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

[glaciers]

I don't know for sure, but I don't want to take the chance.

[inheritance]

Better safe than sorry. [Izuku agrees with a sigh. He hates that Todoroki has to take these precautions in the first place.]

Okay, I'll just keep you updated whenever we meet up at school or...on our dates.. [He blushes again.]

[glaciers]

Yeah...

You can say date, Midoriya. There are plenty of dates that aren't romantic in nature.

[inheritance]

But ours are supposed to be. [He's still blushing, even if he realizes he's probably making it into a bigger deal than Todoroki is.]

Ah, our train's here. [Izuku patiently waits for the train doors to open before pulling Todoroki along.] It's less crowded over there. [Not that it matters when they're just staying for a few stops.]

[glaciers]

[He lets Midoriya tug him along but he starts chewing on his bottom lip.]

... Are you really that uncomfortable with it?

[inheritance]

[Immediately, the blush returns in full force. Ah, just when his cheeks were starting to cool down, too. Izuku ducks his head and shakes his head.]

Not... not at all. [Which is the real the problem, if he's honest. He's too comfortable with it.]

[glaciers]

[... Why is it he keeps making Midoriya so flustered?]

... I'm glad.

[It's nice to be able to spend time with Midoriya like this.]

Tell me if I ever... overstep or anything like that.

[inheritance]

You don't, Todoroki. [He hates that his own ridiculousness is giving Todoroki the wrong impression.

He stares down at the floor, steeling himself for being at least somewhat honest about this. Izuku keeps his voice barely loud enough for Todoroki alone to hear.] It's just embarrassing--I might be a little too happy that I get to spend so much extra time with you because of the pretend dating...that's all.

[glaciers]

[Shouto's pretty awful with people- or rather, he doesn't have enough experience. Midoriya is his anchor point for friendship because he simply doesn't know where the lines are supposed to be.

Even if they're a little bit blurry right now, since they're "dating".]

I like... being able to spend this much time with you.

[He'll miss it when it's over.]

[inheritance]

Oh. [He's smiling when he looks up, equal parts relieved and pleased.] At least... it's mutual then. T-that makes me happy.

[Further proof that their friendship is growing! At least... he thinks so? What he feels for Todoroki isn't quite the same as what he feels for Uraraka and Iida, but Izuku simply figures it's because they've gotten so close so fast, he just needs time to get more used to it.]

[glaciers]

[Shouto doesn't smile back, but he gives a little nod. It makes him happy too, knowing that this isn't a one sided thing. He gives another squeeze of Izuku's hand.

He doesn't want to lose this.]

[inheritance]

[With his entire focus on Todoroki, Izuku's taken by surprise when the speakers over head announce their stop. Startled, he looks out the window and, sure enough, the train's pulling into their station. It's about then that Izuku realizes he's basically been smiling at Todoroki like an idiot this whole time.]

Um, we should get off here! [Izuku stammers, trying not to look too mortified.]

[glaciers]

[Shouto's definitely not the type to judge, and besides, Midoriya's smile is refreshing. He loves being able to see it. As far as he's concerned this is a completely fine thing to do.]

Ah. Lead the way, Midoriya.

[inheritance]

[Though the current crowd has nothing on the morning rush, Izuku still tightens his grip on Todoroki's hand as they're jostled on the way to the exit.]

Whew, made it out. [Izuku tugs lightly on their joined hands again.] It's just a short walk from here now.

[glaciers]

[Shouto isn't letting go.]

Have you shopped here a lot?

[inheritance]

Yup! [He practically chirps the answer, smiling as he easily leads them out of the station and onto the streets again.]

It's on the way home, so I help mom pick up things sometimes, or I stop by to look at the new hero merch. There's just some stuff here that we can't get at the local konbini or supermarket.

[glaciers]

I guess action figures would be hard to find if you didn't go to a specialty store.

[Posters seem like they'd be easier though.]

[inheritance]

There's some you have to preorder months beforehand, too! Only the bigger stores have that kind of option.

[He laughs a little sheepishly.] I should probably be pickier with what I buy now, though. I'm running out of room for everything.

[glaciers]

There's really stuff that's that popular? ... I guess I've never tried to buy any.

How much deskspace do you have now?

[inheritance]

It's All Might, you know? The heroes in the top ten are all pretty popular, but anything with All Might on it sells out really fast.

Wait, really? Never? [His surprise gives way to a flash of understanding.] Oh. I guess your dad wouldn't like it if you had figures of other heroes lying around, huh...

[glaciers]

I'm not buying figures of that guy.

... I like All Might a lot, but I think he'd burn them on sight.

[inheritance]

No. [From the horrified intake of breath, and the way Izuku presses his free hand to his chest like just hearing it physically hurts him, it's obvious what he thinks of that.]

...but you're right, there's no point spending your money on merch if your dad's just going to use it as target practice in the end.

[glaciers]

[Midoriya really cares about merchandise, doesn't he?]

I'll just have to window shop while we're here.

[inheritance]

[Those seem to be the magic words that drown out his horror. Izuku perks up.]

Window shop for hero merch? [He's sparkling with enthusiasm.] Even if you can't get anything for yourself now, we can take notes! I mean, you can decorate your place any way you like once you move out, right?

[glaciers]

[Midoriya definitely looks better like this, when he's speaking cheerfully about something.]

That's right. ... But that's still going to be three years. I don't have the income to live on my own right now.