A Silent Kind of Strength

Chapter 50

Neither Izuku nor Hitoshi are sure how they ended up at the mall with Yamada. It was just after schools let out so the place was packed and both teens could immediately list several other places they would rather be. Especially with their internships starting the next day.

But the eccentric pro insisted, bubbling along brightly as he drug his two reluctant shadows around gently. At first they assumed they were here for something the man needed. That delusion died in the first store, when Yamada immediately walked up to a rack of sweaters and flipped through sizes before tugging out two matching cable knits in pastel green and purple.

The two students shared twin looks of dawning horror 

The next three hours are spent wrestling clothing away from their foster dad. He fights them every step of the way, even more stubborn than they ever thought he could be. Eventually the two boys start flagging and Yamada slowly fills up bags with items he managed to get them to admit to liking. 

Izuku ended up with several fluffy sweaters that were a couple sizes too large, and compression shirts far nicer than his regular ones (and several packs of t-shirts in a variety of colors that he was as yet unaware of). He hadn't yet let the man buy any pants, but apparently he wouldn't be able to get out of it because the next store 'had the best denim'.

Hitoshi hadn't done as well as his friend. His bags were full of hoodies and graphic tees. Not to mention the three pairs of shoes he couldn't get the man to bargain on. He almost wished he had a similar excuse to Izuku when it came to shoes. When the green haired gremlin told Yamada about his weird feet, the man had looked heartbroken that he couldn't pick out shoes for him as well. 

Both boys groaned in perfect synchronization as they were dragged into yet another store. "This is the last clothing store I swear! The sooner the two of you each choose 3 pairs of pants and at least one jacket the sooner we can move on!" Green and purple eyes meet, resignation mirrored and compounding when the other also seemed completely done with the situation. With a sigh Hitoshi stepped forwards towards a display of artfully ripped jeans.

After a minute or two more of standing defiantly in the doorway Izuku gave in as well and started meandering through the store. After browsing through a display of cargo shorts and comfortable looking jeans a rack of jackets caught his eye. He tossed a couple of pairs of bottoms over his arm to try on before heading over to look closer. There were several different cuts and finishes but everything on the rack was made from denim.

The short teen found himself drawn to a black one, it looked like the cross grain was done in a deep ruby thread. The jacket was distressed in places, showing the slight pop of color through the black. He loved it. Unfortunately Yamada chose that moment to sneak up from behind and snag the jacket. He gave it a look over with a grin. "Fantastic choice kiddo! Try this on really quick so we know it's the right size!" He was handed the now traitorous article back with a flourish.

The teen grumbled but handed over his burden of bags and pants in order to slip the jacket on over his school button up. He was spun to look at himself in a mirror hanging on the wall by the changing rooms. Unfortunately he actually really liked the damn jacket. Curse his affinity for red things.