Didn't you want to try your crepe?

[inheritance]

[His mom, huh... it's not often that Todoroki mentions her. Izuku's stuck wondering if he could gently prod for more details, when Todoroki's voice pulls him out of his thoughts.]

...yes. [Sheepishly, he finally takes a bite of the crepe, and lights up with glee as tastes the spiced apples.]

It's really good! You liked yours, too, right?