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 returns the pout with one of his own.]

What? That's even worse--if you get the drinks this time, that means I should get the mont blancs!

[Part of him realizes how ridiculous they're being, arguing over this, and yet he can't stop himself.]

[glaciers]

You already got the pretzels. And drinks cost less.

[ This is such a strange argument.]

[inheritance]

[They're both going to be stubborn about this, aren't they?]

You know you don't have to keep treating me, right?

[glaciers]

I don't have to, but I want to.

[inheritance]

But what if I want to do the same for you?

[glaciers]

... Then we're going to have a problem. I want to buy you nice things that you like and I don't want to stop.

[inheritance]

[Izuku sits back in his chair, stunned by Todoroki's answer.]

N-nice things--but wait... why?

[glaciers]

Because I like you and you're my best friend.

[inheritance]

Todoroki... [He's touched, of course, but that doesn't stop him from eventually giving into the urge to giggle just a bit.]

I've never had this problem before... um, I meant what I said about wanting to treat you, too, you know. [Wasn't that the whole point of meeting up more often? Seeing Todoroki smile more? (At least, it was before the fake dating became a thing.) Bashfully, he looks down at the table.] Maybe there's a way we can compromise.

[glaciers]

[Shouto finds that really seeing Midoriya more often is enough to make him smile. There really is just something about him.]

We both want to treat each other. That's how it is. I thought that was why were were switching off.

[inheritance]

You keep trying to treat me more, though.

[How unfair! Though, fine, if Todoroki's unwilling to budge on the drinks, Izuku can give just a bit.]

...if you get the drinks today, you have to let me get the mont blancs next time. Deal?

[glaciers]

It was only the socks this time.

[Like some how he's going to escalate it all the way into an entire outfit or something!!

He also, tellingly, does not agree to the terms and conditions.]

[inheritance]

[Todoroki's silence is so obvious!! Izuku pouts at him from across the table.]

You just said that we should switch off!

[glaciers]

I really like buying you stuff.

[inheritance]

[Izuku droops onto the table, folding his arms under his head. Though Izuku can understand where Todoroki's coming from, he'd never expected him to be so adamant about this.]

...you really want to treat me that much?

[If Todoroki isn't willing to budge on the food, then maybe Izuku just has to find another way around this...]

[glaciers]

Yes.

[And maybe even take Midoriya out for a really nice meal one day.]

[inheritance]

[A looooong, drawn out sigh, like he's finally resigned himself to this.]

Okay, fine.

[Todoroki wins this round, but it's not over!!]

[glaciers]

[With that Shouto looks like the cat that's caught a canary. Very quietly smug.]

What do you want to drink?

[inheritance]

[Izuku eyes that smile. He should be more exasperated that Todoroki out-stubborned him, but that feeling's already being pushed aside for a flood of fondness. Smug or not, it's still a smile, and Izuku likes seeing Todoroki smile.]

Maybe...melon soda? [The weather's been getting steadily warmer, and an iced drink like that sounds just perfect.]

[glaciers]

Okay. Stay here and I'll get you some.

[He comes back very quickly, like he's a bit worried Midoriya will somehow find trouble.

Actually he comes back with two of them, he's never had it before.]

[inheritance]

[This time, Izuku is right where Todoroki left him. And no sign of trouble, either. Miracles do happen.]

Thanks. [Izuku smiles at him, reaching for one of the sodas.] You haven't had melon soda before either, have you, Todoroki?

[glaciers]

[There's a definite sense of relief as he sees Midoriya there unaccosted.]

I haven't. Mm... the sweetest thing I drank growing up was strawberry milk. My mother would get it for me when she went shopping.

[inheritance]

I don't think I've tried strawberry milk before. Maybe I should try it next time, if they have it.

[In the meantime, though, he'll just sip at his melon soda.]

[glaciers]

... Really? It's in a lot of vending machines, isn't it?

[But he'll take a small sip of the soda. ... And then he makes a face. He just wasn't expecting the bubbles!]

[inheritance]

Yeahhh but there's a lot of other options. I used to pick milk cocoa a lot when I was a kid.

[He can't help it; a burst of laughter escapes him when he sees Todoroki's face.]

You don't like it?