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]

[Aaand just like that, whatever heavy tension had started to settle in just now's abruptly gone. That's so rude, Todoroki, even if it's true.]

Shhh. Todoroki, you're breaking character! [Because being playful's apparently the best way to deflect that accusation.]

[glaciers]

[ Todoroki Shouto is not a polite boy. ]

I think you might be unlucky. It's okay, I'll be there for you.

[He's absolutely teasing right back]

[inheritance]

[Izuku can't hold back the giggle this time.]

Now you're sounding more like a hero-in-training, too, instead of a potential cat-napper. Did I convince you to give up your almost-villainous ways already?

[glaciers]

If anybody could tempt me to the path of good, it's you. If I have to be good to keep you out of trouble, I'll have to take that sacrifice.

[inheritance]

I'm touched. [Even though he's teasing, Izuku can't help but actually feel touched at those words.] It's not everyday someone's willing to give up cat-napping for you.

[With a final little laugh, Izuku tugs Todoroki toward the sock display at the back of the shop again.] Hey, even if we don't have any real cats, we have plenty of cat socks now.

[glaciers]

[ Of course Shouto allows himself to be pulled along. He doesn't even offer a shred of resistance. ]

We'll have cat paw prints at least.

[inheritance]

Close enough. [Izuku comes to a stop as they reach the display, and he scans the socks again intently.]

Let's see...oh, that's a nice one. [Izuku points at a pair that's just high enough that he'd have to stand on tip toe to reach them.] It even has the paw print on the bottom like the one we picked out for your mom.

[glaciers]

[ Cat print is so cute. It's almost as good as having a real cat on his lap. Almost. ]

Our moms will match too.

[ He reaches up and plucks it from the hook, letting Midoriya look at it closer. ]

[inheritance]

Do you think they'd appreciate it if we told them?

[An absentminded thanks slips out as Izuku takes the socks from Todoroki and turns them over in his hands. He smiles, a flash of amusement in his eyes.]

You know, this kind of looks like the pattern that cat had. I think I should get this pair--mom was kind of fond of that stray--well, it's not actually a stray--too.

[glaciers]

... Maybe? My mom hasn't really been able to leave the hospital. It might be nice to know she matches somebody who isn't her son.

[Shouto gives a little nod.]

Then we'll get it.

[inheritance]

[Idly, Izuku wonders if they might even go as far as introducing their moms to each other one day--well, it's a thought that he'll hang onto.]

Oookay, now we're done. [With a grin, he drops the last pair of socks into their basket.] Let's get these checked out.

[And it'll be off to the hero merch store!!]

[glaciers]

[Sock buying goes smoothly, they'res only "You're Endeavor's son!" So he'll count it as a as well as it could've gone, kind of day.

Shouto's gone and bought all the socks and split them into two bags. One for him, one for Midoriya.]

Which way was the hero merchandise store?

[inheritance]

[And of course Izuku spends the entire time they're checking out protesting. There's a pout on his face when he takes his bag from Todoroki, once they're outside the store.]

I can't believe you bought all of these in the end. I was going to get the Ryukyu one for you! And there's the two pairs for me and my mom, too.

[glaciers]

You can buy me my first figure once I move out of my old man's place.

[He's pointedly not apologizing for buying Midoriya's socks as well as his own.]

[inheritance]

[He has to swallow his first reaction--"but that won't be for a while!"--and just grudgingly agree instead.]

I'm holding you to that!! I'm definitely not forgetting about this any time soon.

[glaciers]

[Literally years away.]

I know you won't forget.

You're stubborn.

[inheritance]

Yup, that's me! [Totally unrepentant.] As long as you know it.

Anyway, the merch shop is over this way. [With a happy grin, Izuku curls his fingers around Todoroki's wrist and sets off in a specific direction.]

[glaciers]

[Adorable.

As always Shouto puts up no resistance, letting Izuku lead him around like a puppy.]

[inheritance]

[Sometimes Izuku slows down to peer at something in a window with interest before moving on, but they manage to make it to the store in good time. And he doesn't let go of Todoroki's wrist the entire time.]

Here we go! [There's a decent number of people gathered in the store--and considering the sheer amount of figures and posters and other hero-themed trinkets on display, it couldn't be anything but the shop Izuku had been looking for.

He gasps as soon as they walk in.] Oh, they have new hoodies and shirts!

[glaciers]

[Shouto's not about to hurry him along. Midoriya's pace is his pace.]

It's busy.

[That shouldn't be a surprise. But he'll make sure he sticks next to his friend in here.]

Are they... limited edition? [He knows what that means, of course, it's just not something he's experienced first hand.]

[inheritance]

["Cute" isn't a word that Izuku would have used to describe Todoroki before, but he quietly revises his opinion now. Because Todoroki attempting to learn the language of Merch is undeniably cute to him.]

Not these ones. [Izuku looks around the store until his eyes land on a poster to their right.] That new poster of All Might standing in front of U.A. is, though. Huh, I wonder when they even had the time to take pictures?

[Especially when everyone's been so busy. Then again, when you're the Number One, you make time for promotional material like this, Izuku guesses.]

[glaciers]

It's All Might and he's always at Yuuei.

[Shouto looks it over- All Might looks so much bigger in person, even though he has the school for a sense of scale.]

They probably had some time between classes or something.

... Do you like the poster?

[inheritance]

Of course I do! It's All Might. [For someone like Izuku, that kind of answer explains everything. He tilts his head.]

There's something a little different about seeing him right next to the school like that, though. Usually they just have shots of him in action or there's a few of him with the other members of the top ten.

[glaciers]

Are you going to buy it?

[He'll look it over with Izuku before his gaze wanders off to another poster of All Might. In this one he's in mid jump from building to building.]

Do you research this merch as much as you do quirks?

[inheritance]

[A distressed sound escapes him.] I want to, but I'm running out of wall space in my room. And I wanted to look at those hoodies... [Being an ultra fanboy is hard.]

Sure I do, Todoroki. [Is this even a surprise at this point.] I like to know what kind of merch is being released, and it makes it easier to keep track of what I already have!