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]

[Izuku hums.] So training clothes, then?

We could check if any of the stores around here has fireproof ones.

[glaciers]

Yes.

[He hums thoughtfully.]

If not I can try to order online. It's a specialty thing.

[inheritance]

We'll see what they have here. [And, apparently, he's decided that he doesn't need the All Might frames after all, so he's tugging Todoroki along after him toward the books.]

Oh, there's some Ryuu themed decorations. [Grinning, Izuku nudges Shouto as they pass by that particular shelf.] Think you could get away with a clock or something?

[glaciers]

[To the books they go, Shouto doesn't put up an once of resistance.]

Maybe a small clock?

[inheritance]

[Oops, time to backtrack a little. Okay, there!]

See anything you like? [Izuku practically bounces on his feet as he looks between the shelf and Shouto. He's not even shopping for himself right now, but there's something gratifying about helping Shouto add to his small hero collection when Endeavor had forbidden him anything of the sort since he was much younger.

There's a few interesting designs that immediately catch Izuku's eyes--like the round one that has the hero's dragon wings attached to its sides.]

[glaciers]

[While he probably can't display it too promenently, there's closet space in his room. He can definitely fit something small there, and it's not like his old man looks through that regularly.

... Besides, he doesn't have a bitter rivalry with Ryuku. It would probably survive.

Shouto reaches out for the one with the dragon wings. It's not very big and it needs batteries to work. That just means it can stay powered off in his closet for him to smile at and remember this outing.]

This one.

[inheritance]

[Izuku holds out the basket, beaming.] Just drop it in here. We'll get it with the rest of the stuff for your mom.

Now you'll have two Ryuku things in your room! [He's sounding just a little too gleeful about this.]

[glaciers]

[He'll place it in, more carefully than he really needs to.]

You really like merchandise, don't you?

[inheritance]

That's part of it. [The careful way Todoroki's handling the item makes him smile.]

Mostly, I just want you to have the things you want, that your father didn't let you have before. [He rubs at the back of his neck, suddenly bashful.] Is that...weird?

[glaciers]

[He doesn't have very much of it, he has to take care of the small bits that he owns.

Then Midoriya is speaking and it's like there's warmth blooming in his chest. That kindness was what drew him in like a moth to a flame.]

... I don't think it's weird at all.

[It's just another way Midoriya wants to help him.]

[inheritance]

[With that reassurance, Izuku can relax and smile at Todoroki warmly.]

That's...that's good, then! [Because he's definitely planning on doing it again and again in the future. At least now he knows that it doesn't bother Todoroki at all.

Now that they've picked something out for Todoroki, Izuku seems much more willing to move on to the book section.] Here's one for beginners! There's pictures to go with the instructions and some easy patterns that she can practice with. [He flips through it intently.] This might be a good place for her to start--we can always pick out something with more difficult patterns for her later... what do you think, Todoroki?

[glaciers]

[Eventually they'll move into the dorms and Shouto'll have his own little place to display merch instead of finding little corners to hide them away.]

It's a good idea. Starting small is the reasonable thing to do. And if she doesn't like it then we can find her something else instead.

[we is a nice word, he thinks. They're going to keep doing this together.]

[inheritance]

[We is definitely a nice word. Though it had slipped out of Izuku's mouth earlier without realizing it, he notices it now, when Todoroki's saying it. And it makes him smile, something warm settling in his chest.]

Yeah. [It's surprising, that something so simple could affect him so much, but Izuku just passes it off as an acknowledgement of their friendship. Or something! Shaking off his daze, Izuku drops the book into the basket with an air of finality.] Okay, looks like we've got everything we needed from here. Let's pay for these and head for the clothing stores!

[glaciers]

[He reaches for the basket and starts walking to the cashiers once it's in his hands. It only makes sense. Shouto has more things to buy.]

New clothes would be nice.

[inheritance]

[Izuku relinquishes the basket with a huff. It's becoming clear, he'll have to be sneaky about buying things for Todoroki or his mom. Otherwise, Todoroki's just going to insist on paying for everything.]

Don't say that where Ashido-san can hear you. [It's said with a soft chuckle. Knowing their classmate, she'd most likely shove some recommendations Todoroki's way, all in her eclectic sense of style.] Or Aoyama-kun.

[glaciers]

[His father is Endeavor, let him spend all that money on people he actually likes.]

... I don't want to be covered in sparkles.

[inheritance]

You don't? [Izuku teases him gently, not at all hiding his amusement.] I bet you'd look great even covered in sparkles.

[It's unfair, but Todoroki probably looks good in anything, Izuku thinks.]

[glaciers]

I'll never get the sparkles out.

[inheritance]

[A huff of laughter escapes him.] Don't worry, I'd help you get the sparkles out if this ever happened.

[They don't have that many items in their basket, so once they reach the cashier and pay, they're out the door before they know it. Izuku slips his hand into Todoroki's again.]

Mmm. You said you wanted sweaters and jackets, right? Should we check the directory again or just walk around?

[glaciers]

I don't have any place I like in particular.

[Plus walking around means probably a lot more holding Midoriya's hand? He'll keep holding Izuku's hand for as long as he's allowed.]

Let's walk around.

[inheritance]

Okay, let's just walk. There's no hurry, right?

[Without realizing it, Izuku's thinking along the same lines. Now that the knitting supplies are safely nestled away in the bag, they've technically already gotten what they came for. That means they have the time to just wander as they please, and that means more time spent together.]

Say something if you see a store you want to check out. [Izuku tells him, even as his own eyes catch on a smaller store's display of hero themed accessories. None of them he actually needs, technically, so Izuku tears his eyes away after a second (it's so hard to, though).]

[glaciers]

Do I need to say that to you too?

[Shouto definitely notices the way his friend's gaze locks onto the hero accessories. He gently steers him into the store.]

[inheritance]

Wah! Todoroki, no! [His face turns a cheery pink when he realizes he's been caught out.]

You're not supposed to let me buy any hero merch, remember? B-besides, we're here to shop for you now.

[glaciers]

There's nothing wrong with getting a pencil case and some pens.

[Shouto will continue steering him in, and it's not like he's going to let go of Midoriya's hand any time soon.]

[inheritance]

H-how about this! [Izuku tugs them both to a stop.]

Once we get some of the clothes you want, we can come back here. But only after!