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 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.

[inheritance]

Oh. Yeah. That's going to be a while. [He deflates with a sad sigh, but thankfully that doesn't last long.]

Then...I'll just make sure I bring you something as a house warming gift whenever that happens!

[glaciers]

It's too bad you're running out of space.

[He could buy something small like a keychain and leave it with Midoriya.]

You don't have to do that.

[inheritance]

[Izuku laughs again, shaking his head.] Yeah...I don't think mom's going to let me take up any more of the living room shelves, either. [His collection sure did get out of hand.]

Maybe I don't have to, but I want to.

[glaciers]

Is your entire house covered in hero merchandise?

[He's perhaps having a completely incorrect vision of Midoriya's apartment. All Might posters everywhere and anywhere. They're the wallpaper for the entire space.]

Sometimes I don't understand you. ... But I'll gladly accept whatever gifts you give.

[inheritance]

[Izuku immediately blushes, which probably answers Todoroki's question already.] It's not that bad! I-it's just a few of my posters and figures here and there...most of it's still in my room. [It's pretty bad.]

Good. [He looks pleased.] At least I don't have to argue with you on that.

[glaciers]

[That probably means his assumption is only the beginning of how many pieces of merchandise must be lying around his room.

... He's never seen his friend on a free day, but he wonders if he owns all of the limited edition All Might t-shirts and proceeds to never wear them.]

I'm not sure I could win an argument against you. Not when it comes to gift giving.

[inheritance]

[If anything, Izuku just looks even happier than before.]

That's not a bad thing. I've never had friends to give things to, and you've never had a chance to buy merch like this. It's kind of a trade off, see? We both get what we want!

[glaciers]

You always seem to look on the bright side. ... That's probably the best way to look at things.

We'll stop somewhere after I get things for mom.

[inheritance]

[Izuku's smile goes a little lopsided, an odd undercurrent to it, though it doesn't lose its brightness.]

I try my best to. Everyone's going to feel sad sometimes, but if you get too caught up in it, that kind of thinking can stick around for way longer than you meant it to.

A-anyway, I think it's a good thing if you can focus on the bright side instead!

[glaciers]

[Usually Shouto isn't perceptive enough to notice this kind of thing. Usually he's not close enough to the person in question. But he knows Midoriya now, the way his smile sits, the way his expressions are- something is off.

If he was Uraraka or Iida he might be able to say something about it- but he's hardly used to being around a friend to begin with. He shouldn't pry.]

Are you okay?

[Oops.]

[inheritance]

[Ah, Todoroki noticed. Despite his efforts, Izuku still feels pleased that Todoroki's gotten so good at reading him now.]

Y-yeah. Just um, bad memories. [His smile falters for a second.] It's not important or anything!

[glaciers]

[They've spent so much time together, it would be impossible for him not to realize.]

Are you sure?

I had a lot of bad memories and you helped me through them.

[inheritance]

[Izuku's hesitance and silence is answer enough on their own, in a way.]

It shouldn't matter--things are different now.

[glaciers]

Things were different for me too. But talking helped.

[He won't push it because he doesn't think he knows how to do it properly. But he'll lay the offer on the table. Midoriya helped him, once. Shouto is more than willing to reciprocate.]

I'm always here to listen.

[inheritance]

Todoroki... [Izuku says softly, turning to look at him. For a moment, there's just the sound of their footsteps and the the chatter of the people around them.]

It's just stuff that happened when I was in school. [And out of it, too.] You already know that I didn't have friends before U.A.... [Izuku trails off uncertainly. He tries to keep his problems bottled up most of the time, so now he isn't really sure where to start.]

[glaciers]

[Shouto's quiet, all of his attention focused in on Midoriya.

There's a tiny nod in response.]

I don't understand how. You have... a very large heart and a very heroic outlook.