Need You (ShinDeku)

Ch. 104 - Margin

A/N: Midoriya uses Kokuyo Campus notebooks. Except actually he doesn't because of copyright. So technically his notebooks are Kukuyo Campos.
Have fun reading!

Midoriya POV:

     As we cross the parking lot towards the store entrance I adjust my hood and pinch the bridge of the mask over my nose, checking that it's secure. I keep my head down.

     "Don't worry about anybody else, kid. We'll be here," Shota comforts from behind me, and Hizashi wraps an arm around my shoulders with a gentle squeeze.

     The store is well air conditioned, and surprisingly empty for a Sunday afternoon. I get excited at the sight of the notebook section and allow myself to pick up some speed as I walk over, pulling away from Hizashi. My walking stick taps dully on the floor as I make my way down an aisle. If I turned around I would see him following behind, a gentle smile hidden behind his mask, and Shota a little further back, discreetly surveying the store.

     I run my hands over covers and spines, looking at the grid notebooks and the different margin and page sizes. They have a big variety, and a lot of high quality paper. Some of the notebooks are even leather-bound. The store smells nice, and exactly how you'd expect, like ink and paper. I feel a little nervous still, but I'm happy. Going to a stationary stop is something I've done numerous times in my life, but now I feel like I've taken it for granted. I'm grateful to be here, doing simple things like this. It's all thanks to Hitoshi and my new pa- guardians.

     I have a strange thought that Hizashi would probably like to know how I'm feeling right now, so I briefly turn back to give him a smile before I can think about what I'm doing.

     Stupid, what are you trying to show him with a mask on? I chastise myself, but I've been told that I smile with my whole face and it must have showed because I can't see his expression through his sunglasses and mask, but I see the way he perks up, taking a step closer.

     "Found some you like?" He asks, gesturing towards the shelves of notebooks.

     I walk down to the end of the aisle, to where the cheaper Kukuyo Campos notebooks are. I picked up a thin one with medium margins— I like to be able to add new or revised information later and the smaller margin books never leave enough space for it.

     "You can choose something a little nicer, if you want," Hizashi suggests.

     I shake my head. "This is all I need. These things might not look like much but they can survive explosions and being turned into fish food. Sort of," I find myself telling him softly.

     "All right," he says after a moment. "Let's get a few of them then. How long does one last you?"

     "A few months." I think back to all my previous notebooks, the half-dozen that never made it into my hero analysis for the future series because they were too messy, or disorganized, or got ruined from being a few steps too close to a hero fight. Ah, and that one that Kacchan's friend stuffed down a paper shredder in the teachers lounge one time. To be fair, I think he thought it was my class notes.

    "Then, four or five for now? How's that sound?"

     "Oh, n-no I don't need that many, just one or two is enough." I waved my hands.

     "Don't worry about it. Shota might give you some assignments that you'll need paper for anyways."

     "Okay," I shifted on my feet, flexing my weak fingers.

     I reach out towards the stack of notebooks and find myself looking back over my shoulder at him. He nods and makes an underhanded pushing motion, as if to say 'go on'.