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]

[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?

[glaciers]

[ He brings it up when it interferes with other plans. He does like hanging around his classmates, but in the weekends mom takes priority.

This time it's Shouto watching his friend carefully. That's a look he'd love to see far more often. ]

It's delicious.

[ He'll hold his out. And then belatedly realize that this is certainly an indirect kiss. ]

[inheritance]

[It's too far away!! Izuku scoots his chair around the bend of the table until he's beside Todoroki, rather than across from him.]

There. This should be easier. You'll have to try mine next! [That this is an indirect kiss doesn't even even occur to him until he's already taking a careful bite of Todoroki's crepe.]

It's good! [Izuku manages to squeak out. Hurriedly, he holds his own out toward Todoroki, hoping he doesn't notice how pink his cheeks are becoming..] Y-your turn!

[glaciers]

[Midoriya is right next to him and he ate from his hand and he's almost certain this is what Kaminari feels whenever he overuses his quirk.

But he does take a small bite from Midoriya's crepe, marvelling at the taste. He's pretty sure this is how fall would taste if somebody could eat a season.]

It's very good.

[inheritance]

[Meanwhile, Izuku's heart feels like it's going to beat right out of his chest as Todoroki leans in to sample his crepe. It's not that he minds sharing like this--the opposite, in fact. It's just that Izuku's finding he might not have thought this through when he suggested they split the sweets.]

I-isn't it? [A nervous laugh bubbles out of him.] Um, at least both of them are good! Sharing should be easy when we like both flavors.

[glaciers]

[Is this? Is Midoriya really going to stay right next to him? It only makes sense, since they're sharing sweets. But his heart feels like it might explode.]

Yeah...

[He takes a bite of his own to stop talking- but he's definitely blushing bright red.]

[inheritance]

[Though Izuku knows Todoroki's a guy of far less words than himself, his brain still does what it does best in this situation and immediately overthinks. Is it just me, or did Todoroki-kun just hesitate? His face is pretty red... oh no what if he doesn't want to share anymore and I just made it really awkward???]

U-um! [Izuku stammers, hoping he didn't just push Todoroki too hard and make this whole situation unsalvageable.] I mean, that's only if you're still okay with sharing!

[glaciers]

Midoriya, calm down.

[ He's seen the warning signs of panic, he knows what's happening there. ]

I like sharing food with you.

[inheritance]

[Todoroki's words cut through his sudden panic, and surprisingly, Izuku does calm down, cutting off mid-ramble with a tiny hiccup of surprise.]

You...do? [He's one of the most straightforward and honest people Izuku knows, but he can't help but double check anyway.]

[glaciers]

[He was wondering if that would actually work. It seems like it did.]

I do.

[If Midoriya needs to hear it again, he's more than willing to say it.

Before taking a bite from his friend's crepe.]

[inheritance]

["!!!!!" his mind thinks helpfully (which is really not so helpful at all), when Todoroki just takes another bite without warning.]

O-o-oh. [He's still frozen to his seat, but he recovers enough to ducks his head, too flustered to figure out why he's so pleased by this.] Th-that's good! You should have some more if you want!

[glaciers]

[He'll hold out his crepe for Midoriya to take another bite. There's a small, amused smile on his lips.]

I just did. Do you?

[inheritance]

...yeah. [If he sounds a little distracted at first, it's because he's committing that smile to memory. (What? It's a nice smile!) Then, he leans in and takes a mouthful of crepe from Todoroki's, humming happily at the bright taste of strawberry and chocolate.]

I've been wondering... [As Izuku settles back in his chair to nibble at his apple and cinnamon crepe, he tilts his head to the side curiously.] Todoroki, is this the first time someone's confessed to you?

[All signs point to "yes", he thinks.]

[glaciers]

[Another bite of his own as he considers the question. From elementary to high school, he was homeschooled. That hardly left any time for him to meet other people. Let alone have them confess to him.

This is the first year he's really had people to call friends. Also the first time anybody's told him they had feelings like that for him.]

Yeah.

... I guess I panicked a little.

[inheritance]

[Izuku bites his lip to fight off a smile.] Maybe just a little. I probably would have done the same, though.

[Is it sad that he's used to rejection, and would have handled that a lot better than someone confessing to him?]

[glaciers]

You would've run away from a girl who was trying to confess?

[Because that sure was how Shouto dealt with that.]

[inheritance]

[Okay, fighting off the smile is a lost cause as soon as he imagines that.]

M-maybe. [A pause, and then a sheepish chuckle.] Um, most likely I would've just started rambling at lot at her until she got really confused--I don't see how that's any better.

[glaciers]

Hm... I think we're both pretty bad around girls. Or at least people confessing.

[Trying to imagine himself confessing- that seems nervewracking. Ishida is braver than he is in this department, but Shouto doesn't really have anybody he wants to confess to. Still, this fake dating thing with Midoriya is nice.]

[inheritance]

I knooowww, don't remind me! [Izuku groans, his crepe the only thing keeping him from flopping bonelessly onto the table.]

It's not just the confessing part. I had so much trouble talking to Uraraka-san at first... and all the other girls in our class, too.

[glaciers]

[... Cute.]

But you can talk with her easily now, right? That's progress.

[inheritance]

[Izuku perks up.] Yeah! It's... gotten a lot easier. I'm really happy I have her as a friend now. [He's so unabashedly pleased by this, his smile bright.]

Oh--and you and Iida-kun, of course! [He adds swiftly, looking just as happy as before.]