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]

Oh, if you like it, we'll have to come back for it when you have your own place!

[JK, he's definitely making a note of this and getting it for Todoroki when the opportunity comes up.]

[glaciers]

I'd like that.

[He just believes everything Midoriya says. It's sort of ridiculous.]

[inheritance]

Good! [With a triumphant grin, Izuku lets the subject drop. For now.

He holds up a bright hoodie against himself instead, the colors and pattern obviously meant to mimic All Might's hero outfit.] My turn--what do you think?

[The hood even has little extensions for All Might's trademark bangs. He'd had a pretty similar outfit as a kid, now that he thinks about it...]

[glaciers]

The color's very different... But it still reminds me of your hero outfit's hoodie.

... You look nice in it.

[inheritance]

[Izuku pauses, biting his lip.] You think so? [To both of those things.] I kind of...had my hero outfit designed as a tribute to All Might. I didn't think anyone noticed.

[Everyone noticed, Izuku.]

[glaciers]

... It's very obvious.

You thought it wasn't?

[inheritance]

Um. [Is all Izuku says at first, which is an answer already.]

I guess it was pretty obvious, now that I think about it.

[glaciers]

You're around him all the time.

[inheritance]

[Was that a look of nervousness on Izuku's face just now? Maybe.]

He's...helping me with my quirk training! Because ours are similar...

[glaciers]

You still don't need to tell me whatever the deal is between you.

[But Shouto still thinks it's some kind of secret bastard son situation.]

[inheritance]

[He'd like to...someday. Todoroki's someone who could be trusted, and Izuku wishes he could tell him and the others what he knows. Still...if All Might thinks it's best to keep it secret, then Izuku will trust his judgment.

Izuku eyes Todoroki with some trepidation.] You don't still think he's my dad, do you?

[glaciers]

[Shouto looks at Izuku for a moment before answering.]

It seems like the most likely thing.

[inheritance]

[Ahaha... he knew it. Considering what Todoroki's noticed, though, Izuku supposes he can't really blame him for coming to that conclusion.]

He's definitely not. [There's even a rueful sort of smile on his face this time, now that he isn't busy freaking out about it like before.] You really think I'd be able to keep quiet if All Might were my dad? Me? [AKA the biggest All Might fanboy ever.]

[glaciers]

You've been keeping a secret. It could definitely be that All Might is your father but he's sworn you to secrecy so you could have a normal life.

[... Shouto?? How many weird Hollywood movies did you watch as a child?]

If it's important you could keep it secret.

[inheritance]

[Izuku pales, not actually expecting an answer like that. Why is he surprised, though? Todoroki was observant enough to connect him and All Might to begin with.]

Wh-why do you think I'm keeping a secret?

[Izuku's incredibly lucky that no one else has really tried to talk to him about this, with the very obvious way he's reacting.]

[glaciers]

Because you don't want to talk about it. I don't really get it, but it has to be important to you.

... Also you get nervous. You're not a good liar.

[It's a good thing Shouto doesn't want to push too hard about this. Because he feels like if he pressed for long enough Midoriya might give information he didn't want to.]

[inheritance]

O-ouch. [Izuku winces, though he looks like he wants to laugh at the same time.] You're so honest, Todoroki-kun. But I think that's a good thing.

Is it really that obvious?

[glaciers]

[ he definitely feels like it is. But also... ]

I was looking for connections between you two. I don't know how it is for people who aren't looking.

Besides, he keeps pulling you aside and talking to you privately. That's something.

... If he is your dad I'm jealous.

[inheritance]

[Izuku blushes, seeing just how obvious the two of them have been now that the evidence has been laid out. It's true, All Might does pull him aside to talk pretty often. And in front of his classmates, no less.]

Todoroki-kun... trust me, I wish he was my dad sometimes, too. My dad works overseas, so I haven't really seen or talked to him in a long time.

[glaciers]

... Do you ever miss him?

[He's honestly out of his depth here. His family situation is a mess, he has no idea what a normal relationship would be.]

[inheritance]

[A tilt of his head as he considers this. Izuku's a little surprised himself; no one's asked him that question before.]

I think so? [He doesn't sound too sure when he finally answers.] It's hard to miss someone that you barely remember.

[glaciers]

I missed my mom for a long time, even though the last time I saw her was when I was five.

... That's a little different.

[inheritance]

A little. [He smiles at Todoroki gently.] You and your mom were really close back then, right? Even before dad left to work overseas, it was usually just me and my mom.

That's okay, though. [Still smiling, Izuku carefully folds up the hoodie and tucks it under his arm.] Things were fine with just the two of us.

[glaciers]

Yeah. I told her everything when she was still living at home. ... It's a little harder to talk to mom about everything that's happening now.

It sounds like you're really close to your mom. [It must have been nice to have that consistently in his life.]

[inheritance]

Yeah... For a long time, she was the only one I had looking out for me. [Try as he might, Izuku can't stop his smile from turning a little sad for a moment. Then, he brightens up again.] But things are different now. I have you and everyone else in 1-A.

You're still reconnecting with your mom after being apart for so long, though, Todoroki. I'm sure once you've seen each other enough, you'll be just as close again.