mixingbowl | Try to believe walking down the lonesome road

Try to believe walking down the lonesome road

[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.]

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[He shakes his head. Spending time with others is a new concept for him, but it seems like a nice one. Especially when it comes to Midoriya, who's somehow the very embodiment of heroism... he didn't think he was this sappy, but the sports festival let him melt a few of the walls around his heart.]

Is there somewhere you like? We could go there.

[It doesn't take too long for Izuku to think of an option. He tilts his head toward Todoroki, still smiling.]

There's one not too far from here. How do you feel about sweets?

[Shouto has no idea how Midoriya can smile so easily.]

I don't usually have them.

[Small wonder, his diet's been restricted to just nutritious meals. That's what happens when his father decides that all he's there for is surpassing All Might. No time for the small pleasures in life.]

I'd like to try though.

[It takes every once of willpower Izuku has to not gape at him.] When's the last time you've had any?

[A long time, from the sound of it. There's only one reason that Izuku can think of, knowing that he does about Todoroki's home life. This, on top of everything else, just makes everything all the more horrible.]

Okay. If you want to try sweets, that's what we'll do! [Izuku declares with a little more determination than strictly necessary. If Endeavor's done his best to take away even the simple pleasures like sweets from Todoroki's life, then Izuku will do his best to give them back to him. If Todoroki lets him, that is.]

I... don't remember.

[He doesn't think it's that terrible? Maybe it is. Midoriya certainly seems like he wants to correct an injustice.

He gives a small nod.]

I'd like to.

[Spending time with Midoriya and understanding him better... that's also good. If it happens to be over a cake or something, that's fine too.]

Lead the way, Midoriya.

[That's...pretty much what he'd expected. Doesn't mean it makes it any more pleasant to hear.]

This way! [Izuku doesn't manage to smooth out the slight frown tugging his lips down, but at least he holds back the sigh that threatens to escape. And he sounds normal and cheerful--at least, he hopes he's being convincing enough.] It's a little cafe that I pass by on the way back home. I've had their drinks more often than their cakes, but I haven't had anything I didn't like yet.

[Todoroki Shouto's life has not been pleasant since he was five years old and still lived with his mother.

Luckily for Midoriya, Shouto doesn't know him well enough to realize when he's lying just yet. So he takes him at the way he sounds and doesn't think much about it.]

I trust your judgment. Do you have any recommendations?

[I trust your judgment. Those words have Izuku blinking in surprise. It's stupid...they're talking about cake of all things, but feeling like his opinion actually matters to people makes him incredibly happy. It's...nice.]

Mmmm. [If his eyes look suspiciously watery for a moment or two, he's not about to say anything if Todoroki hasn't noticed.] Depends if you'd prefer something fruity or something like chocolate instead.

[ He's almost certain Midoriya is starting to tear up? He was pretty sure he didn't say anything mean- but sometimes his mouth just spills out whatever he thinks.

Midoriya isn't drawing any attention to it, and they're not close enough for him to mention it either... ]

I've had fruits more often. Probably those.

[Sorry, Todoroki!!! One day you'll understand that Izuku's just incredibly emotional...]

They have strawberry tiramisu. That one's pretty good. [Though he's not as familiar with Todoroki as he is with Uraraka and Iida, there's a simple sort of ease Izuku wouldn't have expected before this, considering how heated things got during the festival. He's not going to complain, though.

As they turn a corner, Izuku points toward a cozy-looking cafe just further down the street.] Here it is! ["Quali-Tea Time" the sign above the cafe proclaims. Izuku's smile brightens as they draw closer.] Oh, looks like we got here at a good time. Usually it's crowded right after school lets out.

[ Shouto spares a look for the sign. If Midoriya brought him here then it's probably good, even with a pun like that to be his first impression.

It does seem comfortable though. The kind of place people would go to catch up with old acquaintances.]

I guess we're lucky.

Guess so. [Izuku tugs the door open and ushers Todoroki inside.]

Come on, you can see their cake selection for yourself. [In the cafe, Izuku grows even more animated, his obvious familiarity with the place overriding any lingering sense of hesitation with Todoroki.]

Hi, Hayashi-san! [He greets the girl behind the counter cheerfully, getting a "I told you to call me Rika!" in return.] Just introducing... [Izuku pauses, glancing at Todoroki before stammering the rest of the sentence out.] Um, a...a friend to your mom's cakes.

[There's some slight surprise on his face. So they are friends now... He's thankful.

But he'll turn and bow towards Hayashi.]

It's nice to meet you, Hayashi-san.

[You're stuck with him now, Todoroki. Sorry.]

Hey, I know you! ["Rika" snaps her fingers like she's having an epiphany.] Second place in the UA Sports Festival, right? Nice job! [She leans against the counter.] Tell you what, pick what kind of cake you want, it's on the house. Your friend's one of our regulars anyway.

[For his part, Izuku's not even trying to fight off a grin as Rika turns her attention to Todoroki.] I'll have a slice of the salted caramel. [Izuku leans toward Todoroki.] Did you still want to try the strawberry one, Todoroki-kun?

[He's just fine with having Midoriya in his life.

Huh, he usually gets recognized as Endeavor's son. This is better than that though.]

If you're certain. Thank you very much. [He gives her another bow before addressing Midoriya.]

Strawberry sounds good.

Great! He'll have the strawberry tiramisu. [Izuku turns back to the menu up on the wall, appearing to contemplate something Incredibly Serious. In reality, though, he's just deciding if he wants a drink or not.] And add two milk teas--thanks, Hayashi-san!

[Izuku drops a couple notes onto the counter to cover everything else in their order before flashing Todoroki a small smile.] You should try their milk tea while we're here. [He says, as if that explains everything.] Okay, we're all set. Let's go find a table!

[Shouto just watches him look at the menu. Hm. Drinks too, huh?

This is starting to feel a little less like a friendly outing and a little more like something else. Maybe he's reading into it incorrectly though.

He gives a small nod and scans the cafe.]

How about that one?

[He gestures to one a two person table next to a window.]

[He follows the movement of Todoroki's hand until he spots the table Todoroki's picked out.]

Perfect! [Without bothering to pluck a number from the counter--with business as slow as it is now, Rika would know exactly where to send all their food anyway--he heads on over. Izuku slings his bag across the back of his chair and drops himself onto the seat with a happy sigh.]

I like people-watching from here sometimes--plus, I've seen Mt. Lady and a couple other heroes patrolling around the area before, too. [The tidbit of information's not surprising at all, considering it's Izuku. He pulls his gaze away from the window and watches Todoroki across the table instead.] Where do you usually go after class, Todoroki-kun?

Edited 2017-12-12 22:09 (UTC)

I thought it was mostly looked after by Kamui Woods.

[But he also knows that he doesn't have nearly as much intel on heroes as Midoriya does. He has notebooks on all the pro heroes as far as he can tell.

He'll seat himself across from Midoriya and look out the window.]

I usually go straight home. I don't really have anywhere else to be.

Him, too. [Izuku grins, not at all embarrassed by the effort he's put into keeping tabs on the local heroes.] I saw Mt. Lady jumping in to help him in a villain fight once.

[Well, more like... sniping the attention, really.]

Straight home... [It's not usually a bad thing, to go directly home after class, but Izuku wonders if Todoroki's had any chance to do anything else.] Is there somewhere else you want to be, though?

[It's just nice hearing his friend talk about things he likes. Shouto wouldn't bully him for something like that.]

Was it a big threat?

[The answer is, of course, he hasn't. This is his first time deviating from his norm. Following Midoriya into a cafe instead of going home to do his homework and then pass out.]

... Where else would I go?

That's one way to put it. [There's a spark of amusement in his eyes.] I didn't get there until the fighting already started, but apparently the villain could turn into a huge monster with his quirk. [Izuku hums as he loses himself in his thoughts, trying to recall the details of that fight.] Now that I think about it, Kamui Woods sort of had everything under control before Mt. Lady joined him. I think she was really eager to introduce herself to everyone. Guess even someone like her has to work hard to be noticed when she's making her prohero debut.

[Before Izuku can drop back into his mumbling habits again, he seems to remember that Todoroki had asked him something else.]

Where else? [He repeats, struck again by the possibility he'd considered earlier. Maybe Todoroki really is new to this.] Todoroki-kun... could it be you haven't really spent time with friends outside of school before? Ah-- [He claps a hand over his mouth.] That...that's probably really rude to ask, isn't it...

Everybody's trying to get attention. There's nothing new about that, Midoriya. We're trying to get attention from pros, even during our training. Bakugou's always trying for first place. In everything. [And in his own way, or he'll throw a huge fit.

But Shouto takes a moment to look down at his hands. Before UA he was homeschooled. Everybody was paid extra to keep silent about Shouto's bruises and burn marks. It wasn't their business so long as he kept up with his studies.]

... It's a fair question. I didn't have any friends while I was growing up.

I know. I mean, that was the whole point of the festival to begin with. [Izuku turns his gaze toward the window again, studying the people walking past for a second or two.] It worked, though! Even if you and Kacchan got the most offers, it sounds like everyone's getting recognized on the streets now.

[Hearing Todoroki's answer, Izuku's expression softens with sympathy. He should be worried by how much he wants to meddle and smooth things along for his classmates. And yet, Todoroki's been incredibly receptive to everything so far today...maybe it isn't a bad thing.]

All the more reason to make some now and change that. I, um. [Izuku looks down at the table, fiddling with his sleeve nervously.] I didn't really have friends growing up either. It could be nice for us to meet up after class sometimes, i-if you want?

[ Shouto's languidly looking back out the window, watching people pass by going through their ordinary day to day lives.

He doesn't get much of a chance to just people watch like this. Midoriya really does seem to open up doors for him.

But his attention snaps to Midoriya as he confesses his friendless past. That seems... Impossible somehow. He's such a bright, honest, selfless person. Who wouldn't want to be friends with Midoriya?

So he's silent as he processes this new information. ]

... I wouldn't have guessed that.

But... I like this. I like spending time with you. [ He bites his tongue before he can ask if that's fine. He doesn't want Midoriya to take it back. ]

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I couldn't resist the pun

It's a good one

<3

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