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]

N-no, but I wish I could say it so easily. [He wants to compliment Todoroki, too!]

Eh? [Izuku stops short in surprise.] You want to meet her?

[glaciers]

... I don't know if practice will help. [Why are his cheeks heating up? Is he blushing?]

Why wouldn't I? [Midoriya is so good.]

[inheritance]

You think it will? [In a flash, amusement floods through him.] So how many compliments should I practice giving you every day?

Um, if you really want to see her, I'm sure she'd be happy to meet you. [He smiles, pleased that Todoroki really means it.] I haven't gotten a chance to introduce you or everyone else to her, but I've told her about you.

[glaciers]

Ah... they don't have to be for me.

... Sorry. Our first interactions were you breaking your fingers and then your entire hand. Are you sure she'd be happy about meeting me?

[inheritance]

[Nope, it's too late, Todoroki. Now that Izuku's caught up in his bout of mischief, there's no stopping him.] Mmm I don't know. Since we're supposed to be boyfriends, doesn't that mean I should compliment you the most?

Who, mom? [Izuku makes a face a moment later.] No way. She scolds me for using my quirk that way, but she's fine with you. Trust me, it'll be fine.

[glaciers]

[ He's face is slowly getting redder. But there's nothing he can do about it. ] I suppose.

... I'm the reason your hand was seriously injured, Midoriya.

[inheritance]

That's not that way I remember it. [There's a skeptical look on his face, accompanied by raised eyebrows.]

I'm pretty sure it was my decision to fight you that way.

[glaciers]

If I'd just listened to you sooner, you wouldn't have gotten that hurt. Or if I had just finished that fight quickly.

[inheritance]

[Izuku's already shaking his head before Todoroki finishes, and he shuffles closer until they're face to face. He doesn't let go of Todoroki's hand.]

It's not your fault. [Soft as his voice is, it's still fierce and filled with conviction.] I wish you wouldn't blame yourself for this.

[glaciers]

[He lets Midoriya keep his hand and slowly meets his gaze.]

It's at least partially my fault, Midoriya. Even if you don't know how to quit, I should've realized how badly injured you became.

[inheritance]

[He holds his gaze evenly, not at all willing to back down about this.]

Like I said... what happened is on me. You weren't in a good place, Todoroki. I don't blame you for any of it.

[glaciers]

You can't change my mind about this.

[inheritance]

[Damn it, Todoroki. Izuku frowns at him.]

You can't change my mind about this either. [It would be sort of funny how stubborn the two of them are, if Izuku wasn't trying so hard to convince him.]

[glaciers]

Then we'll both have to live with it.

Come on, let's go find some nice socks.

[inheritance]

But--[It feels wrong to just leave it like this. Izuku stares for a second longer before finally relenting with something like a pout.]

Fine. Let's go look at the socks. [He's definitely going to bring it up again later--he's not giving up.]</small

[glaciers]

[Later Izuku might be able to change his mind.

Maybe.

It'll be a struggle.]

What do you think about a cat pattern? Like a calico.

[inheritance]

[It's a struggle, jumping back to this lighthearted topic after what they were just talking about, but Izuku musters up a smile all the same.]

That could be nice. Did you see one like that?

[glaciers]

[Shouto can let it drop for now.]

I saw some black socks with a cat face on it.

That seems reasonably close.

[inheritance]

Let's check that one out first! I bet there's some other cat themed socks around the same area.

[Squeezing Todoroki's hand again for reassurance.] Where was it?

[glaciers]

It was towards the left.

[He'll start tugging Midoriya in that direction.]

[inheritance]

[He allows himself to be pulled along, eyes lingering on some of the other socks that they pass along the way.]

Oh, are those the ones you were talking about? [Izuku points at the display table right ahead, and hey, aside from the one Todoroki had already noticed, there's a few more designs that Izuku thinks would be good choices, too.]

[glaciers]

Yeah, those are the ones. They're pretty cute, right?

[He sounds unsure, but he's never had to buy his mother anything before. Let alone something as universally useful as socks. He lets his gaze drift back to Midoriya. Is he right? Are these cute?]

[inheritance]

They are! [Izuku plucks a pair from the table.] That's one!

Um, how many cat socks do you think she needs? There's another one that I think she might like right here...

[glaciers]

Mm... I think three would be good.

[She doesn't really get to leave her hospital room that often.]

[inheritance]

[With a grin, Izuku reaches over and grabs something from further down the display.]

What about this one? [He holds up another pair for Todoroki's approval.] There's a bunch of different colors, too.