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 wouldn't mind more hero socks. [He doesn't even hesitate.]

Hey! Maybe we could get matching ones! [He's never had anyone to match his hero merch with before.]

[glaciers]

[His friend is a neeeerd.

How endearing.]

Would they both be All Might themed?

[inheritance]

[The biggest nerd and proud of it!!! He doesn't even have the grace to look embarassed at how predictable he is.]

Yup!! Unless you wanted another hero. I have several All Might socks already so I don't mind getting someone else for once.

[glaciers]

Do you like Ryukyu?

[His favorite hero... Right after All Might, but Ryuku merch will survive.]

[inheritance]

[His eyes light up immediately.] Ryuku? She's amazing!

Todoroki, are you a fan of hers, too?

[glaciers]

She's my second favorite. Dragons are cool and she's really amazing.

... Plus she's going by her first name.

[inheritance]

[Another laugh sputters out of him. That's such a Todoroki thing to say, Izuku can't help it.]

I guess that's true! Let's get matching Ryuku socks, then. Those would be safe, right?

[glaciers]

[He's a straightforward guy! He likes what he likes.]

Yeah, those should be okay. Plus they're small enough they'll be easy to hide.

[inheritance]

[Yes!! Izuku does a little fist pump, beaming.]

Okay, Mission: Get Todoroki His First Hero Merch is now underway!

[glaciers]

Mom's stuff first.

[A gentle reminder of why they came here in the first place.]

Our stuff after.

[inheritance]

[He grins over his shoulder as he figures out which direction the store is in.]

Aw, don't worry, I didn't forget. They're all in the same store, so it'll be easy to grab hers and ours around the same time.

[glaciers]

Alright.

[He offers a small smile.]

Then we'll pick up three pairs of socks. And then look for more stuff for my mom.

[inheritance]

That's the plan! [Finally, with a brief pause to scan the stores around them, Izuku picks a direction to head in.]

The store should be this way. [For his part, Izuku does his best not to get too distracted by some of the other stores they pass. At one point, he even turns his head as they pass by a window filled with all kinds of hero merch, but he quickly snaps his attention back to the walkway, giving Todoroki a guilty smile as he does so.]

[glaciers]

[There's honestly a small almost impossible to notice laugh that spills out of him.]

We'll come back after we get the socks.

[inheritance]

[Even if he doesn't catch the laugh, Izuku can definitely feel Todoroki's amusement. It's a good feeling, making his friend smile, intentional or not, and Izuku wishes he could keep that smile there longer.]

Are you sure you're ready? [He asks with mock gravitas.] There's an even bigger shop on the other side of the mall that has more variety--that's the one we'll be going to.

[glaciers]

[Shouto's calm and soothed here, as long as Midoriya is with him...]

You'll protect me. So I know I'll be fine.

[He's being silly but he's not exactly obvious about it.]

[inheritance]

[It might be a joke, but Izuku doesn't realize that right away. He blushes, warmth spreading through him.]

Ah, I-I mean, it's not really that bad! It can be a little overwhelming if you've never been in a shop like it before, because there's so many choices, but you're right! I'll be there, so it should be fine!

[glaciers]

[Cute.

Midoriya is always cute.]

I know. You'll help me if I need it. But we should be alright together.

[inheritance]

Y-yeah, we should be! [Some of the fluster still lingers, but it seems like Todoroki isn't actually too worried about the store after all.

Izuku keeps sneaking looks over at him as they walk, though, until he spies the sock store they've been looking for. Todoroki's hand gets a gentle tug for attention.] Look, there it is.

[The store itself is a decent size, considering its specialty, with a handful of people browsing the rows and rows of colorful socks on display.]

[glaciers]

I didn't know people were this interested in socks.

[Or there was this big of a market? He just got the standard kind and didn't think about it.

But there lots of cute kinds. Little pop tarts with cat faces attached, tiny cats playing with yarn, something that looks an awful lot like Fatgum's logo.]

[inheritance]

People like wearing cute things. [He pauses, then adds with a smile-] And hero things, too.

[Judging by the sheer amount of variety surrounding them, Izuku walks into the shop feeling like it was definitely the right choice. Surely they'd be able to find what they're looking for in here?]

...huh. [Izuku stops short, squinting at the table in front of them.] Are those Eraserhead socks?

[glaciers]

... He's an underground hero, right? Do you think he knows about them?

[inheritance]

He did get some publicity after the League attacked us at USJ--Thirteen did, too. And he helped Present Mic commentate at the festival...

[Izuku stares down at the socks very seriously.] If I showed these to Present Mic, do you think I'd survive our next homeroom period?

[glaciers]

You'll get detention for a week.

[inheritance]

[A shudder travels through him as he remembers the wide, too-pleased smile that his teacher's shown before.] Never mind. Maybe it's better not to risk it.

[It looks like he has some self preservation instincts after all.]